346 Experimental Investigation [J ur y? 



action on the balance. Again, it is also evident that when 

 the end furthest from Mr. Home sank, the board would turn on 

 the further edge of this foot as on a fulcrum. The arrange- 

 ment was consequently that of a see-saw, 36 inches in length, 

 the fulcrum being 1 J inches from one end ; were he therefore 

 to have exerted a downward pressure, it would have been in 

 opposition to the force which was causing the other end of 

 the board to move down. 



The slight downward pressure shown by the balance when 

 I stood on the board was owing probably to my foot extending 

 beyond this fulcrum. 



I have now given a plain unvarnished statement of the fa els 

 from copious notes written at the time the occurrences were 

 taking place, and copied out in full immediately after. Indeed, 

 it would be fatal to the object I have in view — that of urging 

 the scientific investigation of these phenomena — were I to 

 exaggerate ever so little ; for although to my readers Dr. 

 A. B. is at present represented by incorporeal initials, to 

 me the letters represent a power in the scientific world that 

 would certainly convict me if I were to prove an untrust- 

 worthy narrator. 



I confess I am surprised and pained at the timidity or 

 apathy shown by scientific men in reference to this subject. 

 Some little time ago, when an opportunity was first presented 

 to me of examining into the subject, I invited the co-operation 

 of some scientific friends in a systematic investigation; but I 

 soon found out that to obtain a scientific committee for the inr 

 vestigation of this class of facts was out of the question, and 

 that I must be content to rely on my own endeavours, aided 

 by the co-operation from time to time of the few scientific 

 and learned friends who were willing to join in the inquiry. 

 I still feel that it would be better were such a committee 

 of known men to be formed, who would meet Mr. Home 

 in a fair and unbiassed manner, and I would gladly assist 

 in its formation ; but the difficulties in the way are great. 



A committee of scientific men met Mr. Home some 

 months ago at St. Petersburg. They had one meeting 

 only, which was attended with negative results ; and on the 

 strength of this they published a report highly unfavour- 

 able to Mr. Home. The explanation of this failure, which is 

 all they have accused him of, appears to me quite simple. 

 Whatever the nature of Mr. Home's power, it is very 

 variable, and at times entirely absent. It is obvious that 

 the Russian experiment was tried when this force was at a 

 minimum. The same thing has frequently happened within 

 my own experience. A party of scientific men met Mr. Home 



