general constriction of the brain through the closing of the beds of the cortical substance, every internal sensory is also constricted, and it consequently loses its liberty of action; for in this state, one cortical bed lies heavily upon another, hence the entire brain becomes heavy and dull; the blood is impeded from flowing freely through the greater and smaller vessels, and the purer blood, or the animal spirit, cannot so freely permeate the glands and fibres, whence arises cacochymia, [or a depraved state of the humours,] ataxia, [or a disordered state of the functions,] atrophy, melancholy, and the causes of many diseases. In a high degree of sadness not only are the cortical beds, and the medullary strata of the cerebrum and the cerebellum, constricted; but the medulla oblongata and the spinal marrow, together with the capillary and vascular canals, both of the brain and the body, are also contracted. This is also the case with the pores of the skull and of the bones, and likewise with the chyliferous and lymphatic ducts, and with the other channels which pour their liquid contents throughout the body for its nourishment and support, which, if poured forth, are, nevertheless, not elaborated according to the uses of the kingdom. Thus by sadness, all the ways of communication are, to a certain extent, closed up, and the entire system suffers. In a state of sadness an unpleasant torpor and stupor, and also cold, shade, and absence of mind seize upon the sensories, both external and internal. This torpidity and shade appear manifestly in the countenance, the eyes, and the speech. Hence it is that the brain is, as it were, obscured, harassed, injured, and, as to its functions, destroyed, whilst the life of the animus is extinguished, or reduced to a certain sad state of old age before its proper time. In states of sadness, although the brain suffers, and all the ducts are compressed, they, nevertheless, endeavour to relieve themselves from the oppressed state, whence arise weeping and lamentation, which are effects contrary to smiling and laughing. The sadness itself is an affection of the internal sensory, but weeping is an affection of the external sensory, that is, of the brain, which effect cannot exist without an interior sense of sadness in the internal sensory, and from a reflection upon the unhappy state, and on the misfortunes, both present and future, contemplated or anticipated by the mind. Hence it is, that weeping can only exist with man [and not with animals]. * * The first degree of sadness is, not to be content with one's lot; the second is a certain latent anxiety; the third is sadness itself and grief of mind; the fourth, or the last, which is the effect, is weeping, lamentation, and inaction of the muscles of the body. 166 SWEDENBORG'S PRINCIPIA. His Magnetic Theory of the Earth confirmed by the recent researches and observations of Professors Gauss and Hansteen, Col. Sabine, Humboldt, Captain Sir J. C. Ross, and others. [Continued from page 137.] It has been too often attempted to repress the formal and elaborate study of the scientific works of Swedenborg, even amongst his professed admirers, by the mistaken cry that such researches are too remotely subservient to the interests of man. But a mere casual glance at the history of human opinion on religious subjects, and of the significant influence which geology and astronomy have had over the minds of men in all countries, in modifying their interpretations of the Sacred Records, will make it evident that nothing could be more injudicious than to repudiate, nor more indiscreet than to disdain or even to neglect, the use of one of the most potent auxiliaries to the uprooting and removal of the once popular prejudices of mankind against the writings of Swedenborg. We significantly warn such of the injury done thereby to the progress of the cause of truth. We would solicit their attention to what Professor Bush says upon this point, whose experience and position constitute him a good authority : "To this day, the reputed reveries of the Theologian and Heresiarch have obscured the fair fame of the Philosopher, although it cannot be doubted that the vindication of his character in the one department will eventually lead to a juster judgment of it in the other." Besides, we are giving us to wait For has not the This is, indeed, the final object of our report. thereby repudiating the new handmaid which God is upon our new theology. Let us cherish our best friend. reader observed, that whilst she is growing youthful, strong, healthy, and vigorous, sectarian theology is becoming old, worn out, listless, and decrepit? We shall soon have made such an acquaintance with the former, by the scientific works of Swedenborg, as to render powerless the vituperations, misrepresentations, and absurd objections of the latter. We press this consideration, because we have observed with regret, that the scientific wreath which encircled the brow of this Christian philosopher, has been suffered almost to wither on his tomb, whilst laurel after laurel has been wantonly borne away and wafted therefrom on the wings of time, to some fertile and cultivated mind, where, after taking deep root in the memory, and firm hold of every established principle in association therewith, in due time they have shot forth into luxuriant foliage, spreading out their charms as well as their fame all over the civilized world. This is not an imaginary case. For such was the case with his theory of the Starry Heavens and the theory of Herschel (see Cases I., II., III.) his Nebular theory, and the theory of Laplace,* his Cyclar theory, and Lagrange's theory of the stability of the Solar System (Case I., p. 16, 17.) his Magnetic theory and the theory of Professor Gauss, as we shall endeavour to show in our next article. Our confirmation of Swedenborg's Magnetic Theory of the Earth is twofold-facts and principles. We shali present evidence to prove,first, that the fundamental facts of terrestrial magnetism were first published to the world in the Principia of the Swedish philosopher; secondly, that the fundamental principle of what Humboldt designates as "the first established general theory of terrestrial magnetism," (Cosmos, vol. ii., p. 720.) is strictly identical with the fundamental principle of Swedenborg's general magnetic theory of the earth. The evidence in proof of our first affirmation has, to a certain extent, been already presented in our last paper, when we endeavoured to establish the theoretical discovery of the following fundamental facts : :- 1. The mean latitudinal positions of the two magnetic poles and equator. 2. The southern magnetic axis is longer than the northern; or as the compiler of the voyages of Sir John Ross expresses it" the centre of the magnetic force is excentrically situated." 