94 Notes of an Enquiry into the [January, 
through a solid substance. Thereupon a message was given 
by means of the alphabet: ‘‘It is impossible for matter to 
pass through matter, but we will show you what we can do.” 
We waited in silence. Presently a luminous appearance 
was seen hovering over the bouquet of flowers, and then, in 
full view of all present, a piece of china-grass 15 inches 
long, which formed the centre ornament of the bouquet, 
slowly rose from the other flowers, and then descended 
to the table in front of the vase between it and Mr. Home. 
It did not stop on reaching the table, but went straight 
through it, and we all watched it till it had entirely 
passed through. Immediately on the disappearance of the 
grass, my wife, who was sitting near Mr. Home, saw a hand 
come up from under the table between them, holding the 
piece of grass. It tapped her on the shoulder two or three 
times with a sound audible to all, then laid the grass on the 
floor, and disappeared. Only two persons saw the hand, 
but all in the room saw the piece of grass moving about as 
I have described. During the time this was taking place, 
Mr. Home’s hands were seen by all to be quietly resting on 
the table in front of him. ‘The place where the grass dis- 
appeared was 18 inches from his hands. The table wasa 
telescope dining-table, opening with a screw; there was no 
leaf in it, and the junction of the two sides formed a narrow 
crack down the middle. The grass had passed through this 
chink, which I measured, and found to be barely 3th inch 
wide. The stem of the piece of grass was far too thick to 
enable me to force it through this crack without injuring it, 
yet we had all seen it pass through quietly and smoothly ; 
and on examination, it did not show the slightest signs of 
pressure or abrasion. 
THEORIES TO ACCOUNT FOR THE PHENOMENA OBSERVED. 
First Theory—The phenomena are all the results of 
tricks, clever mechanical arrangements, or legerdemain; the 
mediums are impostors, and the rest of the company fools. 
It is obvious that this theory can only account for a very 
small proportion of the facts observed. I am willing to 
admit that some so-called mediums of whom the public 
bave heard much are arrant impostors who have taken 
advantage of the public demand for spiritualistic excitement 
to fill their purses with easily earned guineas ; whilst others 
who have no pecuniary motive for imposture are tempted 
to cheat, it would seem, solely by a desire for notoriety. I 
have met with several cases of imposture, some very ingenious, 
others so palpable, that no person who has witnessed the 
