382 On Table-turning. [1853. 



perature of snow in a thawing state. The experiment, however, 

 would require much consideration in every point of view, and 

 much care before it could be considered as telling anything 

 beyond the temperature of ice-cold water. 



On the other hand, if a spherical cup of ice could be pre- 

 pared containing water within, to which no heat could pass 

 except by conduction through the ice itself, that water ought 

 to be a little colder than the ice cup around it: also if a 

 mixture of snow and water were pressed together, the tempe- 

 rature should rise whenever regelation occurred, being an effect 

 in the contrary direction to that which Prof. J. Thomson con- 

 templates ; and such a mixture, as a whole, ought to be warmer 

 than the water in the ice sphere mentioned above. No doubt 

 nice experiment will hereafter enable us to criticise such results 

 as these, and separating the true from the untrue, will establish 

 the correct theory of regelation. 



September, 1858. 



On Table-turning*. 

 To the Editor of the Times. 



SIR, I have recently been engaged in the investigation of table- 

 turning. I should be sorry that you should suppose I thought 

 this necessary on my own account, for my conclusion respecting 

 its nature was soon arrived at, and is not changed ; but I have 

 been so often misquoted, and applications to me for an opinion 

 are so numerous, that I hoped, if I enabled myself by experi- 

 ment to give a strong one, you would consent to convey it to all 

 persons interested in the matter. The effect produced by table- 

 turners has been referred to electricity, to magnetism, to 

 attraction, to some unknown or hitherto unrecognized physical 

 power able to affect inanimate bodies to the revolution of the 

 earth, and even to diabolical or supernatural agency. The 

 natural philosopher can investigate all these supposed causes 

 but the last ; that must, to him, be too much connected with 

 credulity or superstition to require any attention on his part. 

 The investigation would be too long in description to obtain a 

 place in your columns. I therefore purpose asking admission 



* Times, June 30, 1853. 



