IneednotgooverthedetailsofVonKempelen’sconfessionasfarasitwentandrelease，forthesearefamiliartothepublic。Thathehasactuallyrealized，inspiritandineffect，ifnottotheletter，theoldchimaeraofthephilosopher’sstone，nosanepersonisatlibertytodoubt。TheopinionsofAragoare，ofcourse，entitledtothegreatestconsideration；butheisbynomeansinfallible；andwhathesaysofbismuth，inhisreporttotheAcademy，mustbetakencumgranosalis。Thesimpletruthis，thatuptothisperiodallanalysishasfailed；anduntilVonKempelenchoosestoletushavethekeytohisownpublishedenigma，itismorethanprobablethatthematterwillremain，foryears，instatuquo。Allthatasyetcanfairlybesaidtobeknownis，that’Puregoldcanbemadeatwill，andveryreadilyfromleadinconnectionwithcertainothersubstances，inkindandinproportions，unknown。’
Speculation，ofcourse，isbusyastotheimmediateandultimateresultsofthisdiscoveryadiscoverywhichfewthinkingpersonswillhesitateinreferringtoanincreasedinterestinthematterofgoldgenerally，bythelatedevelopmentsinCalifornia；andthisreflectionbringsusinevitablytoanothertheexceedinginopportunenessofVonKempelen’sanalysis。IfmanywerepreventedfromadventuringtoCalifornia，bythemereapprehensionthatgoldwouldsomateriallydiminishinvalue，onaccountofitsplentifulnessintheminesthere，astorenderthespeculationofgoingsofarinsearchofitadoubtfulonewhatimpressionwillbewroughtnow，uponthemindsofthoseabouttoemigrate，andespeciallyuponthemindsofthoseactuallyinthemineralregion，bytheannouncementofthisastoundingdiscoveryofVonKempelen？adiscoverywhichdeclares，insomanywords，thatbeyonditsintrinsicworthformanufacturingpurposeswhateverthatworthmaybe，goldnowis，oratleastsoonwillbeforitcannotbesupposedthatVonKempelencanlongretainhissecret，ofnogreatervaluethanlead，andoffarinferiorvaluetosilver。Itis，indeed，exceedinglydifficulttospeculateprospectivelyupontheconsequencesofthediscovery，butonethingmaybepositivelymaintainedthattheannouncementofthediscoverysixmonthsagowouldhavehadmaterialinfluenceinregardtothesettlementofCalifornia。
InEurope，asyet，themostnoticeableresultshavebeenariseoftwohundredpercent。inthepriceoflead，andnearlytwenty-fivepercent。thatofsilver。
WHATEVERdoubtmaystillenvelopthe_rationale_ofmesmerism，itsstartling_facts_arenowalmostuniversallyadmitted。Oftheselatter，thosewhodoubt，areyourmeredoubtersbyprofession-anunprofitableanddisreputabletribe。Therecanbenomoreabsolutewasteoftimethantheattemptto_prove_，atthepresentday，thatman，bymereexerciseofwill，cansoimpresshisfellow，astocasthimintoanabnormalcondition，ofwhichthephenomenaresembleverycloselythoseof_death_，oratleastresemblethemmorenearlythantheydothephenomenaofanyothernormalconditionwithinourcognizance；that，whileinthisstate，thepersonsoimpressedemploysonlywitheffort，andthenfeebly，theexternalorgansofsense，yetperceives，withkeenlyrefinedperception，andthroughchannelssupposedunknown，mattersbeyondthescopeofthephysicalorgans；that，moreover，hisintellectualfacultiesarewonderfullyexaltedandinvigorated；thathissympathieswiththepersonsoimpressinghimareprofound；and，finally，thathissusceptibilitytotheimpressionincreaseswithitsfrequency，while，inthesameproportion，thepeculiarphenomenaelicitedaremoreextendedandmore_pronounced_。
