The Phantom World; or, The philosophy of spirits, apparitions, &c, &c.
My dear Henry—
I inscribe these volumes with your name to record a friendship which has lasted from our infancy, taint suspicion, and darkened by no shadow.
So long as eminent talents can challenge admiration, varied and extensive acquirements command respect, and unfeigned virtues ensure esteem and regard, so long will you have no common claim to them all; and none will pay the tribute more gladly than your affectionate
Friend and Cousin, HENRY CHRISTMAS.
Sion College, March, 1850.
Among the many phases presented by human credulity, few are more interesting than those which regard the realities of the invisible world. If the opinions which have been held on this subject were written and gathered together they would form hundreds of volumes—if they were arranged and digested they would form a few, but most important. It is not merely because there is in almost every human error a substratum of truth, and that the more important the subject the more important the substratum, but because the investigation will give almost a history of human aberrations, that this otherwise unpromising topic assumes so high an interest. The superstitions of every age, for no age is free from them, will present the popular modes of thinking in an intelligible and easily accessible form, and may be taken as a means of gauging (if the expression be permitted) the philosophical and metaphysical capacities of the period. In this light, the volumes here presented to the reader will be found of great value, for they give a picture of the popular mind at a time of great interest, and furnish a clue to many difficulties in the ecclesiastical affairs of that era. In the time of Calmet, cases of demoniacal possession, and instances of returns from the world of spirits, were reputed to be of no uncommon occurrence. The church was continually called on to exert her powers of exorcism; and the instances gathered by Calmet, and related in this work, may be taken as fair specimens of the rest. It is then, first, as a storehouse of facts, or reputed facts, that Calmet compiled the work now in the reader's hands—as the foundation on which to rear what superstructure of system they pleased; and secondly, as a means of giving his own opinions, in a detached and desultory way, as the subjects came under his notice. The value of the first will consist in their evidence —and of this the reader will be as capable of judging as the compiler; that of the second will depend on their truth—and of this, too, we are as well, and in some respects better, able to judge than Calmet himself. Those accustomed to require rigid evidence will be but ill satisfied with the greater part of that which will be found in this work; simple assertion for the most part suffices—often first made long after the facts, or supposed facts, related, and not unfrequently far off from the places where they were alleged to have taken place. But these cases are often the best authenticated, for in the more modern ones there is frequently such an evident mistake in the whole nature of the case, that all the spiritual deductions made from it fall to the ground.
Augustin Calmet
THE
PHANTOM WORLD:
THE HISTORY
PHILOSOPHY OF SPIRITS, APPARITIONS,
FROM THE FRENCH OF AUGUSTINE CALMET.
WITH A PREFACE AND NOTES
REV. HENRY CHRISTMAS, M.A., F.R.S., F.S.A.,
HENRY JAMES SLACK, Esq., F.G.S.
CONTENTS.
ADVERTISEMENT.
THE APPEARANCE OF GOOD ANGELS PROVED BY THE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.
THE APPEARANCE OF GOOD ANGELS PROVED BY THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
UNDER WHAT FORM HAVE GOOD ANGELS APPEARED?
OPINIONS OF THE JEWS, CHRISTIANS, MAHOMETANS, AND ORIENTAL NATIONS CONCERNING THE APPARITIONS OF GOOD ANGELS.
OPINION OF THE GREEKS AND ROMANS ON THE APPARITIONS OF GOOD GENII.
THE APPARITION OF BAD ANGELS PROVED BY THE HOLY SCRIPTURES—UNDER WHAT FORM THEY HAVE APPEARED.
OF MAGIC.
OBJECTIONS TO THE REALITY OF MAGIC.
REPLY TO THE OBJECTIONS.
EXAMINATION OF THE AFFAIR OF HOCQUE, MAGICIAN.
MAGIC OF THE EGYPTIANS AND CHALDEANS.
MAGIC AMONG THE GREEKS AND ROMANS.
EXAMPLES WHICH PROVE THE REALITY OF MAGIC.
EFFECTS OF MAGIC ACCORDING TO THE POETS.
OF THE PAGAN ORACLES.
THE CERTAINTY OF THE EVENT PREDICTED IS NOT ALWAYS A PROOF THAT THE PREDICTION COMES FROM GOD.
REASONS WHICH LEAD US TO BELIEVE THAT THE GREATER PART OF THE ANCIENT ORACLES WERE ONLY IMPOSITIONS OF THE PRIESTS AND PRIESTESSES, WHO FEIGNED THAT THEY WERE INSPIRED BY GOD.
ON SORCERERS AND SORCERESSES, OR WITCHES.
INSTANCES OF SORCERERS AND WITCHES BEING, AS THEY SAID, TRANSPORTED TO THE SABBATH.
STORY OF LOUIS GAUFREDI AND MAGDALEN DE LA PALUD, OWNED BY THEMSELVES TO BE A SORCERER AND SORCERESS.
REASONS WHICH PROVE THE POSSIBILITY OF SORCERERS AND WITCHES BEING TRANSPORTED TO THE SABBATH.
CONTINUATION OF THE SAME SUBJECT.
