1871.] of a New Force. 341 



neath it. In another room were two Grove's cells, wires 

 being led from them into the dining-room for connection 

 if desirable with the wire surrounding the cage. 



The accordion was a new one, having been purchased for 

 these experiments at Wheatstone's, in Conduit Street. 

 Mr. Home had neither handled nor seen the instrument 

 before the commencement of the test experiments. 



In another part of the room an apparatus was fitted up 

 for experimenting on the alteration in the weight of a body. 

 It consisted of a mahogany board, 36 inches long by gj- inches 

 wide and 1 inch thick. At each end a strip of mahogany 

 i^- inches wide was screwed on, forming feet. One end of 

 the board rested on a firm table, whilst the other end was 

 supported by a spring balance hanging from a substantial 

 tripod stand. The balance was fitted with a self-registering 

 index, in such a manner that it would record the maximum 

 weight indicated by the pointer. The apparatus was 

 adjusted so that the mahogany board was horizontal, its 

 foot resting flat on the support. In this position its weight 

 was 3 lbs., as marked by the pointer of the balance. 



Before Mr. Home entered the room the apparatus had 

 been arranged in position, and he had not even had the 

 object of some of it explained before sitting down. It may, 

 perhaps, be worth while to add, for the purpose of anticipa- 

 ting some critical remarks which are likely to be made, that 

 in the afternoon I called for Mr. Home at his apartments, 

 and when there he suggested that as he had to change 

 his dress, perhaps I should not object to continue our con- 

 versation in his bedroom. I am, therefore, enabled to state 

 positively, that no machinery, apparatus, or contrivance of 

 any sort was secreted about his person. 



The investigators present on the test occasion were an 

 eminent physicist, high in the ranks of the Royal Society, 

 whom I will call Dr. A. B. ; a well-known Serjeant-at-Law, 

 whom I will call Serjeant C. D. ; my brother; and my 

 chemical assistant.* 



Mr. Home sat in a low easy chair at the side of the table. 

 Close in front under the table was the aforesaid cage, one of 



* It argues ill for the boasted freedom of opinion among scientific men, that 

 they have so long refused to institute a scientific investigation into the 

 existence and nature of facts asserted by so many competent and credible 

 witnesses, and which they are freely invited to examine when and where they 

 please. For my own part I too much value the pursuit of truth, and the 

 discovery of any new fact in nature, to avoid enquiry because it appears to 

 clash with prevailing opinions. But as I have no right to assume that others 

 are equally willing to do this, I refrain from mentioning the names of my 

 friends without their permission. 



