The Friendly Daemon, or the Generous Apparition

Daniel Defoe

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

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.

By Daniel Defoe.If by our Senses Spirits we perceive,Or from the strength of Fancy, so believe,No Fault do we commit that merits blame,If to the Publick we report the same;For whether by our Eyes we Spectres seeOr by a second Sight, we must agree,Things are to us as they appear to be.

To my anonymous worthy Friend, Physician and Philosopher, whose Name, for certain Reasons, I forbear to mention

SIR,

I Cannot, without great Ingratitude, forget the friendly Visits and kind Advice I frequently receiv'd from you, during, not only, a dangerous but tedious Indisposition, which surprisingly seiz'd me in the Year 1717, and, notwithstanding your extraordinary Care as well as unquestionable Judgment, continu'd upon me till the latter end of the Year – 25; in which long interval of Time, the Attendance you gave me, and the Trouble you gave yourself, abstracted from all Interest, made you truly sensible of my unhappy Condition, and myself equally apprehensive of the great Obligations I shall ever be under to so sincere a Friend.

The first occasion of my Illness, as I have good reason to imagine, was a very shocking Surprize given me by certain Persons, who pretended to be my Friends in a considerable Affair then depending, wherein their Treachery threaten'd me with succeeding Ruin, had not Providence interpos'd and deliver'd the Oppress'd from the cruel hands of such deceitful Enemies: Upon whose hard Usage, and the news of my Disappointment, I was struck at first with a kind of Epilepsy and depriv'd of all my Senses in an Instant, drop'd down in a publick Coffee-House, under violent Agitations, which, it seems, are generally concomitant with this miserable Distemper; but being luckily assisted and kindly supported by some Gentlemen present, I happen'd to escape those ill Consequences that might otherwise have attended me, during the extremity of my Convulsions, which were reported, by those that held me, to be so strong as to be almost insupportable, till the Paroxism declin'd, which terminated in a cold Sweat, Trembling and Weeping, and this was the first Attack that ever this terrible Assailant made upon me; tho' afterwards he forc'd himself into a further familiarity with me (much against my Will) nor could your kind Endeavours, by the Art of Physick, back'd with my own strength of Constitution, fright away this evil Companion from me, till my good Genius, by the direction of Providence, communicated a particular Secret to me, which, with God's Blessing, has lately prov'd my Deliverance, in what manner, before I conclude, I shall very freely acquaint you, in hopes you will favour me with your candid Opinion in answer thereunto.

Near eight Years, was a long Time to continue under the frequent returns and uncomfortable dread of such a shocking Affliction, which, upon every little disorder of Mind or disappointment in Business, never fail'd to visit me; till, by convulsive or involuntary Motions in my Head and other Parts of my Body, my Eyes were bury'd in their Sockets, my other Features contracted, my Limbs often distorted, my Bowels sometimes wrack'd with intolerable Pains, and all the Faculties of my Mind so greatly weaken'd and impair'd, that I, who, for many Years before, had been esteem'd as an Oracle, by the most Polite and Curious part of both Sexes, was now, for want of strength of Mind and ability of Body to imploy my Talent and excercise my Art as usual, treated like an old Soldier, who had lost his Limbs in the Service of his Country, and thought only worthy, by way of requital, to be made a hobbling Pensioner in some starving Hospital; but, I thank my Stars, it prov'd not quite so bad with me, for tho' some Ladies were too hasty and importunate to bear with the least disappointment or admit of any delay, without shewing their resentment, or refusing to trust their Money till my Convulsions afforded me a rational Interval, wherein I might be able to give them ample Satisfaction: Yet, others, of a more considerate, easy and compassionate Temper, were so highly concern'd for my too apparent Indisposition, that, in order to drive out this tormenting Demon that possess'd me, they brought me all the old Recipes they could muster up among their crazy Aunts and Grandmothers, practis'd upon all Occasions in their several Families, perhaps ever since the Times of Galen and Hippocrates, but, having been long under the Care and Friendship of so able a Physician as your self, tho' to little or no purpose, I could nor put Faith enough in old Womens Medicines to receive Benefit thereby, so, under a kind of despondency of every thing but Providence, I suffer'd my Distemper to take its own Course, till my Fits encreas'd upon me, to at least twenty in a Day, and by their frequent reiterations brought, at length, such a dimness upon my Sight, such a weakness in my Joints, and tremor upon my Nerves, that render'd me incapable of all manner of Business, especially that which I had so long profess'd and successfully perform'd, to the full Satisfaction and great Astonishment of Thousands; but being now unable to Write; and, for want of Speech, having no other way of communicating my Answers to the demands of the Ladies and Gentlemen that apply'd themselves to me, except by Digitation, which they understood not, I was forc'd sometimes, when much disorder'd by my Convulsions, to send 'em away dissatisfy'd, which, if it were any Mortification to them, prov'd a much greater to my self, because, upon my ready performances in the Mystery I am Master of, depends the welfare of my whole Family.

