Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Mesmerism, Spiritualism, Periodicals, Exploration

    Reports on a contributor to the Manchester Guardian who claimed to have witnessed a clairvoyant reveal the present state and living status of the explorer John Franklin. Having 'visited' Franklin's ships, the clairvoyant 'went to visit' James C Ross. Noting that the medium communicated with Ross via a specimen of his handwriting, Punch advertises the 'Mesmeric News' which publishes highly confidential political matters from the autographs of statesmen.