58 
The “French Encyclopcedia” has preserved a very remarkable 
case, accurately noted by the Archbishop of Bordeaux. It is that 
of a young ecclesiastic in the same seminary with the Archbishop. 
He was in the habit of getting up during the night in a state of 
somnambulism, of going to his room, taking pen, ink, and paper, 
and composing and writing sermons. When he had finished one 
page of the paper on which he was writing, he would read over 
what he had written, and correct it. Upon one occasion he had 
made use of the expression Ce divin Enfant. In reading over the 
passage, he changed the adjective divin to adorable. Perceiving, 
however, that the pronoun ce could not stand before the word 
adorable, he added to the former the letter # 
In order to ascertain whether the somnambulist made any use 
of his eyes, the Archbishop held a piece of pasteboard under his 
chin, to prevent him seeing the paper on which he was writing ; 
but he continued to write on without appearing to be incommoded 
in the slightest degree. The paper on which he was writing was 
taken away and other paper laid before him, but the somnambulist 
immediately perceived the change. He wrote pieces of music 
while in this state, and in the same manner—with his eyes closed. 
The words were placed under the musical notes. It happened 
on one occasion that the words were written in too large a character 
and did not stand precisely under the corresponding notes. He 
soon perceived the error, blotted out the first, and wrote it again 
with great exactness. 
CLAIRVOVANCE. 
The effects produced by artificial somnambulism are precisely 
similar, and if they appear to cover more ground, that is probably 
due to the fact that facilities for observation are much greater in 
artificial somnambulism than they are in natural somnambulism. 
You will find many recorded in Dr. Gregory’s book*, “* Animal 
Magnetism,” of which a new edition has recently been published. 
I do not intend to quote any, but will take one within my own 
* Animal Magnetism, or Mesmerism, and its Phenomena. By the late 
William Gregory, M.D., F,R.S.E. London: Wm. Harrison, 38 Great 
Russell Street. 
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