WCP4337

[1]

Rosehill, Dorking

Nov[ember]. 9th. 1877

My dear Sir

As to Cyclones &c. the best way to see the most recent practical work would be to go to some good nautical instrument ^{and chart} seller. For a popular good work I should say Flammarion's "Atmosphere"¹ translated and Edited by Glaisher² would be the very thing. Guyot's³ works are "The Earth & Man" — and "Physical Geography". I do not know of any specially on Cyclones.

I think you must have misunderstood Sidgwick's⁴ opinions as to the result of his researches on Spiritualism[.] [2] His letter to me led me to understand that he was himself quite satisfied of the persuasiveness of the phenomena, but that he had not yet certain absolute tests, he wanted before making any public statement. Any how I cannot believe that 3 or 4 highly intelligent men could have "hundreds" of seánces and yet no result whatever. Either the thing is all imposture or there is some reality. Does he mean to say they have not (to themselves) decided that question? I cannot [3] believe ^but that even in a dozen sittings let alone a hundred, they would have absolutely detected imposture had it been there. And if any of the phenomena (of course I speak of the phenomena which must be either imposture or outside of modern science) are true then they have got beyond D^r. Carpenter⁵. You must remember however that they took up the very end of the enquiry instead of the beginning,— & the materializations (so-called) are the most puzzling & most delicate of all the phenomena. No wonder then if they have not yet [4] absolute proofs of all they wish. I am having a series of such seánces now with a friend, I hope to get some absolute test soon. ⁶ I had one seánce with Monck⁷ & saw an [sic] sp[irit]. form come out of his side, become quite detached, move, clap its hands, — and disappear at his side again!! I wish Sidgwick & his party would publish what they have done giving — a. the positive results — b. the negative results. c. the proof of any of imposture or delusion.

Have you read D^r. Carpenter's gross attack on Crookes⁸ & myself in this month's "Fraser" — in wh[ich] magazine there will be an answer from me next month that will be still more severe than that in Q. J. of Sc⁹. I think he has this time ruined his reputation(, if he has any) for honesty & truth.

I fear I cannot come to you at present, being very busy.

Believe me | Yours faithfully | Alfred. R. Wallace [signature]

D^r. Ingleby¹⁰