Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-07-09
COMMUNICATION.
TO THE EDITORS.

since the appearance of Mr.. G.. w TWELFTH late
paper on Spiritualism, to notice brieny, ana IN
friendly spirit, some of the views advanced by that
gentleman. ALLOW me brief place in your columns
70 examine for the sake Of scieaeeSnsh portions of
his late interesting paper as lHaay:thinK more par
ticularly deserving of notice.
Philosophers of the present age are naturally d.
vided into two great casses-SpirtualiSts and Ma
terialsts The former, just at the present moment,
seem to be in the ascendant at least in this coun-
try, while the latterprevail in Europe Your learn
ed correspondent Mr.. G. w. Eveeth, seems to be-
long to the category of Materialists, since he en-
deavors to materalize intellectual operations. He
distinctly maintains that intellectual operations
do arise in material changes J" leaving it to be in
ferred that changes are the first in the order
of sequence that material change in the tissues
of the body take place before intellectual opera
ton can follow
This is simply announcement of the old doctrine of
the French and English philosophers, that mind Hs de-
pendant matter, if not indeed property or pro-
duct of it. -
The immense Importance Of the bearing of such phioss
ply this upon the sacred Of religion, morality
and consequently liberty, makes IT necessary to
anime well its data 1t unnecessary show the de-
strucye effects ofsuch philosophy religion, morality,
and hbert since this has been often eloquenty,
and done shall therefore only
teapt to expose its errors and weak points.
Mr. Eveeth advances his theory Of intellectual opera
tons corollary from observations made on the
subject by Prof Draper Prof Draper however is spe
cfc to his views regarding this question: for he
says: :" Do not now msapprehend what say. would
not have you suppose that intellectual operations arise
in material changes The fact pointing out is, that
in the action of the mind external things chemical
changes intervene" Lecture Phosphorus 1871 In
reply to this Mr. Eveleth observes :" material
take advance Of the idea ted above
and maintain that intellectual operations do arise in
terial changes He further adds that Prof Draper
stakes this same step, perhaps unwingy" We do not
80 understand Prof Diapers language. Mr. Eveleth's
theory explains the mode by which acquire concep
ton of the FORM color sc. of rose follows: Light
reflected from the falls upon the retina its
gobues oxidated US Prof Draper observes by the
arteral Blood and the conception Immediately follows
consequence Of such oxidation.
No such idea of the origin of the conception Of external
objects is maintained by the language of Prof Draper
He admits only that certain material changes oxda-
tion elevation Of temperature, &c., intervene between
and its perception by the mnd but not that these
changes create the mental operation of perception is
clear from the quotations have made above. 1t is
simply saying that the mind cannot take cognizance of
external objects without the Intervention of material
medium in proper condition to allow the impression
be transmitted theory which are fully pre-
pared to subscribe We no advocates of the old Ars
toelion philosophy, and form clear idea of
cspton being conducted along merely physical
dunn from one person to another, Mr.. Eyeleth
ceves it possible conception is an im ateria product
Of the mind and cannot be said to be transmitted along
some material medium like bale of cotton along rail-
road track.
All ideas essentially immateria and have nothing
in with maeriaty. Thought is not transmitted,
but is endowedwih the property of nstananeity where
by it is independent Of all media and Of time and space
finding ITSELF without effort, in the distant
gons Of space and then again taking cognizance Of OBJ
jeets near at hand
Mr. Eveleths attempt to explain certain phenomena of
mesmersm, the movements Of tables, spiritual rap
pings &C. is exceedingly fancifu say the least of it.
He speaks of the possibility of muscular action sound
undulatons &C. being conUeed the lifting
Of tables, the ringing Of bes and the tuning Of the
strings of guitar Does he conceive muscular action
to be thing independent Of muscles, which be sepa
rated from them and conducted along certain ethereal
media from place to place And is sound, too
thing that be obstructed from the undulaons pro-
ducng il, and conducted along, like materiaty,
produce "rappngs whenever and wherever required?
This frankly confess transcends all my philosophy and
is perfectly abstract and ethereal that compre
bend it.
is quite impossible say, in these times Of railroads
and magnetic elcgraphs, what may happen and there
FORE If should hear Of patent being taken out for
mode Of bottng barreng up muscular action ready to
be applied any kind Of machinery such that Of rail-
road locomotives, steamboats, &c., it ought not to sur
prise us.
We do not propose though have limited at them, TO
gyein this short paper outline of views
regarding the constitution Of the human mind and its
modes Of action. We may do SO hereafter We will
oude by observing that Mr. Eyeeth is little behind the
age regard to the views Of medical concerning ami
NAL lfe He observes cit is prevailing opinion among
medical that animal life is nothing less
nelectricy circulating through the nerves through
wires Of copper !" and he adds that Sir John Hersche
has preached the idea that the human brain species
of galvanc battery, generating thought"
II have read Sir John Herschel correctly he never
advanced his opinion the idea ascribed him by Mr.
Rveeth but II he did entertain such idea it was
certainly demonstratye grounds for facts in phys
ology opposed to such view. we do straw
about great names and when any thing advanced
in science the authority Of great names
apt suspect absence Of plain and experiments
such the inductve method Lord Bacon imperatvely
demands. We think, indeed that il would be paying
poor compliment TO the great learning and sagacity Of Sir
John Hersche suppose him ignorant Of the present
state Of physiological science to seriously promugae
such an idea that ascribed to him by Mr.. Eveeth
AS to physicians Of the present day. have not met
with single well educated who entertained the idea
that animal life is nothing less than elecri
city circulating through the through wires Of