William Stainton Moses - Psychography

PSYCHOGRAPHY:
A TREATISE
ON ONE OF THE OBJECTIVE FORMS
OF
PSYCHIC OR SPIRITUAL PHENOMENA.

[Slate-writing experiments]
By "M.A. (OXON.)"
[Rev. William Stainton Moses 1840-1892]
The text has not been professionally proofed and

experience shows that works of this vintage are likely
to have more than a few errors compared to recent works.
Courtesy of SpiritWritings.com
1878
London:
A testimony is sufficient when it rests on
1. A great number of sensible witnesses, who agree on

having seen clearly.
2. Who are sane, bodily and mentally.
3. Who are impartial and disinterested.
4. Who unanimously agree.
5. Who solemnly certify to the fact.
VOLTAIRE,
(Philosophical Dictionary).
"Never utter these words: 'I do not know this;

therefore it is false.'"
"One must study to know, know to understand,
understand to judge."
NARADA,
(Hindu Philosopher).
PREFACE.
THE following pages are concerned with what has been variously called
Independent, Direct, or Spirit Writing. I have ventured to call it
PSYCHOGRAPHY, a term intelligible in itself, moulded on already
existing words, and expressive of what clumsy periphrases have hitherto
vaguely conveyed.
I was under the impression, when I first applied the term, that it was as
new to the subject as it certainly was to me. I find, however, that I am
using a word which has been before applied; and I am not sorry that I am
only giving extended use to a term which is obviously applicable and
convenient.
My object has been to present within convenient space a record of facts

bearing on one form only of Psychic Phenomena. To this end I have cut
out from the quoted records all that bore upon other phenomena not now
under consideration.
I have desired to present no theory for acceptance. I have, indeed,

enumerated several, and have shown in some cases how far they do or do
not square with observed facts. But I have never presumed to take upon
myself the office of advocate of any. So far have I kept myself from this
that I have, in some cases, ventured to excise expressions of opinion from
quoted records, where it was possible to do so without doing any violence
to the context.
In submitting what I have written to the judgment of my readers, I

profess my own firm belief in the trustworthy nature of the facts recorded,
and my own profound sense
5
6 Preface.
of their far-reaching importance, both on grounds of their intrinsic value,

and as parts of a great system of Psychological Fact and Phenomenon, the
study of which must eventually throw a flood of light on some of the
problems that, in the present day, are at once most interesting and most
perplexing.
That men of trained and practised intellect should be found willing to

devote the assiduous labour of a long life to some minute subject, in the
hope of clearing up one small phase of it, is, from one point of view, a
hopeful and encouraging fact; but it tends to engender thoughts the
reverse of cheerful, when we reflect that this very search after truth in one
of its minute phases is frequently allied to a scornful contempt for that
noblest study of humanity, Man's own Nature, Powers, and Destiny.
The result, primarily, of ignorance, next of prejudice, finally of disgust

at oft-detected fraud, this attitude—this unworthy attitude—can, I believe,
better be combated by patient exposition of the truth than by any
proselytizing, however vigorous and wide-spread, or by any controversy,
however skilfully conducted. A Fact must finally drop into its place; it
matters not much, save to those who might profit by knowledge of it,
whether now or in a succeeding age, when our children will, it is to be
hoped, be wiser than their fathers.
It is with this conviction that I have endeavoured to elucidate one among

many of the facts which testify to the existence of a soul in man, and to its
independent action beyond his physical body; an earnest of its survival
and independent life when released by death from its earthly prison-house.
M. A. (OXON.)
SYNOPSIS OF CONTENTS.
PAGE
PREFACE...............................................................................5
LIST OF WORKS BEARING ON THE SUBJECT ..............11

INTRODUCTION . ................................................................13
PSYCHOGRAPHY IN THE PAST: GULDENSTUBBE

CROOKES . ..............................................................................19
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES IN PRIVATE, AND WITH

PUBLIC PSYCHICS .............................................................25
GENERAL CORROBORATIVE EVIDENCE.
I. THAT ATTESTED BY THE SENSES
1. Of Sight.
Evidence of Mr. E. T. Bennett................................................33
A Malvern Reporter ...............................................................35
Mr. James Bums . ...................................................................36
Mr. H. D. Jencken, .................................................................38
2. Of Hearing.
Evidence of Mr. Serjeant Cox ................................................41
Mr. George King ....................................................................44
Mr. Hensleigh Wedgwood......................................................49
Miss * * * ..............................................................................50
Canon Mouls ..........................................................................52
8 Synopsis of Contents.
PAGE
Evidence of Baroness Von Vay..............................................52
G. H. Adshead ........................................................................53
W. P. Adshead ........................................................................53
E. H. Valter ............................................................................54
J. L. O'Sullivan . .....................................................................58
Epes Sargent . .........................................................................60
James O. Sargent . ..................................................................63
John Wetherbee . ....................................................................65
H. B. Storer ............................................................................66
C. A. Greenleaf.......................................................................66
Public Committee with Watkins.............................................67
II. FROM THE WRITING OF LANGUAGES UNKNOWN TO

THE PSYCHIC.
Ancient Greek—Evidence of Hon. R. Dale Owen and

Mr. Blackburn. (Slade) . .........................................................71
Dutch, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese. (Slade) ..........78
Russian—Evidence of Madame Blavatsky. (Watkins) ..........78
Romaic—Evidence of T. T. Timayenis. (Watkins)................79
Chinese. (Watkins) .................................................................79
III. FROM SPECIAL TESTS WHICH PRECLUDE PREVIOUS

PREPARATION OF THE WRITING.
Psychics and Conjurers Contrasted ........................................80

Slade before the Research Committee of the British National
Association of Spiritualists ....................................................83
Slade Tested by C. Carter Blake, Doc. Sci.............................90
Evidence of Rev. J. Page Hopps. (Slade) ...............................94
Evidence of W. H. Harrison. (Slade)......................................96
Evidence of J. Seaman. (Slade) ..............................................98
Synopsis of Contents. 9
PAGE
WRITING within Slates securely screwed together.
Evidence of Mrs. Andrews and J. Mould . .............................101
DICTATION of Words at the Time of the Experiment.

Evidence of A. R. Wallace, F. R. G. S ...................................104
Hensleigh Wedgwood, J. P.....................................................105
Rev. Thomas Colley, ..............................................................106
AV. Oxley ..............................................................................106
George Wyld, M. D ................................................................108
Miss Kislingbury . ..................................................................109
WRITING in Answer to Questions Inside a Closed Box.

EVIDENCE of Messrs. Adshead...............................................113
STATEMENT of Circumstances under which Experiments
with F. W. Monck were conducted at Keighley. ....................119
WRITING on Glass Coated with White Paint.
Evidence of Benjamin Coleman .............................................120
LETTERS ADDRESSED TO "THE TIMES" ON THE SUBJECT OF THE

PROSECUTION OF HENRY SLADE BY MESSRS. JOY, JOAD, AND
PROFESSOR BARRETT, F.R.S.E ..............................................121
EVIDENCE OF W. H. HARRISON, OF "THE SPIRITUALIST".....125
SUMMARY OF FACTS NARRATED . ...............................127
DEDUCTIONS, EXPLANATIONS, AND THEORIES.
THE NATURE OF THE FORCE: ITS MODE OF OPERATION.

Evidence of C. Carter Blake, Doc. Sci., and Conrad Cooke ..128
10 Synopsis of Contents.
PAGE
DETONATING NOISES IN CONNEXION WITH IT.
Evidence of Hensleigh Wedgwood, J. Page Hopps, Thomas

Colley . ...................................................................................133
METHOD OF DIRECTION OF THE FORCE.
Dr. Collyer's Theory ...............................................................135

Dr. George Wyld's Theory .....................................................140
The Occultist's Theory............................................................141
The Spiritualist's Theory ........................................................145
———
APPENDIX.
The Berlin Court Conjurer on Slade.......................................149

Slade with the Grand Duke Constantine ................................150
Recent Experiment with Monck .............................................151
LIST OF BOOKS BEARING ON PSYCHOGRAPHY AND
SUBJECTS OF A KINDRED NATURE.
La Realite des Esprits el le Phenomene Merveilleux de leur Ecriture

Directe. Baron L. de Guldenstubbe.
Primitive Christianity and Modern Spiritualism. Eugene Crowell, M.D.
Planchette. Epes Sargent.
Experimental Investigation of the Spirit Manifestations. Robert Hare,

M.D.
Miracles and Modern Spiritualism. A.R. Wallace, F.R.G.S.
Researches in the Phenomena of Spiritualism. W. Crookes, F.R.S.
Report on Spiritualism of the Committee of the London Dialectical

Society.
Arcana of Spiritualism. Hudson Tuttle.
Letters and Tracts on Spiritualism. Judge Edmonds.
Isis Unveiled. H. P. Blavatsky.
The Debatable Land. Hon. R. Dale Owen.
Footfalls on the Boundary of Another World. Hon. R. Dale Owen.

INTRODUCTION.
BEFORE commencing the special work which I have set myself to do, I
wish to make clear what I propose and what I do not propose to attempt in
its execution
I propose, then, to set forth certain facts within my own knowledge

respecting one class of Psychic Phenomena—viz., Psychography, or
Abnormal Writing. These facts (respecting a subject which obtained much
publicity during the past year) I set forth on my own authority, and as part
of my own experience in the investigation of Psychic Phenomena.
I propose, further, to record, in a convenient form for reference, certain

other facts of a similar nature testified to by others. In doing so, I shall
rigidly adhere to the special fact under notice, and shall eliminate all
evidence that will not bear rigid scrutiny. Confining myself to this one
class of phenomena, I shall avoid repetition and the needless
multiplication of records. Fully conscious that evidence of this nature is
cumulative, I also believe that there is a point beyond which the
cumulative power ceases, and I judge it best to narrow down the issue as
far as possible.
Respecting these facts, I do not propose to maintain any theory, though I

shall briefly enumerate
13
14 Psychography.
some hypotheses which are put forward. I shall not vex myself and
perplex my readers by the discussion of any a priori grounds of rejection
with which some investigators bewilder themselves. I have nothing to do
with the allegation that such and such things are ex rerum natura, [the
nature of the case] and so are to be rejected without the formality of a
trial. This is an ancient method—more antique than venerable—of
disposing of new facts. There was a time, somewhere in the world's
history, when it was employed to burke almost every manifestation of
truth which was new and unwelcome, just as there comes a time in the
history of each new discovery when the old method is abandoned, and
those who have employed it endeavour, with a shamefaced smile, to show
that they were only joking after all, and were, though we might not have
observed it, truth's best and truest friends.
I do not propose to anticipate that time in the history of these Psychic

Phenomena by any premature argument. Convinced that the time is near at
hand when Science will recognise her duty in this respect, I will patiently
wait for the time when some of its prominent representatives will abandon
a false position with such grace as they may.
As to the facts, I shall not attempt to maintain anything more than that
they furnish evidence of the existence of a Force, and of a governing
Intelligence external to a human body. That Force is conveniently called
Psychic, and is the Odic, or Od Force, of Reichenbach; the Nerve Force,
or Aura, of other writers; the Ectenic Force of Thury; the Akasa
Introduction. 15
of the Hindu; or, comprehensively, Vital Force. The name matters little;
but the term Psychic and its compounds, as applied to the Force, to the
channel through which it flows, and to its various forms of manifestation,
seems most simple and free from objection.*
I do not propose to burden my record with any arguments as to the

source and character of the Intelligence, except where such are plain
deductions from my narrative.
I will not enter into any disquisition on the use of the terms Soul and
Spirit. I do not care which is used, though, for myself, I employ the term
Spirit as equivalent to what St. Paul called the Spiritual Body as opposed
to the Physical Body. Soul I consider to be the Divine Principle by virtue
of possession of which man is an heir of Immortality. Others use the terms
differently, making the Soul to be the Astral or Spiritual Body, and the
Spirit the equivalent of what I call Soul. This is not the place for argument
on this point. By the use of either term I intend to indicate the Spiritual
Principle in man—the Self, the Ego, the Inner Being—which, acting
through the material frame, is, as I believe, independent in its existence,
and will survive the death of the body.
Respecting this Intelligence which is displayed in the messages written

out by these abnormal means, I
———
* It is usual among many who record these phenomena to employ the
term Medium for the Psychic, and from it to fabricate such philologically
barbarous words as mediumistic. The terms will be found in use in many
of the published records; but I have employed the term Psychic and its
compounds, as, in my judgment, preferable.
16 Psychography.
will not maintain that it is or is not worthy of attention on account of the

matter of its communications. I could say something on the just lines of
criticism in this respect, but my purpose is served without any opening of
side issues. What is written may be as foolish as my critic pleases. If it be
never so silly, it will serve for my argument. Is it written at all? Then let
us leave its nonsense alone, and account for its presence as a fact.
Nor will I maintain that the messages always, or even generally,

proceed from the source pretended. No more fruitful source of
controversy has arisen than this. Taste and sense of decorum and propriety
are outraged by the claim that is made for these frequently silly and
ludicrous writings, that they proceed from the source alleged, which, as
often as not, is some relative of the experimenter's or some great and
illustrious name in history. The shock to good taste and feeling so
administered puts the investigator into an attitude of indignant opposition.
He refuses to credit what is to him so monstrous, and jumps, in anger, to
the conclusion that what is improbable in the explanation extends also to
the fact. I trust that any who do me the honour to read what I write will
allow me to pin their attention to the bare fact, and to ask them to leave
the matter of the writing to another time, just now, I will say nothing
whatever about the contents. It is sufficient that they are in evidence as an
objective fact.
I will not maintain that the Intelligence is always independent of that of

the Psychic in whose presence
Introduction. 17
these phenomena occur, or of some or all of the persons present. This is

not the place in which to discuss the powers of the human spirit, or the
limits of its trans-corporeal action.
I will not even maintain that the Intelligence is intelligent. Sometimes it

is not; but always, so far as I know, there is evidence of plan, of design, of
purpose. I will not go so far, either, as to discuss the question whether, in
given cases, the Intelligence is human or sub-human. These are all points
which merit grave discussion, and on each of which I could say much,
were it not for the fear of diverting attention from my one point—the fact
of Psychography.
In this connexion I may, however, quote the conclusion arrived at by

Mr. Crookes, F.R.S., after a long series of scientific experiments and
observations, recorded in the Quarterly Journal of Science, January, 1874.
Speaking of the Phenomena of Percussive Sounds, he says:—
An important question here forces itself upon the attention. Are the
movements and sounds governed by intelligence? At a very early stage of
the inquiry, it was seen that the power producing the phenomena was not
merely a blind force, but was associated with or governed by
intelligence…. The intelligence governing the phenomena is sometimes
manifestly below that of the medium. It is frequently in direct opposition
to the wishes of the medium. When a determination has been expressed to
do something which might not be considered quite right, I have known
urgent messages given to induce a reconsideration. The intelligence is
sometimes of such a character as to lead to the belief that it does not
emanate from any person present.
To this I may add, that in a number of recorded

18 Psychography.
cases—e.g., in that of Miss Laura Edmunds, the daughter of judge

Edmunds of New York—and in several that have come under my own
notice, the Intelligence is not only distinct from that of the Psychic, but
uses a language unknown to the Psychic, and conveys elaborate
information, precise in detail, of which he or she had no previous
knowledge; and not only that, but of which no person present had any
previous knowledge.
PSYCHOGRAPHY IN THE PAST.
GULDENSTUBBE—CROOKES.
———
THIS subject of Psychography, or writing without the intervention of

ordinary human agency, is by no means new, though it has of late
attracted greater attention. It has been familiar to all investigators of
Psychic Phenomena, and has been called variously Direct or Independent
Writing. Records of its occurrence are found in the most ancient works on
the subject, and it was perfectly familiar to those early and mediaeval
students of occult phenomena whose researches throw so much light on
that which we now find so perplexing. The most remarkable record,
however, of these special facts is made by Baron Guldenstubbe, in a book
entitled "La Realite des Esprits, et le phenomene merveilleux de leur
ecriture directe."
The Baron must have been a Psychic of great power, for all the writings
were obtained without the aid of any other person, and under conditions
which, in most cases, would preclude the hope of successful results. It is
with experiments of this nature as with all others: certain conditions are
required for success. These have been, and are, much exaggerated and
19
20 Psychography.
misrepresented, darkness being popularly supposed to be the principal

desideratum. This is not so. I believe that every phenomenon—except
such as require darkness for their observation, as, for instance, luminous
phosphorescent appearances—can be produced in full light. Much more
time and patience would be required; but, granted these, light is no final
barrier to success. It is much to be regretted that more persistent attempts
have not been made to produce these phenomena in such light as suffices
for exact observation. The fact that this is now being done, and with such
success as I shall presently show, removes one impediment to observation
in the future.
Baron Guldenstubbe seems to have been able to dispense with the usual
conditions under which writing is obtained—a closed room with
magnetically-charged atmosphere, subdued light, and a formal gathering
of persons from or through whom the necessary force is evolved. He
obtained his writings anywhere, and at any time, in the open air, and on a
tombstone, of which locality he was specially fond. It squared with his
idea of the source of the writing, and so facilitated its execution. This, I
may say in passing, is far more requisite than any other condition for
success, that the Psychic through whom the force is evolved should be at
ease and comfort. If he have any special ideas as to the source of the
phenomenon, to controvert them by argument is to cause almost certain
failure. Left to himself, with surroundings that conduce to comfort of
mind and body, and with
Psychography in the Past. 21
liberty to follow out his opinions as to the best means of securing results,
success will usually follow.
Hence it is that the best, most sure, and most reliable phenomena are
seen in private circles, where none but friends, of one mind, and united by
the bonds of friendship or affection, are assembled.
Among the places named as those where successful experiments were

made are the Louvre, the Museum at Versailles, the Cathedral of Saint
Denis, Westminster Abbey, the British Museum, the Cemeteries of
Montparnasse, Montmartre, and Pere la Chaise; the Bois de Boulogne,
and various churches and ancient ruins in France, Germany, Austria, and
England.
The list of witnesses, twenty-seven in number, selected out of a vast

number of distinguished persons who have repeatedly assisted at the
Baron's experiments, includes the names of H. Delamarre, editor of the
Patrie; H. Choisselat, editor of the Univers; Mr. Dale Owen; M.
Lacordaire, brother of the great orator; N. de Bonochose, the historian; M.
Kiorboe, a well-known Swedish painter; the Baron von Rosenberg,
German ambassador at the Court of Wurtemberg; Prince Leonide
Galitzin, and two other representatives of the nobility of Moscow; and the
Rev. William Mountford, who has lately contributed his personal
testimony in the Spiritualist of Dec. 21st, 1877.
Mr. Coleman, of Upper Norwood, whose experience dates so far back,

informs me that he well remembers Mr. Dale Owen going to Paris for the
purpose of witnessing these remarkable experiments. He told
22 Psychography.
Mr. Coleman in detail of his accompanying the Baron and his sister Julia
to various chapels in Paris, where he laid down sheets of his own paper,
without pencil or writing materials; retiring a few paces, but never losing
sight of the paper, he found an intelligent message written upon it in every
case. Mr. Coleman has one of these curious Psychographs in his own
possession. It was obtained at the Palace of the Trianon, Versailles.
The book is illustrated by thirty fac-similes of Psychographs thus

obtained, and selected from more than two thousand specimens in twenty
different languages, and some of them covering several pages. These were
obtained between the years 1856 and 1872. The first experiment was
made by placing paper and pencil in a box, which was locked, and the key
of which never left the Baron's possession. No one was acquainted with
the fact that any such experiment was in process. After twelve days,
during which no mark was made on the paper, there appeared on it certain
mysterious characters, and during that day ten separate experiments gave
successful results. The box was then left open and watched, and writing
was seen to grow upon the paper without the use of the pencil. From that
time he abandoned the use of the pencil altogether, and obtained his vast
number of Psychographs by the simple process of putting blank paper on
the table of his room, or in public buildings, or on the pedestal of ancient
statues, or on tombstones in churches and cemeteries. It apparently
mattered little where the paper was placed; and it is
Psychography in the Past. 23
more than probable that the Baron, by exercise of his will, could have
obtained any given name in any given place. The association of name and
statue or tomb was a consequence of his mental prepossessions.
The curious reader will find a full account of these experiments made by
the Baron in his book above-named; and for further information as to
these and kindred phenomena he may consult the works, a list of which is
prefixed to this volume.
Mr. Crookes, in his paper in the Quarterly Journal of Science above

referred to, which is reprinted in his Researches, records two notable
instances of Psychography, which I quote as showing the facility for
observation in the one case, and the satisfactory result obtained in
darkness, where no room existed for doubting the evidence so obtained. It
is usually supposed by those who have not tried the experiment that no
evidence obtained in a dark room is of any value. Mr. Crookes' record
may dispel that error:—
The first instance which I shall give took place, it is true, at a dark
seance, but the result was not less satisfactory on that account. I was
sitting next to the medium, Miss Fox, the only other persons present being
my wife and a lady relative, and I was holding the medium's two hands in
one of mine, whilst her feet were resting on my feet. Paper was on the
table before us, and my disengaged hand was holding a pencil.
A luminous hand came down from the upper part of the room, and after
hovering near me for a few seconds, took the pencil from my hand,
rapidly wrote on a sheet of paper, threw the pencil down, and then rose up
over our heads, gradually fading into darkness.
24 Psychography.
My second instance may be considered the record of a failure. "A good

failure often teaches more than the most successful experiment." It took
place in the light, in my own room, with only a few private friends and
Mr. Home present. Several circumstances, to which I need not further
allude, had shown that the power that evening was strong. I therefore
expressed a wish to witness the actual production of a written message,
such as I had heard described a short time before by a friend. Immediately
an alphabetic communication was made as follows—" We will try." A
pencil and some sheets of paper had been lying on the centre of the table;
presently the pencil rose up on its point, and after advancing by hesitating
jerks to the paper, fell down. It then rose, and again fell. A third time it
tried, but with no better result. After three unsuccessful attempts, a small
wooden lath, which was lying near upon the table, slid towards the pencil,
and rose a few inches from the table; the pencil rose again, and propping
itself against the lath, the two together made an effort to mark the paper. It
fell, and then a joint effort was again made. After a third trial the lath gave
it up and moved back to its place, the pencil lay as it fell across the paper,
and an alphabetic message told us—" We have tried to do as you asked,
but our power is exhausted."
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES.
———
FOR the past five years I have been familiar with the phenomenon of
Psychography, and have observed in a vast number of cases, both with
recognized Psychics known to the public, and with ladies and gentlemen
in private, who possess the power and readily procure the result. In the
course of these observations I have seen psychographs obtained in closed
and locked boxes, in a manner similar to the experiment above recorded in
the case of the Baron Guldenstubbe; on paper previously marked and
placed in a special position, from which it was not moved; on paper
marked and put under the table, so as to get the assistance of darkness; on
paper on which my elbow rested, and on paper covered by my hand; on
paper inclosed in a scaled envelope; and on states securely tied together.
I have known such writing to be almost instantaneously produced; and

late experiments, to which I shall refer in their place, confirm me in the
statement that the process employed is not always the same. Whereas at
times the pencil is seen to write as if moved by a hand, at times invisible,
but at others visibly guiding and controlling its movements, at others the
writing would seem to be produced by an instantaneous effort without the
use of the pencil. I
25
26 Psychography.
recall an instance which bears on this question of the use of the pencil.
I was present at a seance held at the house of an intimate friend, three

friends only present. Paper, previously initialled by each of us, was put on
the floor under the table, together with an ordinary black-lead pencil. One
of us, feeling the pencil against his boot, put his foot upon it, and held it
there till the seance was over. Writing, however, was found on the paper;
and we debated the question how it could have been done, seeing that no
pencil was available for use. The paper bore our marks, and had not been
removed, so far as we could tell. We met again during the same week, and
I privately provided myself with the means of testing the matter. I brought
a bright green pencil, and substituted it without remark for the black-lead,
keeping my foot upon it all the time. When the paper was examined the
writings very short scrawl was found to be in green. The pencil, therefore,
was used in some way unknown to me. I believe that this is the case
frequently, and that instantaneous writing is done by some method other
than that of the normal use of the pencil. This is noted by Baron
Guldenstubbe, as I have remarked above, and was observable in some
cases of slate-writing with Slade, as I shall have occasion to note
hereafter; and one case at least is within my knowledge where a side of a
slate is frequently covered with writing in a few seconds. The psychic in
this case is a lady, whose name I have no authority to make public.
PERSONAL TESTIMONY.
———
I PROCEED now to give my own personal testimony as to what I have

witnessed in the presence of two Psychics well known to the public,
Henry Slade and Francis W. Monck, selecting those points only which
bear on this subject.
I sat alone with Slade in the month of July, 1877; and I carried with me
a small slate of white porcelain, taken from my own writing-desk. I held it
myself under the table, at a corner furthest from Slade, and obtained a
short scrawl upon it, written with a point of lead pencil which I placed
upon it. Slade used ordinary states and slate-pencil; and on one of his
slates, while we held it jointly, a number of messages were written. The
longest and most elaborate of these, which covered both sides of a
folding-slate, was written while the slate lay on the table before me. I put
my ear down to the cover of the slate, and could distinctly hear the writing
in process. The sound was the grating sound of state-pencil deliberately
and carefully moved over the slate, and lasted for a considerable time; I
should say three or four minutes. I noted especially the fact that the sound
came from the slate immediately beneath my ear. I also observed that by a
slight change of position the writing could be stopped.
27
28 Psychography.
In order to make my position intelligible, I append an exact diagram of

the table used by Slade, which was produced in the court at the Bow
Street trial, and which may now be seen by the curious at the rooms of the
British National Association of Spiritualists, 38 Great Russell Street. The
table used during my experiment was an old one, of about the same size,
belonging to the house. It was only when this table was split into pieces
that Slade had one constructed for himself. It was made of hard wood, to
resist rough usage; and of remarkable simplicity, in order to be easily
examined. The subjoined diagram and explanation will enable my readers
to understand what Mr. Maskelyne audaciously described at the trial at
Bow Street, as if it were a trick-table.
[Detailed diagram of table with cross section]
Fig. 2 represents the table Dr. Slade ordered to be brought to Bow

