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a few remarks must be premised on the nature of the atmosphere and on chemical affinity.

The air is a mixture of two of those simple substances to which chemists have given the name of elementary, viz., oxygen and nitrogen, or azote, with a very small proportion of carbonic acid, and water in the state of vapour; the two latter are not considered essential constituents of the atmosphere.

Carbon is in combination with the blood flowing in the lungs oxygen is mixed, not combined, with nitrogen in the air-cells. Carbon and oxygen have a mutual affinity, and, in certain circumstances, when brought into contact, immediately unite, forming carbonic acid gas. This is the phenomenon that takes place in the lungs. Atmospheric air is conveyed into them by every act of inspiration by every act of expiration carbonic acid is evolved from them. That it is the oxygen of the air which combines with the carbon of the blood, is proved by chemical analysis of the air expired, from which a large proportion of oxygen is found to have disappeared, its place being supplied by an equal quantity of carbonic acid gas, the amount of nitrogen remaining almost the same. By this means, the excess of carbon in the blood is removed from it, to the amount, according to some calculations, of upwards of ten ounces in every twenty-four hours. It is supposed, that a small quantity of oxygen and azote is absorbed into the blood and retained in the system, thus compensating for the loss of carbon.

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EXTRACTS FROM A SAILOR'S JOURNAL. THE following extract from the journal of an officer during the American war, the war of independence," may perhaps interest our readers, as the genuine detail of the exultation of a successful fight and the depression of a capture. We must first premise that the writer was captain of the Weymouth, a Government packet, "bound from Falmouth in Cornwall to Madeira; Senegal on the coast of Guinea; round to all the British Islands in the West Indies, and from thence back to Falmouth, with his Majesty's mail and dispatches," and now on her return home.

"Chemical affinity, which is sometimes also called chemical attraction, is the power by which bodies combine (always in fixed and definite proportions) and form compounds invariably possessing some properties very different from those of their constituents, and frequently diametrically opposite to them." One substance "Sunday, 27th July, 1777.-Saw several cruizers, these two may have this power in reference to several other substances, days past, giving us chase, which we imagine to be American prithe degree of its affinity being generally different with each. If vateers: got clear of them all. This day, moderate and hazy such a substance is in combination with a body whose affinity weather; under lower topmast, top-gallant and studding sails, and with it is weak, the application to the compound of a third royals, &c. &c. At eleven A.M. saw a brig, almost ahead of us, substance, having a more powerful affinity with either of the about two leagues off, standing to the northward, under a main and constituents of the compound than they have with each other, fore sail; and at half-past she wore, set her topsails, and bore causes the dissolution of the combination, one of the ingredients down on us. Took in all our studding and small sails; got uniting with the third body, leaving the other in its simple state. all bands to quarters; cleared and barricadoed the ship. At noon, Let us now apply these facts to the elucidation of the pheno- latitude observed, 45° 17′ N., longitude 33° 33′ W.; the longitude mena of respiration. bearing E. by N. N., distant 388 leagues; and Cows (one of the Western Islands) bearing S. by E. E., distant 114 leagues; hauled our courses up, as the brig was within random shot of us, coming up with us very fast, with an English jack hoisted. We hoisted jack, ensign, and pendant, St. George's colours, and fired a six-pounder shot athwart the brig's forepole; and soon afterwards she hoisted the thirteen stripes, with a small union in the upper corner; and then, being close alongside of us, within less than pistol-shot of us to windward, hailed, and desired us to strike to the honourable the Congress directly, or else they would board us, and give us no quarter; which we answered with a whole broadside fore and aft, which did great execution, and took place well, being close alongside of each other. She then gave us hers, with a vast fire of small arms, which tore our sails, &c. a good deal; and then attempted to board us in the waist, which I prevented by sheering our ship to starboard, and giving her another broadside, which did them a great deal of damage and so continued engaging each other very warmly for about an hour, in which time she attempted to board us again twice, which we prevented as before; but she in this time shot away our ensign halyard, by which the ensign fell into the water; but we soon got him on board and hoisted again, and soon after shot away the enemy's ensign-staff, which fell overboard, and hoisted no more ensigns during the engagement. She now began to work one pump continually, and at three-quarters past one P.M. she was obliged to keep both pumps going, when she began to slack in the fire of her great guns, but kept a continual heavy fire of small arms, and began to haul off, and we close after her on the quarter, as well as we could, being much impeded in our sailing by our maintop-sail tie and all our braces being shot away, with a great deal of our running and standing rigging, &c. &c. Notwithstanding, we galled her very much, and kept within less than musketshot of her until a quarter past six, when she began to gain on us very fast, on account of our being obliged to sheer often very much, to bring our guns to bear on her, on account of our ports being too small. At half past two, she put before the wind, when she began to get from us very fast; and at three got so far off, that all firing ceased, though we made all the sail we could after her until nine o'clock at night, when we lost sight of her, and kept on our

A portion of oxygen unites with the hydrogen of the blood, forming water, which is expelled from the lungs in the form of

vapour.

