New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-25
DIR. Lee on the Knockings, again.

Two or more Of these are from lecturers, whose
pecuniary interest it is to keep up the deluson'
and prevent any satisfactory explanation from
being believed by the public. Their personalities
shield them very effectually from any notice from
me; while at the same time, they betray bad
temper and a worse cause. The exposition. made
by myself, in connection with my colleagues, Drs.
Flint and Coventry Of Buffalo, in relation to the
causes of these mysterious "rappings is true,
and will bide the test Of any investigation properly
| conducted, that may be made as 1t has those
already made. II there are any individuals, 50
simple as to swallow the other alleged "phenom-
ena" Of which the same party or others are the
| media" such as the removal of tables, the won
! derful answers 70 questions, &c, after we have
satisfactorily demonstrated the principle phenom-
! enon the "rappings } an imposition and fraud
think it as well to leave such persons in their elm
plicity for in their anxious search after the
| marvellous and wonderful, | fear they would
grasp at something still more absurd and rldicu'
! lous.
In regard TO the " Providence Rappers" and the
! "INFANr MEDIA" OF Mr.. Bristow | doubt not
they will also be exercised in due time, as the
! Rochester. and as am informed by Prof Knight
of New Haven, the Strattord rappers have already
/ been. But don't hurry us too fast; we have
other business to attend TO- beside exposing spirit
knockings' hope the swindle, however, as IL
is now exposed. will be taken cognizance OF, by
the local authorities, in those places where the
imposition may again be attempted.
Those who wish TO see full and accurate &C
count of the manner in which these "rsps" are
produced through the mediums OF the differ
ent Joints of the body, may consult with advan-
taee, the able article by Prof Austin Flint, IN the
Buffalo Ned. Jour-, flor March, and the same,
with additions, published in pamphlet form, by
Mr.. Geo. II. Derby of that city. CHAs. A LEE
Rel.Irks.
The above letter from DR.. LEE seems to require
the publication of the following from Mrs. Fish,
the oldest of the three sisters this being, so
far as we are aware, the FIRST and only communi'
cation ever addressed by one Of them to the pub
lie. And we think it but fair to add that zoe have
been present when Rappings' were made on
tables, chairs &c, not only IN the presence OF
these but of other alleged mediums when 1t was
as certain as human eyesight could make it that
no person Ckaterer pas in contact nth the article
from rhich the sounds appeared to come. All J
says a doubter, you thought they proceeded from
the table, because you expected them there
Well; a little girl, less than two years old, who
had never before paid any attention to this mat
ter, was attracted to the vicinity OF the table by
the loudness OF the Rappings, aud stood near 1t
for some time, looking cur1Ously first upon and
then under the table, palpably interested and puz
zled by the hearing of sounds proceeding from
place where no known cause for sound existed
The table was a small, slight, plain one, without
covering, and no chance for even a mouse to be
within some feet of it unobserved
ubo. .hs stated by Mrs Bish that the
sounds heard in the presence of the same med
ums are Of exceedingly various character-not
merely loud and low at the same time, but imi-
tating saving, planning, creaking, beating time,
&c. &c.-and especially the fact that, when but
single medium is present, there often seemed
to be a dozen invisibles 'rappng at the same
time-loud, low, quick, slower, &c. &c.-does not
seem to be adequately accounted for by DR.. Lees
theory.
SO much we feel impelled to say, no matter
whether our scientific and philosophic cores
pendent is moved thereby to class US with impos.
tors or more charitsbly) with dupes. 1t does
seem to US that DR.. Lee has disposed OF the whole
matter too summarily, and that after having vol
unteered to enter the lists exposer Of what
he represents as a gross, imPudent, pernioious
swindle, he ought TO have proceeded at least SO
far as to obtain a report or decision by some inn
partial committee that he has made good his
assertions. "a. Ifto'
LITTER FROM MRS. FISH.
BUFFALO, Friday March IA.
To the Editor Of the Commercial Advertiser:
gladly avail myself of the privilege you have
so courteously extended to me to defend myself
through your columns against aspersions which,
if suffered to pass UNDECIDED. might bring tempo
rary reproach upon the cause 10 which we are
engaged as involuntary, though willing instru-
ments, in the hands Of higher power.
Some time since you gave place, 10 the columns
of your paper, 10 q statement made by Professors
LEE. FLINT and COVENTRY, which they pat forth
10 the public as an exposition Of the Rochester
KnockiDgs7 The positions which they assumed
we knew 10 be fallscious and unsupporable, and
we at once challenged fair and impartial inVes
tgation believing that it was not in the nature OF
those gentlemen TO seek our conviction Of fraud
contrary 10 evidences which / knew must con-
vince every candid mind. IL IS true that when
our feet were placed on cushions stuffed with
shavipgs, and resting on our heels, there were no
sounds heard, and that sounds were heard when
our feet were resting on the hOOr; and II Is Just
as tine that if our friendly Spirits retired when
thew witnessed this harsh proceeding on the part
of our prosecutors it was not 10 our power to de-
tain them.
DR. Lee says he heard two sounds when ne
was holding Margarettas knees. counted i've
at one time during that operation, two at another
and three a. another which made ten instead OF
two 8ut do not consider the circumstance OF
apy importance whatever The spirit in which
thew engaged in the investigation was too palpa.
bic TO be mistaken, evinclng too great determine
ton 10 carry their point TO admit Of the possibility
Of copyicticn. They had heard sounds made by
timber joiAts and because one person could pro-
duce one kind Of sound, made by knee-lolnts
thew would have the community believe that all
the sounds heard in presence Tor the last ioor
years, were produced by humping or snaPPlsS
| our knse FONTS AS professional gentlemen whose
regulations are dear TO them, would like them
70 tell your readers what condition our poor
ioiuts would be in by this time, after four years
| constant service in this almost ceaseless opera
| a.. l % IN nor call thia nnackerY buk Will be