rative note to your confession of faith
to add an account of my own experiences in mesmerism. A college friend
of mine who was studying medicine was the first to introduce me to this
mysterious subject. You, who know me so very intimately, will have no
difficulty in understanding how it took entire possession of my mind. I
read everything bearing on the subject that I could get hold of, and
finally Klug's book on 'Mesmerism as a Curative Agent.' This book
caused some doubts to arise in me, as, without being very luminously
scientific in its mode of treating the subject, it is based chiefly on
cases, besides mixing up proved facts with matter wholly legendary. My
friend rebutted all my objections, and at last proved to me that the
mere study of the theory would never awaken that faith which was
essential, and which could only be attained by witnessing mesmeric
experiments. At this time there was no opportunity of seeing any at the
University; for even if a promising mesmeric operator had been to be
found, there did not appear to be any one with any disposition to
become somnambulistic or clairvoyant.

"I went to the Residenz, and there mesmerism was in its fullest flower.
Nobody talked of anything but the wonderful magnetic crises of a
talented and accomplished lady of position, who, after some not very
important nerve-attacks, had, almost of herself, become first a
'sonnambule,' and then the most remarkable clairvoyante that (by the
verdict of all who were authorities on the subject) ever had been, or
ever could be, seen. I managed to make the acquaintance of the doctor
who attended and treated her; and, seeing that I was a student eager
for knowledge, he promised to take me to this lady when she was in one
of her crises. This he accordingly did. One day he said, 'Come to me at
six this afternoon, for I know that my patient has just fallen into the
magnetic sleep.' Full of the most eager anticipation, I went with him
to the elegantly, nay, sumptuously, appointed room. Rose-coloured
curtains were carefully drawn over the windows, so that the rays of the
evening sun, passing through them, tinted everything with a magic
roseate shimmer. The 'subject' was lying, dressed in a beautiful and
becoming morning dress, stretched on the sofa, with her eyes fast
closed, breathing gently as if in a profound sleep.

"In a wide circle around her, several devotees were ranged. There were
one or two young ladies, who were rolling their