WCP1583

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset. April 18th, 1895

My dear Myers¹, The proof of your paper came when i was much occupied in vatious[sic] ways, &c: looked too formidable to be read till I was able to give it attention. Then, the last "Proceedings" case, with the 2nd. part of your paper, which I read first, and was immensely interested in it. The proofs of identity seem to be about as complete as they can be. Now, I have read your "Scheme of Vital Faculty" through, to the last word, and have made a few marks & remarks in blue pencil. Simply marked passages imply that they strike me as especially interesting and suggestive.

On the whols I find the paper a most excellent, systematic & scientific resume of the whole subject from your point of view. To me it only makes the "Subliminal" theory less necessary & less probable. Most readers will probably hold the exactly opposite opinion. Again, the elaborate systematic classification rather oppresses me; but to many it will be most valuable. I have made a few notes where I think the Subliminal theory fails. On this question I should be greatly disposed to accept the teaching of Mr Moses' guides. Is there nothing about it in his automatic writings? Did he never ask, whether he himself, or other spirits, produced his double? Whether dreams of warning, came from himself or from other spirits? Crystal seeing &c.?

I was greatly impressed by this fine quotation on p.35, as to the swarms of spirits of various grades & powers that surround us "infinitely more various" than we can understand; and it seems to me to render more probable the view I hold, that almost all that you clain [claim] for the work of the "Subliminal self" is really due to the action of some of these spirits. Again, how important is the teaching you quote as to the great difficulty in the production of test phenomena,— its great limitations, the need of cooperation of many spirits, the constant interference of a few spirits &c.— allpointing, I think, to the probability that almost all the cases of the alleged imposture by acknowledged mediums are really due to the agency of low & irresponsible spirits.

This leads me to refer to what I learnt when at Dr Wallace's, Harley St. last week, when Mr. Glendenning called & told us about the failure of the Sp.Phot. experiment at Crookes', when numbers of persons (seven [2] he said) & many cameras were present against the express wish of himself & the medium. More sad however is the fact (if a fact) that Col. Taylor is bringing a charge of imposture against Duguid,— which I should as soon believe as a similar charge against Stainton Moses, or against Barrett, Sidgwick or any other person above suspicion.

I am in great hopes that the publication of your paper may do something to show people the delicacy & complexity of the phenomena, that so many of them think are to be properly tested only by their own selected test, & no other. What a wonderful amount of valuable & instructive matter there must be in those note books of S.M.! How grandly "imperator" stands out against the often petty, and unreasonable, and even rude criticisms & remarks of the writer!

I think your illustration of the possible mode of production of many physical phenomena by the sorting Demon of Maxwell, is very much to the point,— but it is only an illustration, and the actual method may be quite different.

One more small criticism. Do not carry your use of metaphor rather to an excess in this paper? Some are so remote that they do not seem to me to elucidate the argument. But on the whole your paper is ^a very fine and suggestive one.

Yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace