Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-06-27
M CELIA N Y
Interview with the sSpirits.' ,

One of the most interesting interviews, vet
held with the Rochester family, occurred at
the house of Rev. DIR. Griswold, in New York
on Thursday evening last. DR.. Griswold was
sworn disbeliever, and would have nothing to
do with the spirits in house where the fami-
" had resided He therefore invited them TO
his own house, and there they went, finding
present, BY DR.. Griswold's invitation, ]. Fem
nimore Cooper, Hon. Geo. Bancroft, Rev DR..
Hawks, Dr. ]. W. Francis, Dr. Marcy, n. P
Willis, VIM. Cullen Bryant, H. P. Tucker
man, and several others. The gentleman were
assembled when the ladies came, and the COM
munications commenced half an hour after
wards.
The following is the report of Mr.. Tucker
man S conversation with the spirits:
Having fixed in his mind the name of an
individual, he asked, Did he live in New York I
No answer. In Baltimore! In Cambridge
In Boston three distinct raps, which is the
sign of an affirmative answer. A negative re-
ply is indicated by silence. Mr.. T. continued
Was he lawyer! A merchant A physician
A clergyman Knocks Was he an Episco-
palianl A Presbyterian A Unitarian-gong
over the names of the principal sects. No an
swer. At the suggestion of gentleman Mr.
T. asked, Was he a Christian Knocks
Mr.. 7. then asked the age of the person in a
series of tens. Was he twenty years old at
the time of his death Was he thirty, Fifty
Sixty. Knocks. Has he left family l.
Knocks. Children Knocks. Five! Three I
Two Knocks. Did he die in Bostonl In
Philadelphia In Albany In Northampton I!
In Bennington! Knocks. Did he die of con-
sumption, Of fever. Of cholera Of old
age! Knocks.
The person in Mr.. Tuckerman's mind was
the late Rev. DR.. Charming of Boston, who
died in Bennington, Vt, while on journey.
The degree of correctness in the answers, may
be Judged by the reader. 1t may be stated,
however, that for the last years of his life DR..
c. disclaimed the use of all sectarian names,
preferring to be called only Christian, and that
though under seventy, his physical powers had
long suffered from premature exhaustion.
Mr.. j. Fennimore Cooper was then request
ed to enter into the supra-mundane sphere, and
proceeded to interrogate the spirits, with the
most imperturbable selfpossession. After sew
eral desultory questions from which no satis-
factory answers were obtained, Mr.. c. COM
menced new series of inquiries. Is the per-
son enquire about a relative Yes, was at
once indicated by knocks. A near relative l.
Yes. A man No answer. A woman Yes.
A daughtert A motherl A wife. No answer.
A sister. Yes. Mr.. c. then asked the num-
Der of years since her death. To this the an
swer was given in rapid and indistinct raps,
some counting As, others 40, "a, &c. After
considerable parleying, as TO the manner in
which the question should be answered, the
consent of the invisible interlocutor was given
to knock the years so slowly that they might
be distinctly counted. This was done. Knock
-knock-knock-fo what seemed over a
minute, till the number amounted to fifty, and
was unanimously announced by the company
Mr.. c.. now asked, did she die of consumption
naming several diseases, to which no answer
was given. Did she die by accident! Yes
Was she killed by lightning! Was she shot
| Was she lost at sea! Did she fall from car.
riage Was she thrown from horse! Yes
Mr.. Cooper did not pursue his enquiries any
further, and stated to the company that the an
swers were correct, the person alluded to b,
him being a sister, who, just fifty years age
the present month, was killed by being thrown
from horse.
The evening was now far advanced, and il
was not thought desirable to continue the colo
quies any further. At the suggestion of severa
gentlemen, the ladies removed from the sofa
where they had sat during the evening. and re
mained standing in another part of the room.-
The knockings were now heard on the doors
at both ends Of the room, producing vibration
on the pannels which was felt by every one VIII,
touched them. Different gentlemen stood OF
the outside and the inside of the door at th
same time, when loud knockings were hear,
on the side opposite to that where they stood
The ladies were at such distance from tn
door in both cases, as to lend no countenanc
to the idea that the sounds were produced b
any direct communication with them The
now went into parlor under the room in whic
the party was held, accompanied by severa
gentlemen, and the sounds were then produce
with great distinctness, causing sensible vibrs
tions in the sofa, and apparently coming froI
thick hearth-rug before the fireplace, as we
as from other parts of the ROOM
This is but part of faithful, uncolored re
port, in the New York Tribune. The opiI
ions of the company upon the nature Of thes
manifestations are not given.
Revenge wrong by forgiving if.