immortal, exhausted by its own might, asked leave to retire. The voice gradually sank from our hearing, as at first, and a very indistinct hissing succeeded in its advance, it sounded like the tone produced by the wind on the bass chord of an Eolian harp; this was soon changed to a rapid hiss, like that of a rocket, and Toolemak with a yell announced his return. 1 had held my breath at the first distant hissing, and twice exhausted myself, yet our conjuror did not once respire, and even his returning and powerful yell was uttered without a previous stop or inspiration of air. Light being admitted, our wizard, as might be expected, was in a profuse perspiration, and certainly much exhausted by his exertions, which had continued for at least half an hour. We now observed a couple of bunches, each consisting of two stripes of white deer-skin and a long piece of sinew, attached to the back of his coat. These we had not seen before, and were informed that they had been sewed on by the Tornga while he was below." Lyon's Journal, p. 358. Toolemak had ten superior beings whom he used to consult, and a countless host of minor sprites. Exhibitions such as that just described are rare, and although the Annatkoos are but rivals, they carefully abstain from exposing each other's secret. Toolemak, however, one evening having drank nine glasses and a half of raw spirits (or hot water as he termed it) ran riot in conjuring, and betrayed the mystery of his diving or retiring voice, which was regulated by his speaking in his hands and covering his face with his jacket. He was quite a bon compagnon in his cups, singing and shaking hands, and biting whatever was in his reach, especially the cabin doors, with his strong short teeth. Eleven pints and one gill of water, supplied as fast as he could swallow them, restored him to sobriety, and he awoke the next morning without either head-ache or sickness. Of the merit of these works as clear, distinct, and manly narratives of an expedition which has never been exceeded in interest, the length of our notice sufficiently speaks our estimate. For the still higher merit displayed by the authors under the most trying circumstances of difficulty and danger, we must refer to the Journals themselves; which, notwithstanding the modesty of the writers, would not be faithful records if they did not fully display the many excellent and noble qualities which were called into exercise. Captain Parry's original belief of a passage, the western outlet of which will be found in Behring's Straits, is corroborated almost to entire conviction by these and his former researches. Of its practicability he feels nearly equal assurance; being satisfied that an open sea exists along the northern coast of America to Icy Cape. His course is now directed to Prince Regent's Inlet, and from his future labours in conjunction with those of Captains Lyon and Franklin, we may feel sanguine of the ultimate success of an enterprize which, to use the adventurous voyager's own words, for centuries past has engaged the attention of the civilized world." Captain Franklin is again employed on his former ground, and Captain Lyon intends to cross by land from Repulse Bay to the western coast, and to trace this onward to Point Turnagain. We cordially trust that no longer period than that spent in the last expedition may elapse before we have to announce the complete triumph of our distinguished countrymen. ART. IV. Sketches of the Philosophy of Apparitions; or, an Attempt to trace such Illusions to their_Physical Causes. By Samuel Hibbert, M. D. F. R. S. E. 12mo. 460 pp. 10s. 6d. Whittaker, London; Oliver, Edinburgh. 1824. EVERY one who has had a fever or even an obstinate fit of indigestion, knows well that spectral illusions are closely connected with the state of the body. Dr. Ferriar's Essay on Apparitions was the first medical work of any importance on this very interesting subject; and though it may be said to have rather indicated the principle on which the enquiry ought to be conducted, than exhausted the various topics, psychological and pathological, which it necessarily embraces, it has nevertheless proved a guide, as well to the physician as to the philosopher, in tracing at once the nature and the cure of those corporeal maladies which affect the mind. It is now universally admitted, that spectral appearances ought to be regarded in no other light than as an indication of a morbid state of the nerves, or of a very highly excited condition of the blood: and the main object of Dr. Hibbert's book is to illustrate this connection, both by adducing a variety of new facts, and also by a reference to the action of certain chemical substances on the fluids of the human body, and, through that medium, on the energies of the mind. In endeavouring to obtain a correct notion of certain vital properties of the human frame, and of the relation which the immaterial principle seems to bear to these properties, be begins with an investigation into the blood; satisfied that his enquiry will derive some assistance from observing the effect produced upon that fluid by the introduction into the lungs of particular gases. Such of these airs as increase the circulalation, and expand the volume, of the blood, give pleasure, and excite lively images in the mind; whilst those which retard the pulse, and create a constriction in the capillaries, are uniformly followed by pain and the most disagreeable impressions on the imagination. The former of these facts is well illustrated by the action of the nitrous oxide. When the effects of this gaseous inhalation were first tried, the general result was, that in proportion as it influenced the circulation, sensations became more and more vivid. These were described as consisting in an "increased sensibility to touch;" -a "sense of tangible extension ;"-" visible impressions becoming more illuminated ;"-" luminous points arising to dazzle the vision ;"-"hearing more acute, so that the smallest sound in the room was heard distinctly;"-" feelings of such delight, as almost to destroy consciousness." At the same time we are told, grateful recollections of an uncommon intensity, passed rapidly through the mind. One individual, in attempting to describe his feelings, could only compare them to those which he had experienced when witnessing an heroic scene upon the stage. Another, says the author, could only refer for a description of the state of his mind, to the emotion raised within his breast, when, upon the occasion of the famous commemoration of Handel at Westminster Abbey, he heard seven