THE LITERARY EXAMINER. No. XIV.-SATURDAY, OCT. 4, 1823. THE INDICATOR. *No. LXXXVI. There he arriving, round about doth fly, For the Indicator.) THE SPIRIT SEER. As thick and numberless as the gay motes That people the sun-beams, Or likest hovering dreams. "THEN, in respect to spiritual agency, you are disposed to agree with the visionary Swede," said Doctor Alfman to Professor Risberg. "I am inclined to believe in spiritual agency certainly," replied Risbergh, "but not exactly upon the plan or principles of Swedenburgh.' < "You astonish me, my good friend; these are flights to which I supposed the calm rationality of your mental composition would never allow you to aspire. I am now convinced that man often varies less from his fellows than from himself, at different stages of his progress. For a vague admission, that millions of spirits unseen may walk the earth,' I can pardon a philosopher of any school, but a systematic confidence in the fact from my ancient fellow-student Risberg, I did not expect.' "Very likely; but suppose I give you the history of my conversion?" "With all my heart." "My story will commence very much in the manner of that of Aboulcasem of Basra, by a coffee-house adventure. You are aware that soon after I left college, I was engaged to finish the education and superintend the conduct of Albert Von F. the second son of the Count Von F., who headed the rich and noble Saxon family of that distinguished name?" "I am, and recollect that your letters to me, without descending to particulars, expressed some dissatisfaction with that engagement." "My uneasiness originated from a very common cause: my pupil, although a younger son, was of very great importance to his family, owing to the sickly constitution of his elder brother. Their extreme solicitude for his welfare and improvement was, in consequence, attended by an excess of indulgence which went far to render it fruitless. Albert, at that time about twenty, was a young man of great quick VOL. I. 14 ness and vivacity; ardent and romantic in temper, and, for one brought up with the highest German notions of the unassailable superiority of rank, kind, courteous, and condescending. He had passed through his college courses with credit, and even with eclat; and might have been still more distinguished but for a defect most perplexing to a tutor, and unpromising to future eminence, he was capricious and unstable in all his resolves, and uniformly the slave of the last impression. This unfortunate habit, the fruit, in a great degree, of a mother's weakness, was not unperceived by Count von F., who was thereby induced to assign him a director, somewhat later than usual, in the hope that close observation might counteract a mental imperfection so destructive to respectability of character. Imagine my situation as the ostensible governor of a young man of quality, with this quicksilver temperament, in a city like Dresden. I was a thousand times on the point of giving up a charge so onerous and so irksome, but was still prevented by the ingenuous temper of my wayward pupil,his frank acknowledgment of error, and repeated promises of amendment. At length I was so much chagrined at the facility with which he was led into some dangerous excesses by certain libertines of a riper age than his own, who clearly cherished designs both upon his purse and his principles, that I finally determined to retire from a superintendence so useless and disagreeable." "But why not state your apprehensions to the Count von F.?" "I had done so more than once; but whether he thought my notions too rigid, or was led by the Countess, who was avowedly of that opinion, I know not; he certainly never backed my authority and remonstrances with desirable energy, and I could not bring myself to follow the very common example of receiving remuneration, and courting patronage, for duties that it was impossible to perform. Still the resolution to resign a post, which, under different circumstances, might have been at once honourable and advantageous, cost me many hours of bitter cogitation. The day in particular, which ultimately determined me, was one of very gloomy and distressing reflection; so much so, that when the evening arrived, I found myself impelled to escape from my own thoughts, by repairing to a neighbouring coffee-house; where I occasionally met a few learned and literary characters, who resorted thither for the amusement of conversation, and the perusal of the public journals. Among the guests who frequented this coffee-house, was an elderly Hungarian-a man of lofty demeanour, of severe but handsome countenance, and of very reserved manners. His erudition was considerable, and he seldom broke silence but to display it, by pronouncing upon some point of learned difference. At such moments he not only evinced immense research, but a peculiarity in its