Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

284 ADDITIONAL CORROBORATIVE EVIDENCErelated.AVith this view I commenced by reading religious and pliilcsophicbooks that would be likely to discuss the question, but could find nothinglike what I had written. I consulted the public libraries, and they containednothing on the creation similar to what my hand had communicated.Not a professor, philosopher, naturalist, physiologist, theologian, or historian,with whom I had ever had any intercourse, could recollect any thingof the kind.1435. *^ After this, I reason as follows : having examined all the meansby which what was written by my hand on the creation could have beenimpressed on my memory, nothing appears to warrant that belief; therefore,these notions on the creation cannot be regarded as reminiscences.143G. " But it is not enough, we have said, that in reminiscence, arenecessary, which, by the recollection of an object, idea, or notion, we areled to the further recollection of something forgotten. That this shouldtake place, some time is required, however little it may be. However, inthe case related, not a moment was required, and this breaks up the requiredprocess, in order to respond to the theory of M. de Gasparin.1437. " Now, if these ideas on the creation are not reminiscences— ifthey do not emanate from the devil, who, agreeably to our author, is anentire stranger to these phenomena—if it is not the soul of a deceasedperson that controlled my hand, as M. de Gasparin, being a Protestant,does not believe in returning spirits nor in communion with the dead,w^ho then caused to be written b}^ my hand such strange things, without myknowledge or assistance ? And I beg M. de Gasparin to be so good as toexplain this phenomenon, which appears to be in opposition with his theoryon the prodigies of ecstatic subjects. Should M. de Gasparin desire to seewhat I have written, he can be gratified. But what will he say, whenhaving requested my spirit to reply in writing on some subject familiar tomy mind, he is unable to do it, or replies contrary to my thoughts andconvictions ? Can this be called reminiscence ? I pass now to considermesmerism.1438. " In speaking on this subject, the Supernatural oi M. de Gasparinsays, 'The clairvoyance of mesmerism appears in general to have onl}- thecharacter of an echo.Its wonders are those of reminiscence or perceptionof images and thoughts, which occupy the intelligence of the person withwhom the clairvoyant is in rapport. This appears to be the balance-sheetof animal magnetism, and it has changed but little since its origin.' (Tomeii. page 311.)1439. '^According to what M. de Gasparin has just told us, it follows,that when a clairvoyant tells us in his sleep that he sees the spirit of adeceased person, and gives us an exact description of his person, we arenot to regard it as the deceased person that the clairvoyant sees, but hisimage impressed on the memory of that clairvoyant from acquaintance withthe defunct when living, or in the memory of the consulting visitor in