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

OF THE EXISTENCE OF SPIRITS. 339the hours of one and four o'clock, the number amounted to forty-.six;among Nvliich wore nails, bits of tin, iron, keys, and small blocks, all ofwbicli were gathered from different parts of the house; most of them fromclosets on the second floor and the chambers. At one time, wbile Mr.ISl was standing near the centre of the room, a padlock, which wasknown to have been in the closet of the middle chamber, fell at his feet.lie took it in his hand, letting it fall from different heights, to discoverthe probable distance it must have fallen to produce the concussion. Aftervarious trials it was judged to have fallen not more than two or two and ahalf feet. As Dr. P. was sitting, perhaps ten feet from the piano-forte,he saw a small toy-mouse, which was on the piano, arise as iftossed, and,describing a parabola as it came, fall at his side, so near that he took itfrom the floor without leaving his chair.This he speaks of seeing as distinctlyas he ever saw any thing, the whole being perfectly in his view.He also saw, in the same way, among other things, a nail, cotton-spool,and key, arise from behind the sofa, which stood diagonally across thecorner of the room.lie arose, went to the sofa, looking behind and underit, but could discover nothing which might give impulse to the articles.While examining the carpet about the sofa to find if any other things werethere, without success, as his eyes were directed to one spot, there arosefrom that very point a piece of cheese-rind, perhaps eight inches from thefloor ; when he saw it first it arose four or five feet, passed over the sofa,and fell on the floor. He is positive it was not there when he was lookingat the carpet, and knows there were no visible means of its moving.1676. " Mr. M suggested, as he was about to leave on Wednesdaynight, that ifsome other persons called in.the strange phenomena should return, he would like to haveEarly the next morning, Thursday, the 14th,the manifestations commenced about as they had on the previous day.Soon after breakfast a sheet was found spread upon the floor, severalBibles were opened at difi"erent places, the candlesticks, in a row, thehighest in the middle, and covered with a sheet ; other articles changedabout the room, without any seeming design, more than to attract attention.Mr. M proposed that notes be despatched to Rev. Mr. W,Congregational minister, and Mr. Plant, a lawyer of high standing andrespectabilit}^, which was accordingly done. It was at this time that theyfirst began to hear rappings and heavy poundings. A loud sound, likesome person striking the floor with some heavy substance, was heard,generally in the middle chamber. This was usually done when no onewas in the chamber, and on any one entering all was still. In one instancea chair was seen to rise from the floor and beat down again, five or sixtimes, with a violence which caused the house to tremble so as to be feltin all the adjoining apartments. A large plated candlestick, standing onthe mantel, was moved by some unseen power to the floor, and then rcscup and down, beating the floor, until the candlestick was broken. This