WCP3000

[1]

May 19: 68.

Dear Mr Wallace,

So you are now lazing at Hurst Pierpoint! My daughter, Mrs Watts,¹ and her husband² have been staying about a week at Sealands Gate, near Roberts Bridge, and you might have seen each other, and had some [illeg.] and tell, but they leave to day.

Mr Wm. Wilkinson³ has taken up the correspondence in the Pall Pall [sic], and has written a letter to Professor Tyndall⁴ [2] whilst he sent to him, in order that the letter and [illeg.] might appear together. I am sorry that he did not send it direct to the Pall Mall as that would have allowed the public mind to be digesting it, and would have compelled Prof. Tyndall's immediate notice of it.

There has also been a very silly and characteristically conceited letter from Palgrave.⁵ How astounding is the [illeg.] of English literary men of what such millions know familiarly. Because they are ignorant they think [3] everyone is the same, and that this Spiritualism is some new and contemptible thing just beginning to move in a corner. As Mr. Wilkinson has taken up the subject of course, I shall not move on it: but as it is taken up, it is very [illeg.] that the points just refer to [illeg.] the well put before the public. I have waged these strongly on Wilkinson, who was down here on Sunday, and I trust they will be and dwelt on.

On Thursday, the day after tomorrow, the vice-chancellor gives his decision in Lyon & Harve of course it will be against Harve. Wil [4] kinson says he keeps up his spirits wonderfully. Have you seen the account of the five phenomena which have exhibited at all Mr Jenkyn's⁶ at Upper Norwood? They are in the last Sp. Mag. and are very extraordinary.

I should be glad to find you taking up the cause of Spiritualism in some of the Journals now. You would do it well. I return you Faraday’s⁷ Letter and Mr. Varley’s⁸ affidavit with my best thanks. I shall have them in time of the Journals.

Yours faithfully | William Howitt⁹ [signature]

Alfred Wallace