TRAVELS 
and in different circumffances; and I find myfelf fatisfied as to 
the exiftincc of fome natural caufe or principle which has hitherto 
remained unknown : it is wrapt up in obfeurity, and is as yet 
inexplicable to the understanding. I am very far from attempt¬ 
ing, after the Baron’s example, to account for it; though I think 
that a folution of this problem may be referved for a period of 
higher improvement in the knowledge of nature, the ftudy of 
which has been fo fuccefsfully purfued, and fo rapidly advanced,- 
in the courfe of the prefent century. I faw my fellow traveller, 
as incredulous as myfelf, fall into a profound fleep by the mere 
motion of the magnetifer’s fingers ; I heard him fpeak in his 
fleep, and reply to whatever queftions I propofed to him ; 1 faw 
him again awake by the fimple motion of the magnetifer’s fingers, 
while I was unable to roufe him from his fomnolency, though I 
brought fire clofe to his hand, an experiment to which he was as 
infenfible as a dead body. He awoke, after flecping from five to 
fix hours, remembering nothing of what he had faid, denying 
obflinately that he had been afleep, and yielding with difficulty 
at laft to the authority of his watch, and the tefiimony of all 
thofe who had witneffed the circumftance. I might mention a 
number of fadls relative to this fubjedt, by which I fhould be able 
to prove, that in thefe trials there could be neither connivance 
nor impofture, nor previous arrangement; but this dodlrine flill 
lies too much under fufpicion for me to dw 7 ell any longer upon it. 
I fhall only add, that two Englifh travellers, better informed, and, 
if poffible, greater infidels than myfelf refpecling mefmerifm, 
happening 
