144 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. V 



investigation into spiritualistic manifestations, he 

 replied : 



I regret that I am unable to accept the invitation of 

 the Committee of the Dialectical Society to co-operate 

 with a committee for the investigation of " Spiritualism " ; 

 and for two reasons. In the first place, I have not time 

 for such an inquiry, which would involve much trouble 

 and (unless it were unlike all inquiries of that kind I 

 have known) much annoyance. In the second place, 

 I take no interest in the subject. The only case of 

 " Spiritualism " I have had the opportunity of examining 

 into for myself, was as gross an imposture as ever came 

 under my notice. But supposing the phenomena to be 

 genuine they do not interest me. If anybody would 

 endow me with the faculty of listening to the chatter of 

 old women and curates in the nearest cathedral town. 

 I should decline the privilege, having better things to do. 

 And if the folk in the spiritual world do not talk more 

 wisely and sensibly than their friends report them to do, 

 I put them in the same category. The only good that I 

 can see in the demonstration of the truth of " Spiritualism" 

 is to furnish an additional argument against suicide. 

 Better live a crossing-sweeper than die and be made to 

 talk twaddle by a " medium " hired at a guinea a seance^ 



To the report above mentioned, Prof. G. Darwin, 

 who also was present, added one or two notes and 

 corrections. 



EEPORT ON SEANCE 



.Jan. 27, 1874. 



We met in a small room at the top of the house with 

 a window capable of being completely darkened by a 



1 Quoted from a review in the Daily News, October 17, 1871, 

 of the Report on Spiritualism of the Committee of the London 

 Dialectical Society. 