Venous blood being thus freed from its noxious ingredients, resumes the sensible qualities and essential properties of arterial blood. It becomes of a bright scarlet hue, and is again capable of nourishing the body. From the capillaries of the pulmonary artery it passes into the capillaries of the pulmonary veins; these, four in number, two to each lung, return the renovated blood to the left auricle of the heart, whence it passes into the left ventricle, to be again circulated all over the body.

There are thus two circulations of the blood in the human body, one from the left ventricle, throughout every part of the frame, and terminating in the right auricle, to which the designation systemic, or greater circulation, is given: the other, beginning at the right ventricle, through the lungs, and ending in the left auricle, is called the pulmonic. The latter is subsidiary to the former, being necessary for the purpose of bringing the vitiated blood in contact with the vital agent, the air, by which it is purified.

The processes which renovate the venous blood complete the preparation of the fresh nutriment, which, having been intimately mixed with the blood in the right side of the heart, is, along with it, exposed in the lungs to the action of the air, from which it receives those vital qualities that render it capable of supporting life.

We have thus briefly described the more important processes of organic life-digestion, circulation, nutrition, and respiration, by which blood is formed, distributed, and maintained in a state, of purity. In the next chapter we shall complete the account of the organs whose functions relate to the blood, and of the organic life generally.

REVENGE.

A MOMENTARY triumph, of which the satisfaction dies at once, and is succeeded by remorse; whereas forgiveness, which is the noblest of all revenges, entails a perpetual pleasure. It was well Faid by a Roman Emperor, that he wished to put an end to all his enemies by converting them into friends.-Tin Trumpet.

course.

"She was a 'Mudian-built, long brig, about two hundred tons burden, carrying sixteen guns in the waist, and two close aft, all six-pounders, which appeared by the shot that came on board of us: full of men and swivels. She must have sustained a great deal of damage in the engagement, as the decks seemed to be greatly thinned before she parted from us; and we observed her main and fore rigging much cut, and flapping to the masts, and the water pumping from her in great streams continually, quite clear. We received a good deal of damage in our sails and rigging, and had nine people wounded; amongst which number was Captain William Judd, late commander of his Majesty's ship Antelope, and Robert Holden, esq., of Jamaica. Our ship's company, in general, on this occasion did their duty manfully, coolly, and be. haved very well.

"N. B. By the different accounts we have had of this engageWashington, belonging to Salem, one Rogers captain. They ment, since our landing in America, we find the brig to be the acknowledge eighteen men killed and thirty-five mortally wounded, and the brig cut all to pieces.

Monday, 28th July, 1777.-Moderate and fair weather; under all our sails. Wind about W.N.W.; steering E. People employed repairing our rigging, and cleaning our guns and repairing our gun-carriages and breechings,-all which was damaged in yesterday's engagement. At noon, (latitude observed 45° 52′ N., longitude 30° 28′ W., the longitude bearing E. by N. N., distant 341 leagues,) the man at the mast-head saw a sail in the northern quarter, bearing down on us. At one P.M. saw her from the decks, plain, coming up fast with us, though we had topgallant, studding sails and royals, &c. set: steering our course. Made her out to be a large ship, but, from her situation, and as the wind then was, found it impossible to take any advantage of her, by steering any other course.

"Ditto. Sent all hands to dinner, and gave the ship's company a pint of grog each.-At four P.M., the ship coming up with us very fast, cleared and barricadoed the ship, and got everything to rights and in good order by six o'clock. At eight, she being within gunshot of us, hauled down all our studding sails, and handed top-gallant sails, &c., and made a speech to the people, to encourage them all I could to do their duty,-stand close and firm to their guns and quarters.

