The republic., 1851-02-17
rlsstsieai Biology.

Elsetsieal Biology.
10 ~ Editor Of as Republic.
noticed this morning an elaborate artcle writ
ten BY you on The subject OF the mao science (ec
callsd) Of Electrical Biology" In that article i
seems to be your aim to hold up the profeasors ol
this science generally, and Mr. Fiske particularly;
At the same time YOU he door opsn for sscspr
should you yourself be mistaken in your conciu-
sions.
Your course is not generous--of course IL 10 not
just; just neither TO tho public whom you pretend TO
instruct, nor to Mr. Fiske. whom you condemn.
Permit me, sir, to advise you in future to examine
moro particularly the ground, ofan opinion before
you proclaim il TO the world. Do, sir have done;
spend the ptiful sum Of ten dollars for the sake Of
establishing truth, or Of detecting error. BE moro
philosophical than to attend public exhibition
room, az q place for investigating the prctensions
Of = new science, and for deriving knowiedge suf-
ficisnt to instruct the public. But go with me to
the classes taught by Mr. Fiske and the other pro-
fessors Of biology, and there with all the light be-
fore you these pioneers c. command, form your
conclusions, and make them oracular. III
For myself, strand am, and have been sub.
scriber to the "RepubIic" ever since il was estab-
lished- can safely say, that the truths elected be-
fore the classes 20 clear and cogent 90 wonder
ful, yet 20 palpable, that have Dot only become
thoroughly convinced of their reality myself, but
candidly believe that he who has heretofore con-
Quoted the Republic with such success and ability
will be among the first to retrace his steps, and bo
VI
without examination, &C ndemns.
have written this, sir, at no request Of Mr..
Fbkc, but simply because see an able man grap-
ping with, he knows not what, in the dark. and in
jurinK others and himself by his ignorance.
THURSDAY, Feb. IA. 1850 w. II. X.
Remarks. @af
Whoever has read our article on the biological
exhibition will not need to be told that the above
communication is a most illogical production. We
gave account Of what we heard and saw, and
drew one inference, viz: That it furnished no
proof of the claims of biology We limited our
remarks to that exhibition and to this inference.
II will be observed that w. H. X. does not show,
or attempt to show, or prove, that either our ao-
count, or our infercnces, in any respect naccu
rate or unsound. He seems to think that we made
a mistake in supposing that this exhibition, con-
Quoted by Mr.. Fiske was at all test Of the truth
Of biological science, or afforded the means Of
judging Of it. What, then. was the purpose Of the
exhibition? Was it farce, merely to make
laugh for the moment'
Such was not the aspect in which the exhibitor
presented himself to the audience; he very emphat-
ically claimed then and there, to demonstrate the
verify of his biological theories. From this chal-
lenge, and from the emphasis with which it was
uttered, we supposed this exhibition to be fair
subject Of criticism with view to consideration
of the truth Of the alleged discovery. We think 80
still; for surely w. H. R. has shown nothing to
the contrary. a1
Every person, of any reflection, will that bio
logy claims to prove that which shocks our accus-
toned modes Of thought, founded upon experience;
it claims that one mind, by abstract voition, can
make other minds the subject Of such illusions at its
pleasure. One man may thus, by his will alone,
turn othor persons into lunatics. Now this, to cay
the least, on its face is improbable; in order to
prove it, therefore. weight of evidence sufficient
to overcome this improbability is indispensable.
We need not tell w. H. R. that anonymous COM
munications, and anonymous invitations to join Mr..
Fiske's class, does nothing whatever toward his
object. Whenever we see men of standing giving
their names openly az witnesses to these narvels,
we shall think it time to bestow confidence and be-
lief in biological pretencos. In the meanwhile, we
hold ourselves ready to examine, and to sift such
evidence as is put before us. Is
We think the writer Of the preceding communi-
cation, in imputing 10 uniairness, shows total
ignorance of the rules of logic and augmentation.
man who comes forward, claiming to have made
4 great discovery, is bound to prove il before he
;an ask belief He challenges scrutiny-he invites
a rigid test of his claims II he pretends to some
hing in itself improbabl c--something which runs
counter to xperience-something which seems to
tread the verge ofthe supernatural he, COURSE
expects to meet incredulity and even contradic-
ton. This is the precise position of the biologist;
and for him to be sensitive to criticism-to hide
evidence and testimony under initials--cvinces
total inscnsbiity to the prophecies Of his posi-
ton; and 90 far it goes, tends to his dsadvan-
Iage in the argument.
We have q serious word to gay on this and some
kindred topics. There are now set of men in this
country pretending to hold communication by
knockings, and other means, with the spiritual
world; there are others who, by mesmeric or bio
logical means, profess to open new and wonderful
in mental philosophy. These matters
have been spread over the country by itinerant
lecturers, and by the press TO such extent that
many weak minds greatly unsettled, and q re-
cent terrible tragedy has taken place at Quincy,
in consequence. We allude to the
suicide of John Grieve and his wife, whose minds
says the Baltimore Sun, "isers evidently deyanged
BY French novels, spiritual knockinss elairuoyance
md studying the philosophy of Mr. Andrt,r jackson
Davis."
Now. this terrible self. murder shows the danger
Of these things-thus taken up and circulated at
random. If they are true, they are awful myste-
ries, and will require new guards in the intercourse
Of society protection from abuse. The true
position Of the community, we think, is to hold
aloof from rushing into any Of these
garies. When they are believed and sanctioned by
such men NJ Professor Henry, Professor Silliman,
and others Of that stamp, il will be in to
ceive them. The suicide alluded to should at least
put parents thoir guard against all these ques-
Iionable marvels, especially when they are in the
hands Of interested and irresponsible parties.
The Currency Question.
To the Ed ifor Of The Republic.
Among the variety of suggestions that have been
offered with view to relieve the demand for small
change, there are two which merit immediate at
sention. The first is that our mints should coin
The largest possible number of gold doars consist
snt with the second proposition, which is that all
the silver that is coined, until the pressure is re-
moved should be in quarter dollars and these