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Much has been said about the difference between genius and talent; all feel it, but no writer whom I have read has shown in what that difference consists. To me it appears to be this faculty of Invention or Constructiveness-would not the creative power be a better term? He who has it has genius, greater or less, according to the development. Its natural direction depends upon the development of the other organs in the individual. With Language, Reason, Wit, full, it makes the orator; with Imagination, &c., the poet; with Form, Distance, Light, Shade, Color, Ideality, the painter; with Scheming large, Foresight, Sagacity, Judgment small, the projectorand so on of other combinations. It used to annoy me exceedingly in reading Combe, to find him confining the sphere of the faculty to building. It seemed to me, even then, when my knowledge of phrenology was small, unphilosophical; and I wished to reason with him, to beg him to consider the matter, and see whether it was not the creative power itself, not a mere direction of it.

All the organs give pleasure in their exercise, but there seems to be an intensity of delight in this, which accompanies no other. Hear what Willis says of it, in his "Character of Goethe." Willis is speaking of the poetic gift. I take the liberty of applying his language to my view of the subject:

"It is, of all human faculties, the least comprehensible by the ungifted. There is no attaining it by study, no finding out of its secrets, as of other matters of knowledge, by comparison and reference to principles. The fine ear, the nice susceptibilities, the fervent fancy, the pure heart, the burning upward desire, and even the intuitive knowledge of human character, may be found separately in other men and are, perhaps, separately measureable; but this is only handling the instruments of the cunning artificer. It is still to be learned how the skill of the master wields them. It is not to be seen, except by the close inner eye, how all these powers are fitted and harmonized in the universal nature of genius-how, like the perfect proportions in which the fair light of heaven is mingled, the creations of poetry are wrought with the combined energy of all human gifts-how the fragments of the mirror shivered in Eden, which flash out, brokenly and imperfectly, from the rank weeds of time, may be put together by a skillful hand, and held up to nature for a perfect and undimin ished reflection. The poet himself may scarce understand this mystery. His mind works within him like the irres stible impulss of a dreamer. In the abstraction necessary to shut himself in perfectly from the world, he loses the scale necessary to measure it. He cannot stand apart and observe its workings. He has stepped into a magic circle unaware, and when its beautiful creations burst into life at his bidding, he is perplexed, like the player upon a harp, in whose strings a wayward spirit is hidden. The rapidity, the flashing suddenness of poetical imaginations are such, that there is no time for consciousness They rush out from the dim chambers of his fancy unannounced and unbidden, and their existence is first told in their own audible music.

But the difficulties which exist in the mind itself, are far from being the most formidable. There is a tumult in the poet's heart which would dim his eye, were his mind clearer than crystal. The ravishment of music and beauty, the passionate dreams of the young, and the clear tranquility of the temperate and pure, are but unreal shadows to the joy of composition. It is a strange, peculiar, singularly satisfying pleasure. That yearning void, that deep and unreached capacity which has made so many hearts ache in the hour that brought to them life's utmost, is touched and sounded by his burning conception. The springing of the beautiful thought, the graceful expression, the indefinite feeling forcibly brought out, the flashing of the uncertain impulse into glowing and original language, and, above all, the flood of strength and beauty and melody which sometimes, in the fervor of his excited mind, comes over him with a dizzy yet strangely conscious bewilderment-this it is that would make poetry, though it were the scorn of an intelligent universe, its own blessed and suffcient reward. And who can adequately define it? Who can sit down when its whirlwind is past, and measure its velocity and its power? Who can stay its burning chariot with a finger, and describe to the common ear its dazzling and immortal workmanship?" The scanty space of this Journal forbids the completion of the above letter and the comments which I should make upon it. These and other articles must be deferred to the next number. How utterly inadequate are the limits of the Journal of Man to the wants of progressive anthropological science? I trust it will not be long before our country will be disposed to sustain properly a monthly of sixty, eighty, or a hundred pages, devoted to the highest interests of humanity and the deepest researches of science.

*Burns says, "My barmy noddle's working prime."