Under these unhappy Circumstances I labour'd till the Month of October, in the Year – 24, confin'd by my Distemper to my own Habitation, not daring to go abroad for fear of falling in the Streets, having been before surpriz'd by my Fits in St. James's Park and several other Places; but, about this Time, being possess'd with a strong Inclination to the Cold-Bath, near Sir John Oldcastle's, and the great desire I had to experience the same, being highly encourag'd by your Advice and Approbation, I summon'd all the Strength I had to my Assistance, and pursuant to the Dictates of my own restless Mind, had recourse thither accordingly, attended by a proper Person to take due Care of me, for fear of the worst.

I had not repeated this cold Expedient above twice or thrice, but I was sensible of the Benefits I receiv'd thereby, for my Distemper began to treat me with less severity than usual, and my Fits were succeeded with a greater Defluction of Tears than what was common, before I apply'd my self to the Bath, so that, after my Weeping was over, I found my self much refresh'd and all my Faculties abundantly more alert, than at any Time they had been since my first Illness, insomuch, that, from a timely continuance of this external Application, I entertain'd great hopes of a perfect Recovery; but, notwithstanding my diligent Prosecution of this sharp and shivering Method, I was, to my great Sorrow, unhappily disappointed; for my Convulsions were as frequent, tho' not so violent as formerly, and I was now again divested of all hopes of Relief, except by the Hand of Providence, having nothing to trust to, but that infallible Physician who can Cure all things in an Instant.

The Despondency I was now under of any Assistance from humane Art, and the slender Opinion you seem'd to entertain of my Recovery, made my Intervals as Melancholy as my Fits were troublesome; oppress'd with these hard Circumstances, I supported a burthensome Life, and drag'd on the tedious Hours till the latter end of the Year – 25, about which Time, as I was slumbering one Morning in my Bed, after a restless Night, my good Genius or Guardian Angel, Cloth'd in a white Surplice like a singing Boy, appear'd before me, holding a Scrowle or Label in his right Hand, whereon the following Words were wrote in large Capitals.

READ, BELIEVE AND PRACTISE, THE LOADSTONE SHALL BE YOUR CURE, WITH AN ADDITION OF THE POWDER HERE PRESCRIB'D YOU; BUT KEEP THE LAST AS A SECRET; FOR WITH THAT AND THE MAGNET YOU SHALL RELIEVE NUMBERS IN DISTRESS, AND LIVE TO DO GREATER WONDERS THAN YOU HAVE HITHERTO PERFORM'D; THEREFORE BE OF GOOD CHEAR, FOR YOU HAVE A FRIEND UNKNOWN, WHO, IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE, WILL NEVER FAIL YOU.

This comfortable News, tho' deliver'd to me after so surprizing a manner, yet, was it very welcome to a languishing Person under a complication of Misfortunes, notwithstanding I had a great struggle with my natural Reason, before I could convince my self of what I was yet confident my very Eyes had seen, or at least had been represented to me after an extraordinary manner, for betwixt really seeing what we call a Vision or verily believing we do see it, there is but a slender difference; however, the intire Confidence I had put in Providence, and the great desire I had to be reliev'd, were to me convincing Arguments, beyond all Objection, that my Guardian Angel had actually appear'd and communicated to my Eyes the very Scrowle that I had read, the Words of which, lest my Memory should have prov'd treacherous, I enter'd in my Pocket-Book as they are before recited, the Recipe only excepted.

