THE MAGIC MIRROR

By HELEN SIMPSON IN the year 1849 the editor of the Zoist printed, above the pseudonym Gamma; an article on crystal- gazing. There was no reason whatever, this contributor declared, to invite any supernatural explanation of the results obtained by such a method of ,inducing .trance. A crystal might give back the thoughts of the gazer. When individuals became unconscious and prophesied, their condition was, due to self-hypnosis, consequent upon prolonged staring at a single object, which "caused congestion by a rapid exhaustion of the natural sensibility of the retina."

This article drew the fire of a Mr. Frederick Hockley, who, after a few modest preliminaries, came down upon Gamma with examples -from the Bible, Josephus, Porphyry, Aubrey, Dr. John Dee and his own experiences; and rolled him up horse and foot -; ending with a spirited invitation to his adversary to spend an evening "squinting, say, at a decanter stopper, and then favour us in the next Zoist with his revelations."

Gamma ignored the challenge, but a disappointed officer of the 18th Bombay Infantry, Richard- Burton by name, gave it his attention*. He was home with opli thalmia on a year's furlough, during which time it was the East India Company's intention that he should perfect his knowledge of Arabic. Already he had some notion of the best disguise to adopt for the journey to Mecca which he was planning. A- doctor passes . everywhere unquestioned ; and a doctor in Arabia, while-he may-need some little knowledge of- medicine proper, "must have a moderate skill in magic." Burton had read Agrippa, he was familiar with the theory of crystal-gazing, but he needed expert direction, and was willing to take it -where he found it. On January 19th, 1853, he wrote from-the East India United Services Club, 14., St. -James' Square; to :Frederick Hockley

"Dear Sir, Perhaps you recollect my having called upon you sometime about July last in company with Captain Henry Murray. You then kindly offered to answer any questions which I might require to put and

now I avail myself of your offer. . . Can you tell me what Zadkiers name is, and who is his publisher. as I want to address a note to him ?

Will you recomraeriti some good English work on the subject of Palmistry, as I want to compare'the Arabian and Indian systems with our own ?

Also I want some. directions for making up a Magic Mirror. Mine in India was composed of rock crystal and besides being expensive, it is always in danger of being broken. There is, I hear, a cheaper and easier way to make them and you probably know it. In what light do you prefer to place the mirror, and at what times do you consult it ? I have the charges for summoning to the ball of crystal, and I suppose that it will answer equally well for the mirror. If yeti are kind enough to send me any directions, pray let them be full and explicit, otherwise they are of little value.

In April next I expect to leave Europe for Egypt and Arabia. If I can be of any use to you in sending you home translations of charms, talismans and incantations, you have only to tell me what you desire.

Excuse the trouble I have given you and believe me, Dear Sir, Yours, truly,

. B. BURTON."

Ilockley kept .no record of his answer to the soldier. (I take these letters from-his scrap-book, newly come into my possession.) That he sent the work on palmistry a later note of Burton's proves. But there is no clue to how the-mirror was made, unless we suppose that it resembled the crystal used by him, and described in his -article as "a glass sphere." The charging," a kind of pious conjuration, had to be repeated before each attempt at vision. All those preparations such as earlier magicians enjoyed—the lighted candles, the clean white cloth, the glass set upon a talisman marked with a cross, the pure child as intermediary—these things were outside the scope of Mr. Hockley, who maintained that the crystal should be held "in the party's hand, in the position most easy to himself, and he retains full possession of his faculties and conversational powers."

Whatever-the answer, Burton was grateful for it. He wrote, a fortnight later :

"My dear Sir, I am singularly obliged to you for your politeness in answering my questions and for the many kind offers contained in your letter.

If you allow me I will drop down to Croydon on Tuesday next and consult you in person about the Magic Mirror.

Thank you again for all the trouble you have taken,—I am, My dear Sir, Yours faithfully,

R. BURTON."

But this appointment was not kept. Burton excused himself, and wrote to suggest that the "little crystal" should be sent by post, and that Mr. Hockley should meet him "in the waiting room of the station" on Tuesday following. Again some unavoidable engagement inter- vened, and the mirror was not sent. Evidently Hockley was not willing to trust it to the post._ Burton wrote : "Would you name some place—in the City or elsewhere—where I could call upon you during the day and could at the same time take up the mirror ? I want particularly to see you before I start."

Nothing came of this arrangement. Time pressed, and Burton had relatives to see in Bath. He could not, he explained in a fifth letter, give them less than three days, which meant returning to London on Tuesday, March 28th; he was to sail from Southampton on April 3rd. He therefore returned by post the book on Palmistry, and enclosed with it

"a little box—you will value the contents I hope as a remembrance, the stones were brought by me from India. Perhaps you will kindly forward to this address the mirror as soon as it is ready."

Still Hockley hoped to see him at Croydon, possibly on account of "the young ladies," to whom Burton in his last letter sent compliments, and who may have built hopes upon the visit of this exciting sOldier. But Hockley was an honest man ; when yet another note came, making it clear that Burton really could not ftnd,thxie to visit his house, he put the crystal in his pocket and called in person at the East India United Services Club, with what result the last of these letters tells. It is scrawled, a word is omitted ; the date is Sunday morning, the very day of departure.

My dear Mr. Hockley, It is only at this moment that I can find (time) to address you.

The other evening I missed seeing you through the modesty of the page, who terrified by the look of an official Dinner never told me that you came till I left the Club. Pray allow me to express my regrets, and that I lost an opportunity of shaking your hand and wishing you adieu and thanking you for your kindness to me.

I shall not be able to write to you for about a year. But at the end of that period you shall hear from me and be informed of my success with the mirror. Meanwhile, with kindest remembrances to the young ladies.

Ever believe me, My dear Mr. Hockley,

Yours most faithfullyf R. BURTON."

Hockley notes on the back of this sheet : " Captn. B. left London for Southampton in the Even- ing of April 3rd, 1858."

The pilgrimage to Mecca had begun, and though Burton's record of that journey contains no direct reference to the seer of Croydon, it is likely that the long note in Chapter 18 on " Mirayat, or magic mirrors" owes somethipg to his instruction.