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ADMINISTRATORS* SALES, &c.
ADMINISTRATOR’S SALE.
A GREEABLY to an order of the Inferior court
ol' Gwinnett county, when sitting for Ordinary
purposes, will be sold before the court-house door
in said county, on the first Tuesday in January
iioxt, within the legal hours of sale, me following
property, to wit: lot of land No. 3, in the 6th dist.
of Gwinnett, containing *250 acres, more or less,
and lot No. 2. in the same dist. containing *250
acres, more or less, the North West part of lot No.
320 originally in the 4th dist. Walton, now the 6th
of Gwinnett, containing 150 acres, more or less,
the west part of lot No. 14, in the 6th dist. of
Gwinnett, containing 173 acres, more or less, lot
No. 337, originally in the 4th dist. of Walton, now
the 6th of Gwinnett, 200 acres of lot No. 13, in the
Oih dist. of Gwinnett, and lot No. 12. in the 6th
dist. of Gwinnett, and at the same time and place
will be sold seventeen likely negroes, consisting of
men and women, and boys and girls, all belonging
to the estate of George A. Gordon, deceased, and
sold for the benefit of his heirs and creditors.
Terms made known on the day of sale.
THOMAS B. GORDON,
Adm’r, with the will annexed.
Nov. 4—34—tds.
EXECUTORS’ SALE.
W ILL be sold at the court-house in Gwinnett
county, on the first Tuesday in January
next, the following valuable lots of land all lying
in said county, viz : No. 210, in the 5th district;
No. 211, in the 5th district: No. 304, in the 5th
district; fraction No. 305. containing 119 acres, in
the 5th district; fra lion No. 20, containing 9j
acres, in the 7th district; fraction No. 19, contain
ing 168i acres in the 7ih district.
Also, lot of land. No. 209, in the 5th dist.. well
improved, a good dwelling house, Gin house, and
other necessary buildings for a good farmer, about
100 acres cleared land.
Also will Le sold at the plantation of Klisha
Winn, deceased, on Wednesday and Thursday the
4th and 5th days of January next, all of the perso
nal properly of said deceased, (not willed and ne
groes excepted,) consisting of horses, moles, three
yoke of oxen, cattle, about 8000 Ihs. |iork, stock
hogs, sheep, corn, oats and fodder. Farming tools,
3 waggons and 2 carts, household furniture, a quan
tity ol lumber, 2 pair millstones and irons, 1 sc
blacksmith tools, one cotton gin, Ac. &c. SoM is
the property of Elisha Winn, deceased. Terms
made known on the day cf sale.
W\f MAI.TIIIF. i ,
K. D. WINN, l ^ xec ”’
Oct. 2S—33— ids.
ADMINISTRATOR’S SALE.
\ GREEALLY to an order of the Honorable
il. the Interior court of Walton county.'then sit
ting for orJinary purposes, will be sold on the first
'lNiesday in January next, before the court-house
in said county, all the land in said county, belonging
to the estate of Wm. B. Beall, deceased, contain
ing 425 acres, more or less, on Jack’s creek, ad
joining lands of Richardson, Thomas, and others,
well improved. Terms made known on the day oi
sale.
Also at the same time and place, will he sold
the negroes belonging to said estate, 23 in number,
and among them are men, women. Boys, and girls,
and a good black-smith. Terms cash for the ne
groes. * DANIEL RAMEY, Adin'r.
Oct. 21—32—tds.
ADMINISTRATOR’S SALE.
A GREEABLY to an order of the Honorable
Inferior -court of Jackson county, when sit
ting for Ordinary purposes, will be sold at the late
residence of James B. Dougherty, deceased, in
Jackson county, on Thursday, the 22d day of De
cember next, all the perishable property of said es
tnte consisting of horses, cattle, hogs, corn, fod
der, a wngon, a cart and steers, house hold and
kitchen furniture, together with all articles, usually
found on a well conducted farm. Sale to continue
from day to day until all is sold. Terms twelve
months credit. Also, the hiring of the negroes of
said estate, and renting of the plantation, on the
31st December, at the same place.
OSBORN McGINNIS,
.. Adm’r. de bonis non.
Nov. 11—35—tds.
ATHENS, GEORGIA, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1842.
POETRY
ADMINISTRATOR’S SALE.
