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LXVIII. Letters from Mr. Henderson to Dr. Priestley.

MR. URBAN,

As one of your correspondents has expressed a desire of having some information concerning the late Mr. Henderson's pretension to intercourse with spirits, &c. I send you two of his letters to me, which are curious in themselves, and may throw some light on the subject. They will likewise give a better idea of the man than any thing written by. another person concerning him can do. Also, as I imagine it is generally supposed that I am the person intended by the Doctor, whom the writer of Mr. Henderson's life represents as believing he had this power, the reader may be able to judge from the second letter of the probability of this cir

cumstance.

When I lived at Calne, and presently after the publication of my Disquisitions relating to Matter and Spirit, I received an anonymous letter from Bristol about some intercourse with spirits; and hearing that Miss Hannah More had said that the letter probably came from Mr. Henderson, I wrote to him about it; and as the letter was carried by a friend who was going to Oxford, I told Mr. Henderson, that, if he could call up any spirit, my friend was willing to be disposed; of as he should think proper for the purpose. In what manner I expressed myself I do not now recollect; but it is evident that Mr. Henderson did not consider me as very credulous on the subject,

"SIR,

J. PRIESTLEY.

Hanham, Aug. 29, 1774.

If

I HOPE your goodness will pardon this presumption from a stranger unworthy your notice; and likewise my not frank ing this letter, as I have no franks, and can get none. you can condescend thus much, I have one request more, would answer me.

that you

I was brought up with some prejudices of education, which I hope I have now got over. This I owe in no small measure to the candour of my father, who, though he inculcated his own principles on me, left me to my own judgment. At first I received these principles without hesitation, and soon became acquainted with the best arguments for them. I had no opportunity for a long time to converse with judicious men of contrary sentiments, so that I easily vanquished those who contradicted me. But yet my mind suggested

many difficulties which I could not solve. Hence I began to doubt. Imparting my doubts to some friends, I was told there were mysteries in religion; that I should take God's word for them, and pry no further. This satisfied me for a while, but not long: for I considered, let a mystery be what it may, God would not deliver absurdities. Again, it does not follow that all our Bible is divine because some is. And if any part of our Bible contains absurdities, &c. that part is not divine. I could not get books on any subject. I wanted instruction on Predestination, Remission of Sins, Assistance of the Spirit, Eternity of Hell Torments, and various other points. My friends could not satisfy me. At length I surmounted these difficulties, wading through many doubts, and little less than infidelity. I now believe that the prophecies in our Bible were given by God; that the Gospels are true; that whatever we believe should accord with the speeches of Christ therein recorded. I believe the doctrine of Original Sin to be absurd. I believe the spirit of God only assists our apprehension. I believe the fore-knowledge of God, held by the Arminians, to be equal to the decree of God held by the Calvinists; that they are both wrong; and the truth is, the pains of hell are purgatory. These I believe; and have reasons, which I think substantial, for them. Many things I yet doubt of; among these, are the Trinity and the Mediation of Christ.

I am in such a state of mind as to be shocked at no assertion, and to submit to any argument which I cannot an

swer.

I beg that you would be pleased to assist me in the Mediation of Christ; for I own I do not like the doctrine of his being a sacrifice; yet he is so represented by Paul and John. And, though I am not certain of the infallibility of the Epistles, yet I do not choose to contradict them, lest they may be true.

JOHN HENDERSON.

P. S. Please to direct for me at Mr. Wait's, grocer, in Castle Street, Bristol."

LETTER II.

"LHOPE you will not take it ill, when your friend informs you that I have not seen him, I was from my rooms (for a few hours) when he came to seek me, I staid at home all the following day, but found no more of him. Had I known

where he lodged in Oxford, I should have visited him. Excuse me then that I must take the other communication you proposed, and send this by post.

Of the anonymous letter from Bristol, which you mention, I know nothing. It was, probably, written by some one, I hope well-meaning, who wished to check your philosophie Disquisitions of Matter and Spirit. That such information should excite the curiosity, especially of one so incredulous, I cannot wonder. But such curiosity I neither blame nor neglect.

That I may satisfy you, I will tell you, 1. who I am: 2. whether I believe those things: 3. whether I be willing to demonstrate their truth sensibly: 4. what good ground that information had.

