WCP3004

[1]

Fleetwood House,

Beckenham, Kent

28 Jan^y 1869

My dear Sir,

I have just returned from Italy — I saw D^r Tyndall¹ after he received my letter and had a long conversation with him.

He believes us all to be mistaken — he has been to more than one spiritual séance, where the twaddle of ignorant people and the flatteries of unadvanced spirits [2] [p. 2] disgusted him.

He is prejudiced against M^r Home²and I am not surprised at it, after his unfortunate experience.

D^r Tyndall was very fair and in my humble opinion only sceptical to a proper degree.

Could we ensure a good séance — Tyndall would come to it — He would be convinced, I have not the slightest doubt — for he is a very truthful earnest man and [3] [p. 3] once convinced, he would tell the whole truth to the public.

Since my visit to him M^rs Varley's³ mediumship has changed and we are getting physical manifestations — the only people present being 3 members of our own family, and a M^r Harrison⁴ & M^rs Varley's maid.

This circle is not yet powerful enough for the presence of strangers, and the spirits request me to remain absent, as my brain is too active [4] [p. 4] for this not yet fully developed circle.

When once it is in my power to show to so active a brain as Tyndall's, with any chance of success, the spiritual phenomena, I shall call upon him.

We⁵, spiritualists, should remember, that the way in which ^science has reached its present brilliant position has been though our philosophers doubting, disbelieving and testing everything until further disbelief was impossible.

We, priveleged [sic] ones, owe it to the world to present spiritualism to them in a manner, so clearly defined and demonstrated, that [5] [p. 5] those, who follow us, shall be able to make themselves as much masters of the subject as we are.

What is wanted is to bring together a large number of harmonious mediums to form of these, several circles of different characters & if possible to secure the assistance of several clairvoyantes.

Each circle should be under the management of a clever man, and each should carry on a continuous & exhaustive examination of the ground work of the subject. Once [6] [p. 6] establish a clue to the relations existing between the physical forces known to us and those forces, by which the spirits are sometimes able to call into play those forces, by which they produce physical phenomena — once establish this clue there will be no lack of investigations and the whole subject will assume a rational & intelligible shape to the outside world.

We must also remember [7] that, for this purpose, we not only require good investigating minds & bodies of flesh and blood but also spirits of a similar character to communicate with.

With regard to the latter part of your letter — I have been recently contemplating publishing a few of the more striking experiences, which I have had — if so — I shall take them before a magistrate and [8] declare them to be true, in the fullest and most complete manner possible for the benefit of those, who may read them.

If all, who had remarkable phenomena well witnessed, would put them upon record in the same manner, so overwhelming an amount of evidence would rapidly be accumulated as would attract the attention of all earnest people[.]

I am, my dear Sir, | very truly yours | C.F. Varley [signature]