1872.) Notices of Books. 245 
deception. M. Bach is an old man of high character; and to 
suppose that he, suddenly and without conceivable motive, 
planned and carried out a most elaborate and complicated 
imposture, is to suppose what is wholly incredible; but Mr. 
Owen shows further, that the circumstances are such that 
M. Bach could not have been an impostor, even had he been so 
inclined, and concludes by remarking: ‘I do not think dispas- 
sionate readers will accept such violent improbabilities. But if 
not, what interesting suggestions touching spirit-intercourse and 
spirit-identity connect themselves with this simple narrative of 
M. Bach’s spinet!”’ 
Recurring to Mr. Owen’s own experiences, perhaps the most 
astounding is his account of the gradual formation of an appa- 
rition, distin¢tly visible to several spectators. Every precaution 
was taken to render trick or imposture impossible; yet if so, 
what marvel of modern science is equal to this? What natural 
phenomenon so worthy of investigation! Our author’s remarks 
on this case will sufficiently indicate its nature. -He says: ‘“‘ My 
faith in the reality of this appearance is not at all shaken by re- 
flecting that a Signor Blitz, or a Robert Houdin, having a theatre 
at command, arranged with ready entrances and exits, with 
practical trap-doors, with dark lanterns in the wings, with the 
means of producing dissolving views, could , probably reproduce 
all I witnessed. But here were a few ladies, in private life and 
in moderate circumstances, quietly meeting in two apartments 
which were daily used as schocl-rooms by one of their number, 
containing not even arecess where a chair could be hidden away, 
They meet to satisfy a laudable curiosity, admitting visitors now 
and then by courtesy only. No remuneration is demanded, nor, 
very surely, would any have been accepted. They meet, on this 
occasion, at my request, after having discontinued their researches 
for months, vexed with unjust suspicions. They allow us to lock 
every exit, after a close examination of the rooms. Here is 
neither motive nor opportunity—to say nothing of qualification— 
for deception. The coin of the realm may be counterfeited, but 
the coiners must have professional skill, an appropriate location, 
and expensive machinery. Nordo counterfeiters ply their unholy 
calling except with the prospect of large gains. Certain it is 
that I beheld the gradual formation of the figure; that I witnessed 
its movements; that I received from its hand an actual flower ; 
that I saw the figure disappear. Add to this, that the place of 
its disappearance was illuminated by invisible agency, in answer. 
to an unexpressed thought of mine.” . 
We may particularly commend to the sceptical reader’s atten- 
tion the very full account of the bell-ringings at Major Moor’s, 
at Greenwich Hospital, and other places, continuing for months, 
and baffling all attempts to find a cause for them; to the dis- 
turbances at Lydersterne Parsonage, continued for sixty years; 
and to many others, none of which have ever been explained. 
