_Who first thought of Table-turning_ (Vol. viii., p. 57.).--It is
impossible to say who discovered the table-turning experiment, but it
undoubtedly had its origin in the United States. It was practised here
three years ago, and, although sometimes associated with spirit-rappings,
has more frequently served for amusement. On this connexion it may be
proper to say that Professor Faraday's theory of unconscious muscular force
meets with no concurrence among those who know anything about the subject
in this country. It is notorious that large tables have been moved
frequently by five or six persons, whose fingers merely touched them,
although upon each was seated a stout man, weighing a hundred and fifty or
sixty pounds: neither involuntary nor voluntary muscular force could have
effected _that_ physical movement, when there was no other _purchase_ on
the table than that which could be gained by a pressure of the tips of the
fingers.
[Old English W].
Philadelphia.
_Passage of Thucydides on the Greek Factions_ (Vol. vii., p. 594.; Vol.
viii., pp. 44. 137.).--My attempt to find the passage attributed by Sir A.
Alison to Thucydides in the real Thucydides was unsuccessful for the best
of reasons, viz. that it does not exist there. He has probably borrowed it
from some modern author, who, as it appears to me, has given a loose
paraphrase of the words which I cited from _Thucyd._ III. 82., and has
expanded the thought in a manner not uncommon with some writers, by adding
the expression about the "sword and poniard." Some other misquotations of
Sir A. Alison from the classical writers may be seen in the _Edinburgh
Review_ for April last, No. CXCVIII. p. 275.