Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-06-25

W,
theory Of the physical power Some Of them holding
high political professional and social positions firmly
persuaded as men can be- and mediums too, kindly
dertook to prove TO me- by experiment that the power
exists and that they exercise IT, The experiments
patiently continued and repeated different occasions
The tables used were light pine tables varying from 20 to
80 inches square, and in height from 20 to 80 inches
The hands in all the operations laid the top
The fact they undertook prove was that after the tables
were charged they could move them by volition with
out any muscular any other known force One of the
mediums stated to me that the operations terrible
tax on his nervous system and generally left feeling of
languor and lassitude. Now for the result of the
periments.
They made the table sde tip on two feet, stand on
one spin round turn over until the edge of the top rested
on the hoor and rise erect again All this with the hands
on the top Of the table, and without visible efforts They
amed they made no pressure thrust with the hands
On the first occasions they affirmed that with the hands
IN the same position, and by ordinary power the
motions could not be produced The contrary was clearly
proved to Them and they admit that they mistaken
on this point.
They affirmed that they could perceive difference
and the effort by which these last motions were pro-
duced In trials made to test their discriminating
they mstook the moving the table and thew also
pronounced motions which were made without the help
of the faculty to be genuine manifestations And
they gave up the claim of ability discriminate between
/ the motions.
| Some critical motions suggested to them which
before trial they thought they would be able effect and
which they ought have been abe they required less
force than those they did effect. For instance when
rested on the floor, they could continue the motion
and make it revoye the edge to incline the upper
surface of the top to the floor They could when pros
rae make it slide feet foremost land this occurred when
the order to get erect unless resistance was
applied at the foot but they could make it slide in
the opposite direction They in vain attempted make
light board laid upon the table, tp," in any
other way separate from the motion of the table, except
to slide But it is useless to multiply instances They
invariably failed to produce any notion except such
could be produced by pressure and thrust of the hand
without visible effort.
The above statement Of the experiments has been read
to them and the purpose for which is to be used
nounced, and they acknowledge that it is fair statement
the experiments and of the performances here gene
rally They desire that the tippngs BIO thoroughly
examined and are therefore willing that it be published
On this rest the On this and no better ground
do assert that (here there is particle of proof in
the tppings of this power On thssnd better ground
rests the faith of my friends and other be-
levers in this place
These gentlemen, of high professional atainments say
there is doubt of the good faith Of all engaged who
all declare that they exert muscular force, and the
tables move as they desire that the moral Of this
evidence is so strong to compel conviction and to con-
strain their assent which they cannot refuse. They
then assert that muscular efforts sufficient to produce
such effects cannot be unconsciousy made and then they
ask you doubt the testimony of such witnesses?
To this it is replied that by their own admission q
strong voton and an earnest desire conditions
quise to the activity of the agency and the muscles
trained by habit to obedience to the WILL and will be apt
to cooperate in action to produce motions earnestly
desired that chose to deny that such muscular action
must necessarily be attended by such strong and dis
tnct sensation and consciousness as will leave the i'm
preston Of effort upon the mind and predict that they
will be glad to coincide with in the denial that
their inquiry is not about the precise question in ISSUE
and if it is be determined upon this moral evidence
then the experiments were superfuous the matter
decided before the tried
Had my friends communicated to the Academy of
Sciences that they had moved bodies at will without
cular effort and offered to exhibit the power doubtlessy
that body would have deemed the matter well worthy Of
examination and would have appointed coramittee and
if my friends had adduced these experiments in proof Of
their faculty. fear the committee would have reported
that the Academy should consider such motions not
having happened.
These results hardly justify the boast made by emf
nent member Of the profession, that they had Ia
ken the matter in hand they would strip the manfes
ations" Of their nonsense and deliver their victims from
the deusons. Their processes do not remind one Of
those Investigations by which the laws of refracton and
polarization light were established nor ofhose by which
the experimental philosopher whom country is
proud claim made his discoveries in electro magnetism
Hislabors have borne fruit and been applied the
of man, which the great Chancellor pronounced be
either the test the object Of philosophy but the
of the reapers whose sces gathered the harvest
have unduy occupied the place of his who the seed
and cultivated the crsp TO maturity Perhaps viii be
excused for recommending my legal friends and to all
those who design investigate the tppngs they have
never had the detail of the processes of expert
mental philosopher who has been successful in the dis
coyery of new laws agents, in clearing up doubts
about the of phenomena to prepare themselves
reading DIR. Wells's Theory of Dew Herschel, in his
Discourse Natural Philosophy says it is one of the
most beautifully specimens call to mind Of Undue
tive experimental inquiry, lying within amoderate
pass and the discourse itself not unworthy of their
notice, and if the authors reputation is not of sufficient
weight the opinion Of Sir j. Mcintosh will command their
respect who pronounces il Of the mastery
auctions of the age.
will not attempt to discuss the phenomena Of table
tppngs' elsewhere. The indefinite to
for the basis of argument. The testimony to
the facts comes mixed with that to such wild and ntas
tic dreams realities that it impossible to saw how
far the halucnation Of the witnesses extend II be
left to observers the to separate the real from the
imaginary do not believe the tppings any where pre-
sent adequate proof of the existence Of the power
From the best idea which be formed Of Them from
the picture that has been presented u.s. they have
many of the characteristic features Of the performances
here
But admitting that valid proof Of the power does
exist somewhere still the reception of novel idea,
upon such insufficient grounds have persuaded its
adoption here little less than deusion Although the
phenomena here do challenge investigation by the ply
steal philosopher they furnish abundant matter to be
handled by those capable Of nstructng in mental and
moral science
repeat my obligation to your correspondent from Cam
bridge and although his arguments and instances leave
my opinion unchanged, shall atenyely consider what
he has already advanced and what he may yet have to
adduce upon the subject What Arago, Matercci, Fara
day, &c. concur in pronouncing to be settled, will not
pretend to controvert 1t they have discovered
law agency but whether it is Of the charac
ter Of that claimed for the manifestations my know
ledge does permit say Your correspondent does not
say that he has personally examined into the hppngs'
to know whether the laws agents established by those
philosophers applicable to the explanation of the
phenomena However it may be in other places, the tip
min hara ap1v VlDiI