Josiah Latimer Clark to Faraday   2 May 1857

35 Adelaide Road | NW. 2 May.

My dear Sir.

I have inclosed your note and Dr. Tyndall’s to Mr. Crosland¹ and I feel confident he will be extremely pleased to see Dr Tyndall there, unless it should happen that they have sent out invitations too numerously to day since receiving a note from me to the effect that you and I were not going to attend. If Dr Tyndall goes I can assure him that he will be most intensely interested².

The phenomena have now been witnessed by so many & have got so generally known that they are quite unable to gratify more than one twentieth of those who request permission to attend. But they are at the same time only too glad to get the attention of men of character and science who are competent to investigate the phenomena and willing to receive facts with an unbiassed mind.

I have heard of the subject abundantly and for a long time past but set it all down as a mass of self-delusion or intentional trickery. I was therefore greatly astonished when after a careful examination I discovered the facts to be real. Nevertheless I have little intention of pursuing the subject - I do not as yet see the use & tendency of it. I am satisfied that it is often if not generally mixed up with much that is delusive & bad - in plain English I believe more of the communications come from bad spirits than from good ones. And I believe it is capable of producing a degree of mental excitement very analogous to insanity in weak minds it is therefore not a thing to be trifled with. At the same time I find much that is beautiful in it & that harmonises wonderfully with the truths of Sacred Scripture.

Yours very faithfully | Latimer Clark

M. Faraday Esqr | &c.

Endorsement: Enclosure³

3 Hyde Vale Cottages | Blackheath | S.E. | April 30th / 57

My dear Sir,

In the absence of my husband I have opened your letter to him, & for the purpose of saving a post reply to it.

The Spirits named Tuesday the 5th, or Friday the 8th of May, as days on either of which Mr. Faraday might be invited. The reason we pressed for an answer was that half a dozen people are waiting to know when they can come, and we wish to fix whichever day you & Mr. Faraday reject:- Our dinner hour is half past six - In very great haste believe me my dear Sir | yours very truly | Camilla Crosland.