BUCHANAN'S

JOURNAL OF MAN.

VOL. II, NO. 7—JANUARY, 1851.

ART. I.-SERMON ON SPIRITUAL MANIFESTATIONS.

EXTRACTS FROM THE DISCOURSE OF REV. J. P. STUART. DELIVERED

ON SUNDAY EVENING, JANUARY 12, 1851.

BETWEEN the natural and the spiritual world, I have indicated four distinct forms of communication.

I. The first is the Divine, and relates to the manifold revelation which the Lord has made of Himself to His creatures.

II. The second is the Miraculous, aud relates to the numerous revelations which were made to the Patriarchs, Prophets, and Apostles, by the apparitions of angels and spirits, and by visions of the spiritual world.

III. The third is the Magical and Mesmeric, and relates to jcommunication with spirits and demons by means of "subects" and "clairvoyants."

IV. The fourth is the Galvanic and Electrical, and relates to the communication which spirits and demons have obtained with the people of the earth by disturbing the internal forces and laws of nature.

Three of these modes have been considered in three successive discourses, and I am now come to the fourth; and this shall now be considered in the following order:

1. The phenomena known as the

tions."

Mysterious Manifesta

2. The intelligence displayed in the phenomena.

3. The theories propounded for the solution of the mystery. The reality of the phenomena and the intelligence displayed in them, showing that they result from the operation of intelligent beings, either here or elsewhere, are the main considerations. When the facts are admitted, some variety of opinion will VOL. II.-M.

prevail as to the true explanation of the facts. This may all be well enough, especially if, in the end, it leads to the adoption of the most rational theory.

A rational explanation of every fact, and of every phenomena, is, however, of vast importance: for some men deny even a fact, when they find it impossible to explain it, in a rational light; and it is unfortunate for men to deny facts, for facts are "stubborn things." It is better to give them room in our memory and wait for the explanation.

We come, then, to consider, in the first place,

1. The reality of the mysterious noises, rappings, detonations, and the various other physical phenomena.

I must confess, that when I went to the books to collect, arrange and classify the facts, I was astonished and overwhelmed at the prevalence of phenomena similar to the "Rochester Knockings," in other countries and in other ages.

We read in history of the Bishops of Mans, "that in the time of Bishop Hugh, who lived in 1135, they heard, in the house of Prevost Nicholas, a spirit who alarmed the neighbors, and those who lived in the house, by uproar and frightful noises, as if he had thrown enormous stones against the walls, with a force which shook the roofs, walls and ceilings; he transported the dishes and the plates from one place to another, without the people seeing the hand which moved them."

There is the instance of Humbert Brick, a burgess of note in the town of Openheim, who died, November, 1620.

"On the Saturday after his death, they began to hear certain noises in the house where he had lived with his first wife." The master of this house, suspecting that it was the spirit of Humbert, said to him, "If thou art Humbert, my brother-inlaw, strike three times against the wall.' Accordingly they heard three raps only, whereas, ordinarily, he struck more frequently. On Tuesday, the 12th of January, 1621, a great number of those who lived near were assembled at this same house. The master of the house told Humbert to rap against the wall; he knocked very gently. He was then desired to knock louder; and this he accordingly did."

There were some remarkable manifestations near Paris, in 1706.

Mons. de S., to whom these things happened, was a young man, short in stature, well made, and about 25 years of age. Being in bed, he heard several hard knocks at the door. The maid servant, who ran there immediately, found no one. Then the curtains of the bed were drawn by an invisible hand.

The rustling of papers on the table was heard by three lads who were his domestics, on a subsequent evening, March 22), but nothing could be seen. After he and the domestics were in bed, he again heard the same noise in the closet. Going to

the place where they occurred, he found nothing. He was going to shut the door, but he found a strong resistance, and at the same time heard a noise above his head toward the corner of the room, like a great blow on the wall. At this he cried out; his domestics came in, but nothing was found; and again he went to bed. Scarcely were the lights put out, when there was a violent motion of the bed; at which he called his domestics, and when the light was brought, the bed was at least four feet out of place. When restored to its position, it again moved in the presence of the family to a distance towards the fire.

