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saw in the winter of 1849-50 , 1 believe ; I saw several of Dr . Haddock ' s letters about it in February and March , 1850 . Since E . had been right in so many cases at a distance , it was probable that fhe was also right in this one . She described the dress , mode of life , food , &c , of the crews . She saw and described Sir John , and said that he still hoped to get out , but w » nraeh »« rpris « d that no vessels had come to assist him . She frequently spoke of his occupations ,. and when asked the time of day , found it either by looking at a timepiece in the cabin , or by consulting Sir John ' s watch . During the winter and spring of 1849-50 , and part of the summer of 1850 , she
uniformly indicated the same difference of time , which I cannot at present give precisely , but which was nearly seven hours . At whatever hour she was magnetized and sent there , she always made the same difference . Nay more , when the time there was nine or ten a . m . ( four or five p . m . at Bolton ) she would aay that such was the hour , but that it was still dark , and lights were burning in the early part of summer . Now it is quite absurd to suppose that this totally uneducated girl has any notion of the relation of longitude to time , or of the difference between an arctic day and one in our latitude . E . also , being shown the handwriting of several of the officers of
the expedition , found and described them . One was dead ( shelled , as she said , ) when she was asked . Another , at a later period , was dangerously frostbitten , but recovered . She said , that in one of the ships the provisions were exhausted , but that the other contained provisions . Jrihe described the fish , seals , and other animals hunted and killed for food and oil by the crews . Of , or rather to , one officer she said that he was the doctor , although not dressed like a doctor , but like the rest , in skins ; that he was a first-rate shot , and was fond of killing animals to preserve them . ( This is really the case with Mr . Goodsir , whose writing she was then examining . ) She
added a multitude of curious details , for which I have no space , and thry will no doubt be published by 3 > r . Haddock . But I may mention , ihat on a Sunday afternoon in February , 1850 , she said it was about ten a . m . there , and described the captain ( Sir John ) as rending prayers to the crew , who knelt in a circle , with their faces upwards , looking to him , and appearing very sorrowful . She even narntd the chapter of St . Mark ' s gospel which he read on that occasion . She also spoke , on one occasion , of Sir John as dejected , which he was not before , and said that the men tried to cheer him up . She further spoke of their burning coarse oil and fish refuse for
warmth , and drinking a finer oil for the same purpose . All this time , she continued to give the same difference of time , from which the longitude might be calculated . This time , seven hours , or nearly from Bolton , gives a west longitude of about 100 degrees to 115 degrees , which corresponds very well with the probable position of Sir John . But at a . later period , all of a sudden she gave a difference of time of somewhere between six and seven hours , indicating that the ships had moved eastward . She was not , after this , quite so uniform in the difference of time as before , and seemed not to see it so clearly ; but she persisted that they had moved homeward ,
and if we take about six hours and a half as the later difference , this would indicate a longitude of about 97 degrees 30 minutes W . After this change , she also 8 aid that Sir John had been met and relieved , and has always since then seen three ships , which , for a long time past , are said by her to be frozen up together . The last observation of which I have heard , 17 th February , 1851 , gave a longitude of 101 degrees 45 minutes \ V . At the same time , from Captain Austin ' s writing , which hus also been frequently tried , she gave , for him , the longitude of 95 degrees 45 minutes W . She does not know whose
ship it is , that , according to her , has mot with Franklin , but she still speaks of three ships together , I should add , that when E . hus been sent there at such an hour and season that it was night in those latitudes , she has , quite spontaneously , described the aurora borealis , which she once saw , as an arch , rising as if from the ground at one end , and descending to it again at the- other . From thin arch , coloured streamer ** rose upwards , and some of these curved backwardH . She vvus much surprised and delighted with it , and asked if that was the country theminbow came from . She hail never been told anything whatever about the aurora , and known nothing of it . "
Surprising this is ; and should Sir John I ' rauklin return , much of it may be collated with this facts , and the result , be made known ; but surely witli so remarkable a clairvoyanle u more decisive experiment could lm made . Lot . a letter by Charles DickeiiH l > e placed in her hands , and let her describe hi « actions during one forenoon , he being requested to keep accurate notes of what he actually doeM on that forenoon —then have the comparison made in the presence of known public men ; ii the clairvoyanto succeed , and the task is not a difficult . One , we shall have something to appeal to ot a less equivocal nature than the usual examples . Not to weary the reader with objections , we may in one sentence express our opinion , which in , that
as regards the higher phenomena there has been no evidence we could accept—no case at once so decisive and unequivocal as even to incline us to the belief m clairvoyance . With regard to the cause of mesmeric phenomena— - ( whether it be objective or subjective )—we agree with Mr . Braid , of Manchester , in the supposition that it is subjective ; and beg to refer every one to the admirable review of Reichenbach in the last number of the North British Review , far a refutation of the theory of odyje .
