The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-01
TERMS s..
PRINTED BY G. A. SAGE.
Magnetism.

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tho exact coincidence between the clairvoyant
revelations Of a young girl at Bolton, whose
disclosures, when in a state OF sonnambullsm,
acre 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.
markabe 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 DR.. Gregory, she
was magnetised, and sent there, she always
made the same differences. Nay, more, when
the time was then or 10 q. m. "a or lp. m. Mt
Boton.) she would say that such was the hour,
bat that it ives still dark and lights weye barn.
ing, in the early part Of summer as6T i 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
hose latitude, she has, quite spontaneously des-
,,ribed the Aurora Boreais, which she once saw,
,s an arch, raising as if from the ground at one
nd, and descending to it again at the Other.
From this arch, colored streamers rose upwards,
and some ofthese curved backwards. She was
much surprised and delighted at it, and asked If
that was the country the rainbows came from.
She has never been told anything whatever
about the Aurora, and knows nothing of it,
Letters, p. 3O6
Extraordinary as this story is, the evidence
for it is too reliable to be questioned for
moment. Besides, the constant appearance Of
other similar phenomena, adds immensely to
the probability of its correctness. The fol-
lowing, for instance, we find in communication
addressed to the Paris SIEGE, of the 23d ult by
E. Provost, highly respectable Commission
aire au Montde- Picte, rue da Mouton. g.:
Dear Sir" Better late than never" is the
old saw: though much regret having delayed
so long the publication of very similar case 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 unavang, when one of my
friends, M. Instant, to whom, as legal adviser,
] had eonfded my loss, went without consulting
me, to Marcillet, the magnetiser, to confer with
Alexis, his clairvoyaIt subject The magnetic
ing colloquy took place.
"Can you tell me, Alexis, what motive has
brought me to you?"
aYes; you come, sir, to get information con-
corning a robbery of money committed upon a
friend Of yours by one of bis employees"
fright"
aThe sum taken" continued Alexis, is quite
considerable; it approaches 20000f."
sThat is also correct"
After rejecting q moment, Alexis proceeded
"Tbe faiihless servant is named Dubois; see
him at Brussels; at the Hotel des Princes, where
he is staying. Set out instantly" he added,
a and you will find him at that place"
M. Linstant started for Brussels, but unfortu.
nately 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 Instant returned to Paris,
and then for the first time apprised me of the
curious phenomena ! have stated. Prompted
by interest and curiosity, visited NJ. 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 acleaned 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 hapelle, that he had continued bis
gambling habits, and had lost other large sums.
He then reported bis return TO Spa, where the
last OF the stolen. money was sacrificed at the
gaming. table ! then sent 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 Veryiers, awaiting formal requisition
from the French government, the guilty man
died"-Times.