INTRODUCTION.

DEAR SIR: In complying with your request to write you an account of what I know, whether favorable or otherwise, of the character, habits, education, etc., of Mr. A. J. Davis, permit me to express my satisfaction at being enabled to render you a favorable account. I have enjoyed a personal acquaintance of three years with Mr. Davis, under circumstances favorable to obtaining a correct knowledge of his character; and I am so fully persuaded of his moral worth and integrity that I would not hesitate to place implicit confidence in him under the most trying circumstances. From seeing and conversing with him almost daily during the first year of our acquaintance, and from the frequent subsequent interactions we have had, I have the confidence to think I know him as well as any other person; and such is the opinion I have formed of him. His honesty, his frankness, his truthfulness, his sensitivity—in short, his virtue to the fullest extent in which this word can be understood—are worthy of all praise. Of his education (meaning that which he obtained at school or from books), I am forced to say it is of a very limited character. He has never received more than about five months' schooling, as he has often stated to me; this statement is supported by the testimony of those who have known him from his childhood. His reading has also been limited and of a nature calculated to yield him no great benefit. It has served as a mere pastime—a mere gratification for the moment. Indeed, he seemed to have no higher goal in it than amusement for the time being.

The following letter from Mr. Armstrong, to whom young Davis was an apprentice for about two years, is deserving of particular attention:—

DEAR SIR: Your letter was received a few days ago, but I have lacked time to answer it before now. The world, you say, may yet ask, "Who is A. J. Davis?" To this question, so far as I am able, it shall have a frank and truthful answer. With the early life of A. J. Davis I am altogether unacquainted, except from his own account of it, sustained by the testimony of others. His father was in exceedingly difficult financial circumstances; so much so, that Jackson was in very early life, and long before I knew him, compelled to hard work and watchfulness to aid in supporting his father's family. I have often thought that it was this circumstance more than any other which gave him habits of steadiness and sobriety far beyond his years. He was, I think, near fifteen when I first became acquainted with him. I had occasion for the services of a boy somewhat acquainted with the shoe trade, and employed him for a fortnight to assist me. During this time, I was so much pleased with his good sense and industry that, upon his own request and the wish of his father, I took him as an apprentice. His education barely amounted to a knowledge of reading, writing, and the basics of arithmetic. His reading was exceedingly limited and confined to that of a light and youthful description. During his two years of apprenticeship, he established a character for faithfulness and integrity not to be surpassed, and which is seldom equaled. There was no probability that we should have parted before the conclusion of his apprenticeship, for we were mutually satisfied with each other. But Mesmerism A precursor to modern hypnotism, believed at the time to involve a "magnetic" fluid or force that could induce trances and healing. stepped in between us; and Jackson being thought a prodigy in prescribing for and curing disease, we parted with the understanding that our separation was to be but temporary. But circumstances have made it permanent, so far as apprenticeship is concerned.

Rev. A. R. Bartlett, now of Chicago, and author of the following letter, was formerly a settled and esteemed pastor in Poughkeepsie:—

MR. FISHBOUGH: You ask me for a frank statement of what I know of the mental and moral character, opportunities, achievements, etc., of A. J. Davis during the period of my interaction and acquaintance with him. In reply, permit me to say that I first became acquainted with A. J. Davis in Poughkeepsie, New York, early in the year 1842. At that time, and until his services were wholly absorbed by the mesmeric art, he was engaged in the business of shoemaking. He had no mother living; his father was very industrious, but poor. Hence, at a tender age, the subject of this sketch was thrown to a great extent, if not wholly, upon his own efforts for the means of support and progress. This, at least, was his condition when I formed his...