Punch: Punch (6.1844)

100

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

MESMERISM ; ITS DANGERS AND CURIOSITIES.

ost surely it is high time that the state-
should turn its attention to Mesmerism.
Of what avail the thousands and hun-
dreds of pounds subscribed by nobles
and bishops for the goodly purposes of
Christian education, when professors of
mesmerism are suffered to sap the very
foundations of civil society (as ColoneZ
Sibthorp would say), by making the
innocent unintentional felons ? Within-
these few days, one William Bowes
has been charged at Worship-Streefe
fwith stealing a linen sheet; when his
brother (a professor of mesmerism) de-
fended the prisoner, alleging that he
committed the felony when in a state
of "mesmeric coma." The professor
further alleged, that " the mesmeric
influence operated in different ways
upon the accused ; for, on' a former occasion, he manifested a disposition to
destroy everything that came in his way." It appeared that his last attack
had been produced by a visit to the Surrey Theatre. We know not what
is at present acted at that favoured resort; but if it be Jack Sheppard, or
any of its class of drama, we need not call in mesmerism to account for ti e
stolen property. The magistrate, however, was deaf to the appeal of science,
and the mesmeric felon was sent to gaol for one-and-twenty days. This was
the more unfortunate for the Professor, as he had determined upon a forth-
coming lecture, in which his brother, though blindfolded, was to have read any
book—thus displaying his powers of clairvoyance. Pity it is, that William
Bowen had not, by such means, made himself master of the Act of Parliament
which punishes sheet-stealing with lodgings in gaol.

We, however, return to our first opinion. Par-
liament ought to appoint a committee to inquire
into the philosophy of "mesmeric coma;" other-
wise, the judges, in their ignorance,may continue
to imprison and transport the unfortunate as
voluntary felons, when, in fact, they may have
merely committed forgery, burglary (bigamy, by
the way, we think a very likely offence, under the circumstances),
highway robbery, and coining, when in a state of mesmeric oblivion.
If mesmerism be a true thing, and capable of turning the moral self
of man thus inside out, ought not its practice to be put down by
statutes? In the good old times, our careful fathers burnt and
drowned witches ; astrology was condemned ; nay, even in our day,
the fortune-teller taken in the fact, is sentenced, by the unrelenting
magistrate, to the revolution of the tread-mill. Hawk-eyed propriety
forbids the intrusion of gypsies into Greenwich Park, lest Easter maids
and apprentices be thrown into delirious coma by the golden promises
of the scarlet-vested sybils. Why, then, should the man of mesmerism
be suffered to tamper with that very delicate clockwork, the moral
principle, keeping time for better or worse, in all men ? Heaven
knows, that, like the clock of St. Clement's Church, it is of itself too
apt to vary ; now going fast, now slow, and now entirely standing
still. We need no Mesmeric professor to set the whole mechanism
in disorder. We again ask, why is a Doctor Elliotson permitted to
mesmerize, when some venerable John Hocuspocus is dragged from
Field-lane or Breakneck-steps, for simply divining to Molly the maid
the complexion and handicraft of her future husband, and the number
and sex of the children whereof he is to be the happy and honoured
father I The Doctor, operating upon some William Bowen, trans-
forms him into an unconscious robber. The vulgar conjuror sends
Molly home six inches higher with the thoughts of speedy marriage ;
whereupon, she tells her mistress to "answer the bell herself;" and,
for such impertinence, Molly is straightway told, to " pack up her
alls," and trudge. The conjuror is punished for the mischief he may
do—the mesmerist escapes scot-free : and wherefore ? Oh, be is a
professor !

Be it understood, we venture no irreverent fling at Mesmerism.
No ; we confess our ignorance. We will not swear that it may not
rank with the noblest truths as yet vouchsafed to man : wTe will not
swear that it is one iota beyond the manly and athletic science of
pea-and-thimblc. Still, wishing, as zealous watchers of public morals,
to be upon the safe side, we will allow, with its advocates, that
Mesmerism, like poetry, is " a true tiling ;" that it is mysteriously
subtle in its operation, " deep almost as life ;" that it sets at nought
all individual character, all human responsibility, making those who

suffer it unconscious apostates—monstrous libels upon themselves—
fools, zanies, mountebanks ! We will allow this, and so allowing,
ask with deeper earnestness for heavy penalties upon those who
practise this newest Black Art. No man, woman, or child may be
safe from it; therefore, we hazard no extravagance in assuming a
few cases, and, upon their social importance, asking for new am>
stringent laws to reach them.

Mesmerism—so treasonous is the heart of man—might be practised
upon the "highest personage in the land." Who shall say what its
effects might be? — who shall answer for their strange develop-
ment? Whilst suffering the "coma," that high personage mighir
command to Windsor table a very rabble of English philosophers,
poets, sculptors, artists. Up to the present time not one of them has
a chance of seeing even the "unused cut pieces" of royal bread—
unless, indeed, as a future pauper ; but by the aid of Mesmerism,,
science and literature, like the boy Jones, might slip in.

Another personage, second to the " highest," might, if mesmerised,
cast into oblivion the military cap, and do nothing but invent neT»
spatterdashes for her Majesty's army.

Can we hide from ourselves the danger of the mesmeric coma on a
temperament like that of the Duke of Cambridge ? In a state of
total unconsciousness, might he not, to his own ruin, insist upon
paying his brother York's debts, and sending bank cheques to all
!the charities of London ?

Consider, too, the probable effects of Mesmerism on the House of
Lords. Let us suppose Lord Brougham in a state of coma. Might
he not, in this condition, behave like a gentleman for at least a whole
sitting ?

But we have said enough, we trust, to awaken the Govern-
ment to a sense of the social danger involved in Mesmerism,
unless duly guarded by enactments. Having shown its perils,
it is now our pleasing task to lay before the reader many of its
advantages.

On the 23rd ult. Messrs. Hughes and Hagley illuminated the dim
region of Hammersmith with a mesmeric lecture, in which the
wonders of clairvoyance were surprisingly exhibited by a young
gentleman, who, on being blindfolded by a member of Parliament,
told all his votes for the next two sessions. We were not present
ourselves at the lecture, but are indebted to " our reporter" for
a faithful account of the proceedings. The following conversation
took place between Mr. Hughes and the " young gentleman " mes-
merised for the occasion :—■

Mr. Huglies. Can you see Sir Robert Peel I

Young Gentleman. I can.

Mr. Hvijlies. What is he doing !