We must not be led away by polemics . Dr . Gregory's work is expository rather than polemical , and we know of no book so calculated to win the respect of the candid inquirer . He very properly objects to all public seances and to making " a show" of mesmerism » be believes that in all cases private experiment is the best and most convincing , and endeavours to furnish all the information necessary for the candid inquirer . We may return to the book .
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BOOKS ON OUR TABLE . Timethrift ; or , all Hours turned to Good Recount . Conducted by Mrs . Warren . Nos . I . and II . Longman and Co . Timethrift is a new monthly periodical for ladies , and is , we are informed , by an excellent lady-critic , greatly superior to the generality of such works , it contains stories and poetry of the usual kind ; useful information ; well-chosen extracts ; and specimens of lady ' s work with illustrations . Our manly ignorance of crotchet , knitting , collars , &c ., forced us to rely on female aid in the task of criticising this periodical ; and the aid we secured expressed itself in a simple energetic formula : "It is much better than those things usually are . " Night and Morning : By Sir E . Bulwer Ly tton , Bart . With a frontispiece by H . K . Browne . The Pilgrims of the RJiine . By Sir E . B . Lytton , Bart . With a frontispiece by Birket Forster . Chapman and Hall . These two volumes of the cheap edition of Bulwer ' s works , now in course of publication , are among the most delightful of his varied writings . The tales in The Pilgrims have been great favourites of onrs ; and we are glad to see that he has drawn the sponge over that wretched daub of a poem " To the Ideal , " which
formerly stood at theentranceof this pleasure-ground , substituting for it one of his happiest poetical effusions ; take this fragment as a sample : — " Hence is that secret pardon we bestow In the true instinct of the grateful heart Upon the sons of Song . The good they do In the clrar world of fheir Uranian art Bndurrs for ever ; while the evil done In the poor drama of their mortal scene Is but u passing cloud before the sun ; Snace hath no record where the ? nist hath been . "
Night and Morning bears re-reading better than most novels . Materials for Translating from English into German . Hy A . fli-imaiin , I'll . I ) . D . Nutt . To make the student a master of German expression , to enable him to write or ape ik German with fluency and idiomatic grace , this volume is very useful . It consists of two parts : In the iirst , exercises on the chief rules of grammar are given the { student to
translate — the explanations and vocabulary being given in footnotes . In the second part , selections from Washington Irving , Tillotson , Addition , Macaulay , &e ., are given , with footnotes aa in part 1 . To complete the work , however , a key is wanting , and we advise Dr . Heimann to publish one ; because at present his volume is only to be used by those who have a master or some one at hand , to whom they can refer their exercises : a key would settle all doubts and difficulticM . St . Paul ' s Epistle * to the . Corinlhums : an Attempt to convey theirS [ ririt and Significance . Jiy . ' . Hamilton Thorn . John Chapman . Warning off scholars and deep students from hie pageH if they go there to seek the accumulated tttorcu of theologic erudition , Mr . Thoia oilers tint * volume as a commentary of a philosophic , and religious kind on the epintlen , . seeking to fetch out the animating spirit of those epistles , such an this nineteenth century may read beneath the letter . It in , then-fore , to the public , not to theologians , this book is addressed . Its opinions we cannot touch upon : its execution is remarkable for fervour and eloquence . Iiiti'i / ii ' s I'ljccurtion Companion . P . irt 1 . ( I . Kui ^ lit . llntj > 'Jlours with tin : Itr . it Authors . I ' ailll . ( J , knight . Pictorial Half Hours . 1 ' iut , Ivi . < :. Kni ; ht .. Casinos . A HkcMrli of a I'liyxicul !><•« -. riiil ion of ( hii II tii \ cine . Uy Ali'xand r Von II umltoldt . Tiaiibl . itod f Vmii I Ik- < Jrrm . ui . l , y K . < :. < Ht « -. Vol .: « . ii . <; Holm . Knij / lit ' n Pictorial Shiiks / mre ( Romeo iiml'Julie ) . 1 ' uri . l . 'l . < :. Knight . jtfiiiatn Scdley ; or , the Tarr . t and tfir It'htal . A Tul « of Heal l . ilr . My Lady lluhver l . ytton . ; t vo | h , W . Shobril . Recollections of Atrt . . fluder § on '» Xchuol . Hy . hum M . Winnartl . Hull , Vii i . ik-, mill C <> . A Practical 'Vivutite on tlto Culture , of the I ' me . Ity John fliiililrrn . IIitvi ! ami Itriiliuin . Retired from Hutincsi . A Comedy in 'I linn- . \< -Ih . Uy Doii ^ Iiih J <; irold . Unulbiiry uixl Uvuiih . The Comic Iliitury of Home , Him trateil hy l . recli . No . I . iSradbury mid Kviuih .
