Friedrich Anton, the author of the doctrine of Mesmerism, was born in 1734 at Marburg in Baden. After attending the schools of Dillingen and Ingolstadt, he studied medicine at Vienna, and subsequently settled in that city as a physician. It was there in 1766 that he gave the first rude outline of his theory in a treatise entitled De Planetarum Influens. He founded his speculation on the supposition that there is an element of extreme subtlety which pervades the entire universe and permeates every body. He then asserted that this element, like the sea and the atmosphere, was influenced by the heavenly bodies, and that it communicated this influence to the nervous systems of all animals. In this way he accounted for the periodical affections of certain invalids.

But this theory, in the form in which it was divulged, could not afford a basis for any art that might minister to the eager curiosity of its author. Mesmer therefore thought of making magnets perform the office of the heavenly bodies, and of using them to cure the diseases of the human frame. No sooner, however, had he begun the healing art than it appeared that a Vienna professor, Father Hell, had already been using magnets for the same purpose. A controversy ensued between the rival leeches touching their respective claims to the discovery. Mesmer was worsted; but effected a safe retreat from the contest by averring that he was not restricted to one instrument, for he could employ animal magnetism with the same effect as he had employed mineral. The efficacy of this new appliance he endeavoured by every means to prove to the public. He solicited the opinions of the Royal Society of London, the Academy of Sciences at Paris, and the Academy of Berlin. None of these bodies, except the last, deigned to give him even an unfavourable reply. As unsuccessful was his alleged cure in 1777 of Mademoiselle Paradis, a popular vocalist, who was suffering from gutta serena and convulsive affections in the eyes. The young lady was afterwards discovered to be as blind as ever; and Mesmer was obliged to flee from the punishment of his imposture. After practising his art for a short time in Germany and Switzerland, he repaired to Paris in 1778. At this time the French people, free from all political excitement and from all interest in foreign affairs, were ever on the alert for novelties and wonders. Accordingly, they received with eager curiosity the handsome and imposing foreigner who professed to unveil the secret workings of nature, and to effect a painless cure of all diseases by a simple process resembling the passes of a magician. Within a short time Mesmer had gained a great practice, had converted to his opinions Deslon, one of the faculty, and had published an account of his theory.

Of this account many relations by scientific men appeared. Mesmer condescended on one occasion to reply, and with cool self-complacency described himself as a man of genius and a benefactor of the human race. About the same time he was soliciting from the government a chateau and its lands as a reward for his services, and was threatening to leave France if they should attempt to cheapen the price of his labours. His request was not granted; but a life-rent of 20,000 francs per annum was offered to him. A yearly sum of 10,000 francs was also guaranteed, on the condition that he should permit three persons nominated by the ministry to inspect and report his proceedings. Mesmer was not pleased with the condition, and he put his former threat into execution by rejecting the offers of the French government, and by setting out with some of his patients to Spa. There his enthusiastic admirers, headed by Bergasse, promised to raise a subscription for his behoof if he would agree to reveal the secret of animal magnetism to all the subscribers. Mesmer grasped at the offer; and having returned forthwith to Paris, opened a spacious hall, and attracted all classes around him. In a luxuriously furnished room, pervaded by perfumes and echoing with soft music, he was wont to seat his patients round a species of magnetic battery called a bauquet. When this co-operation of exciting causes began to produce its necessary effect, a nervous agitation through the entire circle, Mesmer appeared with his magic wand to regulate the action in each separate individual. So many cures were alleged to have been effected by this process, that at length, in 1784, the French government thought it their duty to examine into this apparent mystery. The proceedings of Deslon, the pupil of Mesmer, were accordingly scrutinized by a committee of inquiry consisting of the physicians Majanet, Salin, Darce, and Guillotin, and the academicians Franklin, Leroy, Bailly, De Bory, and Lavoisier. The report, drawn up by Bailly, thoroughly exposed the falsehood and imposture of the Mesmeric process. About the same time the Royal Society of Medicine published another report equally condemnatory. These two testimonies from the scientific world were printed by the order of the government, and circulated throughout France. The disciples of animal magnetism attempted to check the advance of their enemies by forming themselves into societies. Mesmer, more politic, escaped amid the general confusion, carrying with him a subscription of 340,000 francs, and at the same time the secret for which that sum had been given to him. After living for some time in England under an assumed name, he repaired to Germany, and published in 1799 a new exposition of his doctrine. He died in obscurity in his native city in 1815.