3. The revolution of the north magnetic pole sooner than that of the south magnetic pole. 4. The attractive force of the south magnetic pole greater than that of the north magnetic pole. 5. That the intensity of this force increases from the equator towards each pole.(Intellectual Repository, No. 114) 6. Identity of the magnetic streams of the earth and those influencing the magnetic needle. Even to individuals having only a general knowledge of this department of science, it will be at once evident that the above are the most important facts in the science of terrestrial magnetism--the first discovery of which we claim for Swedenborg; we consequently offer them as evidence of the truth and justness of our first affirmation, and that the very nucleus of this important and interesting branch of science had its first existence in the Principia. The second affirmation will form the subject of our next paper. Having been specially requested to devote an article to the exposition, by means of the Principia, of those beautiful apparitions, the northern lights, or merry dancers, as the Shetland * See an excellent exposition of this case by the Rev. A. Clissold, in his " Introduction" to the Principia, p. 80. islanders term them, we have great pleasure in complying, because it will give us an excellent opportunity not only of applying the above fundamental facts, but also of bringing out what, at some future time, will be regarded as one of the greatest discoveries in science that has ever been achieved by the genius of man; we mean Swedenborg's doctrine of the spiral motion of all fluids-a doctrine, the application of which to all fluids and the whole elementary world in the three kingdoms of nature, accounts for circulation in all its phases, and gives a simple exposition to all the mysteries of gravitation: speaking of which Professor Görres says: "His spiral motion, which extends to every province in nature, into organic structures and their operations, and even into history, is an extremely appropriate expression, by which numerous phenomena can be easily comprehended; and it might, in the hand of a person skilled in analysis, be made as fruitful in physics as the doctrine of gravitation has been for astronomy."—Intellectual Repository, June, 1845. This doctrine runs through the whole Principia, and is the magic talisman which opens the portals to our admission into any department of the Great Temple of God. Through one of these portals we respectfully propose to accompany the reader; and with the Principia in our hand, and the Book of Creation before our eyes, we will read the one and observe the other; and thus by uniting the theory with its facts, the suggested cause with its effects, we shall behold, as it were, a living exposition how far the Principia we read are confirmed by the Principiates we observe. CASE IX. An exposition of Northern Lights and Magnetic Storms by Swedenborg's Doctrine of Magnetic Spiral Motion. In the following quotations this philosopher is describing different degrees of spirality. We would introduce them with the following illustration. If a thread or spire be once wound round a shaft one yard in length, it is clear the spirals or threads would be a full yard asunder; the spire would run almost in a straight line from one end of the shaft to the other. If the spire be wound twice round, the spirals or threads of the worm will be now only half a yard asunder; and if four times round, the threads or spirals will be only a quarter of a yard asunder; and so on until there are one thousand threads or spires, in which case the spirality has evidently increased until the threads are contiguous. We therefore find that, as the spire increases in degree of helixity, the spirals are gradually closer, collapsing on each other; they gradually * Quarterly Journal of Science, new series, vol. 4, p. 395. run less direct along the length of the shaft towards either end, and more direct towards the sides; thus, the angle made by these spirals of the worm or helix with the ends and axial length of the shaft, is gradually nearer to a right angle. Hence we wish the reader to bear the general fact in remembrance-that when the spire increases the spirals gradually decline more and more from the ends of the spire: but when the spire diminishes the spirals incline more and more towards the ends or poles of the spire. "The motions of a spire are of greater curvature at the centre of motion; of a less at a farther distance; while at a distance still further the fluxion almost ceases to be spiral, and becomes nearly rectilinear. Besides, the nearer that gyrations are to their centres, the more incurvated and the more numerous are the spires by which they are conjoined, or the circles inflected into a spiral motion; the conjunction being secured, so to speak, by chains wound the more frequently round them."- Principia, vol. 1, p. 222. The principle stated in this citation, respecting degrees of spirality, is the most extensively illustrated of any principle in the whole theory. The work itself must therefore be consulted by the reader for further illustration. We must pass on, because we cannot find either time or space for further quotation. The doctrine above given is applicable only to the mere form of the spire: the question still remains to be answered-What is the cause of these degrees of spirality? He affirms, that in all elementary particles there is an internal state or conatus ever tending, by virtue of their form, to a spiral motion. Upon the application of the least force, they, therefore, most naturally fall into this spiral fluxion. Hence, if the force increase, the spirality of fluxion will increase; so that when the force is at maximum the spirality will be greatest, and when the intensity is at minimum the spirality will be least. In accordance with the same principle, near an active centre the motion and spirality will be greatest, whilst at a distance, where the motion ends, the spirality will have vanished. "Near the point of exit (or pole) whence the effluvia are exhaling from one pole to another, there must necessarily be in a given space a larger quantity of effluvia ; and consequently at this place the spires reciprocally embrace each other more closely; while at a distance from this point (or pole), where they have more room for flying abroad, the vorticles are rarer and held in conjunction by spires of less curvature; having a more feeble potency and a duller force.”—Vol. i. p. 227. "In fig. 14 and 15, A and B are two magnets, and the intermediate vorticles (or elementary particles) are variously conjoined; some with spires more intimate, curved, and rapid, which are those nearest the magnet; others with spires less curved and rapid, which are those farther off from the magnet.”—P. 236-7. "The vorticles (elementary particles) next to the wall (or pole) are most closely colligated one to the other by the spires which are inmost, and possessing the greatest |