The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-07-03

had dismissed, intending to walk home.
1t was too late to send for them, and
was now in great p~erplexity. Iopened
my portfolio, and hastily ran through a
number of remarks that | had thrown
in there without arranging them; hap
PLY, | fell upon some novel observa-
tons upon insanity, and ! then deter
mined to make that the subject Of my
of-hand lecture. oaa
have but a confused idea of what
then followed; but | remember the ap-
plause which saluted my entrance, and
which became still louder when my
confusion was observed. AS soon as
there was silence | sommoned all my
courage and began. The first words
cost me infinite pains; | hesitated and
stopped continually; but by degrees |
recovered myself, and the great atten-
ton paid to me gave me confidence
soon found the cloud that %overspread
my senses clearing off; my ideas be-
came less confused; the words came
readily, and comparisons and express
sions crowded upon me. l had only
to choose them. As | went on, my
observations became more striking, and
my demonstrations more clear and
comprehensive. | was astonished at
the luency with which ! expressed my
self. found great facility in treating
several difficult subjects, which at an
other time | should hardly have dared
attempt. They seemed to me clear
and simple, and | got through them as
trifes. Still greater became my sur
prise, to find that my memory, which
had hitherto been slow and imperfect,
suddenly become %miraculously faithful,
and bring back the most triling cir
cunstances of my long career. cited
an author with SO much exactitude, that
one might have imagined that | held
the book in my hand; facts and anec.
dotes came TO elucidate my theories
and demonstrations: the cases of in
sanity that had witnessed in my youth,
and which l thought were effaced from
my memory, rushed back upon it as if
they had recently happened. became
every moment more and more at ease;
the promplness with which n idea
followed another, excited every faculty;
and words came to give them express
sion. At that moment a greater terror
took possession of my mind. 1t SEEM
ed to me that some unknown dangers,
which it was not in my power to avoid,
hung over me.
The supernatural power that had
hitherto supported me began to sink;
my thoughts became confused; strange
faces and fantastic images fitted before
my eyes. The objects Of which ] had
been speaking came to life. and | SEEM
ed like a magician who, by a word,
rendered visible the living and the dead.
| stopped! The most perfect silence
reigned in the hall-every eye was turn
ed to WIS rds me. All at once a horrible
thought seized me, a c~onvulsive laugh
broke from me, and | exclaimed, III
also am mad" All the assembly rose
instantaneously like one body. Every
voice raised a cry of surprise and ter
ror; and of what afterwards happened
| know nothing. l"Iq 727s
When / recovered my senses | was
in bed. Hooked around; | knew every
object in the room. The sun shone
upon the window curtains, which were
half closed; | was sensible that it was
evening. saw nobody in the room;
and when endeavored to comprehend
who | was, and why ] was there, a
f~aintness came over me; | shut my eyes
and tried to sleep, when some one en-.
tering the room awakened me; it was
my friend Doctor c., who APP
preached the bed, and attentively ex-
amined me for the space Of a few mo-
ments. Whilst he thus looked at me
perceived that he changed color-his
hand tremblsd whilst feeling my pulse,
and in a low melancholv wh;snar h.