Isaythatthese-whicharethelawsofmesmerisminitsgeneralfeatures-itwouldbesupererogationtodemonstrate；norshallIinflictuponmyreaderssoneedlessademonstration；
to-day。Mypurposeatpresentisaverydifferentoneindeed。Iamimpelled，evenintheteethofaworldofprejudice，todetailwithoutcommenttheveryremarkablesubstanceofacolloquy，occurringbetweenasleep-wakerandmyself。
Ihadbeenlonginthehabitofmesmerizingthepersoninquestion，Mr。Vankirk，andtheusualacutesusceptibilityandexaltationofthemesmericperceptionhadsupervened。Formanymonthshehadbeenlaboringunderconfirmedphthisis，themoredistressingeffectsofwhichhadbeenrelievedbymymanipulations；andonthenightofWednesday，thefifteenthinstant，Iwassummonedtohisbedside。
Theinvalidwassufferingwithacutepainintheregionoftheheart，andbreathedwithgreatdifficulty，havingalltheordinarysymptomsofasthma。Inspasmssuchasthesehehadusuallyfoundrelieffromtheapplicationofmustardtothenervouscentres，butto-nightthishadbeenattemptedinvain。
AsIenteredhisroomhegreetedmewithacheerfulsmile，andalthoughevidentlyinmuchbodilypain，appearedtobe，mentally，quiteatease。
“Isentforyouto-night。”hesaid，“notsomuchtoadministertomybodilyailment，astosatisfymeconcerningcertainpsychalimpressionswhich，oflate，haveoccasionedmemuchanxietyandsurprise。IneednottellyouhowscepticalIhavehithertobeenonthetopicofthesoul’simmortality。Icannotdenythattherehasalwaysexisted，asifinthatverysoulwhichIhavebeendenying，avaguehalf-sentimentofitsownexistence。Butthishalf-sentimentatnotimeamountedtoconviction。Withitmyreasonhadnothingtodo。Allattemptsatlogicalinquiryresulted，indeed，inleavingmemorescepticalthanbefore。IhadbeenadvisedtostudyCousin。I
studiedhiminhisownworksaswellasinthoseofhisEuropeanandAmericanechoes。The’CharlesElwood’ofMr。Brownson，forexample，wasplacedinmyhands。Ireaditwithprofoundattention。
ThroughoutIfounditlogical，buttheportionswhichwerenot_merely_logicalwereunhappilytheinitialargumentsofthedisbelievingheroofthebook。Inhissummingupitseemedevidenttomethatthereasonerhadnotevensucceededinconvincinghimself。
Hisendhadplainlyforgottenhisbeginning，likethegovernmentofTrinculo。Inshort，Iwasnotlonginperceivingthatifmanistobeintellectuallyconvincedofhisownimmortality，hewillneverbesoconvincedbythemereabstractionswhichhavebeensolongthefashionofthemoralistsofEngland，ofFrance，andofGermany。
Abstractionsmayamuseandexercise，buttakenoholdonthemind。
Hereuponearth，atleast，philosophy，Iampersuaded，willalwaysinvaincalluponustolookuponqualitiesasthings。Thewillmayassent-thesoul-theintellect，never。
“Irepeat，then，thatIonlyhalffelt，andneverintellectuallybelieved。Butlatterlytherehasbeenacertaindeepeningofthefeeling，untilithascomesonearlytoresembletheacquiescenceofreason，thatIfinditdifficulttodistinguishbetweenthetwo。I
amenabled，too，plainlytotracethiseffecttothemesmericinfluence。Icannotbetterexplainmymeaningthanbythehypothesisthatthemesmericexaltationenablesmetoperceiveatrainofratiocinationwhich，inmyabnormalexistence，convinces，butwhich，infullaccordancewiththemesmericphenomena，doesnotextend，exceptthroughits_effect_，intomynormalcondition。Insleep-waking，thereasoninganditsconclusion-thecauseanditseffect-arepresenttogether。Inmynaturalstate，thecausevanishing，theeffectonly，andperhapsonlypartially，remains。
