Mesmeric powers. When she was seated in the chair, and thrown into sleep, her hands lying in her lap, Dr. E. extending bis arms, placed a hand opposite each of hers, and then drawing his hands away, he raised them upwards and inwards towards his head. Her hands followed his until she had raised them to the level of her head, when, with a convulsive movement, she fell back in the chair, in a state of coma, or torpor, more profound than the previous sleep. We observed that this phenomenon followed every experiment, in which she was caused to make any physical exertion. When she was seated and asleep, Mr. Wood being behind her, placed his hands near hers, and as he drew his away, hers followed them-as he raised his, she raised hers. In the same manner, as she sat asleep, her eyes being closed, Lord Wilton placed his left hand opposite to her right, and, as he drew his away, hers followed, as far as her arm would extend, apparently attracted, as a needle would follow a powerful magnet. Whilst she sat asleep, with her body leaning forward, Mr. Wood, being still behind her, pointed his hand to the back of her head, but at a distance of three or four feet, and, as he retired further back, her head was raised slowly, and moved backwards, in the direction of his hand, as far as the top rail of the chair would allow, when she made a convulsive effort to rise, and sank into sa state of lethargy. In the same manner, when feet were pointed opposite to hers, and withdrawn, hers followed them; and this species of attraction was exercised upon her with the same effects by the surrounding spectators, as well as by the medical practitioners. Numerous other experiments were bmade to elicit similar phenomena, both with the patient and her sister.". gasle banctor

We wonder when there were so many magnetic breaths, so many magnetic hands, fingers, and toes, that the poor girl was not disotracted, and almost torn to pieces, the influences, according to the above account, being for a long time all around her. Our readers, however, will readily perceive how fanciful was the whole of the exhibition, and necessarily indulge in certain conjectures of their own; so that, without detaining them on this story with any comments of our own, let them listen to Mr. Lee's calm and conclusive estimate of English cases. It will be observed that he speaks not from hearsay, but from the testimony of his own eyes, and after patient, extensive, and prolonged research.

"What I have seen of these experiments leaves little doubt on my mind that the phenomena observed are independent of any magnetic influence, and might be reproduced without magnetisation; always provided the individuals were placed in circumstances which would lead them to suppose themselves magnetised. Thus, at M. Dupotet's, none of the higher phenomena of magnetism are even alluded to, and the convulsive movements and other effects follow actions made in front of the individuals; or if the magnetiser be behind them, they are aware that he is performing the passes upon them. One female, after being seated, is always seized with a slight rotatory motion of the head, which was increased by actions directed by the magnetiser towards her, but it also became increased, without her being specially magnetised, and when the magnetiser was in another room. The motion was arrested for a brief period, by the magnetiser placing his thumb VOL. II. (1838.) NO. IV.

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or finger on the person's forehead. On my touching her forehead, without any intention of magnetising, a like effect was produced.

"Another somnambulist, a French woman, and servant of M. Dupotet's, who is occasionally introduced at the close of the exhibition, rose repeatedly from her chair, and struggled with and even threatened to strike persons who attempted to restrain her, but was always tranquillised, and fell back into her seat, on the magnetiser taking hold of her and touching her forehead. On one occasion, when she rose from her seat, and the magnetiser was in the adjoining apartment, I took hold of her wrist as he had done, and, on touching her forehead, she fell back tranquillised in her chair, as on former occasions. The same person's hands were taken by the magnetiser, who repeated several times, Ouvrez les yeux, Julie,' which Julie, after apparently making some efforts, accordingly did. But this affords no proof that she could not open her eyes whenever she pleased, and that she did so in consequence of magnetic influence. The magnetiser declined attempting a similar result on his other somnambulists. One of these he drew from her chair towards himself by some movements of the hand, (he being seated at a little distance before her,) and she remained in a position of cataleptic rigidity till replaced in the chair; he declined, however, repeating the experiment behind the somnambulist, when she would not be aware that he was acting upon her; though, if the effect resulted from magnetic power, it must have been equally apparent.

