Remarks on the Case of Miss M^Avoy. 125 



*' Now, is it not much more rational, as well as philosophical, 

 to conclude that Miss M'Avoy possesses visual powers of an ex- 

 traordiuarv description, than that she is gifted with a new or sixth 

 sense, unknown in the animal ceconomy; particularly, when so 

 many notorious facts militate against the latter supposition? 

 Some of the prominent suspicious circumstances, connected with 

 this case, were first stated in my letter to Dr. Renwick : and, 

 together with many more stubborn facts, were afterwards treated 

 at considerable length, and with much perspicuity, by Mr. San- 

 dars in his pamphlet on the subject. In consequence of these 

 awkward disclosures, many persons, who had previouslv yielded 

 the most implicit assent to all the wonders related of the young 

 lady, have wholly, or partially, recanted; and, if I may be al- 

 lowed a homely phrase, have been anxious to ' Lack out ' with 

 the best possible grace. For my own part, my faith, even at its 

 crisis, was so very limited in degree, and of such transient dura- 

 tion, that I should not feel the slightest hesitation in making a 

 full confession of its rise, progress, and decline. 



" I was first introduced to Miss M'Avoy by Dr, Renwick, a gen- 

 tleman for whom I entertained a respect and esteem, which has 

 not suffered the slightest abatement by any subsequent event: 

 for 1 must confess, that I am wholly lit a loss to understand, 

 why a mere difference of opinion, upon a speculative point, 

 should be allowed to disturb tiie social feeling that ))reviously 

 existed between individuals whose motives are undoubtedly above 

 all suspicion, and can only be referred to a regard for the truth ; 

 however they may differ as to the best means of attaining theic 

 coniTiion object, — or however opposed may be the conclusions 

 they may draw from a different view of the same case. 



" 1 was assured by Dr. Renwick that Miss M'Avoy was actuallv 

 blind ; a circumstance, which, as it would have been presumptuous 

 in me to have denied it, from my entire ignorance of such a sub- 

 ject, obtained my ready belief. So long, therefore, as she confined 

 the display of her talents to discovering the words of a printed 

 book, or the shades of cloths, I experienced less hesitation tha!) 

 surprise in the belief that it was possible that she did possess the 

 faculty of touch to ttiat degree. I then thought, and I am still 

 of the same opinion, that there is nothing revolting to analo.o-y 

 or common sense in the recognition of such a faculty, however 

 rare its possession may be. 



" It is most certain, for instance, that there is a most Jtiaterial 

 difference between the black ink with which I now write, and 

 the white paper upon which 1 am writing. The printing ink 

 used for books differs still more from the paper upon whicli such 

 book is printed) ar.d, from its lubricous natin(>. must present less 



asperity 