A GREEABLY to an order of the court of Ordi
nary of Oglethorpe county, will be sold at the
court-house in Lexington, on the first Tuesday in
January next, four negroes, (one negro man about
40 years of age, two boys about 16, and one girl 8
°. r ® years old,) belonging to the estate of Henry
Spratling, late ofsaiJ county, deceased. Terms
made known on the day of sale.
JOHNSON SPRATLING, Adm’r.
* Oct. 28—33—tds.
EXECUTOR’S SALE.
A GREEABLY to the last will and testament of
Caroline Barnett, deceased, will be sold to
the highest bidder, at Watkinsville, on Tuesday the
6th day of December next, seven likely Negroes,
three men, two women and two children. Terms
on the day of sale.
THOMAS H. YOUNG. > ~ ,
E. BROWN, > Lxec rs.
Sept. 23—28—tds.
ADMINISTRATOR’S SALE.
W ILL be sold on the first Tuesday in January
next, in Monroe, Walton county, under an
order of the court of Ordinary of said county, one
negro man, Dave, 20 years old; one boy Frank, 14 ;
two other negroes about 10 vears old, (names not
recollected.) Sold as the property of Col. George
Park, deceased. Terms made known on the dav
of sale. R. M. ECHOLS, Adm’r de bonis non.
Nov. 4—31—tils.
ADMINISTRATOR’S SALE.
A GREEABLY to an order of the Honorable the
Inferior court of Jackson county, when sit
ting for Ordinary purposes, will be sold on Hie first
Tuesday in December next, at the court house in
said county, the plantation whereon. William Wer
ner, dereased, formerly resided, lying on the road
front Athens to Jefferson, containing about 430 acres,
with good improvements. Sold as his property
for the benefit of his heirs and creditors. Terms
made known on the dav of sale.
WILLIAM BELL, Adm’r.
Sept. 9—26—tds.
From the Orion for November.
Lovc’ii Last Trick.
BY J. II. MIFFLIN.
“ At his old tricks again!” wc say,
When Cupid, in his careless play,
Picks up young hearts, and. one bv one,
Bruises or breaks ’em just for fun;
For little odds to him it makes,
Whether one bleeds,’ or bends, or breaks!
And hammering thus, one day, he found
Among a pile upon the ground,
(A lap-full that his mother gave,
Just then, more precious toys to save—)
Though most required but one smart blow,
To lay their shattered fragments low—
One heart still stubbornly withstood,
The sport of his capricious mood ;—
He strikes again, till roused to spite.
His blows descend with all his might!
“Not broken vetl—’tis an uncommon one,”
So he examines the phenomenon;
When to! two hearts together grown
So closely that they seemed hut one *
Much vexed for ail the time it cost him,
And all the labor that it lost him,
He swings his maul, as up lie jumps,
And deals upon it heavier thumps,
Full sure if not to break, to sever—
In vain! he might have thumped forever,
When who should pass, and pausa awhile,
But Mercury! With knowing smile,
Amused he gazed, then spake: “ I wonder,
If you expect these hearts to sunder! «
See, they defy, together knit,
Your little strength and little wit;
But list to me, my pretty brat,
I know a trick worth two of that!
Each blow you give but joins them closer,
But take this wedge, and hold it so, sir,
This wedge of gold, between the hearts,
One little blow—seo there, it parts!
Love finds it now an easy matter,
These close-united hearts to scatter;
Though thpy defied the sabre’s edge—
They can't resist a golden wedge !
MISCELLANY
ADMINISTRATOR’S SALE.
A GREEABLY to an order of the Honorable
Inferior Court o/ Habersham county, when
sitting for Ordinary purposes, will be s’old on the
first Tuesday in Januaiy next, at the court-house
door in the town of Clarkesville, If ibersham
county, the following property, to wit: Five negro
women : Patsey, Agnes. M iranda. Piety and Eli
za ; Three negro men : lshain .Simon and Caswell;
also Half of lot No. 30, 3d dist. of Habersham
county, whereon David M. Horton lives? also,
Raftriflnt Vr, 117 It rlixt u-tiprenn A flji .Chit
wood now lives, tsold as the property of .Iame«
Chin- ood, deceased.
JOHN I. CHITWOOD, Adm’r.
Oct. 21—3-2—tds.
From the Magnolia fur WovaM&cr.
mesmerism.
