WCP3456

[1]

Queen's Chambers,

Adelaide

14 Nov 1891

A. R. Wallace Esq

Dear sir,

I have received your favour¹ of 18 Sep. dealing with Miss Houghtons² account of Hudson's³ spirit photographs —

With respect to her 'Chronicles' I must say that I was not favorably impressed with her, her original matter gives one the idea of a very soft woman, almost an idiot, but she could not help her book being interesting, as she quotes a great deal from the spiritualistic newspapers & gives copies of several letters from parties who had had successful settings — Her report of the obtaining of the picture of Mrs Guppy,⁴ child & spirit seemed however circumstantial enough to require me to notice it — was not Mr Guppy⁵ as well as Hudson charged with trickery in connection with these [2] matters? I fancy that I am not clear that I have seen something in print to that effect —

I am much obliged by your offer to show me the two cartes, if I ever visit England, but I have them already, also that of yourself & mother, Mr Hudson⁶ & Thurston⁷ & three others — all of which came to me through Christian Reiners⁸ — poor old man! He was in spite of his native genius, as innocent as a child, and was served several very shabby tricks in Adelaide by those who consider spiritualism a fair subject for sport. However his earthly troubles are over, he died some two years ago, I think in the Red Sea on a voyage to Europe —

Yours sincerely, | Edward A D Opie⁹ [signature]