INTRODUCTION.

About the first of the following August, Mr. Davis, while in the clairvoyant state original: "clairvoyant state"; referring to a trance-like state of heightened perception, voluntarily chose Dr. Lyon to be his magnetizer original: "magnetizer"; the person who induces the mesmeric or hypnotic trance during the delivery of this book. This choice had neither been solicited nor in the least degree anticipated by Dr. Lyon until it was announced. In obedience to the direction of the clairvoyant, Dr. Lyon immediately relinquished a remunerative and increasing medical practice in Bridgeport and removed to New York, the city where the clairvoyant decided the revelations should be delivered. The object of moving to that city so early was to establish a medical practice before the lectures commenced, which might help support them while the lectures were in progress.

During the three months Mr. Davis spent in New York prior to the start of this book, he was placed into the abnormal state original: "abnormal state"; the trance state an average of twice a day. At least four hours of each day were consumed by the duties of his occupation. Being, as usual, an object of great curiosity, he received visits from many people who sought his acquaintance, both while he was in his normal and abnormal states. The intervals between his sessions for treating disease were known to be occupied chiefly in conversation, writing to his friends, playing on his accordion, or walking. All evidence suggests he was not habitually inclined toward reading books. He remained, then, up to the commencement of his lectures, the uneducated, unsophisticated child of Nature, entirely free from the creeds, theories, and philosophies of the world. To this day, he has never been inclined to seek the society of scientific men, but has rather avoided them. If the preceding detailed history of his life is untrue in any particular regarding the purpose for which it is presented, it will certainly be refuted, considering the immense interests at stake; for we have unreservedly opened this subject to the investigation of the whole world.

On November 27, 1845, while residing in New Haven, Connecticut, I received a note by mail from Dr. Lyon. It stated that I had been appointed by Mr. Davis, while in his clairvoyant state, as the scribe to report and prepare his lectures for the press, which were to begin immediately. This appointment was entirely unsolicited (though I will not say undesired) by myself. So far from anticipating such an honor, I was then busily engaged in making arrangements to move to Massachusetts. The next day, however, I traveled to New York, and in the evening, I wrote Mr. Davis’s first lecture at his dictation—subsequently agreeing to write and prepare the entire work for publication.

Before Mr. Davis began his lectures, he voluntarily chose—while in the abnormal state—the three witnesses mentioned in his address to the world. They were to be present as their circumstances allowed during the delivery of the lectures, so they could testify to the medium through which the lectures were given. The Reverend J. N. Parker has since moved to Boston; Theron R. Lapham currently resides in Poughkeepsie, New York; and T. Lea Smith, M.D., is in Bermuda. The twenty-three incidental witnesses mentioned in the note on page 2 of the "Address to the World" are all still living, except for James Victor Wilson, and he has left his testimony behind.* Any of the living witnesses are open to consultation—

• A few days before this esteemed and highly worthy young man departed to the other world, he published an interesting pamphlet entitled "Magnetism and Clairvoyance Explained, Inculcated, and Applied," in which he says, "The world will be...