Ixv 



working in the light, can show me a hand, either writing or not, or in any 

 way make themselves visibly manifest to me — whenever these things are 

 done, or anything which a conjuror cannot do better, or, rising to higher 

 proofs, whenever the spirits describe their own nature, and, like honest spi- 

 rits, say what they can do, or pretending, as their supporters do, that they 

 can act on ordinary matter whenever they initiate action, and so make 

 themselves manifest, — whenever by such-like signs they come to me and 

 ask my attention to them, I will give it. But until some of these things 

 be done, I have no more time to spare for them or their believers, or for 

 correspondence about them." 



At the end of the year he was asked by Mr. Cole to be a Vice-President 

 of the Albert Hall. He replied : — " I have just returned from Brighton, to 

 which place my doctor had sent me under nursing care. Hence the delay 

 in answering your letter, for I was unaware of it until my return. Now, 

 as to my acceptance of the honour you propose to me. With my rapidly 

 failing faculties, ought I to accept it ? You shall decide. Remember that 

 I was obliged to decline lecturing before Her Majesty and the Royal 

 Family at Osborne ; that I have declined and am declining the Presidency 

 of the Royal Society, the Royal Institution, and other bodies ; declaring 

 myself unfit to undertake any reponsibility or duty even in the smallest 

 degree. Would it not therefore be inconsistent to allow my name to 

 appear amongst those of the effectual men who delight, as I should 

 have done under other circumstances, to honour in every way the me- 

 mory of our most gracious and regretted leader? These are my diffi- 

 culties. It is only the name and the remembrance of His Royal High- 

 ness which would have moved me from a long-taken resolution." 



Mr. Cole decided, "without a moment's doubt," that he was to be a 

 Vice-President. 



To a friend he writes : — " I find myself less and less fit for communi- 

 cation with society, even in a meeting of family — brothers and sisters. I 

 cannot keep pace in recollection with the conversation, and so have to 

 sit silent and taciturn. Feeling this condition of things, I keep myself 

 out of the way of making an exposure of myself." 



He was made Foreign Associate of the Royal Academy of Sciences, 

 Naples. 



Mt. 73 (1865). 



He made his last report for the Trinity House in May this year on 

 St. Bees Light. 



He wrote to the Deputy Master: — "I write to put myself plainly be- 

 fore you in respect of the matter about which I called two days ago. 

 At the request of the then Deputy Master I joined the Trinity House 

 in February 1836, now near upon thirty years since. I find that time has 

 had its usual effect upon me, and that I have lost the power of remem- 

 bering and also of other sorts, and I desire to relieve my mind. Can this 



vol. xvii. e 



