The last Pamphlet, by Mr. Cotton, published under the ambiguous title of “Popular delusions applied to Mesmerism,” has just issued from the press; I have read it very carefully, and am perfectly astonished to find how very little Mr. C. to say upon the subject.
I can well believe him when he says, “We have gone out of our way to draw up these lines,” it really appears so, and I feel persuaded, that, whatever opinion his readers may form of the entire work, this passage, at least, will be universally received as perfectly clear and veracious.
Mr. C. tells us, at the outset, he is “but a gatherer,” this also is very evident, and, I only regret that he had not been directed to quarters where he might have gathered something upon the subject; or, at least, more relevant than the conglomerated mass of hard names and phrases, with which he has soiled his pages; which can only induce the head-ache in any of his readers, who should be induced to follow him, in his mental meanderings. And, I have no doubt, this has been the result to the Author, in his toilsome “gathering” of such mighty material!
These two gentlemen, sheltering themselves under the names of those great men, who, it is very true, have discarded, or thrown doubt upon the subject of Mesmerism, have pleased themselves with the idea of their honourable companionship: they have exulted in the presumption of being influenced by the same genius; and, looking at the track, marked out by these larger vessels, they have sung to themselves very innocently,
“There let my little bark, attendant, sail,
Pursue the triumph and partake the gale.”
Indeed Mr. Taylor says, “I would not have sent it thus hurriedly to the press, but, fearing that Mesmerism might die a natural death, before I had given it one kick, I would not delay.” Very unkind indeed towards a falling phantom, which needed not, it appears from our author, a blow so heavy, as must be the consequence of a kick from so weighty a man as Mr. Taylor!
Had Mr. Taylor and Mr. Cotton merely exercised their right of publishing to the Town their own opinions; or, had they only recorded the opinions of others, I should not have felt it my duty to have taken any special notice of their labors; but, when Mr. Cotton, at the close of his labored essay, which, indeed treats of almost every subject save that of Mesmerism, and to produce which, he must have been very diligent in poring over the pages of the several books upon his shelves; when, at the close of his toil, he charges those, who have seen it to be their duty to enquire into the subject, with “Wonder, Impressibility, and Credulity;” with affording “partisanship, patronage, and encouragement to their Mesmeric Protogees,” I may perhaps be excused for offering to my fellow Townsmen, some remarks upon the subject, which, but for the attempts at satire of Messrs. Taylor and Cotton, would, possibly, not have appeared.
When Mr. Brookes first lectured in Lynn, I was induced to attend, as I had been informed that he would experiment on a lad who was my apprentice. I went to that Meeting quite as skeptical as any person could be, having seen nothing in Mesmerism, myself, and, having read only as much as gave me a most unfavorable opinion of its pretensions. I saw the experiments; I endeavoured to account for them, but, was unable. I confess, honestly, that I was astonished at what I saw. I found, that the Lecturer was applauded by the mass of the audience. I felt persuaded that a clever impostor was deluding the people; or, that a power, in Nature, was, then, brought before me of which I had had no previous conception. At the close of his experiments, being desirous that the intelligence of the Town should be brought to the examination of these new phenomena, I proposed, to the Lecturer, that I should endeavour to procure a Meeting at the Town Hall, of a class of persons competent to the investigation. To this he readily assented, with the definite understanding that on his part it would be quite gratuitous; and, that my only object was a rigid examination of his experiments. The Meeting was held; and, I can appeal to those who were present whether there was not, on the part of the audience, a disposition to debate every inch of the argument, as the experiments proceeded.
The result of that Meeting was quite what I expected; The Medical and Scientific Gentlemen present, departed, not satisfied; but, disposed still farther to investigate. Many smaller Meetings have been held, at the houses of the several Gentlemen engaged in the inquiry, and, at those Meetings, a process of examination and of testing the experiments has been pursued, which, could not be adopted at a Public Meeting. I would here remark, that, at all these Meetings, Mr. Brookes has, cheerfully and gratuitously, afforded every possible opportunity of testing his exhibitions; and, I feel assured, that he will not dissent from my testimony to the courteous, though careful and rigid, character of the investigation.
I wish the reader to bear in mind that, in any statement or opinion I may place upon these pages, I particularly disclaim any intention to commit any Gentleman engaged in the investigation of the subject; whether they may or not hereafter be disposed to publish the result of the inquiry, I am not prepared to say; but, all I now write is upon my own exclusive responsibility.