hundred instruments playing at one time. The experiments of Sir H. Davy on the exciting powers of the nitrous oxide, are known to all the world. Whenever, says he, the operation of this gas was carried to its greatest height, the pleasurable thrilling gradually diminished, the sense of pressure was lost, impressions ceased to be perceived, vivid ideas passed rapidly through the mind. On one occasion he tells us, he gradually began to lose the perception of external things, and a vivid and intense recollection of some former experiments, passed through his mind, so that he called out, "What an amazing concatenation of ideas!" The following experiment is so striking in itself, and applies with so much force to the hypothesis entertained by our author, that we are tempted to transcribe the details of it as they are given by Sir Humphrey. After informing us that he was inclosed in an air-tight breathing box of the capacity of about nine cubic feet and a half, and that, in the course of an hour and a quarter, no less a quantity than eighty quarts had been thrown in, he adds: "The moment after I came out of the box, I began to respire twenty quarts of unmingled nitrous oxide. A thrilling, extending from the chest to the extremities, was almost immediately produced. I felt a sense of tangible extension, highly pleasurable in every limb; my visible impressions were dazzling, and apparently magni. fied. I heard distinctly every sound in the room, and was perfectly aware of my situation. By degrees, as the pleasurable sensation increased, I lost all connexion with external things; trains of vivid visible images passed rapidly through my mind, and were connected with words in such a manner as to produce perceptions perfectly novel: I existed in a world of newly modified and newly connected ideas. When I was awakened from this semi-delirious trance by Dr. Kinglake, who took the bag from my mouth, indignation and pride were the first feelings produced by the sight of the persons about me. My emotions were enthusiastic and sublime; and for a moment I walked round the room, perfectly regardless of what was said to me. As I recovered my former state of mind, I felt an inclination to communicate the discoveries I had made during the experiment. I endeavoured to recall the ideas-they were feeble and indistinct. One recollection of terms, however, presented itself, and with the most intense belief and prophetic manner, I exclaimed to Dr. Kinglake, Nothing exists but thoughts; the universe is composed of impressions, ideas, pleasures, and pains.' The inferences which present themselves so readily in connexion with the facts now mentioned, will derive additional strength from examining into the effects of the febrile miasma; the primary action of which has a tendency directly opposite to that of the nitrous oxide. When the pernicious gas just referred to, is introduced into the blood, it is said to vivify mental impressions to no less a degree than if the nitrous oxide itself had been inhaled; with this difference, that the feelings and reflections are of the most painful and disagreeable nature imaginable. There is a general soreness which pervades the whole system, of such an acuteness, that the contact of the external air, or a change of temperature, becomes quite insupportable. A great anxiety prevails about the præcordia, while the images of the mind are rendered no less intense, being of such a painful description, and so increasing in their gloomy character, that the unfortunate patients have been known to labour under the most overwhelming dejection The mind gradually becomes insensible to outward impressions, and a new world of ideas, of the most frightful kind, immediately takes their place. Horrid spectral images arise; the forerunners, says Dr. Hibbert, of a suddenly diminished degree of excitement, of total insensibility, or of death itself. These statements afford a view of the visionary world, of which our author has undertaken to describe some of the phenomena. His system proceeds on the pathological principle, that whenever sensations and ideas, from some peculiar state of the sanguineous fluid, are simultaneously rendered highly intense, the former arrive at a certain height of vividness, and gradually become fainter; while the latter, in an inverse ratio, increase in vividness; the result being, that recollected images of thought, vivified to the height of actual impressions, constitute almost entirely the sole objects of mental consciousness. That ideas may be so excited as to equal, in their intensity, the vividness of actual impressions, and to be thereby mistaken for them, is a fact with which all medical men are perfectly familiar. Dr. Ferriar supplies a great variety of instances; remarking, on the authority of a long experience, that, in certain diseases, "from recalling images by an act of memory, the transition is direct to beholding spectral objects which have been floating in the imagination.' I have frequently," says he, "in the course of my professional practice, conversed with persons who imagined that they saw demons and heard them speak; which species of delusion admits of many gradations and distinctions, exclusive of actual insanity." 66 The value of the facts stated above, arises from the illustration they afford of the connexion between certain states of the blood and certain conditions of the mind. The nitrous oxide produces effects similar to those which are known to spring from highly-exciting causes of a moral nature, such as extreme joy or surprise; and which sometimes impress on the mind images so deep and permanent, that the powers of reason are employed in vain to modify or remove them. The volumé and circulation of the blood are affected by gaseous inhalations; in such a way as to disorder the functions of the understanding, to blunt the sensibility of the nervous system, and to give to ideas a greater vividness and activity than belong to actual impressions on the organs of sense. Sir H. Dávy assures us that the train of images which passed through his mind, were not only vivid but visible. His thoughts were embodied and connected with certain figures, which flitted before his imagination like the visions of a dream, or of a mind actually diseased. In short, apparitions presented themselves to his eyes when in the highest fit of excitement: he existed in a world of ideas: outward impressions ceased to affect him; and he felt as if he had been completely removed beyond the reach of all the powers and qualities of matter. : Now, upon being put in possession of these facts, we are |