The southern press., 1851-10-29
Magnetism.

NC LtcHt"g OSt Polnttu Oul the OtneT uuy.
the exact coincidence between the clairvoyant
revelations of young girl at Bolton, whose
disclosures when in state of somnambusm
were reported at the time in the newspapers,
and since DR.. William Gregory's letters on
magnetism, and the actual position of Captain
Austin on 18th February, 1851. The most re-
markable feature Of the business was the fact
that all the young wOman's references to time
were derived from the chronometers upon the
vessels she was spiritually visiting; and it was
by calculation of the difference of time that the
difference of longitude was arrived at by the
parties present.
"At whatever hour" says DIR. Gregory, " she
was magnetised, and sent there, she always
made the same differences. Nay, more, when
the time was then or 10 a. m. "a or 5 p. m. at
Bolton,) she would say that such was the hour,
but that it was still dark and lights were burn
ing, in the early part of summer Now it is
quite absurd to suppose that this totally uned-
ucated girl has any notion of the relation of
longitude to time, or Of the difference between
an Arctic day and one in our latitude. y =
should add, that when she has been sent there
at such an hour and season, that it was night in
those latitude, she has, quite spontaneously des-
cribed the Aurora Borealis, which she once saw
as an arch, raising as if from the ground at one
end, and descending to it again at the othe'
From this arch, colored streamers rose upwards
and some of these curved backwa She was
much surprised and delighted at it, and asked il
that was the country the ranbows came from
She has never been tod anything whatever
about the Aurora, and knows nothing of it,
Letters, p. 306.
Extraordinary as this story is, the evidence
for it is too reliable to be questioned for q
moment. Besides, the constant appearance OF
other similar phenomena, adds immensely t.
the probability of it's correctness The fol.
lowing, for instance, we find in communication
addressed to the Paris Siec'e, of the 23d ult by
f.. Provost, highly respectable Commission.
aire au Mont-de Pi te, rue da Mouton. 81:
Dear Sir" Better late than never" is the
old saw: though | much regret having delayed
so long the publication of very similar OF
somnambulism, which has come under my OBJ
servation. In the month Of August, l849, one
of my clerks disappeared from my office, carry
ing with him very important amount of money
The most energetic researches on the part OF
the police had been unavailing, when one Of my
friends, M. Linstant, to whom, as legal adviser
had cOnfded my loss went without consulting
me, to Marclet, the magnetism, to confer with
Alexis, his cairvoyaLt subject The magnetic
connection having been established, the follow
ing colloquy took place.
HCan you tell me, Alexis, what motive has
brought me to you7"
Eyes; you come, sir, to get information COL.
cerning robbery of money committed upon O
friend Of yours by one of his employees"
Right"
"The sum taken," continued Alexis, :" is quite
considerable it approaches 100000"
"Tbat is also correct"
After rejecting moment, Alexis proceeded
"The failhess servant is named ID Ibois; | see
him at Brussels; at the Hotel des Princes, where
he is staying. Set out instantly" he added
" and you will find him at that place"
NJ. Linstant started for Brussels, but unfortu.
natey not until the evening of the following
day. He there learned that Dubois had actually
put up at the hotel indicated; but had left the
city some hours before. At loss by which
way to follow, NJ Linstant returned to Paris,
and then for the first time apprised me of the
curious phenomena have stated Prompted
by interest and curiosity, visited M. Marcillet,
communicated with his subject, and learned that
Dubois was at Spa that he had lost large
amount Of money at play; and then was com
pletely "cleaned out" / followed him, but
from defect in my process and preparations, was
obliged to return without accomplishing the
arrest Alexis then told that Dubois had gone
to AK la-Cbapelle, that he had continued his
gambling habits, and had lost other large sums
He then reported his return to Spa, where the
last Of the stolen money was sacrificed at the
gaming table. then sent a despatch to Belgium;
found the statements of Alexis were correct
throughout; and Dubois was arrested at Spa
After detention of four or five months in the
prison of Verviers, awaiting formal requisition
from the French government, the guilty man
died Times