"Therefore, the undersigned petitioner, seeing valid reasons for doubting whether such effects, the occasional cause of which is shown to be so little proportioned to them, be simply natural, earnestly and most fervently prays that your Eminence in your wisdom, for the greater glory of the Omnipotent, as well as the greater good of souls, which have been redeemed by the Lord at so great a price,' may be pleased to decide, whether, admitting the truth of the premises, a confessor or curate may safely permit to his penitents or parishioners:

"1. That they practice animal magnetism, endowed with such, or other like characteristics, as an art auxiliary and supplementary to medicine.

"2. That they consent to be thrown into such a state of magnetic somnambulism.

"3. That they consult persons magnetized in such a manner either concerning themselves or concerning others.

"4. Or that they undertake one of these last mentioned three things, having first taken the precaution of formally renouncing in their minds every diabolic compact, explicit or implicit, as well as all satanic interventions, since, notwithstanding such precautions, similar effects, or some such effects, have been obtained by some persons.

"Most Eminent Lord, by command of the most Rev. the Archbishop of Lausanne and Geneva, your Eminence's most humble and most obedient servant, JAMES XAVIER FONTANA, "Chancellor of the Episcopal Chancery. "Friburg, in Switzerland, Episcopal Palace,

the 19th of May, 1841."

RESPONSE.

"The Sacred Penitentiary, the premises having been maturely weighed, considers that these should be answered as it now answers: the use of magnetism, as set forth in the case, is not permissible.

"Given at Rome, in the Sacred Penitentiary, the 1st day of July, 1841. C. CARD, Castracane, M. P., "PH. POMELLA, of the S. P. Sec'y.

"Certified as a copy conformable to the original.

"By order, J. PERROULAZ, Sec'y. of the Bishopric. "Friburg, the 26th July, 1841."

It will be observed, that though the subject is held in dread by the reporter, as probably of diabolic origin, yet it is treated as a "great fact," known to, and believed in, by a large community, so that catholics and protestants are found alike professing a belief in Mesmerism. If the twentieth part of what was reported was true, it well deserved careful investigation; and, as I had no dread of knowing anything that God has permitted to be known, I determined to try to find out the truth for myself, on the first favorable

opportunity. In choosing a proper subject to experiment upon, I should probably have selected some highly sensitive female of a nervous temperament, and excitable imagination, who desired to submit to the supposed influence. But, I beg it to be particularly remarked, my first essay was not guided by theory, and was not made on a subject supposed to be favorable. On the contrary, the very worst specimen of humanity, theoretically considered, was the person destined to be my first mesmeric victim; he being pone other than a Hindoo felon of the hangman cast, condemned to labor on the roads, in irons.

(To be Continued.)

The foregoing is the commencement of a work on Mesmerism, written by Dr. Esdaile, a surgeon in the service of the East India Company, and transmitted to England, where it was edited and published by his brother, Rev. David Esdaile of Forfar, in 1846.

The work of Dr. Esdaile is of so direct, practical and interesting a character, that I have determined to republish the greater portion of its contents in the Journal of Man. Owing, perhaps, to the professional character of its facts, it has not obtained so extensive a circulation as its matter-of-fact character deserves.

As to the philosophy of Mesmerism, neither Dr. Esdaile nor any of the writers upon that subject, of whom I have any knowledge, are qualified to do much for its elucidation. They are all deficient in one essential prerequisite, a proper knowledge of the physiology of the brain. It is true there is much phrenological knowledge in reference to the brain among the followers of Gall, but cerebral physiology is yet an undeveloped science. Without this knowledge, all attempts to form a mesmeric philosophy are futile.

The remarks of Dr. E. as to the abuses of Mesmerism are wellgrounded; but in comparing the abuses of Mesmerism with those of mercury, prussic acid and opium, his reference does great injus tice to the former, if it be understood to imply an equality in the two cases. The evils arising from Mesmerism are trivial and incidental, and arise entirely from culpable misconduct or gross ignorance. Its dangers are not greater than the dangers of eating, drinking and sleeping: whereas, in the common use of those potent drugs, especially mercury, no grade of professional intelligence and skill has yet succeeded in avoiding entirely their evils, while, in the hands of the profession generally, they have accomplished, as all admit, an immense amount of mischief and mortality. How widely different the sanative power which may be exercised by the hand of a friend, and the fearful energy of poisonous drugs-the one essentially innocent, the other essentially dangerous.

The proposition of the French magnetists, that the human body has poles like a magnet, which seems to have been received by mesmerizers generally, Dr. Esdaile wisely discredits. A great deal of vague jargon has been introduced by the influence of Mesmer and his immediate followers.

ART. III.-PSYCHOMETRY.-(CONTINUED.)

MISCELLANEOUS EXAMPLES.

I FIND an interesting group of miscellaneous experiments in my portfolio, which I am tempted to lay before the reader, trusting that he will bear in mind their true character. They are presented, not as final scientific determinations of character, but simply as specimens of what occurs daily, when we are engaged in psychometric experiments.

In such experiments my leading object has been, not to determine positively any individual character, but to illustrate the great fact, that man possesses the power of recognizing mental and physiolog ical action, or influence connected with matter, whether organized in the living body, or disconnected with life. When this has been fully established, we know that we have a key to the secrets of the human constitution, as the same power which explains the mental associations of a letter, may reveal with equal facility, the mental and physical influences associated with every portion of the brain and body. Thus do our psychometric experiments serve as an introduction to the systematic experimental survey of Anthropology. A sufficient number of psychometric experiments may give us an unhesitating confidence in the results of the nervauric investigation of man; hence they should be regarded, not as mere gratifications of curiosity, but as important preliminaries in laying the foundations of a new philosophy.