Having thus subjected my Reason to my Senses, or at least my Faith, for I either saw or believ'd I saw what I have here reported, I had nothing else to do, but to put in Practice the Receipt which my good Genius had imparted to me, tho' how to come at a Loadstone, seem'd to me as difficult as to find out the Philosopher's Stone, having but a slender Knowledge of the thing it self, and much less of its Virtues; however, upon enquiry, I soon found out a certain Virtuoso, near Moorfields, who is an eminent dealer in such sort of Curiosities, and by his Assistance I presently furnish'd my self with what I wanted, and sending for some fat Amber and a certain preparation of Steel, which I privately dispens'd in a very particular manner, according to the Recipe communicated by my Genius; then applying both as directed, was miraculously deliver'd, in a great measure, from those wracking Convulsions which had so long afflicted me, and in less than a Month's Time my whole Microcosm was restor'd to such a happy State of Health, Strength and Vivacity, that Heaven be prais'd, I could do any thing as usual, but, if I leave off my Loadstone for two or three Days, which I have sometimes done, meerly out of Curiosity, my Fits, as yet, will remind me of my foolish Presumption, and force me to have recourse to my wonderful Preservative, which has not only prov'd so great a friend to my self, but has reliev'd others in the like distress; and as I have found by three or four late Experiments, is as effectual in suppresing Vapours and removing or preventing Hysterick Fits in Women, as it is in Epilepsies and Convulsions in our own Sex, either Men or Children.

Now, Doctor, since I have happily conquer'd so stubborn an Enemy, by such miraculous means, as do not fail to afflict others as well as my self, I desire you will vouchsafe me your real Sentiments of this uncommon way of Cure, your Notions of the Genii, and the wonderful manner of communicating the Recipe, your Thoughts of the Loadstone and the Virtues thereof, your Opinion of Sympathy and the Cures perform'd thereby, for I know you are Philosopher sufficient, as well as Physician, to give a very good light into all these Mysteries, in which I own I am to seek; therefore hope you will condescend so far as to spend a leisure Hour upon the foregoing Particulars, and you will infinitely oblige,

Sir,Your assured Friend,and humble Servant,Duncan Campbel.

To my Deaf and Dumb Friend, Mr. Duncan Campbel, in Answer to his Letter to an anonymous worthy Friend, Physician and Philosopher

SIR,

I Receiv'd your Letter and read the same, with no less Surprise than Satisfaction; for, as I am greatly pleas'd at your miraculous Recovery, so, I am equally astonish'd at the wonderful Means by which it was obtain'd; I confess, I have been too great a Student in Physick and natural Philosophy, to entertain any extraordinary Opinion of Miracles, no ways accountable to human Reason, except those that concern Religion, which are brought down to our Knowledge well attested and recommended to our Faith by unexceptionable Authorities; not, but, that I am ready to admit, that the Power of Healing is in the Hand of Providence, and that some Patients, when their Distempers, thro' the frailty of humane Judgment, derive their Essence from so obscure an Original that even puzzles the Physician, I am free to acknowledge, especially when the Blessing of God accompanies the Administration, that the most trifling application in the Eyes of Art, may recover such Persons from the most dangerous Infirmities: This, I look upon to be your extraordinary Case, and therefore think not the means to which you ascribe your Cure or the manner of the Recipe's being communicated to you, a proper subject for a Physical Enquiry, unless you had sent me the Prescription of your Genius, which I understand by your Letter, you are oblig'd to conceal, and then perhaps I should have been able to have judg'd, in some measure, which of the Applications are most Essential, the Powder or the Loadstone, also how far your Guardian Angel is a Regular Proficient in the modern Practise of Physick.

However, as you desire my Opinion of the Genii, the Loadstone, the Powder of Sympathy, and the like, I shall not be only willing to give you my own Thoughts, but the Sentiments of others, before I take my leave, who have made the foregoing Particulars their principal Studies, and are therefore better acquainted with the nature of Spirits, than I pretend to be.

As for Genii or familiar Spirits, good and bad, believ'd and reported, by the most Wise and Learned of the Ancients, to attend Mankind, and the various Operations they have had upon humane Minds as well as Bodies, I cannot but confess, seem very wonderful to my defective Understanding; yet, when we observe what innumerable Instances have been handed to us by the most reputable Authors, both Antique and Modern, attested from Time to Time by unquestionable Authorities, who, that, before he div'd into these Mysteries, look'd upon the same to be Whimsy, can forbear staggering in his Opinion?

