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human vanity, and to open to mankind a perspective of the most exalted truths, for which, as yet, but few are prepared. There are also false critics, who, like false prophets, rather accuse the whole former world of folly and deceit than confess that they do not know how to grapple with undeniable facts, and who with their own statutes and foolish imaginations fall far short of the prudent simplicity of old, which taught harmony and a regular correspondence between the visible and invisible world, which is truly little acknowleged, because, besides the clear brilliancy of the outward eye, it requires a certain unction of the inner, whilst the mere στоixɛĩα Tоũ xórμov do not contain the substance and origin of things.

The contents of this book are, without reference to the above-mentioned contradictory motives, entirely occupied with those mesmeric appearances which formerly were called magical, and now magnetic; in the present state of opinion, therefore, it cannot, of course, aspire to universal approbation. It may, however, if it does not interest, at least not be generally displeasing, as the author seeks everywhere with complete impartiality only the historical traces of true facts, and the phenomena connected with them; compares these, and endeavours to lead them back to certain laws of nature, which, in truth, may be considered as something more than mere polluted pools, or decayed pillars.

If some things which are discussed do not always bear the impress of infallible truth, or even if some principles on which they are based be not the firmest, still it cannot easily be said that they are invented, or that it is all a deception. Even if they were really true, of which, indeed, we have many proofs, we may here and there find occasion to give them more consideration and to test the utility of their application, in order, perhaps, to succeed in discovering constant forces, even in the midst of more infrequent actions, in clearing away many difficulties which general science does not solve, and in opening a wider field of operations for human activity, so that it may attain at last the exalted end of spiritual destiny. As such, at least, is the aim of this novice sent among strangers, it hopes to meet,

if not with protection and shelter, at least with a fair hearing.

This book appeared, indeed, about twenty years ago, but in another garb, and then bore, contrary to the desire of its author, a somewhat unsuitable title; it was headed by the suspicious word "Scientific." At that time the clerks and general controllers of all knowledge, lying in wait at all corners and paths, seized hold of the unpolished stranger with merciless severity, declared his passport forged, found not a single good point about him, and asserted that he had nothing but damaged or contraband goods. A few, however, secretly searched his pockets, dishonestly abstracting therefrom various things, to be brought to market secretly as their own property,Sic vos non vobis mellificatis apes." In spite of all, the bookseller found his profit in it, and ere long the edition was sold out. All at once the novice reappears at a time, "où les esprits fermentent," but in quite a different form; with less pretension outwardly, but inwardly much more richly endowed. With a certain independence and confidence he now steps forward in a more solid form, little heeding the attacks of lurking pedants, who take the shallowness of their range of ideas for the mine of all truth, and do not perceive that there are still secrets to be disclosed which open a wider perspective to the investigations of the human mind, and afford a happier resting-place than is found in natural space and in these poor mortal times. With all this, it still treats the same theme, which suits the prevalent theories of science less than the regularity of ever recurring phenomena. The author builds, like St. Ambrosius, more on fixed laws of nature than on theories floating to the winds, _"Validius est naturæ testimonium, quam doctrinæ argu

mentum."

Thus has the author for the last thirty years moved on the still uncultivated field of the wonderful phenomena of magnetism; and after having once ascertained its reality, and been convinced of the striking effects voluntarily produced by it, he believes it his duty, in accordance with the saying "that a grain of experience is of more value in medicine than a book full of reasoning," to persevere with a certain self-sacrifice and constancy, of which not all

are capable. He considered his first necessary task to be the making experiments for the discovery of a fixed law for these phenomena. As it soon appeared that such regularity really existed, the next thing required was to search in history for those similar mysterious phenomena which shew a greater or less relation to those of magnetism. General accordance is now found everywhere and at all times, and thus common laws may now be assumed for all those wonderful phenomena and problems. This justifies the axiom, that all such remarkable phenomena as are in accordance with magnetism are in general true. Many other unsolved problems, of which a variety will be collected and compared in this book, appear by its means to solve themselves, or at least to be brought to a nearer comprehension. The author feels now with a certain joy which none can repress, that he has at least done his duty, perhaps thrown some light into the obscurity, and thus given the most necessary hints for proceeding with a cautious, firm step, and offering a helping hand to human weakness.

