iate, to an
extraordinary degree, the testimony of even veracious persons. Hence
my desire to witness those extraordinary phenomena, the existence of
which seemed placed beyond a doubt by the known veracity of those who
had witnessed and described them. The meeting took place at a private
residence in the neighbourhood of London. My host, his intelligent
wife, and a gentleman who may be called X, were in the house when I
arrived. I was informed that the 'medium' had not yet made her
appearance; that she was sensitive, and might resent suspicion. It
was therefore requested that the tables and chairs should be examined
before her arrival, in order to be assured that there was no trickery
in the furniture. This was done; and I then first learned that my
hospitable host had arranged that the seance should be a dinner-party.
This was to me an unusual form of investigation; but I accepted it, as
one of the accidents of the occasion.

The 'medium' arrived--a delicate-looking young lady, who appeared to
have suffered much from ill health. I took her to dinner and sat
close beside her. Facts were absent for a considerable time, a series
of very wonderful narratives supplying their place. The duty of
belief on the testimony of witnesses was frequently insisted on. X.
appeared to be a chosen spiritual agent, and told us many surprising
things. He affirmed that, when he took a pen in his hand, an
influence ran from his shoulder downwards, and impelled him to write
oracular sentences. I listened for a time, offering no observation.
'And now,' continued X, 'this power has so risen as to reveal to me
the thoughts of others. Only this morning I told a friend what he was
thinking of, and what he intended to do during the day.' Here, I
thought, is something that can be at once tested. I said immediately
to X: 'If you wish to win to your cause an apostle, who will proclaim
your principles to the world from the housetop, tell me what I am now
thinking of.' X. reddened, and did not tell me my thought.

Some time previously I had visited Baron Reichenbach, in Vienna, and I
now asked the young lady who sat beside me, whether she could see any
of the curious things which he describes--the light emitted by
crystals, for example? Here is the conversation which followed, as
extracted from my notes, written on the day following the seance.

Medium.--'Oh, yes; but I see light around all bodies.'

I--'Even in perfect darkness?'