Street; it is a kind of ordinary kitchen table, but
Personal Testimony. 29
made of ash. The frame above A was declared by the man who made it to
be somewhat larger than the frames commonly used for such tables; he
had made it larger, without any order to that effect, to give additional
strength. There is, as usual with such tables, no frame round the flaps.
There being no veneering and no framework in each flap—nothing but
an honest piece of solid ash—it is easy to see that when Dr. Slade holds a
slate, B (Fig. 3), against the solid wooden flap, A, and writing comes, in
dry, dusty slate-pencil, all over the upper side of the slate, in the shadow
under the flap, how very disturbing such an occurrence must be to the
mental equilibrium of hardened materialists.
B D E, Fig. 1, show the under side of the table, but we have put two
ordinary brackets at R R, under the flap, B B, whereas Dr. Slade's table
had but a single stick bracket under each flap, such as is shown at N,
beneath the flap, E E. The slate "in position" is shown at H, where the
stick bracket is out of its way, one of the double brackets, R, there, would
have been an encumbrance, interfering with the placing of the slate. D D
is the part of the table directly connected with the frame, and A A. A A
are the tops of the four legs of the table.
Dr. Slade never sits at the flap side of the table at X. He always sits
sideways, against the frame at T D, turning his feet in the direction of the
lower E, and putting the slate under the table at that corner, so that the
observer, who always sits at the same corner in broad daylight, has—or
can have if be asks for it—Dr. Slade's hands and feet, and the edge of the
slate, always in full view.
Sometimes Dr. Slade, with his thumb on the upper side of the slate at
W, pushes the slate, W K, half under the table, as represented at K, then
withdraws it, the whole motion being about as quick as the swing of a
pendulum, yet during the moment the part of the slate K is in shadow, a
sentence is scribbled across it in the dry, dusty writing of slate-pencil.
The position in which we were placed was this: Slade sat sideways at T
D, and with his back to the
30 Psychography.
window, through which a July sun was streaming; the blinds were up, and
every corner of the room was in clear light. I sat at the side opposite to N;
my right hand linked with Slade's on the top of the table, so as to form a
chain, my left joining his in holding a slate at H. When my hand was
raised so as not to touch Slade's hand on the top of the table, the writing at
once ceased, and was resumed when contact was again made. It will be
seen that other observers have noted this. Mr. F.W. Percival was
especially impressed with the ease with which the writing could be
stopped by breaking contact, and the rapidity with which a slight touch,
even on the cuff of Slade's coat, would set it again into feeble action. He
noted it in his printed testimony at the time, and has frequently mentioned
it to me since.
The writing on my own porcelain slate was obtained while I held it

under the corner at E, Slade not touching it.
The next piece of personal evidence which I adduce was obtained with
another Psychic, F. W. Monck. The place was 26 Southampton Row; the
time, Oct. 19, 1877, evening; the light, that of a small lamp, sufficient for
observation; those present, the Rev. Thomas Colley, late curate of
Portsmouth, Mrs. Colley, myself, and the Psychic.
I examined, carefully cleaned, and privately marked, two small school

slates, which were apparently quite new; placed a tiny fragment of slate-
pencil between their inner surfaces, and tied them securely together, so
that they could not slip, nor could anything be
Personal Testimony. 31
inserted between them. I fastened my string, moreover, with a peculiar

knot. When tied, I myself placed the slates on the table before me, and
requested Mr. Colley to lay his finger on one corner, while I placed mine
on the corner next to it, and Monck, who sat opposite to us, laid his hands
on the corners nearest to him.
I was requested to choose some short word, and to desire to have it

written within the slates. I chose snow. The sound of writing was
distinctly heard, and I was informed through Monck, entranced, that the
word had been written. Three facts were then stated, viz., that a badly-
formed S had been erased, and that two other letters had certain specified
peculiarities in their formation.
These statements, made, be it observed, while the slates lay before me

under my finger, I at once verified by untying the string that bound them
together. As they had never left my sight, it is to no purpose to say that my
knot was intact. Within the slates I found the word snow written, and with
the peculiar formations and erasure which had been specified. In addition,
the words "favourite way" were written. While the experiment was in
process, we had been conversing about the peculiar way in which names
were frequently spelt in these writings, and one of us remarked that,
though a particular Christian name was frequently written, it was never
spelt in the owner's favourite way. The passing words had been caught up
and written at the moment within the slates.
32 Psychography
Reserving comment, I note the following points in this experiment:—
I. The slates were new, clean, privately marked, and thoroughly tied.
2. They never left my sight, nor was my hand removed from them even for
a moment.
3. They never were out of my own possession after I cleaned and marked
them.
4. The light was sufficient for exact observation.
5. The words written could not have been prepared beforehand.
6. I have the corroboration of two witnesses.
One more case I record as a piece of personal experience, before

proceeding to the experiments of others. When this subject first came
before me, I endeavoured to submit it to a crucial test. For this purpose I
made an experiment similar to that first made by Baron Guldenstubbe, of
whose name even I had not then heard. I inclosed a piece of paper in a
travelling desk of my own, which desk I strapped up in its cover, and
placed in my private drawer. The key of that drawer, in which my most
private papers are kept, never goes out of my possession, and assuredly I
kept it consciously in view during the experiment. I left the paper
undisturbed for twenty-four hours, and at the end of that time I found
upon it very clear and distinct writing, covering its entire upper surface.
In this case I note the absence of any possibility of deception,

conceivable to myself. At the same time, I note also the absence of
corroborative testimony.
GENERAL
CORROBORATIVE EVIDENCE.
———
STARTING, then, from the nucleus of my own experience, recorded, I

pledge myself, with the most entire accuracy, so far as I am aware; I now
proceed to adduce the evidence of others who have observed facts which
corroborate those now recorded.
For the sake of orderly arrangement, I shall bring forward the evidence
under various heads.
I.—EVIDENCE ATTESTED BY THE SENSES.
1. By the Sense of Sight.
I have already said that the evidence on which I rely most is that
obtained in light which is sufficient for exact observation. I am by no
means prepared to say that very satisfactory evidence may not be obtained
independently of eyesight, but I am quite aware that "seeing is believing."
I commence, therefore, with a record furnished by Mr. E. T. Bennett, of
Manor-Villas, Richmond, and printed in The Spiritualist of Sept 21, 1877.
I may premise before I go further that the language used in the records
quoted is that which all Spiritualists employ. I use it without connecting
myself or
33
34 Psychography.
desiring to pledge my readers to any theory. The terms used throughout

are used in their accepted signification without dispute or question.
On Sunday evening, the 9th inst., a circle consisting of Dr. Monck, Mrs.
F., Miss R., a medical man, Mr. Christian Reimers, and myself, met at Mr.
Reimers' house, No. 6, Manor-Villas, Richmond. We sat round an
ordinary table, on which were placed the works of a small musical box,
two small slates, paper, and black-lead pencil. A shaded candle was
placed in an adjoining room, the door being open, so that there was all
through the seance sufficient light to see the various objects in the room,
and the time by a watch.
After some ordinary preliminary manifestations, Dr. Monck's control
addressed the medical man, whom I will call Dr. A., and asked him to tell
him a word he would like written on the slate. The slates were examined
and marked by myself, tied together securely by Dr. A. As no bit of slate-
pencil could be found, a minute fragment of black-lead was placed
between them, which we ascertained would make a mark. Dr. A. then
chose the word "darling," and the slates were placed on the table, and Dr.
M.'s and Dr. A.'s hands on them.
Dr. M.'s control: "Hav'n't you got any slate-pencil?"
Dr. A.: "No. There is a bit of black-lead in; can't you write with that?"
Dr. M.'s control: "Don't like it Shall we get a bit of our own?"
Dr. A.: "Yes."
Dr. M.'s control: "My medium will carry the slates round and place
them on the Doctor's head. There; it is done!"
Candle brought. The slates (which had never been out of sight of the
whole circle) untied. Inside wes the word "darling," written in a large,
rather trembling hand, as if with slate-pencil, but there was none visible.
Dr. M.'s control: "Tell me the Christian name of some friend you would
like to be here."
Dr. A.: "Sophia."
General Corroborative Evidence. 35
Dr. M.'s control: "She is here; and there is an old man with her, of
dignified appearance. He is sorry for you about something; I think it is
about money. He has such a curious thing on his head, a crown with
points upwards, and little balls on them."
Dr. A.: "Will be give his name?"
Dr. M.'s control: "He says he will try and write it himself."
The medium asks for a piece of note paper, holds it in his hand a minute,
places it on the table, and a pocket pencil about three inches long by it.
The pencil moves, no one touching it. It makes feeble attempts to rise.
Finally it succeeds, and we see it stand up by itself, and write as with a
firm hand for a few seconds, and then fall down again. Dr. A. takes up the
paper, and finds written the name * * * * * *, that of a deceased nobleman
with whom he had been professionally connected, and who was a relative
of the lady whose name he had given, and whose rank was correctly
indicated by the "curious crown."
Mr. Bennett is familiar with these phenomena, and refers them to the
action of unembodied spirits, using the phraseology common to those who
share this belief. He is no enthusiast, but a calm and capable observer. Nor
are his records singular. I am happy to be able to call in corroboration a
sceptical witness, one who is not familiar with these phenomena, who
approaches them with suspicion, and is guarded in his statements, most
especially in his conclusions. His prepossessions, at any rate, are not
excited in our favour. My witness is a reporter for the Malvern News. The
Psychic in this case also is Monck; and the place where the experiment
took place was a house in Malvern, "into which he had never entered till
the evening" in question. The account, somewhat abridged, reads thus:—
36 Psychography.
Shortly after six o'clock, several ladies and gentlemen having

assembled, most of them strangers to each other, sat down to an oblong
deal table, which had been covered with a thick Witney blanket, the usual
cover being used as a blind to darken the windows. Every particle of
natural light had been shut out, and the gas turned on full. After the party
had sat for some time, Dr. Monck asked for a pencil and some writing-
paper. Three of the former were placed at his disposal, and he selected
ours. A piece of paper was folded up, on which the pencil was put. He
then borrowed some handkerchiefs, and selected ours, which he carelessly
threw over the pencil and paper. In the full glare of the gas-light the pencil
rose and stood upright, Dr. Monck's hands at this time being placed on his
head. He removed the handkerchief, and there stood the pencil, but no
writing was on the paper. A sceptical gentleman thought the pencil was
sticking into the table through the blanket. At the request of Dr. Monck he
lifted it up, examined it, and put it down again. It was no sooner released
than it rose up again, and wrote on the paper a sentence, in the sight of all,
respecting the unfavourable conditions.
Here it will be noticed that the light was ample for observation, and that
the requisite darkness for the production of the writing was obtained
without any interference with the facilities for exact investigation. The
report concludes with a confession on the part of the reporter of inability
to explain how the results "witnessed by nine sane ladies and gentlemen"
were produced. "As some of them," he adds, "are well known in Malvern,
they can contradict us if we have stated what is not true."
With the same Psychic, the editor of The Medium, Mr. James Burns, of
the Spiritual Institution, 15 Southampton Row, W.C., had a noteworthy
experiment, which he thus records. The persons present were
himself and his wife, and the place was his own house:—
I had on the table before me several sheets of note-paper, on which I

was taking notes. Dr. Monck took up a blank sheet and tore it in halves.
One of these be folded up into an eighth of its original size by doubling it
three times. Thus crumpled up, he placed it under a white handkerchief
which lay on the table immediately before him. An ordinary elongating
pocket pencil was then put beside the paper. This pencil had a screw at the
point for propelling and withdrawing the lead, the handle was of a dark
colour, and it had a white bone top. The light at this part of the seance was
not on full, as it had been at some other parts, but there was sufficient for
me to read my pencil notes. Dr. Monck, with his right hand, placed the
pencil under the handkerchief, and continued to move his fingers about
over the handkerchief for a few seconds. We were all intently looking for
whatever might result, when Mrs. Burns exclaimed that the pencil was
writing. I saw it standing up in a sloping position, with the point towards
me, but as the handkerchief interposed between my view and the point of
the pencil, I could not see what it was doing. Before I had much time for
reflection, I saw that the pencil, besides being sloping with its point
towards me, was in a violent state of motion from side to side, as if it were
held by the middle and rapidly vibrated. This movement was not quite
regular; sometimes the jerks made by the pencil would be longer,
sometimes shorter, and complicated by movements not all in one
direction. While I was trying to comprehend what this could mean, I saw
it stand still, and then move gently from side to side. Mrs. Burns and Dr.
Monck said, "It is crossing a word," and again the rapid vibration went on
as before. In a few seconds more the pencil fell, and the handkerchief was
removed, and the paper was found opened out and covered with pencil-
writing in a vigorous hand.
Dr. Monck now took out his folding-slate, and gave it to me to clean. I
did so carefully. He took a small crumb of slate-pencil and inclosed it
between the leaves of the slate.
38 Psychography.
Dr. Monck's hand was then moved towards me, till it rested on my arm.
Then it ascended to my shoulder, and lastly on to my head, where I heard
and felt the tremor of writing going on in the folded slate. Shortly it was
finished, and when opened a message was found written, occupying both
sides of the slate.
The writing on paper took three minutes to transcribe, but it was written
in about one-third of that time. The paper bore the distinctive mark of the
packet from which the sheet had been taken, and one of the observers was
able to watch the whole process of writing,
The slate-writing is notable on account of the evidence from two senses

which attested its production.
This seems to be the place to quote a case of writing executed by a

luminous hand, which was visible to at least four persons. I complicate my
evidence somewhat by the introduction of a new species of Psychic
phenomena, that of luminous appearances, and of hands not those of any
person present. Such facts, however, are familiar to those who have
witnessed these phenomena, and are attested by exact and precise
observations.
The account (Spiritualist, Oct. 13, 1876) is written by Mr. H. D.

Jencken, barrister-at-law, and the psychic was his wife, the Kate Fox of
the early history of this subject. The house where the experiment was
made was that of Mr. S. C. Hall, editor of the Art Journal. The date was
Sept. 6, 1876. Nine persons were present, including Mr. and Mrs. Hall,
Mr. and Mrs. Mayo, and Dr. Netherclift, of the Chelsea Infirmary.
Several efforts by the unseen beings had been made to give us "direct
writing." Finally, we were ordered to hold each other's hands, and to
contract the circle by drawing close up to the table. A luminous, small,
beautifully-shaped hand then descended from the side at which I was
sitting, that is to say, at the opposite side to Mrs. Jencken. The hand seized
a pencil which was lying on the table and wrote the letters "E. W. E."
The power of holding the pencil then evidently failed. The pencil, which
had been held between the forefinger and third finger, dropped on the
table, and the hand raised itself high overhead, and disappeared. After a
short pause it reappeared, descended, touched the table, took hold of the
pencil, and wrote the words "God bless y—." At the letter y the strength
again appeared to give way, the pencil dropped, the hand rose quickly,
and was gone.
I have witnessed so many instances of direct spirit writing, that this
additional instance would have been but of little attraction to me, but for
the fact that others also witnessed the manifestations, some of whom were
not Spiritualists, but merely witnesses. This gave interest to this seance.
The hand, as sketched by me, was distinctly seen by Dr. Netherclift, Mrs.
Mayo, Mr. Mayo, and others present; each of those present saw the hand
from a different point of view; in other words, the objectivity of the hand
was distinctly observed.
I inclose the original document, containing the direct writing, and on the
right hand top of the page is the sketch of the hand. As I was drawing this
sketch, several of the guests clustered round my chair, and aided me by
suggestin, how they each of them witnessed the writing. The luminosity
around the wrist was singularly beautiful. The circumstances under which
this direct writing happened were exceptionally favourable, as a test of the
reality of what occurred. The sitting took place at the residence of Mr.
Hall; those who were present retained the greatest self-composure. The
medium was seated facing the direction whence the hand descended; the
writing was done in the centre of the table, around which we were seated;
the position of the hand was at right angles to Mrs. Jencken. I name these
40 Psychography.
circumstances to meet in advance any theory of optical delusion,

hallucination, or any other hypothesis to explain what happened.
[Drawing of hand and pen]
These instances might be greatly multiplied. I do not propose to adduce

more evidence of this kind, however, having other which advances my
argument a step further. I have shown that the evidence of one sense
attests the reality of Psychography. I now proceed to bring forward cases
where the writing is heard as the pencil grates upon the slate.
2. By the Sense of Hearing.
In almost all cases where writing is produced by use of the pencil, I

believe the process may be heard, especially when a slate is used. The
evidence of a majority of observers makes mention of the grating
noise which accompanied the writing. In several cases great pressure is

used, and the pencil is appreciably worn away, remaining, too, not
unfrequently, at the end of the last letter of the dusty, dry writing, that
shows plainly enough how it has been employed. From a great number of
cases I select the following, giving precedence to those which record
experiments with Slade, and among them to the detailed narrative of the
President of the Psychological Society of Great Britain:—
Having undertaken to examine without prejudice or prepossession, and

to report faithfully, without favour, in a purely judicial spirit, any alleged
psychological phenomena that might be submitted to me as President of
the Psychological Society of Great Britain, I narrate without comment
what I witnessed at a sitting with Dr. Slade this afternoon.
I sat alone with him, at three o'clock, in a room at 8 Upper Bedford

