EXPOSITORY.

MAGNETISM Considered by Paracelsus and his followers, as the soul of the world. The informing spirit of the universe. The proper vehicle of the universal medicine.

Known to Van Helmont, and the Alchymists of the 17th. century; and now again discovered in Europe, 1779, by Mesmer. Had already acquired great vogue in France, 1784.

The French government, not knowing what to think of its progress, were advised to appoint a Committee of Doctors, i. e. Sçavants, among whom was the celebrated Doctor Franklin, to examine into its merits, and report upon the same.

The Committee examined, and did declare in their report, viz.

"That nothing is more certain than that a stupendous power "herein exists, and that nothing can be more astonishing than "its effects!"

Now this may be authority, or ground for inducement to impartial people, to look a little deeper into the subject before they totally discard it.

Therefore,

Magnetism with us, is an experimental discovery; not taken from the antients, nor even a deduction from any hypothesis of

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human speculation: it is only known to us by its effects! But we are authorised by its effects, to acknowledge the existence of a yet unknown principle, or power to produce those effects.

Magnetism may be defined, forasmuch as is within the compass, in the present state of the human mind, to know and define, i. e. "A principle, or power in some men, which being exercised toward other men of a certain character, or susceptibility of affection, will sink the patient into a state of apparent lethargy or sleep. That being in this state of apparent lethargy or sleep, the patient will answer to questions put to him, on any matter, innocent in itself, and more especially if it hath a tendency to the welfare of mankind, with wonderful perspicacity and precision, and moreover with equal certainty as to the effect.

Now the art of magnetising is extremely simple. The simplest manner is the best. The farthest from noise and interruption is the place best suited, and the night, most genial to repose, the time. The end proposed, must be a virtuous end. Not every man is endued with the gift of magnetism, or the virtue of producing magnetic effects; any more than children are given to every man as a constant though common effect of the conjugal consent: it is only by experiment that this can be ascertained.

These preliminaries attended to, as the sine qua non of magnetic endowment, the candidate for magnetism may proceed in his experimentation. There are many ways of proceeding, and often upon the very slightest adhibitions, of obtaining magnetic effects, even the desired effect: but the particular effect, whereunto we are principally alluding, that is to say, of sinking the patient into a state of apparent lethargy or sleep, &c. is not so commonly produced, and only obtained by a great deal more attention to circumstance and to place.

The world is already informed, by a thousand satirical repre

sentations from the stage, of the various ways of practising the art, and in some instances of producing magnetic effects; too well in reality to need any further instruction upon the subject, or elucidation as to the mode from us. Let the candidate only establish his claim, and try. Fifteen minutes may suffice for a probation; but if in that time, no signs of insomny, or decline to sleep are manifest on the habit of the patient, then some incompetency may be desumed on the part of either, or of both. The candidate may essay again upon another subject, provided his mind be free from prejudice, because there may have been a want of susceptibility in the character of the patient; but another and another may reconcile him to his defeat.

On the other hand, any effect obtained will evince an aptibility in the person essaying; and the patient thus asleep, is prepared to answer to questions put to him, on any matter which is innocent in itself, and more especially if it hath a tendency to the welfare of mankind, with wonderful perspicacity and precision, and moreover with equal certainty as to the effect.

This is Magnetism! and this an immediate effect: but this effect obtained, the magnetiser is at the end of his magic, and of his wit! He must then submit to be informed by his patient, as to every thing which may be necessary or relative to the end proposed. All kis questions must be analogous to that end; and all the precepts he may receive in answer from his patient, be scrupulously attended to and obeyed; or expect an imperfect, and, in regard to his magnetic avocation, perhaps an unhappy result.

For by this time, our novice in magnetism will be aware, that he is acting under an authority, whereof he is only the mechanical instrument; that he is no more than organe of a stupendous power, of which he has to learn the nature and the use! that

he has proceeded so far, not knowing, and hardly believing what would be the effect; and that having seen the effect, he hath yet to learn from his patient in darkness, what more is to be done toward the attainment of the desired end.

Aware of these truths; aware, it may be repeated, that he is not himself the spring and source of this essential for the benefit of mankind, but merely an accepted organe of the Almighty will; our initiate will proceed in the ministry he has begun, according to the instructions he may receive, with this conviction upon his mind, viz. " that nothing must be neglected; "nothing superadded; that to depart from order is to err, and "that the end of error is evil."

These inductions, drawn from inveterate experience, are as nécessary to save the magnetiser from the precipice, as a faithful dog to the blind. In the infancy of this discovery in France, the nature of this wonderful principle, and the application of course, were so little understood as to produce a thousand errors, and a thousand ridiculous effects. Every man was a magnetiser! Every man who, from innocent motives, although coupled with ignorance, should have a legitimate cause for appealing to this wonderful principle, was sure to be favoured with coadequate effects: The practice, therefore, became very general. Every man was avid of possessing a power from which, in judging of its wonderful effects, every imaginable effect might as reasonably be expected. The greater part of these were therefore applying it to purposes for which it was never intended; and in so doing, running so far away from the course to which alone it is applicable with any good effect, as to lose themselves in a wilderness of irretrievable error and confusion.

These awakened a jealousy in the French government concerning it, and the Committee of Sçavants already spoken of, was

appointed, with instructions to examine into the merits of it, and report upon the same.

Their Report has come to our hands in the following words, ciz.

Copy of the Report of the Royal Committee of Examiners, for the Examination of Animal Magnetism: i. e. the Practice and Effects.

Pmo. Nothing can be more astonishing than the sight of these convulsions. 2do. If the Committee had not beheld them, they could have formed no conception of them. 8to. The profound repose of one part of the patients, sur. prises as much as the agitation of others. You are presented with the most extraordinary sympathies. You see successive accidents exactly repeated by patient after patient. Some of the patients seek each other with eagerness, smile, and talk to each other earnestly, and by these actions their crises seem to be abated. 4to. All of them are absolutely under the command of him who magnetises them. In vain they may seem buried in the profoundest lethargy, a word, a look, a sign, from him recalls their attention. 5to. Nothing is more certain than "that a stupendous power here exists, which actu"ates the patients, subdues them, and of which he who magnetises seems to be "the depositary.”

Now to consider this Report.

Pmo. Nothing can be more astonishing than the sight of these convulsions.

Commentary. It is of some moment to have the testimony of this Royal Committee as to the matter of fact; for in reality, nothing can be more astonishing than the effects of magnetism; but the convulsions are an effect of injudicious application.

2do. If the Committee had not beheld them, they could have formed no conception of them.

Commentary. A very happy conception this, and very ingenuous on the part of the Committee to declare; for to form a right conception of them now, having often beheld them, is a