These were our written ideas nine years since. In 1843, we published a work entitled Psychography, or the Embodiment of Thought The subject is replete with intense interest, as explanatory on a philosophical basis of all the mysteries and miracles performed from the earliest periods of semi-civilized Babylon, Thebes, and Memphis, the miraculous performances of the ancient Grecians and Romans, to those of the Brahmins and Buddhist priests of the present day.

No matter how extraordinary the phenomena claimed by the spiritualists, the author is convinced that they are all susceptible of being explained on a philosophical basis, without resorting, or more properly, being driven to the supernatural, as the source from which these apparently mysterious phenomena originate. It demands a thorough knowledge of a special department of patho-physiology, or special information of the abnormal conditions, in their manifold phases of the nervous system, particularly somnambulism, hysterical coma, magnetic coma, epileptic coma, mental hallucination - in fine, brain functions in health and disease. Without this necessary knowledge no one is fitted to investigate these artificially induced nervous phenomena.

A man may be a profound astronomer, a proficient chemist, or the most able engineer, and yet totally incapable, from want of acquaintance with this special department of knowledge - which demands vast research to become conversant as to the characteristics and essential conditions - to be a successful investigator.

Our forthcoming work will cover the whole subject, and as we visit British India in a few months, much important information will be obtained amongst the Brahmin priests.

When the man mentioned by Sir David Brewster was raised at Venice, on the points of the fingers of six persons, his weight did not appear to be more than that of a feather. As this experiment can be repeated by any one, its truth is beyond controversy. Now when the table is so charged, there is no difficulty in commanding its movements by mere cerebration. No doubt, all the real phenomena will admit of a physiological explanation without mystification. The whole subject of somnambulism, during which state there is a double consciousness, as. of the stupid, awkward girl in her natural state, who when in the somnambulic state was possessed of the most remarkable powers, which could not be explained at the time, is being thoroughly investigated in connexion with other abnormal functions of the brain, showing that no matter how apparently mysterious the phenomena, in consequence of our ignorance of the laws of vitality, there is no occasion, to attribute them to "supernatural" causes, as the mysteries are being unravelled, and its fogs dispersed by the light of scientific truth.

The late Professor Faraday found that the gymnotus electricus has.

four electric organs, which it could throw into operation either separately or together.

The gymnotus does not use the same amount of willpower to stun or kill a small fish as for a large one, Nor does man use the same will power in raising one pound weight, as if the weight were one hundred pounds. This argument has been previously advanced; it is here repeated as being directly pertinent to the subject under consideration - namely, that it is the use of will power or volition identical with that exerted in raising a great weight, without exerting the muscles, which discharges, under direction of the will, the nervous fluid to any given object desired. The nervous congestive state known as mesmerism is thus induced in persons susceptible to the influence. The recipient being passive and the operator active, the former when reduced becomes, as it were, subject to the brain function of the latter. There is a remarkable instance recorded in the report of the Boston Committee (vide Appendix), where the chorea or St. Titus's dance was transferred by the nervous atmosphere from the diseased boy to the healthy one, who was in the "nervous congestive state." The spasmodic involuntary twitchings of the muscles were as complete as if the disease had originated in his system.

What may appear singular, the transmission took place at a distance of some thirty feet.

In the Japanese top trick the operator manipulates the wooden top "some ten minutes, with undivided direction of will power, prior to the spinning, when the top is guided in every direction up and down at the will of the operator.

The object of this manipulation is to impart to the top the "vital element" or nervous fluid, wherewith once thoroughly impregnated, so to speak, it becomes subject to the will. The automatic direction of the will power of itself will not produce results; it must be accompanied by blind faith, which faith can only be attained as the result of long practice from the earliest age in persons of specific cerebral organization. If any doubt exists, or want of confidence even in a minor degree is manifested, the directive will power is seriously interfered with.

Amongst the Hindoos, Chinese, and Japanese, those of their children who at an early age manifest an aptitude in the exercise of great will power, are taught to exercise it; so that oftentimes they are not only enabled to produce the most extraordinary physiological results on themselves, but also to convey or impart to inanimate matter the nervous fluid. In fine, there is a great art in the concentration and direction of this "vital element."

The magnetizing of the soft iron needles by the nervous fluid is a case directly in point, as showing that there is a very close similarity in the properties of the nervous fluid and magnetism. It also demonstrates that inorganic matter may have imparted to it, from the organic, a condition which has entirely changed its properties.

It is so with the top of the Japanese. It is also the case with the table of the spiritualists; it becomes charged with "the nervous fluid" by the persons whose hands are placed on it, and whose brains are directed to the same object.