Place, Russell Square, into which the sun shone brightly, at a table about
five feet by four, having four legs, no ledge below, and no cloth upon it.
Dr. Slade sat at one side of this table, sideways, so that his legs and feet
were not under the table, but his whole body fully in my view as he faced
me. I sat at the side, the corner of the table being between us. As I sat I
could see half-way below the table, and by moving my head slightly, I
could see the whole space below, which was wholly exposed in full
daylight. An ordinary drawing-room chair was about six inches from the
table on the opposite side, six feet from Dr. Slade. A heavy arm-chair was
in the corner of the room, about the same distance from him and from the
table. A slate of the ordinary school size and a piece of slate pencil were
upon the table.
Instantly upon taking our seats very loud rapping came upon the floor.
This was followed by a succession of furious blows upon the table, jarring
my hands as they were laying upon it. These blows were repeated at any
part of the
42 Psychography.
table desired, by merely touching that spot with the finger, while the
blows, as forcible as if given with a sledge hammer, were being made. Dr.
Slade's hands were on the table upon my hands, and his whole body to his
feet was fully before my eyes. I am certain that not a muscle moved. Then
he took the slate after I had carefully inspected it, to be assured that no
writing was upon it, and placing there a piece of slate pencil, the size of a
small grain of wheat, he pressed the slate tightly below but against the
slab of the table. Presently I heard the sound as of writing on a slate. The
slate was removed, and on it a zigzag line was drawn from end to end.
* * * * *
Blows of a more gentle kind upon the table, attended with a remarkable
quivering of it, announced, as he said, that his wife was present, and
desired the slate. After the slate had been carefully cleaned, it was laid
upon the top of the table, with a like piece of pencil under it. Upon the
slate he placed his right hand, and I placed my left hand, and with my
other hand I held his left hand as it lay upon the table. As my hand lay
upon the slate, I could feel, and I did also distinctly hear, something
writing upon it. The communication was evidently a long one; but before I
report the result, I desire to note here a remarkable phenomenon, to my
mind the most suggestive that attended this experiment.
It is necessary clearly to understand the position of the parties, therefore
I repeat it.
Dr. Slade and myself sat face to face. One hand of each of us was laid
upon the slate. The side of the slate that was being written upon was
pressed by us against the table. Our second hands were linked together,
and lay upon the table. While this position was preserved, the writing
proceeded without pause. When Dr. Slade removed his hand from mine it
ceased instantly, and as instantly was renewed when his hand and mine
met. This experiment was repeated several times, and never failed.
Here, then, was a chain or circle formed by my arms and body, and Dr.
Slade's arms and body, the slate being between
us, my hand at one end of it, his hand at the other end, and between our
hands, and upon the slate that connected them, the writing was. When the
chain was broken forthwith the writing ceased. When the chain was
reformed the writing was at once resumed. The effect was instantaneous.
In this curious fact we must seek the clue to this psychological mystery.
Some rapid rappings, indicating that the writing was finished, the slate
was lifted, and in a clear and perfectly distinct writing the following was
read. It filled the whole side of the slate:—
DEAR SERJ.,—You are now investigating a subject that is worthy of all
the time you or any other man of mind can devote to its investigation.
When man can believe in this truth, it will in most cases make him a better
man. This is our object in coming to earth, to make man and woman
better, wiser, and purer.—I am truly, A. W. SLADE.
Again the slate was cleaned and laid upon the table as before, my hand
upon it. In a few seconds the following sentence was written.
Considerable power was used in this writing, and I could distinctly feel
the pressure of the pencil as every word was written:—
I am Dr. John Forbes. I was the Queen's physician. God bless you.
J. FORBES.
Again the slate was cleaned and held under the table tight against the
wood, one half of it projecting beyond the edge, so that I might be assured
that it was tightly pressed against the wood; but the slate was seized, and
with great force drawn away and rapidly raised above me and placed upon
my head. In this position the sound of writing upon it was distinctly heard
by me. On removing it, I found written upon it the following words:—
Man must not doubt any more, when we can come in this way.
J. F., M.D.
Then the large arm-chair rushed forward from the corner of the room in
which it had been placed, to the table.
Again the slate was placed under the table, and projecting from it. A
hand twice seized and shook my leg, both of the hands of Dr. Slade being
at the moment before me, and his whole person visible.
44 Psychography.
Thus ended this experiment. All that I have reported was done, that is
certain. How it was done, and by what agency, is a problem for
psychology to solve. For my own part I can only say that I was in the full
possession of my senses; that I was wide awake; that it was in broad
daylight; that Dr. Slade was under my observation the whole time, and
could not have moved hand or foot without being detected by me.
That it was not a self-delusion is shown by this, that any person who
chooses to go may see almost the same phenomena. I offer no opinion
upon their causes, for I have formed none. If they be genuine, it is
impossible to exaggerate their interest and importance. If they be an
imposture, it is equally important that the trick should be exposed in the
only way in which trickery can be explained, by doing the same thing, and
showing how it is done.
August 8th, 1876.
Mr. George King, of 11 St. George's Terrace, Gloucester Road, S.W.,

notes in his narrative, which I append, the fact which I have just
mentioned—viz., that in his experience the crumb of pencil invariably
remains at the end of the writing. This affords a strong presumption that
the pencil is really used:—
At five o'clock in the afternoon of Saturday, 18th Nov. last, I repaired,

by appointment, to the house of Dr. Slade. I had determined to take with
me a slate of my own, and on the way I tried in four or five shops to find
one to my mind. At last I secured what satisfied me—a folding slate with
a varnished wooden case of somewhat peculiar construction. Each of the
two flaps was seven and three-quarters inches long, by five inches wide,
and had a three-quarter inch frame all round, which projected one-tenth
inch above the surface. When the slate was folded there was, therefore,
between the leaves a completely inclosed cavity about one-fifth inch deep,
and nearly air-tight. The slate was done up in a paper parcel by the
shopman, and tied with twine.
Thus armed, I presented myself at Dr. Slade's door, and was ushered
into the drawing-room, where were Dr. Slade, Mr. Simmons, and two
ladies. Dr. Slade and Mr. Simmons were sitting by the fire, and they
invited me to take a chair beside them. Dr. Slade shortly said it was time
to "light up," and he retired to a small adjoining parlour. In less than two
minutes he returned and asked me to follow him. The parlour was
brilliantly lighted by a gaselier suspended over a small, rickety, mahogany
table in the centre of the room, and the gas remained at full power during
the whole of our sitting. I examined the table, turning it over for the
purpose. It had four legs attached to a frame, and was about three-and-a-
half feet by two feet wide, exclusive of a flap on each side. The flap and
its appurtenances on the side opposite to that at which I sat was much
shattered, as if by violent usage, but on my side there did not appear to be
any breakage. The flap against which I sat must originally have been
intended to rest on two brackets, but one of these had been removed, so
that under the corner of the raised flap which was between me and Dr.
Slade there was no impediment whatever. We sat down, I against a flap of
the table, with my back to the fire-place; Dr. Slade at the end of the table,
on my left, with his face towards me, his left shoulder towards the table
and his legs projecting towards the fire-place. I produced my slate, and
undid the wrapper. Dr. Slade had it for one instant open in his hand, but in
my full view, as he dropped upon its clean surface a minute crumb of
pencil. The slate was then firmly closed, and to my certain knowledge
remained so till I opened it myself in the drawing-room half-an-hour
afterwards. Dr. Slade proposed that it should be tied up, to which I, of
course, assented. He got a piece of twine from the chimney-piece, and,
while the slate was in my hands and his, the leaves were securely tied
together, and the twine double knotted. Dr. Slade placed his left hand with
both mine on the table, and for a few minutes held my slate in his right,
but in my full view. I watched it intently all the time. He said there was a
power which prevented him from putting it under the table even if he
would. After a short time, as nothing came, Dr. Slade placed my slate on
the table, under
46 Psychography.
my left arm, and my left elbow rested on it almost till the close of the
sitting. Dr. Slade never touched it again. He took a slate of his own, with a
crumb of pencil on its surface, and passed it out of sight under the table,
saying, "Our friends have done nothing for tis yet. Perhaps they do not
want to write on the gentleman's slate while I hold it. Will they write
while the slate is tinder his arm and I am not touching it?" For a second of
time scratching was heard on Dr. Slade's slate, and, when it was brought
up, the words were on it "We will. He then joined his right hand to my
left, his left still clasping my right, and instantly within my slate the sound
of writing became audible, and continued for about ten minutes. At
frequent intervals I put my ear close to the slate to listen, and there could
be no mistake. The sound was low, but very distinct, and I specially noted
that we could recognise the crossing of the "t's," the dotting of the "i's,"
and the insertion of the punctuation. It seemed as if a person were writing
not rapidly, but steadily and deliberately, without jerk or pause. Two loud
raps on the table announced the conclusion of the message. Dr. Slade then
passed his own large slate, apparently perfectly clean and dry, half under
the table, but so that I could see the other half and his hand holding it. My
own slate meanwhile I placed beside my right elbow to be out of the way.
Dr. Slade asked, "Can you do more for us to-night?" A scratching was
heard, and the word "cannot" appeared on that portion of the upper side of
his slate which had been beneath the table. The "c" was close to the side
of the slate nearest to me, and far out of reach of Dr. Slade's hand, and the
word was written not horizontally but perpendicularly towards Dr. Slade.
The "t" was carefully crossed, and the fragment of the pencil lay where it
had stopped, just at the end of the cross stroke of the "t."
We returned to the drawing,-room, I carrying my own slate, and there I

cut the string that bound it, and within I found a long message, entirely
filling both sides of the slate and consisting of ninety-nine words, besides
the signature "A. W. Slade." It was carefully written in a good firm hand,
and the lines were straight and even. Each "t" was accurately crossed and
each "i" was dotted. The crumb
of pencil, too, was there, with one end worn away as if in writing.
Had only a few words been scrawled on my slate, it would have been,
under the circumstances, astonishing, but the result actually obtained is
simply confounding, when it is remembered that the quickest penman,
with every facility for writing, cannot put down on paper, in long hand,
with every word at full length, more than about twenty words per minute,
and that writing on a slate, where there is more friction, occupies more
time. By whomsoever it was done, this message must have taken at least
five minutes to produce; but Dr. Slade had not the slate for that length of
time in his hand—and, be it repeated, it had never left my sight—and for
less than five seconds only was it open. As already explained, it was,
except for one instant, firmly tied up with twine.
It is impossible to describe the jealous care with which I watched to
detect deceit. I could discover none, nor the possibility of any. I had gone
with my mind full of the evidence given in court by Messrs. Lankester and
Donkin, but their alleged exposure was quite inapplicable to what took
place in my presence.
On December 15th I had again an opportunity, in conjunction with a few
friends, of testing Dr. Slade's alleged mediumship. We sat in our own
room, at our own table, and used our own slates, one ordinary school
slate, and one folding book-slate. As the seance was not so completely
under my personal control as the previous one, it is not worth while
describing it with so great minuteness. Suffice it to say that I sat next Dr.
Slade, on his right hand, and that, as he always held the slate in that hand
when he placed it under the table, I had every opportunity of closely
watching him. We had a number of very short messages, sometimes on
one slate, sometimes on the other. I observed a mark on the school slate,
which, on those occasions when the slate was not passed entirely out of
sight, enabled me to say positively that the writing was done on the upper
side, and not on the under. One little circumstance seems to me very
remarkable: I have already alluded to it above. When one of these
messages appears, the crumb of pencil
48 Psychography.
invariably remains at the point where it stops after writing the

communication, forming a perfect continuation of flit, last stroke of the
last letter. This fact, trifling in itself, to my mind, goes far to prove that the
message has been written with that identical piece of pencil, and on the
upper side of the slate. I do not see how otherwise it could be placed
instantaneously in position with such mathematical accuracy.
The messages always purport to emanate from some invisible being.

The major part come in the name of A. W. Slade, the deceased wife of the
medium, but other so-called "spirits" are frequently represented, and it is a
curious fact that with the change in the name of the penman the character
of the handwriting completely changes too. It would be interesting to
submit various specimens to a caligraphic expert. The matter of the
communications appears to me to be of far less importance than the
manner of their coming. The only one of any length received by me was
that of ninety-nine words above mentioned. It is couched in somewhat
high-flown language, and the subject is the advantages of an assured
knowledge of immortality. It is very much such as a person of fair
intelligence and education might utter on being suddenly asked to make a
neat little speech to a total stranger.
GEORGE KING.
11 St. George's Terrace, Gloucester Road, S.W., Dec. 18, 1876.
This evidence receives additional corroboration from the further fact

that in many cases the pencil is worn away, and great pressure has been
evidently used. The following is a case in point:—
"On Sunday morning, Oct. 22nd [1876], at one o'clock, Mr. W.

Metherell and Mr. G. De Carteret, of Jersey, had a seance with Dr. Slade,
at 8 Upper Bedford Place, London, W. C. Dr. Slade produced two new
slates, which were perfectly dry, and appeared never to have been used
before. They were closely examined by the inquirers. Mr. Metherell then
placed them together, with a crumb of pencil between,
and Dr. Slade tied them firmly to each other, while Mr. Metherell held
them. The tied slates were then laid on the top of the table, and Dr. Slade
touched the frame of the uppermost one with one hand, whilst his other
hand was held by those present, The slates never passed out of sight of the
observers. A noise like that of writing was then heard, and it appeared to
be executed at the ordinary speed. Dr. Slade then requested the two
observers to take the slates into the next room, and to open them in the
presence of two gentlemen who chanced to be there—namely, Mr.
Charles Blackburn, of Didsbury, near Manchester, and Mr. W. H.
Harrison, of The Spiritualist. The strings were accordingly cut in their
presence, and the inner sides of the slates were found to be filled
completely from top to bottom, and from edge to edge—with writing,
including about seventy words altogether. The writing had manifestly
been produced with a piece of slate pencil applied to the surface of the
slate with considerable pressure."
In attestation of the truth of the foregoing statement, we append our

signatures.
WM. METHERELL. CHARLES BLACKBURN.
GEO. DE CARTERET. W. H. HARRISON.
Mr. Wedgwood, J.P. for Middlesex, who has had a large experience in
the observation of these phenomena, relates how he obtained writing in
Greek and English on two new slates, which he had securely tied together.
The sense of hearing detected a difference in the sound of the writing
from that usually made, and when the slates were untied, this was
satisfactorily accounted for by the presence of the Greek characters. The
material part of Mr. Wedgwood's evidence is as follows:—
I breathed on the slates, and rubbed them well with my pocket-

handkerchief, and putting the rubbed faces together, we tied them up fast
with a piece of cord, with a fragment
50 Psychography.
of slate-pencil between them. Thus tied up, the slate was, laid flat on the
table, without having been taken under it at all or removed for a moment
from under my eyes. I placed both my hands upon it, and Slade one of his.
Presently we heard the writing begin, coming distinctly from the slate as I
leaned down my ear to listen to it. It did not sound, however, like running
writing, as we both remarked, but like a succession of separate strokes, as
if someone was trying to write and could not make his Pencil mark, and I
expected that it would prove an abortive attempt. It went on, however,
with the same kind of sound for a long time, perhaps for six or seven
minutes. At last there was a decided change in the sound, which became
unmistakably that of rapid writing in a running hand. When this was done,
I took the slates into the other room, leaving Slade entranced behind, and
untying them, I found that on one face was written in a very good hand the
26th verse of the 1st chapter of Genesis, in Greek, from the Septuagint,
and on the other a message of the usual character in English running hand.
The Greek letters, being each written separately, was what had given the
broken sound of the former part of the writing, the change from which to
the continued sound of running writing had been so striking.
If it be suggested that the slates were really prepared beforehand with

some invisible writing which was brought out by the heat of my ]land, I
answer (independent of other grave objections) that the writing as it stands
can be wiped out by the merest touch, and could not possibly in its
supposed invisible state have escaped obliteration when the slates were
well rubbed by my pocket-handkerchief.
H. WEDGWOOD.
The same result is noted by observers who have carried with them their
own slates, and have taken special precautions to prevent deception. A
lady whose name I have no authority to publish, but who is known to me,
and who professes her readiness to give private testimony if desired,
records a very
interesting experiment with Slade (August 16, 1876), in which she and a
friend succeeded in getting writing on her own slate while it lay upon the
table in broad light, with her friend's elbow resting upon it. In every
case—the experiment was repeated several times—the writer "could
distinctly hear sounds of writing on the slate." The record further
proceeds, noting that cessation of writing when the chain was broken by
removing the hands, of which I have already spoken:—
Dr. Slade then moved across the room to procure a larger slate; this we
examined to satisfy ourselves that there was nothing written upon it. The
slate was then placed under the table, with a small piece of slate-pencil
upon it, Dr. Slade holding it with his right hand, and my friend with his
left. My friend said he kept the slate as close as possible to the table, but
the pressure caused by the writing seemed to force it downwards. The
result of this was, that shortly, a distinct sound of rapid writing was heard
upon the slate, and a message, of which the following is a copy, was
found to have been written
Dear Friends,—It is an undeniable fact that man is more willing to receive

the mysterious than he is to receive plain teaching that appeals to his own
reason, and will be approved by it. Now all theologians of the present day
have the Bible for their foundation; they all differ, Now as they express
the Bible it is the most mysterious book man's eyes ever beheld;
everything there set down is clothed in mystery, when you look at it from
this standpoint. Christ told the multitudes that he came to establish a new
law, that be came to fulfil a mighty mission, but how few that follow his
teaching, or follow his laws of love. Spiritualism comes and brings its
own proof, as this letter is proof of the presence of. A. W. SLADE.
This message covered the whole side of the slate which had been next to
the table. The lines were close together, and extremely evenly kept. We
were conversing with Dr. Slade more or less all the time the writing
continued, and I noticed that whenever I loosed his hand the writing
ceased; when I again held it it continued.
52 Psychography.
I was anxious to have a few words written upon my slate while I alone
held it, which I might presume to show to my friends. Dr. Slade requested
me to move near him, so I changed places with my friend, and held the
slate with my left hand close under the table. The medium first made a
few passes dawn my left arm with his right hand, then placed it so that all
our five hands met in the centre of the table; the only one which was
invisible being my left, which was holding the slate. In this position, and
while my foot was upon the medium's left foot, his other to be plainly
seen, I heard and felt the pencil writing, and on looking found upon my
slate, which had been held by my own hand alone,
"Good-bye; God bless you. ALLIE."
The same results, I may here add, are obtained by Slade at the present
time. La Renovation, a paper published in Belgium, has lately contained a
long article detailing the experiences of Canon X. Mouls with Slade. The
usual examination of the table, and preparation of slate and fragment of
pencil, having taken place, Slade held the slate under the table.
"Suddenly," says the Canon, "we heard a kind of grating noise, and
presently a knock, which signified that the slate could be withdrawn.
Upon it were two sentences, one in French, the other in English." On
another occasion, the Canon took his own slate, held it himself, and again
distinctly heard writing going on. What was written was found to be a
long extract from the New Testament, beautiful in caligraphy, and with
the straight lines exactly preserved.
The Baroness von Vay, a name well known to English investigators of

these subjects, lately writes to a friend after having seen Slade at the
Hague, whither he went after his departure from England:—
Our seance with Mr. Slade, at the Hague, was one of the best ones. I am
fully convinced, and so is the Baron, of that medium's genuineness and
good character.
We sat in full dayllght at midday, and got spirit-writing upon our own
slates, Slade holding them upon the Baron's head. He (my husband) felt
the writing upon the top of his head, and we it distinctly. Then Slade held
the slate upon the Baron's shoulder, and again a message was written.
Not to multiply instances respecting the phenomena observed with

this special psychic, I pass to records which show that the sense of hearing
bears similar testimony to the reality of the phenomena observed with
Francis W. Monck.
Mr. George H. Adshead, of Derby, who has had great opportunity of

experiment with this Psychic, records (Sept. 17 and 18, 1876) a
remarkable case of the nature now under notice. The meeting was held at
27, Uttoxeter Road, Derby; the light was good, clear gas-light. Present,
Mrs. Ford, Mr. Oxley, of Manchester; Mr. W. P. Adshead, of Belper; and
Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Adshead, of Derby.
Omitting all notice of other phenomena, I notice two cases of

Psychography which occurred, one on each evening. Mr. Adshead brought
out and placed a box on the table. A piece of paper was initialled by those
present, and placed, together with a lead pencil, in the box, which was
then securely tied up with tapes, and these were knotted at the crossings
and sealed. On opening the box there were found on the paper several
sentences which had been dictated by the company.
54 Psychography.
After this Mr. W. P. Adshead cleaned a slate, placed some pencil upon
it, and held it Linder the table, in close contact with the top of it. Monck
held the other end. Mr. Adshead thus describes what took place:—
We asked that there might be written on the upper surface, "The former
things are passed away," "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see
God." We heard the pencil writing, and on bringing the slate up found the
above sentences written on it in a clear, neat hand. The experiment was
repeated. Mr. Oxley held one end this time, and the sound of writing was
heard, and a sentence suggested by one of the company was found written
on the clean side of the slate. The slate did not pass from my brother's
hand from the moment he held it under the table after cleaning it until he
brought it up with one side covered with writing. Mr. Oxley was equally
positive of the same when he held it. They each felt Dr. Monck pulling
vigorously at his end of the slate, and they exerted a similar force at their
end, so that it was clear the Doctor's hand was not free, and his
disengaged hand was resting on the table.
Seance No. 2, September 18th.—There were eight persons present,

three ladies and five gentlemen. A lady whom Dr. Monck had never
before seen had a slate passed to her by a sitter, which she examined and
found clean, the slate-pencil which was on the table a few minutes before
we sat down could not be found. An investigator suggested that it would
be a good test if a lead-pencil were used.
Accordingly a lead-pencil was put on the slate, and the lady held both
under the table; the sound of writing was instantly heard, and in a few
seconds a communication had been written filling one side of the slate.
The writing was done in lead, and was very small and neat, and alluded to
a strictly private matter. Here were three tests at once:— 1. Writing was
obtained without the medium (or any other person but the lady) touching
the slate from first to last. 2. It was written with a lead-pencil at the
spontaneous suggestion of another stranger, 3. It gave an important test-
communication regarding a matter that was strictly
private. Dr. Monck did not so much as touch the slate from first to last.
Mr. E. H. Valter, of 51 Belgrave Road, Birmingham, testifies to the
same effect. The senses of both hearing and feeling testified to the fact of
the production of the writing at the time of observation.
Dr. Monck asked any person present to clean a small folding-slate. This
done, he placed a small fragment of slate-pencil on the slate, and closed it.
He then placed it on the head of any of the persons present, and requested
them to place their hands upon the slate, so as to be quite certain that it did
not go out of their possession. The pencil inside the slate was then both
heard by those present to be writing, and the person who had the slate
upon his head could also feel the pressure caused by the pencil in writing.
The time occupied in writing the communication was only a few seconds,
according to its length, but considerably less time than any person could
possibly have written it in. These manifestations took place in the light, so
that all the movements of Dr. Monck were closely scrutinised. The
following are some of the messages given. The words underlined [printed
in Italic], and also those words with a capital, are exactly as they were
written on the slate:—
"Truth is four square, and cannot be displaced.
" SAML."
"Great is the Truth, and it must prevail.
" SAML. August 21st, 1876."
"We love you, and are ever about your paths, studying your well-being,
and actively co-operating with you in every good word and work.
" SAML. Tuesday evening, Aug. 22, '76."
"It is as difficult to shut out from humanity the truth of Spirit-
intercourse, as to exclude the daylight from this room.
" SAML. Tuesday morning, Aug. 22, '76."
This last communication was given on the morning of the 22nd of
August. We had just been observing to each other that the bright rays of
sunlight were rather troublesome, so
56 Psychography.
that the message was very a propos. Many other messages were given,
some were written on note-paper, marked by all present, so as to be
certain that another paper was not substituted, and under these conditions
the messages were still given, in the light, and Dr. Monck's hands clearly
in view.
The messages or writings are of the usual type, and I lay no stress upon
their substance. I direct attention solely to the fact of their presence; and I
reiterate my desire to seek a solution of the question, How is writing done
under such circumstances at all? To say that the matter of the writing is
silly does not dispose of the fact that writing is there. By what method is it
executed?
EXPERIMENTS WITH OTHER PSYCHICS.
———
I HAVE hitherto alluded only to Slade and Monck as the vehicles of this
force, and the Psychics in whose presence these phenomena are produced.
Though they afford us, by virtue of their prominence before the public,
most available evidence, it must not be supposed that abundant facts of a
similar description are not to be found in other quarters. I am precluded
from referring to cases where the Psychic is not before the public. For
obvious reasons, ladies and gentlemen do not voluntarily expose
themselves to the curiosity of those who, only too frequently, reward
information given by an incredulous stare, or an insinuation of delusion or
imposture. When the plain facts are so far recognised that a profession of
belief in their reality does not involve social stigma, or suspicion of a
latent craziness, many persons will step forward to give their own
testimony. That they do not now do so is not surprising; but the fact
remains, though I cannot make use of it for purposes of argument, that
these phenomena occur in the privacy of domestic life, are witnessed in
many a family where no stranger is admitted, and where no aid in the
evolution of the phenomena is sought.
57
58 Psychography.
I have records of experiments with two American Psychics, which I