If natural philosophy has of late represented magnetism not only as tellurian but as a general cosmical power of nature, and if she confirms this by physical reasons founded on observation, and not mere metaphysical speculation, the assertion of that magnetic seeress is no longer so absurd when she calls Magnetism something more universal and higher than what is generally understood by it. "Magnetism, she said, is even capable of setting free the original bright nature of man, in its various parts, powers, and relations, which can then express itself in many ways and in different degrees: the power of magnetizing lies in everyone, but there must exist the power combined with the wisdom to apply it. Meanwhile men speak of it as they do of the wind, of which they know not whence it comes nor whither it goes. Man can also make wind, but only such as has no life in it."

As the author had the opportunity of hearing such decisions of magnetic seers, and of making himself acquainted with the higher natural philosophy, he has endeavoured to collect in this work everything that appeared to him to belong to the province of magnetism, and to be susceptible of enlightenment by the torch of natural philosophy. The reader must, therefore, be requested to

follow with a certain tolerance and resignation into the magical land, even if he should sometimes be led too far, and into strange places. Who can invariably, and especially on such unknown ground, always attain the right goal? On the other hand, instead of a complete systematic filling up and philosophic enlightening, often only hints of the probable direction are given. The author has allowed himself a certain freedom, because self-instruction was his principal aim. After having proceeded a certain distance, however, and being convinced of having acquired a useful scientific fact, he considered it a duty to communicate it to others, remembering the passage of Phædrus,-"nisi utile est, quod novimus, stulta est Sapientia."

An

The reader will not find industry and a certain circumspection wanting. By patient devotion, something at least has been done, as much at least as one individual, with other necessary occupations, has been able to accomplish. ample library was necessary for the completion of the work, together with years of research and the aid of friends; and without the rich treasures of the royal library of this place, and the gratefully acknowledged readiness of its superintendents, it could never have appeared in this extended form. Copiousness, however, in a work of this kind is necessary in more than one respect. Sufficient matter must be collected to enable us to reject what is superfluous and useless. In the representation of facts brevity is not the very first law, but rather brilliancy and distinctness, inasmuch as the narrator has to separate reality from fiction, what is known from what is merely invented, and to make way for conviction in the place of doubt. The author readily admits that he may at one time be too prolix, at another too concise; here have omitted or underrated a master, there have introduced or overrated an assistant; a man may have many good intentions but few good actions. The principal endeavour is to afford the reader the means of testing the proofs for himself, and protecting himself against the prejudices of history or those of the author; of course he must not, chilled by these, have lost all docile susceptibility. Neither will a reasonable reader require complete infallibilty, or be as

tonished at a possible number of paradoxes which he may perhaps find in a man who is his own guide in these singularities; who, though unprejudiced, condemns neither party if they afford ever so little support, but who follows no standard or authority, and is always cautious "that no name deceive him, no dogma confine; nor that life's pressing crowd change his human nature.”

The phenomena of magnetism are acknowledged to be of great importance to anthropology and natural philosophy, and even to moral philosophy; they are becoming so to history, and even, as the reader will perceive, partly in the mystical olden time.

If the world is a miracle, the history of life is a dream; we know not whither it goes, nor do we know its beginning and end; all humanity plays to a certain extent a blind game, and is kept together less by clear knowledge than by the instinctive dream-pole. An internal, hidden poet leads them by a secure thread through the labyrinths of time and space. Hidden in the breast of man lie the everlasting messengers of Heaven and Hell, who step forth, now as glorified spirits to console, now as terrific monsters on his path. Hegel said somewhere, "all History is a book of dreams, a collection of dreams;" and if the dreams had been collected which men had dreamt during a certain period, a true picture of the spirit of the time would have been given.

By far the greater part of mankind lives on Imagination; not only the less instructed natural men of feeling, but even those who boast of knowledge and a higher mental cultivation. How few, in their feelings and sufferings, in their doings and aspirings, raise themselves in the sea of life above the world of Imagination! In the literary hero of romance, among the scenes of the stage, there is no more original thought than in the persevering church-goer. The great mass wishes to be devout, and thinks that the glorification of God's name lies in miracles rather than in natural action. Dignity, riches, and power, are only too much the springs of even great and eminent minds.

Thus mysterious feelings always lead man, like the dreamer and somnambulist, through the world, rather than the clear consciousness of open daylight; and as the