I. As to myself, I shall only write what I think pertinent to this purpose. I had a small school-education." I loved reading, and thought from my earliest years. Peculiarly I was attached to religious, and, though at first I knew not the term, metaphysic studies. These (both in the authors and systems, or courses of learning), having no teacher, meeting with none but such as slighted, blamed, pitied my turn of thinking, or only wondered at it-these I pursued not regularly, but as they occurred to a boy discountenanced, uninformed, with scattered intervals of scanty leisure, and a very few unselect out-of-the-way books. As one thought introduces another, so does a book. Both increased to me in time. So did some kind and degree of seeming knowledge. Opinions multiplied and varied; but doubts exceeded. Sceptical as those made me, they did me good; 1. in making me never positive; 2. nor unwilling to change; 3. nor a despiser of those who thought otherwise than I. I mention my being very doubtful, the rather because you will agree with me, that, when one thinks no certainty is to be found, one will be less nice in assenting to insufficient evidence. Perhaps I am an instance. I have nothing to add of myself, but to thank you for your kind attention to letters of mine (some years ago), for your hints, and the books you lent and gave to me. Do not you recollect it?

II. Do I believe those things? 1.1 have no reason to think them absurd or impossible. 2. They are commonly asserted in all ages; 3. and generally believed. 4. I find myself more at ease in believing them: my notions are suitable. Thence, it may be on bad proof, I assent that there are such things. You will the less wonder at such a belief, when I add, that I not only assent to spirits, apparitions, magic, and witchcraft, but that I allow Behmen's philosophy, and

Swedenborg's visions. Yea, I deny hardly any thing of that sort. So you will perceive that I easily believe, and require not too much demonstration.

il. Whether I be willing to demonstrate their truth sensibly? 1. I do not know that I can give any such exhibition. 2. The faith itself is not interesting, nor have I the least wish to convince any. 3. My conscience is not clear that such acts are innocent. 4. They would not be, at least may not, demonstrations. A sensible man, when I had asked, Would you be convinced if I shewed you a spirit?' answered, No; I should grant any thing at the time, but afterwards I should think you had frightened me out of my senses, and then you could make me believe any nonsense.'

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IV. What good ground had that information? I will tell you all I know. I have asked Miss Moore. She says, had you asked her, she would have told you that she knew nothing of the matter. Many people have known that I studied astrology, geomancy, and magic, and was of an abstract mind. They surmised. Common things looked extraordinary. Little things were greater. I was reported a conjuror. I was teased to tell fortunes, raise spirits, and sometimes to cast out a devil. Some pretended to a graver curiosity, and asked me for a positive answer to,Have you not seen and raised a spirit?' I always replied, I will tell you any thing about them out of books, but as to my own experience I will not say.' Can you deny it?' I said I will not deny it.' Thence they affirmed it abroad. To sum up all: 1. I believe. 2. I think I have reason. 3. No one was ever witness to any appearance with me. 4. I never told any one that ever I raised a spirit. 5. I will not deny it, I have said sometimes, that I thought I had seen a spirit.

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As I take it, your main wish is to know, 1. If I believe such an exhibition possible? I do. 2. If I have done it? I never did say, nor mean to say, that I have; (but for some reason) I will not deny it. 3. If I can do it? I do not know that I can. 4. If I be willing to try? I had rather be ex

cused.

I have now answered your letter as satisfactorily as I can. You see you need not be in any apprehensions for your philosophy on account of any experimental knowledge of mine. If I can say any thing more that is worth the while on this subject, or a better, I shall be glad of an epistle from you.

Farewell. I esteem you; and opinions I regard little. I am obliged by your friendly expressions in the letter. I wish you all good and sur cess in doing it. I should have

answered sooner, but for bad eyes, and the company of

strangers.

JOHN HENDERSON,

Pembroke College, Oxford; or, at

1789, April.

Hanham, near Bristol, when in that country."

MR. URBAN,

LXIX. From Dr. Johnson.

THE original letter, of which I here send you a copy, is in the possession of Richard Beatniffe, Esq. the recorder of Hull, and relates to a person who is much distinguished in most of the late publications concerning Dr. Johnson.

SIR,

Yours, &c.

W. R.

Bolt-court, Fleet-street, Feb. 14, 1782.

ROBERT LEVET, with whom I had been connected by a friendship of many years, died lately at my house. His death was sudden, and no will has yet been found; I therefore gave notice of his decease in the papers, that an heir, if he has any, may appear. He has left very little; but of that little his brother is doubtless heir, and your friend may, be perhaps his brother. I have had another application from one who calls himself his brother; and I suppose it is fit that the claimant should give some proof of his relation. I would gladly know, from the gentleman that thinks himself R. Levet's brother,

In what year, and in what parish, R. Levet was born? Where or how was he educated?

What was his early course of life?

What were the marks of his person; his stature; the colour of his eyes?

Was he marked by the small-pox?

Had he any impediment in his speech?

What relations had he, and how many are now living? His answer to these questions will shew whether he knew him; and he may then proceed to shew that he is his brother. He may be sure, that nothing shall be hastily wasted or

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