"With respect to Rebecca and the little girl, the other capital somnambulists of the exhibition, I have no doubt that the effects observed were independent of magnetic influence, and that like effects might have been equally obtained without magnetisation. Although such cases excite a great degree of wonder in the generality of persons, and are well calculated to make converts, yet medical men, especially those who have seen much of nervous complaints, are well aware of the curious phenomena which occasionally occur in females; particularly when made objects of interest to an assembled multitude. Every medical man knows hysterical affections are aggravated, and are obstinate in proportion to the degree of attention they excite, and of sympathy manifested by relations or bystanders. Magnetisers assert that individuals, when in somnambulism, are insensible to external stimuli, and will only answer the questions of the magnetiser, or of persons placed en rapport with them; but this young woman called out on her ear being moderately pinched, and answered any of the questions that were proposed to her by the visitors. It is evident she had anticipated a more than usually interesting séance, as she repeated two or three times, Lord Stanhope is to be here to-day.' No effects were produced on the men subjected to magnetisation, except occasional muscular twitchings in one individual.”

It is certainly lamentable that at this time of day the mummery of Animal Magnetism should be revived with greater pretensions and ardour than ever. We do not say that the propagators of the doctrine are all acting in bad faith; or that the foreign adepts have not acquired an enthusiasm,-that they have not arrived at a belief in the efficacy of the soi-disant science which they teach. There is so much that is flattering to human vanity in the persuasion that one can by certain manipulations, certain agencies, so disembody

the soul, so free it from its cumbrous earthly tabernacle, as to allow it to escape on long voyages of discovery,-to enable the spiritual essence to become the spectator of its own operations, and the mental operations of others,-that the monstrous and preposterous nature of the doctrine may be lost sight of amid the glare of its pretensions.

There is another mode of accounting in some degree for the welcome which Animal Magnetism has obtained on the part of most of its disciples.

A common boast at the present day is this, that the public mind has become too much enlightened to repose any faith in religious superstition, in ghosts, supernatural interpositions, &c. This is the age of scientific discovery, it is proudly asserted, the era when natural philosophy and mechanical powers have achieved a triumph. In truth, the love of the marvellous is inherent in man, and unless his intellectual powers be well disciplined, the imagination is sure to run riot in one direction or another. Natural philosophy, not religion, in these days engages the credulity of many. Science is their idol. Still the desire and love of contemplating and mastering that which is most subtle, of going beyond the world of sense, and luxuriating ourselves in thought amid agencies that are identified with what is ethereal and intangible, has rendered the subject of electricity the most enticing of any. And what a field for empiricism, for the exercise of inexplicable and mysterious fancies to disport in! The magnet however, the virtues of which are known to have an electrical character, from its curious and practical influences is the best possible agent to associate with the nervous phenomena and the mental excursions of somnambulists that could be chosen. The phrase, Animal Magnetism, adroitly mystifies and seduces ; so that when well-meaning people talk or hear of its wonders, they fancy that they are conversant with beautiful and demonstrative experiments on the subject. The simple introduction of hard or learned names is not without its misleading use, and for anything we can see the foreign adepts in the departments under consideration have not shown themselves innocent of these and similar devices.

Before concluding, and while on the subject of man's inherent love of the marvellous, and of his natural and constant striving to penetrate the veil which hides futurity or distance from him, and to throw off the enchaining and blinding fabric of his organized frame, which prevents him from comprehending the manner of his soul's existence as well as the avenues to an intimate intercourse with the spirits of others, we may remark, that in all ages these yearning and vain efforts have in some one shape characterized the history of our race. We think that the Royal Touching, the delusions of the French Convulsionnaires, the Hohenlohe cures, the Unknown Tongues, might all be ranged under one general head with Animal

Magnetism; ranged thus not merely because they have all had their origin in that craving to be acquainted with mysterious influences, but also, in so far as cures and illuminations have in each delusion been effected, these have been accomplished through some excitement of the nervous system, or the morbid conditions of the imagination. But surely in none of the instances alluded to, can we find such matter for wonder as in this, that when verging on the middle of the nineteenth century, there are in the most enlightened countries of Europe, there are in the capital of Great Britain, men of education and acknowledged acquirements in science, who lend their countenance and their credence to the buffooneries and charlatanism which are inseparable from the operations of the Animal Magnetiser. One comfort is, that the doctrines of these people are not only already too gross and absurd to be swallowed, but if left alone they will run themselves over head and ears in folly.