adduce here by way of corroboration. The first is given by the Hon. J. L.
O'Sullivan, formerly American Minister at the Court of Portugal, and his
experiments were made with Mrs. Harman of San Francisco. The power
of obtaining this phenomenon was rapidly developed in her within three
weeks, and the progress made was very sudden. The noise made by the act
of writing, it will be noted, was different from that observed with Slade,
though the more familiar sound of cursive writing could apparently be
imitated at will.
Mr. O'Sullivan thus describes what he saw:—
The modus operandi was this. The slate (sponged clean with a small
piece of pencil laid upon it, at first like Slade's, but afterwards, by
direction, considerably bigger) was held under a common table, about a
couple of inches below the table-top, she holding one corner between her
thumb and fingers, and I supporting it lightly between mine, at the
opposite diagonal corner of the slate. Our other hands were on the top of
the table. In this situation it is clear that if she had relaxed her hold, to
make any other use of her fingers, the slate must have dropped instantly to
the ground, so light was the support contributed to it by me. Nay, more—I
having once asked to have my hand touched, there was then written on the
slate that I should place my entire hand on the top of the slate, which I
did, so that the slate was then held up solely by her thumb and fingers at
one corner of it. My hand was then touched, stroked, and patted, and a
ring on the little finger taken off, at my request, dropped audibly on the
slate, and again put on, with some little difficulty in pushing it over the
thickness of the joint.
Sometimes, too, she laid the slate on the open palm of her hand, and
then directed me to place my hand under
Experiments with Other Psychics. 59
hers, so that the entire back of her hand rested on the palm of mine, both
hands thus uniting in holding the slate up to with In an inch or two of the
under side of the table top. Both of these modes of holding the slate
certainly constituted the most complete of test conditions as to the point
that the medium's hand could not possibly have had anything to do, either
with the touching mine and taking off the ring or with the copious writing
on the slate, which would take place as will be seen below. These things
were certainly done by no mortal hand. She and I were alone in the room;
the table was a common everyday one, standing on an unbroken spread of
carpet: will Dr. Carpenter consider that they come within the reach of
"unconscious cerebration"?
Another point as to the modus operandi, which differs from the
experiences with Dr. Slade. While the slate was being held under the
table, we would not hear the scratching of the pencil in the act of writing,
but a steady stream as of rapid little ticks on the slate, for all the world
like the sound of a stream of electric sparks. We would then hear three
loud ticks and the sound of the pencil dropping on the slate, as a signal
that it was done. We would withdraw the slate, and there would be the
message, always distinctly written. And yet, on my once remarking on this
circumstance as being different from what Occurred at Dr. Slade's, and
also with Mrs. Francis (another slate-writing medium at San Francisco),
the next time we heard, first, the flow of the stream of ticks, and then the
scratching sound of writing with a slate pencil, as though to show that
they could do that too if they chose.
It was also to be noted that a communication of some length would be
given in broken parts, even a sentence being sometimes broken off in the
middle. The signal for stopping would be given, as though for rest and
recuperation of the force. This will be illustrated below. Seldom would
more than twenty or twenty-five words be given consecutively without
such an intermission, long enough for me to read, copy, expunge, and rub
the slate, and again restore it to its position under the table. It seemed as
though some force analogous to electricity flowed down the medium's
arm, so as to charge the slate and pencil with some spiritual power,
60 Psychography
so as to establish the conditions under which the spirit hands were able to
act. That no mortal hands were, or could possibly have been there, was, I
repeat, absolutely certain.
There is now before the public in America a Psychic of very great

power, Charles E. Watkins, of Cleveland, Ohio. From several accounts of
phenomena observed in his presence, I select now what bears upon my
present point, but I shall have reason to recur to him again before my
argument is complete.
My friend, Mr. Epes Sargent, of Boston, U.S.A., who is indefatigable in

his attempts to convince an unwilling world that there is in and around us
something more than materialists would have us to believe, has published
in the Spiritualist of Oct. 12, 1877, a very precise account of his
experiments with Watkins. On the 18th of September, he tells us, he
bought a new slate, protected by paste-board covers, and repaired to
Watkins' temporary residence, 46 Beach Street, Boston. Apparently Mr.
Watkins was in a very unsuitable frame of mind—worried, out of temper,
ill at ease—just the worst state, one would say, for hope of success in an
experiment which demands, above all, passivity and ease in the Psychic. It
does not seem, however, to have made much difference in the present
instance.
Mr. Sargent was alone, and the time was about noon on a clear, bright
September day. The phenomena all centred round a belief in intercourse
with the Spiritual world. Mr. Sargent wrote six names on six different
slips of paper, concealing the movement of
Experiments with other Psychics. 61
his hand from Watkins, who, however, had turned his back and made no
effort to see what was being written. "Without touching the pellets—only
pointing at them with a slate-pencil—Watkins gave the name written on
each." Mr. Sargent unfolded them one by one, and found that in every
instance he was right. His power of clairvoyance was very strong, and I
think it likely that this supersensuous condition is a frequent concomitant
of the state in which Psychography becomes possible.
Mr. Sargent's narrative, so far as it bears on my present subject, reads

thus:—
He now handed me two slates, which I cleaned thoroughly with a wet

towel, which I had asked for. The theory that by some chemical process
there might be some writing upon a slate ineffaceable by scrubbing, but
made visible after a minute or two, was wholly disproved by subsequent
occurrences. Mr. Watkins did not touch the slates after I had washed
them. He simply placed a crumb of slate-pencil between them, and told
me to hold them out at arm's length. This I did, first satisfying myself once
more that they did not bear the mark of a single letter on any of their
surfaces. I held the two joined slates out in my left hand, the medium
being some four feet distant from them. "Do you hear writing?" asked he.
I put my ear down, and distinctly heard the light scratching of the bit of
slate-pencil. "It is finished," said he, as a slight rap came on the slate. I did
not see how there could have been time for more than a simple name to
have been written; but when I took one slate from the other, there, on the
surface of the lower slate, was a letter of fifty-four words, signed with the
name of a deceased brother, which name I had not written down among
those on the pellets. The letter was characteristic, but gave no startling
proof of the writer's identity. The hand-writing had a general resemblance
to my brother's, but I omitted to
62 Psychography.
take steps to compare it carefully before the writing was rubbed out.
A still better test was in store for me. The little slate, in stiff pasteboard
covers, which I had bought an hour before, and brought with me, had
rested untouched near my right elbow on the table. Mr. Watkins now took
it up, lifted a cover, put a crumb of slate-pencil on the surface of the slate,
closed the cover, and handed the slate to me. I know that there was no
manipulation, no delay, no possibility of trick on his part. I know that no
"prepossession" or expectancy of my own was a possible factor in the
case, if I can be permitted to use my reason in saying so. I looked at the
slate on both sides—satisfied myself (though there was no occasion for
this under the circumstances) that it had not been tampered with, then held
it out, and the name written on it was Anna Cora Mowatt, afterwards
Ritchie, whose funeral I attended at Kensal-Green in London, when Mr.
Varley, Mr. D. D. Home, Mrs. Cox, Mr. Harrison, and other Spiritualists
were present.
I held my own slate out a second time, and then came the words: "My
dear brother.—Yours, Lizzie." Her name had not been even written or
Uttered by me up to this time. Lizzie was the name by which we had
always called her, though she usually signed herself Elizabeth.
Again I held out my own slate, and there came the words:—"My dear
son, God bless you. Your father, who loves you dearly.—Epes Sargent."
During these intervals the slate was held by me, and there was no
possible way by which any human trick or jugglery could have been
practised. The sunshine still streamed into the room; the medium sat there
before me; no other person was present. No more stringent conditions
could have been demanded, even by Messrs. Lankester and Donkin. The
medium, however, writhed as if in torture every time the slate-writing
took place. It was evidently accompanied by some powerful nervous
excitement on his part.
Mr. Chas. E. Watkins is twenty-nine years old, and a man of a highly
nervous and sensitive temperament. He is a far different person
intellectually from what I had been led
to expect. He showed, by flashes, a high order of mind, and I regret that I

could not have taken down in shorthand some of his remarks.
He now took my slate, and, after I had re-examined it, he held it out in
his own hand, and in less than ten seconds one side was fully covered with
a letter from my sister Lizzie. Here it is:—
Spirit-land.
MY DEAR BROTHER,
I come to you this morning with my heart full of love for you, and I
think that perhaps you may believe that it is me, your own sister. George
is here with me. Your loving sister,
LIZZIE.
If you ever doubt spirit communion, look at this slate.
Your sister, LIZZIE.
I still have the slate, with the writing uneffaced. There were no
punctuation marks, but the word "believe" was underlined. The whole was
written in less than twelve seconds.
His brother, Mr. James Otis Sargent, a man of calm and clear mind, and
a thoroughly capable observer, also went to experiment with Watkins, and
his testimony corroborates that of Epes Sargent. He is good enough to
send me the following account of an interview with C. E. Watkins, at his
room, No. 46 Beach Street, Boston, on the 19th day of September,
1877:—
Watkins and myself were the only persons present. He handed me some
slips of paper on which I wrote the names of five deceased persons,
folding up each paper as soon as I had written the name upon it, so that its
contents were thoroughly concealed. While I was doing this, W. left the
room.
When he came back, the five folded papers, all mixed together, lay on
the table under my right hand. Without
64 Psychography
touching them, he requested me to pick out one of them and hold it in my
left hand. I did so. After walking across the room once or twice, and
laying his hand on my head, he told me correctly the name that was
written on the paper. In like manner, he told me the names written on the
remaining papers, while I held them, one by one, tightly grasped in my
hand.
I now threw the papers aside, and took the slates, two of which,
precisely alike, were lying on the table. I cleaned each slate carefully on
both sides with a damp towel. Watkins then sat down at the table, opposite
me, laid one slate on the table, bit off a little piece of slate-pencil and laid
it on the slate, put the other slate over it as a cover, placed his two hands
flat on that, and told me to put my hands on his, which I did. In a moment
he drew out his own hands, so that my hands were left with the slates
beneath them. Then he said that if I put my ear down I would hear the
pencil writing. I put my ear down (not forgetting, however, to keep an eye
upon him), and I heard distinctly the sound of the pencil. While I was
listening, the pencil gave three slight taps, and then the sound stopped.
I lifted the upper slate, and on the under one two communications were
written. The first purported to come from a deceased brother, whose name
was on one of the papers; the second from my father, whose name I had
not written. The handwriting of the two was quite different. I did not
recognise it. But the signature of the second communication, in the
peculiar form of some of the letters, was like my father's signature.
The slates were now cleansed again, the bit of pencil was placed
between them, and I held them myself at arm's length, Watkins not
touching them or me. On opening them I found a short communication
signed with another of the names that I had written. The next time
Watkins held the slates, and a message appeared purporting to be from a
deceased sister named in one of my papers.
Here the seance ended. It took place in broad daylight. I watched every
movement of the medium, and there was no possibility of fraud. There
was nothing in the messages by which I could identify them as coming
from the persons
named; but that they were written by some mysterious agency I have no
doubt.
JAMES OTIS SARGENT.
Cedar Square, Roxbury, Nov. 20, 1877.
Mr. John Wetherbee, of Boston, U.S.A., gives a similar testimony. He is

a well-known writer on psychological subjects, and has devoted
prolonged attention to them. Few writers in America are more entitled to
speak on these subjects, or command more attention by their utterances.
He testifies thus:—
I followed an impression I had, and bought two new slates at a store,

and had holes bored in the frames, and tied the two slates together, and
sealed the knots. The slates were clean, and the medium never touched or
saw the inside of them. I had charge of them, and they were never out of
my sight. The room was as light as a clear afternoon sun shining into it
could make it. The tied slates lay on the table before me and before him—
not under table, but on the table. It took some little time, for the new slates
were not in so good mesmerically charged condition as the slates in his
common use are; but I felt as though I would like to have the writing on
the new slates, so I was patient, and was well paid for my patience, for
after a while I heard the atom of pencil that I had put in the slates before
tying them together beginning to write, after which I cut the strings, and
found one of the slates filled with a communication signed by the name of
a well-beloved friend and relative who died some seven years ago.
Now, my good reader, I know—as well as I know that the sun has shone
to-day—first, that, as I said, the slates were new and clean; secondly, that
no one in the room or out of the room (the only occupants being the
medium and myself) wrote the communication on the slate; and, thirdly,
that it must have been done by an invisible, intelligent being or beings,
and could not have been done in any other conceivable way. I make this
statement as strongly as I know how, and my oath shall be attached if
needed.
66 Psychography.
I had many communications besides the one described with the tied
slates. I will describe one which was on his own slates, but just as good a
test, for my eyes are open and my head is level. I took his two slates, and
washed them clean, and laid one on the other, like a double slate, and held
them out at arm's length, and three feet or more from the medium, and he
never once touched them; the bit of pencil began to write; I had put it
between the upper and under slates; then I opened them, and on each slate
was an intelligent communication—one from a relative and one from a
friend. Both, it will be seen, were written at the same time, both by
different spirits and on different subjects, and the handwriting of each was
very different also.
Dr. H. B. Storer, 29 Indiana Place, Boston, has the same story to tell. I
give his record:—
I took his own two slates, first examining them, to know, as I positively
do, that there was no writing upon them. I placed them together, the
medium simply dropping a crumb of slate-pencil between them, and held
them at arm's length in my left hand, in the bright light of the sun, the
medium sitting within about three feet of the slate, convulsively writhing,
while the noise of scratching was feebly heard, apparently on the slates. In
some two or three minutes, I should think, he said: "It is done," and I
separated the slates and found a short message written in a large, bold
hand, and signed "Dr. Warren." I know that some invisible but intelligent
being, other than the medium or myself, wrote that message, and such a
being I call a spirit.
Mr. Chester A. Greenleaf writes from Chicopee, Mass., under date,
Nov. 14th, 1877:—
My wife received a long communication on new double slates bought
and screwed together by myself, and untouched by Watkins. The moving
of the tiny pencil was heard by her while Watkins was standing in a
doorway about twelve feet distant from where the slates were held by her.
Mr. Watkins seems to obtain this phenomenon under
almost any prescribed condition. It is recorded of him (Aug 25 ult.) that he

submitted his powers to a crucial testing on the public platform. Two new
slates were bought, and kept in the possession of the chairman of the
meeting, Dr. Beals, and by him carried to the platform. A committee,
consisting of two gentlemen who are not believers in the phenomena
called Spiritual, and one who is, was chosen from the audience. The usual
preparations having been made, the slates were held by Watkins and the
three gentlemen. "Soon the scratch of the pencil was heard, and on taking
the slates apart, a message of fifty words was found on one of them; the
committee affirming the impossibility of any substitution of slates, or of
chemical writing."
I have now brought forward testimony sufficient for my purpose. If

what I have adduced does not establish my case, then no amount of proof
would suffice. I pass to another class of evidence.
I I.
EVIDENCE FROM THE WRITING OF LANGUAGES

UNKNOWN TO THE PSYCHIC.
———
IT is a by no means uncommon thing for the handwriting in which the

messages are written to be one totally different from that of the Psychic;
and it is a noteworthy fact that when a special handwriting is associated
with a special signature, that association (so far as I have seen) is always
preserved. I am acquainted with many cases in which this is very
observable. I have now before me a specimen of Psychography obtained
in private without the intervention of any one outside the family circle, in
which the writing is so minute as to be illegible without the use of a strong
magnifying-glass. Yet the letters are clearly and beautifully formed, the
lines are straight and regularly spaced, and the capitals and the name of
the Supreme Being are written large, and with great care in their
formation. The same half-sheet of note-paper which contains this
specimen contains also another message, written in a totally different
handwriting, but also with great neatness and care. Each is signed by a
name, or rather by a designation, and each contains coherent and sensible
matter. Each handwriting has been preserved exactly in all
communications made now for some five years; and no
68
Evidence from the Writing of Languages. 69
variation is discernible between the writing when obtained without human

intervention, as in the case above quoted, and that which is automatically
written through the hand of the Psychic through whom these messages are
given. There is an absolute identity preserved throughout.
It is not only that the character of the writing is the same, but there is a
marked presence in these messages of individuality on the part of the
Intelligence. The matter of the message is as marked as the manner of it.
This is observable especially in writings obtained under the best
conditions of privacy in a family circle. Those who have looked carefully
into the laws which govern these phenomena do not expect to gain any
information that merits attention amid the distracting surroundings of a
public circle, where the Psychic is valuable chiefly for the unfavourable
conditions under which he can manage to give evidence to a sceptical
inquirer; where the performance is a species of psychical gymnastics,
conditions being prescribed for the special purpose, apparently, of
rendering it impossible to produce a given result; and success being the
invariable signal for still more stringent demands. Such investigators, it is
presumed, have their reward.
In private, on the contrary, when the method of production is familiar,

and the attention is directed more to the nature of information given, there
is observable a very distinct and marked individuality in the Intelligent
operator, and much that is written is worthy of attention on its merits.
70 Psychography.
Almost invariably this individuality is not akin to that of the Psychic.

When only one Intelligence can be detected, then usually the broad
characteristics of the Psychic are reproduced, but with a marked variation
in minute points, and with either the absence of some strong personal
peculiarity, or with the addition of one equally forcibly marked. And
where several Intelligences can be traced, they differ among themselves as
strongly as they do from the Psychic.
Not only do these Intelligences present characteristics of form and style

of communication different from what would have been used by the
Psychic, but they give information which is beyond his knowledge, and
sometimes use a language with which he is not acquainted. It is not my
purpose now to dwell on the fact that information is given by means of
these messages which neither is nor ever has been within the knowledge
of the special Psychic through whom the phenomenon was caused. That
would lead me into details which do not rightly belong to my subject, and
I should manifestly be compelled to narrow down my argument to such
cases as are within my own private knowledge. It is impossible to say of a
given public Psychic, like Monck or Slade, that he does or does not know
such a fact, or has or has not ever heard of it in his past life. I could only
say that it was unlikely that he has such out-of-the-way knowledge, and
could ground no argument on such an opinion.
It is easier to adduce evidence as to the language used. When we find

Ancient and Modern Greek, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish,
Dutch, German
man, Arabic, and Chinese forming the language of some of these

Psychographs, obtained in the presence of Slade and Watkins, we shall
not have much difficulty in concluding that their linguistic attainments are
not of this polyglot character. As a matter of fact, Watkins is a young man
whose past life has not been one that has been favourable to the
acquisition of any knowledge, except that gained in the hard school of
experience; and Slade knows no language but his own mother tongue. I
am in a position to affirm this with confidence, on the authority of Dr.
Carter Blake, who was accustomed to read French with Miss Slade and
Miss Simmons during their stay in London. He says, in a letter to me, "We
used to act little plays by Moliere, and the like. I am certain that Slade,
who was generally present, was entirely and hopelessly ignorant of every
word…. Simmons is as ignorant of the 'ethnic' languages as Slade, and the
girls have a very moderate school-girl acquaintance with the French
language alone."
I adduce, therefore, this fact, that languages unknown to the Psychic are
frequently used, as an additional proof of the absence of fraud. When such
precautions are taken to prevent previous fraudulent preparations of the
slates as I have noted in each quoted case, the presumption is in favour of
the reality of the phenomenon. When the evidence of the senses tells of
the progress of the writing, that presumption is increased. If, when the
slate is inspected, the language used is one unknown to the Psychic, I
submit that the presumption is still further increased,
72 Psychography.
and that another link has been added to the chain of evidence.
I have already mentioned one case, that of Mr. Hensleigh Wedgwood,

J.P., in which his ear detected the sound of Greek writing, and afterwards
of the cursive script of English. I will add two other cases, one recorded
by the Hon. R. Dale Owen, formerly American Minister at the Court of
Naples. It dates back to a time when Slade was comparatively unknown in
this country. The record is curious, inasmuch as Mr. Owen had the slate
and papers on his knees, and saw the detached hand, like those mentioned
by Mr. Crookes and Mr. Jencken, which executed the writing:—
At half-past seven on Monday evening, Feb. 9th, 1874, I called at Dr.

Slade's rooms, 413 Fourth Avenue, New York, found him disengaged, and
had a sitting which I shall remember while I live.
It was held in his back parlour; no one but myself present; doors closed
and locked; sufficient gaslight from a chandelier suspended above the
table to make every object in the room distinctly visible. We sat at a table
without cover, five feet by two and a half, Slade at one end, and I on one
side, near him; Slade's hands on the table throughout the sitting.
An interval of some ten or fifteen minutes during which nothing

occurred; Slade nervous, restless, and seemingly disappointed. Then he
laid a small slate on the table before me, and, after a time, went to a
writing-desk, brought thence half a quire of paper, selected a sheet, and
handed it to me with a request that I would examine it. I did so, carefully,
under the gaslight, and can positively affirm that not a word or letter was
visible upon it. Thereupon he added, "They wish you to lay it on the slate,
and to lay the slate on your knee."
Evidence from the Writing of Langages. 73
Then, after another pause: "Have you a lead pencil?"
"Yes."
"Please throw it under the table."
I did so.
A few minutes afterwards I felt the grasp as of a hand on one of my
knees, arresting my attention, for the touch was unmistakably distinct.
Presently there appeared, stealing over my knees, and creeping slowly up
the slate, a hand, holding my pencil. This hand resembled, point for point,
that of a white marble female statue, alike in size, in colour, and in form;
the fingers taper, and the whole most delicately moulded. It was detached
and shaded off at the wrist. It commenced writing about the middle of the
note sheet, and continued to write under my eyes for two or three minutes,
ending at the bottom of the page. Then it slipped gently back under the
table, carrying the pencil with it.
Again an interval, perhaps of five minutes. Then appeared a second
hand, somewhat smaller than the first, but in colour and symmetry closely
resembling it. This hand moved to the top of the sheet of paper, wrote as
the former had done, and for about the same period of time, then
disappeared slowly in like manner. I saw it even more distinctly than the
first, because it wrote outside of the shadow of the projecting table-top,
and directly under the gaslight.
As we had no raps indicating the close of the sitting, we kept our places,
talking over what had happened. After some time, a hand similar to that
which first wrote, showed itself coming out from below the end of the
table furthest from Dr. Slade. It was detached, as the others had been
remained visible several minutes, then sank out of sight. This closed the
sitting.
When I came to examine the writing of which I had thus witnessed the
execution, I found the first written to be in English, a commonplace
communication with the signature of Dr. Slade's deceased wife. The last
written, but first on the note sheet (headed in English, "Law of Love.
Matt. v. 43-45"), was in Greek.
Now, my knowledge of Greek, imperfect when I left college, has,
during more than half-a-century of disuse, so faded out that I can barely
translate a word, here and there. I
74 Psychography.
[Photo illustration of handwriting]

referred the manuscript to two of the best Greek scholars in Harvard

University, and from them I ascertained that it was what it purported to be
(a few aspirates and accents only omitted), the original of the three well-
known verses, thus rendered in our revised version:—
"43. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour and
hate thine enemy.
"44. But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good
to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and
persecute you.
"45. That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven; for He
maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just
and on the unjust.",
Truly the "Law of Love." That those of your readers who are familiar
with Greek may judge the original MS. for themselves, I here submit a
half-size photograph of what I obtained. (See p. 74.)
I close without comment, merely reminding your readers:—
That this sitting was held in the light.
That the sheet of note paper remained in my possession from the time I
first received and examined it till the close of the sitting; and has never
been out of my possession since.
That, for the reality of the phenomena I had the evidence of two senses:
that of feeling, and best and most convincing of all, the testimony of what
the old poet calls the "faithful eyes."
New York, Oct. 15th 1876.
The other case is recorded in the Spiritualist of Dec. 1, 1876, and Mr.
Blackburn's attestation supplies all the necessary information:—
The writing in the accompanying cut is a fac-simile of that which was
obtained upon one of Dr. Slade's slates in the presence of Mr. Charles
Blackburn of Parkfield, Didsbury, near Manchester. Mr. Blackburn states
that in broad daylight a crumb of pencil was placed on the top of the table,
76 Psychography
and a clean slate turned face downwards over the pencil. The four sitters,
including Dr. Slade, then joined their hands, with the exception that Dr.
Slade placed one of his hands
[Photo illustration of handwriting]

Evidence from the Writing in Languages. 77
upon the top of one corner of the slate, whilst Miss Cook, at the other end
of the chain of sitters, placed one of her hands upon the opposite corner.
Dr. Slade sat sideways, and his feet were in sight all the time. Soon they
heard the pencil hard at work, and the message seemed to be a long one,
for the writing could be heard going on for five or six minutes; then it
ceased, and raps came upon the table. The slate was turned up and found
to be full of Greek writing. Mr. Blackburn wrapped up the slate in his
handkerchief, and carried it to the rooms of the National Association of
Spiritualists, where it is now framed under glass, and is on public view.
The writing is the dry dusty writing of slate pencil. The sitters were Mr.
Charles Blackburn, Mrs. Henry Cook, of Hackney, Miss Kate S. Cook,
and Dr. Slade.
Another specimen of Greek was obtained by Mr. Gledstanes, who also

had some Arabic and English writing on the same slate. He went to Slade,
I may say, with the desire and hope of getting some French message,
which he might give to M. Leymarie in Paris, a city in which Mr.
Gledstanes had for some time been resident. The remarks which I have
before made as to the difference in handwritings find an illustration here.
The Greek writings obtained by Messrs. Owen and Blackburn are
identical in type, and seem to me to be hastily written, as if by a hand
familiar with the character, and accustomed to write it currente calamo
[with the pen running on]. The letters are not laboriously formed, as
would be the case if they were copied by one who was ignorant of the
language. The characters on the; slates of Messrs. Gledstanes and
Wedgwood are entirely different—are, in my opinion, formed by another
hand—and are signed alike, but differently from the other writings. These
points have their obvious bearing
78 Psychography.
on the question of the separate nature of the Intelligence, and also of the
reality of the phenomenon.
Since Slade has been on the Continent, at the Hague and Berlin, we find
that messages in Dutch and German are written. Canon X. Mouls, with
Slade in Belgium, obtained writing in French, a language with which he
was probably most familiar, as well as in English, the language of the
Psychic.
In London one gentleman obtained writing in both Spanish and

Portuguese, though neither he nor any person in the room knew a word of
either language. In an adjoining room, however, it is curious to note that
there was a gentleman, Dr. Carter Blake, who knows both. It is right,
however, to notice that during the time when the experiment was being
made, Dr. Blake was in conversation about other subjects. The matter of
the message, he tells me, is quite unlike anything that would have been in
his mind. He has no pretensions to be a good Portuguese scholar; never
uses the language for thought or word, except in the way of business,
though he knows Spanish well.
The same results are got with Watkins, in America. Madame H. P.

