The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1850-06-14
For the Herald and Correspondent.

Mr.. EDIToR:-You are the only one know
of who has taken any public notice OF our
Biologist This is the more to be regretted,
as some have met were not sure how to take
what you did say-whether as pure commen-
dation or not--and the gentleman has left US,
with but little light on the benefits of his art
or science, whichever is the right name. This
cannot help thinking pity. For pity some
it is when any efforts of genius are unavallng,
or deep research into the secrets OF nature are
unappreciated. The exhibitions he did make
were, to be sure, attended with some amuse-
ment, especially in subjects so deeply impor-
tant as the very arcana of life itself, the action
of material, external agents on thought and
will, and the nature of the connection between
mind and matter. These are great subjects,
sir. not fit to be trihed with as the toys of
| child. but such as have tasked the brightest
and mightiest minds in the most enlightened
times. That such men confess their Ignorance
with a child like frankness, and either give up
| the pursuit, or conclude that matter and spirit
are entirely distinct departments of existence,
each under an all-creating power who alone
can unite them and bring them into harmonl-
Gus relations and action, is no reason why
Biologist should blench He took new name
and it became him to substantiate it by appro-
pirate performances. He mounts the seat of
hirh observation and places himself beside the
very starting point of life and motion, or, ne
4 saws he does, and therefore he is bound to
make good his pretensions by corresponding
revelations.
Past discoveries certainly warrant the ex-
pectation of new. Only think of the steam
boat. the railroad and the electric telegraph.
And may we not ask, why, by the same agents,
some inroads may not be made on the unseen
world.-why the lines may not be extended to
the brightest and darkest above and below, and
q bridge be sprung over the impossible gulfs
Or, without expecting so much at once, may
we not at least inquire, why, by combination
of metals, brought into contact with warm
blood and living flesh, the animal functions
should be regulated at the option of the ex-
perimenter, and the powers Of thought and ut
tterance be controlled at his yolition? These
questions, fear, are no clearer than before the
appearance of the scientific gentleman who
has inst left us. We had some right, if | mis-
take not. to expect other things from him. His
handbills excited the curiosity of many. He
was we'll received, | believe. Even some
church people took him by the hand, and went
co far as to open church for the exhibitions OF
his wonders,--an edifce owned by one of our
straitest sects, though, perhaps, they have
; more credit for strictnesst than they Deserve
2 at anv rate, it was place mainly devoted tc
the irving of lessons from a book which most
noinfedly condemns all dealing with familiar
!. snirits. witches, wizards, sorcerers, enchant
n ers. &c. themselves and their deeds. Preju
!. dice then. there was none. No fear of the in
ouisition, either stood in his way. He nigh
have enchanted the living, conjured the absent
g started the ghosts Of the dead, and exercised
the very devil, and all would have been en-
: cored. Nay, had he gone on to reveal the IN
utterable things which Paul, poor man, onl
saw and heard, but was never able to describe
h or had he advanced to the unveiling Of ou
family and official secrets, and made know