356. “This is the precise account of the famous report of Bailly, of which M. Arago spoke so highly in his last memoir; and in one respect he was right; for these great experimenters did not allow themselves to be caught by any of these electric seductions, and proclaimed physics to be entirely innocent of all the effects they witnessed. But at the same time they thought proper to refer to the _imagination_ these same prodigious effects, which no one could understand even after having seen them; and there was their great mistake; they were right as savans, as philosophers inexcusable. 357. “Moreover, this absurd explanation by imagination he renewed under these circumstances; and that of jugglery is not more fortunate. What prejudice! These two words rendered much service, and covered many retreats! That is, however, passed; it will be necessary hereafter, not only to admit them, but to redeem all analogous precedents, for these are about to be, at last, explained. Again, what is to be done? It will be necessary to proclaim that these electric phenomena which are real as an _effect_, are not in fact real in their _cause_; that they lie when they wish the contrary to be believed, that they joke when they act by turns with and without a chain in a particular town, and not in some other, &c. 358. “But on the other hand to perceive a capricious and lying cause, is almost to perceive ... a mind. A mind, grands dieux! You represent yourself before the whole Academy Arago as recognising spirits, hobgoblins! grand experiment! But that itself is horrid to contemplate! Not a face at the Institute can remain uncovered, and that day will forever be regarded as unlucky for science, as it robs it of a victory which was thought to have been gained centuries before. 359. “Beware, however, of the first _supernal intelligence_! for we shall fall back on our ancient and primitive _criterion_, our infallible _touchstone_. 360. “All depends on what it is going to give us; think well of it this time; an imprudent question might lose all. 361. “And already, what signifies that last phrase of a serious article which we find in the _Courier du Nord_? ‘In another house the table, they say, obeyed the commands of one of the experimenters; took the direction indicated, danced in measure to the sound of a piano, counted the hours, and told the age of the assistants,’ &c. 362. “What means that other letter from Bordeaux, in the _Guyenne_? ‘A hat submitted to _animal magnetism_ appeared _more intelligent_ even than the table; it indicated, they say, by little gambols, _the age_ of persons, the number of pieces of money they had in their pockets, it told the _amount_ of ladies and gentlemen together in the room,’ &c.