A commission of scientific and medical men sat to make inquiry into ‘Animal Magnetism,’ and they reported adversely. He then endeavoured to get a pecuniary recognition of his services from the French Government, but this being declined, he retired to Spa, where, the bubble having been pricked, he lived for some time in comparative obscurity. Mesmerism was introduced into England in the year 1788, by a Dr. De Mainauduc, who, on his arrival at Bristol, delivered lectures on ‘Animal Magnetism’; and, as his somewhat cautious biographer, Dr. George Winter, observes, he ‘was reported to have cured diseased persons, _even_ without the aid of medicines, and of his having the power of treating and curing diseased persons at a distance.’ He found many dupes, for the said authority remarks, ‘On looking over the lists of Students that had been, or then were under the Doctor’s tuition, it appeared that there was 1 Duke--1 Duchess--1 Marchioness--2 Countesses--1 Earl--1 Lord--3 Ladies--1 Bishop--5 Right Honourable Gentlemen and Ladies--2 Baronets--7 Members of Parliament--1 Clergyman--2 Physicians--7 Surgeons--exclusive of 92 Gentlemen and Ladies of respectability, in the whole 127. ‘Naturally fond of study, and my thirst after knowledge being insatiable, I also was allured to do myself the honour of adding my name to the list; and to investigate this very extraordinary Science: and, according to the general terms, I paid 25 Guineas to the Doctor, and 5 Guineas for the use of the Room; I also signed a bond for £10,000, and took an affidavit that I would not discover the secrets of the Science _during the Doctor’s natural life_.’ So we see that this wonderful power had a market value of no mean consideration, and, indeed, an anonymous authority, who wrote on ‘Animal Magnetism,’ states that Dr. Mainauduc realised £100,000. So lucrative was its practice, that many pretenders sprung up, notable one Holloway who gave lectures at the rate of five guineas the course, besides Miss Prescott, Mrs. Pratt, Monsieur de Loutherbourg the painter, Mr. Parker, and Dr. Yeldal; but the chief of these quacks was Dr. Loutherbourg, who was assisted in his operations by his wife. A book about his wonderful cures was written by one of his believers, Mary Pratt, ‘A lover of the Lamb of God,’ in which he is described as ‘A Gentleman of superior abilities, well known in the scientific and polite Assemblies for his brilliancy of talents as a Philosopher, and Painter: this Gentleman is no other than Mr. De Loutherbourg, who with his Lady, Mrs. De Loutherbourg, have been made by the Almighty power of the Lord Jehovah, proper Recipients to receive divine Manuductions, which heavenly and divine Influx coming from the Radix _God_, his divine Majesty has most graciously condescended to bestow on them (_his blessing_) to diffuse healing to _all_ who have faith in the Lord as mediator, be they Deaf, Dumb, Lame, Halt, or Blind.’