Blavatsky, a Russian lady now resident in New York, and author of Isis
Unveiled, went to Watkins, and having written among other names, on
separate pieces of paper, one in Russian character, she was asked by the
Psychic to allow it to be written on the slate, as it was too difficult for him
to pronounce. Madame Blavatsky placed her hand alone on a slate, under
which a fragment of pencil had been placed. Mr. Watkins did not touch
the slate. "An instant
Evidence from the Writing in Languages. 79
after, on turning up the slate, the appellation, consisting of three names,

was found written in full, and in Russian characters, with this curious
exception, that one or two letters were exchanged for those of Latin
character, having the same phonetic value; e.g. an 'f', pronounced in
Russian 'v', but written 'b', was substituted for the latter letter."
Again, a teacher of the Greek language in the Collegiate Institute,

Springfield, Massachusetts, United States of America, Mr. T. T.
Timayenis, a modern Greek by birth, obtained from Watkins, in original
characters of Romaic, "the name of his grandfather, and three lines of
Greek words, correctly spelled, and with accents and breathings correctly
placed." To this he testifies in his own name, and, moreover, states that
the "name written is very peculiar, almost unpronounceable by English
lips. The slate was in full view throughout, and Watkins merely touched
one corner with a motionless finger."
The same Psychic has recently obtained writing in correct and properly
formed Chinese characters. It is probable that Psychography could be
obtained in any given language, provided a person were present who
understood that language even slightly. And there is some evidence which
goes to prove that on rare occasions a language is used with which no
person present is familiar; just as, far more certainly, facts are given
which are not known to any one in the room.
It is, however, very desirable that extended experiment should be made

in this direction before any definite opinion is formed.
SPECIAL TESTS, SHOWING THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF PREVIOUS
PREPARATION OF THE WRITING.
———
BEYOND the evidence obtained by the senses of the observer, and from
the fact that the subject-matter of the communications frequently contains
what the Psychic could not be supposed to know, as well as from the fact
that the language in which it is conveyed is one with which he is not
familiar, there are additional tests which go still further to show the
impossibility of previous preparation for purposes of deception.
It must be borne in mind that these writings are not obtained solely by
professional Psychics, who, having an interest in procuring them for
money, may be supposed to be under some temptation to manufacture a
counterfeit when the real article is not forthcoming. They are of frequent,
not to say regular occurrence in families into which no professional aid
ever is admitted, when the matter of the writing is of so private a nature
usually as to be held sacred, and where publicity is neither asked nor
tolerated. Such cases form a very large factor in a fair argument on this
question.
80
Special Tests of the Writing. 81
And in this connexion I am concerned to say again that the so-called

exposure of the modus operandi of a professional Psychic by a
professional conjurer is of so little importance as to be practically nihil ad
rem [nothing to do with the point]. Mr. Maskelyne, on his own stage,
surrounded by his own confederates, and using his own prepared
apparatus, does something which burlesques the results obtained by Slade.
What then? If the imitation were moderately good, it would be a
creditable counterfeit, such as the skilful illusionist should have no
difficulty in producing on his own terms. The stage thunder, the stage
dinner, the false sovereign, the mask and wig of the actor, may all be
made more or less like the reality which they counterfeit. Mr. Maskelyne's
is a sorry piece of illusion, unworthy one who passes as so great an artist,
and only excusable because he finds it good enough for his method of
misguiding a credulous public. But were it never so good, what would it
prove? Simply that a thing can be imitated when unlimited means of so
doing are provided. That is hardly a point that we need to have
demonstrated; and if those who lay stress upon it find any comfort in that
demonstration they are welcome to it. If, however, they flatter themselves
that it extends any further, then they must be advised to commence the
study of logic.
Furthermore, let it be remembered that the conjurer is a man who has

devoted special faculties, specially trained, to the development of his art.
His nimble fingers have gone through many a weary lesson before they
have enabled him to do what he does. The
82 Psychography.
Psychic, as often as not, is a lady or gentleman, a boy, or even a child,

who could not perform a Maskelyne trick to save his or her life, and who
has usually as little knowledge of the method by which the results are
obtained as my reader probably has. It is Nature versus Art; and in this, as
in all other cases, though Art may copy, it cannot rival Nature.
A great deal is made too, and quite naturally, of the tricks that can be
played in the dark, when a trained and practised trickster has full liberty
for his pranks. As I write there lies before me this week's Academy (Jan. 5,
1878), in which a review of Houdin's Conjuring is made the vehicle for a
long story of the method of imposture used on a certain occasion (not
specified) by a Psychic (not named) at a time and place (not
particularised) in Cambridge. This is, most unfairly, turned into a sort of
illustration of the way in which Slade managed his business. The critic,
who evidently knows nothing of the subject, must prepare himself to
answer such cases as those adduced here before his attacks will have
much weight. As a matter of fact, no case is here recorded which took
place in darkness; none where any such imposture as he relies upon was
possible; none where the critic can fairly say that every reasonable
precaution was not taken to insure fair and straightforward dealing.
I reiterate the fact that, when these experiments are made in public, they
are made under rigid conditions which preclude deception. Men familiar
with the phenomena, and who are not scared or driven off their balance by
their occurrence, subject them to
repeated observation, and evoke them under carefully prescribed

conditions. They are not content to leave a conjurer's license to the
Psychic, but compel him to attempt his experiment under conditions
which render it absolutely sure that all is straightforward, and which
frequently are so rigid as to make success all but impossible. Under these
conditions many of the experiments quoted in this treatise have been
conducted, and I claim to advance my argument a step further by referring
here to some of the most conspicuous.
I have already recorded that Watkins has submitted himself to the

careful testing of a committee, in a strange hall, and with slates which he
had never even seen. Under these circumstances fifty words were written.
This is a fair instance of the difference between the modus operandi of the
true Psychic, and the method of the conjurer.
In a similar manner Slade, when in London, voluntarily came from his

own rooms to those of the British Association of Spiritualists, 38 Great
Russell Street, and submitted himself to test by a committee specially
selected from the members of that association, and permanently organised
for the purpose of conducting scientific research into Psychic phenomena.
He made no other condition save this. He requested that the committee
should experiment with him by twos, as he had found by experience that
the best results are obtained when the number of persons present is small.
He was willing to use the table and slates provided by the committee, and
made no
84 Psychography.
stipulation whatever as to who the observers should be, or in what order

or manner they tested his powers.
From the carefully-recorded minutes of the committee I extract the

reports of Mr. Desmond FitzGerald, M.S.Tel.E., and Mr. J. W. Gray, C.E.;
of Mr. George King, and Dr. Carter Blake, Doc. Sci.; and of Mr. T. H.
Edmands and Mr. Hannah.
REPORT OF MR. DESMOND FITZ-GERALD, M.S.TEL.E., AND

MR. J. W. GRAY, C.E.
We sat down to an ordinary deal, double-flap, Pembroke table. Dr.

Slade sat with a flap to right and left, but sideways, so that his legs did not
pass under the table. Mr. Fitz-Gerald sat on his right, opposite the flap,
and Mr. Gray opposite to Dr. Slade. All joined hands on the top of the
table, and at about the middle thereof Raps, and even blows, were then
almost immediately heard and felt beneath the table, these being
sufficiently strong to cause the table to vibrate distinctly; and in this way
was affirmatively answered the question, "Will you write?" Dr. Slade then
bit off a small piece of pencil and placed it on a slate, the frame of which
bore a mark, so that the slate could not be turned over without detection.
The slate was then passed several times partially under the table and
withdrawn by Dr. Slade, who held it by one corner, his other hand joining
that of the other sitters on the top of the table. At no time was the slate in
such a position that the writing could by any possibility have been done
by Dr. Slade. After a few of these movements of the slate, and whilst it
was partially visible, and apparently close against the table, both Dr.
Slade's hands being full in view, a sound as of writing on the slate was
distinctly heard, and then, after it had moved three times against the table
(to indicate that the writing was finished), the slate was withdrawn, and
writing was found thereon, extending right across the slate, lengthwise.
The next experiment was with a folding slate, which had

been bought by Mr. Fitz-Gerald for the purpose. A crumb of pencil having
been placed on one leaf of the slate, and the other leaf folded over it, Dr.
Slade took hold of the closed slate between the thumb and forefinger of
the right hand, and placed his other hand on those of the other sitters, on
the top of the table. The slate was then passed several times beneath the
table for the fraction of a second, and was then held by Dr. Slade above
the table, in which position writing was distinctly heard on it, Mr. Fitz-
Gerald placing his ear close to the slate to make quite sure of this fact. On
the slate being then opened, writing was found on one leaf thereof, the
words being: "He is not a developing medium;" this being evidently a
reply to a remark made by Dr. Slade, a minute or so before, that Mr. Gray
was a strong medium. The slates being then removed from the table, we
placed our hands on the latter, and Dr. Slade asked that it might be raised.
After being strongly tilted once or twice, it was suddenly raised from the
floor, and turned over above our heads. The latter movement was so
sudden, however, that the exact conditions immediately before it occurred
had not been noted. It was therefore suggested that the experiment should
be tried whether the table could be made to rise slowly and vertically
whilst under careful observation. The request that it should do so was
immediately acceded to. The medium placed one foot right away from the
table, so that it was well in view of the sitters, and the other foot he placed
beneath one of Mr. Fitz-Gerald's, while all hands were joined on the top of
the table. It then, and under the closest observation, rose twice about six
inches from the ground, the top remaining perfectly horizontal during the
movements. Thus ended a most satisfactory seance.
(Signed) JOHN WM. GRAY.
I fully concur in the above account.
DESMOND G. FITZ-GERALD.
REPORT OF MR. GEORGE KING AND DR. CARTER BLAKE.
Dr. Slade having kindly volunteered to give a seance to the members of

the Experimental Research Committee, we
86 Psychography.
assembled to meet him this evening. We gathered in the large seance

room, and while waiting proceeded with the routine business of the
committee. At about seven o'clock Dr. Slade arrived, and sat for a little
chatting with us. He said he could not that evening sit with more than two
at a time, and as there were about eight of us, we drew lots for the order of
precedence. My lot fell to be in the third couple, and my partner was Dr.
Carter Blake. The previous sitters were with the medium about twenty
minutes, and experienced some strong physical manifestations, for when
Dr. C. Blake and I entered the small seance room we found that one globe
of the gaselier had been broken, we were told, by the table having been
violently tossed up into the air.
Dr. Slade, Dr. Blake, and I sat down at a small and very rough table
belonging to Dr. Carter Blake. My companions sat facing each other at
opposite sides of the table, and I sat between them at the medium's right,
and thus, as he always held the slate in his right hand when he placed it
under the table, I had every opportunity of closely observing him. We
used two slates, supplied by a member of the committee, one an ordinary
school slate, the other a folding book-slate. We had a number of very
short messages, sometimes on one slate, sometimes on the other, obtained
in the way which has been so often described. Usually the slates were
completely hidden under the table and thus the seance was not so
conclusive as the private one I had had with the same medium a week or
two before. I observed a mark on the school slate, which, on these
occasions when the slate was not passed entirely out of sight, enabled me
to say positively that the writing was done on the upper side of the slate,
and not on the under. One little circumstance seems to me very
remarkable, and I am astonished that attention has not been more forcibly
called to it in accounts of seances with Dr. Slade. [Note A] The crumb of
pencil invariably remains at the point where it stops after writing the
message, forming a perfect continuation of the last stroke of the last letter.
This fact, trifling in itself, to my mind goes far to prove that the message
had been written with that identical piece of pencil, and on the upper side
of the
slate. I do not see how otherwise the medium could place it in position
with such mathematical accuracy. It may also be thought worthy of record
that the style of the handwriting was very dissimilar from that of the
message I had received at the private seance above referred to, and that
the intelligence purporting to communicate was different also. [Note B. ]
Dr. Slade afterwards took an ordinary black-lead pencil, about six

inches in length, and laid it on the slate above a half sheet of note paper
which I had supplied. He passed them under the table, when the pencil
appeared to drop on the ground. We immediately looked for it, but could
nowhere find it. Dr. Slade then passed the slate with a crumb of slate
pencil on it under the table, and asked where the black-lead pencil had
been put. The written answer was, "On the top of the door;" and on the top
of the door Dr. Blake found it. The door was about ten feet from where we
sat, and none of us had stirred from our chairs from the moment of
entering the room. The incident was a curious one; but as I had not the
means of identifying the pencil, and had not searched the top of the door
before beginning the seance, it does not carry very great weight. [Note C.]
GEO. KING.
Note A.—Attention has been often drawn to this point in communications which have
appeared in the The Spiritualist newspaper.—C. C. B.
Note B.—The handwriting was dissimilar from that of "Allie," Phoebe," and purported
to be that of "OWOSSOO."—C. C. B.
Note C.—The pencil found by me on the lintel of the door was identified by me by
certain marks as the same pencil placed by Dr. Slade on the paper, and subsequently
dropped. It ought to be stated that my own chair was dragged from beneath me by a force
acting on the other side of the room to that on which Dr. Slade sat; and that I was
forcibly touched on the shoulder under like conditions. With these additions I coincide in
Mr. G. King's report.—C. CARTER BLAKE.
REPORTS OF MR. T. H. EDMANDS AND MR. R. HANNAH.
Dr. Slade attended the meeting of the Research Committee, and, after a
short interval, was shown into the front seance room, where he received
the members by twos. Mr.
88 Psychography.
R. Hannah and I were the last to enter. We found Dr. Slade standing by a
common deal table, which, with the three chairs to be occupied by us, was
detached by an interval of eight or ten feet from the other articles in the
room. I received the slates which were used, one a double-folding, and the
other a common school slate, from the members who had entered
immediately preceding Mr. Hannah and myself, and took them into the
seance room. On the common slate a short message was written whilst it
was partially under the table. I then expressed a wish that something
might be written in my pocket-book, which I handed to Dr. Slade, with a
small bit of my own pencil (blue). We were informed that a trial would be
made to give us a message. Dr. Slade held the pocket book over the table,
open and in full view, then dropped the bit of pencil on the open leaf, then
turned over the half cover so as to close the book, except so far as was
prevented by Dr. Slade's thumb being at one corner holding the book. In
about a minute, without any action or movement by Dr. Slade, writing
was heard to be in progress, the whole book being still in sight, as also
were both hands of Dr. Slade, one only being used to hold the book, and a
message was written.
A small piece of pencil was then placed on one side of the double slate,
and the other side closed over it. The closed slate was then held for an
instant by Dr. Slade, partly under the table, but at Mr. Hannah's
suggestion, it was put on the top of the table, and pressed down with the
tips of Dr. Slade's fingers and thumb. When the slate was brought up and
placed on the top of the table, Dr. Slade opened it to show that it was then
free from writing. Almost instantly writing was heard, and on opening the
slate a sentence was found to be written, which was preserved, and
attested by Mr. Hannah and myself by our signatures on the frame of the
slate, and the slate handed to Mr. Fitz-Gerald, to whom it belonged. Mr.
Hannah is of opinion that no more satisfactory conditions could be
required as proof, that Dr. Slade had no active part in producing the
writings, than were afforded by these two experiments with the pocket-
book and the slate, and I concur with him entirely.
T. H. EDMANDS.
A series of sittings was given by Dr. Slade to the Research Committee at
38, Great Russell Street, on the 15th December. He was shown into the
front seance room, where he received the members by twos.
Mr. Edmands and I were the last to enter, and we found Dr. Slade
standing by a bare table, which, with the three chairs to be occupied by us,
was detached by an interval of eight or ten feet from the other articles in
the room.
Mr. Edmands took into the room the slates to be experimented upon,
one a double-folding, and the other a common school slate.
On this common slate a short message was written whilst it was partially
under the table. Mr. Edmands then expressed a wish that something might
be written in his pocket-book. A very small portion of prepared lead was
placed upon it, and Dr. Slade held it, quite open, in sight, but partly
covered by the corner of the flap of the table. In about a minute the book
seemed to shut without any action on the part of Dr. Slade, and writing
was heard to be in progress, the whole book being then in sight, as also
were both of Dr. Slade's hands.
A small piece of pencil was then placed on one side of the double slate,
and the other side closed down over it. The closed slate was then held for
an instant by Dr. Slade, partly under the table, but at my suggestion he put
it on the top of the table, and pressed it down with the tips of his fingers
and thumb. Almost instantly writing was heard, and on opening the slate a
sentence was found, which was, preserved, and afterwards attested by Mr.
Edmands and myself signing our names on the frame.
I do not think more satisfactory conditions could be required as proof
that Dr. Slade had no active part in producing the writing than were
afforded by these two experiments with the pocket-book and the folding
slate.
An incident attracted my notice during the sitting which I may be
allowed to mention, as it bears on a part of the evidence given in the
prosecution, where it was said that Dr. Slade adopted the rather uncouth
mode of biting off bits of pencil in order that he might have some pretext
for the noise made by "clearing his throat." The only time during
90 Psychography
the sitting Dr. Slade indulged in this "knack" was when holding the
pocket-book open partly under the table. He had not hitherto bitten a
pencil at all, as the sentence on the common slate was written with a
largish piece, which had been on the table. The knack seemed spasmodic,
or as indicating that he might be in very slight degree in the state which is
called "under control." Besides these writings, certain unimportant
movements of the table occurred. R. HANNAH.
In the course of this report occurs the name of a scientific gentleman

who had great opportunity of observing the phenomena which occurred in
Slade's presence, and who has left us a very exact record of some of his
observations. Mr. Carter Blake, Doctor of Science, late secretary to the
Anthropological Society of Great Britain, and now lecturer on
comparative anatomy at Westminster Hospital, is the observer, and his
records, beside giving facts, note also some deductions bearing on the
source and operation of the force to which I shall have occasion to recur
hereafter.
On Monday, the 8th instant, I had the pleasure of visiting Dr. Slade.
The manifestations were of the same kind as those described by many of
your correspondents. I was struck with the fact that the motive power
which pulled at my coat, took a slate from my hand, and carried it under
the table, proceeded from my right hand, while Dr. Slade was on my left.
The message given on the slate was of the usual character from "Allie."
Subsequently, the initials of a deceased person known to myself were
written on the slate when the side was turned downwards, and quite
invisible to Dr. Slade. Afterwards some writing was obtained on the slate
from the same assumed source, the meaning of which was intelligible to
myself, and not to Dr. Slade. Hands were seen, and my coat forcibly
pulled by some other force than his own. The table was raised up when
both his
hands, and both mine, were on it, and my feet on his. No motion of his
feet could have done this. He then leaving the table, it forcibly threw itself
in my lap, and subsequently, in a reversed position, on my head. The
accordion was played when held by one of Dr. Slade's hands.
The hands shown near me cast a distinct shadow, produced by the
sunlight on the table, and on my white waistcoat.
The effect on my mind was the certainty of Dr. Slade's perfect good
faith in the matter, and the conviction that the force which produced these
singular conditions was intelligent, and acted from a spot or spots separate
from the medium.
On Sunday, September 10, 1876, after mass, I visited Dr. Slade at 9.40
a.m., and found him in good health and spirits. Stepping into the back
drawing-room, the table, which was covered, had the cloth removed, and
the cloth as well as the table were most minutely inspected by me, as had
been the carpet on a previous occasion. Dr. Slade sat at the west side of
the table, and I at the south. I do not think it necessary in any way further
to describe the table than by saying it is of good solid ash, and the
carpentry with which it is made is good. The "strut" or "bracket," which
may be used to support either of the flaps of the table, is precisely similar
to that in a deal table which I have in my own possession. There is, in fact,
nothing abnormal or unusual about this arrangement, which I only
mention because attention had been drawn to it with a view to infer that
there was something suspicious. The chairs around the table (which do not
belong to Dr. Slade) are Ordinary cane-bottom chairs, are not connected
with any mechanism either, under the carpet, to the ceiling, or in any way
whatever. The chair which I will call A was placed by me, after
inspection, at the north-east corner of the table, its front face being
diagonal with the north side of the table. Another chair (B) was placed in
full view of myself, parallel with the eastern face of the table.
Dr. Slade had on French pumps, and his dress was "of the period." I had
on heavy side-spring walking boots. Dr. Slade, with a view to show that it
was perfectly impossible
92 Psychography.
for him to produce any motion of or under the table by his feet, attempted
to sit sideways with one of his feet on a chair moved to the south-west
corner of the table between us. Failing to be able to sit comfortably in this
way, he placed his feet at a distance of about six inches (minimum
distance) from the south-west corner of the table. I took off my own boots
and placed them behind my chair at the spot marked F, where they could
not be touched by any one but myself, and only by my right hand. A sofa
was behind me, and the boots were partially underneath this sofa.
I then placed my feet on those of Dr. Slade, and rendered any action on
the part of his feet impossible. The slate was then held by him under the
table, as already described by Serjeant Cox, and some twenty others, with
perfect accuracy. I do not think it necessary to say more than that on the
present occasion my attention was chiefly directed to constater the fact
that both sides of the slate were carefully examined by me and ascertained
not to have any prepared writing or marking. Dr. Slade permitted me to
hold the slate in my own hands and turn either side up. The pencil crumb
was soon heard writing, and the following message produced on the upper
surface of the slate:—
DEAR SIR,—I present my compliments, and wish you to say Wm. Trippen
[or Tuppen] came, and wishes his friends to know he can return. I left
earth Aug. 16th, at No. 1, Thomas's Cottage, Bourne-walk, Butler, age 68.
Wm. T.
The meaning of the above is perfectly unintelligible to me. While it was

