1430. Benjamin Robert Haydon to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 8, 40–41.
London
Nov: 9th 1843.
Now For Mesmerism!– I am always inclined to believe in the wonderful, & do believe in the supernatural, and therefore you may imagine, I went to ascertain the fact of Mesmerism inclined to be enthusiastic.
The Apostle Elliotson, who in addition to His talents, has a fortune, (a strong argument in favor of any scheme he starts) invited me to witness a remarkable case– I went to his House by appointment, and with 4 or 5 others at dusk sallied forth to Great Pulteney St I think. We entered a Parlor, where we sat some little Time, when a plain Sister came to us & told [us] her Sister would be there directly– In a few Minutes, a rather interesting compact, bending figure of a Girl followed, with something of an air of twisting & turning as she spoke, & half blushing & half giggling as she looked, not full at ye, but half sideways, between her curls which hung about her cheeks not altogether unbewitchingly–
A very fair subject thought I for a lark– Down she sat—& Elliotson began—very shortly her Eyes & lids drooped & Closed, to a fixed sort of Closeness– Elliotson spoke as she was Closing up, & she answered, till at last he said—“She is gone” & “now she is rigid”– Every body took her hands—& they jerked to her body like Whale bone– Elliotson then sat on the Sofa with her, & called our attention to her sympathy—as he moved she moved, if he sat on her right—she gradually turned her head to the right, as if enamoured—if he went to the left so turned her head,—if [he] laid himself on the ground, her head bent forward to the ground, in fact wherever he moved, she inclined herself.
He said this rigidity continues for hours—he stood up so did she & whilst all were engaged in front of her examining her eye lids with a candle, I thought her arms looked unrigid—so slipping my hands behind her, whilst I kept her attention by talking in front I caught her hand suddenly it was as loose as my own!—but the instant she felt a touch—she stiffened it!
This I will swear to—from that moment I considered it a piece of imposture–
I asked Elliotson about it, & told him with great delicacy the fact– He said I must be mistaken! I bowed & said nothing—but if all cases of Mesmerism are like this one—then the whole [is] falsehood– [1]
I defy all Mesmerisers– I travelled in the Coupèe of the Mail to Liverpool with one—he & I alone—he said I can mesmerise—can you said I. I defy you– He began, I stared at him, fiercely, & after a 10 minutes I burst out laughing & he said I cant do it today[.] [2]
He was going to America, by Steamer– I met him next day in the Streets, so putting my hand on his Shoulder—I said Remember My Friend, when at New York You did not put me to Sleep—at which he was exceedingly angry– Good Night—how odd– I thought you were tired of me[.] These people often separate[.]
B R Haydon
Address: Miss B. Barrett / 50. Wimpole Street.
Publication: EBB-BRH, pp. 157–159.
Manuscript: University of Vermont.
1. This experiment took place on 10 August 1842 and is described in Haydon’s diary entry of that date (Pope, V, 192). For earlier references to Elliotson’s involvement with mesmerism, see letters 686, note 17, and 1347, note 5.
2. This encounter occurred on 19 October 1838 and is mentioned in Haydon’s diary (Pope, IV, 527).
___________________
