1871-] of a New Force. 347 



at my house, and the results were as negative as those at 

 St. Petersburg. Instead, however, of throwing up the 

 inquiry, we patiently repeated the trial a second and a third 

 time, when we met with results which were positive. 



These conclusions have not been arrived at hastily or 

 on insufficient evidence. Although space will allow only 

 the publication of the details of one trial, it must be 

 clearly understood that for some time past I have been 

 making similar experiments and with like results. The 

 meeting on the occasion here described was for the purpose 

 of confirming previous observations by the application of 

 crucial tests, with carefully arranged apparatus, and in the 

 presence of irreproachable witnesses. 



Respecting the cause of these phenomena, the nature 

 of the force to which, to avoid periphrasis, I have ventured 

 to give the name of Psychic, and the correlation existing 

 between that and the other forces of nature, it would be 

 wrong to hazard the most vague hypothesis. Indeed, in 

 enquiries connected so intimately with rare physiological 

 and psychological conditions, it is the duty of the enquirer 

 to abstain altogether from framing theories until he has 

 accumulated a sufficient number of facts to form a substantial 

 basis upon which to reason. In the presence of strange 

 phenomena as yet unexplored and unexplained following 

 each other in such rapid succession, I confess it is difficult 

 to avoid clothing their record in language of a sensational 

 character. But to be successful an enquiry of this kind 

 must be undertaken by the philosopher without prejudice 

 and without sentiment. Romantic and superstitious ideas 

 should be entirely banished, and the steps of his investi- 

 gation should be guided by intellect as cold and passionless 

 as the instruments he uses. Having once satisfied himself 

 that he is on the track of a new truth, that single object 

 should animate him to pursue it, without regarding whether 

 the facts which occur before his eyes are "naturally possible 

 or impossible." 



Since this article was in type, the Author has been 

 favoured with the following letters from Dr, Huggins and 

 Mr. Serjeant Cox — the Dr. A. B. and Serjeant C. D. therein 

 referred to : — 



Upper Tulse Hill, S.W., 



June g, 1871. 



Dear Mr. Crookes, — Your proof appears to me to contain 

 a correct statement of what took place in my presence at 

 your house. My position at the table did not permit me to 