being written, Dr. Slade was carrying on a conversation on another
subject.
We then proceeded with the seance.
Whilst waiting for the next manifestation, I noticed a condition which I
had not previously observed with Dr. Slade. His hands being on both
mine, in the centre of the table, the muscles of my forearms were seized
with a convulsive motion, and the waves of this motion, according to my
impression, proceeded from my elbows to the finger tips, and not the
converse, as some persons might be led to expect. The sensation was
unlike that which would have been produced by an electric battery under
the table, and was more like what I should imagine was the sensation of
the aura epiletica. Of course I have not the slightest pretensions to the
abnormal condition which is called, for reasons unknown to me,
"mediumistic," a badly-constructed word, which has apparently been
coined on as absurd a model as "ritualistic."
The chair marked A then rose to a distance of nine inches from the
ground, preserving its parallelism with the floor, and fell with a violent
blow. The arm-chair, E, in the corner of the room, was slid on its castors
in the direction of the dotted line in the sketch. My right boot was
violently thrown over my head in the air to the point marked G. I
requested that the other boot should be placed gently on the chair B, but
before the words were out of my mouth it was thrown on the table,
striking the hands of Dr. Slade and myself, and producing slight
excoriation in his case, and ecchymosis in mine. During all this time his
hands were on mine on the table, and my feet on his. No possible motion
of any part of his body could have produced any of these effects. The
distance between the leg of the chair A and his toe, if the latter had been
outstretched, was found to be sixteen inches. The distance between him in
his chair and the spot where I had placed the boots was three feet
94 Psychography.
four inches, and that from the spot where the boots were to the spot where
one of them fell was seven feet three inches, a curved trajectory being
added, so as to allow for my height in the chair. I should estimate the line
of trajectory at twelve feet. The table was afterwards raised, and thrown in
a reversed position on my head.
In the evening I had another seance with Dr. Slade, at which was present
a celebrated anatomist, who was satisfied of the bond fide character of the
manifestations. I was struck with the identity in so many cases of the
phenomena. Both at this and at the previous seance short messages were
written by a long pencil—six inches in length—held about nine inches
under the table. The public may be amused with the statement that such
pencils are invariably rejected by Dr. Slade's controls.
I must quote the evidence of the Rev. John Page Hopps, editor of The
Truthseeker, principally because his report shows that he went to Slade
with a mind possessed of the various allegations which had been made
against him. The usual conditions obtained, and the slate, having been
first held by Slade in order to inquire whether anything could be done,
was then held in order to put the question, whether writing could be
produced so as to fill the slate. To this query the reply, "We will do so
soon," was given, the pencil lying at the end of the last letter. Mr. Page
Hopps then proceeds:—
The slate was again put under, and then for about three minutes I heard
writing. When the sounds ceased, the slate was carefully withdrawn (in
this, as in every case, flat as it had lain during the writing). The slate was
completely filled with the following "message," addressed, I presume, to
me:—
DEAR SIR,—God's will be done on earth, as it is done in heaven: that the

Christ-principle of doing good be inculcated as the only saving
efficacy from selfishness, discord, and error; not simply to be

investigated, but unfolded; not to he obtained by formal rites, but because
originally implanted, must necessarily be developed in the everlasting life
of man, and it only remains for man to place himself under the conditions
of harmony to become receptive to the wide-spreading volume of God's
universal welcome.—A. W. SLADE.
It may be said that this slate was written already, and adroitly changed;
but further on it will be seen that I got, without waiting, a similar slateful
on my own marked slate, only produced by me just before the writing
occurred.
I had heard of suspicious delays, movements, and noises, elaborate
breaking of pencil, throat sounds, and the like. I was astonished at the
ease, simplicity, and quiet of the whole thing. I had heard of the slate
being detained on Dr. Slade's knees, or disappearing. More than once I
saw it at once put under the table, with its top pressed close under the top
of the table, and one side of the frame well seen the whole time. I had
heard of the writing being done before the slate went into position; I, on
each occasion that the writing was produced, heard all the sounds of
writing on a slate I had seen was blank. I had heard of the slates being
changed; I can only say that, after the sounds of writing were heard by me,
the slate was very slowly withdrawn, and, in each case, the pencil lay
precisely at the end of the last word. I had heard of the writing being done
by Dr. Slade's finger, armed with a tiny grain of pencil, but one of his
hands lay on mine upon the table, while part of the other, holding the
slate, was in view the whole time, and it never stirred during the writing
which I heard, and which on one occasion covered the whole of a
moderate-sized slate. I had heard of sympathetic ink and the like; the slate
we used was a new one, perfectly grey; the pencil was a soft slate pencil,
and the whole of the writing which I examined, was composed of dry
pencil dust. I had heard of doubts whether the writing was done on the top
or the under side of the slate; in my case I am certain the writing was done
on the side between the slate and the table.
Two days after, I saw Dr. Slade again. On this occasion I took two new-
framed slates, which I marked. I particularly asked whether it was not
possible to get writing
96 Psychography.
without putting the slate under the table, and was told it was quite
possible. My two slates were then laid upon the table, with a tiny bit of
pencil between; and upon them in the full daylight we laid our four hands.
I then distinctly heard the sound of writing, and, on lifting up the top slate,
found these words written, but very badly:—" We cannot give you a
communication, only a proof our power." I remarked that though one or
two words (the word "communication," for instance) were very badly
written, Dr. Slade at once read them. On my way from Dr. Slade's this
slate got broken to splinters—how, I know not; so I returned the next day
to try another, again taking two marked framed slates. A first "message"
procured under the table as on the first day, but with more agitation of the
hand, told me that "they had broken my slate, because they wanted to give
me more Anyhow, the result was remarkable. My first slate, held by Dr.
Slade, was somehow smashed to atoms, only about two inches remaining
in one corner of it. The second I laid on the top of the table, a bit of pencil
was put under it, and our hands were then put on or near it. The writing
was then heard, and in about three minutes ceased, when, on lifting the
slate, this "message" was found, well written, in regular lines, and
covering the slate
The spirit of truth, which Jesus prophesied would come in these days of
the age of war and force, is that undivided fraternising spirit of all love
and goodness that unites the redeemed souls on earth and in heaven into
one grand brotherhood of God—to open the way for the coming of this
spirit has been the work of mediums-now may they have the strength
given them to go on with the good work. A. W. SLADE.
I have the slate in my study now. It has on it my private mark.
The following account, drawn up by the editor of the Spiritualist, and
published in that journal, records a remarkable duplication of a message,
as well as the production of the original message on slates which were
never out of sight of the observers:—
A few days ago Mr. Charles Blackburn, of Parkfield,
Didsbury, near Manchester, came to London, and invited two thorough

disbelievers in Spiritualism, both of them influential men of business well
known in the city, to a seance with Dr. Slade. They visited him at 8,
Upper Bedford Place on Monday last week, between three and four
o'clock in the afternoon. Mr. Blackburn brought with him a slate
purchased in Manchester. It was a folding slate—that is to say, it had
hinges on the back, and when it was closed the two slates faced each
other; the outside case was of wood. A private mark was put upon this
slate by a friend of Mr. Blackburn's in Manchester; and a London partner
of the gentleman who had made that mark was one of those who attended
the seance to watch the results.
The two London gentlemen took the slate into the seance room, and as
they held it open, Dr. Slade dropped a piece of pencil upon it, about the
size of a grain of wheat. They then tied a string tightly round the slate,
after which one of them laid it upon the table, placed his elbow upon it.
Writing was heard. They then took the slate into the next room, opened it
in the presence of Mr. and Miss Blackburn and Mr. Simmons, and both
leaves of the slate were found to be covered with the dry dusty writing, of
slate pencil. The crumb of pencil had been somewhat worn in the
production of the writing. From first to last the slate never went out of
sight of its owners. The seance took place in broad daylight.
Two or three words were spelt wrongly in the message. So after it had
been examined, Dr. Slade washed it off, and the pencil was placed in it
again to get more writing, under the same conditions. A noise inside the
slate like that of writing was heard, and the gentlemen took the slate away
for the purpose of opening it at one of their offices. After they had left the
house, Dr. Slade passed into a trance, and the communicating intelligence
told Mr. Simmons that the sitters had not waited long enough; there was
no writing on the slate; the spirits had been rolling the pencil about, trying
to take hold of it. This afterwards proved to be the case.
Next day they accordingly came again at 2.30 pm., and obtained writing
under the same conditions as at the first
98 Psychography.
sitting. After they left the seance room, and before they untied the slate,
Mr. Blackburn had a sitting with Dr. Slade, and asked whether there were
any writing on the slate this time. The spirits said they would write a
duplicate of the message on another slate. This was done while the slate,
with a crumb of pencil on it, was held by Dr. Slade flat against the under
side of the table. His face was to the light. Mr. Blackburn had previously
cleaned the slate himself. He took the message into the next room, the
string of the folding slate was cut, and the messages on the two slates
were found to be identical, with the exception that the one on the folding
slate contained an additional paragraph.
This account is drawn up from testimony given to us by Mr. Blackburn,

Mr. Simmons, and Dr. Slade.
And this satisfactory method of endeavouring to obtain writing on the

investigator's own slate was successful in the case of Mr. J. Seaman, well
known in the newspaper world, who writes from 11 Southampton Street,
Strand, and who, primed (as in a case above noted) with all that suspicion
could instil, obtained what convinced him of the bona fides of Slade, and
of the reality of his power:—
On Friday morning last, the 1st inst., at about noon, I called, with my
friend, Dr. Carter Blake, at 8 Upper Bedford Place, and was introduced to
Dr. Slade, who was quietly chatting with Mr. Simmons and another
gentleman in the drawing-room—the room which will go down to
posterity as the apartment where Simmons "winked" and "pumped the
visitors." I found Mr. Simmons without his "wink," but he certainly
"pumped me," for as he politely asked me to remove my overcoat, he
ascertained from my answer that I was only wearing one. But no use was
made of this discovery by him. Dr. Slade, who took me into the back
room, did not sit with his back to the window, but full in the light. He
never once rested the slate (my own) on his knee, but held it in such a
manner that I saw quite one
third of it, and his thumb the whole of the time. His arm did not move "as
in the manner of writing," and was only moved when the slate was placed
nearer to me, or on my head. The tendons of his wrist were perfectly
motionless, and the writing was not curved. It consisted of four distinct
messages:—
(a) Eight words in one straight line.
(b) Twelve words in three straight lines.
(c) Three words in one straight line.
(d) Six words in two straight lines.
The lines for the most part extended parallel with the longer side, and
right across a twelve-inch framed ordinary school slate. All the messages
were written on the top side of the slate, which I had previously marked
"top" and "bottom," to distinguish the two surfaces. Of this I am as certain
as I am of my own existence. My attention was not attempted to be
directed to a supposed light on my elbow, though I confess I diverted Dr.
Slade's attention to a picture on the wall, the subject of which was familiar
to me, with a view to see if he would attempt to write or do anything else
when he fancied I was off my guard. We conversed the whole time. Raps
were heard from many parts of the room and furniture. The table was
lifted evenly from the floor, while I held Dr. Slade's hands with my hands,
and guarded his feet with my feet. Had he used his knees (which were
plainly in sight), the table would have tilted, rather than have been raised
easily. A bell placed under the table, out of reach, but in my sight, was
rung while Dr. Slade was standing up, and then rapidly lifted from the
ground, moved towards my left to above the level of the table, and then
violently hurled between us towards my right, and fell with a crash on the
extreme right of the table, thus describing nearly a circle. I was touched
on the right hip, which was too far off to be reached by Dr. Slade's feet
(always in view). In my sitting position at that moment first my right leg
and then the leg of the table were, as it were, guarding my right side from
any attack from where Dr. Slade sat. The "force" was evidently behind me
on my right. Confirmatory of that view, the chair on which I sat,
100 Psychography.
and while I sat on it, was suddenly pushed from behind towards the table
and towards Dr. Slade, whose white and red striped socks and French
pumps were visible in their natural position. I say pushed in preference to
pulled, because the sensation was of some one behind my chair. I looked
round to see who or what was there. Where I sat before this pushing was
quite out of radius for Dr. Slade's outstretched foot to hook me and the
chair towards him. I have seen too many conjurers, and performed too
many sleight-of-hand tricks myself, not to know when the critical moment
arrives for the success of the trick in hand; but at this sitting I saw no
evidence of trickery of any kind. I leave to others to explain the
phenomena. I can only say that I am convinced the writing was on the top
side of the slate, on which alone Dr. Slade's thumb (always full in view)
rested; when the writing was produced on the slate, as it rested on my
head, the knuckles of his hand were pressed against my temples, and
while there, no movement of Dr. Slade's fingers took place. Dr. Slade was
suffering in bodily health during my visit, and expressed himself satisfied
with the results of the sitting. Not one word was said about spirits while I
remained at 8 Upper Bedford Place.
11 Southampton Street, Strand,

London, W.C.
WRITING WITHIN ST SLATES SECURELY
SCREWED TOGETHER.
———
MRS. LOUISA ANDREWS, 66 Spring Street, Springfield, Massachusetts,

U.S.A., a valued correspondent of my own, testifies to obtaining writing
under conditions, if possible, even more stringent. She obtained a message
in answer to one written by herself inside a slate, which she had tightly
screwed together.
During my stay of over two months in the house with Dr. Slade last
summer, I took a folding-slate into my bed-room, and with it a screw and
a screw-driver—having previously had screw-holes made in both frames.
On one of the inner sides of this double slate I wrote a few lines,
addressed to a friend in spirit-life, after which I placed a fragment of
pencil within, and fastened the two leaves securely together.
In this condition I took it down stairs, and placed it on the top of the
table at which the medium was seated. Almost immediately we heard the
scratching sound made by the pencil in writing; and after the seance was
over, on opening the slate (which I did not do in the presence of the
medium, but after returning to my room, where I had left the screw-
driver), I found a reply to what I had written, signed with the Christian
name of the spirit whom I had addressed-whether written by this spirit or
not I cannot say, and any opinion I might form on that point would be
worthless except to myself. What I know is, that some power caused
writing to be done on the inner side of a folding-slate, which did not leave
my possession, and which remained firmly screwed together till I
unfastened it.
101
102 Psychography.
Nor is this experiment unique. The same result is recorded as having

been obtained by the presence of one William Petty, of Newcastle-on-
Tyne. Mr. John Mould, of 12 St. Thomas's Crescent, Newcastle, of the
firm of J. Mould & Co., corn-factors, thus writes under date December 22,
1876:—
I have been holding sittings with William Petty in my own house for
slate-writing, on a folding-slate, tightly screwed together, and I have had
several most successful seances, but the most conclusive obtained was on
Wednesday night, when I put a sheet of my own note-paper between the
slates, screwed them together, and, after sitting ten minutes, I unscrewed
the slate and found a side face drawn on the paper, with a message written
below. This experiment was repeated with improved results in the
caligraphy of the spirit, who also signed his name.
The sitting was conducted in the usual gaslight of our house. The
medium never touched the paper, and had nothing whatever to do with the
experiment beyond holding the slate under the table with one hand, while
the other rested on the table. The only sitters present were my wife and
son and daughter.
The experiment, it will be noticed, was twice repeated, and on the

second time with better success than on the first. The same words were
written on each occasion. The paper was initialled and dated, and the
slates were so tightly screwed together that the point of a knife could not
be inserted between them. The Psychic was in his normal state throughout
the experiment, and no muscular movements of any kind were noticeable,
as he held the slate. Mr. Mould informs me, in answer to a letter of
inquiry, that he "had subsequent experiments with the same Psychic, and
obtained similar results, with the additional
Writing within Slates Screwed Together. 103
test of having the screw which locked the slates covered with gummed
paper, affixed to the frame of the slate by a seal…. The lad came alone to
my house: he never touched the paper, nor even handled the slates until
they were securely fastened." During every experiment there was "a full
glare of light streaming from a three-globed chandelier, and a large fire."
Mr. Mould adds that the persons present on each occasion were confined
to his own family, and concludes, "I cannot be sure of anything
transpiring around me if I must forswear the evidence of my senses on this
occasion."
Mr. Mould is good enough to send me the paper for inspection. It

contains the sketch of a profile, and three lines of writing. The latter is
very tremulous, and was apparently written with difficulty. In one case a
badly-formed letter has been afterwards corrected.
DICTATION BY THE EXPERIMENTER OF
THE WORDS WRITTEN.
———
I HAVE already alluded, in giving my own personal testimony to one

experiment in which I dictated the word which was found written within
the slates. I draw attention to this as a noteworthy point in the evidence.
Mr. Alfred Russel Wallace, F.R.G.S., the eminent Naturalist, writes a

letter to the Spectator of October 6, 1877, in which he records a similar
case:—
SIR,—I trust you may consider the following experiment worthy of
record in your paper, because it differs from cases of abnormal slate-
writing, of which evidence was adduced at the trial of Slade, and because
it affords a demonstration of the reality of the phenomenon, and the
absence of imposture, from which there seems no escape. I confine myself
to this one experiment, and narrate the essential facts only.
The sitting was at a private house in Richmond, on the 21st of last
month. Two ladies and three gentlemen were present, besides myself and
the medium, Dr. Monck. A shaded candle was in the room, giving light
sufficient to see every object on the table round which we sat. Four small
and common slates were on the table. Of these I chose two, and after
carefully cleaning, and placing a small fragment of pencil between them, I
tied them together with a strong cord, passed around them both
lengthways and crosswise, so as effectually to prevent the slates from
moving on each other. I then laid them flat on the table, without losing
sight of them for an instant. Dr. Monck placed the
104
Dictation of the Words Written. 105
fingers of both hands on them, while I and a lady sitting opposite me

placed our hands on the corners Of the slates. From this position our
hands were never moved, till I untied them to ascertain the result. After
waiting a minute or two, Dr. Monck asked me to name any short word I
wished to be written on the slate. I named the word "God." He then asked
me to say how I wished it written. I replied, "Lengthways of the slate;"
then if I wished it written with a large or a small "g," and I chose a capital
"G." In a very short time, writing was heard on the slate. The medium's
hands were convulsively withdrawn, and I then myself untied the cord
(which was a strong silk watch-guard lent by one of the visitors), and on
opening the slates, found on the lower one the word I had asked for,
written in the manner I had requested, the writing being somewhat faint
and laboured, but perfectly legible. The slate, with the writing on it, is
now in my possession.
The essential features of this experiment are—that I myself cleaned and

tied up the slates; that I kept my hand on them all the time; that they never
went out of my sight for a moment; and that I named the word to he
written, and the manner of writing it after they were thus secured and held
by me. I ask, how are these facts to be explained, and what interpretation
is to be placed upon them?—I am, Sir, &c., ALFRED R. WALLACE.
I was present on this occasion, and certify that Mr. Wallace's account of
what happened is correct.
EDWARD T. BENNETT.
Mr. Hensleigh Wedgwood, J.P., corroborates the fact from experience

of his own with the same Psychic:—
Having engaged Dr. Monck to give me a sitting yesterday evening, I

bought a couple of small slates, and tied them face to face with a fragment
or two of slate pencil between them before Dr. Monk arrived. The slates
were tied tightly together by a double fold of tape, the two ends of the
knot being sealed to the framing to hinder the band from slipping.
106 Psychography.
In addition to this, I sealed the edges of the slates together, so that they
could not be separated from each other in the slightest degree without
being broken. The slates were laid on the table, and in the course of the
evening, in a fair light, Dr. Monck, under control, desired me to place
them on my head, which I did accordingly, keeping hold of them with one
hand. He asked me whether I would have the writing signed by my father
or my grandfather. I told him, as they were both named Josiah, he might
take his choice. He put one hand on the slates, and after a moment we all
heard the scratching sound of pencil-writing upon them. As soon as this
was done, I took the slates down and laid them on one side till the end of
the seance. I then examined them by the full light of the gas, and satisfied
myself that the seal on the edges of the slates were unbroken, and called
the attention of the other sitters to this essential point. Having cut the tape
I found the following message written lengthways on one of the slates, in
a direction transverse to that of the tape-binding:—
God bless you for ever.

