Thomas Sherratt to Faraday   5 November 1864

9 Westmoreland Place | Westbourne Grove North. | Bayswater | 5 Novr. / 64

Sir,

Permit me once more to reply to yours of this mor.¹ I feel greatly honored by the exposition of your views - as to the utility of this Spirit power, I will briefly state what I have experienced, as in cases of this kind personal knowledge alone is reliable.-

1. This power can counteract gravity[.] I have repeatedly seen tables lifted from the floor & kept suspended for some minutes, & by an undulatory motion, keeping time to music, the Hands of the sitters being on the top thereof. The room perfectly light

2. It can originate motion. I have seen a table move about a room without any person being near it & this at my own residence.

3. In supplying an action due to natural Physical force or counteracting it. I think this may be exemplified by the phase called Writing & drawing Mediumship - The Hand being acted on without the Knowledge by its possessor of its performance - in one instance this has happened to myself.

4. It can pinch or prick - to my knowledge[.]

5. It can also affect the senses I can testify to hearing - seeing - feeling -

I do not know how these things can occur to your experience unless you seek for them, per seance, so far therefore you must wait on them - there are exceptions however to this rule - that is when the person is a Medium, in that case, they seek such person. I am not a Medium but my sister is.

6. They can shew their hands, &c I have seen & been touched by them in several instances. & this in the daylight.

There are works published in which their Nature &c are described. I beg to inclose a catalogue - & I can bear witness to the fact of direct spirit writing. I have a specimen - written when I was at a seance -

Of course the before mentioned operations cease when the Magnetic or other force which called them into activity is lost - that however is the case with all applications of Motive power -

What I consider to be the defect in this power, is, its non reliability, as for instance - say 6 persons hold a seance & have communications, perhaps the next evening, they hold another & get nothing, & so on for a few times, when again comes the power with probably additional force - The conditions both Mental bodily, atmospheric &c being apparently the same -

These are a few of the perplexities which only one like yourself can solve, that is, if you would induce yourself to do it.

The only instance I am aware of when the power seems continuous, is that of the Davenport’s & although there is much in their Manifestations open to criticism, yet having been to a seance - all my observations combined with what I have seen in other instances have failed to cause me any doubt as to their truth -

I have written as much as the paper allows as I know not whether I shall have the pleasure & honor again - you can always command my attention or my time - & with the

greatest respect | Sir | I am your obedient servant | Thos Sherratt

Professor Faraday | F.R.S. &c. &c. &c.