VER of Sennett as before stated, the boy has never been under the influence of magnetism. It is, however conceded that thus far the sounds have generally been freer in presence of known clairvoyants. The question has often been asked of spirits why this was so, and we have received the following answer: They (clairvoyants) have the full power of sympathy with the spirits through the medium of the nervous fluid or electricity which is the only medium of communication between spirits in and out of the body.”

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It is objected that spirits-especially good ones, would not be engaged in the small business" of rapping or moving articles at the request of persons. It must be remembered that the world reasons sensually, and there is no way for the mass to become so absolutely convinced as throngh the medium of their senses. Then it is not unreasonable to suppose that good spirits would condescend to give us all the evidence we may require in this way whenever they have a medium through which they can act in accordance with some law known to them, but not yet discovered by us.

It is almost universally the case that when any person begins the investigation of these subjects they want the most sensuous kind of testimony. They do not wish to sit down and ask questions with that confidence that they would enter into conversation with a person, even if that person was a stranger. They begin with suspicion and require all possible demonstration to prove that they are not deceived. Their questions are then asked with all the ingenuity of an attorney conducting a cross-examination, and with a firm conviction many times that they will be answered wrong. If they are answered perfectly correct, then they ask, " can they do this, or do that"? I want to see such and such a thing done and then I shall be convinced. "Let this be done and they ask still another form of proof, and in this way, they tax their energies to find something new to sug

gest, and it is simple most certainly, but if there is truth in the matter it is certainly not to be wondered at, that whatever it is, should take the only means of convincing the senses of those who require such proof. We are not aware of anything of this nature being done unless by the solicitation of the persons investigating.

Let those who are so alarmed about the "pranks” as they are pleased to call them, undertake the investigation themselves and see if they fail of making he same requisitions or something of the kind. If they do, they will very likely ask information about some gold speculation or some darling scheme that is of much more consequence to them than whether man exists at all beyond this visible life or not. Over and over again have we been disgusted with the questions asked about speculating schemes and money making. Is it to be wondered at, that answers are given in many cases "according to the multitude of their idols"!

Let those who are earnest and candid enquirers take a very small company--sit down together--being all candid and truthful themselves, and then see whether they will not get answers that can be depended upon. If they do not, it will be entirely contrary to the general experience of those who have made such trials. Our history here, is one of FACTS. We have but incidentally turned aside to speculate or explain. We have spoken of the phenomena as produced by spirits because we think this the most reasonable conclusion we can arrive at at the present stage of the matter. If the sounds and other manifestations should cease now, the proof would be the same, unless positive proof of some other means was shown to be the cause. Whatever may be the result, we know that our facts are well attested and our statements of the effects are true and the only chance for mistake is in the cause. We shall continue to make honest efforts to find out if there is any other

cause than that to which we have attributed the manifestations and shall be as happy to gain farther knowledge on the subject and lay it before the world as any others whether it confirm or refute our present theory.

Since compiling the body of this work we have received several letters and some papers containing additional testimony on the subject which we give the reader in this appendix.

The following letter is from Judge Hascall, of Le Roy, who was one of the committee of investigation at Corinthian Hall, and who has taken abundant opportunity for investigation since that time, and whose honesty, and powers for calm investigation will not be called in question by those who have any knowledge of the man. He is extensively known as a man eminent in his profession, and an upright and candid citizen.

MR. E. W. CAPRON,

Le Roy, 13th, February, 1850.

DEAR SIR-Yours of the 12th instant is just received in which you requested me to send you a statement of what I have witnessed of the phenomenon known as the "Mysterious Rappings." I should be pleased to give you a particular account of my investigations in endeavoring to discover the cause of the mysterious sounds, but other engagements prevent, and you must be content with a very imperfect sketch of them. As the Committees appointed at public meetings at Corinthian Hall, to investigate and if possible detect and expose what was generally believed to be some ingenious device, had failed to ascertain the cause, and the persons who must be present when the rappings were made, challenged further investigation, I concluded to enquire into this singular problem and solve it if possible. Accordingly I visited the house where these young ladies reside, in company with several persons, and our efforts were attended with no better success than were those of the committees whose

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investigations at other places had preceded ours. experiment was repeated at the residences of several highly respectable families in the city of Rochester, to which the young ladies were invited, and the same rappings were heard apparently at different places in the room at the same time, and our efforts to detect the cause at these places were fruitless. Among the persons who were present with me on this occasion, were members of the legal and medical profession, men of science and skill, and we entirely failed to discover any art or machinery, philosophical apparatus, or means whatever by which the sounds and other manifestations were produced.

I will not go into the particulars of the whole I witnessed during the investigations before referred to, but will state generally that I have witnessed much of the phenomena which you have mentioned in the pamphlet recently published by you at Auburn.

Yours Respectfully,

A. P. HASCALL. The following statement we are allowed to publish from JOHN S. CLACKNER, of Ravenna, O.

"At your request I will write a few instances of the. mysterious agencies, alias, spirits in Western New York, with which I was familiar previous to my removal to this place, and to which I am willing to testify if necessary. Dates or times of occurrences, I shall omit for brevity sake. I also wish it understood that in the following communications, when I say, the spirit answered, that it was done by rapping and the use of the alphabet. This course I adopt in order to avoid a useless repetition of the words rapping and alphabet.

My first interview with Mrs. Fish, was at her residence on Prospect street in Rochester. We were total strangers to each other, she supposing me from the country. After I got into the house, I remarked, it would be a gratification to me if the 'spirit' would reveal my name to her as I had been informed it had in other cases. She said, 'spirit, do you know this gentleman?' As quick as thought, she was answered by

loud raps, when she again said,' will you tell his name by the alphabet?' She was answered in the affirmative. She then commenced calling the alphabet, and was stopped by the spirit rapping at every letter in my name. Then she pronounced it audible and was confirmed by the raps. Subsequently one evening it would not allow me to stay in the room, alledging as a reason that I had not fulfilled my engagement to bring with me, my wife and son. Mrs. F. urged it to permit me to stay; but it continued to spell out it must go. After some further expostulation she said you may stay. It immediately called out for the alphabet and spelled: 'Leah has done wrong-he must go. At others times it was free to converse with me, but this evening it would say nothing to me. another time the spirit commenced rapping voluntarily for the alphabet and spelled out: 'M. has done wrong.' M. answered, Why, Spirit what have I done now that is wrong?' to which it answered by the alphabet, 'you said I rapped this morning, at Andrew's; I only gave you a sound.

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At another time the young ladies came to my house for advice upon domestic affairs. I proposed calling a meeting of friends on the subject. They consented on condition that the Spirits agreed thereto. They made several unsuccessful attempts in various places in that room for an answer from the Spirits, until at length at the front part of the house it answered and told them the reason of its silence in other places-it was that there were eave-droppers and enemies listening and could hear. It encouraged our project and success crowned our efforts *

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At one time it requested one man present to set a sum in addition and let no man see his figures but himself. He then pointed to any figure he chose and asked the Spirit to give as many distinct single raps as it amounted to, which was promptly and correctly done, also the whole sum added up and proved, in the same way as learners in school do, with this difference only, that it would instantly and deliberately rap the