The Friendly Daemon, or the Generous Apparition: Being a True Narrative of a Miraculous Cure, Newly Perform'd Upon That Famous Deaf and Dumb Gentleman, Dr. Duncan Campbel, by a Familiar Spirit That Appear'd to Him in a White Surplice, Like a Cathedral Singing Boy — John Shaqi
The Friendly Daemon, or the Generous Apparition: Being a True Narrative of a Miraculous Cure, Newly Perform'd Upon That Famous Deaf and Dumb Gentleman, Dr. Duncan Campbel, by a Familiar Spirit That Appear'd to Him in a White Surplice, Like a Cathedral Singing BoyDefoe, Daniel
Religion
The Friendly Daemon, or the Generous Apparition: Being a True Narrative of a Miraculous Cure, Newly Perform'd Upon That Famous Deaf and Dumb Gentleman, Dr. Duncan Campbel, by a Familiar Spirit That Appear'd to Him in a White Surplice, Like a Cathedral Singing Boy
Defoe, Daniel
Epistolary fiction, English -- 18th century
AFTER the Butler had reported these marvellous Passages to my Lord and
his Family, the two Bishops, that were present, among other Quality,
were thereupon consulted, whether or no, it was proper for the Butler
to follow the Spirit's Advice, in taking Plantane Juice for the Cure of
his Fits, and whether he had done well or ill, in refusing the Liquid
Dose which the Spectre would have given him; the Question, at first,
seem'd to be a kind of moot Point, but, after some struggle in the
Debate, their Resolution was, that the Butler had acted, through the
whole Affair, like a good Christian, for that it was highly sinful to
follow the Devil's Advice in any thing, and that no Man should do Evil
that Good might come of it; so that, in short, the poor Butler, after
all his Fatigue, had no amends for his trouble, but was deny'd, by the
Bishops, the seeming Benefit that the Spirit intended him.
I do not introduce this old surprising Story to amuse you, but to let
you know, that it is no new thing for Spectres to turn Doctors to such
ailing Persons as they retain a Respect for, and that your _Genius_ was
not the first Spirit that ever practis'd Physick; therefore, if this
Narrative reported by _Glanvil_, _Beaumont_, and others, may obtain
Credit, upon the Authorities of my Lord _Orrery_, Mr. _Greatrix_,
and divers Persons, who were in a great measure Eye-Witnesses of the
matter, I see no Reason I have to doubt the Truth of your Letter, since
I know your Integrity; besides, it has always been allow'd by such
Dæmonologers as have Publish'd their Thoughts upon the visibility of
Spirits, that _Scotland_, is never without such a sort of People as
they call Second-sighted, who have not only the Power of discerning
Apparitions, but, by their frequent Conversation with Spirits, foretel
future Events, to the great Astonishment of all Persons that consult
them: That there are such sort of Diviners in the World, especially
in _Scotland_, I am throughly convinc'd; of which Number I take your
self to be one, but how to account for your mysterious Performances, I
readily confess, I know not, and therefore shall submit that Task to
such as are qualify'd with a more subtil Penetration.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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