The New York herald., 1845-02-05
Danbury.
Danbury.
Correspondence Of the New York Herald

Danbury
Correspondence of the New York Herald
DANBuRY, Ct., Jan. go l845.
CritiquH on Catrvoyance-A Chapter on Mesme-
rism-Ihe Professor Noored- With Sketch of
the Career of Barnaby Diddleum.
JAMES GORDON BENNETT, Esq. =
SlR:-
Presuming that you like to be advised of every
thing wonderful, both in nature and art, that you
may be enabled to "Herad" it to the world tor the
worlds benefit, have thought it expedlent to give
you chapter in the history of wonderful pheno.
menon of nature and art, combined with medical
science, exhibited to the wonder-lovng, miracle
swallowing portion of the citizens of this town last
week.
1t was announced to the good people of this
place, by advertisement in our village newspaper
together with long editorial puff, that the Rev
g. Smith Il Co. had arrived In their midst, and in.
tended to exhibit the wonders of mesmerism, clair
lures and experiments. They had sent out their
fame before them, and when they themselves arri-
we'd they found very many prepared to swallow any
thing they might be pleased to administer. They
had an experienced clalrvOyant who possessed the
astonishing power of examining the physical sys-
tenn throughout-of discovering and describing dis
ease and OF prescribing sure remedies. This part
OF their operations at their private rooms. The
sick, the lame. the halt and blind locked in crowds
10 this ''pooP' and were relieved, at least of S5
eacb-any further relief have not yet heard Of
Some persons present, whose organs of eullibillty
were not OF the required dimensions, expressed
doubt OF the genuneness of the operations, but the
Rev. gentleman having many believers on his side.
was prepared for this, and very modestly expelled
the nhdels from the premises. and thus the truth OF
his doctrine and miracles was attested unanimous.
y by those present.
The lecturer being Reverend" procured the
UniyeIsalst church for his public exhibitions and
the first evening 1t was crowded by the eager null
tltude. The lecture was mixture of science and
nonsense, perfectly unlntegible to common
minds and his experiments in clairvoyance com
plete failure, as he himself acknowledged. This
he said was his first attempt before a public au-
dience, and being somewhat excited, he failed of
success, but never had he failed before a private
audience. Yet Notwithstanding this acknow-
lodged failure, there are hundreds in this town who
he advanced. The following article was prepared
tor the Times, our village paper, but the publisher
having previously received substantial reasons,
declined publishing it,
That prince Of humbugs Barnaby Diddeum,"
in the history of his adventures, has said that
"mankind like to be humbugged, however un-
willing they may be to acknowledge it." and who
should know the fact better than Mr.. Diddleum!-
he having been engaged in the business from his
youth to the present ,ime-having visited every
considerable village IN the United States and Ca
NADIA, and humbugged more people .han any man
living-crossed the Atlantic, and successfully hum
bugged Madam Victoria, her royal family and the
nobility and Is even now in the full tide Of success
ful operation with the nobility of the frog-eating
empire. But should the truth Of the above quo
tation from Mr.. Diddleum be doubted, we have
only to cast our minds eye over the transactions
OF last week in this village to be convinced. al
lude to the performances in the black art by the
Rev q. SmithN Go. That mesmerlsm lsaltogether
humbus do not assert; having never seen but one
experiment | am not wholly satisfied myself. But
"clairvoyance," or the power of seeing things IN
visible and distant, though bndfolded, think
fe WI M unt de IF he IF flee
tlon are prepared to swallow. The fact, that the
reverend gentleman failed to produce any evidence
before public audience establishing his theory, is
conclusive evidence that it rs worse than hum
bug, and like the translation by the reverend gen.
tleman's namesake Of the mystic golden plates, is
better calculated for the meridian Of Nauvoo than
Danbury. ! think the gentleman was rather un-
fortunate in making Danbury the scene OF his first
public exhibition, as It claawns the honor Of being
the birth place OF the renowned "Barnaby Dldde-
um." and there are some here who nave taken
less Lessons in, IN he art from this great man would
regard for the CLOTH as did the distinguished indl-
vdual before mentioned. He once obtained the
title by preaching q few sermons, but il became
nounced il as soon as possible. so. X"
r: 3. had forgotten to state that the proprietor
of this exhibition was challenged by distinguish
ed Physioiogist TO a public discussion of his pre-
but promised at some future time to accept OF il
He did not stop even TO 60 through with his public
lectures as advertised. but left in a storm for
Po'keepsie, the place from whence he came.
go. X"
Destructive FIRE IN RocHRsTKR. About halt
past o'clock last evening. fire broke out in Starts
block, Main street. in the variety store of Mr. Scid
which with it's contents destroy ed together
with the tin and sheet iron manusciory Of Henry Miller
though, by timely exerons the majority OF his goods
were saved; the upper stories were occupied by MIR
Starr a. cabinet shop The goods ofA & Day were
considerably damaged by removing snd water Probably
the loss will fall short OF from si2ooo to $lb 0oo part
Of which is by insurance. though TO what amount
We did not learn--RocAssfr .Adv Fec. let.