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[332]

Cogswell took him into the library, to help make catalogue; but about this time he received an anonymous, threatening letter, which very much alarmed him, in his unprotected state as a stranger, for Cogswell was then gone. . . . . Soon afterwards he believed himself poisoned in a very strange way, and had dreadful fits, but in all else preserved the simplicity of his character, and the apparent sanity and consistency of his mind. A few evenings since, however, he set out to walk into Boston, and was found at daybreak on the beach in Marblehead, much bruised, saying he had been forcibly carried there in a boat, from which he escaped, though fired at when he ran and dreadfully ill-treated during the passage. He was, evidently, slightly deranged, but has preserved entire consistency in his story ever since, though he has once had a perfect access of insanity.

Now upon this statement of facts the town is grievously exercised and divided. His testimonials and documents are all so clear and sure, and his life such a perfect confirmation of them, that very few believe him to be an impostor, while, on the other hand, many— among whom are the Parsonses, Mr.Farrar and Mrs. Farrar, President Kirkland, Mr.Peck and Mrs. Peck, etc.—believe the whole of his stories, think he really was poisoned and kidnapped, and that his life is constantly in a mysterious danger, which, with his sufferings, has produced transient and slight affections of insanity.

The greater part, however, think, I believe, that in consequence of his situation, the anonymous letter, and his poor health, he has become, quoad hoc, deranged, and that, in his derangement, he took the laudanum; . . . . perhaps went on board a boat for Marblehead, and became so outrageous that they tied him; or, perhaps, wandering all night, had fits, in which he was bruised, etc., etc. In short, in our healthy, well-organized community, it is not possible that a man should be persecuted in this way for several weeks, without getting some trace of the invisible agents; and when to this it is added, that his stories are improbable, and almost impossible in themselves, and that he certainly has been seen deranged twice,—once of which was immediately after he thinks he was kidnapped,—I should find it very difficult to think of him either better or worse than of an interesting and unfortunate crazy man. . . . .

September 6 . . . . . I wrote you the last time a good deal about Edheljertha, the Swede. That mystification still continues to an extraordinary degree; but as far as I can find out, this is the story now believed by those who have been most satisfied, not only of his honesty,—which hardly any doubt,—but of his sanity. He was


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