"At ten, she ranged up on our starboard side, and hailed us, and we her; when I found her to be the Oliver Cromwell frigateof-war, belonging to the state of Connecticut, Seth Harding, captain, fitted out from New London. After talking to each other for about half an hour, she dropped a good way astern; on which, I went down again into the waist amongst the people, to encourage them to do their duty, and keep close and quiet, without any noise: but soon found there was an opinion propagated among them, by some bad man or other, that the Oliver Cromwell had fifteen ports of a side, and was a thirty-six or forty gun ship, which I denied, and reasoned with them all in my power to convince them of the contrary. I then called the master and principal officers on the quarter-deck, and told them of my determined resolution to defend the ship, mail, and despatches, to the very last extremity; and that I hoped and recommended them to do the same, in case of any accident happening to me; and at the same time begged they would stay with the people, and keep them strict to their duty and quarters, and have everything clear and ready for engaging. And as she was then a good way astern, I took the opportunity of going down to the cabin, to Captain Judd and the rest of the passengers, (who were all there, and mostly ill, occasioned by the fatigue they had yesterday,) to consult with them, and acquaint them of my determined resolution to defend the ship, &c. to the very last extremity, within the bounds of reason and prudence. But, as they seemed to intimate that she was a very large ship and an over-match for us, I told them that I was fixed in my opinion to engage her, and made no doubt but we should be able to give a good account of her. Still, notwithstanding, if, after we were engaged, I found her an over-match and too heavy for me, and that I had no chance to get clear, rather than sacrifice my people, I would yield to a superior force; which they in general approved of. Then, finding the Cromwell was coming up with us, went directly on deck, when, to my great surprise, I heard somebody calling out to haul the colours down; on which, I jumped on the quarter-deck, called Mr. Jenkins (the master) to me, and desired him to see all hands at their quarters, to mind my orders, and that there should be no noise; and if I heard any person (be they who they may) mention a word about hauling the colours down or striking, I would that instant blow his brains out.

of

"By this time the enemy ranged close on our starboard side, and hailed us to strike, or else they would sink us; which I refused, and ordered my people to fire away and engage, which some did with five guns only; and, on the enemy's giving us her broadside great guns and small arms, all my ship's company, except about five, and the three principal officers, most ingloriously fled from their quarters down between decks, to my great mortification; which obliged me, after receiving three or four of her broadsides, to go down into the waist, where the mail and despatches were ready slung, and throw them overboard, and then, as I had no person to manage a gun, ordered the colours to be pulled down. She dismounted one of our guns, lodged several nine-pounders in our sides, tore the boat very much, and did us considerable damage. Soon after, her boat came on board, with Timothy Parker, her first lieutenant, &c.; by whom I found I had struck to the Oliver Cromwell privateer, a rebel frigate of war, of twenty carriage guns-14 nine and 6 six-pounders, on one deck, with swivels, and 155 men, Seth Harding, captain; fitted out of New

London, and belonging to the state of Connecticut. She had been out six weeks, and took two other prizes, and sent them for America. I, and my doctor, and most of my people, were carried on board the Cromwell, and the passengers left on board the Weymouth. Found in the Cromwell above two-thirds of the ship's company English, Scotch, and Irish. She came out with 175 men, and all the people they took since entered on board of her.

"This journal, from Jamaica to this day, examined, approved, and signed by all the passengers,-viz. William Judd, esq., late captain of his Majesty's ship Antelope, under Admiral Gayton; Robert Yealden, esq., of Kingston, Jamaica; Edward Manby, esq., of ditto; Mr. Thomas Storrow, of ditto; Mr. Daniel Sullivan, of ditto; Mr. Thomas Kirwan, of ditto.

"Tuesday, 29th July, 1777.-A fresh gale westerly. On board the Oliver Cromwell, a prisoner, very ill with a nervous fever and dry gripes, and very weak, and not able to take any nourishment of any kind.

"Sunday, 3d August, 1777.-This morning departed this life, on board the Weymouth, (supposed by a fright he took in the engagement of the 27th,) George Mathews, one of the Weymouth's people. Heard Captain Judd was very ill."

A tedious detention of several months was the result of this

capture, but the Captain effected an exchange in March 1778, and continued in the service of his country to the day of his death many years after.

LES HIRONDELLES.* (THE SWALLOWS.) CAPTIVE on the Moorish strand, A warrior groaned beneath his chain; Swallows from his father-land He saw come flying o'er the main. "Tell me, ye birds of hope!" he cried, "Who hither from stern winter flee:

Ye saw my France in summer's pride,Looks she still fair?-sweet birds, come tell to me. "Three years-three sad years, alas! I've linger'd here, a weary slave !Denizens of air! ye pass Unrestrained o'er earth and wave!

There stood a cot, with flowers gay, Where the young stream winds thro' the vale, 'Twas there my eyes first met the day!— Is it unchanged? Ah, tell the welcome tale! "'Neath that roof there hung a nest,Perchance it held your callow young:

But, whilst cherish'd by your breast, My mother's plaints around them rung;

Yet still she hoped each day would bring Homeward her son-a stranger there.

She breathed my name, expiring ;Oh! tell me of her love, children of air!

"Saw ye, not the jocund throng Flock from the church in concourse gay, Chorussing th' hymeneal song,

To grace my sister's nuptial day?

