The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-06-25

were my own; and one thing that leads
me to think so, is the fact that 1 could
recognize trains of thought that had
formerly passed through my mind; moro.
over the style Of the composition only
differed from my own, in being much
more vivid and forcible. Besides, my
philosophy was unlike any other system
of philosophy purporting to be from tho
spirits, which [ have seen. There were
some ideas, it is true, in reference to me.
diums, spiritual intercourse, etc, which
correspond very nearly with what we
find in works upon spiritual philosophy
but those had no doubt derived from
others. One thing is worthy of particu.
lar notice. Take any two mediums un-
acquainted with the system of spiritual
philosophy now in vogue, and let them,
without any opportunity of comparing
their views, call upon the spirits for
system of doctrines, and these systems
will not only differ from the prevalent
system, but from each other. and that
most materially; and this have often
remarked, Universalist medium will
obtain Universalst philosophy,a Meth.
odist medium Methodist philosophy and
so on. This is evidence that tho doc
trines obtained are not those of the spr-
its, but those of the mediums.
A few words by way of explanation of
the phenomena of spiritual writing Be-
ing careful 10 acoid any roluntary acts,
the will is placed in abeyanco, and thus
full play is given to emotional and 9th
er mental acts. 1t must be remembered
that emotions may have an internal as
we'll as an external origin. Intclections
give rise to emotions, and emotions in
their turn render the process of th ought
more rapid and clear | have no doubt
that much of the writing will come un.
der the determination of cmotiona! &c
tion, and it may be question whether
the intellectual operations which precede
TIE writing, do not, in every instance. in.
fuencc the muscles through the medium
of emotions. We have been heretofore
accustomed to class those actions, to
which the mind gives rise. under two
heads-voluut1ry and emotional. Shall
we introduce still another class, to cover
those actions which are tho direct result
of intellection2 leave this question
open for discussion. I beg leave here,
to refer my readers to the chapter on
the Nervous System. in the fourth edi-
tion of Carpenters Physiology. as they
will find it reviewed in the July number
(for year 1859 of the British and For.
cigu Medical Chirological Review, where
he takes the ground that there is such
thing as taro/untary cGrebration, as au.
tomato thought This idea is compara-
lively new one. though think not al,
together so find in Upham's Mental
Philosophy, under the head of dream
ing" the following words "A train of
conceptions arise in the mind, and we
are not conscious of any direction ar con-
troll whatever over them They exist
whether we will or not" Here we have
the same idea of involuntary ccrebration,
although expressed in little different
language from that which Carpenter
used. DR.. Carpenter, however, goes still
farther and takes the ground tina. cerc
bration may 60 on without either voli-
tion or consciousness. This would seem
to be true with regard to the somnam
bulist, whose actions are doubtless the
result Of ccrcbraton. although he is en-
tirely unconscious of what he is doing
If he is unconscious, of course the &C.
tons must be Involuntary for there can
be no volition without consciousness
The dreamer is conscious Of his intelec.
tual operations, although he possesses
/ no control over them" The intellectual
operations OF the writing medium come
under tho head of cerebration invclun.
tary, but accompanied by consciousness.
| say involuntary, but do not mean to be
understood by this that the will is inca
pablo of controlling those operations. |
mean that the will stands aloof from
them, as it were, and they 60 on without
tho direction or volition. The same 70.
mark will apply to the act of writing. II
is involuntary, only, as the will is kept in
allegiance. and tho hand moves without
its control. There was 10 time while I
was engaged in writing when ! could
not stop the motion Of my pen, and di'
rect my thoughts into different ohan-
mel, if ! chose to do So cannot help
thinking that in ms mental state, while
receiving communications, thero was
something very analogous to dreaming
and that my involuntary muscular move
ments were much like those of the SOM
nambulst.
This assertion must, Of course, be Ia
ken with somc linitation, What beau
tiful dream was that Of thN legacy A
las it vanished just as all our dream:
depart The rapiiity with which thu
long,forgotten thoughts of former year,
were recalled to my mind, the glowing
colors in which these old thoughts, and
tho ones which followed them, were
painted, 60 10 show the tctivi'y OF
composition within my brain.
said that ! wrote much poetry and
this is Just what might have been cx
peptoa, whom we consider that poetry i
the language Of strong emotions anc
these we're continually agitating my mind
as tho tempeet stirs the oceans watera
can now look back and see how, in th'
storm of my mind, mauy principles o
psychology we're beautifully illustrat ed
Here, l may study, at pleasure, the oper
alton OF association aud suggestion, mem