(_For the Mirror._)

All power of fancy over reason is a degree of
insanity.--JOHNSON.


In a former number I gave some observations on apparitions, and I
shall here continue my remarks.

The argument that was used by Dr. Johnson was founded on premises
that are as inadmissible as his conclusion, viz. that the popular
opinion in favour of the reality of apparitions could only obtain
universal credence by its truth. This is very plausible, but destitute
of foundation. Does the learned doctor mean to deny the universality
of errors? does he mean to call the whole body of the learned and
enlightened cavillers? and that because they are not willing to
consent to his monstrous opinion? To reverse the argument, does he
mean to deny the truth of the Scriptures, or is he bold enough to
assert that they have received universal credence? So much for the
arguments wielded by Dr. Johnson, who has not been unaptly termed the
Colossus of Literature. The idea that departed spirits revisited the
earth, probably took its rise from the opinion of the immortality of
the soul, which was very general in both ancient and modern times.[2]
This supposition is most consonant with probability. It is always to
be remarked that this species of superstition is most prevalent in
those countries where learning and reason have made but little
progress. The demons [Greek: Daimones] and genii of former times were
exactly the same as the ghosts of this; the same attributes, the same
power, and the same malice were observed of one, as are now attributed
to the other. By the Chaldeans these demons were divided into two