JOSIAH.
The Rev. Thomas Colley, late curate of Portsmouth, who has made a
great number of experiments with Monck, has in his possession a pile of
slates on which dictated messages have been written under conditions
which preclude imposture.
Mr. Oxley, of Higher Broughton, near Manchester, records, on the 15th

September, 1876, a case in which five sentences were written at the
dictation of persons present. Each person wrote his name on a visiting
card, and the five cards were then placed in the middle of the table, and
covered with a handkerchief so as to secure the requisite darkness. A
pencil was placed with the cards. Requested to say what he wished
Dictation of Me Words Written. 107
written on his card, each observer dictated a short sentence. When Mr.
Oxley took the cards from under the handkerchief, these sentences were
found written precisely as they had been dictated. The pencil was seen to
move under the cover as if in the act of writing, while the Psychic was
sitting motionless, in full view, eighteen inches from the pencil. Of the
sentences so written, the first contained six words; the second, five; the
third, three; the fourth, five, and the fifth, six.
On the next evening but one, another experiment was made, to show the
rapidity with which these psychographs can be executed, and the
experiment with the marked visiting cards was repeated.
On our being seated at the table, the gas was turned a little lower to
modify the glare, but with quite sufficient light to let us see every object
in the room distinctly. A good sized slate was lying on the table, and Dr.
Monck (to whom I sat opposite) told me to take it up, clean it, show it to
all assembled, and then to hold it under the table with my right hand. I did
so, and, beginning to count, I had got to nine, when Dr. Monck said, "I
think it is done." On bringing it up, I found one side and part of the other
covered with writing, containing a message of eighty words. This most
extraordinary experiment was accomplished in nine seconds, and certainly
the medium did not touch the slate at all, for his hands were on the table,
in full view, and he sat quite motionless. As soon as I put the slate under
the table, I felt most distinctly the fingers of a hand gently touch my hand
all over; it then took the slate from me for about half the time I was
counting, and then returned it, again touching and stroking my hand.
My pencil was placed on the table, and we saw it begin to move: when
it was raised, it floated in a horizontal position an inch above the table,
and maintained that position
108 Psychography.
while I counted thirty. The experiment of the writing on the marked card
was repeated.
One of the sitters placed a slate under the table, the medium not
touching it, and in about half a minute a message was written, containing
thirteen lines, with seventy-five words. The medium then placed a small
folding-slate on my head, touching it with his finger only for a moment. (I
had cleaned the slate, and all saw there was nothing on it.) I counted three,
and on opening the slate seventy-one words were written, in a beautifully
neat hand. Again, on the following evening, seventy-one words were
written in an extremely short space of time.
Dr. George Wyld contributes important evidence on this point. He has

kindly put down for me an exact record of a crucial experiment, which I
append in his own words. The bearing of this fact upon such allegations as
those on the faith of which Slade was adjudged by the public to be an
impostor is plain to see:—
I expected to be called as a witness in the second trial of Slade, and as
Lankester's evidence was that "there was no time to produce the writing,
and that therefore it had, in his case, been previously prepared," it seemed
to me most important to be able to swear that writing could be produced
by spirit-power with a rapidity beyond the capacity of human hands.
Accordingly I visited Slade, who readily consented to make a trial as I

suggested.
We sat down to his usual table. Slade sat with his left hand resting on
the table, and with his right hand he held an ordinary slate, on which was
placed the customary bit of slate-pencil. This slate he passed steadily but
rapidly below the corner of the flap of the table at his right hand. Each
time he so passed it I examined the slate. He so passed it two or three
times, without any result; but at last, after passing it as usual, on its
emergence from below the flap of the table I found these words written in
dusty slate-pencil writing, "Let this convince you."
I could not time Slade's actions while in progress, but subsequently I

imitated his mode of passing the slate as closely as I possibly could, and
my friends found that the operation occupied from three-quarters of a
second to a second and a-half. I then timed the writing, and could find no
one capable of writing the words in less than three seconds.
I considered at the time, and still consider, this experiment a complete

refutation of Lankester's objection as to time. GEO. WYLD, M.D.
12 Great Cumberland Place, Hyde Park, Dec. 30, 1877.
These facts receive a remarkable corroboration from two experiments

recorded by Miss Kislingbury. The Psychic in this case was Watkins,
above alluded to, and the experiments have a value which I shall hereafter
note, which induces me to quote them in extenso, [in their entirety]
although I have before noticed the writing of the Russian word:—
Having read in The Spiritualist of October 12th, Mr. Epes Sargent's

account of Mr. Watkins's slate-writing manifestations, and hearing at the
same time that Mr. Watkins had arrived in New York, I took an early
opportunity of visiting him, in company with my friend, Madame
Blavatsky.
The medium began by asking us to write the names of three or four

deceased friends on slips of paper, which he tore before our eyes from a
fresh sheet of writing-paper. After writing the names, we folded the
papers up tightly, at his request, and laid them in a little heap in front of us
on the table. Mr. Watkins then stirred the pellets round with the point of a
pencil, in order that we might not be able to distinguish one from the
other. Rd requested me to take one in my hand, and to fix it on the point
of his pencil; then holding it at arm's length, he said immediately, "This is
the name of a sister of yours in the spirit-world, Clara Kislingbury, is that
so?" Opening the pellet, I found the name to be correct; the statement that
it was the name of my sister was equally so. The names on the three other
110 Psychography.
pellets were rightly given, as well as the degree of relationship, including

that of my maternal grandmother. I observed that Mr. Watkins had more
difficulty in finding the name of one who was a friend, not connected with
my family. He said at once, "This is the name of some one not a relation, I
cannot see it so clearly;" but he finally succeeded in giving it correctly.
In the case of Madame Blavatsky, one of the names written by her was
in Russian character, and the medium made several unsuccessful attempts
to pronounce it, but at last declared it to be too "crack-jaw," and said he
would try to get it written. He requested Madame Blavatsky to place her
hand on a slate, under which he laid a small crumb of slate-pencil, in the
manner of Slade. Mr. Watkins did not hold the slate. An instant after, on
turning up the slate, the appellation, consisting of three names, was found
written in full, and in Russian characters, with this curious exception, that
one or two letters were exchanged for those of Latin character, having the
same phonetic value; as, for instance, an f, pronounced in Russian v, but
written b, was substituted for the latter. I will revert to this fact further on.
Mr. Watkins next took two small slates, and placing a point of pencil
between them, held them firmly together at one end, while I held them at
the other. The slate did not rest upon the table, but was held by us at arm's
length, both standing. In a few moments one of the slates was covered on
the inner side with writing signed "Alice Carey." The handwriting was not
known to me, but was familiar to the medium, as frequently appearing in
his experiments.
I use the word "experiments" advisedly, for two reasons. The first is,
that Mr. Watkins did not "sit," except momentarily, during the whole hour
that we were in his company, and then more often on the table than
elsewhere. He walked nervously about the room, and occasionally fixed
his eyes on us with a vacant look, especially when about to utter the
desired name, or to describe something about the sitter. The second reason
is, that Mr. Watkins does not habitually use the terms commonly accepted
by Spiritualists, neither does he accept unreservedly the usual explanation
of the phenomena, viz., that they are produced by the spirits of the
departed, whose names are signed on the slate. He boldly volunteered the
opinion that they are in many cases produced by the action of his own
spirit, reading (independently of his will or knowledge) that which is
latent in the mind of the sitter, or is immediately projected from it. He
prefers to call the phenomenon "independent slate-writing," instead of
"spirit-writing."
In the course of the experiments, Mr. Watkins said that in each instance,
just before the writing began, he felt a sudden "drawing" from his whole
body, and that he was unable to articulate distinctly; as soon as the writing
was finished there was another jerk, and he felt himself again.
One more incident. Mr. Watkins told me to place my hand on a slate
which was lying near me, and on which I had ascertained that there was
nothing written. Mr. Watkins himself was at that moment lying back in a
rocking-chair at a distance of at least eight feet from me, and talking to
Madame Blavatsky. He ceased speaking for a moment, and then bidding
me turn up the slate, I found it covered with writing, purporting to be a
communication from my sister Clara, and signed with her name. The
writing was quite unlike that signed "Alice Carey," but neither was it like
mine or my sister's. The names of two other relatives which I had
previously written on the pellets were mentioned, but not those of others
equally dear to me, and of the same degree of relationship, and who were
equally in my mind, but were not written down.
The above experiences are to my mind suggestive of a theory which will
explain the discrepancies in the spelling of the Russian name. I leave the
application to those whom it may concern, and who are more qualified
than myself to form correct conclusions. Let it be borne in mind, however,
that the medium himself avers that, except on rare occasions, and those
special to himself—that is, when not sitting for the public—he has not
only no evidence of the agency of departed spirits, but that there is no
necessity for the hypothesis, nothing ever occurring which could not be
performed by the action of his own spirit, working independently of his
body, and seeking in the psychic emanations of those present the
information (?) he is enabled to give them.
New York, October 26th, 1877
112 Psychography.
The second experiment is recorded thus:—

The subject of will-power, and its probable influence on some spiritual
manifestations, having been much discussed between Madame Blavatsky
and myself, I determined to try an experiment in that direction. I went
alone to Mr. Watkins, and I asked him to write some single word on a
slate, and to turn the side of the slate so written on against the surface of
the table, in order that it should not be seen by me. I in my turn did
likewise. I then requested Mr. Watkins to hold with me my own double
slate, between the folds of which I had placed a crumb of slate-pencil, and
to will that his word should be written on it. I also willed that my word
should be written. Mr. Watkins seemed rather incredulous over the
business, and was genuinely surprised on opening the slates to find that
the word I had willed should be written was upon the slate. "Let us try
again," he said. "Very well," I replied; "but suppose we write something
more this time, a sentence of three words." Mr. Watkins wrote, as
appeared later on, the words, "God is love." I wrote "Love is eternal." Mr.
Watkins took the folding slate with which we had before operated into his
hands, saying: "I am impressed to hold the slate alone." Suddenly it struck
me that he was stealing a march upon me, and I insisted on taking hold of
the other end—first satisfying myself that nothing had been written. We
heard the pencil at work, and on opening the slate found two sentences
written: one was Mr. Watkins's, "God is love;" the other was not my
sentence, but a third, "Truth is mighty." I was immensely puzzled. "This is
the effect neither of my will nor of yours, Mr. Watkins; whose is the third
will that has been at work?" "I think I can tell you," he said; "while you
were writing your sentence on the slate, I, having finished mine, began
guessing what yours might be, and I thought 'Truth is mighty;' that is how
I account for it." "I did not ask you to think, Mr. Watkins, but to will;
however this is an interesting experiment, and goes still further to prove
the theory I have in my mind. Now let us try another." But a sitter was
announced, and I had no further opportunity of testing the strength of my
own will-power against that of Mr. Watkins.
WRITING ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHIN A BOX NAILED,
TIED, AND SEALED UP.
———
THE evidence of Mrs. Andrews as to obtaining an answer to a question

written by herself on the inner side of a slate, which was then screwed to
another slate, will be remembered. As a test which, if it does not surpass,
at least equals anything that has been recorded, I adduce the following
case, recorded by Messrs. G. H. and W. P. Adshead with Monck. The case
occurred thus.
Dr. R. S. Wyld, author of The Physics and Philosophy of the Senses,

and other philosophical works, having been led to investigate Psychic
phenomena, suggested certain tests which would appear to him
satisfactory. Dwelling on the paramount necessity of obtaining the best
procurable evidence for facts that so transcend ordinary experience, he
suggested the following experiment:—" Let a box be properly taped, and
the tapes knotted and sealed at each crossing. Let it contain a piece of
writing-paper, with the signatures of the investigators thereon for
identification, and a short piece of lead pencil. If a few words can be
written on the paper whilst it is locked up, it is clear we have a proof
which cannot be gainsayed."
Mr. W. P. Adshead accepted these conditions, and thus records the

result of his experiment:—
113
114 Psychography.
in the afternoon of Friday, August 4th, I met Dr. Monck in Derby. I asked
him if he had seen Dr. Wyld's letter. He said he had not. I described to
him the test. "I have tried the experiment successfully several times," he
replied. Dr. Monck was then controlled for two or three minutes by
"Samuel," who said, in answer to my inquiry, that "if we would arrange
for a seance in the evening he would do his best to repeat the experiment."
We decided to do so, and met at the residence of Mrs. Ford. There were
present Dr. Monck, Mrs. Ford, my brother, his wife, and myself.
In order that what occurred at the seance may be perfectly understood, it
is necessary that I should here state that a day or two previously Dr.
Monck received a letter from a gentleman in London, in which was
enclosed a sealed packet, on the outside of which was written, "Not to be
opened: nine questions to be submitted for answers." This packet Dr.
Monck handed to my brother, asking him to keep it in his possession until
answers to the questions could be formally requested.
A wooden box, with loose cover and string, were supplied by my
brother; a sheet of note paper, envelope, pencil, wax, hammer and nails,
together with two small hand-bells, were supplied by Mrs. Ford, so that
not one of the articles which were to be used in the experiment about to be
tried had previously been in the possession of Dr. Monck. The box was
passed round for examination, and all agreed that it was most suitable for
the purpose.
Dr.. Monck then tore a piece from one corner of the sheet of note paper,
and gave me the piece, which I put in my pocket. The paper was then
passed round for inspection, and it was found to be blank, not having a
mark of any kind upon it. We all saw Dr. Monck fold it up, and place it in
the envelope, which he fastened up. The envelope was then initialed by
each person present, and placed by me in the box with the two hand-bells
and a pencil. In addition to cording and sealing, I had suggested that the
lid of the box should be nailed down; this was accordingly done, each one
driving in a nail, and all being quite satisfied that without any other
fastening the contents were perfectly secure. However, in order to make
assurance doubly sure, with a
Writing Answers to Questions. 115
piece of cord that had not a break or knot in it, I tied the box, standing up
to do so, in order to get greater purchase in fact, so great was the strain on
the cord, it could not he moved a quarter of an inch in any direction, and
the edges of the box and lid were deeply indented by the operation. I tied
the cord in several knots, leaving the ends about two inches long. The
knots and the ends of the string I well covered with sealing wax, asking
for a seal with which to impress it. As there was not one at hand, nothing
remained but for two of the friends, acting on the suggestion of the
moment, to remove the rings from their fingers, and with these I stamped
the wax. This, I think, will dispose of the theory that the seals might be
broken and re-sealed, to say nothing of the further difficulty involved, that
of re-sealing without a light.
After sitting a short time in the light, sounds, as of the bells being
moved, were heard to proceed from the box. We then saw it gently
oscillate, and rise at one end about an inch from the table; then all was
quiet. Nothing further occurring for some time, Dr. Monck—requesting us
to place our hands upon the box, to assure ourselves it would not be
interfered with in any way—asked us to put out the light, as it would
increase the power. This was done, and in a few minutes "Samuel" took
control of his medium. After a little conversation about the character of
the seance, he was asked if he thought he could execute a piece of writing
under the severe conditions which then obtained; he replied, "he thought
he could," saying, "What shall I write?" My brother, remembering at the
moment the sealed packet he had in his possession, said, "Be good enough
to answer the questions contained in the sealed packet I have in my
pocket."
Presently we heard the pencil at work, and in a very short time the task
was accomplished. We were told to light up, and open the box. Before
opening the box we examined it, and found the cord and the impressions
of the rings on the wax perfect, and after cutting the cord, it was with
great difficulty I could draw the nails and remove the lid. I took out the
envelope, and found it to be the same I had placed there, as it bore the
initials spoken of. I
116 Psychography.
opened it, and took out the sheet of note paper, and immediately
proceeded to fit in the piece torn from the corner, and which I had not
parted with. The fit was perfect, for on the edges of the tear there were a
projection and a corresponding indentation, which placed it beyond all
dispute that the pieces belonged to each other. On one page of the note
paper had been written with a pencil the following, with two or three other
words, which, for obvious reasons, have been omitted:—
Aug. 4, 76. Derby.
Dear —,
1. I think a change is probable; circumstances are often the policemen, peremptorily
saying, "MOVE ON."
2. —— St. may be the one. Imitate me, and "please yourself."
3. If necessary we will impress you.
4. Town is the place for him.
5. No; lodge with a stranger.
6. Do I want you to burn your fingers? Haven't you had quite enough of manufacturing?
7. In neither department; but please yourself
8. Don't leave London.
9. Yes; ask a few more questions; our advice is gratuitous.
SAMUEL, M. A. A., &c.
I now requested my brother to open the sealed packet, which he did in

the presence of all. Inside was found a sheet of paper, on which was
written the following in ink:—
My dear Spirit-Friends,—Feeling, as I do, the fact of your ability to advise your earth-
friends, I ask your advice to the following questions to the best of your ability:—
1. Do you think a change in my habitation is imminent?
2. Do you think the house in —— Street will be the one?
3. If not, can you impress me in which direction to go?
4. Do you think —— will remain in town?
5. If so, do you wish me to go with him to lodge?
6. Would you advise me to commence manufacturing again?
7. If so, in which department; in the —— or ——?
8. If either above, would you advise London or country?
9. If my spirit-friends have any further advice to offer, please do so on any subject
concerning my welfare, as I wish to seek their guidance in all my steps.
The above questions are submitted by ——.
I think it will be conceded that the writing taken from the box supplied
most appropriate answers to the questions on the paper taken from the
sealed packet, but the problem to be solved is, how the answers came
there. I have minutely detailed the facts as they occurred, and think the
solution lies on the surface; but I will anticipate the possible suggestion,
that by some means or other the medium had obtained a knowledge of the
questions, and had previously written out the answers on a paper which he
managed to introduce into the envelope after the sheet of note paper
supplied by Mrs. Ford had been examined, and before the envelope was
initialed, by observing that—in addition to the difficulty which such a
suggestion must encounter in the fact that the piece of paper which I
retained was torn from a blank sheet, and exactly fitted into the one on
which the answers were written—there is the further difficulty of saying
how, under the circumstances, any human being could have known what
subject would be selected for the test-writing; for my brother solemnly
affirms that not until after the box was securely fastened, and "Samuel"
had asked what he should write about, did it occur to him to request that
answers might be given to the questions enclosed in the packet which he
had in his pocket. So that this portion of the phenomena, considered by
Dr. Wyld decisive as to the truth of Spiritualism, was obtained under
conditions even more severe than those he had suggested, for, in addition
to being corded and sealed, the lid of the box was fastened down with
nails.
Mr. G. H. Adshead had previously obtained a similar success:—
Dr. Wyld, of Aberdeenshire, recently proposed the following test as "a

final and absolute proof of Spiritualism, which the most illustrious
opponent would be unable to gainsay." As soon as we suggested it to Dr.
Monck, he agreed to try it. Nine of us placed our signatures on a sheet of
paper (supplied by myself, and never before seen by the Doctor), which
each one had previously examined on both sides, in the full blaze of two
gas jets, and found to be
118 Psychography
blank. A non-Spiritualist—an entire stranger to the Doctor—folded the

paper and dropped it into the box, together with my pencil. Another non-
Spiritualist fastened the lid with four nails, which he drove in with a
hammer to their heads. With a piece of strong white tape—supplied by
Mrs. Ford—he then tied the box round all its sides, made several knots at
each crossing of the tape, and fastened the ends to the top of the box with
sealing-wax, on which a non-Spiritualist's lettered seal was pressed. Until
the box was thus secured, Dr. Monck purposely sat back from the table,
and did not even touch or put a finger near the box, paper, tape, &c. In a
few minutes "Samuel" controlled the medium, and asked me if I wished
him to write anything special on the imprisoned paper. I said, "Yes, write
'My love to Louie.'" He replied, "It shall be done in the twinkling of an
eye," and in the same breath said, "Open the box." Mr. W. Smith, of
Gerard Street, who had fastened the lid down, now carefully cut the tape,
to which the seal still adhered without flaw, and by the aid of a screw-
driver, with considerable difficulty succeeded in opening the box, and
(two gas jets being at the full immediately above it) we all saw the paper
taken out by Mr. Smith, and found it to be the original sheet, containing
all our signatures, and the whole of the rest of what had been blank space
on both sides of the sheet was covered with large and very legible writing
in "Samuel's" well-known hand. On one side was written, "All hail!
Present my compliments to Dr. Wyld, and ask him whether this is what he
wants. I have often done this and far greater things through this
medium.SAMUEL." On the other side was, "Aug. 6, 1876.—My love to
Louie." A detailed statement of these facts was carefully drawn up on the
spot at once, and signed, for publication, by all the witnesses whose
signatures had been placed on the test-paper before the experiment.
To anything short of a superfine hyper-criticism, which will accept

nothing except personal evidenceand not that, in many cases—I cannot
see how such testimony as this can be set aside. The conditions
under which the experiment was made are conclusive. It is, indeed, only
fair to say, that the phenomena which I have witnessed in the presence of
this particular Pyschic, are produced under conditions extremely
satisfactory, and most favourable for exact observation. This has been so
in a great number of recorded cases, as in the following which I append as
a specimen of the care taken in testifying to these facts. It is written and
signed by Joseph Clapham, of Keighley, under date Oct. 6, 1876, and
records the conditions under which Monck placed himself there.
There is absolutely no room for deception, because—
1. A stranger to the Doctor, who is a well-known sceptic, thoroughly

cleans the slate.
2. While this person holds it, all in the circle inspect it, and pronounce it
to be free from writing.
3. The sceptic holds it under the table, at least four feet from the
medium.
4. Instantly he feels, as well as hears, the pencil writing on the slate.
5. All the sitters hear the same sound.
6. No person in the flesh, except the before-mentioned "sceptic,"
touches the slate from the moment the latter cleans it till he holds it up to
the light that all may see it is full of writing.
7. Dr. Monck's hands are on the table in full view, and perfectly still the
whole time.
8. The whole of the sitting is in a good clear light.
9. We sit in a room belonging to one of us, which we enter and search
some time before the Doctor arrives.
10. I must not omit to add that the Doctor has permitted me to
thoroughly search his clothes, both immediately before and after the
sitting.
11. And, finally, the communication on the slate has sometimes been a
direct reference to what we have been singing.
120 Psychography.
Finally, I adduce here a curious result obtained by Mr. Coleman on

glass. The material used apparently makes no difference. In this case, as in
many others, the writing was done by a material hand.
Of this class of manifestation I have had, from time to time, many, but
nothing I think worth your notice, except it may be messages received by
me in 1869, written on glass, of which I have preserved two specimens. I
don't remember that I ever published a record of these writings, and I may
as well describe them. I prepared pieces of thick plate glass, and covered
the upper surface with a light coating of white paint. The medium took
hold of one end, and I of the other, and we held it immediately beneath the
table, the gas burning brightly over our heads. In an instant, I felt
something like a hand using, as it appeared, the finger-nail to write the
message. I had been talking with the presumed spirit of a young girl
known to me, who had given her name, and my questions were answered
on the prepared glass. She said, "I am in heaven;" and I asked, "Where is
your heaven?" and the reply—which I have preserved, all the others being
rubbed out—was, "I bring my heaven with me.—ISABELLA." And, as I
intended to keep the glass, I placed it again beneath the table, and asked
the spirit to add the date, when 1869 was added. I may as well say, that
the writing was quite unlike Isabella's, and gave no evidence of identity,
but of the fact of an intelligent entity having written upon the glass, there
can be no doubt whatever."
CORRESPONDENCE IN "THE TIMES."
———
BEFORE I summarise the evidence which has been brought forward, I may
be permitted to refer in passing to such points of testimony as were
brought out in the correspondence in The Times, at the time of the Slade
prosecution. Into the vexed questions raised during that period, it is not
my purpose to enter. I have no desire to stir up the embers of old fires; nor
do I wish to assume a controversial attitude in presenting my evidence. It
would be easy for me to impeach the conduct of that memorable
prosecution, and to show how much reason we, who have dived somewhat
further below the surface than the prosecutors had, have to find fault with
the measure of justice served out to us. At another time I shall be ready to
do this, even more fully than I have already done it:* for the present, it is
outside my line of argument, and would impede my purpose. I have no
desire to impugn the action of those gentlemen who have thought it their
duty to prosecute Slade. Nor have I any intention of questioning their
beliefs. My object is historical, not controversial. My business is simply to
place on record facts which, I hope, may lead a discerning public to agree
with me in the opinion, that the conclusion they arrived at was hasty, and
*The Slade Case. By M. A., Oxon.
121
122 Psychography.
that the method of investigation employed was not the scientific method. I
do not set myself to impugn, or even to influence the beliefs of any man. I
only desire to record certain facts, which I invite him to square with those
beliefs. If he can disprove my facts, I shall be happy to listen to his
argument. If he can accept them, and fit them in to his mind, I shall be
happy to recognise a friend in thought. But if he can do neither, and if he
still tries to shun my facts—if he falls back on a priori impossibilities, or
shifts from one leg to another, in the vain hope of avoiding them by
procrastination, halting between two opinions, nearly as uncomfortable in
the one as in the other—I can but take off my hat to his logic, and pity his
dilemma.
During the agitation that succeeded Professor Lankester's assault upon

the slate, several letters found a place in The Times. It is not worth while
to quote the correspondence, and I may record here, as strengthening my
argument, the experience of a man who is perfectly familiar with these
facts, and is, so far, a better judge than one who is not.
Mr. Joy, M. Inst. C.E., late of the R.A., writes from the junior United
Service Club thus:—
1. Slade sat on my left, facing me, and in such a position that not only
his legs and his feet, but his whole body, as well as both hands and arms,
were in full view during the whole seance, except when he was avowedly
holding the slate under the table, when one hand and fore-arm were
concealed.
2. The writing always came on the upper side of the slate.
3. On one occasion I wrote a question on one side of the

