John Allen to Faraday   16 May 1853¹

Prees Vicarage, Shrewsbury, 16 May 1853

Sir,

Will you pardon me for asking your attention to the phenomenon of table moving, which, unless I am greatly deceived, will be ranked among the most astonishing discoveries of this age. No one could as I think have been less disposed to believe the accounts given in the newspapers than I was, but having seen a private letter from Mrs. H.G. Bunsen² describing what took place at the Prussian minister’s³ house on Monday evening last⁴ I was induced to try the experiment on Saturday⁵ with some friends whose good faith I entirely confide in.

1. 7 or 8 persons stood round a small circular table, resting on wooden feet on a carpeted floor, they having previously laid aside metal ornaments (as chains, rings, watches) & taking care that their dresses should not touch, the left hand thumb being under the right hand thumb, and the right hand little finger of each resting under the left hand little finger of the neighbour on the right side, so as to form a continuous chain, the tips of the fingers resting lightly on the table, and the parties exercising to the best of their power a wish that the table should move round in one direction; after about 20’ the table began to move round, the velocity of the motion appearing to increase equably so that the experimenters were obliged to run round rapidly with it.

At first I was simply a spectator but being assured that the experimenters were not intentionally deceiving me, I joined <⁶> a company of nine persons who repeated the experiment round a larger table on iron castors on a carpeted floor; after about 10’ it began to move. Fearing lest there might be some deception, the parties (possibly unconsciously) aiding the motion mechanically, I without apprising the rest broke the continuity of the chain more than once while the table was in motion, and each time the table stopped.

I should have mentioned that, in the first experiment, on the experimenters expressing a volition that the table should stop and move round in the opposite direction, the table stopped, and then moved almost immediately in conformity with the wish so expressed.

It may be said that there was some clever person in the party who managed to push the table round, or that unconsciously the persons pushed it in the direction in which they wished it move: but the sensation, the equability of the motion, its cessation when the continuity of the contact was interrupted, and the length of time that elapsed before the motion began, are conclusive arguments to myself who am well acquainted with the parties experimenting, that there is something in the matter which hitherto has not been explained.

I should feel greatly indebted to you sir if you would deem the matter worthy of your attention.

There was a tingling felt at the tips of the fingers and at the elbows previous to and during the motion of the table.

Sir I am with true respect | Your faithful Servant | John Allen | Archdeacon of Salop, dioc. Lichf.

Professor M. Faraday | L.L.D.