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going to speak? He answered, 'Oh, I can see it by his looks, for I can see his head inside-the brain all in motion!'" Dann.

This incident elucidates an obscure passage in the speech of Henry V. to the army before Harfleur ;—

"Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;

Let it pry through the portage of the head!"

OBLIQUITY OF VISION.

"O, that you could turn your eyes towards the napes

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"Our next experiments were holding several articles over the back of his head, and questioning as to what they were. The first thing was a snuffers, which he told without the least hesitation; then a brass candlestick, which he told directly; then an Italian iron, which he called a round box. A pocket book was then presented shut, which he called a square box, but when open he told what it was with a few particulars relating to it."

I tried" if cards could not be named as readily as persons, with the organ of Individuality. I placed six or seven in her hands, they were all read; likewise over the head and at her back."

Correspondents of Phreno-magnet.

The great Sir John-the "round man"-were he now living, might at any time get a sight of " his own knee."

A THOROUGH SEARCH.

"Let them anatomize Regan, and see what breeds about her heart."

Lear.

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During the progress of one of his investigations, the lad suddenly appeared to me to be what in his waking moments would have been deemed a brown study; the Operator asked him if he was comfortable? Yes; and said he had been examining the health of the company; this put us all on the qui vive, the very tiptoe of expectation, as to what might transpire. Query by the Operator— Do you see any thing particular the matter? 'Nothing very particular.' Fully satisfied with the reply, we thanked our stars that it were no worse with any of us." Rationale of Magnetism.

The Life Assurance Companies must soon be in a state of complete revolution; the value of life will shortly cease to depend, to the extent that it now does, on algebraic signs and bills of mortality; and insurers whose hearts and livers will bear the eye, will save fifty pounds per centum per annum, more or less. This will indeed be a BONUS pro bono publico-O vitæ Philosophia dux !

Is it the force of habit, or a weak deference to popular prejudice, or the order of the Directors, that induces Dr. E- to persist in the use of the Stethoscope, as he does, when investigating the state of health of parties proposing to insure their lives? Let not this question be denounced as impertinent-the inconsistencies of professed friends do more injury to the cause of truth than the obstreperous hostility of avowed enemies. Besides-is not demonstration more satisfactory, more philosophical, than inference?

EXTRA-JUDICIAL POLICE.

"Pray you, sir, was 't not the wise woman of Brentford? My master, sir, my master Slender, sent to her to know, sir, whether one Nym, sir, that beguiled him of a chain, had the chain, or no."

Merry Wives of Windsor.

66

In the preceding part of this work the writer indicated a scientific method of increasing the efficiency of the detective police force of the country; he has since learnt that his plan has been actually put to the test, and that its practicability has been placed beyond a doubt. In the case now referred to the subject was employed in a "sheep-stealing investigation at Harrietsham;" he gave a minute description of the men-and said they were talking about the robbery." He stated that "the man looking out of window, with black hair, and a frock on," was innocent; that it was another that " committed the robbery, and the third assisted him in lifting the sheep over the gate." Spurrell's Rationale.

It is not very probable that a jury could at present be found who would convict on such evidence as this; for though we have emerged from the gross darkness that enveloped our ancestors, we yet enjoy only the light of dawn. Scarcely two centuries have passed since "Simon Read of St. George's, Southwark, professor of physick, was indicted for the invocation of wicked spirits, in order to find out the name of the person who had stolen £37 from Tobias Matthews of St. Mary Steynings in London;" but the philosopher of the present day enjoys all the immunities which knowledge and virtue can confer-for him the law has no fang, while the "clamour" of jealousy is nothing more than an innocuous brutum fulmen-the institutes of society are favourable to the progress of truth.

There will be a question by and by as to the Clairvoyant's religionem jurisjurandi; but we need not anticipate difficulties.

F

"I have taken you napping," as Tranio said to Bianca, will soon cease to be regarded as a mere trope; while Dogberry's charge to the watch, which has been laughed at for ages, will be seen to be rich in traits, indicative on the part of its author, of a profound knowledge of human nature ;

"WATCHMAN.—We will rather sleep than talk; we know what belongs to a watch.

DOGBERRY.-Why you speak like an ancient and most quiet watchman."

How appositely is Justice symbolized as a Clairvoyante with bandaged eyes!

The writings of men of genius of all ages teem with indications of the prevalence of mesmeric power; although, as a science, Mesmerism has not long had an existence. Talus, the "yron man" of Spencer, is clearly the magnetic man, or magnetist, of more recent while his "yron flayle" and the rod of Mesmer are evidently correlatives ;

times;

"And that same yron man, which could reveale

All hidden crimes, through all that realme he sent

To search out those that used to rob and steale;

On whom he did inflict most grievous punishment."

Having, of course, first made the rogues restore all their ill-gotten gain.

DUPLEX INDIVIDUALITY.

"Come, we'll have you merry; I'll bring you where you shall see the gentleman that you asked for." Two Gentlemen of Verona.

"In Philadelphia there dwelt a solitary man, in a lonely house. He was very benevolent, but extremely retired; and strange things

were narrated of him, amongst which were his being able to tell a person things that were unknown to every one else. The captain of a vessel belonging to Philadelphia, when about to sail, promised his wife that he would return again in a certain time, and that he would write to her frequently. She waited long, but no letter arrived; the time appointed passed over, but her beloved husband did not return. She was deeply distressed, and knew not where to look for consolation; at length a friend advised her to go to the pious solitary, and tell him her grief. The woman went to him; after she had told him all her troubles, he desired her to wait awhile there, until he returned and brought her an answer. She sat down to wait, and the man, opening a door, went into his closet. But the woman thinking he staid a long time, rose up, went to the window in the door, lifted up the curtain, and saw him lying on the couch like a corpse. She immediately went back to her place. At length he came, and told her that her husband was in London, in a coffeehouse which he named, and that he would return very soon; he then told her the reason why he had been unable to write. The woman went home, pretty much at ease. What the solitary had told her was minutely fulfilled-her husband returned, and the reason of his delay, and his not writing, were just as the man had stated. The woman was now curious to know what would be the result, if she visited the friendly solitary in company with her husband. The visit was arranged; but when the captain saw the man he was struck with astonishment. He afterwards told his wife that he had seen that very man, on such a day-the very day the woman had been with him-in a coffee-house in London; that he had then stated the reason why his return was delayed, and of his not writing, and that he would shortly come back; on which he lost sight of the man among the company!" Rationale of Magnetism.

The Mirror of Merlin which brought into view

"Whatever thing was in the world contaynd,

Betwixt the lowest earth and heavens hight,"

must have been a tantalising instrument at the best-more adapted to excite the pains of hope than confer the pleasures; we are much

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