s passing out of the state of
torpor in which I had been, and which was rather agreeable than
painful.

"In this state I heard the watchman cry ten o'clock; then I heard
it strike a quarter past; but afterwards I fell into a deeper
sleep, although I never entirely lost my consciousness. It appeared
to me that Mr Townshend was endeavouring to put me into a sound
sleep; my movements seemed under his control, for I wished several
times to change the position of my arms, but had not sufficient
power to do it, or even really to will it; while I felt my head
carried to the right or left shoulder, and backwards or forwards,
without wishing it; and, indeed, in spite of the resistance which I
endeavoured to oppose, and this happened several times.

"I experienced at the same time a feeling of great pleasure in
giving way to the attraction, which dragged me sometimes to one
side, sometimes to the other; then a kind of surprise on feeling my
head fall into Mr Townshend's hand, who appeared to me from that
time to be the cause of the attraction. To his enquiry if I were
well, and what I felt? I found I could not answer, but I smiled; I
felt that my features expanded in spite of my resistance; I was
inwardly confused at experiencing pleasure from an influence which
was mysterious to me. From this moment I wished to wake, and was
less at my ease; and yet on Mr Townshend asking me, whether I
wished to be awakened, I made a hesitating movement with my
shoulders. Mr Townshend then repeated some frictions, which
increased my sleep; yet I was always conscious of what was passing
around me. He then asked me, if I wished to become lucid, at the
same time continuing, as I felt, the frictions from the face to the
arms. I then experienced an indescribable sensation of delight, and
for an instant saw before me rays of dazzling light, which
instantly disappeared. I was then inwardly sorrowful at this state
being prolonged--it appeared to me that enough had been done with
me; I wished to awake, but could not, yet when Mr Townshend and M.
Desor spoke, I heard them. I also heard the clock, and the watchman
cry, but I did not know what hour he cried. Mr Townshend then
presented his watch to me, and asked if I could see the time, and
if I saw him; but I could distinguish n