Mesmerism - The Franco-Louisiana Connection: A Guide: In America, 18th-19th Cent.

On 14 May 1784, the Marquis de Lafayette wrote a letter enthusiastic about the work of Mesmer to George Washington. Lafayette wrote: "A German doctor named Mesmer, having made the greatest discovery on animal magnetism, has trained students, including your humble servant is called one of the most enthusiastic". This letter is followed by a letter of Mesmer himself on June 16 when Washington meets five months later confirming that he has met Lafayette. The latter has meanwhile given one or two lessons of animal magnetism and met a community of Shakers who saw a similarity between the practices of trance latter mesmériennes and crises. Lafayette also participates in rituals North Americans, convinced that animal magnetism is the rediscovery of an old practice and primitive. We know, however, that Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were both opposed to the practice of animal magnetism. Jefferson, who feared that a wave mesmerism invasion of his country, sending many antimesméristes pamphlets and copies of reports of commissions to influential friends.

See: Carlson, Eric T. J Hist Med. 1960 Apr;15:121-32. PMID: 13807758
Portland Transcript
Sept. 7, 1844

We willingly give place to the following feeling tribute to a man well known in the scientific world of Europe and America. It is written by one who knew him long and loved him well.

[For the Portland Transcript]

Died, at Bordeaux, France, May, 1843, Doct. Charles Poyen, a native of the Island of Guadaloupe, aged about 35.

Doct. Poyen was some time a resident of this city, and was several years in this country, and will be remembered as the first propagator of the now popular science of Animal Magnetism in the United States. As "a preacher of strange doctrines," Doct. P. had to contend with many obstacles; but ardently attached to his theory, he looked beyond the present, and seemed to see with prophetic vision through the clouds of prejudice and incredulity, the almost universal favor with which that theory is now received. Cheered with this view, he persevered amid all the difficulties that beset him. In the summer of 1839, he left this country for his native Island. Thence, after a few months' tarry, he went to Paris for the purpose of perfecting his medical education; that accomplished, it was his intention to return and permanently locate himself in this country. But just as he was on the point of embarking the fell hand of disease was laid heavily upon him; and, just when the star of hope beamed brightest on his earthly prospects, the cloud of death came suddenly between and extinguished its rays forever. Let us trust that the serene and never failing light of Paradise now beams upon him in its stead.

Doct. P. was a profound scholar, as his numerous literary friends in this country will testify, and all acquainted with him will accord to him the character of an urbane, upright gentleman. M.F.W.
transcribed by: Stephen Sakellarios

not available via online license. Check the print at Matas Library.

Charles Poyen resided for a time in Portland, Maine. I am guessing he was staying with Mathew Franklin Whittier and his wife there, but couldn’t say, for sure. He had stayed for five months with her family, before they married, in 1834, when he first came to America, as indicated in Poyen’s book, “Progress of Animal Magnetism in New England.”

(www.jameslindlibrary.org). Accessed Friday 12 December 2008.
© Edward Huth, 2006. Unavalabile 7/30/2013. LInk to pubmed

Franklin in France: From Original Documents, Most of which are Now Published for the First Time
By Edward Everett Hale
Published by Roberts Brothers, 1888
Original from Harvard University
Digitized Dec 4, 2007

The Southern Medical and Surgical Journal
Published by J. McCafferty, 1845
Item notes: new ser.:v.1 (1845)
Original from Harvard University
Digitized May 23, 2007