of amusement, or be ranked with the few productions whose
usefulness secures to them a lasting reputation, the reader must
be permitted to decide. 

The incidents related are extraordinary and rare.  Some of
them, perhaps, approach as nearly to the nature of miracles as
can be done by that which is not truly miraculous.  It is hoped
that intelligent readers will not disapprove of the manner in
which appearances are solved, but that the solution will be
found to correspond with the known principles of human nature.
The power which the principal person is said to possess can
scarcely be denied to be real.  It must be acknowledged to be
extremely rare; but no fact, equally uncommon, is supported by
the same strength of historical evidence. 

Some readers may think the conduct of the younger Wieland
impossible.  In support of its possibility the Writer must
appeal to Physicians and to men conversant with the latent
springs and occasional perversions of the human mind.  It will
not be objected that the instances of similar delusion are rare,