Saw ye not my comrades crowding, Vaunting their deeds by land and sea;

But my name in sorrow shrouding,

They still, sweet birds !-they still remember me?
"But I dream!-my foe commands
Where none but Frenchmen should bear sway;
And perhaps his hostile bands

To that calm vale have traced the way;

Trampling down the fields' defenders,
Drenching the soil with native gore!
Can ye say that France surrenders
Unwelcome birds !-away, I'll hear no more!"

* From the French of Beranger,

ANIMAL MAGNETISM.

NO. II.

EARLY PROGRESS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM, WITH A NOTICE OF MESMER'S DISCIPLES.

MESMER, though by nature an empiric, was, nevertheless, sincere in his belief, both in the actual existence of animal magnetism, and in the medicinal virtues which he ascribed to it. But, like that venerable dreamer, Hahnemann, of homoeopathic celebrity, he had founded the superstructure of his system upon the assumption of a fact not true. As the edifice of homoeopathy rests upon the allegation that Peruvian bark, which is a specific against intermittent fever or ague, produces that disease when taken by persons in health*, so that of Mesmerism, as understood by its founders, was raised upon the supposition, that the magnetism of the loadstone acted upon and withdrew the morbiferous particles from the animal frame, when under the influence of disease.

Accordingly, the first applications of the magnetic power to the human frame were made by means of metallic tractors, which appear to have been nothing more than common artificial magnets. These applications, under varied circumstances, were said to relieve or to produce pain, to occasion convulsive twitchings in different parts of the body, to cause excitement or depression, faintness, and even syncope. Some real, and some pretended cures took place; the first being no doubt effected by faith in the remedy, and its consequent action upon the imagination. Where the proper degree of faith did not exist, the remedy was found to be without efficacy.

By limiting the communication of animal magnetism to the sole agency of metallic tractors, Mesmer could not, after the effect of the novelty had subsided, keep alive the first excitement of his fickle-minded patrons in France; he therefore invented the baquet, the use of which was attended with certain mystic forms and ceremonies likely to act upon the imagination. The baquet was a circular tub with a cover, placed upon a pedestal. In it were bottles full of magnetised water, communicating with wires projecting from the tub, by means of holes in the cover. The patients of both sexes stood round the baquet, each holding a wire. To increase the effect, the room was darkened, and much mysterious ceremony observed in introducing the patients.

The baquet was eminently successful, and mysterious apart. ments were fitted up in many of the hotelst of the nobility, for the application of Mesmerism by means of the baquet. In these apartments, in which members of the highest class of society of both sexes assembled, scenes of astounding and inconceivable profligacy were of daily occurrence. These at last became so notorious that Mesmer, who certainly did not participate in, although his invention of the magnetic baquet had occasioned them, was ashamed of the effect he had unintentionally produced; and his renunciation of the baquet, as one of the means of magnetic application, was the consequence.

We have already stated that Mesmer was naturally a quack, although he had a sincere faith in the efficacy of animal magnetism. His own usual practice of it was by means of metallic tractors; but the baquet became necessary, as part of the quackery of

• Dr. Hahnemann's assertion, that Peruvian bark, when taken by persons in health, produces intermittent fever, is certainly not true. We have administered this bark in every possible form; we have taken it ourselves; we have also tried its alkaline products, quinina and cinchonina, and the various salts which they severally form, but have never been able to produce a case of ague. Like every other stimulating medicine, bark causes disturbance of the system; but it acts in different ways upon different idiosyncrasies. In ourselves, and some others, it produced catharsis; in in all, a species of febrile excitement; but in no one instance was the

others, costiveness and inflammatory action; in some, nausea and sickness;

result intermittent fever. We can further state, that not one among the numerous medical men with whom we are acquainted, has ever found a case of such disease being produced by the use of bark; and we defy even any homœopathic practitioner to adduce an instance properly

authenticated.

† Hotel, in France, sometimes signifies a nobleman's palace.

his system, to keep excitement alive; and he well knew that, by quackery alone, he could command ultimate success in bringing animal magnetism into permanent repute. The use of the baquet was therefore propagated, and led to the results described, which were so disgraceful that even the least rigid, who did not assist at these orgies, cried out "Shame!"

The abuse of the baquet put Mesmer upon his mettle to discover some other means of magnetic application, which, with equal effect upon the imagination, should not lead to similar results. In the course of his experiments, he stumbled upon a fact of which, had science been sufficiently advanced, he might have made a more important use than any of his followers have yet done,-he discovered that, by the simple action of the hand, he could command the very effects of the tractors and the baquet, and with greater certainty; and that he could further produce, which neither of the other means enabled him to do, a sensible action of some unknown kind upon patients who were unconscious of being magnetised. Though nothing important has yet resulted from this discovery, it immediately reduced animal magnetism to the means of application since used by all modern magnetisers.

