Walter Scott

Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft Walter Scott

Origin of the general Opinions respecting Demonology among Mankind-The Belief in the Immortality of the Soul is the main inducement to credit its occasional re-appearance-The Philosophical Objections to the Apparition of an Abstract Spirit little understood by the Vulgar and Ignorant-The situations of excited Passion incident to Humanity, which teach Men to wish or apprehend Supernatural Apparitions-They are often presented by the Sleeping Sense-Story of Somnambulism-The Influence of Credulity contagious, so that Individuals will trust the Evidence of others in despite of their own Senses-Examples from the "Historia Verdadera" of Bernal Dias del Castillo, and from the Works of Patrick Walker-The apparent Evidence of Intercourse with the Supernatural World is sometimes owing to a depraved State of the bodily Organs-Difference between this Disorder and Insanity, in which the Organs retain their tone, though that of the Mind is lost-Rebellion of the Senses of a Lunatic against the current of his Reveries-Narratives of a contrary Nature, in which the Evidence of the Eyes overbore the Conviction of the Understanding-Example of a London Man of Pleasure-Of Nicolai, the German Bookseller and Philosopher-Of a Patient of Dr. Gregory-Of an Eminent Scottish Lawyer, deceased-Of this same fallacious Disorder are other instances, which have but sudden and momentary endurance-Apparition of Maupertuis-Of a late illustrious modern Poet-The Cases quoted chiefly relating to false Impressions on the Visual Nerve, those upon the Ear next considered-Delusions of the Touch chiefly experienced in Sleep-Delusions of the Taste-And of the Smelling-Sum of the Argument.