Volume 1
The history of magic / [J. Ennemoser] ; translated from the German by William Howitt. To which is added an appendix of the most remarkable and best authenticated stories of apparitions, dreams, second sight, somnambulism, predictions, divination, witchcraft, vampires, fairies, table-turning, and spirit-rapping selected by Mary Howitt.
- Joseph Ennemoser
- Date:
- 1854
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The history of magic / [J. Ennemoser] ; translated from the German by William Howitt. To which is added an appendix of the most remarkable and best authenticated stories of apparitions, dreams, second sight, somnambulism, predictions, divination, witchcraft, vampires, fairies, table-turning, and spirit-rapping selected by Mary Howitt. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![.human vanity, and to open to mankind a perspective of the i mo:it exalted truths, for which, as yet, but few are prepared. '.There are also false critics, who, like false prophets, rather i accuse the whole former world of folly and deceit than confess 1 that tliey do not know how to grapple with undeniable facts, r.and who with their own statutes and foolis'h ima^ginations fall :far shru’t of the prudent simplicity of old, which taught har- vmony aiii a regular correspondence between the visible and invisible world, which is truly little acknowleged, because, resides the clear brilliancy of the outward eye, it requires a ‘certain unction of the inner, whilst the mere (xroixtia tov do not contain the substance and origin of ; jnings. The contents of this book are, without reference to :bhe above-mentioned contradictory motives, entirely oc- “cupied with those mesmeric appearances which formerly were called magical, and now magnetic; in the present utate of opinion, therefore, it cannot, of course, as]hre CO universal approbation. It may, however, if it does 1 lot interest, at least not be generally displeasing, as the I'.iuthor seeks everywhere with complete impartiality only l;he historical traces of true facts, and the phenomena con- : lected with them ; compares these, and endeavours to lead ^ hem back to certain laws of nature, which, in truth, may »)3 considered as something more than mere polluted pools, |'!)r decayed pillars. If some things which are discussed do not always bear ;;he impress of infallible truth, or even if some principles on ■vhich they are based be not the firmest, still it cannot easily be said that they are invented, or that it is all a leception. Even if they were really true, of which, indeed, ve have many proofs, we may here and there find oc- ■asion to give them more consideration and to test the utility of their application, in order, perhaps, to succeed »n discovering constant forces, even in the midst of more infrequent actions, in clearing away many difficulties which general science does not solve, and in opening a wider field >1 operations for human activity, so that it may attain at last •he exalted end of spiritual destiny. As such, at least, is the urn of this novice sent among strangers, it hopes to meet.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b24871667_0001_0021.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