Though without knowledge, Mesmer was what is termed a "learned man." He had pursued the line of study adopted by the physicians of that period, and the results of which left the medical science in a very unsatisfactory condition. His medical oracles were, of course, Hippocrates and Galen. He was filled with the lore of antiquity, and with the ponderous medical reading of the day; but he was no better, as a practitioner, than the doctors so keenly satirised by Le Sage in Gil Blas ;-the satire of this author furnishing, in truth, no very exaggerated picture of the medical science derived, in his day, and even in Mesmer's, from the different faculties established throughout Europe. Human physiology was scarcely known as a science in the time of Mesmer; it had made but little comparative progress since the discovery of the circulation of the blood, nearly a century and a half before. The parent of animal magnetism had not therefore sufficient science to investigate a fact which accident had revealed to him, that, by the operation of the hands, accompanied by volisensation than by metallic tractors, or the magnetised water tion, he could communicate a much more powerful “magnetic " of the baquet. He was content to let this fact minister to his empiricism, with which, however, some crude realities were mingled. He had obtained a glimpse of the true light; but it was only a glimpse, and it disappeared ere he could read and learn what it might have shown him, had he been qualified to

receive the truth.

Mesmer found, that, by the application of magnetism with the Among other effects perceived in the course of his practice, hands, he could make particular persons sleep even under acute pain. When this action was found to exist in particular idiosyncrasies, it was taken advantage of to assuage the exacerbation of painful disease; and many patients afflicted with inflammation, chronic rheumatism, gout, and other painful disorders, are said to have derived relief from the sleep thus induced. Such was the state of animal magnetism at the period of Mesmer's

death.

When this event took place, the influence of Mesmerism had been for some time declining. It was, however, reserved for one of Mesmer's disciples, and, though not a physician, certainly Mesmer's successor, to give a new impetus to animal magnetism by the commencement of a series of absurdities, practised by fools, fanatics, and impostors, and at last brought to this country, scientious, learned, and skilful physician, believing in all these lodged in the North London Hospital, there to exhibit a conpsychological wonders and modern miracles, for the propagation of which the name of animal magnetism has been prostituted.

During the life of Mesmer, several of the French nobles had been initiated, under his instructions, into the mysteries of animal magnetism. Among the most enthusiastic of his disciples was the Marquis de Puységur, a young nobleman, who had just inherited extensive patrimonial possessions. He had assiduously followed the instructions of his master, and had acquired considerable skill in the use of manual magnetism. After the death of Mesmer, the Marquis de Puységur resided on his hereditary domains in the south of France, where he practised animal magnetism upon his own peasantry. Each evening, from spring to autumn, his vassals assembled under a large linden-tree near

the marquis's residence. M. de Puységur, who had been educated in the country, was untainted with the profligacy that disgraced his order. He was a kind-hearted, benevolent man, and his feudal rule was light and paternal. He was therefore much beloved, and every peasant on his estate became eager to afford him the best opportunities of gratifying his desire. In the course of time these simple-minded rustics became sincere converts to the Mesmerian faith.

as a centre.

The fame of the Marquis de Puységur teaching the Mesmerian philosophy under the shade of his linden-tree, brought numerous visitors to the scene; and the whole population of that part of the country would, each fine evening, converge to the linden-tree There was, thus, no lack of subjects for magnetic experiment, which was carried to a very great extent, but accompanied with a determined spirit of mysticism and superstition, which marred all true philosophic inquiry. M. de Puységur, besides being generally uninformed, was weak-minded and credulous, and therefore easily induced to confound the natural with the imagined supernatural, and to consider as psychological effects the mere workings and modifications of organised matter, exposed, perhaps, to some unknown chemical agency.

