and (now that the danger was removed) speechless from
the memory of its horror. Those who drew me on
board were my old mates and daily companions —
but they knew me no more than they would have known
a traveller from the spirit-land. My hair which
had been raven-black the day before, was as white
as you see it now. They say too that the whole
expression of my countenance had changed. I told
them my story — they did not believe it.
I now tell it to you — and I can scarcely
expect you to put more faith in it than did the merry
fishermen of Lofoden.”
~~~ End of Text ~~~
======
AFTER THE very minute and elaborate paper by Arago,
to say nothing of the summary in ‘Silliman’s
Journal,’ with the detailed statement just published
by Lieutenant Maury, it will not be supposed, of course,
that in offering a few hurried remarks in reference
to Von Kempelen’s discovery, I have any design
to look at the subject in a scientific point of view.
My object is simply, in the first place, to say a few
words of Von Kempelen himself (with whom, some years
ago, I had the honor of a slight personal acquaintance),
since every thing which concerns him must necessarily,
at this moment, be of interest; and, in the second
place, to look in a general way, and speculatively,
at the results of the discovery.
It may be as well, however, to premise the cursory
observations which I have to offer, by denying, very
decidedly, what seems to be a general impression (gleaned,
as usual in a case of this kind, from the newspapers),
viz.: that this discovery, astounding as
it unquestionably is, is unanticipated.
By reference to the ‘Diary of Sir Humphrey Davy’
(Cottle and Munroe, London, pp. 150), it will be seen
at pp. 53 and 82, that this illustrious chemist had
not only conceived the idea now in question, but had
actually made no inconsiderable progress, experimentally,
in the very identical analysis now so triumphantly
brought to an issue by Von Kempelen, who although
he makes not the slightest allusion to it, is, without
doubt (I say it unhesitatingly, and can prove it, if
required), indebted to the ‘Diary’ for
at least the first hint of his own undertaking.
The paragraph from the ‘Courier and Enquirer,’
which is now going the rounds of the press, and which
purports to claim the invention for a Mr. Kissam,
of Brunswick, Maine, appears to me, I confess, a little
apocryphal, for several reasons; although there is
nothing either impossible or very improbable in the
statement made. I need not go into details.
My opinion of the paragraph is founded principally
upon its manner. It does not look true.
Persons who are narrating facts, are seldom so particular
as Mr. Kissam seems to be, about day and date and
precise location. Besides, if Mr. Kissam actually
did come upon the discovery he says he did, at the
period designated — nearly eight years
