246 Notices of Books. (April, 
Mr. Owen is not content to let these matters rest (with the scep- 
tical), or contemptuously to ignore them (with the scientific); but 
actually imputes them to spirits, whose agency he believes is 
proved by other evidence, of the nature of which we have already 
given some examples. This evidence, taken as a whole, proves, 
he thinks, that there is not habitual intercourse between the two 
worlds; that we seem, probably, something like apparitions to 
those spirits who visit us; that they often seek communion, 
from affection or from other motives; that they have difficulties 
in reaching us,—difficulties wisely interposed, because, if spiritual 
intercourse were as common as earthly communion, we should 
many of us be dissatisfied with our lot, and neglect our earthly 
duties. ‘They seek from time to time to visit us. But coming 
from their world of spirits, invisible to ordinary sight, inaudible 
by ordinary speech, how are they to make their presence known ? 
How are they to attract our attention? In what manner does a 
traveller, arriving under cloud of night before a fast-closed man- 
sion, seek to reach the in-dwellers—seek to announce his 
presence? Is it not by KnocxinG or Rineginc?” This is our 
author's reply to sneers at ‘‘rapping” and ‘ bell-ringing ” 
phenomena. 
We have devoted so much space to a sketch of Mr. Owen’s 
book, because, in the first place, it merits notice as a literary 
work of a high class; and in the second, it brings prominently 
before us what is either the most gigantic and mysterious of 
delusions or the most important of truths. In either case it de- 
serves a full and fair discussion. Neither is such a subject out 
of place in a scientific journal, for, in whatever light we view it, 
it is really a scientific question. If a fallacy or a delusion, it is 
of so wide-spread a nature, and influences such numbers of well- 
educated and even scientific men, that we have a right to demand 
of science a full and satisfactory exposure of it. If a truth, then 
it is certainly, as Mr. Owen maintains, a science of itself; a new 
science, and one of the most overwhelming importance in its 
bearings upon philosophy, history, and religion. It is now be- 
coming almost a common thing to acknowledge that there is a 
certain amount of truth in the facts; with a proviso, always, of 
the writer’s repudiation of the spiritual theory. For my own 
part, the only thing that makes the facts credible on evidence zs 
the spiritual theory. Mr..A., or Prof. B.,- or DritC7, "may state 
that they know certain of the facts are true, but that all these 
facts can be explained without calling in the aid of spirits. 
Perhaps they can. But why should I, or any other reader, accept 
A., B., or C.’s facts, and reject Mr. Owen’s, when the former are 
not one whit more intrinsically probable, or supported by one iota 
better testimony, than the latter? Yet these latter actually force 
upon us the spiritual theory, just as the facts of Geology force 
upon us the belief in long series of ancient living forms, different 
from those now upon the earth. I must accept all the equally 