It chanced one day, under the linden-tree, that a girl undergoing the influence of magnetic sleep, being excited to talk by the questions of the noble magnetiser, raved about some imagined internal disease with which she fancied some one present afflicted, and suggested what she stated to be the only mode of cure. The party whom she represented as having the disease, no symptoms of which had ever before appeared, was so struck with the announcement, and his superstitious imagination so excited by it, that he soon complained of internal pain, and took to his bed. Of course the remedy suggested by the magnetised sleeper was immediately applied, and an immediate cure obtained. Here was nothing but a very ordinary effect of imagination upon the physical organs, which, in some instances, has extended so far as to occasion death. M. de Puységur viewed it in quite a different light. In this fact, he saw nothing but a new faculty possessed by magnetised "somnambulists," of examining the interior of the human body, detecting disease, and indicating a remedy for it-a faculty wholly spiritual, and unconnected with the universe of matter. The fame of the detection of this disease and its cure, spread far and wide through the province; and, as the views of the marquis on the subject were no secret, a host of impostors soon appeared, and, by their juggling, the noble disciple of Mesmer was soon convinced of the truth of that which, till then, he had considered only hypothetical: that magnetic sleep imparted to somnambulists the power of detecting and even prescribing for diseases which baffled medical skill. Thus, though the magnetiser had no such faculty himself, he could impart, by his magnetic touch, to somnambulists into the human body, understanding the whole of its anatomical action, detecting any defect in the machinery, and pointing out the means of remedying such defect, or else pronouncing the case beyond cure. And surely, as the marquis argued to his friends, this could be no natural effect; because if the covering of the body became invisible so that the somnambulist could see beyond it, or else became transparent, why should not all the internal organs do the same? But this was not the case, for to be properly seen they must remain opaque and retain their colour; and such was certainly the case, for no part of their action escaped the magnetic vision of the somnambulist; therefore, this faculty of the somnambulist must be wholly spiritual, "a communication of souls."

The power of inducing magnetic sleep, discovered by Mesmer, was made the principal ground-work of M. de Puységur's experiments. In pursuing these, he found that he could cause sleep in some individuals, whilst his own magnetic efforts upon other individuals brought sleep upon himself. Hence, he inferred, that in the interchange of the magnetic principle, now termed the "magnetic fluid," between the magnetiser and the person mag--who, as already stated, were generally girls-a power of seeing netised, the physically weaker individual was the receiver, and the stronger individual the giver; that the party in whom sleep was brought on, possessing naturally less of the magnetic principle than the other, had received a portion which produced that effect. It therefore followed that, to obtain the proper magnetic result, the operator should be the stronger party, otherwise the operation would be reversed. The magnetiser, having more of the magnetic principle than the patient, was therefore considered able to impart to the latter an excess sufficient to cause a pressure upon the brain adequate for the production of magnetic sleep. These inferences, drawn by M. de Puységur and others who co-operated with him, led, at last, to the following conclusions, which have, ever since, been entertained by magnetisers :-I. That the operator should possess not only considerable muscular, but also great nervous power; phlegmatics, even though muscular, being bad magnetisers. II. That he should be in the most perfect bodily health, free from mental excitement, and from all action of the brain, that might distract his attention, or in any wise interfere with the magnetic volition. III. That he should be of energetic temperament, kept under perfect discipline, and free from any outbreaks that might alarm the patient, towards whom the utmost blandness of manner is requisite. IV. That when about to magnetise, he should never expose himself to any loss of animal heat, as this would impede his power of transmitting the magnetic principle.

The greatest discovery of all was still to come; and some years elapsed ere an effect of magnetism was brought to light, by which thousands of wise men have been deluded, and upon which all the absurdities of spiritual or psychological magnetism have since been founded, even to the late display at the North London Hospital. Many of M. de Puységur's assistants in his magnetic experiments, who underwent magnetic sleep, were observed to talk during their slumbers, and even to give rational replies to questions asked them by the magnetiser. This faculty seemed more common in young girls than among any other class of individuals. The discovery of this effect produced a new era in the art. Though the Marquis de Puységur has since become an author, he was, as we have already observed, as ignorant, at that time, as most of the young nobles of his day. He was at first embarrassed to find a name for the faculty of talking displayed by magnetised sleepers. Having, however, heard sleep-walkers denominated "somnambulists," and as these persons sometimes talk as well as walk, the noble marquis thought that the same name would serve for his sleep-talkers, who did not walk. Instead therefore of calling them "somniloquists," or sleep-talkers, and the faculty they evinced "somniloquism," or sleep-talking, he termed them "somnambulists" or sleep-walkers-although, as we have said, they never walked during sleep- and their faculty, "somnambulism," or sleep-walking. It is rather singular that this name should have been retained by all subsequent magnetisers, not one of whom, including even Dr. Elliotson, has found fault with the term, or replaced it by one more appropriate.

Full of these notions, and of an imagined discovery fraught with such benefit to the human race, the Marquis de Puységur, attended by a couple of somnambulists, proceeded to Paris. In our ensuing Number we shall state the result of his journey.

CLASSICAL EDUCATION.

