the purpole, and the end o f objeCts; and while it rambles about
in the obfcure and boundlefs regions o f conjecture, the true fpirit
o f enquiry lofes the thread o f its obforvations and o f its analyfis,
and bounding from one imperfeit impreffion to another, is incapable
o f flopping to obferve, compare and ju d g e : this was the
infirmity o f the good Baron. He fancied to himfelf, that the
foul of the perfon afleep was tranfported to regions o f which the
human mind, in conjunction with the body, can form no idea. He
went into particulars flill more ridiculous, and aflerted, for inflance,
that there all the fouls were drefled in white, and that they enjoyed
in that fcene o f delights fuch agreeable fenfations as furpafs all conception.
H e believed, that in that flate o f fleep they forefaw future
events ; and that their fouls being exalted to a higher fphere o f
perception, they could fee many things that are invifible to the
material organs o f our imperfect vifion. Inflead o f interrogating
the fleeper as to the nature o f his feelings during his torpor ; in-
ftead o f trying to found the condition o f his phyfical faculties;
or queflioning him as to intelligible objeCls, his queries were always
concerning the white robes, the paradife, and thole- elyfian'
fields where, according to his theory, the fouls are in the fruition
o f every fpecies o f pleafure, ever perfectly at eafe, and clothed in
their robe de chambre. He was defirous to receive intelligence
from his anceflors, his great grandfather, or his late father; and
they very kindly, in general, font him their compliments by the
mouths o f thofe couriers in white jackets;
From the manner in which I have flated my remarks, the
reader
reader will be able to judge o f the light in which I viewed this
fubjeCt. Having fucceeded in our refearches concerning the electrical
fluid, and what is called galvamfm, I think it not impoffible
but we may difoover fome other fluid, or material fubflance,
which fhall have its particular laws, relations and affinities. I am
o f opinion, that in animal magnetifm we meet with appearances
which cannot be traced to the imagination as their caufo, nor indeed
to any caufo known or flated by the enemies o f this doitrine.
The-French academicians themfelves, in their report on animal
magnetifm, fhew, perhaps, that they bellowed upon it neither the
time nor the candour and impartiality which a fubjeil fo difficult,
and fo much entangled in the groflefl prejudices, had a right to
obtain from them. Upon the whole, I conclude that we are flill
entirely in the dark as to this unknown caufo, which, though we
cannot as yet affign to it any name or determinate qualification,
is not on that account lefs poffible.
The proficiency o f the Baron in the magnetical fcience has not
met with very great fuccefs in making profelytes at Uleaborg :
for though this country is removed from the centre o f intellectual
improvement, yet the diffufion o f knowledge has been fo univer-
fal, in the courfe o f the eighteenth century, that its falutary effeCts
have been felt even here, and men’s minds are fufficiently enlightened
to be upon their guard againfl the illufions o f impoflure.
Befides, the Baron is alone; he is deflitute o f that co-operation
w’hich, by working on the fentiments o f others, in all timef and
places, by continually urging and prelfing upon them a fubjeil
V o l . I. N n w h i c h