MÉSOLONGHI, or Missolonghi, a town of Greece, in the government of Ætolia, is situated on the edge of a marshy plain on the N. shore of the Gulf of Patras, 22 miles W. of Lepanto. It is separated from the sea by a lake, 10 miles long and 5 in breadth, from which it probably derives its name, through the Italian mezzo and laguna. This sheet of water is so shallow, that there are few passages by which any but small boats can approach the town. Mésolonghi has a school, custom-house, and a small harbour. It is chiefly remarkable for the siege it sustained from the Turks in the Greek war. At the outbreak of the Greek revolution the place was indeed fortified, but the defences were in such an inefficient state from neglect, that it was necessary to increase and strengthen them in order to secure the safety of the town. The Greeks accordingly surrounded the city on the land side by a ditch, and a mound of earth and stones; but the approach of the Turks prevented any further improvements being made in the fortifications. In the beginning of 1825, by the arrival of Greeks from other parts of the country, and of volunteers from various nations of Europe, the garrison was raised to the number of 5000, who were commanded by Notu Bozzaris; and on the 25th April of the same year a Turkish force of 20,000 under Reshid Pasha appeared before Mésolonghi. Nor was the inequality less, in the number and size of their artillery, between the besiegers and the besieged, than in the amount of their forces. On the 11th of May the first bombardment began, and for the space of two months afterwards the town was exposed to numerous bombardments and assaults; but the defenders were not less active in answering the enemy's fire, and making sallies from their defences, by which means they succeeded in repelling their assailants, and inflicting on them considerable loss. During this time they were supplied with ammunition and provisions by the fleet, which was stationed at the entrance of the lake; but on the 10th of July, a superior Turkish fleet, after compelling the ships of the Greeks to retire, succeeded in landing a strong reinforcement to the besiegers. The assaults on the town were then renewed with increased fury, and the cannonade of the Turks carried destruction to its frail ramparts, and death among the ranks of its brave defenders. Yet the garrison, though reduced to the number of 4000, continued to maintain their ground until, in the month of August, the Greek fleet appeared in the offing; and, by defeating the Turkish squadron, relieved Mesolonghi for a time from the blockade. But the sultan was resolved at all hazards to reduce this stronghold of liberty; and in the end of November, the Greek ships were again driven off, and the blockade renewed by the combined Turkish, Egyptian, and Barbary fleet. In the beginning of 1826 the besieging army was reinforced by the arrival of 14,000 troops under Ibrahim Pasha, who superseded Rehid Pasha in the command. On the 25th of January a bombardment was begun, which lasted for three days, and reduced the town to ruins, but could not shake the resolute courage of the Greeks. The repeated assaults of the enemy were still repulsed with great loss. At last, reduced to the utmost extremities by famine, and seeing on all sides nothing but the ships and tents of their enemies, yet never entertaining any thought of surrender, the Greeks determined to force their way through the opposing ranks, and thus convey themselves, with their wives and children, to a place of safety. Although by treachery the enemy was made aware of their design, and thus prepared to meet them, they were not able to prevent nearly 2000 of the besieged from making their way to the mountains. Many prisoners fell into the hands of the Turks, and the remainder, who were unable from their wounds or weariness to accompany their fellows, continued to defend themselves among the ruins until the explosion of a powder magazine, destroying alike friends and foes, put an end to the bloody conflict. Such was the siege of Mesolonghi, which attracted during its continuance the eyes of all Europe, and in which the Greeks showed themselves the worthy sons of the heroes of Marathon and Thermopylae; and

"Snatched from the ashes of their sire The embers of their former fires."

Near one of the gates of the town a mound of earth has been raised bearing an inscription in honour of those who fell in this famous siege. Lord Byron died at Mesolonghi on the 19th April 1824.