WCP2551

[1]¹

The Orchard, Esher, Surrey

May 12 :[18]67.

My Dear Sir,

Might I beg of you the great favour of admitting to one of your little Seances when Miss Nicoll¹ is with you, my friend D^r Mevert of Hamburg?¹ He is extremely desirous of seeing some spiritual manifestations in an authentic quarter. He speaks extremely good English, and is quite disposed to a belief in spiritual agency. He is only remaining a week or two at present [2] in England, so that if you could so far oblige him, and at an early date you will verify the — "Bis dat qui cito dat [Latin: He who gives swiftly gives twice]."

We saw Mr Coleman's² remarks on past presentations of Nicoll at your séances. We have been too much occupied with [1 word illeg] of all facts to have had much desire of seeing anything but him and their manifestations.

Mrs Howitt³ desires me to say that some time when they [3] are in your neighbourhood, she would be much obliged if you would allow her to bring our daughter⁴ to see your butterflies and other South American collection of natural objects, as she has been much interested in your wanderings with Mr Bates⁵in the Amazon.

With our kind regards to Mrs Wallace⁶, Mrs Sims⁷ and Miss Nicholl, I remain, Dear Sir, | Yours faithfully | William Howitt [signature]

A. R. Wallace Esq. (Over)

[4] [One illeg. word] as we hear of Miss Nicholl['s] trip at Hampton Wick she intends doing herself the pleasure of calling on Lu.⁸

Did you produce any effect on Professor Tyndall?⁹