“Theseconsiderationshaveledmetothinkthatsomegoodresultsmightensuefromaseriesofwell-directedquestionspropoundedtomewhilemesmerized。Youhaveoftenobservedtheprofoundself-cognizanceevincedbythesleep-waker-theextensiveknowledgehedisplaysuponallpointsrelatingtothemesmericconditionitself；andfromthisself-cognizancemaybededucedhintsfortheproperconductofacatechism。”
Iconsentedofcoursetomakethisexperiment。AfewpassesthrewMr。Vankirkintothemesmericsleep。Hisbreathingbecameimmediatelymoreeasy，andheseemedtosuffernophysicaluneasiness。Thefollowingconversationthenensued：-V。inthedialoguerepresentingthepatient，andP。myself。
_P。_Areyouasleep？
_V。_Yes-noIwouldrathersleepmoresoundly。
[_Afterafewmorepasses。_]Doyousleepnow？
Yes。
Howdoyouthinkyourpresentillnesswillresult？
[_Afteralonghesitationandspeakingasifwitheffort_。]
Imustdie。
Doestheideaofdeathafflictyou？
[_Veryquickly_。]No-no！
Areyoupleasedwiththeprospect？
IfIwereawakeIshouldliketodie，butnowitisnomatter。Themesmericconditionissoneardeathastocontentme。
Iwishyouwouldexplainyourself，Mr。Vankirk。
Iamwillingtodoso，butitrequiresmoreeffortthanI
feelabletomake。Youdonotquestionmeproperly。
WhatthenshallIask？
Youmustbeginatthebeginning。
Thebeginning！butwhereisthebeginning？
YouknowthatthebeginningisGOD。[_Thiswassaidinalow，fluctuatingtone，andwitheverysignofthemostprofoundveneration_。]
WhatthenisGod？
[_Hesitatingformanyminutes。_]Icannottell。
IsnotGodspirit？
WhileIwasawakeIknewwhatyoumeantby“spirit。”butnowitseemsonlyaword-suchforinstanceastruth，beauty-aquality，Imean。
IsnotGodimmaterial？
Thereisnoimmateriality-itisamereword。Thatwhichisnotmatter，isnotatall-unlessqualitiesarethings。
IsGod，then，material？
No。[_Thisreplystartledmeverymuch。_]
Whatthenishe？
[_Afteralongpause，andmutteringly。_]Isee-butitisathingdifficulttotell。[_Anotherlongpause。_]Heisnotspirit，forheexists。Norishematter，as_youunderstandit_。Butthereare_gradations_ofmatterofwhichmanknowsnothing；thegrosserimpellingthefiner，thefinerpervadingthegrosser。Theatmosphere，forexample，impelstheelectricprinciple，whiletheelectricprinciplepermeatestheatmosphere。Thesegradationsofmatterincreaseinrarityorfineness，untilwearriveatamatter_unparticled_-withoutparticles-indivisible-_one_andherethelawofimpulsionandpermeationismodified。Theultimate，orunparticledmatter，notonlypermeatesallthingsbutimpelsallthings-andthus_is_allthingswithinitself。ThismatterisGod。
Whatmenattempttoembodyintheword“thought。”isthismatterinmotion。
Themetaphysiciansmaintainthatallactionisreducibletomotionandthinking，andthatthelatteristheoriginoftheformer。
Yes；andInowseetheconfusionofidea。Motionistheactionof_mind_-notof_thinking_。Theunparticledmatter，orGod，inquiescence，isasnearlyaswecanconceiveitwhatmencallmind。Andthepowerofself-movementequivalentineffecttohumanvolitionis，intheunparticledmatter，theresultofitsunityandomniprevalence；_how_Iknownot，andnowclearlyseethatIshallneverknow。Buttheunparticledmatter，setinmotionbyalaw，orquality，existingwithinitself，isthinking。