Every day brings us some new tidings
touching the marvels of Mesmerism. Its
professors seem every where equally buoy
ant and busy, winning proselytes and work
ing wonders. The laughter seems to be
subsiding. The grin of incredulity is
changed into something like a stare; and
though the sceptic still shakes his head, he
no longer points his finger. The faculty,
the bar and clergy, in Boston, seem utterly
diimfonndered. They are unwilling to
confess to wonders for which they cannot
account by the ordinary processes,—hut
they dare nut, seemingly, deny them.
They are unwilling to commit themselves,—
as is always the case with those who dread
ridicule,—in favor of the marvels which
they see ; and as they cannot explain, their
efforts seetn only meant to evade them.
ADMINISTRATOR’S SALE.
W ILL be sold on the first Tuesday in Decem
ber next, before the court-house door in the
town of Blairsvjile, Union county, lot of land No.
251, in the 17th district of said county, sold as the
property of John Woods, de - eased, for the benefit j
of the heirs of said deceased. Terms made known j
on the day of sale
WM. J. GAINES, Administrator.
October 7—30—tds.
ADMINISTRATORS’ SALE.
W ILL be sold on the 22nd of December next,
at the late residence of Jiuncs McClcsky,
ol Hail county, deceased, all the personal properly
liclonging to sai-l estate, consisting of corn, fodder,
horses, hogs, and some cows and ralves, household
and kitchen furniture, plantation tools &c.
Also at the same lime and place, six negroes
will be hired, consisting of one man, three women
nnd two ploughboys, unless previously hired by
private contract. Terms made known on the day
of sale.
DAVID H. McCLESKEY, ) ,
JAMES R. McCLESKEY, f *
Nov. 11—35—tds.
Adinr’s.
EXECUTORS SALE.
A GREEABLY to an order of the Honorable
court of Ordinary of Franklin county, "ill be
sold on the first Tuesday in January next, at the
court-house door ofsaid county, four likely negroes,
to wit: three men and one woman. Sold ns the
property of Stephen Chatham, deceased. Terms
made known o:i the dav of sale.
CHAFIN CHATHAM, Exec’r.
Oct. 29—33—tds.
EXECU TOR’S SALE.
A GRKCABLY to an order of the Honorable
Inferior court of Walton county, while sitting
for Ordinary purposes, will be sold before the
court-house in said county, on the first Tuesday in
January next, all the land and negroes bel-»ngi: g u>
the estate of Susannah Huff, late of said • county,
deceased, to wit: one lot of land No. 378, 9th
district, originally Henry county, now Walton, con
taining 20*2} acres; also two negroes, Ephraim, a
man about 32 years old ; and Dilla, a woman about
47 years old. Terms made known on the day of
sale. CHARLES HUFF, Exec’r.
Oct. 08—33—tds.
EXECUTORS' SALE.
W ILL be sold in Cobb county, at the cow pens
of Elisha Winn, deceased, on Wednesday
the 11th day of December next, one horse, 14
head of cattle, 4000 Ihs. pork, about 30 stock hogs,
a quantity of corn and fodder, &e. Ac. Sold as
the property of Elisha Winn, de-eased. Terms
made known on the dav of sale.
WM. MALTBIE.) E ,
R. D. WINN, £fc.xecrs.
Oct. 28—33—tds.
EXECUTORS’ SALE.
W ILL be sold at the court-house in Cobb coun
ty, on :!ie firsi Tuesday in February next,
two .lots of land Nos. 1196, 3d dist. and 3d section,
and 1253, 3d dist. ana 3d section. Sold as the
•roperty of Elisha Winn, deceased. Terms made
mown on the day of sale.
WM. MALTBIE,) .
R. D. WINN, $ Execrs
Oct. 28—33—tds.
er thought of before, and deemed impos
ts!. Their sole crime was,’tlmt-they lived
an age too soon. Why is it that people dis
believe, nr.d yet refuse to examine) We
may be answered that men, with a natural
pride of opinion, will not confess they have
been studying error: they are loth to un
earn the old, and fear the labor ot underta
king the new. Few are wise enough to
judge for themselves, or inventive enouoh
to leap beyond thqjr master’s teachings.—
Ten thousand may acquire learning from
otheis, and use it profitably, where a~sin<rle
one leaves the beaten track, and by the force
of original genius make the wilderness of
thought blossom like the rose. Most men
receive with disfavor innovations on the or
der of things as taught by their fathers.—
Truth has in all ages contended with more
enemies, and endured more persecution,
than error: it has always fought its way
among a troop of foes—but though often
beaten, it conquers—it is victorious at last.
