THROUGH FINLAND. 
*73 
reader will be able to judge of the light in which I viewed this 
fubjedt. Having fucceeded in our refearches concerning the elec¬ 
trical fluid, and what is called gahmnifm, I think it not impofliblc 
but we may difeover fome other fluid, or material fubftance, 
which fhall have its particular laws, relations and affinities. I am 
of opinion, that in animal magnetifm we meet with appearances 
which cannot be traced to the imagination as their caufe, nor in¬ 
deed to any caufe known or ftated by the enemies of this dodtrine. 
The French academicians themfelves, in their report on animal 
magnetifm, fliew, perhaps, that they bellowed upon it neither the 
time nor the candour and impartiality which a fubjedt fo difficult, 
and fo much entangled in the grofleft prejudices, had a right to 
obtain from them. Upon the whole, I conclude that we are ftill 
entirely in the dark as to this unknown caufe, which, though wc 
cannot as yet aflign to it any name or determinate qualification, 
is not on that account lefs poflible. 
The proficiency of the Baron in the magnetical fcience has not 
met with very great fuccefs in making profelytes at Uleaborg : 
for though this country is removed from the centre of intelledlual 
improvement, yet the diffufion of knowledge has been fo univer- 
fal, in the courfe of the eighteenth century, that its falutary effedts 
have been felt even here, and men’s minds are fufficiently en¬ 
lightened to be upon their guard againft the illufions of impofture. 
Befides, the Baron is alone; he is deftitute of that co-operation 
which, by working on the fentiments of others, in all times and 
places, by continually urging and prefling upon them a fubjedt 
Vol. I. Nn which 