OBSESSION AND POSSESSION OF THE DEVIL.
THE TRUTH AND REALITY OF POSSESSION AND OBSESSION BY THE DEVIL PROVED FROM SCRIPTURE.
EXAMPLES OF REAL POSSESSIONS CAUSED BY THE DEVIL.
CONTINUATION OF THE SAME SUBJECT.
OBJECTIONS AGAINST THE OBSESSIONS AND POSSESSIONS OF THE DEMON—REPLY TO THE OBJECTIONS.
CONTINUATION OF OBJECTIONS AGAINST POSSESSIONS, AND SOME REPLIES TO THOSE OBJECTIONS.
OF FAMILIAR SPIRITS.
SOME OTHER EXAMPLES OF ELVES.
SPIRITS THAT KEEP WATCH OVER TREASURE.
OTHER INSTANCES OF HIDDEN TREASURES WHICH WERE GUARDED BY GOOD OR BAD SPIRITS.
SPECTRES WHICH APPEAR, AND PREDICT THINGS UNKNOWN AND TO COME.
OTHER APPARITIONS OF SPECTRES.
EXAMINATION OF THE APPARITION OF A PRETENDED SPECTRE.
OF SPECTRES WHICH HAUNT HOUSES.
OTHER INSTANCES OF SPECTRES WHICH HAUNT CERTAIN HOUSES.
PRODIGIOUS EFFECTS OF IMAGINATION IN THOSE MEN OR WOMEN WHO BELIEVE THEY HOLD INTERCOURSE WITH THE DEMON.
RETURN AND APPARITIONS OF SOULS AFTER THE DEATH OF THE BODY, PROVED FROM SCRIPTURE.
APPARITIONS OF SPIRITS PROVED FROM HISTORY.
MORE INSTANCES OF APPARITIONS.
ON THE APPARITIONS OF SPIRITS WHO IMPRINT THEIR HANDS ON CLOTHES OR ON WOOD.
OPINIONS OF THE JEWS, GREEKS, AND LATINS CONCERNING THE DEAD WHO ARE LEFT UNBURIED.
EXAMINATION OF WHAT IS REQUIRED OR REVEALED TO THE LIVING BY THE DEAD WHO RETURN TO EARTH.
APPARITIONS OF MEN STILL ALIVE, TO OTHER LIVING MEN, ABSENT, AND VERY DISTANT FROM EACH OTHER.
ARGUMENTS CONCERNING APPARITIONS.
OBJECTIONS AGAINST APPARITIONS, AND REPLIES TO THOSE OBJECTIONS.
SOME OTHER OBJECTIONS AND REPLIES.
THE SECRETS OF PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY TAKEN FOR SUPERNATURAL THINGS.
CONCLUSION OF THE TREATISE ON APPARITIONS.
WAY OF EXPLAINING APPARITIONS.
THE DIFFICULTY OF EXPLAINING THE MANNER IN WHICH APPARITIONS MAKE THEIR APPEARANCE, WHATEVER SYSTEM MAY BE PROPOSED ON THE SUBJECT.
THE RESURRECTION OF A DEAD PERSON IS THE WORK OF GOD ONLY.
ON THE REVIVAL OF PERSONS WHO WERE NOT REALLY DEAD.
REVIVAL OF A MAN WHO HAD BEEN INTERRED FOR THREE YEARS, AND WAS RESUSCITATED BY ST. STANISLAUS.
CAN A MAN WHO IS REALLY DEAD APPEAR IN HIS OWN BODY?
REVIVAL OR APPARITION OF A GIRL WHO HAD BEEN DEAD SOME MONTHS.
A WOMAN TAKEN ALIVE FROM HER GRAVE.
LET US NOW EXAMINE THE FACT OF THE REVENANS OR VAMPIRES OF MORAVIA.
DEAD PERSONS IN HUNGARY WHO SUCK THE BLOOD OF THE LIVING.
ACCOUNT OF A VAMPIRE, TAKEN FROM THE JEWISH LETTERS (LETTRES JUIVES); LETTER 137.
OTHER INSTANCES OF GHOSTS—CONTINUATION OF THE GLEANER.
ARGUMENTS OF THE AUTHOR OF THE "LETTRES JUIVES," ON THE SUBJECT OF THESE PRETENDED GHOSTS.
CONTINUATION OF THE ARGUMENT OF THE "DUTCH GLEANERS," OR "GLANEUR HOLLANDAIS."
NARRATION EXTRACTED FROM THE "MERCURE GALENT" OF 1693 AND 1694, CONCERNING GHOSTS.
CONJECTURES OF THE "GLANEUR DE HOLLANDE," DUTCH GLEANER, IN 1733.—NO. IX.
ANOTHER LETTER ON GHOSTS.
PRETENDED VESTIGES OF VAMPIRISM IN ANTIQUITY.
OF GHOSTS IN THE NORTHERN COUNTRIES.
GHOSTS IN ENGLAND.
GHOSTS IN PERU.
GHOSTS IN LAPLAND.
REAPPEARANCE OF A MAN WHO HAD BEEN DEAD FOR SOME MONTHS.
