WCP4772

[1]

Pen-y-bryn, St. Peter’s Road, Croydon.

Dec[embe]^r. 13th. 1880

My dear Mr. Sergeant

Many thanks for the copy of your book on "The Scientific Basis of Spiritualism", which you have been so good as to instruct your publisher to send me. I have just finished reading it, and have been exceedingly pleased with it. I may congratulate you on having produced the most judicious, thoughtful, and complete work on the subject in its latest developments, and one which I [2] am sure will produce a great effect on every thoughtful person who carefully reads it. Your chapter replying to Wundt¹ is one of the most thorough and crushing pieces of criticism I have ever read, and that on J. L. Stephen is equally good; while your various remarks on the use and abuse of Spiritualism, on Trance Speakers, on impostures, & on every other subject, are calculated to remove[?] many prejudices and [3] misconceptions even among spiritualists.

I shall strongly recommend your book to all who wish to know something of the weight of evidence for the phenomena of Spiritualism and the nature of the vast[?] issues it involves; and it will further serve to show to such persons how it is that the numerous alleged exposures & impostures produce no effect whatsoever on those who have satisfied themselves by independent investigation of the reality and [4] importance of the fact.

Wishing your book a very large circulation, and yourself many years and good health to further the great Cause we both have so much at heart, —

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

Epes Sergeant Esq.

P.S.I enclose one of my last cartes — which I think I sent you before.

ARW