Editor's Table [pp. 62-64]

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EDITOR'S TABLE.
and are admired wherever they are read. We are happy to see them presented to the public in their present
popular form. The American editor has done a service
to the scholar, by erasing or altering indelicate passages,
translating the quotations fronm the classics, and adding
a series of questions calculated to direct the attention to
the important principles and arguments. We hope to
see them generally introduced into high schools, seminaries, and colleges.
THIE WESLEYAN PSALMIST; or, Songs of Canaan:
a Collection of Hymns and Tunes to be Used at Camp
JMeetings, at Class and Prayer Meetings, and other
occasions of Social Devotion. Compiled by M. L.
Scudder, of the.Nvew England Conference. Boston:
D. S. King & Co.-This is the seventh edition of a
very popular work. It is printed with accuracy, and on
good paper. A valuable pocket companion for one who
is able to sing.
A HISTORY OF GREECE. By the Right Rev. Connop
Thirlwall, Lord Bishop of St. Dqvid's..No. III.
.JNew York: Harper 4 Brothers.-Equal ill execution,
accuracy, and interest to the preceding numbers.
LIFE OF ANDREW JACKSON, Private, Military, and
Civil, with illutstrations. By Amos Kendall..No. VI.
.New York: Harper 4' Brothers. 1844.-This life of
an eminent citizen is thus far well written. The typography is beautiful, the paper good, the type large, and the
illustrations carefully prepared and executed.
HARPER'S ILLUMINATED AND PICTORIAL BIBLE.
No. XV.
ON THE FORMATION OF PROFESSIONAL CHARACTER.
An Introductory Lecture, delivered.Nov. 4, 1844. By
John P. Harrison, M. D.-This is a well written address, fronm the perusal of which we have derived much
pleasure. We like its views, its spirit, and its style.
We give an extract, over which we advise youthful
readers to pause:
" But the alternative of victory or defeat, of success
or discomfiture, hangs suspended on this sole conditionPATIENT TOIL. This is the alone exclusive price of the
rich guerdon which awaits each one who fairly and
punctually pays it down."
AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE THE FRANKLIN
LITERARY SOCIETY OF RANDOLPH MACON COLLEGE.
By Rev. Professor Doggett-This is a brief but beautiful production, -creditable alike to the head and the
heart of its author-its sentiments just, and admirably
expressed.
GUIDE TO CHRISTIAN PERFECTION.-This pure and
beautiful monthly increases in interest, and, we are happy to find, in patronage also. We should be glad to see
the whole Church interested in its circulation. The current volume commenced on the first of January. It is
published by Waite, Pierce & Co., Boston, and edited
by Rev. D. S. King. Price, only $1 per annum.
NEWBURY BIBLICAL MAGAZINE visits us regularly.
It is edited by Professor Willit with spirit and ability,
and is highly creditable to our periodical literature. We
trust it will be well sustained, and prove instrumental in
extending the Redeemer's kingdom.
WESTERN LITERARY JOURNAL AND MONTHLY REVIEW.-e are happy to find this publication well patronized. We predict for it a long and prosperous
career.
EDITOR'S TABLE.
MESMERISM.-We direct attention to the short but
pithy article of Dr. Harrison in the present number. Anirnal Magnetismni originated with Mesmer, a regularly
graduated Doctor of Medicine of the University of Vienna, who seems to have been prone, in early life, to investigate the occult and the mysterious; for his inaugural thesis was, "On the influence of the planets on the
human body." About the time that Mesmer took his
degree, father Hehl, a Jesuit, and teacher of astronomy,
who did not exclusively confine his mind to heavenly
contemplations, was employing steel plates, impregnated
with magnetic virtues, in the cure of disease. Mesmer
borrowed the Jesuit's plates, and operated on a new
plan, and with more astonishing results. But the old
Jesuit was not to be choused out of his mystical discoveries: he claimed all the honor for himself; and after
a desperate but bloodless battle, drove Mesmer from the
field, who, however, being young, gathered up his feet,
and acted on the principle "He that fights and runs away,
May live to fight another day."
He went on curing, and what he lost in credit he made
up in noise. But father Hehl followed so close upon his
heels, that he was obliged to run away from Vienna.
It was well that this necessity was laid upon him; for
thereby he was induced to go to Paris, the garden of
humbugs. No sooner had he announced his arrival
there, which happened in 1778, than all Paris was in
motion. Saint and sinner, peer and peasant, beau and
belle, crowded around the magnetizer, and attested the
power of his enchantment. Mesmer thought it important
to make a convert from the medical ranks, and was not
long in finding the desired instrument in M. D'Eslon;
but this D'Eslon, like the fox in the fable, who, while he
set the bird to singing, stole the cheese that dropped
from her mouth, picked up about $400,000 from the magnetizees, to the no small discomfort of the magetizer. Poor
Mesmer now appealed to government for sympathy and
redress, and was not long in moving the tender mercies of
the Queen, who, in consideration of his services to humanity, offered him a life-rent of twenty thousand francs,
and a further sum of ten thousand francs, to enable hinm
to provide accommodations for his patients. But this
Queen was somewhat wary; and with a caution which redounded "to the riches of her liberality," she stipulated
for a committee to be appointed by the government, to
report upon the proceedings. Now this miserable committee changed the spirit of Mesmer's dream; and when
the Queen was looking from the window of her palace
to see him come forward for l'argent, behold it was
found that money had become sour grapes to his palate,
and that, with wonderful expedition, he had quitted
Fiance to drink the waters of Spa. Here he remained,
obstinately refusing to pour any further light upon the
opening intelligence of the world, until some of his
faithful followers presented him about sixty thousand
dollars, to induce him to bestow upon them his wonderful secrets. This melted his hard heart, and induced
him to return to Paris, where the contributors of the
aforesaid sum formed a society for the gratuitous propagation of the sublimedoctrine which Mesmer had promiised to plant in the depths of their souls. Hereupon
arose a dispute, Mesmner contending that the Society
had no right to make his mind as common as the sun,
that pours his rays alike upon the evil and the good.
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