The most celebrated Instance of a Genius among the Ancients, is that of Socrates, one of the wisest of the Philosophers in the Age he liv'd in, and that he had such a familiar Spirit to attend him, which the Greeks call'd Dæmon, and the Latins Genius, is sufficiently testify'd by three of his Contemporaries, viz. Plato, Xenophon and Antisthenes, also further confirm'd by Laertius, Plutarch, Maximus Tyrius, Dion, Chrysostomus, Cicero, Apuleius, and Facinas; besides others more Modern, as, Tertullian, Origen, Clemens Alexandrinus, &c. but that which is of greater Authority than all the Vouchers aforemention'd, is what Socrates says of himself, in Plato's Theage, viz. By some Divine Lot, I have a certain Dæmon, which has follow'd me from my Childhood, as an Oracle; and this Voice, says he, for so he terms it, whenever it speaks to me, disswades me from engaging in what I am about to put in Action, but never prompts me to attempt any thing. This, I presume, might be the chief Reason, why Socrates persu'd not his own Inclinations, which were naturally Vicious, as himself confess'd to the Physiognomist, but was always accompany'd with a divine Spirit that restrain'd him from it; for, in speaking to Alcibiades, a vicious Noble Man of Athens, but reclaim'd by Socrates; says he, My Tutor (meaning the Spirit that attended him) is wiser and better than you. And to further shew, that what he call'd his Dæmon, was something more than a secret Impulse of the Mind, or Dictates of a good Conscience, Theocritus affirms in Plutarch, that a Vision attended Socrates from his Childhood, going before him and guiding him in all the Actions of his Life, being a constant light to him in such Affairs as lay not within the reach of humane standing, and that the Spirit often spoke to him, divinely governing and inspiring his Intentions. A thousand Instances of the like nature, I could collect from the Ancients, to prove, that what you have reported to me, in your Letter, may be no Delusion, but real Fact, with all it's surprising Circumstances, could the Task be compris'd within the compass of a Letter, but, a Treatise of this nature, being much fitter for a Volume, I shall only proceed to a few familiar Instances of a more modern Date, that your wonderful Cure may gain Credit with the Publick, because I know your Sincerity.

Froissard reports, That in the Time of Edward the Third, there was a certain Knight in France, call'd Corasse, who could tell every thing Transacted throughout the whole World, in a Day or two at the most, were the distance never so remote, and this he did by an invisible Intelligencer or familiar Spirit, which he call'd Orthone, who was always at his Command and brought him News continually for many Years, till, at last, he lost the Benefit of so useful a Companion, through a vain desire of gratifying his Curiousity after the following manner, (viz.) The Knight, having hitherto only heard the Voice of his spiritual Emissary, was now infatuated with an earnest inclination to behold his Shapes, which favour he requested of Orthone; accordingly, whose Answer was, that the first thing he should see on the morrow Morning, after he was risen from his Bed, should be the Object he desir'd, or Words to that effect. The Knight, the next Morning, pursuant to the direction of his Spirit, arose from his Bed, look'd about him, but could not discover any thing worthy of Remark; upon which disappointment, he upbraided Orthone, with being worse than his Word, who reply'd he had kept his Promise, desiring the Knight to remind himself of what he had first observ'd after his rising; the Knight, upon recollection, reply'd, that he saw nothing uncommon, but a couple of Straws tumbling upon the Ground and sporting with one another, as if agitated by the Wind; That was I, saith the Spirit, and therefore I kept my Word. Then the Knight desir'd to see him once more, in such a Shape as might induce him, the next Time, to take more notice of him, to which the Spirit consented, saying, the first thing you see to morrow Morning, after your uprising, shall be me again; accordingly, when the Time appointed was arriv'd and the Knight was risen from his Bed, looking out of his Chamber Window, the first Object he espy'd, was a Lean ill-favour'd Sow, so deform'd and ugly, that he was not able to abide the sight of her; and not expecting Orthone to appear to him in so homely a manner, he set his Dogs upon the Sow, to drive her away, who being highly affronted at such unfriendly usage, immediately Vanish'd, to the Knight's great surprise; and his old acquaintance Orthone, never came near him after. This relation, Froissard asserts he had from the Knight's own Mouth, with whom he was very intimate.

