Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft

By: Scott, Walter

Origin of the general Opinions respecting Demonology amongMankind-The Belief in the Immortality of the Soul is the maininducement to credit its occasional re-appearance-The PhilosophicalObjections to the Apparition of an Abstract Spirit little understoodby the Vulgar and Ignorant-The situations of excited Passionincident to Humanity, which teach Men to wish or apprehendSupernatural Apparitions-They are often presented by the SleepingSense-Story of Somnambulism-The Influence of Credulity contagious, so that Individuals will trust the Evidence of others in despite oftheir own Senses-Examples from the "Historia Verdadera" of BernalDias del Castillo, and from the Works of Patrick Walker-Theapparent Evidence of Intercourse with the Supernatural World issometimes owing to a depraved State of the bodily Organs-Differencebetween this Disorder and Insanity, in which the Organs retain theirtone, though that of the Mind is lost-Rebellion of the Senses of aLunatic against the current of his Reveries-Narratives of acontrary Nature, in which the Evidence of the Eyes overbore theConviction of the Understanding-Example of a London Man ofPleasure-Of Nicolai, the German Bookseller and Philosopher-Of aPatient of Dr. Gregory-Of an Eminent Scottish Lawyer, deceased-Ofthis same fallacious Disorder are other instances, which have butsudden and momentary endurance-Apparition of Maupertuis-Of a lateillustrious modern Poet-The Cases quoted chiefly relating to falseImpressions on the Visual Nerve, those upon the Ear nextconsidered-Delusions of the Touch chiefly experienced inSleep-Delusions of the Taste-And of the Smelling-Sum of theArgument.You have asked of me, my dear friend, that I should assist the "Family Library" with the history ofa dark chapter in human nature, which the increasing civilization of all well-instructed countries hasnow almost blotted out, though the subject attracted no ordinary degree of consideration in theolder times of their history

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B08X5ZFKH4
• ISBN13: 9798712325139
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 196 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.0" x 8.0"