SCIENCE AND THE 'SPIRITS.' 445 



an extraordinary degree, the testimony of even vera- 

 cious persons. Hence my desire to witness those ex- 

 traordinary phenomena, the existence of which seemed 

 placed beyond a doubt by the known veracity of those 

 who had witnessed and described them. The meeting 

 took place at a private residence in the neighbourhood 

 of London. My host, his intelligent wife, and a gentle- 

 man who may be called X., were in the house when I 

 arrived. I was informed that the ' medium ' had not 

 yet made her appearance; that she was sensitive, and 

 might resent suspicion. It was therefore requested 

 that the tables and chairs should be examined before 

 her arrival, in order to be assured that there was no 

 trickery in the furniture. This was done; and I then 

 first learned that my hospitable host had arranged that 

 the seance should be a dinner-party. This was to me 

 an unusual form of investigation; but I accepted it, 

 as one of the accidents of the occasion. 



The ( medium ' arrived a delicate-looking young 

 lady, who appeared to have suffered much from ill- 

 health. I took her to dinner and sat close beside her. 

 Facts were absent for a considerable time, a series of 

 very wonderful narratives supplying their place. The 

 duty of belief on the testimony of witnesses was fre- 

 quently insisted on. X. appeared to be a chosen spir- 

 itual agent, and told us many surprising things. He 

 affirmed that, when he took a pen in his hand, an influ- 

 ence ran from his shoulder downwards, and impelled 

 him to write oracular sentences. I listened for a time, 

 offering no observation. * And now/ continued X., 

 ' this power has so risen as to reveal to me the thoughts 

 of others. Only this morning I told a friend what he 

 was thinking of, and what he intended to do during 

 the day/ Here, I thought, is something that can be 

 at once tested. I said immediately to X.: * If you wish 



