WCP2543

[1]

91 Adelaide Road

NW

Nov^r 28/ [18]66

Dear Sir

I am much obliged to you for your little work¹, which is well adapted to excite inquiry. But I doubt whether inquiry by men of science would lead to any result. There is much reason to think that the state of mind of the inquirer has something — be it internal or external — to do with the power of the phenomena to manifest themselves. This I take to be one of² [2] the phenomena — to be associated with the rest in inquiry into cause. It may be a consequence of action of incredulous feeling on the nervous system of the recipient; or it may be that the volition — say the spirit if you like — finds difficulty in communicating with a repellent organization — or maybe is offended. Be it which it may — there is the fact.

Now the man of science comes to the subject in utter incredulity of the phenomena, and a wish [3] to justify it. I think it very possible that the phenomena may be withheld. In some cases this has happened, as I have heard from good sources.

I have had students, a couple dozen in my life, whose effort always was how not to see it. As I, their informing spirit, was under contract to make them see it if I could — which the spirits we are speaking of are not — I generally succeeded in convincing them. In their minds I have studied — with power of experiment arranged by myself— the [4] character of the man of science.

D'Alembert³ said, speaking of mathematics — of all things — En avant et la foi viendra [French: forward and faith will come]. But I doubt if the man of science of our day can persuade himself of a possibility of his fifth attempt destroying the effect of the failure of the first four.

Your book will set many rational persons suspecting they ought to inquire[.]

Yours faithfully | A De Morgan [signature]