THERE can be no doubt that a classical education has a great influence in reconciling the mind to the contemplation of idolatry in the abstract, by investing it with the attractions of classic and poetic association; so that the gods and heroes of antiquity become the joint objects of a sort of intellectual homage, and a fondness is contracted for the imagery and language of a superstition not less hideous and baneful, in a moral aspect, than the worship of Sheva or Hanooman. Its character as a false religion, absurd, impious, and demoralizing, is wholly lost in that of a beautiful mythology, which, being viewed only as a philosophical fable, serves to screen the gross system of demonology actually taught and believed in. A delusion, too, is created by the venerable antiquity of these "mythological vanities;" as if, in that distant age, heathenism was an allowable-at least a pardonablecreed, a costume of faith (if we may be allowed the expression) proper to the times and country. It is forgotten that the worship of Jupiter, and Bacchus, and Priapus, was in part contemporaneous with the manifestation of God in the flesh and the preaching of the apostles; and that, in reference to these very gods, St. Paul declares, that "the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God." Now, if any system or mode of idolatry can be regarded as harmless, or even venerable, it is obvious that a prejudice is created in its favour, which tends to lessen our abhorrence of it under other circumstances. The pleas of antiquity, mythological beauty, and alleged harmlessness, will be admitted in extenuation of systems less graceful, less in accordance with European notions, than that of the Greek pantheon. Or if the enormities of Hindoo demonolatry awaken any indignation or disgust, it will be directed against the modes and accidents of the idolatry, and will not proceed from a just estimate of its essential criminality in any form by which the truth of God is changed into a lie.-Eclectic Review.

PARAGUAY:

ITS SOIL, CLIMATE, AND PRODUCTIONS.

THIRD ARTICLE.

IN our last notice of this interesting country, on concluding a sketch of the detestable character of Francia, we intimated our purpose of noticing the personal adventures of the Messrs. Robertson, and giving some account of the soil, climate, and productions of a country whose natural riches have hitherto been turned to so little account. We will now endeavour to redeem our pledge. Early in the year 1811, Mr. J. P. Robertson, the elder of the two brothers, and then a young man of twenty, freighted a vessel at Buenos Ayres, and sent it up the Parana to Assumption; but as the navigation up the stream is very tedious, two miles an hour against the current being considered a fair average speed, he proceeded by land, and in the course of his journey met with the Guacho Prince Candioti, who was mentioned in our first notice of Paraguay. On his arrival at Assumption, he established himself as a merchant, and being subsequently joined by his brother, Mr. W. P. Robertson, they carried on a very successful business, and were treated with unusual favour by Francia, until the circumstances arose which led that self-willed despot to issue a decree for their banishment.

Business at length called Mr. J. P. Robertson to England, and he prepared to depart, leaving the establishment at Assumption in the care of his brother. He was entrusted with several commissions by Francia, chiefly for the purchase of arms and regimental clothing; but when he waited on him to have his audience of leave, a most singular office was imposed on him, which was no other than that of an envoy from the Dictator, not to the Court of Great Britain, but to the House of Commons, to whom he was charged to express the Dictator's desire of entering into friendly relations with England; and in proof of the benefits that country might derive from an intercourse with Paraguay, he was directed to deliver certain packages of yerba (Paraguay tea), tobacco, and other merchandise, at the bar of the House. Mr. Robertson did his best to conceal his astonishment at this very extraordinary mission, but as he well knew the impossibility of moving the strange man he had to deal with, he was fain to comply. Francia told him he knew very well it was no good to communicate with ministers, but such a message to the House of Commons, would show all England the reality of his intentions, and the advantages he proffered to them. The secret of this apparently very strange attempt, so contrary to all the other parts of his system of isolating his country, was in all probability the ambition which was his ruling passion; and his vanity flattered him with the fond belief that England would snatch greedily at the bait, and aid him with arms, and the force of her powerful name, in pursuing further schemes of aggrandisement, by the subjugation of his neighbours ;-schemes which, without such aid, he could not venture to undertake. Fortune favoured Mr. Robertson so far as to spare him the trouble of inventing any method of getting rid of his embarrassing honours, by so ordering it, that his voyage was stopped short at Buenos Ayres.

After an absence of some continuance, Mr. Robertson prepared for his return to Paraguay, which he was obliged to effect by the river, the whole country being in such a disturbed state as to render a land journey impracticable. "The Bandas Oriental," or east side of the River Plate, united under General Artigas, with the pompous title of Most Excellent Lord Protector, bade defiance to all law and order. The protection of this doughty chieftain was of great importance to Mr. Robertson; but, as he was at open war with Buenos Ayres, it could not be procured: but a sailing license from the Honourable Captain Jocelyn Percy, then commanding the British forces in the River Plate, was readily granted, and this Mr. Robertson hoped would be sufficient, especially as Artigas had