application, which always excited considerable interest. From the whimsical tenor of some of his remarks, and his evident leaning towards mysticism, the wits who attended the coffee-house usually spoke of him to one another under the title of the Rosicrucian. This remarkable personage happened to be present, during the evening of the day on which I had worked myself to the important decision of quitting the family of Von Fand as occasional observation will involuntarily receive a tinge from interaal disquiet, without alluding to the cause, I insensibly turned the discourse of the company upon that perplexing instability of temper, which had caused myself so much anxiety. As I felt the subject intensely, I was more than usually animated, and had, I fear, somewhat splenetically summed up, that it was most likely a constitutional defect, arising out of faulty organization, when I was suddenly startled by an emphatic humph!' from the stranger. 66 6 You seem to differ with me, Sir. "I do.' 66 6 You will oblige me by stating exactly in what manner.' "That is not so easily done, unless you were acquainted with much of which you are ignorant.' "I am answered.' "I wish not to offend; but when I add, that I only mean to state your absolute want of acquaintance with the great spiritual agency by which the human will is governed, you will regard the imputation of ignorance as a compliment." "The foregoing observation was made in a dry caustic manner, and something like a smile lighted up the dark eye of the speaker. "If you suppose,' replied I, that I deem ignorance of any thing honourable, you are mistaken. I am quite satisfied that we can know little of human nature, without an acquaintance with theories, of the correctness of which we may be more than doubtful. I have heard much of what you, term spiritual agency;-have pondered over the efflux and influx of both the older and younger Platonism; have waded through an infinite number of demonologies, not forgetting the comprehensive Reginald Scott; and finally, I have read both Emanuel Swedenburgh and the Compte de Gabalis.' 66 6 1 T Enough; you convince me that you have much to learn, and something to unlearn; and a part of the latter may consist in a disposition to indulge in some very indifferent humour. But it might be difficult, probably impertinent, to convince you of this truth, and therefore we will drop the subject.' "This speech, with which I was not overpleased, was delivered rather more pleasantly than its tenor imported; and was, moreover, accompanied by the offer of a conciliating pinch of snuff. "I accepted of the civility, and bowed without reply, to the great disappointment of several auditors, who were prepared for some curious disputation. For controversy, however, my then state of mind was by no means favourable; nor, to say the truth, was I altogether satisfied with my own Organic proposition. More than all, I had no inclination to indulge several pert young students and witlings, with the exhibition either of myself, or of my opponent. The conversation, therefore dropped, and the stranger soon after withdrew. He had, however, scarcely departed five minutes, when I received the following singular note. ow When I tell you that I am fully acquainted with your present inquietude, on account of the conduct of an unsteady young man, and and consequently with the state of mind which led to our recent converopsation, you may possibly be induced to accept an offer which I now hu make, to convince you, promptly and efficaciously, that things may 75 exist, of which all the Colleges in Europe are more than doubtful. edi benwi vidreasen 102.288 oli od palhulla teodila) (Dewjab lap I reside three doors to the right of the house in which you are now seated; where, if disposed for conviction, you will call on me tomorrow morning, precisely at nine.ZAPORO.'' "I read this billet once or twice, and confess that I began shrewdly to suspect that my learned antagonist was a designing adventurer, with whom it would be advisable to have nothing more to do. Yet how could he so well fathom my state of mind in regard to Albert, the particular mention of whom strongly excited my curiosity; possibly some disclosure was intended of a nature to serve him. The appointment too, was to take place in the day time, in a public, creditable neighbourhood; in addition to all which, it was impossible so entirely to disregard Lavater, as not to be impressed with the noble physiognomy of the extraordinary stranger. Contrary, therefore, to my first impression, 1 determined to accept the invitation; and conform ably to the inconsistency usual in similar conflicts of mind, I could scarcely sleep during the night, owing to my anxious wish for morning, and the solution of the mystery. “The next day I rose early, and leaving a note for Albert, to announce my reluctant intention to seek