From hence I conclude, That the same sort of Spirit that attended Corasse, has been always a Friend to you, not only of late, in your miraculous Recovery, but has at all Times assisted you in Writing the Names of Strangers, discovering the most secret Intrigues and foretelling future Events, for which you have long been Famous. As a further Proof of the Existence of Spirits and that at some other Times, as well as in your Case, they have prescrib'd Physick to their living Friends, I shall quote an Instance out of Mr. Glanvil's Reports, attested by the late Lord Orrery, the Famous Mr. Greatrix, and many others, living in the Reign of King Charles the Second.

A Gentleman in Ireland, near to the Earl of Orrery's House, sending his Butler one Afternoon to a neighbouring Village to buy Cards, as he pass'd a Field, espy'd a Company in the middle thereof, sitting round a Table, with several Dishes of good Cheer before them, and moving towards 'em, they all arose and Saluted him, desiring him to sit down and take part with them; but one of them whisper'd these Words in his Ear, viz. Do nothing this Company invites you to: Whereupon, he refusing to accept of their Kindness, the Table and all the Dainties it was furnish'd with immediately vanish'd, but the Company fell to Dancing and playing upon divers Musical Instruments, the Butler being a second Time solicited to partake of their Diversions, but would not be prevail'd upon to engage himself with them; upon which, they left off their Merry-making and all fell to Work, still pressing the Butler to make one among 'em, but to no purpose; so that, upon his third refusal, they all vanish'd and left the Butler alone, who in a great Consternation return'd home, without the Cards, fell into a Fit as he enter'd the House, but, soon recovering his Senses, related to his Master all that had pass'd.

The following Night, one of the Ghostly Company came to the Butler's Bed-side and told him, that if he offer'd to stir out the next Day, he would be carry'd away; upon whose Advice, he kept within till towards the Evening, and having then an Occasion to make Water, ventur'd to set one Foot over the Threshold of the Door, in order to ease himself, which he had no sooner done, but a Rope was cast about his Middle, in the Sight of several Standers-by, and the poor Man was hurry'd from the Porch with unaccountable Swiftness, follow'd by many Persons, but they were not nimble enough to overtake him, till a Horseman, well mounted, happening to meet him upon the Road, and seeing many followers in pursuit of a Man hurry'd along in a Rope, without any Body to force him, catch'd hold of the Cord and stop'd him in his Career, but receiv'd, for his Pains, such a strap upon his Back with one End of the Rope, as almost fell'd him from his Horse; however, being a good Christian, he was too strong for the Devil, and recover'd the Butler out of the Spirits Clutches and brought him back to his Friends.

The Lord Orrery, hearing of these strange Passages, for his further Satisfaction in the Truth thereof, sent for the Butler, with leave of his Master, to come and continue some Days and Nights at his House, which, in Obedience to his Lordship, the Servant did accordingly, who after his first Night's Bedding there, reported to the Earl in the Morning, that his Spectre had again been with him, and assur'd him, that on that very Day he should be spirited away, in spight of all the Measures that could possibly be taken to prevent it: Upon which, he was conducted into a large Room, with a considerable Number of holy Persons to defend him from the Assaults of Satan; among whom, was the famous stroker of bewitch'd Persons, Mr. Greatrix, who liv'd in the Neighbourhood, and knew, as may be presum'd, how to deal with the Devil as well as any Body; besides several eminent Quality were present in the House, among the rest, two Bishops, all waiting the wonderful Event of this unaccountable Prodigy.

Till part of the Afternoon was spent, the Time slid away in nothing but Peace and Quietness, but, at length, the enchanted Patient was perceiv'd to rise from the Floor without any visible Assistance, whereupon, Mr. Greatrix and another lusty Man clapt their Arms over his Shoulders, and endeavour'd to weigh him down with their utmost Strength, but to no purpose, for the Devil prov'd too powerful, and after a hard struggle on both sides, made them quit their hold, and snatching the Butler from 'em, carry'd him over their Heads and toss'd him in the Air, to and fro, like a Dog in a Blanket; several of the Company running under the poor Wretch to save him from the Ground, by which means, when the Spirits Frolick was over, they could not find that in all this hurry-scurry, the frighted Butler had receiv'd the least Damage, but was left in Statu quo, upon the same Premises, to prove the Devil a Liar.