On Popular Elujions. 113 



the Mifcellanea Curiofa. A malefaflor was executed, of 

 whofe body the doflor got pofleffion for the purpofe of 

 diffedlion. After difpofing of the other parts of the body, 

 he ordered his Afliftant to pulverize part of the cranium, 

 which was a remedy at that time admitted in difpenfa- 

 tories. The powder was left in paper, on the table of 

 the mufeum, where the afliftant flept. About midnight 

 he was awaked by a noife in the room, which obliged him 

 to rife immediately : the noife continued about the table, 

 without any vifible agent, and at length he traced it to 

 the powder, in the midft of which he now beheld, to his 

 unfpeakable difmay, a fmall head with open eyes flaring 

 at him ; prefently two branches appeared, which formed 

 into the arms and hands; then the ribs became vifible, 

 which were foon clothed with mufcles and integuments ; 

 next, the lower extremities fprouted out, and when they 

 appeared perfeft, the puppet, (for his fize was fmall) 

 reared himfelf on his feet; inftantly his clothes came upon 

 him, and he appeared in the very cloak he wore at his 

 execution. The affrighted fpeftator, who flood hitherto 

 mumbling his prayers with great application, now thought 

 of nothing but making his efcape from the revived ruffian ; 

 but this was impoffible ; for the apparition planted himfelf 

 in his way, and after divers fierce looks and threatening 

 geftures — opened the door and went out. No doubt the 

 powder was mifling next day. 



This flory was publiflied by a fociety under the imperial 

 proteftion, during the age of Louis XIV. 



(X) p. 85. The moft curious hypothefis on this fubjefl: 

 is that of Marcus Marci, worthy to rank with the tiSiy^a 

 of Democritus, and Dr. More's Immaterial Extenfum. 

 Marci was a phyfician and imperial counfellor at Prague, 

 who held that ideas are fubftantial, and may inhere in the 

 conftituent atoms of their fubjeft, although its organiza. 

 tion be deftroyed. Thus fpeftres and redivivi were ex- 

 plained, without any other difficulty than that of believing 



Vol. hi. r ihf 