ART. II. Colonization and Christianity; a Popular History of the Treatment of the Natives by the Europeans, in all their Colonies. By WILLIAM HOWITT. London: Longman & Co. 1838.

ON late occasions we have had more than once our attention called to the monstrous injustice and cruelties which prevail in certain. quarters of the globe under the British system of colonization ; towards the Caffres for example. It is high time that the public at home should awake to the enormities that have stained the name of Britons in every part of the globe where they have fixed themselves. It were enough surely that a people professing a rare degree of attainment in Christianity and civilization were chargeable with the neglect of the moral and immortal interests of the savage or barbarian races among which they have so often planted themselves. But it is not the sins of omission alone that are chargeable against our colonists and the nation; the most flagrant acts of commission rise in mountains above our heads and must be punished or atoned for. It may be true that other European nations have outstripped us in crime in their transactions with the coloured tribes of mankind; it may be true that, considering our unexampled extent and diversity of colonial possessions, our sway is milder and our intercourse less injurious than that which neighbouring Christian powers have established and practised in similar circumstances. Alas! even admitting all this, we stand at a fearful distance from the golden line of duty which the code we profess to obey has imperatively laid down for our guidance in every situation in dealing with our fellow-creatures. Nor is the charge to be confined to our forefathers or to times long gone by. We boast of our light and liberality in the nineteenth century; we count our munificent acts philanthropic enterprizes, and lay the flattering unction to our souls that wherever the British name is known, wherever British power

is felt, there life and liberty flourish at the present day, and that the extension of our influence and our colonial system to all the benighted nations of the world would be the certain herald of peace, personal security, and moral elevation. Never was there a more preposterous egotism, never a more unwarrantable assumption. Down to our day, down to the year of Grace 1838, yea, at the very moment we write these words, the neglect, the political circumvention, the positive oppression which is chargeable against the British name, cry aloud to Heaven, and, but for the infinite mercy and forbearance of Heaven, a judgment would go out against us that would render us a byeword to posterity.

What is it ye would have? it may be asked by political economists, bold speculators, and successful traders. We answer, that we desire to see the principles which Britain as a nation, and her colonists as communities, profess to cherish and illustrate, carried into universal practice; we desire to see our countrymen recommending to Pagans and heathens the morals and the religion held out as pre-eminently excellent and conducive to happiness, by their treaties, their observance of obligations, their earnest and constant obedience of the divine law; we desire to behold that temporal prosperity which is sure to go hand in hand with a wide-spreading infection of civilization, that has never failed to attend transactions and mutual intercourse among men, where the rule of doing to others as one would wish to be done to has been faithfully observed; we desire to behold the benign principles, the steady behaviour, the glorious results, so eloquently set forth in the pages before us, fully and immediately realized.

What!-the exclamation may be on the part of some West India planter, some Cape of Good Hope functionary, some collector in Hindostan, some American lumberer, some Australian governor, or some prosperous merchant-does William Howitt expect that we are all to be saints-Christians in deed as well as by profession? We answer, William Howitt has no reason to expect any such glorious change suddenly; but this does not and ought not to prevent him from longing for its realization; it does not hinder him from labouring to hasten its birth; it does not authorize him to hold up a lower standard than the truth merely for the sake of accommodating perverted or unprincipled minds, especially when, however unwelcome that truth may be to some, it requires but to be laid plainly before the reflecting and the religious community of Great Britain to awaken an indignation and produce a cry for justice in behalf of the claims of humanity, that neither domestic legislation, foreign diplomacy, nor colonial intrigue, obduracy, or apathy shall be able to oppose. Do away with but the apathy of the British public-and to accomplish this it is only necessary to bring the truth fully and fairly before that mighty community-and the good fight is begun, the glorious victory is nigh; British possessions,