“ It seems but yesterday, since a profound
philosopher of Germany was regarded by
the sagest, as a speculative dreamer, and
his teaching deemed unworthy of serious
consideration. But, as he gained converts
to bis system, the seif-conceited lenders of
the world’s judgement, spared nothing that
wit could suggest, or satire devise, to turn
into ridicule the original truths he tayght.
And holy men from the sacred pulpit anath
ematized his doctrine as a heresy which the
people should shun, or crush forever. Ev
ery truth that has yet been taught by science
or philosophy, is in harmony with the Bi
ble. I his distinguished German is now
acknowledged the founder ol a science,
which explains the mysterious contradic
tious of the human mind. The metaphysi-
ciiins of his day and ours, like the aleliym-
ists of old, are laid on the shelf, and Phren-
°!?~y> like Chemistry,’ranks among the
most sublime of modern discoveries. 'The
on* is to nriud, wtnu the other is to matter:
each resolves all that it touches into its nat
ural elements; or arranges and combines
to produce a perfect whole. Dngald Stew
art was a great man, but his energies were
directed in the wrong path—he groped iu
the dark with the fearless strength of a gi
ant. Ilis works are no longer a study, and
in fifty years (though his name may never
be forgotten,) they will be unread. A new
system ot mental philosophy has sprung up
-—has been taught, and is received,—so orig
inal, and at the same time so precise, that it
almost deserves the name of an exact science.
By the seemingly unimportant discovery
that amber, when rubbed attracted lighter
bodies, man, by slow degrees, w’as induc
tively led to the miraculous science of Elec
tricity. By the attractive power which one
metal, or its ore, was observed to exert over
certain. oJ.her.JM/tta 'SuAhmer—t|;V ol-Magnet
o V pro|res!sfany and Magnetism are "now
ADMINISTRATOR’S SALE.
W ILL be sold at the late residence of George
A. Gordon, deceased, in Gwinnett county,
commencing on the 19th day of December next,
all the personal property belonging to the oetate ot
said deceased, consisting of horses, hogs, cattle,
corn, fodder, household and kitchen furniture, to
gether with other articles too tedious to mention.
Sold for the benefit of the heirs and creditors.
Sale to continue from day to day until all is sold.
Terms made known on the day of sale.
THOMAS B. GORDON,
Adm’r, with the will annexed.
Nov. 4—34—tds.
EXECUTOR’S SALE.
A GREEABLY to an order of the Inferior court
of Gwinnett county, when sitting for Ordina
ry purposes, will be sold to the highest bidder, be
fore the court house door, in the town of Lawrence-
ville in said county, between the usual hours of
sale, on the first Tuesday in February next, a ne
gro man, and a negro woman and child, belonging
to the estate of Austin Webb, deceased. Sold for
the benefit of hi9 heirs and creditors. Terms, one
half cash, the other half small notes with approved
security. AUSTIN WEBB, Exec’r.
Nov. 18—36—tds.
EXECUTOR’S SALE.
A GREEABLY to the last will and testament of
J\. Caroline Barnett, deceased, will be sold to
the highest bidder, at her late residence, on Friday
the 2d day of December next, the following proper
ty to wit: horses, cattle, hogs, corn, fodder, oats
and cotton in the seed, all the household and kilch-
on furniture, plantation tools, &c. If it should not
be sold the first day, the sale to continue the next
day until all is sold. Terms on tho day of sale
THOMAS H. YOUNG, i ~ .
E. BROWN, . } E * e crs.
Sept 23—28—tds.
ADMINIS TRATOR’S SALE. .
A GREEABLY to an order of the Inferior court
. of Walton county, when sitting for ordina
ry purposes, will be sold on the first Tuesday
in December next, within the lawful .hours of sale,
before' thd court house door in Monroe, Walton coun
ty: One tract.of land containing ninety-five acres,
known as the Broken Arrow stand. also, one tract
known as the Shop lot, (number of acres not
known.) Sold as the property of Andrew Shelnutt,
deceased. Terms made known on the day of sale.
’ JACOB SHELNUTT, Adm’r.
August 19—23—tds
GEORGIA, FRANKLIN COUNTY.
W HEREAS Meriweather Clemonds applies to
me for Letters of Administration with the
Will annexed, on the estate of Lucy Clemonds, de
ceased. • .
