The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-02


centrcties are recorded Of them no doubt but h nc
matters little to the prn ,es of trade either at
New York or at Manchester. Possibly. moreover.
II may DC considered as circumstance OF moment
only in the more reconcile CONCENTRATIONS of Mr.
Wakley, In his capacity as the coroner for Middle
sex, that the young gentlemen of Japan are in the
habit of relieving themselves Of the tedu,n of ex-
istence through the fashionable suicide effected bv
dexterously ripping open the abdomen. Why
the young ladies of the same country should
presume for moment that they enhance their
beauty by blackening their teeth, or extracting
import to those not wholly infatuated by the
virtues of Mr.. Rowland's renowned Odonto, or of
his dainty Kaly dor, or, still more, Of what Lord
Byron has celebrated as his " incompatible oil
Maeassar." But surely it must be admitted that
while the verifcation of such rumors may be gra-
tfyng to comparatively small sections of the civil
lied community, multiplicity of other statements
OF more moment in reference to Japan and the
Japanese, demand the more careful and Sc iulous
attention OF every active and enterprizng popula-
ton. For thousand reasons, therefore, We await,
with the most fervent solictude, the completion Of
Washington has determined to adventure. As the
expiation Of many fragrant acts of inhumanity, we
look forward to the desired vengeance with emotions
of very peculiar satisfaction. We rejoice at the
expedition, in fine, for, inasmuch as it will tend to
bring 10000 900 or 40 0000 900 moro of Gods crea
lures into communication with the rest Of their
misunderstanding asunder that monstrous and
unnatural system which has for two centuries insu-
mankind, shutting them out generation after gene
ration, from the chance Of participating in the mar
wells achieved by science, in the skill acquired in
art in the comforts secured by industry, and deny
ing to them at once, and by the most eifeCtual
MEANS the blessings Of Christianity and tho advan-
tages OF civilization.
The Wonders of Amer1ca-The Spiritual
Rappings Convention.
From the London News Oct. 16]
Whatever reason there may be doubt that the
Van han tha nj n
mains, there can be no hesitation In saying that
they slick them to immortal smashes," and, to
use another of their own expressive terms, they
" catawampously chav the Britishers up in all
supersensual matters Great as they undoubtedly
are on solid earth, in Mexican wars, in rife shoot
ing, yacht building, daguerreoyping. gin sling, and
host Of terrene achievements Of like nature, still
greater are they in their mastery over the details OF
the spiritual world. They are like the intellectual
victor celebrated by the poet, not only do they
conquer WORLDS" but they Imagine new" Nor
monism, which in England dwelt in uncleRn places,
unknown to Commissioners of Sewers, and lifted up
its voice in back streets only where it was drowned
by the adult brawls and the infantine screams of
"surplus population" is elevated into power in
the United States There it chooses governors,
enacts laws, makes war. Revivals,' which in
England tremble at the shaking Of policeman's
club, in America convulse States, overawe power,
lead thousands captive In America, German trans
cendental philosophy, which is SO sickly an exotic
in England, takes vigorous root, becomes an
element in the public mind, f0urishes in trans
cendental magazines like The Dial, finds voices
cratic philosophers like Ralph Waldo Emerson.
All spoints to an extreme sympathy IN some por-
ton at least of the American population wthUFery.
thing that relates to the world beyond the senses
The old Puritan belief in the existence of magic,
which expressed itself in the burning of witches
decidedly that it was difficult to find an old woman
In New England, has come down to the modern des-
cendants OF the pilgrim fathers " with difference"
There are numbers ready still to believe in COM
munications with the unseen world. The grim form,
however, Of the old Puritan faith, which had some
thing sublime in it, is changed for the benefit OF
modern believers into something rather pleasanter
and as it appears to outside nides something inten
selycomic To some portion, however, Of the Ameri-
population there is snothing OF all comic in the
matter They have taken the thing up seriously, and
determining to bring spiritual influence as well as
all Others within the boundary of republican forms,
they have lately held spiritual convention. The
American papers tell us that at Worcester, in Mas
sachussetts several hundred believers in spritualism
convened in the horticultural Hall, on september
the twenty ninth, and commenced, after having in
q most matter of fact manner, chosen chairman,
to discuss gravely all sorts Of questions which relate
shows that no subject was forbidden, that had in (
any elements of impossibiity, or was contrary to
he dictates Of common sense.
Mr.. Spear commenced the entertainment This
gentleman edited the meeting by telling them that
'he seemed to have the power of helping persons
1t may be as well to say here that we incline to the
belief that MIR. Spear must be excepted from the
sweeping condemnation Of folly which attaches to
most of the actors in the scene to which We are
abiding. he seems to have known remarkably
we'll what he was about, and his exordium was ad-
mirabIy well calculated to excite the greatest SYM
patty amongst crowd of persons, who it is mere
charity TO suppose were not very weii able 70 nep
thst such persons may be very probably flock
destined for his peculiar care " He seemed to
have the power of helping persons. His hand
moved without his will towards the seat Of diseases,
and they were instantly relieved Here is direct
bid to be elected pb yician in chief to the spiritual
in.apabes The spirits" he continued, "sent
him on distant missions, telling him he would have
his expenses paid, and it was always 500 Who can
doubt, after this, that Mr. Spear will turn up at
at Paris next year, comfortably settled in the rue
Rivoli, with the run Of the Boulevards generously
secured to him by the spiritualsts II not seen at
Paris look for him at Baden, or Munich, or Naples,
any locality which has c0nveniences for garn err
ing that somewhat indistinct but grateful product
called the fat of the land" Mr.. Spear is wise
man in his generation, and assured his hearers at
the conclusion Of his speech that she thought some
great good would result to the world from this gift,
If he allowed time and ease TO develop it."
Who doubts that great good would resalt-at least
to that fraction Of the world represented by
Mr. j. M. Spear
The afternoon session attended by eight hun-
bred people. The business COMMITTEES" reportedr re-
Lotions recommending quarterly mss meetings OF be-
levers, the institution Of haymonial orotherhoods,
the formation of spiritual circles, and various other
means OF bringing DO heaven to earth, and lifting
earth up to heaven" The reporter, who does not
appear 10 have been duly struck with the proper
qlantum Of reveIence informs rather cruelty that
"a good d. al Of incoherent discussion followed about
meslnersm, magnetism, phsycoism, and several other
sms"
In the evening, at seven o'clock, the hall was
again crowded, although" says the astonshed
porter "a fee of ten charged at the door,
We car scarcely think no vever that ten centsis dear
for "hand book OF the next world; and are not
much surprised that individuals thoroughly believing
in the possibility of obtaining materials for such
hand book should not hesitate to invest the mem
toned in the purchase. Mr. Andrew jackson Davis
was the hero of the evening" and continued his efforts
tomysfy his hesrers on the next day Not having at
hand guide to the literature Of the spirtualsts,
we are not quite cure whether Mr.. Davis is the
"Poughkeepsie Seer" who published volume Of
folly and blasphemy of portentous dimensions some
time back The style, however, of the speech and
the book are SO much alike. thA they would appear