EXCOMMUNICATED PERSONS WHO GO OUT OF THE CHURCHES.
SOME OTHER INSTANCES OF EXCOMMUNICATED PERSONS BEING CAST OUT OF CONSECRATED GROUND.
AN INSTANCE OF AN EXCOMMUNICATED MARTYR BEING CAST OUT OF THE EARTH.
A MAN REJECTED FROM THE CHURCH FOR HAVING REFUSED TO PAY TITHES.
INSTANCES OF PERSONS WHO HAVE SHOWN SIGNS OF LIFE AFTER THEIR DEATH, AND WHO HAVE DRAWN BACK FROM RESPECT, TO MAKE ROOM OR GIVE PLACE TO SOME WHO WERE MORE WORTHY THAN THEMSELVES.
OF PERSONS WHO PERFORM A PILGRIMAGE AFTER THEIR DEATH.
ARGUMENT CONCERNING THE EXCOMMUNICATED WHO QUIT CHURCHES.
DO THE EXCOMMUNICATED ROT IN THE GROUND?
INSTANCES TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE EXCOMMUNICATED DO NOT DECAY, AND THAT THEY APPEAR TO THE LIVING.
INSTANCE OF THE REAPPEARANCES OF THE EXCOMMUNICATED.
VROUCOLACA EXHUMED IN PRESENCE OF MONSIEUR DE TOURNEFORT.
HAS THE DEMON POWER TO CAUSE ANY ONE TO DIE AND THEN TO RESTORE THE DEAD TO LIFE?
EXAMINATION OF THE OPINION WHICH CONCLUDES THAT THE DEMON CAN RESTORE MOTION TO A DEAD BODY.
INSTANCES OF PHANTOMS WHICH HAVE APPEARED TO BE ALIVE, AND HAVE GIVE MANY SIGNS OF LIFE.
DEVOTING TO DEATH, A PRACTICE AMONG THE PAGANS.
INSTANCES OF DEVOTING OR DOOMING AMONGST CHRISTIANS.
INSTANCES OF PERSONS WHO HAVE PROMISED TO GIVE EACH OTHER NEWS OF THE OTHER WORLD AFTER THEIR DEATH.
DIVERS SYSTEMS FOR EXPLAINING THE RETURN OF SPIRITS.
VARIOUS INSTANCES OF PERSONS BEING BURIED ALIVE.
INSTANCES OF DROWNED PERSONS RECOVERING THEIR HEALTH.
INSTANCES OF WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN BELIEVED TO BE DEAD, AND WHO HAVE COME TO LIFE AGAIN.
CAN THESE INSTANCES BE APPLIED TO THE HUNGARIAN GHOSTS?
DEAD PERSONS WHO CHEW IN THEIR GRAVES LIKE HOGS, AND DEVOUR THEIR OWN FLESH.
SINGULAR INSTANCE OF A HUNGARIAN GHOST.
REASONINGS ON THIS MATTER.
ARE THE VAMPIRES OR REVENANS REALLY DEAD?
INSTANCE OF A MAN NAMED CURMA WHO WAS SENT BACK INTO THE WORLD.
INSTANCES OF PERSONS WHO COULD FALL INTO A TRANCE WHEN THEY PLEASED, AND REMAINED PERFECTLY SENSELESS.
APPLICATION OF THE PRECEDING INSTANCES TO VAMPIRES.
EXAMINATION OF THE OPINION THAT THE DEMON FASCINATES THE EYES OF THOSE TO WHOM VAMPIRES APPEAR.
INSTANCES OF PERSONS RESUSCITATED, WHO RELATE WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN IN THE OTHER WORLD.
THE TRADITIONS OF THE PAGANS CONCERNING THE FUTURE LIFE ARE DERIVED FROM THE HEBREWS AND EGYPTIANS.
INSTANCES OF CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE BEEN RESUSCITATED AND SENT BACK TO THE WORLD—VISION OF VETINUS, A MONK OF AUGIA.
THE VISION OF BERTHOLDUS, AS RELATED BY HINCMAR, ARCHBISHOP OF RHEIMS.
THE VISION OF SAINT FURSIUS.
VISION OF A PROTESTANT OF YORK, AND OTHERS.
CONCLUSIONS OF THIS DISSERTATION.
THE MORAL IMPOSSIBILITY OF THE REVENANS COMING OUT OF THEIR GRAVES.
WHAT IS RELATED CONCERNING THE BODIES OF THE EXCOMMUNICATED LEAVING THE CHURCH, IS SUBJECT TO VERY GREAT DIFFICULTIES.
REMARKS ON THE DISSERTATION CONCERNING THE SPIRIT WHICH REAPPEARED AT ST. MAUR DES FOSSES.
DISSERTATION BY AN ANONYMOUS WRITER.
LETTER OF M. THE MARQUIS MAFFEI
ON MAGIC;
THE REVEREND FATHER INNOCENT ANSALDI,
TRANSLATED FROM THE ITALIAN OF THE AUTHOR.
LETTER OF M. THE MARQUIS MAFFEI
ON MAGIC.