Category: History - Other
Extent and interest of the subject--Science employed by ancient governments to deceive and enslave their subjects--Influence of the supernatural upon ignorant minds--Means employed by the ancient magicians to establish their authority--Derived from a knowledge of the phenomena...
Extent and interest of the subject--Science employed by ancient governments to deceive and enslave their subjects--Influence of the supernatural upon ignorant minds--Means emplo...
2. LETTER II.The eye the most important of our organs--Popular description of it--The eye is the most fertile source of mental illusions--Disappearance of objects when their images fall upon...
3. LETTER III.Subject of spectral illusions--Recent and interesting case of Mrs. A.--Her first illusion affecting the ear--Spectral apparition of her husband--Spectral apparition of a cat--Ap...
4. LETTER IV.Science used as an instrument of imposture--Deceptions with plane and concave mirrors practised by the ancients--The magician’s mirror--Effects of concave mirrors--Aërial images...
5. LETTER V.Miscellaneous optical illusions--Conversions of cameos into intaglios, or elevations into depressions, and the reverse--Explanation of this class of deceptions--Singular effects...
6. LETTER VI.Natural phenomena marked with the marvellous--Spectre of the Brocken described--Analogous phenomena--Aërial spectres seen in Cumberland--Fata Morgana in the Straits of Messina--...
7. LETTER VII.Illusions depending on the ear--Practised by the ancients--Speaking and singing heads of the ancients--Exhibition of the Invisible Girl described and explained--Illusions arisin...
8. LETTER VIII.Musical and harmonic sounds explained--Power of breaking glasses with the voice--Musical sounds from the vibration of a column of air--and of solid bodies--Kaleidophone--Singula...
9. LETTER IX.Singular effects in nature depending on sound--Permanent character of speech--Influence of great elevations on the character of sounds, and on the powers of speech--Power of sou...
10. LETTER X.Mechanical inventions of the ancients few in number--Ancient and modern feats of strength--Feats of Eckeberg particularly described--General explanation of them--Real feats of s...
11. LETTER XI.Mechanical automata of the ancients--Moving tripods--Automata of Dædalus--Wooden pigeon of Archytas--Automatic clock of Charlemagne--Automata made by Turrianus for Charles V.--C...
12. LETTER XII.Wonders of chemistry--Origin, progress, and objects of alchemy--Art of breathing fire--Employed by Barchochebas, Eunus, &c.--Modern method--Art of walking upon burning coals and...
13. LETTER XIII.Spontaneous combustion--In the absorption of air by powdered charcoal--and of hydrogen by spongy platinum--Dobereiner’s lamp--Spontaneous combustion in the bowels of the earth--...
14. LETTER I.Extent and interest of the subject--Science employed by ancient governments to deceive and enslave their subjects--Influence of the supernatural upon ignorant minds--Means emplo...
15. LETTER II.The eye the most important of our organs--Popular description of it--The eye is the most fertile source of mental illusions--Disappearance of objects when their images fall upon...
16. LETTER III.Subject of spectral illusions--Recent and interesting case of Mrs. A.--Her first illusion affecting the ear--Spectral apparition of her husband--Spectral apparition of a cat--Ap...
17. LETTER IV.Science used as an instrument of imposture--Deceptions with plane and concave mirrors practised by the ancients--The magician’s mirror--Effects of concave mirrors--Aërial images...
18. LETTER V.Miscellaneous optical illusions--Conversion of cameos into intaglios, or elevations into depressions, and the reverse--Explanation of this class of deceptions--Singular effects...
19. LETTER VI.Natural phenomena marked with the marvellous--Spectre of the Brocken described--Analogous phenomena--Aërial spectres seen in Cumberland--Fata Morgana in the Straits of Messina--...
20. LETTER VII.Illusions depending on the ear--Practised by the ancients--Speaking and singing heads of the ancients--Exhibition of the Invisible Girl described and explained--Illusions arisin...
21. LETTER VIII.Musical and harmonic sounds explained--Power of breaking glasses with the voice--Musical sounds from the vibration of a column of air--and of solid bodies--Kaleidophone--Singula...
22. LETTER IX.Singular effects in nature depending on sound--Permanent character of speech--Influence of great elevations on the character of sounds, and on the powers of speech--Power of sou...
23. LETTER X.Mechanical inventions of the ancients few in number--Ancient and modern feats of strength--Feats of Eckeberg particularly described--General explanation of them--Real feats of s...
24. LETTER XI.Mechanical automata of the ancients--Moving tripods--Automata of Dædalus--Wooden pigeon of Archytas--Automatic clock of Charlemagne--Automata made by Turrianus for Charles V.--C...
25. LETTER XII.Wonders of chemistry--Origin, progress, and objects of alchemy--Art of breathing fire--Employed by Barchochebas, Eunus, &c.--Modern method--Art of walking upon burning coals and...
26. LETTER XIII.Spontaneous combustion--In the absorption of air by powdered charcoal--and of hydrogen by spongy platinum--Dobereiner’s lamp--Spontaneous combustion in the bowels of the earth--...