These are therefore to cite and admonish all and
singular the kindred and creditors of'said deceased,
to bo and appear at my office within the time pre
scribed by law, to shew cause, if any they can, why
said letters should not be granted.
Given under my hand, this lOthday of Nov., 1842.
THOS. KING c. o. <f.
Nov. 18—36—30d.
GEORGIA, HALL COUNTY.
CMTHEREAS Elizabeth Meers and Joroyal
W Barnett apply to me for. letters of Admtnis-
tration on the estate of John 'Meers, late of said
county? deceased.
These are therefore to cite and admonish the
kindred and creditors of said deceased, and all con
cerned. to be and appear at my office within the
time prescribed by law, to shew cause, if any exist,
why said letters should not be granted.
Given under my hand, this 1st day of Nov. 1842,
E. M. JOHNSON, c. c *
Nov. 18—36—30(1.
Blanks for sale at this Office.
pears that Dr. Mitchell, and others, are
lion11 y possessing themselves of the secrets
of the invisible world. Old ladies surrender
their teeth without a muriitt r, and extrac
tion proceeds without distraction. An amu
sing conflict appears to be in progress be
tween the Faculty of Richmond, and the
professors of this startling faith. YVe are in
possession only ol a small part of the con
troversy, A Mr. French, it seems, has been
exhibiting in that city to the wonder of the
citizens, professional and otherwise. The
medical men were invited ns spectators.—
One or more of their number became con
verts ; the rest held off, nnd, according to
tHe account of the Mesmerizers, sought ra
ther to annoy than to analyse. In this
showing, they neither behaved like sensible
or scientific men. They sought to- retard
rather than to examine the proceedings, aud
proposed tests and obstacles which involved
physical impossibilities. For example, they
required the professor to ask his patient a
question with a mouthful of vinegar,—a re
quisition which, on his part, produced some
considerable sourness, nnd resulted, to them,
in no little bitterness. It appears that, with
his patient in the sleep-waking or somnam
bulist stute, one of the tests of his depen
dence upon the will and consciousness of
his inagnetizer, consists in his being able to
declare or descrilie what the latter may be
eating or drinking or tasting, without him
self seeing, eating or tasting, tlje object.—
Mr. French filled his mouth with vinegar,
and was about to void it, in order to ask
the patient what had been tasted, when the
Faculty interposed, insisting that he should
ask the question while still retaining the as-
cctous mouthful; a tas’: of some little diffi
culty, which the. maguetizer resented as of
fensive, and denounced as mere cavilling.
It does seem to have been less than de
cent. Mr. French succeeded, it appears, in
producing a condition like sleep, which
none of them hut himself could interrupt or
disturb. Thus stands the affair between
these parties. Meanwhile, Mr.. French
makes new converts iu Virginia hourly.—
Among his proselytes, we may name that
famous ancient of the political press, Mr.
Thomas Ritchie, of Richmond. - A friend
in New York, whom we knew two years
a»oto have been among the incredulous,
writes to us a letter of.recantation. He says,
in effect:
“ I nevrr more shall mock at marvellous things.
Such strange conceits have after time found true
That once were themes for jest. I shall not smile
At the most monstrous legend.”
On this subject, he makes some sensible
suggestions. We make bold to quote from
his letter. He addresses himself to the re
luctance whjch men exhibit to entertain
novelties which involve or relate to philo
sophicat truth,—an hostility naturally re
ferrible to the presence of intense self-es
teem ; and those barriers which vanity al
most certainly sets up against all new coun
sellors.
u The world is always unwilling to re
ceive a new truth ; and those whom it rec
ognizes as scientific^ reject every discovery
that does not harmonize with their pre-con
ceived notions. History is full of instances
of inventors and discoverers being treated
with contempt, yea, of even having endured
torture,Tor simply teaching what man had
confessed by many to be the same power ;
at least, they are found to obey similar laws.
As with inorganic matter, iniy there not
exist among living things an influence, se
cret and subtle, that attracts kind to kind, or
repels opposites ?
“YY’hat is that invisible power which at
tracts man to man, and hinds him with
bonds of friendship or affection ? What is
it that, at a glance, makes us love or loathe
particular persons ? Though we may not
comprehend the power, we confess it exists:
though we do not see it, we feel its influ
ence. A touch sometimes produces cstacy
or agony : we fondly cling to one object,
and avoid quickly another. Whence conies
this attraction and repulsion. 1 I may be
answered that it is feeling—love or hatred.
