My brother was a much more sanguine reasoner than our guest. Even
in some of the facts which were related by Carwin, he maintained
the probability of celestial interference, when the latter was
disposed to deny it, and had found, as he imagined, footsteps of a
human agent. Pleyel was by no means equally credulous. He
scrupled not to deny faith to any testimony but that of his senses,
and allowed the facts which had lately been supported by this
testimony not to mold his belief, but merely to give birth to
doubts.
It was soon observed that Carwin adopted, in some degree, a similar
distinction. A tale of this kind, related by others, he would
believe, provided it was explicable upon known principles; but that
such notices were actually communicated by beings of a higher order
he would believe only when his own ears were assailed in a manner
which could not be otherwise accounted for. Civility forbade him
to contradict my brother or myself, but his understanding refused
to acquiesce in our testimony. Besides, he was disposed to
question whether the voices were not really uttered by human
organs.
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