blade shut, held the slate under the table. In an instant, the knife was thrown on the top of the table, blade open. The experiment was repeated by request, with a different result. The knife was carried from the slate, and, no one hearing it fall, we all wondered what had became of it. The impression came to me to feel in my coat pocket, and there, sure enough, was the knife, blade open.

This second séance concluded with the levitation of the table which was effected with great power. I have witnessed many physical manifestations, but, I do not hesitate to say, none more satisfactory than those in the presence of Dr. Slade; nor can I conceive how sceptics could witness such as I have through his mediumship and find a loop-hole of escape from the legitimate conclusion that what takes place is manifestly beyond his volitionary powers.

I could detail various other interesting incidents relating to mediums and their manifestations in Rochester, but must pass on to Buffalo, New Zealand, the birth-place and home of the Davenport Brothers.

I did not forget that Mrs. Burtis had shown me spirit photographs, or what purported to be such, taken by Mrs. Butler, 250, Main Street, Buffalo. It so happened, too, that Mrs. Burtis was in Buffalo and was desirous of introducing me to the lady photographer. I was so far favoured. But what resulted from my visits to Mrs. Butler I shall relate in order. I had the necessary introduction on the first day I was in Buffalo and was promised a sitting.

On the evening of May 20th I accompanied a lady, Mrs. M-, to the house of Mrs. Hazen, a well-known and respected medium. We found ourselves unexpectedly in the presence of a large company who had met to hold a séance. The room was darkened, and in a few seconds a gruff, muffled voice was heard, purporting to belong to the deceased husband of Mrs. Hazen. After a brief interval another masculine voice, evidently different, answered to the cognomen "Ben." Some pointed and smart remarks were elicited from this spirit. Then followed in succession other voices male and female.

I was in the dark mentally as well as physically, and longed "Ben 19 for light to learn who was who. Presently was in full vocal force again. We kept up a long dialogue with him, in which he showed quick perception and ready wit.

When the light was introduced I saw the medium Hattie Tackerberry sitting entranced in a corner of the room.

The man near me who acted the part of manager of the séance told me that he was captain of the schooner Comely from Cleveland, and that Hattie was engaged on board the vessel

in the capacity of cook. I expressed a desire to have the opportunity of testing the medium at a future time. The captain invited me to come on board the "Comely " the next day.

True to my appointment I wended my way to the harbour in search of the "Comely," and a search it proved. The rain fell thick and fast and it required no small courage to face it on such a mission. Climbing up the slippery side of the vessel, I was glad enough to enter the little cabin, where the captain made me welcome. Hattie, the medium, was in her berth taking 66 a nap." I learned from her that she was under 25 years old, was married when she was only 15 years of age, that her husband had met his death at sea, leaving her with one child, and that she was born in Nottinghamshire, England.

I further learned that "Ben," the principal talker at her séances, is recognised by her as none other than Ben Tackerberry her husband. Other spirits that frequent her séances are named Mr. and Mrs. Wester, her own father and mother.

Hattie is below medium height, possessing small but marked features. She has realized experiences enough to fill a dozen lives, yet she does not display more than common-place intellect, and is certainly very deficient in scholastic culture.

Hattie, the captain, and myself sat in a small sleeping room. The bed was on the right, the medium sat in front near the window, which was darkened for the purpose for which we sat. The captain took his position by the door and I sat upon the bed, but owing to the smallness of the room our feet were necessarily in contact, which was an evidence to me that neither the medium nor the captain moved from their seats. A tin horn, commonly used for speaking through, was taken from some part of the room by invisible power. It was used to touch the captain and me. Presently "Ben" hailed us, and in return we each greeted kindly our mysterious interlocutor.

Several loud knockings came on the walls quite out of reach of either of us. Presently "Ben" said, "Becker, I want you to hold the trumpet. The captain took it from the spirit and placed it on the bed behind me. Another voice, said to be Wester's, the father of Hattie, sounded close to the medium. "How is this?" exclaimed the capain, "can you speak without the trumpet ?" "I speak through the trumpet, was the instant answer. "How can that be!" queried the captain," the trumpet is still on the bed?" I felt and found it there. The voice replied, "I speak through the trumpet, and send my voice to the spot. Here was an experiment worthy of note. If a trumpet be necessary to the production of these voices, and the medium, on the supposition of jugglery, is supposed to use the trumpet, how did she get her mouth to the trumpet behind me?" I am

satisfied that she did not move from her chair. I heard "Ben's " characteristic voice, "I say Becker, you put that trumpet down." The captain laughed, telling me that he had taken it in his hand. Another voice, called by the captain "Eliza," next held converse with us. She professed to understand the nature of disease and to prescribe, and gave me some advice respecting my health. I quietly took up the trumpet. She cried in a quick loud tone, Powell, put down that trumpet." A few minutes after I placed my elbow on the bed and my head upon my hand. The voice called out immediately, " Powell, you are leaning upon your dignity." Other slight movements, as the putting of my fingers through my whiskers, were immediately remarked on by the same voice, although the room was so dark that I could not distinguish by sight a single object; yet it was evident that some invisible eye saw me. This is why I mention these otherwise trifling incidents, and this was doubtless the conviction arrived at. The voices during the evening were all distinct, and the various conversations, and other incidents too lengthy to note in detail.