But VI bat 4s From what secret
source does it spring? To this question I
niijy receive many answers : only one can
be true.
“Towards the close of the Inst century, a
doctor of Swabia arrived at .Vienna, insisting
lie could cure diseases hy the power of mag
nets,—he deemed it an invention qll his
own,—but to his surprise, he found a rival
already in that capital. At length he said,
it is not a virtue in the metal that effects a
cure, but an influence conveyed through it,
from my body to that pf my patient. From
this ajrose Animal Magnetism; or Mesme
rism, after the name of the Swabian doctor.
YVe need not trace this,—we dare not call it
scieuce,—from the day of its discovery
till the present time; it is enough to re
mark, that the world soon rose in arms
against it, and aided by unfavorable, though
vaguely expressed decisions of learned in
stitutions, the discovery, such as it was,
slumbered for many years. Lately, howev
er, it has uwnkened, and now it walks the
earth with a bolder and ffirmer step than
ever: good men believe it, and, by experi
ments, have, to their own satisfaction, proved
it to be true.”
After this exordium, our friend proceeds
to show how he was first led to examiue
and believe. He met nt an evening party,
a mutual friend—a literary man of very
considerable reputation—who ffatikly avow
ed his own faith in that which all around
him denounced as an humbug. “Hum
bug, indeed !’; says the believer. “ Are you
wilting to lie humbugged by me? VYill
you submit that I should try theexperimeut
upon you. You, Miss Mary, for example,
who so stoutly declare your scepticism-
will you submit? 1 regard yon as not only
a very fair, but a very fit subject of mesme
rism.” ■ - -
Such was the avowal and the challenge
bf-fljp jpfrofessor. The young damsel con
sented, with an incredulous buffet of laugh
ter. The mother and sisters drew nigh,
encouraged her incredulity, and mocked at
theexperimeut. In ten minutes the incred
ulous beauty was asleep, and might have
been kissed with impunity. Vainly did the
mother and sisters eudeavor to awaken her.
Failing, after repeated efforts, they became
terrified. Their efforts were renewed un
der their'terror, and the effect began to be
painful and dangerous. Instead of arousing
the patien.t; they threw her into convulsions,
and the Mestnerizer was compelled fo push
them aside' with a gentle violonee, and re
store the girl to consciousness, which he
did in a few moments,and withoutdifficulty!
Our lncud, from this and many other an
ecdotes, was induced to make some experi
ments. He was assured that any man, in
good health, and with some firmness of
character, might succeed. He has tried the
experiment, and has succeeded. Mesmpric
sleep, he states, conveys an inadequate idea
of Hus condition. “Sleep-waking,” so called
by 1 ownsend, is not much better. The
somnambulist state of the mesmerized is
according to his letter, as different frdtn or
dinary sleep as day from night; and lie
adds, “so far as ray observation extends,
people who are naturally inclined to drow
siness—sleepy-headed people—are less sus
ceptible to this influence than any other.”
This, to some, may seem unaccountable:
on this head, he remarks, “there is nothin^
strange, though it may seem so, in this fact!
The two states are totally opposite. The
one we call natural, because all organic
life needs its re-invigorating- agonev. The
other, though less general, is, according to
our faith, not less natural, and has its bles
sing and beneficial effects also. Whatever
it may seem to the superficial analyst, re
gard, examine it, thoroughly, and you find
it in perfect harmony with many, the most
usual Phenomena of life. It is a balm to
the sick, and, ere Iona 1 , will prove a conso
lation to the healthy.”
YVe forbear many portions of this interes
ting letter. Here, however, is a simple ex
periment, for the cure of head-ache, with
which our friend counsels the beginning ol
our experiments. It is certainly amusing
ly simple, and is so easy ot trial, that nobody
need complain or hesitate. “ If,” says he,
“ y°u have a friend suffering from head-ache,
mesmerism will cure him. Try it—thus:
place the points of your fingers and thumb
(the hand partly open,) on the region which
is suffering,—draw them slowly and gently
together, with n motion not unlike that o"f
one picking cotton,—theu throw the hand
behind you, as if casting away what yon
have gathered. Continue this action a few—
and usually less than ten—minutes, and the
cure is complete. In several kinds of head
ache there is a feverish heat, its intensity
duly proportioned to the severity of the
pain. For your own satisfaction, ere you
begin, feel with open palm the temperature
of skin in the sufferer, and before the ma
nipulations have been five minutes in prog
ress, yon will find this heat wonderfully
abated. YVith the reduction of the heat to
the health standard, the head-ache, is re
moved. This process, it must be observed,
does not produce sleep on tire patient.”