He then sat up the rest of the night; but about six in the morning, when again he went to bed, the same disturbances returned. Afterward, during that day, he tried to obtain rest, but the movements of the bed returned; and in the presence of a man who came to witness the wonder, the bed was so vio-· lently moved as to break the furniture.

Rev. John Wesley gives the following account of the "strange disturbances" at his father's house at Epworth, Lincolnshire:

On the 2d of December, 1716, these disturbances com-menced, and they continued the greater part of the time, day and night, for near two months.

The first disturbance was witnessed by some of the servants, and was an oft-repeated knocking at the door, which would cease when the door was opened-but nothing could be seen. A sister of Mr. Wesley made light of it, saying, "I wonder you are so easily frightened; I would like to see something that would frighten me." Presently, a knocking began under the table. She took the candle and looked, but could find nothing. Then the iron casement began to clatter, and the lid of the warming-pan. Next the latch of the door moved up and down without ceasing. Whereupon, "my sister," says Mr. Wesley, "started up, leaped into bed without undressing, and never returned to look out till next morning.

"On the next evening my sister heard a noise below. She hastened down stairs to the hall where the noise was; but it was then in the kitchen. She ran into the kitchen, where When she went it was drumming on the inside of the screen. round, it was drumming on the outside; and so always on the side opposite to her. Then she heard a knocking at the back kitchen door; she ran to it and unlocked it softly, and when the knocking was repeated, she opened it suddenly, but nothing was to be seen. As soon as she had shut the door, the knocking began again, and when again she opened the door, she could see nothing. When she went to shut the door, it was violently thrust against her; she let it fly open, but nothing appeared. She went again to shut it, and it was again thrust against her; but she set her knee and her shoulder to the door

and forced it to, and turned the key. Then the knocking began again, but she let it go, and went to bed. However, from that time she was thoroughly convinced that there was no imposture

in it.

"The next day," says Mr. Wesley, "My mother heard, in the corner of the room, as it were, a violent rocking of a cradle; although no cradle had been there for some years. She was convinced that it was preternatural, and earnestly prayed that it might not disturb her in her own chamber at the hours of retirement-and it never did.

"At six o'clock in the evening, my father had family prayers, as usual. When he began the prayer for the King, a knocking began all around the room, and a thundering knock attended This same was heard every morning and evening, while the prayer for the king was repeated.

the amen.

"Mr. Hoole, the vicar of Hoxley, (an eminently pious and sensible man,) testified that he visited the house of Mr. Wesley, during these disturbances. While there, "we heard the knocking over our heads; when we came into the nursery, the knocking was in the next room; when we were there, the knocking was in the nursery, and then it continued after we came in, knocking at the head of the bed where the children (Mr. W's) were sleeping. Mr. Wesley, observing that they were much affected, although asleep (for they were sweating and trembling exceedingly), went close to the place and said in a stern voice, Thou deaf and dumb demon, why dost thou fright these children, that cannot answer for themselves? Come to my study, that am a man.' Instantly the demon knocked as if he would shiver the head-board to pieces, and we heard no more that night."

"The next evening," continues Mr. Wesley, "as my father attempted to go into his study, when he opened the door it was thrust back with such violence as had like to have thrown him down. However, he thrust the door open and went in. Presently there was a knocking, first on one side and then on the other, and then presently in the next room. So, also, afterwards, there were noises and uproar, but no one was seen. These disturbances continued about two months and then ceased."

Very similar to our own Rochester knockings were the "Astonishing transactions in the county of Surrey, (Eng.), on Monday and Tuesday, the 6th and 7th day of January, 1772.” They are similar, because at Stockwell, as at Rochester, the events seemed to follow certain persons--the Fish and the Fox family in New York, the maid servant in the employ of Mrs. Golding, at Stockwell.

"On Monday, the 6th of January, 1772, about 10 o'clock in the forenoon, as Mrs. Golding was in her parlor, she heard

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