A third séance at which Hattie was the medium, and at which I was present, took place at the residence of Mrs. M——, the lady I accompained to Mrs. Hazen's. The sitting was a lengthy one, and the various voices singularly strong. แ Ben," as usual, was the principal talker. When any one of the circle spoke out of order, "Ben" thundered "Silence! one at a time," or words to that effect. Mary C, a young lady present, received a large share of his attentions. He told her that she had in her pocket a love-letter, which she had that day received, and that she had found passages difficult to read. He described the writer, told of a rival. All "Ben" said on this interesting topic, excepting a statement that the writer of the letter lived in Chicago, was acknowledged by Mary to be perfectly correct. Several tests similar to those I have enumerated were given.

Apart from the variations of these pecular voices, and the physical demonstrations of hands and rappings, which intersperse the conversations, there is an acquaintance manifested by the invisibles with the private affairs of the company (including strangers), truly surprising and removed out of the range of guess-work.

Boston, Mass., Nov. 7th, 1868.

HAUNTED HOUSE IN THE COUNTY OF CLARE, IRELAND.

[The Earl of Dunraven has forwarded the following authenticated account of a haunted house, drawn up by his lordship, then Lord Adare, in the year 1843, and which we have much pleasure in inserting.-ED.]

MY DEAR M

The following is the account of the strange noises which were heard some years ago, and which I promised to draw up for you. Mr. and Mrs. Daxon went to live at Kilmoran, in the County of Clare, about the year 1824. They occasionally heard rumours from the old people of the place that two persons had often been seen riding, driving, and walking about the grounds, but no credit was given to these stories. The disturbances commenced on the 5th of September, 1828, with the following remarkable occurrence: Mr. and Mrs. D- had retired to bed; a little boy a year and a half old sleeping in a cot by the bedside; and no light in the room, when a large dog seemed to arise with a heavy step and walk across the floor to the cot, where it made a noise as if going to eat or lap up something; the child instantly awoke and screamed violently. Mrs. Daxon held him while Mr. Daxon called up the servant to turn out, as he conceived, a large watch dog; but no dog was to be found. Some nights after they heard what seemed a barefooted person walking stealthily about the room; a candle was lighted, and search made, but no one could be found. Night after night the noises became more violent, the child appearing much disturbed by them, and often in the daytime screaming out, Mamma, look at that black man ;" at other times, "that large black dog. One night Miss P- heard the trot of horses up to the hall door, she opened it and looked out, the moon was bright, but no horses to be seen; she retired to rest, and put the night-bolt in the door. Immediately after lying down she heard a person walk over to the fire-place and stir the embers, and then come to the side of the bed, when the pillow was pulled away and thrown into the middle of the room, and the bed-posts struck with a stick; the person then quitted the room, slapping the door with violence. At first Miss P-'s alarm prevented her from getting up; but on recovering her fright she found the pillow on the floor, and the door as she had fastened it. The noises now became various and wonderful, and were heard by all the family. Different creatures were assumed, as far as could be judged

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by the sounds: sometimes large four-footed animals, sometimes birds, but generally the human form. One evening, before tea, Miss P- the governess, and children were in the school room, when the books were taken off the table and thrown on the top of the press. After this a footstep came to the door and two or three screams were heard; Miss P- opened the door, and heard a step retreating heavily, she followed with a candle, the step seemed to return, and the candle was blown out with a puff. At another time she was writing, when the table cover and writing implements were thrown off the table, and the chair pulled from under her; this was in the daytime.

Several friends came and endeavoured-but without success -to discover a clue to these events. The figures of two men were seen by Mrs. Daxon, and Miss P-, at different times, walking outside the windows, and by one of the servants, but not by two persons at the same time; on one of these occasions Mr. Daxon, who was outside, saw nothing. Mrs. Daxon once saw a large savage looking dog, but it vanished immediately. Another time the voices of two persons were heard, speaking in an unknown language, close to her bed room. Every noise that could disturb the family was resorted to; screaming, clapping of hands, firing shots through the glass, (no glass being really broken), playing on the bagpipes, and noises so ridiculous as scarcely to be credited. One of the modes of annoyance was that of throwing a great weight upon the chest, or some part of the body. This has been felt by Mr. and Mrs. Daxon,

Miss P and Miss O-; sometimes when a light was in the room and sometimes in the dark. Once when the candles were lighted Mrs. Daxon felt the pressure of a very cold hand on her back. A gentleman one night felt as if a person lay by him in the bed. A common prelude to its coming was as if a piece of the ceiling had fallen and was scattered upon the floor. Sometimes balls appeared to be thrown from one part of the room to the other. After the month of March, 1829, the noises by night seemed to decline, but were constantly heard by day. Sighs and moans were very common.

One day, Mrs. Daxon was writing in the dining room; she felt a breathing on the back of her neck, accompanied by heavy sighs; she ran out of the room and met Miss P- who said that she had just heard a noise as if a person was drawing a chair about her room. There was a favourite canary bird in the house, which appeared alarmed by the noises. It would jump off the perch, and hide at the bottom of the cage. A cat killed the bird; after which for some days the bird's notes were exactly imitated, and Mrs. Daxon has followed them to different parts of the house.

A favourite dog was also occasionally alarmed; one day, so