Dear Miss Buckley,—­ ...  You did not hear Mrs. Hardinge[58] on very favourable topics, and I hope you will hear her often again, and especially hear one of her regular discourses.  I think, however, from what you heard, that, setting aside all idea of her being more than a mere spiritualist lecturer setting forth the ideas and opinions of the sect, you will admit that spiritualists, as represented by her, are neither prejudiced nor unreasonable, and that they are truly imbued with the scientific spirit of subordinating all theory to fact.  You will also admit, I think, that the moral teachings of Spiritualism, as far as she touched upon them, are elevated and beautiful and calculated to do good; and if so, that is the use of Spiritualism—­the getting such doctrines of future progress founded on actual phenomena which we can observe and examine now, not on phenomena which are said to have occurred thousands of years ago and of which we have confessedly but imperfect records.

I think, too, that the becoming acquainted with two such phases of Spiritualism as are exhibited by Mrs. Hardinge and Miss Houghton must show you that the whole thing is not to be judged by the common phenomena of public stances alone, and I can assure you that there are dozens of other phases of the subject as remarkable as these two....—­Yours very faithfully,

ALFRED R. WALLACE.

* * * * *

TO MISS BUCKLEY

Holly House.  Barking, E. June 1, 1871.

Dear Miss Buckley,—­ ...  I have lately had a stance with the celebrated Mr. Home, and saw that most wonderful phenomenon an accordion playing beautiful music by itself, the bottom only being held in Mr. Home’s hand.  I was invited to watch it as closely as I pleased under the table in a well-lighted room.  I am sure nothing touched it but Mr. Home’s one hand, yet at one time I saw a shadowy yet defined hand on the keys.  This is too vast a phenomenon for any sceptic to assimilate, and I can well understand the impossibility of their accepting the evidence of their own senses.  Mr. Crookes, F.R.S., the chemist, was present and suspended the table with a spring balance, when it was at request made heavy or light, the indicator moving accordingly, and to prevent any mistake it was made light when the hands of all present were resting on the table and heavy when our hands were all underneath it.  The difference, if I remember, was about 40 lb.  I was also asked to place a candle on the floor and look under the table while it was lifted completely off the floor, Mr. Home’s feet being 2 ft. distant from any part of it.  This was in a lady’s house in the West End.  Mr. Home courts examination if people come to him in a fair and candid spirit of inquiry....—­Yours very faithfully,

ALFRED R. WALLACE.

* * * * *

TO MISS BUCKLEY