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We should do our utmost to encourage the Beautiful , or the Useful encourages itself . —Gobthb .
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SKETCHES FROM I , I F E . Bt Hahbiet Maktimeaxt . xi . the shopman ^ Russell had been in the establishment of Messrs A . and B ., drapers and haberdashers , for two years ; and Mary and he had always supposed that they might marry at the end of two years . Russell had saved every farthing that he could j yet he was
unable to furnish a room . Rather than wait the long time that it would take to save money enough for that purpose , the young people decided that an appeal should be made to Messrs . A . and B . few an improved position . If it was granted , Russell would take some nice furnished room for his bride . If it was not granted , why—he would take a room of some kind ; for they had waited a long while .
Messrs- A . and B . were not ungracious . They would consult together . The truth was they were , on the whole , glad to find that Kussell was more in their power than they had known him to be . He was an able young man . They wished to retain him ; but then , it must be under circumstances of close dependence upon them . They had oftea wished to take him into the most delicate and difficult department of their business ; but they had not ventured while there was fear that he would
not accommodate himself to their plans , but go off to some other establishment where his cleverness would make him acceptable , and where he might tell tales . Once married , he lost his chance of being so well received elsewhere , for married shopmen have no chance against single ones . Russell was " told , with great cordiality and much sympathy , that he might get married now when he liked , as Messrs . A . and B . would give him higher employment , and a salary of £ 70 a year , as he would henceforth breakfast and sup at home .
It was only at the second or third supper that he was so grave as to alarm Mary . When pressed with questions , he said he did not like his naw employment . Mary was silent , for this sounded rather selfish . The place was underground ; the place was dark ; it was a horrid business . Dark ! How could haberdashery business be done in the dark ? The place was dark , however ; and it was silent too . Messrs . A . and B . had a
fine trade , and sold cheap ; so cheap , that for a long time , innocent observers had been expecting a crash . The reason why they could sell cheap without coming to a crash , lay in that dark , silent underground room , and the dark passage adjoining . The door of that passage opened quietly of itself whenever a particular kind of knock was given : and immediately after , some parcel of silks , or muslins , or laces , or ribbons , or stockings was thrust in at a sort of hatch , where it was now
Russell ' s business to receive what came , and carry it to a light inner room for examination . There was always a ticket on the parcel , to tell its value without the necessity of speech . If the goods were not approved , they were handed hack through the hatch . If purehased , the money was laid down on the nill . IIusmcII ' b charge al » o was to examine the goods ; not only their quality vvhon the decision was to he made , but their quantity afterwards , that only the buyers in the shop might be cheated , and not . the buyeiN in the coimting-hoiiHO . lie soon
found that all was considered right , if the trimniingH and tapes wore not more than h ' ik yards Hhort in the piece , and the pins not more than eight short in each row . lleforft Russell became fully aware- that Iuh employment was neither more nor les . s than that of a receiver of stolen goods , he had become so fur implicated that he wan perplexed to know what to do . At lenglh , at tin : end of Home weeks , he told Mary the whole . Slit : wan decided enough uh to what ho ought to do . " Give tin your situation to-morrow morning , "
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468 &f > t Heafter * [ Saturday ,
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Leader (1850-1860), May 17, 1851, page 468, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1883/page/16/
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