The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-05-27
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| winter in Washington, where he devoted ooo
deal OF time and attention TO the alleged "Soirit
uI MoNHestati0ns" whereof the Misses Fox
then in Washington, were the "mediums Mr.
T. became thoroughly convinced of the VERT
and importance of these 'manifestations, !" and .
declared himself in letter just published in tn
| National Intelligencer. We declined printing tina
letter, because, while it expatiated at length o.
the manifestations as reliable, it gave facts
| Justify such momcntous conclusions. The follow
ing letter from Mr.. T. is of different class, an
we very cheerfully make room for it without at al
endorsing its conclusions:
BALTIMORE, TUESDAY, April -, 1853.
DEAR MADAM: / seize few leisure mo
ments, while detained here on business, to Civ
you more extended account OF the "Physica
Manifestations to which alluded in former
letter. In this account shall confne myself Il
those which purport to come from the spirit o
John C. Calhoun.
have received numerous communications from
him, from the commencement OF my investigation
of this subject down to the present time. Those
communications have been received through rap
ping mediums, writing mediums. and speaking
mediums. They of the most extraordinary
character. In style and sentiment they do honor
to him in his best days on earth.
After the arrival Of the Misses Fox in Wash
ington city in February last, called on them by
appointment, and at once received communica-
ton from Calhoun.
then wrote down and propounded mentally t he
Scan you do any thing (meaning physical man
ifestatons) to confirm me in the truth of these
revelations, and 10 remove from my mind the least
shadow of unbelief! ,
To which received the following answer:
81 will give you a communication on Monday,
at u O'clock Do not fail to be here. | will then
give you an explanation.
"JoHs C. CALHouN"
1t is proper here to remark, that all the commu-
nications referred to in this letter were made by
Calhoun after a call for the alphabet, and were
raped out, letter by letter, and taken down by
me in the usual way. They were made in the
presence of the Misses Fox and their mother.
/ called on Monday at the hour APPOINTED and
received the following communication:
my friend, the question is often put to you
wv hat good result from these ma niestat
will answer it:
cit is to draw mankind together in harmony,
and convince skeptics of the immortality of the
soul. JOHN c. CALHOUN"
This reminds me that in 1850, at Bridgeport, in
the presence of 9th er mediums among many
questions put and answers received, were the fol-
lowlng-the answer purporting 10 come from w.
E. Claiming:
these new manifestations!
n. To unite mankind, and 10 convince skepti.
cal minds of the immortality of ssthe soul''
The coincidence in sentiment of the answer of J.
the object of these manifestations is remarkable
and worthy of particular notice. The concur
renee OF two such great minds, whether in or out
OF the body, on subject 80 engrossne, cannot
fail to command the attention of every adIni or of
exalted intellect and moral purity.
During the above communication of Calhoun,
the table moved occasionally, perhaps foot first
one way aad then the other. After the communi
cation closed, we all moved back from he table,
from two to four feet-so that no one touched the
table. Suddenly the table moved from the position
1t occupied some three or four feet, rested few
moments, and then moved back to its original
position Then it again moved as far the other
way, and returned to the place it started from
One side of the table was then raised, and stood
for few moments at an angle of about thirty. five
degrees, and then again rested on the floor as
usual.
The table was a large, heavy, round table, at
which ten dozen persons might be seated at
dinner. During all these movements no person
touched the table, nor .oas any near it. After
seeing 1t raised in the manner above mentioned, i
had the curiosity to test its weight by raising it
myself. accordingly took my seat by it, placed
my hands under the leaf, and exerted as much
force as was capable of in that sitting posture,
and could not raise it a particle from the floor. /
then stood in the best possible position to exert
the greatest force, took hold of the leaf and still
could not raise it with all the strength could ap.
ply. then requested the three ladies' to take hold
around the table, and try altogether to lift it,
We lifted upon it until the leaf and top began to
crack, and did not raise it particle. We then
desisted, fearing we should break the table then
said, 'Wil the spirits permit me to raise the
table!" took hold alone, and raised it without
difficulty.
After this the following conversation ensued:
"Q. Can you raise the table entirely from the
floor? II. Yes
sc. Willyeu raise me with it? H. Yes; get me
The square table was of cherry, with four legs
large size tea table. 1t was brought out and
substituted for the round one, the leaves being
raised took my seat on the centre; the three
ladies sat at the sides and end their hands and
arms resting upon it. This, of course, added to
the weight to be raised, namely, my own weight
and the weight of the table. Two legs of the table
were then raised about six inches from the floor,
and then the other two legs were raised TO level
of the first, that the ,ohole table ,ous suspended
IN the air about s,G inches aboue the floor. While
thus seated on it, could feel gentle, vibratory
motion as if floating in the atmosphere. After
being thus suspended in the air for few moments
the table was gently let down again to the floor.
Some pretend to say that these ply steal mani
festations are made by electricity ! should like
to know BY what laws of electricity known to Us
table is at one time riveted, as it WERE to the
floor against all the force that could be exered to
raise it, and at another time raised entirely from
the hoor with more than two hundreds of pounds
weight upon it?
At a subsequent meeting Calhoun directed me
to bring three bells and guitar. ! brought them
accordingly. The bells were of different sizes
the largest like small-szed dinner bell. He d.
rected drawer to be put under the square table.
put under a bu eau drawer bottom side up He
directed the bells to be placed on the drawer
The three ladies and myself were seated at the ia
BILE. with our hands and arms resting on it, The
bells commenced ringing in a sort of chime. Nu-
merOus raps were made, If beating time to q
march. The bells continued to ring, and to chime
in with the beating of time. The time of the march
was slow and solemn. 1t beautiful and per
feet The most fastidious could not detect
any discrepancy in it.
The raps then ceased and the bells rang violent
iy for several minutes bell was then pressed
on my foot, my ankle, and my knee. This was
at different times repeated. knocks were made
most Uehsmenty against the under side of the ia
BILE, 30 that large tin candestick was, by every
blow, raised completely from the table by the con.
cussion ..
/ afterward examined the underside of the table,
(Which, it will be recollected, of cherry) and
found fluctuations in the wood made by the end Of
the handle of the bell, which tipped with brass
Could electricity make those violent knocks with
the handle of the bell, causing indentations and
| raising the candlestick from the table at every
blow! Or was it done by the same invisible power
that riveted the table to the floor and gain raised
it, with all the weight upon it, entirely above the
| floor2
| Here the ringing of the bells ceased, and then
| felt sensibiy and distinctly the impression of
hand on my foot, ankle, and knee. These mani
festations were several times repeated.
! was then directed to put the guitar on the
drawer. We were all seated before, with our
| hands and arms resting on the table.
The guitar was touched softly and gently, and
gave forth sweet and delicious sounds like the ac
com to utjf1l nd eyonie;ta p;a>a