1853.] Experimental Investigation of Table-Moving. 385 



and public communications have shown it to be so ; but their 

 number is almost as nothing to the great body who have believed 

 and borne testimony, as I think, in the cause of error. I do 

 not here refer to the distinction of those who agree with me 

 and those who differ. By the great body, I mean such as reject 

 all consideration of the equality of cause and effect, who refer 

 the results to electricity and magnetism, yet know nothing of 

 the laws of these forces, or to attraction, yet show no phe- 

 nomena of pure attractive power, or to the rotation of the earth, 

 as if the earth revolved round the leg of a table, or to some 

 unrecognized physical force, without inquiring whether the 

 known forces are not sufficient, or who even refer them to 

 diabolical or supernatural agency, rather than suspend their 

 judgment, or acknowledge to themselves that they are not 

 learned enough in these matters to decide on the nature of the 

 action. I think the system of education that could leave the 

 mental condition of the public body in the state in which this 

 subject has found it, must have been greatly deficient in some 

 very important principle. 



I am, Sir, your very obedient Servant, 

 Royal Institution, June 28, 1853. M. FARADAY. 



Experimental Investigation of Table- Moving*. 

 THE object which I had in view in this inquiry was not to 

 satisfy myself, for my conclusion had been formed already on 

 the evidence of those who had turned tables ; but that I 

 might be enabled to give a strong opinion, founded on facts, 

 to the many who applied to me for it. Yet the proof which I 

 sought for, and the method followed in the inquiry, were 

 precisely of the same nature as those which I should adopt in 

 any other physical investigation. The parties with whom I 

 have worked were very honourable, very clear in their inten- 

 tions, successful table-movers, very desirous of succeeding in 

 establishing the existence of a peculiar power, thoroughly 

 candid, and very effectual. It is with me a clear point that the 

 table moves when the parties, though they strongly wish it, do 

 not intend, and do not believe that they move it by ordinary 

 mechanical power. They say, the table draws their hands ; 

 * Athemeum, July 2, 1853. 