Canyougivemenomorepreciseideaofwhatyoutermtheunparticledmatter？
Themattersofwhichmaniscognizant，escapethesensesingradation。Wehave，forexample，ametal，apieceofwood，adropofwater，theatmosphere，agas，caloric，electricity，theluminiferousether。Nowwecallallthesethingsmatter，andembraceallmatterinonegeneraldefinition；butinspiteofthis，therecanbenotwoideasmoreessentiallydistinctthanthatwhichweattachtoametal，andthatwhichweattachtotheluminiferousether。Whenwereachthelatter，wefeelanalmostirresistibleinclinationtoclassitwithspirit，orwithnihility。Theonlyconsiderationwhichrestrainsusisourconceptionofitsatomicconstitution；andhere，even，wehavetoseekaidfromournotionofanatom，assomethingpossessingininfiniteminuteness，solidity，palpability，weight。Destroytheideaoftheatomicconstitutionandweshouldnolongerbeabletoregardtheetherasanentity，oratleastasmatter。Forwantofabetterwordwemighttermitspirit。Take，now，astepbeyondtheluminiferousether-conceiveamatterasmuchmorerarethantheether，asthisetherismorerarethanthemetal，andwearriveatonceinspiteofalltheschooldogmasatauniquemass-anunparticledmatter。Foralthoughwemayadmitinfinitelittlenessintheatomsthemselves，theinfinitudeoflittlenessinthespacesbetweenthemisanabsurdity。Therewillbeapoint-
therewillbeadegreeofrarity，atwhich，iftheatomsaresufficientlynumerous，theinterspacesmustvanish，andthemassabsolutelycoalesce。Buttheconsiderationoftheatomicconstitutionbeingnowtakenaway，thenatureofthemassinevitablyglidesintowhatweconceiveofspirit。Itisclear，however，thatitisasfullymatterasbefore。Thetruthis，itisimpossibletoconceivespirit，sinceitisimpossibletoimaginewhatisnot。Whenweflatterourselvesthatwehaveformeditsconception，wehavemerelydeceivedourunderstandingbytheconsiderationofinfinitelyrarifiedmatter。
Thereseemstomeaninsurmountableobjectiontotheideaofabsolutecoalescence；-andthatistheveryslightresistanceexperiencedbytheheavenlybodiesintheirrevolutionsthroughspace-aresistancenowascertained，itistrue，toexistin_some_
degree，butwhichis，nevertheless，soslightastohavebeenquiteoverlookedbythesagacityevenofNewton。Weknowthattheresistanceofbodiesis，chiefly，inproportiontotheirdensity。
Absolutecoalescenceisabsolutedensity。Wheretherearenointerspaces，therecanbenoyielding。Anether，absolutelydense，wouldputaninfinitelymoreeffectualstoptotheprogressofastarthanwouldanetherofadamantorofiron。
Yourobjectionisansweredwithaneasewhichisnearlyintheratioofitsapparentunanswerability-Asregardstheprogressofthestar，itcanmakenodifferencewhetherthestarpassesthroughtheether_ortheetherthroughit_。Thereisnoastronomicalerrormoreunaccountablethanthatwhichreconcilestheknownretardationofthecometswiththeideaoftheirpassagethroughanether：for，howeverrarethisetherbesupposed，itwouldputastoptoallsiderealrevolutioninaveryfarbrieferperiodthanhasbeenadmittedbythoseastronomerswhohaveendeavoredtosluroverapointwhichtheyfounditimpossibletocomprehend。Theretardationactuallyexperiencedis，ontheotherhand，aboutthatwhichmightbeexpectedfromthe_friction_oftheetherintheinstantaneouspassagethroughtheorb。Intheonecase，theretardingforceismomentaryandcompletewithinitself-intheotheritisendlesslyaccumulative。