My dear Wallace,—­ ...  Just now I am engaged in a correspondence with the Secretaries of the Society for Psychical Research on the question of the Presidency for next year.  I maintain that as a matter of duty to the Society you should be asked to accept the Presidency, though of course it would be impossible for you to be much more than an Honorary President, as we could not expect you often to come to London.  I am anxious that in our records for future reference your Presidency should appear....  Podmore, who is proposed as President, represents the attitude of resolute incredulity, and I consider this line of action has been to some extent injurious to the S.P.R.  Crookes supported my proposal, and so did Lodge, and so would Myers if he had lived.  All this is of course between ourselves....

I have a vast amount of material unpublished on “dowsing” and am convinced the explanation is subconscious clairvoyance....—­Yours very sincerely,

W.F.  BARRETT.

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TO MRS. FISHER

Broadstone, Wimborne.  April 20, 1906.

My dear Mrs. Fisher,—­If you mean “honest” by “thoroughly reliable,” there are plenty of such mediums, but if you mean those who give equally good results always, and to all persons, I should say there are none....

I am reading Herbert Spencer’s “Autobiography” (just finished Vol.  I.).  I find it very interesting, though tedious in parts.  I am glad I did not read it before I wrote mine.  He certainly brings out his own character most strikingly, and a wonderful character it was.  How extraordinarily little he owed either to teaching or to reading!  I think he is best described as a “reasoning genius.”—­Yours very truly,

ALFRED R. WALLACE.

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LORD AVEBURY TO A.R.  WALLACE

48 Grosvenor Street, W. May 1, 1910.

My dear Wallace,—­I have been reading your biography with great interest.  It must be a source of very pleasant memories to you to look back and feel how much you have accomplished.

It surprises me, however, how much we differ, and it is another illustration of the problems [?] of our (or rather I should say of my) intellect.

In some cases, indeed, the difference is as to facts.

You would, I am sure, for instance, find that you have been misinformed as to “thousands of dogs” being vivisected annually (p. 392)....  As to Spiritualism, my difficulty is that nothing comes of it.  What has been gained by your seances, compared to your studies?

I see you have a kindly reference to our parties at High Elms in old days, on which I often look back with much pleasure, but much regret also.

If you would give us the pleasure of another visit, do propose yourself, and you will have a very hearty welcome from yours very sincerely,