The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-08
Myr,rr,au. Rapr,ms..

We published some days ago lew remarks
on this subject, extracted from Priyat. lester
received from friend Ia Boston. We cspy tht
following from another letter siaor rere'ved
from the same source:
ii was amused 10 find tho cK,ract fruiu my isl
ter in the Republic The subject of the rappings "
still uppermost in the minds Of many. confess J
cannot fathom the mystery. enclose paragraph
which cut from the Providence Journal ~ this
morning. How the deuce are the so,uds ma,is.
and the tables moved Can you tell nae VIII ghe
philosophers condescend % explain will tbs
clergy; Morality dumb, too 80 Come. get up
theory which shall make it clear and easy. u you
should table walk OIL OF iiself in the presence
OF q medium, without any possibility u lie beinF
done by machinery magnets, OF horse hairs, 90
any similar contrivance, what should you cay
Which would be the more probable That IL Was
done by the invisible spirit OF the medium" 90
by some other invisible spirit spirits out oi tie
flesh Expound,"
The following is the extract from the Prov.
dence Journal, above referred to
''1b the Editor Of the Journal
"Having noticed in your paper few days.ince a
communication giving an account of observations
taken by the writer at a sitting held for the pur-
beg leave TO offer you for publication short
count of an occurrence which took place in this
city at a well known location, and in the presence
of some half dozen persons, whose statements IN
the premises be obtained at any time by any
one whose curiosity prompts him TO the inquiry
''On returning home last Monday evening IN
company with friend, found there gentleman
and his wife, who are not members OF the family
and whose presence prompted me to delay retiring
for a moment to exchange civilites After some
desultory conversation, the subject of The Roches-
ter knockings introduced, and the vsiters i'm
Inediatey We'd with each other IN ridiculing them
the greatest humbug' Of the day. This was
heartily joined in by all present except the writer
of this whose attention TO the subject had satisfied
him that, however improbable the theory may be
which ascribes these things to the agency of spirts,
the fact cannot be denied that there is agency
at work here, at present unknown, and consequent
ly worthy of serious investigation.
"It occurred to him to OK periment upon the mat.
for the first time, his part, without known
medium And, after much ridicule and opposi-
| ton he succeeded in obtaining sitting around
the small, round work table which in the room.
| After obtaining good degree of quiet as the
case would allow, the question asked, Are
there any spirits presents If 50, will they rap
! three times the table"-adopting the manner OF
address used by believers IN the spirit theory
! What our surprise to hear three distinct raps
upon, rather in the table and this too, repea t.
ed several timea all present expressing their en-
tire satisfaction that the rappings were not pro
duced by any visible power 1t being late, the
experiments were not continued that evening; but
on the following morning the presence OF the
lady above mentioned was obtained, the expert
ments renewed, and like results followed, in tn,
presence of somc additional individuals. Thi.
decided that the lady is medium She
| however, being much averse TO connection with
the matter, we have as yet attempted nothing
| further.
"My object, Mr.. Editor, in addressing you this
is to turn the attention of inquiring minds to the
subject whenever it is possible and convenient, &c
! try like experiment. Ii medium ID present
among the stters, with little patience the sounds
will be heard. few attempts of this kind
will satisfy many that we were not humbugged-
perhaps OF something more important. a."