New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-09-30
" Clnirmafiveness."

To the Edd0r 0f me lrDhnti
DEAR SIR: The publication containing All the
Mysteries Of Human Magnetism and Clairvoyance
Explained By the celebrated Jackson Davis OF
Poughkeepsie," promised in The Tribune some
time since by Rev. g. Smith, has Just come to my
notice; and as | know many OF your readers feel
considerable interest in the subject beg the privilege
of Offering few remarks concerning it And, am the
more inclined to do So from knowing as do that many
candid persons like Mr. Smith have been go completely
carried away with the orsculsr proofs OF young DAVIS as
TO admit and believe most all he has SAID without the
shadow OF doub, Had these friends heard as many
revelations Of theories from somnambulisis A. 1t has
fallen to my lot listen within the last seven years
do believe It would have very much moderated the
arder Of their faith in the Clarmaiiveness oil MI
Jackson Davis. swedenborg was FAR more remarka
BILE Somnambulst than Davis or indeed than many
others Of the present age who have been thought 10 be
so very extraordinary More beautiful htorts were
never conceived perhaps the human brain than were
put forth by Swedenborg while in state OF Somnam
bulism or one identical with that TO which we now ap
ply this term somnambulic revelations Of theories have
sften been made by Mormons French Prophets, Ana
bapss Methodists Catholics Presbyterisns and others
Witness the Trance OF Rev Mr. Tenant Of NewJersey
These visions or Somnambulic descriptions, may be
classe with the phenomena OF ITedniH1, ana arc no
more to be depended upon frt.fat than many cases
of dreaming which are OF constant occurrence
Many Of In. representations made by Davis, are not
only Puci but they are false IN iact a. any one may
easily know See page % Of his book ClsDladiiro'
ness he tell. us "s compound word and iHTaig zig
mites clearly reversed 80 Clair Is French dJe0,re
and literally signifies clear" and not clearly AS Mr.
ID. thought and. then as to the literal meaning oi INA
tiveness" who knowsf
His stories about the inhabitants Of saturn may ia
classed with the visions Of Joe Smith no more believe
them than do the following where page so De SPEAKS
ofhnqsdf in the following terms
when in the state that now am AN MASTER OF me
Qenfrdi sciences. SPEAK ALL LANGUAGES, impat IN
sructons upon those deep and hidden things IN nature
which the w0rd hare boa able 10 soire As have done
In these lectures the different organs IN the
human system, point out their Office and mncnons-tch
the nature and systems OF disease ana prescribe
the remedies tina, will effect the cure" &C. &c &c
Did that youth erer converse with any intelligent per
son in a foreiRn language And into what gorgeous
deuson must tina, mind have fallen which could utter
such language the above Many things he aifrms
about the state denominacd the magnetic sleep"
know to be untrue but Il would not be worth the space
point them here Page q, he undertakes TO prove
that magnetism is animal hat, and the cause oil al
feeling or sensation and says Take for example =
limb that has received paraytic shock-u Is eHfrtg
iasegsiJie touch. sensation can be produced IN H.
This IL a great mistake. as every PatholOgist knows
and shows how really ignorant this youth - not"th
standing his assumption that he is MASTER OF the gene
raj scienoes ?" hse and treated numerous cases
Of paralysis where the sensation was far greater than 10
other parts of the system not affected.
Mr. Davis seems 10 have borrowed largely from nu-
merous writers In his sleep and from one he has quoted
ideas about the sympathetic nerves page TO- and tue
effects of manipulation page 81 without giving credit Tor
them
The pamphlet is interesting as somnamtnhe perform
snce though contains much that amounts 10 Dothins
even If adstied be true; and still more, when may
he easily demonstrated 10 be false in philosophy and un
sustained by matter of fact In saying this much how
ever must not be understood attaching the least
blame TO Mr. Davis. or his smsnuenss, Rev Mr. smith
OLD
tr,th mixed up with of fancy. and the LAT
ter gentleman believed the whole Time VIII show that
they were both deceived thousands of others nave
been before them who have depended upon similar rev
Citations for what they should believe both in science and
religion. la hof SVNDhMANo
Boston Mass Sept -. lei5.