Our friend promises us more, though he
admits his fear to tell us all that he has.
witnessed—of some of which he was a part.
Certainly, we shall be very glad to hear ev-
whnt wc do-not comprehend, we regard
blind doubt ns a greater booby than blind
credulity. Les exlremites se touchent.—
The one has its birth in vanity, the other in
stupidity: both enemies of truth, the for
mer we incline to think the worst—for what
is more stupid or incorrigible than vanity.
Nothing, certainly, so completely shuts up
eyes, ears, head and heart! <
But we have still something more to state
on the subject, or the facts (supposed) in
Mesmerism. Of course, our readers do not
at this late day, need the history of Mesme
rism,—of that Swabian Doctor, Mesmer,—
and of those ugly performances (shall we
call them magnetic also?) by wjiich he
lost himself and character. Our purpose is
less ambitious. By this time most readers
are disabused on the score of that opinion
which emanated from the French academy,
(B. Franklin being one of the committee,)
on the degree of credit to be given -to Ani
mal Magnetism. It was a popular error
that the Academy had pronounzed against ih
This was not the case. The two decisions
of the'Academy have been rather in its fa
vor,—certainly, in favor of .the alleged pow
er of one malt over another, in producing
artificial sleep. Beyond this, the first pro
ceedings of the Academy’ ventufed no opin
ion—leaving the rest of the subject innubi-
bus. Any encyclopedia will furnish the
rest of its history up to the present dajy.—
Recently, the most important revelations
seem to have been made by the Rev. Mr.
fownsend. Mr. Townsend is an English
clergyman of unquestionable integrity.—
His book also shows him to be a good wri
ter, of highly philosophical and \vcll-en-
dowed mind. His narrative is not only one
of the most wdnderful and startling, but one
of the most interesting also. YVe contmenu
it to the perusal of all readers, who arq not
apprehensive of the ridicule, of their neigh
bors. YVe have already glimpsed at the
progress of Mesmerism at the North) and
particularly in the Northern cities. Among
the professors are numerous quacks, doubt
lessly, as there will be found among the
professors of all the arts and sciences—in
medicine, law, literature, phrenology, reli
gion-all objects, indeed, which, as they
command the veneration.of man, may be
made useful in extorting his pennies. But,
nearer home, we are apprised of numerous
experiments and discoveries, almost equally
startling in their results with any at the
North. ”■ One gentleman of the up-country
of South Carolina, is represented as being
particularly successful, in producing the
Mesmeric sleep, in which condition the pa
tient may be cuffed or kicked at.pleasure,
tortured wtth sharp instruments,—subjected
to almost any degree of injury and ill-treat
ment, without having the most remote con
sciousness pf what is going on. Another
gentleman of this city, (Charleston,) a
gentleman whom we all delight to honor,—
one of the most esteemed among us, for
taste, learning and worth,—has, we learn,
while on a recent visit to the North,-succee
ded in producing the same condition, the
patient being equally insensible under the
same treatment. But, among the most
amusing of. these experiments, are some
which have been made by a learned, profes
sor of the interior upon negroes. It will he
retoembered, What has been said-in* the let
ter of our iriend, touching the insusceptibil
ity to the magnetic* influence of those per
sons who. are naturally of drowsy or steep*
temperament. YVe well know how peculi
arly our negroes appropriate to themselves
this characteristic. Our professor has ac
cordingly found frequent difficulty in impo
sing the mesmeric condition upon them;
but where he has succeeded, he has done so
wonderfully. An instance is given of his
power, by the mere effort of his will, to ar
rest the food, whether hoe-cake or bacon, on
its passage to the eagjr jaws, and to fix the
nutigeririg victim in the iron grasp ol'sleep.
I Ins he has continued toxlo, without diffi
culty, at every movement of the negro to
convey the desired morsel to his lips; and
this, too, when the commodity to be eateu
was particularly attractive to his palate—an
unwonted delicacy provided for the occa
sion'. Now, to those who know the negro,
and know how completely his whole nature
is sufiordinate to his appetite,—how com
pletely he surrenders himself up to the crea
ture-comforts,—how reluctant he Is to lore-
go them,—this foreign control of his mus
cles, energies and will, at such moments of
appetite and anticipation, is indicative of a
power that reminds us of the iron-fate—in
flexible as the grave—which was the soul
ol the pagan worship. Y\ r e could <nve
many little anecdotes, picked up, here and
there, on this subject, tending in likd man
ner to inspire and compensate curiosity.