an interview with his father before it was over, I proceeded, at the appointed hour, to the stranger's lodgings. To my surprize, they were not only handsome, but magnificent; and on giving my name as a visitor to Mr. Zaporo, I was told that the Count had left orders for my admission. I was accordingly ushered into his presence without delay. He received me politely, but with more of dignity than ceremony; and when I had seated myself, with the air of a man who scarcely knew on what account he was present, he thus promptly addressed me :→→ "You are welcome, Sir; and not the less so because I can read what is passing in your mind. You fear that I may be a Chevalier d'Industrie, and the supposition is excusable. My motive for wishing to see you is, notwithstanding, very simple. I found you free at least from the arrogance and conceit of modern learning, and less injured than many others, by the dull dabbling with matter which forms its degrading pride and distinction.' "I bowed, and looking incredulous, muttered something about engagements precluding new studies or any laborious examination of erudite systems "Be not alarmed, I wish to propose nothing of the kind; I have no -intention to combat reason, but to command belief?'. -This was uttered with inconceivable sang froid, and I suppose that I again looked suspectingly. "When, in the language of the great English Dramatist, you are satisfied that there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy, you may possibly wish to know more of mine. Therefore to convince you, and that summarily, is all my present purpose. You have left your precious ward in bed ?' "I have.' "He will soon rise, and you will be absent... Do witness his conduct for a day?? 6 Psha! That you are generally well acquainted with the follies "I fear that I am but too well acquainted with it.' of a boy of quality, indulged into more than usual imbecility, I am aware; but reverting to our last night's conversation, would you wish to be acquainted with the influences which surround him?? "Certainly, if—’· "Nothing conditional, follow me and behold them.' "The stranger led the way to an inner apartment: it was a noble library, but no otherwise remarkable, except that one end of the room was concealed by a magnificent black silk curtain, before which stood a kind of elevated throne, or canopied chair, decorated with similar silken and sable splendour. "I am studiously anxious to avoid alarming you into an apprehension either of trickery or mummery,' said the Count, and therefore when I tell you, that all I require from you is, a quiet obs servance from that seat of the scenes that will present themselves when the curtain is withdrawn, nothing more will be necessary to satisfy you that I am no disciple of Reginald Scott. When I add, that you are not to look behind you, which indeed the form of the chair renders difficult, you are only to understand, that the penalty of doing son will simply put an end to your entertainment; nothing more. "Now the Charlatanism commences, thought I to myself, or else the intellects of my new friend are somewhat disordered. No matter, he can have no object in personally injuring me; and I may as well carry off appearances with a good grace. With this reflection I stepped on to the chair. od dy *** WPELOJ 750979 to S10 A MON "The moment I took my seat, the stranger moved towards the curtain, and placed his hand upon the large silken tassel which was designed to draw it up. His face was averted; but his whole frame appeared in tremulous agitation, and a few inarticulate and scarcely audible accents reached my ear. He then turned round, his fine countenance beamed with emotion, his dark eye shot inexpressible fire Risberg, behold your Telemachus !' “At that moment the curtain drew up, and conceive my astonishment at discovering that the entire end of the room was apparently composed of looking-glass; which, however, instead of reflecting the objects opposed to it, presented to my scarcely-believing eyes the dressing-room of Albert Von F. into which the imprudent youth appeared to have just entered from his bed-chamber, his person exhibiting all the fatigue and listlessness which usually attend a preceding night of excess and dissipation. "Great God, what do I behold?' exclaimed I, half starting from my seat. "Be calm and attentive; and no more exclamation, as you value the gratification of your curiosity.' '' ff Lobeyed these directions by remaining silent; but I was extremely agitated, and a tremor seized my whole frame. "A few words more, Risberg. Temporarily endowed with the most precious gift of the divinest philosophy, you will shortly behold appearances, which you must endeavour to comprehend by your own unaided sagacity. Your success I doubt not, because it will be materially assisted by your knowledge of your pupil. Once more, and finally, |