For myself, I state clearly, that, while I dissent from the extraneous and ridiculous nonsense by which the subject has been allayed and encumbered; yet, that I have seen, in the Meetings to which I refer, such manifestations as were undeniably genuine in their character, and, could certainly not be accounted for by the power of Imagination, laid down by Mr. Taylor; or by any of the hard Words by the employment of which Mr. Cotton has endeavoured to impress the Public with a high idea of his Wisdom.
Of the facts which have been seen, in the course of the inquiry, I, at present, state no more than this. That nothing has been credited upon doubtful evidence; but, that the Inquirers have trod in the investigation with the utmost caution, doubting every thing, debating every thing, and only advancing to a judgment as they were enabled to connect, link by link, the increasing chain of evidence.
I disclaim for myself, and I feel sure I may for the Gentlemen with whom I have been connected, any design or desire to promote Mesmerism, or to advance the interest of the Lecturer. With the Individual none of us has had the most remote connection, before his visit to Lynn; and for the Science we could not be supposed to have any great predelictions or regard. Our only object has been, as far as possible, to examine the facts, and to prevent, if in our power, any imposture being palmed upon the Town; and I submit that we have been as honorably employed as Messrs. Taylor and Cotton in their mere attempts at ridicule. To the latter Gentleman I would recommend the perusal of Dr. Dickson’s “Fallacies of the Faculty,” where he would learn that he is not the first professional person who has employed ridicule, instead of scrutiny, on the introduction of new theories, some of which, by the way, are now adopted by Mr. Cotton himself, in common with the profession generally.
With the doubts or convictions, resting upon the minds of those who have examined the subject, I have nothing to do; each individual has the power, given him by the Creator, to examine for himself; and he should be guided by his own convictions, and by those convictions alone; but, when any person is determined to shut his eyes to evidence, and then tells me he cannot see, I can only reply, “It would be Mesmerism indeed if you could;” but, if in addition, he require me to follow his example, and to blindfold my perception, I entertain for such person feelings bordering on contempt.
What I have seen has made an impression on my mind; the nature of that impression is very unimportant to the Public, and I only feel called upon to justify the course I have pursued in the inquiry; or rather, to justify the inquiry itself.
In order to this, I shall briefly reply to the arguments against inquiry into the subject of Mesmerism and Phrenology as I have heard them advanced.
The first, and certainly the most futile of all the reasons alledged why we should not inquire into the fact or fallacy of Mesmeric and Phrenological phenomena is this. That the Lecturer is connected with the Chartists. Had I not heard this myself, and had not Mr. Taylor thrown out in his pamphlet the same insinuation, I confess, I should not have conjectured there was a single individual who could be, at all, influenced by such petty, not to say stupid considerations. Who ever dreamed of inquiring, except as matters of historic interest, in relation to the individuals themselves, whether Newton, Harvey, Franklin, and the various discoverers of the useful Arts and Sciences were Whigs or Tories? and, I presume, that the individuals making this objection ride very comfortably in the vehicles of the Country, undisturbed as to whether the inventors of stage coaches belonged to their own, or to an opposite class of Politicians. For myself, in examining the Theory, I conclude I have as little guarantee for its truth from the Chartism, as I should expect from the Toryism of its Lecturer. In all such matters I judge from the facts, and not the individuals; and am too well assured that no political party stands so high in virtue as to offer me a complete security against fraud and imposture.
It is argued, also, That if there had been any truth in Mesmerism, it would since the days of its discoverer, have certainly made more progress. That, it has now been many years before the public, and remains, as to any useful purpose, in its original position.
It were sufficient to reply to this argument, that, if no parallel could be found in the introduction of other discoveries, now held to be useful to the public; that the presumption is quite illogical, that I must not credit what I see, and what my senses assure me to be fact, because similar exhibitions have been before, and often shown to the eyes, and ears, of other persons and they have discarded them.
I conceive, the more philosophical mode to be to come to the examination without prejudging it; and to inquire as closely and carefully as if the subject was being introduced for the first time.