"How they _are_ caused, and whence they proceed, are questions which open a much wider field of inquiry, with whose way-marks we do not profess to be familiar. He must be well acquainted with the arcana of the universe who shall presume dogmatically to decide that these manifestations are natural or supernatural. The ladies say that they are informed that this is but the beginning of a new era or economy, in which Spirits clothed in flesh are to be more closely and palpably connected with those which have put on immortality; that the manifestations have already appeared in many other families and are destined to be diffused and rendered clearer, until all who will may communicate freely and beneficially with their friends who have 'shuffled off this mortal coil.' Of all this we know nothing and shall guess nothing. But if we were simply to print (which we shall not) the questions we asked and the answers we received during a two hours' uninterrupted conference with the 'rappers,' we should at once be accused of having done so expressly to sustain the theory which regards these manifestations as the utterances of departed spirits. "We believe it is the intention of the ladies to shun henceforth all publicity or notoriety as far as possible. They do not expect or wish to make gain of the 'Rappings;' they have desired to vindicate their own characters from the gross imputations so freely cast upon them; believing that, that effected, they hope to be permitted hereafter to live in that seclusion which befits their sex, their station, and their wishes. We trust they may be permitted to do so. "H. G." A POEM. The following clever verses (published in _The New York Sunday Dispatch_) were from the pen of a gentleman who had been a vehement opponent, but who, being an honest and good man, had not been able to resist the evidences of the truth of "the Communion of Spirits." In inserting them, the Editor exercises his prerogative in disregard of the objections and vain veto of the author who was the subject of them. When first Leah Brown Became talked of through town, And compared to the famed witch of Endor, I thought 'twould be best To apply the old test, And to fagot and fire to send her. In my zeal orthodox To trap this sly Fox, A terrible pit-fall I planned, But she every one foils, I was caught in her toils, And, I own it, completely trepanned. 'Tis no wonder her spell Should on every one tell, And worm out our secrets by scores, Her eye's such a piercer, I never saw fiercer. It made me leak out through my pores. 'Twas plain she saw through me, Though Heaven beshrew me, If I even myself could divine. In my visage dyspeptic She saw but a sceptic, Her own was the reflex of mine.