Josiah Latimer Clark to Faraday   29 April 1857

35 Adelaide Road | Haverstock Hill NW | 29 April 1857.

My dear Sir,

I have lately met with some very strange phenomena which I am quite unable to understand and which I think it to be almost a duty to make known to you. They are not scientific phenomena but yet may perhaps be worthy of scientific investigation. My brother-in-law Capt. Drayson¹ of the Royal Artillery at Woolwich a very clever and clear headed and sensible man first told me of them - he said he had been invited by a mutual friend to a private house at Blackheath to witness what he called “spirit rapping”! and other similar phenomena. Like every sensible and well informed person he laughed at the idea, but his friend (a Captain R.N.) was so positive that there was no delusion in it that he went, and to his surprise was forced to believe in the phenomena he witnessed. He then begged an interview with me, and I was earnestly requested to attend some evening as they feared they might be done by some electrical legerdemain which from my familiarity with such subjects I should be able to detect. I went three times and abundantly satisfied myself that there was nothing electrical about it.

What I witnessed was as follows, a succession of gentle taps given apparently beneath the tables round which we were sitting, and guided by intelligence - so that by a preconcerted request they would reply to any question asked of the tables. Thus in asking any question and then distinctly repeating the alphabet they would tap thrice at the letter they wished to indicate and by a repetition of this process they would spell complete words and sentences[.]

I am quite sensible of the apparent nonsense I am writing & the credulity of science - Nothing on Earth would ever have induced me to believe or to make such ridiculous statements except the most undeniable proof and demonstration - and I did not believe until I had satisfied myself that deception was impossible.

The other phenomena I saw were equally strange but one only struck me as interesting in a scientific point of view - I saw heavy tables half lifted off the floor by the contact of the point of the fingers only, or sometimes take a sudden lurch pressing against me with great force, and I am credibly assured by Capt Drayson (whose veracity is beyond question) that on two occasions he has seen a small round table remain suspended in the air 6 inches from the ground for two or three minutes occasionally rising & falling elastically.

At the house of a friend to which they had been invited for the first time I saw them experiment on a very heavy and old fashioned black mahogany table which had never been seen by them before - this moved about the room with some considerable force, but more singular still I saw its centre (with a lamp & glasses &c that were upon it) apparently bend and heave and undulate up and down like a miniature Earth quake. On after examination I found it to be still as hard and rigid as ever.

These are the sort of phenomena I have witnessed and I am requested to invite you to attend and witness them privately if you wish to do so, and they are so mysterious that I think every one ought to see them once in their lives at least. At first I regarded them as supernatural, in fact as miracles but they produce the same effects as often as they choose - night after night & therefore they must be formed by certain laws & not be miracles - The suspension & overpowering of the laws of Gravity strike me as being very curious. If you are inclined to witness them I shall be glad to accompany you privately to Blackheath where you will receive every welcome. You have my assurance that the family is a highly respectable one & living in very comfortable style - their names are Mr. and Mrs. Crosland² - they have no children and are highly educated & very matter of fact people - They would like you to see them at least twice, but as Mrs. Crosland will be going to the sea side shortly (and perhaps to the continent) for the benefit of her health it is necessary to make an early appointment or the opportunity will be lost. If you decide on going I should like to see you previously at the Royal Institution & will call on you any day you choose. One thing at least I must beg of you - do not think that I have lost my senses or that I have been deceived - I do not understand the nature of the phenomena, but their existence is beyond question[.]

Yours very sincerely | Latimer Clark

Professor Faraday.

PS. I ought to add that the question is regarded by them in a very religious light, and they always commence & end by prayers - especially by secret prayer. There is however nothing very serious or impressive in witnessing the phenomena - the conversation goes on in the most ordinary & animated way.

Endorsed by Faraday: Spirit rappings from Latimer Clark

Address: Professor Faraday | Royal Institution | Albemarle Street