But, to what does al! this bring us? YVe
are pretty much where we were before.
Here are wonders, difficult to confute, diffi
cult to believe. YY'e cannot presnrnfe to
scorn or denounce them. It would be im
pertinence to do so. Some of the best men
we know,—men of integrity, in whose truth
we must confide,—-men of intellect und
learning, whose wisdom we must respect,—
come and tell us-these stories. As men of
honor, we put perfect faith in their purpos
es ; and as nx*n of sense nnd acuteness, we
must feel assured that, before lending them
selves to this or that faith, they will have
subjected it to ns searching a scrutiny, as
we oursel ves should have done in a like ex
amination. YVhat is left to us, but to take
for granted that there is somethirt£r in tho
whole matter which deserves and demands
investigation.
It demands investigation particularly
fiom the professors of the liberal sciences,
to whom, as a matter of course, the custody
of moral and intellectual truth is confided
in every country ;—since it is of the last im
portance to such,that the oneness of truth
should be maintained, and ail of its elements
secured and added to the established stock.
It demands investigation peculiarly from
the medical men of the country, since it al
leges its power to lessen pain and suffering,
and, by the insensibility which it produces,
^fiTUTcKT’Y]ec&MfyfTeetl!
are drawn, cancers removed, and limbs ta
ken oil', while the sufferer is in this condi
tion, and, till he is awakened, he is none
the wiser. This is gravely and frequently
asseverated. Either it is true, or it is not.
If true, the good of ntan demands that it
should be generally known and practised,
if not true, it is almost equally important
that false hopes should not.be awakened in
the patient, lending to expectations, the dis
appointment nnd defeat of which necessari
ly increase the-pain of his suffering. In no
point of view can it be permitted to men of
art nnd science to skulk this question.—
They must look it boldly in the face.—
They must not mind ridicule. This fear
is about the most unmanly which could
disgrace a profession ; nnd, indeed, there
can be no ridicule incurred, which should
be regarded for a moment, by those who
.-unengaged in the holy, work of mitigating
the sorrows and the sufferings of mankind.
The longer the inquiry into the subject is
put of, the more discreditable to the profes
sional men in every community. It will
be idle to say that they have no faith in the
supposed mystery, since this is a period
when philosophical inquiry is not urged
exclusively by professional men. All men
now-a-days inquire, and the professor stands
in some danger, unless he busies himself, in
being left in the background by his class.
Men of parts and character have given
themselves up to this doctrine—declare its
truth and importance, and will command
respect, nnd find believers, in spite of any
scepticism on the part of those who, while
declaring their disbelief, yet refuse to inves
tigate. They .must investigate to be safe
themselves, and they must do it with some
degree of publicity. The times call for it
and the people, and in every chief city,
where there are numbers of scientific^ men
of all professions, they should nt once form
a class for the pushing of these inqnries,
until the claims ot Mesmerism are either
permanently established or completely over
thrown.
YY'e may add—to conclude—(hat we are
in hopes to receive from a learned gentle
man of our own State, some tacts iu the
Literature of Mesmerism’—which he tra
ces to the earliest periods of ancient history,
and for which remarkable authorities hove
been found among the remotest writers of
antiquity. The Bible may be numerously
quoted to this effect.
From the Charleston Mercmy.
Mesmerism, or Human Maguetiam.
Erwinton,Barnwell Dist.,S.C.
Messrs. Editors: For several years this
subject has been exciting considerable inter
est in various parts of the.United'States; in
the South we know comparatively but lit-
tieof it, and that little gleaned, mostly, as it
has been from occasional notices by the pe
riodicals of the day, has been calculated to
impress upon the mind the image of super
stition and humbuggery; hence it is, 1 pre
sume, that ito one in the South, so far as 1
know, has investigated this subject with a
view to ascertain its trnth or falsehood, or if
thev have, tiie result has not been given to
the'public, probably, not wishing to incur
the ridicule to which it might subject them.
I have been for some time investigating this
subject, and now submit to your readers
some bf Hits facts elicited. 1 have pot a