The force and beauty of such experiments are more distinctly perceived, when the reader places himself in the condition of the subject totally unacquainted with the authorship of the letter, and waiting in suspense to observe what impressions arise-and then, whether they coincide with the author's character, when his name has been mentioned. Hence I shall postpone the announcement of the name to the close of the examination.

The manuscript of a well known American was submitted to the decision of Mrs. E. W., whose impressions were usually delicate, appreciative, and kindly-being disposed naturally to view the brighter side of nature. Her first remark, before any questions were asked, was:

"Is it Milton?" "No," I replied; "why do you ask?" "The person (she continued) has great thoughts. I think he has Veneration." She then indicated, placing her hand on the top of her head, that some excitement was produced in the region of the organs of Religion, Hope, &c. "He thinks a great deal (she continued); I do n't want to talk-he's a great thinker-his thinking is not so hard as yours; he has great ideas-grand, noble, high-souled, senti

mental. His comparisons are beautiful-seeing the most common thing, he can turn it to something beautiful, when they would scarcely notice it. Very pure. He will do a great deal of good in this way, pointing out these beauties. He causes a great deal of happiness. His life is more given up to romantic, sentimental things than yours. He can do a great deal of good in that way-making people see things they would pass by. I think he would like to be alone. He is similar to you in some things, but he do n't work so hard as you do. His influence is good in one way and yours in another. I don't think he has a great deal of energy."

(Is he honest?) "Yes, I should think he was-he appears to be very honest; I do n't think he means to be dishonest. I do n't feel that I know. He keeps saying, 'I am honest.' I should think he was a true person."

"I think he's a very tall person."

(In what style does he write?) "Lofty-high. (Upon what subjects?) Heavenly. He'd write beautifully-he has perfect taste. I should think it was a person who gave himself up entirely to writing. I don't think he has anything else to do. He has a great deal of imagination. He is very sensitive.”

(What can you say of his manners?) "Very pleasing his manners are a great deal of warmth-very perfect."

(How is he as a friend?) "True, sincere. (What is his repu tation?) Not so high as it ought to be. (Why?) I don't know." (Is he living, or dead?) "I should think he was living, for I see

his form."

(Does he care about fashion?) "He cares more for his comfort. People think he cares more about it than he does. (How is he as to dress?) He's rather careless at home-rather particular when he goes among people. I do n't think he cares much himself, but thinks he must-it worries him-it is a great trouble. I see a buff vest and dark dress; he looks dressy. It seems as though I see him at home, in a dressing gown, looking out of a window, thinking. (Has he a wife?) I think he has."

The foregoing comprises the whole of the conversation, except some remarks upon irrelevant matters, not necessary to repeat. If you, gentle reader, had undergone such an experiment, and given forth such impressions in reference to an unknown piece of manuscript, with what anxiety would you have awaited the denouement, when the paper was examined? Perhaps it might prove to be from a rude and sanguinary soldier-perhaps from some country blacksmith, or some idle boarding-school miss, anxious to hear of her own character; perhaps it might be from some old miser, interested in nothing but money and pork; or, perhaps, some waggish friend may have placed your own hand-writing upon your forehead to play off a practical joke at the expense of your psychometry. If there were no true principles in the matter-if you had no real psy chometric power, one of these results would have been as probable as another; but if the psychometric power was rightly exercised,

no such delusion could have occurred. In the present instance, the manuscript was that of the American poet, N. P. WILLIS. His numerous admirers, and especially the readers of the Home Journal, could scarcely read the description, without thinking at once of WILLIS, as the man, above all others, to whom such a sketch might be applicable. His graceful and philosophical handling of the minor matters of society and nature was happily appreciated by Mrs. W.; and justly, too; for, in his own peculiar style, Willis is unsurpassed. Addison, so long regarded as the beau ideal of literary elegance, is dull and insipid when compared to Willis.

An experiment upon the autograph of Alfred Tennyson, the English poet, was amusing, as evincing about the same impression as his poetry might have produced upon one not disposed to appreciate his peculiar style. The lady readily recognized his intellectuat character, and thought that he could write poetry in an unusual style, that would not generally be appreciated. She was thrown into a meditative, critical frame of mind, "thinking of the stars," as she expressed it, and did not seem to admire his transcendental style of thought.

The following impressions were derived by a distinguished politician, from a letter written before the Presidential election of 1844. It is probable that he may have known the authorship of the letter, while thus expressing his impressions, as it was not thought important to conceal it; but as he evidently possessed the psychometric power, and expressed himself with great candor, I give it as an interesting experiment between two distinguished men-one no longer living, the other occupying a distinguished position in the government.

IMPRESSIONS DERIVED FROM the Letter of by : "It seems as though I was anxious to penetrate the future, but all was dark; there is a great anxiety to know some extensive result. The idea comes to me unsought, of the whole horizon rising up like billows of the sea-it is big with some portentous thing I feel as if I had not much control over it. There is a predominant image on my mind all the time-as if the earth was upheaving in waves, and my effort was to keep on top of it.

"There is rather a sad or serious frame of mind; but, let the matter end as it will, I am at peace with myself. I have a certain course marked out, but it is uncertain whether that will conduct me to a harbor of safety or not. I feel as if there ought to be some certain rule to produce harmony out of this chaos, but it seems to be left to chance.

"I should say there was a great deal of firmness-he would not abandon his position. He is decidedly of a grave cast of mind, perhaps a little subject to depression-a man of warm friendships. His courage is rather passive. I should think he was fond of domestic life of his family and friends. He is thinking of public affairs; he has an eye only to public affairs-to his country and its destinies. He is more of a matter-of-fact, reasoning, reflecting man,