When the scientific philosopher of the West revealed to the astonished Brahmin of the East some of the wonders of the minutest forms of the "vital element," of whose existence we should have for ever remained in ignorance had it not been for the invention of the microscope, the Oriental, instead of being delighted at the possession of knowledge which had been heretofore hidden from him, was rendered miserable, for the fundamental principle on which was based the most important feature of his religious dogma had been annihilated by the discovery of truth. The man whose faith had taught him to view every form of animated nature as something especially sacred, when convinced that he could not eat a fruit or drink a cupful of water without destroying myriads of creatures, visible by microscopic aid, possessing life and the powers of locomotion, with all the necessary organizations essential to both, the poor Oriental became from that moment an "unhappy man." Compelled to admit to himself that at every meal he was a destroyer, a devourer of animated beings; in fine, from his own moral standard, "a murderer."

It is not to be wondered that his existence became "darkened o'er with a cloud." All his hopes of a future elysium had been crushed, hopes cherished from his earliest days had been blighted. Instead of gratitude he inwardly cursed his Western friend who had so fatally, for his happiness, shown him the truth. We cannot even smile at the effect of the unwelcome knowledge forced on the unhappy Oriental, for it so forcibly reminds us that in our midst some of the most intelligent and educated show the same abhorrence at the revelation of any truth which destroys the dogmas of their peculiar belief. Ignorance with them, as with the Brahmin, is positively bliss. They shut their eyes to the light, and prefer the darkness, because the knowledge of the truth will cause their theories and speculations to vanish before the advance of scientific discovery.

The credulous, uninvestigating bigot would rather believe any proposition, no matter how preposterous, or contrary to the laws of nature, than a truth which does not harmonize with his doctrines. Tell him the pyramids of Egypt are on their apex, he will receive it so long as it does not antagonize with the dogmas he has cherished.

Newton's discovery of the true law of gravitation destroyed the philosophy of Aristotle, which had dominated for over two thousand years.

Galileo's discovery of the satellites of Jupiter, and of the revolution of our globe round the sun, upset ideas which caused his persecution by the blind and furious bigotry of the monks, who charged him with heresy. He was obliged to abjure and sign a denial, on which he stamped his foot, and said "yet it moves."

Truth crushed to earth will rise again, The eternal roll of years is hers; But error, wounded, writhes in vain, And dies amidst its worshippers."

Dalton discovered that all bodies unite according to fixed and invariable proportions, on which he based his "Atomic Theory:" now chemistry is a mathematical science.

As the "vital element," when directed by concentrated volition, is capable of raising a man weighing two hundred or more pounds as if he were a feather, the question arises, if it is possible to communicate the "vital element" to inanimate matter, temporarily to impregnate a table or any other form of matter, so that, when so impregnated, it would be under the influence of the volition. The incongruity of the proposition ceases the moment we discover that on irritation of the spinal column, soft iron needles become magnetic, by the sudden concentration of the nervo-vital fluid.

My friend, the late Dr. Hare, Professor of Chemistry in the University of Pennsylvania, was convinced of the truth of spiritualism in consequence of the movements imparted to "a table" by what he thought "spiritual influence." If once the mind admits, or is convinced, that an effect arises from a specific cause, it matters not whether the inference was correct so long as the conviction exists. The effects are manifest, and cannot be accounted for by a mind which had been accustomed from its earliest days to the investigations of physical science. A table moves, and the movements actually make responses to questions proposed so naturally, that failing to discover a relation between cause and effect, the "supernatural" is called in to supply the deficient knowledge.

The writer must state some facts relative to the phenomena presented on these occasions.

Being in New York in 1853, at the Astor House Hotel, a party of six went to the rooms of a Mrs. Cohen, "a medium" of celebrity. On entering we paid each half a dollar and took our seats round a table. Mrs. Cohen requested that all persons present, who were not less than ten, should place their hands on the table; we had not done so more than five minutes when small sharp raps were heard. The alphabet was produced, when each person in rotation was allowed to ask two or three questions; as our turn came sixth, we had ample opportunity of investigating if any trickery existed; if such were possible. Those who preceded us mentally asked questions of the supposed spirits and invariably received correct replies. On coming to our turn, the person thought of had died in Sacramento a year previously. His name was distinctly spelt out. We then asked audibly what two objects did the deceased, or "did you give me," as we were supposed to address the deceased spirit. The answer was "a pipe and a pillow," which was correct.

It was not until the autumn of 1859 that another occasion offered to witness "a professional medium." On entering the apartment, we found several persons sitting round a table. On our taking a seat the number was seven. On an alphabet being produced, some replies were made correctly, while others were altogether wide of the truth. The "knocks" were heard on various parts of a table, and apparently on the sides of the room. It was at this time that the committee was formed, who, for the satisfaction of its members, made arrangements with the mediums to attend twice a week, the seances taking place at the respective residences of the committee.