WCP3003

[1]^{1, 2}

9, St. Mark’s Crescent, N.W.

July 9th. 1868

Dear Sir

When your letter & those of Professor Tyndall³ appeared in the Pall Mall Gazette in May last,⁴ I wrote a reply to both, containing both arguments and facts on the other side. Neither of these letters (nor, as I now know those of other Spiritualists), were allowed ^permitted to appear; and I therefore wish you to know ^{be aware} that such were written. When one side of a question only is allowed to be heard, it is easy for the worse to seem the better reason.

If Prof. Tyndall has not shewn⁵ you the letter he received from Mr. C[romwell]. Varley⁶, you can see it in the [2] "Spiritual Magazine" for June (price 6.^d) which also contains one from another electrician Mr J[ohn]. Hawkins Simpson,⁷ who had ^{Both have} examined the phenomena in detail and are satisfied they are genuine.⁸ Such being the case I think you sh[ould] withdraw your imputation, that examination by scientific men is never permitted, as publickly⁹ as it was made.¹⁰

Allow me to tell you that ^{say further that} such tests & results as you narrate in your letter are familiar to all spiritualists. I myself have had scores and hundreds ^{of answers} equally or even more absurd; and the fact that they do not in the slightest [3] degree stagger us, but are on the contrary just what we should ^{on our theory must be} expected often to occur, ought to ^{should I think} convince you that you really know nothing of the general nature of the phenomenon as a whole, and are therefore ^{these are but a very small portion of the phenomenon and that those persons who have witnessed such only are} not in a position to form a ^correct judgement upon the whole question.

Phenomena ^Facts such as Mr. Varley relates, & other much ^even more wonderful which any one who chooses to study the subject ^potentially may witness, stand on their own merits, and demand a fair and candid investigation [4] before being denied or ignored.

I remain | Dear Sir | Yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

G. H. Lewes Esq.