WCP3421

[1]

New Harmony,¹

Indiana,

U.S.A.

April 27, 1872.

My dear Sir:

It is but rarely that an author has the satisfaction I have felt in reading your review of the "Debatable Land" in the April No. of the Journal of Science,² kindly sent to me by M^r. Crookes³ & which I have just received. I do think it would be difficult to present a fairer, more effective or more attractive view of my argument. It is ^marks an era in the progress of spiritual Epiphanism⁴, when such an article finds prominent place in a scientific periodical of such standing.

[2] [p. 2] Perhaps I may be able to make some slight return for the kindness with which you have treated my life ^work, by putting you in the way of further investigation.

There is a popular objection — not without some shew⁵ of reason — against evidence obtained through the agency of so-called professional "mediums", or "psychics", as I think M^r Cox⁶ phrases it. But I have an opportunity of offering you an introduction to a lady⁷, still young I believe, whose sole connection with Spiritualism is of a strictly private ^character, prompted by an earnest conviction of the importance of its phenomena. I [3] [p. 3] have not had the pleasure of her personal acquaintance; but have letters regarding her from two friends; [one illeg. word crossed out] M^rs Brigham, of Boston,^{8 intimately known to me,} daughter of one of ^the most distinguished Methodist clergyman of New England⁹; and General Robert Allen,¹⁰ of the Quarter Master General General's Office ^Department, at Washington.

M^rs. Brigham speaks of her in the highest terms, as a medium dear friend of hers; a widow lady from California, wealthy & well-connected, who had last sailed for London on a visit to her deceased husband's relatives; & "one of the most remarkable mediums she had ever [4] seen or heard of; but, she adds: she goes to London as a lady, not as a "medium", & I have thought she it might be a source of pleasure & advantage to some of the scientific men who side with M^r Crookes, to have an opportunity of meeting her."

General Allen, who has known this lady for more than six years & who has frequently, during that time, had the privilege of private séances with her, speaks of her powers even more strongly. He regards her as "the best medium the world [one illeg. word crossed out] ^has ever seen", but, not knowing the [5] [p. 5] extent of his experience, I cannot say whether he exaggerates or not. He writes to me:

"I beg you to understand that I do not desire, through your kind offices, to introduce M^rs. Samson to spiritual "mediums", but that you may, if you think well of it, send to some of the leading Spiritualists of London letters of introduction to her. She has a "holy horror" of professional "sisters"; & whether just or not, her prejudices cannot be overcome."

He gives me some items in regard to the phase of her mediumship, as he has observed it:

"One phase in her writing confou confounds me. Suppose you are sitting facing her at [the] table: she places, or you may place, a virgin sheet of white paper flat on the table. She dips a pen in ink & hands it to you. Both of you fix y[ou]^r attention on the paper say for 30 seconds. The paper does not move; not the slightest noise is heard. At the end of the half-minute you turn over the sheet of paper [6] [p. 6] & lo! a communication, perfectly legible, covering the entire page: words & sentences following each other in the natural order, from left to right, & the ink yet damp on the letters."

Another phase is "putting out the gas lights in a house, without human agency." On one occasion, when he "spent the entire evening experimenting, the jets were put out one at a time, two at a time or any other combination called for."

He says further: "In San Francisco M^rs Samson's power became so great over lights, that from her room in a hotel she put them out in my house, quarter of a mile distant. That she will have like control in the atmosphere of London I cannot promise; but I am desirous she should try."

M^rs. Brigham writes me that real flowers have come to her through M^rs. Samson's agency & that M^rs. S[amson]. frequently has raised letters come upon her arm.

[7] [p. 7] The address of the lady is: M^rs. A. B. Samson, at M^rs Madame Lucet's, 24 C Gloucester Crescent, Hyde Park. I have already written to her that, in accordance with her friends' suggestions & her own permission, I should send to some earnest scientific gentlemen, interested in spiritual research, letters of introduction to her: so that if you & M^r Crookes see fit to present the letters I herewith enclose,¹¹ she will be prepared to receive you. You will be able to judge whether it is best that M^r. Cox, D^r. Huggins,^{12 Lord Lindsay, 13 Lord Dunraven, 14 Mr Varley, 15} or others should also be presented to this [8] lady. M^rs. Brigham writes me that M^rs S[amson]. will probably return to the United States about the end of June next[.]

I enclose, in case it may interest you, an address recently delivered by me to an overflowing audience in one of the principal cities of the State.¹⁶ The positions there taken have been sustained by our spiritual papers. The stand taken by the ^leading fashionable organ of New York is significant.

My address is Care of Mess^rs. G. W. Carleton & C^o Publishers,¹⁷ Madison Square, New York. Please express my thanks to M^r Crookes for the Journal.

Faithfully yours | Robert Dale Owen [signature]

Alfred R. Wallace Esq—