"The Director

this led to a very sad result for Mr. Robertson.
Alvear," the chief of Buenos Ayres, "being anxious to initiate a
correspondence with Francia, of which the object was to draw
recruits from Paraguay, in order to strengthen the legions of the
river Plate, I was invited to an audience at the Fort, (or Govern-
ment House,) for the purpose of being consulted by Alvear as to
the probability of Francia's sending men to Buenos Ayres, in
return for which, arms and ammunition should be sent to him from
thence. I thought the thing very improbable; but stated how
impossible it was that I, a neutral and a private individual engaged
in commercial pursuits, should agree, in such troublous times, to
be charged with such a proposal. At the same time, I suggested
that there could be no objection to the Government making such
a proposal if it thought proper, by letter, which, if put sealed into
the letter-bag of the vessel that was to convey me to Paraguay,
should there be delivered to its address. On this suggestion
Alvear acted; and a sealed letter, which I never saw, was, with
other correspondence, sent from the post-office by order of the
Buenos Ayres Government, for conveyance to Francia." Mr.
Robertson embarked, and pursued his tedious way up the river,
which, from its many tortuous bends, renders navigation difficult even
when the wind is fair, and compels the voyagers to work their way
by warping with ropes carried a-head by canoes, and made fast to
the trees on the banks. They, however, pursued their course
without impediment till they reached Santa Fé, when Mr.
Robertson's old friend, Candioti, insisted on the delivery of all the
muskets. "Señor Don Juan," said he, "self-preservation is the
first law of nature, and, in fulfilment of this law, we must here
detain your muskets. The ornamental finery we will allow to pro-
ceed to its destination, as well as the sabres, because we have
plenty of them; but there, take the value of the muskets and am-
munition in dollars, and tell his Excellency the Dictator, it is a
good sign of the tranquillity of his republic that he has leisure to
think so much about music, mathematics, and gold-lace. Here,
you know, we are not in a position, at present, to think of any.
thing but the enemy, and our only means of meeting him success-
fully is by the collection of all the muskets and ball we can possi-
bly procure." This was but the beginning of misfortune, for
Mr. Robertson had not proceeded much farther up the river when
his vessel was seized one evening, (as, according to custom, it was
moored to a tree, and he himself and most of his crew were on
shore enjoying the sport of pheasant-shooting,) by a marauding
party belonging to the army of Artigas. He was robbed of every-
thing, even to his clothes, and his life was saved only by the inter-
vention of an Indian, one of the band, who afterwards told him he
did so only "from the whim of the moment," and he was thrown
into the common gaol at the Bajada, whither he was carried by his
captors in his own vessel. On his way to the prison he espied
coming down the hill an old and faithful servant called Manuel:
"I felt," says he, "unspeakable relief, as I was hurried past him
by my guards, in being able to say to him these few words,-'Fly
to Buenos Ayres, and tell them what you have seen and heard.'

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"Onwards I marched, never doubting that I should in the first place be taken to the governor. I was mistaken even in this unenviable supposition. I was marched to the small and wretched gaol appropriated to the reception of murderers, robbers, and other felonious caitiffs of the worst die. There they sat, each upon the skull of a bullock, in chains, in nakedness, in squalid filth, and yet in bestial debauch and revelry. There was a fire lit in the middle of the floor, amid a heap of ashes which had been accumulating apparently for months. Around this fire there were spitted, for the purpose of being roasted, three or four large pieces of black-looking beef, into the parts of which already done, the felons, with voracious strife, were cutting with large gleaming knives. 'Aguardiente,' or bad rum, was handed round in a bullock's horn; and as the fire cast its flickering glare on the swarthy and horrible countenances of the bacchanals, their chains clanking at every motion of their hands or legs, the picture was truly startling. Scarcely had I been introduced, when a yell of horrid welcome was set up by the prisoners. First one and then another pulled me towards the fire; they insisted upon my drinking out of the bullock's horn; and then demanded, with one Guessing" that Francia would be much vexed that his mission accord, that I should pay for some more of the same kind of nauto the House of Commons had not been completed, Mr. Robertson seous beverage as they had just finished. I had not a farthing (I anxiously busied himself with the execution of the other commis- cannot say in my pocket, for pocket I had none). "No matter,' sions of the Supremo, as he was now called (1815). "Cocked hats, said they, the custom is invariable that every new-comer shall sashes, lace, musical instruments, military clothing, swords, treat the older inmates; and, although you should get what we pistols, &c. were all procured and shipped; and, on application to want by the sale of your skin, have it we must and shall.' Withthe Buenos Ayres Government, no obstacle was offered to the ship-out further ceremony, they stripped me of my Artigueño greatment of a few muskets, and of some munitions of war." But all coat, and, tattered and wretched as it was, procured in exchange

no vessels on the river.

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