WCP1383

Letter (WCP1383.1162)

[1]1

The Priory,

21. North Bank,

Regents Park.

20 March [18]67

Dear Sir

Your letter of the 9th Jan[uar]y, with the accompanying book2,3, arrived while I was in Spain from which I have but just returned. That is my excuse for the delay in acknowledging your invitation. Had I been at home, however, I very much doubt whether in the press of work I should have been able to find time to investigate again a set of phenomena which [I] have long ago thoroughly4 examined.

Mrs Hayden5 I forced to [2] avow herself an impostor. All other mediums I have tested have been either impostors or dupes. I know how many of their effects are produced, & can produce them myself! Some of them I cannot detect; & some of them are due to the very natural & unconscious assistance of the spectators.

At the same time I am perfectly prepared to examine any serious claim to spiritual power, & would unhesitatingly avow my conviction, if convinced. You will however [3] understand that I should approach the investigation with the same caution, as in any other scientific investigation, & unless I could have all the conditions of testing the phenomena fully accorded I should dislike assisting at a séance. I could not permit a medium to determine the conditions, or to open the usual loopholes of escape. If after this frank statement your medium is prepared to submit to criticism & if you will allow me to bring Mr Herbert Spencer6 or some other scientific friend [4] I pledge you my word that I will publicly state with all the accuracy I can whatever phenomena I may witness.

Believe me, dear Sir | Yours very truly

G. H. Lewes [signature]

Alfred Wallace E[sq.]

1
A later pencil annotation adds "scientific aspects" in the top lefthand corner of page 1.
2
Wallace, A.R. 1866. The Scientific Aspect of the Supernatural: Indicating the Desirableness of an Experimental Enquiry by Men of Science into the Alleged Powers of Clairvoyants and Mediums. London: F. Farrah.
3
A later pencil annotation underlines "book" and adds an 'X' symbol.
4
A later pencil annotation underlines " thoroughly".
5
Hayden, Maria B. (C. 1852). American medium and abolitionist.
6
Spencer, Herbert (1820-1903). British philosopher, sociologist, and prominent classical liberal political theorist.

Editorial information

Status: Edited (but not proofed) transcription [Letter (WCP1383.1162)]

For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon

Revision history

Transcribed by Bertalan, Mia Solana [2014-08-21] Transcription checked by Beros, Matt [2019-12-20]

Please cite as “WCP1383,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 29 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP1383