Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Spiritualism, Observation, Expertise, Superstition, Charlatanry, Mesmerism, Magic, Homeopathy

    Subtitled 'On His Astonishment at the Extent of Popular Delusion which has been Disclosed by "Table-Turning"' (see Faraday 1853), this poem is evidently a response to Michael Faraday's attack on public credulity, as evidenced by the craze for table-turning. Wonders why 'simple Mr. Faraday', despite his skill at 'touching chemic laws and powers' has only just noticed how many 'dunces' and incompetent observers there are in the world. Considers him an 'unsophisticated sage' for thinking that this was an age of 'enlightenment' when 'Weak Superstition' was dead. Laments the fact that 'simple Mr. Faraday' is apparently unaware of the public's belief in the claims of 'Yankee' mediums and in homeopathy, and his apparent assumption that the 'days of Dr. Dee' were past. Attacks 'Men of learning, who [...] should know better' for testifying to various miraculous events and explains that Faraday has not 'tried' experiments on 'Society's weak side' because he is 'all Philosopher and nothing of a Quack'.