Correspondence in the Times. 123
slate, holding it in such a position that Slade could not possibly see what I
was writing, not that it would have made any difference if he had done so;
for, after I had turned the slate so as to have the writing downwards, Slade
took hold of one corner, while I still held the other, and, while both were
thus holding it, we passed it underneath the table, when Slade
immediately let go, and placed both his hands on the top of the table.
Under these circumstances I got a distinct answer to my question written
on the upper side of the slate.
Mr. G. C. Joad adds his testimony:—
I took with me a book-slate—i.e. two slates joined down one side so as

to close like a book. I first examined Dr. Slade's fingers; the nails were cut
down so low that I do not believe he could have picked up a pin, and there
was no mark of a piece of pencil having been pushed between the nail and
the flesh. I then inspected Dr. Slade's slate, which was on the table, and
initialed one Corner; it was then immediately placed close against the
under side of the table at the corner, in such a position that I could see Dr.
Slade's thumb on the rim of the slate projecting beyond the edge of the
table nearest to him, while the corner of the slate with my initials was just
visible beyond the side of the table nearest to me. A scratching was at
once heard, and on removal a message was seen written on the upper side
where my initials were. I need hardly say I kept my eyes on the visible
portion of the slate all the time.
I then produced my own slate, perfectly clean, a tiny piece of pencil was
placed between the flaps, the slate was closed, and at once placed beneath
the table. I could see by one end that it was kept closed; a message was
written inside, the writing was left, and the piece of pencil placed on the
inner surface that remained clean. This time Dr. Slade, on the slate being
closed, raised it, and rested one corner on the point of my left shoulder,
the slate projecting to the front, so that by turning my head I could see the
whole of it. It was moved directly from the table to my shoulder, and I did
not lose sight of it for a second. A
124 Psychography
scratching began, and on the three taps being heard, the slate was placed
on the table and opened, when on the previously clean surface was seen
written, "Cannot do more; let this be proof.—Allie." Perhaps I may as
well mention that no raps or kicks occurred to distract my attention.
GEORGE C. JOAD.
Oakfield, Wimbledon Park, W., Sept. 18th.
And Professor Barrett, F.R.C.S., writes a very commendable letter, in

which, protesting against the brute-force argument of Mr. Lankester, he
details what he himself obtained—drawing attention to what may throw
much light upon obscure phenomena of this kind—viz., the mental
phenomena of transfusion of thought, and generally of the action of one
mind upon another, across space, without the intervention of the senses.
Soon after my first sitting with Slade I noticed the same suspicious
circumstances to which Professor Lankester alludes—namely, the
movement of the tendons of the wrist, the coughing, fidgetting, &c., and,
in addition, the fact of Slade always sitting back to the light and sideways,
so that the front of his person is in comparative shade, though generally in
full view. Naturally the first explanation that suggested itself was one
something like that given by Professor Lankester, but observations on
several subsequent sittings to test this and other theories failed, in my
opinion, to establish any one of them so conclusively as Professor
Lankester asserts.
Instead of forcibly interrupting Slade and discovering writing when

none was supposed to be present—which is the substance of Professor
Lankester's exposure, and to which Slade might furnish a ready reply,
based upon his ignorance of when the writing does actually occur—I
made the following experiment:—
Taking a slate clean on both sides, I placed it on the table so that it

rested above, although its surface could not
Correspondence in "The Times." 125
touch a fragment of slate pencil. In this position I held the slate firmly
down with my elbow; one of Slade's hands was then grasped by mine, and
the tips of the fingers of his other hand barely touched the slate. While
closely watching both of Slade's hands, which did not move perceptibly, I
was much astonished to hear scratching going on apparently on the under
side of the table, and when the slate was lifted up I found the side facing
the table covered with writing. A similar result was obtained on other
days; further, an eminent scientific friend obtained writing on a clean slate
when it was held entirely in his own hand, both of Slade's being on the
table.
This seems to be the place to add the testimony of one who has had the
combined advantages of vast opportunity for observation, and of a
training in exact scientific methods which fits him to utilise the
opportunities placed in his way.
Mr. W. H. Harrison, Editor of The Spiritualist, writes to me—
Before Dr. Slade came to London, years of observation at numerous

seances had proved to me that the materialised hands common at seances
were most frequently the duplicates of those of the medium, and produced
nearly the same handwriting. The first messages I saw produced in the
presence of Dr. Slade were given in broad daylight, under such clear test
physical conditions as to leave no room for the imposture theory in the
mind of any trained or competent scientific observer. I noticed that they
were nearly always in the handwriting of the medium; and this, which to
an ignorant person would have been indicative of imposture, was in
favour of the genuineness of the phenomena to an expert. On leaving the
room after the seance I had a short talk with Mr. Simmons, and without
telling him what I knew, but merely to test his integrity, I asked him
whether the handwriting on the slates bore any resemblance to that of Dr.
Slade. Without hesitation, he replied that there was usually a strong
resemblance. This shows the truthfulness
126 Psychography.
and absence of exaggeration incidental to the statements of Mr. Simmons,

who is one of the coolest and quietest men living; had he been prone to
making statements in advance of the facts, he would have tried to make
the phenomena more wonderful, and have said that there was generally no
resemblance between the handwritings. But the truth was thus
unreservedly told by Mr. Simmons directly after he reached London, and
was forthwith printed by me in The Spirituaiist, for the information of
observers at Dr. Slade's seances.
In dealing with such facts, the testimony of skilled observers is of most

value. A reputed scientific man, ignorant of astronomy, who entered an
observatory and said that he knew more about the work done there than
astronomical experts, and who behaved with "bounce" generally, would
not be recognised by the scientific world as a creditable representative.
SUMMARY OF FACTS.
———
THE sum of what I have stated may be resolved into the following
propositions:—
1. That there exists a Force which operates through a special type of

human organisation, and which is conveniently called PSYCHIC FORCE.
2. That this force is (in certain cases) demonstrably governed by
Intelligence.
3. That this Intelligence is (in certain cases) provably not that of the
person or persons through whom the Force is evolved.
4. That this Force, thus governed by an external Intelligence, manifests
its action in (amongst other methods) the writing of coherent sentences
without the intervention of any of the usual methods of writing. Such
abnormal writing is conveniently called Psychography.
5. That the evidence for the existence of this Force, thus governed by an
external Intelligence, rests upon
(a) The evidence of the observer's senses.
(b) The fact that a language other than that known to the Psychic is
frequently used.
(c) The fact that the subject-matter of the writing is frequently beyond
the knowledge of the Psvchic.
127
128 Psychography.
(d) The fact that it is demonstrably impossible to produce the results

by fraud under conditions similar to those under which the phenomena are
obtained.
(e) The fact that these special phenomena are produced not only in
public, and for gain, but in private, and without the presence of any person
outside of the family circle.
DEDUCTIONS, EXPLANATIONS, AND
THEORIES.
———
I HAVE now brought forward such facts as I consider necessary out of the
large number at my disposal. If I have not quoted some on which, because
they come within their own personal experience, some of my friends may
rely, I must remind them that my object is not to write an exhaustive
chronicle, but only to bring forward such cases as will explain and enforce
my argument. I cannot quote all, and I have used an editor's discretion in
selecting.
I desire now, in concluding my argument, to draw attention to some

points which will throw light on the theories which have been maintained.
Dr. Carter Blake has recorded his opinion that the Force, whose action
he observed with Slade, "acted from a spot or spots separate from" him.
By this he does not, of course, imply that the Psychic is not the medium
through whom the Force is evolved. Plainly he is. Those who have had
opportunity of holding the hands of a Psychic during the time when he is
passing into the state during which phenomena occur, are familiar with the
pulsations and throbs which evidence the surging of the force within him.
Convulsive shudders agitate his frame, and these are frequently
129
130 Psychography.
communicated to the observer, even though he be not a Psychic himself.
I have good cause to remember one of my first experiments with two

powerful Psychics, Herne and Williams. After three unsuccessful
experiments, the fourth resulted in such a convulsive action of my right
arm as to force my hand to beat the table with the most surprising
vehemence. I was perfectly powerless to control my arm, and the result
was that my hand was so bruised as to be comparatively useless, and very
positively painful, for some days afterwards. It was only the arm that was
affected. In all other respects I was in a perfectly normal state.
Dr. C. Blake notes a similar fact in recording one of his experiments

with Slade. "His hands being on both mine in the centre of the table, the
muscles of my fore-arms were seized with a convulsive motion, and the
waves of this motion, according to my impression, proceeded from my
elbows to the finger-tips, and not the converse, as some people might be
led to expect. The sensation was unlike what would have been produced
by an electric battery under the table, and was more like what I should
imagine was the sensation of the aura epileptica. This convulsive
movement is gradually communicated to the table, if the Psychic's hands
are placed upon it. I have frequently noticed a distinct rhythmical
pulsation in the table, commencing some time before any other objective
manifestation of the Force is shown, and gradually increasing until it
culminates in percussive sounds, or in movements of the table. When this
condition is
Deductions, Explanations, and Theories. 131
obtained, it is frequently unnecessary for the Psychic, or, indeed, for any
one, to touch the table any more. The movements will continue at request,
without the contact of any hands, until the stored-up Force is exhausted,
when contact again becomes necessary.
In Slade's case, the making and breaking of the contact of hands, and
consequent cessation and recommencement of the writing was very
suggestive. I have alluded to this point before, and several of the records
which I have quoted make mention of it. The subjoined account, written
by Mr. Conrad W. Cooke, of the Society of Telegraph Engineers, puts it
clearly:—
On the afternoon of Saturday, August 19th, 1876, I, in company with

Professor ——, had a "sitting" with Dr. Slade, at a house in Upper
Bedford Place, Russell Square. We arrived at the house a little before
three o'clock, and as Dr. Slade was giving a seance to some other
gentlemen, we were asked into a front drawing-room on the first floor.
Presently two gentlemen came out of the inner room, handed a fee to the
secretary, and went away. Dr. Slade then came in, and took us into the
adjoining room, which was an ordinary back drawing-room of such
houses, furnished as lodging-houses generally are, and having a
rectangular double-flap table in the middle of the room, rather farther
from the window than the centre of the room would be. This table was
covered with a somewhat shabby coloured table-cover, which Dr. Slade
removed. He then asked us to examine the table. This we did by moving
it, turning it up, and trying it by tapping it in various places. As far as we
could see, it was a perfectly ordinary table; the flaps were of the ordinary
thickness, and to all appearance quite solid.
The table-cover was not replaced, and we, at Dr. Slade's request, sat at
the table in the following manner:—Dr. Slade sat with his back to the
window and facing the wall which divided us from the room in which he
had previously been
132 Psychography.
waiting. I sat opposite to and facing him, and therefore having the window
in front of me; Professor —— sat between us, and at right angles to the
way we were sitting, having Dr. Slade to his left and myself to his right.
The room was in no way darkened, and the day, though generally
cloudy, was interspersed with gleams of sunshine. I mention this to show
that what we saw was in broad open daylight, in a room illuminated by a
large window facing towards the west.
We sat, as I have said, at three sides of the table, with our hands upon it,
and touching one another, forming what Dr. Slade called a "chain."
Professor ——'s left hand rested on the back of the right hand of Dr.
Slade, Dr. Slade's left hand was upon my right, and my left upon Professor
——'s right.
In this way we sat for perhaps three or four minutes, when the table
gave two or three distinct tremendous pulsations, at first feeble and far
between, but following closer upon one another, and becoming more
decided in a few minutes. These were followed by gentle taps such as
would be produced by a finger-nail tapping on the table, and then by raps
becoming louder until they violently shook the latter and almost lifted it
momentarily from the ground.
Dr. Slade then said, "Are you here, Allie?" Taps came on the table as if
in reply, and Dr. Slade produced an ordinary school-slate, and biting off a
piece from the end of a slate-pencil, he placed a piece about the size of a
rice-grain on the slate, which he held tinder the table, pressing it up
against the under side of the flap, which was over Professor ——'s knees.
During this time the "chain" was maintained as before, except that Dr.
Slade had but one hand joining ours, the other being employed to hold the
slate. In holding the slate under the table, he did so by clasping the edge of
the table and the slate together, after the manner of a clamp, so that his
thumb was above the table. Immediately the slate was held against the
table, we distinctly heard a slate-pencil writing on it, and when it ceased
Dr, Slade pulled the slate away, apparently as if he encountered
resistance, sliding it away from the edge in a manner very similar to
sliding away an armature from a tolerably powerful permanent
magnet, and upon the slate there were words written in a very clear hand.
Professor —— then asked Dr. Slade if he thought writing could be

produced on the slate if it were above the table. Dr. Slade asked the
question verbally, and placing the slate, as before, under the flap, the
following words were written on it, "I do not know, but I will try." The
"grain" of slate pencil was then placed on the table and covered by the
slate, upon which Dr. Slade placed the palm of his left hand, his other
hand being above the table and touching ours. The sound of the writing
immediately commenced, and continued for several minutes, only
stopping whenever any of us lifted a hand so as to "break the chain," as
Dr. Slade expressed it. When the slate was turned up, it was perfectly
covered with small, clear writing, a sort of essay upon the beneficial and
harmless nature of Spiritualism, which it called by that name, and
finishing up with the signature "A. F. Slade."
Professor —— then requested to be allowed to hold the slate himself. A
grain of slate-pencil was placed on the slate, which he held under the flap
of the table, and pressing it up against it. In a moment the writing
commenced, and a word or two was written on the slate. During the
experiment both Dr. Slade's hands were above the table. A few minutes
after, when the slate was held under the table, the following words were
written:—" Good-bye, I cannot do any more," and after that no more
Writing or Taps were produced, and we came away.
In the above notes I have simply stated the facts as they took place
before my eyes and those of my friend in open daylight, on an afternoon
in August, between three and four o'clock, and I offer no comments as to
their cause.
Several observers noticed the fact that Slade's hands, when in contact
with their own, were feverishly hot, and emitted a crackling, detonating
sound. He would withdraw them as though the contact burnt him. I
specially noticed this during the writing while I held the slate. After Slade
had made a few down
134 Psychography.
ward passes over my arm, my fingers tingled, and I heard distinct

detonating noises in the table.
These detonations sometimes are so powerful as to split the slate to

fragments. Mr. Wedgwood's double-hinged slate was thus broken into
minute pieces. The Rev. J. Page Hopps took away with him a slate which,
in an unaccountable manner, on his way home was similarly pulverised.
Several other observers have recorded the same action of what is
apparently an explosive force within the object—not something that acts
on it from without. And the Rev. Thomas Colley, writing on December
14, 1877, gives a very instructive record of a similar kind. A gentleman
had forwarded to Monck a slate which he had so prepared as to render it
impossible that it should be tampered with. He had embedded over the
slate a plate of stout glass by means of plaster of Paris, leaving a space of
about an inch between the slate and the glass. Into this chamber a
fragment of pencil was introduced. The slate was perfectly clean, and it
was physically impossible to write upon its inner surface by any normal
means. Mr. and Mrs. Colley, together with Mr. and Mrs. Cranstoun, of the
Tyrol, met Monck on the 14th December, and then and there the word
desired by the gentleman who devised the test was clearly written. That
word was Tangier. It was, in an unlucky moment for the safety of that
slate, proposed that an attempt should be made to add a word at the
separate dictation of each person present. The glazed slate, probably to
obtain the necessary darkness, was placed under the table, and
the two gentlemen had each a foot upon it. Mr. Colley describes a
sensation of throbbing within the slate—a heaving as when the confined
steam lifts the lid of a kettle—and in a moment an explosion took place
that scattered it in fragments over the carpet, like spray from a fountain.
Mr. Colley instantly took up the slate, and found the words written in the
order in which they had been dictated.
The interesting part of this narrative, apart from the crucial test
contained in it, is the explosive action of the force, and the sensation of
throbbing which Mr. Colley, by the accident of having his foot on the
brick, was enabled to feet before the explosion took place. It would seem
as if the little chamber between the glass and slate were made a receptacle
in which the force conveyed through the Psychic was stored, just as, I
believe, the table is charged with the force before any manifestation is
given of its presence.
So much we are able to gather as to the source and operation of this

Psychic Force. It is the "mesmeric fluid" of Mesmer; the odyle of
Reichenbach; the nerve-aura of other investigators.
When we come to consider the method of its direction, we are on more

precarious ground. So many theories have been propounded that their bare
enumeration will suffice to show the lines on which speculation has
worked.
Dr. Collyer is a type of those who consider that the phenomenon of

Psychography is due to the unconscious action of the will of the Psychic. I
append an
136 Psychography.
interesting statement of his views, extracted from a pamphlet published by

him at the time of the Slade prosecution. His views are not original, but
the extract which I quote gives a convenient exposition of them:—
I will briefly narrate my experience with Mr. Henry Slade, and will
confine my remarks to the automatic writing, leaving the various other
phenomena for another occasion to describe. On the 6th day of October,
1876, at 7 p.m., I called at 8 Upper Bedford Place. I was shown into the
drawing-room, where I found Mr. Henry Slade, Mr. Simmons, and two
young ladies. After some few minutes, Mr. Slade and myself went into a
small back room. There were two gaslights turned on to their full extent,
making the room as light as gas could make it.
Mr. Slade took hold of my hands, and after a few moments he was in
"the state." This transition was accompanied by the usual nervous
twitchings. He told me to clean the slate which lay on the table. I did so,
both with a sponge and then with my handkerchief. I never let go of the
said slate, which he placed under the corner of the table. A small piece of
slate pencil was placed on the upper surface of the slate. In less than ten
seconds the said slate was written on, and in ten seconds more eight lines
of writing, filling up the entire upper surface of the slate, were written.
As I have before stated, Mr. Slade believes that this was written by his
wife's spirit. What he believes is quite beside the fact of writing occurring
under circumstances that none of your wiseacres and tricksters could
imitate. It was Slade's blind faith that the writing was spiritually produced,
that enabled his Will-power to embody the thought. Having attended the
trial at the Bow Street police court, I heard the childish propositions of
chemical pencils, sympathetic inks, and so forth. I, accordingly, to meet
all such objections, purchased of a stationer in Holborn two white
porcelain slates, 7 inches long, 5 broad; these I took with me to Slade's
rooms on Friday, Nov. 2nd, at noon. We retired into the same room as on
the previous occasion. Mr. Slade
sat for twenty minutes, but entirely failed, and said he had no power. I was
not in the least astonished, as I have known persons for weeks to lose all
power. On the following Sunday, Nov. 5, at noon, I again visited Mr.
Slade. I untied the slates myself, broke off a piece of Cumberland lead,
one-eighth of an inch in length, which I placed between the slates, and
retied them together with the tape I had brought with me. The slates were
then placed on the top of the table, Mr. Slade's fingers being in contact
with the frame of the upper slate, his other hand was on my own. I
distinctly heard the writing going on or being made. On opening the slates
these words were written:—
"We cannot write with this point of pencil.—A. W. SLADE."
I retied the slate, leaving within the original piece of pencil.
An ordinary slate, which I carefully cleaned, was placed on the top of
the table; on the under surface of the slate I heard the writing taking place.
I had my elbow on the slate all the time. On turning the slate I found
forty-nine words, written in less than three minutes by my watch. On
returning to the drawing-room, I found a gentleman who had brought a
folding-slate with him; this was written on both sides—that is, the upper
and lower surface, inside the folded part of the slate. There were sixty-
four words. At page 94 of my work, Exalted States of the Nervous System
(Renshaw, 356 Strand), I use these words: "Faith and Will, —The power
of the will, in the ordinary normal state, is confined to the immediate acts
essential to the functions of life; but it may be educated (during an
abnormal state) so as to be directed out of or beyond the ordinary channel,
so that brain phenomena, or abnormal states, may be induced at the will of
the individual. In order to arrive at perfect control of the organs not
normally under the influence of the will, much time is required."
At page 106 I state: "The embodiment of thought is the cerebral
representation or production of the figure thought of. If there be sufficient
nervo-vital fluid at the command of the medium, he is enabled to project
an embodiment which will, for the time being, under the direction of the
will-power, manifest all the conditions of an independent existence."
138 Psychography.
The medium must necessarily be an extremely sensitive person—even

morbidly so. How, then, is it possible that he can be calm and self-
possessed, exercise mental concentration or will-power, if he is purposely
rendered irritable his sensitiveness wounded by wanton, puerile
opposition? It cannot be expected that if the necessary conditions to
success are destroyed that successful results can follow. It would be as
unphilosophical to break your watch, and then to grumble because it
ceased to keep time.
No man is a greater admirer of pure philosophy and close inductive
reasoning than myself. I also abhor with detestation and contempt those
upstart parvenus in science who imagine that by coups de main [a stroke
of the hand] they can solve the most recondite revelations of brain
function. It cannot be forgotten that the College of Physicians of London
ignored both Harvey and Jenner. It should not be forgotten that the Royal
Society of Great Britain received the report of Benjamin Franklin's
experiments, showing the identity of lightning with other electrical
phenomena, with a shout of laughter.
Napoleon referred the subject of steam navigation to the Academy of
Science. The result was that the Academy pronounced the idea to be "a
ridiculous notion." When George Stephenson first proposed railroad
travelling, how was the idea treated by the British House of Commons?
Did not his distinguished son, Robert Stephenson, with all England,
ridicule the French project of digging a canal at Suez? Still, the British
nation a few years subsequently gave four millions sterling for an interest
in the same canal! Who, fifty years since, would not have been
pronounced a madman if he had had the temerity to state the practicability
of holding in a few minutes communication with his friends in Australia?
Cases could be multiplied showing the ignorance of the most intellectual
in matters which are beyond their knowledge. The universe abounds in
mysteries, exciting only the barren wonder of the desponding observer,
but stimulating the philosophical to untiring and earnest research. To
contradict past experience is a certain indication of error; to march beyond
it is the truest indication of genuine discovery. If ignorance is punishable
with three months' hard labour, who could escape the amusing task of
continually walking upstairs?
Slade is not responsible for his want of knowledge as to the modus
operandi of the most recondite phenomena connected with cerebral
function. All he knows is, that these phenomena do not occur under
certain conditions. It is not because he verily believes that they are
produced by the spirit of his late wife, that such a belief comes within the
sphere of criminal jurisdiction. I am not responsible for Slade's ideas. I am
thoroughly convinced he is honest in his belief. What concerns myself is
the production of these cerebral phenomena. My conviction of the fact
that they are produced without the least attempt at trickery or fraud, is a
conviction arrived at after thirty-five years' investigation. That many
persons with partially-developed powers have resorted to deception I am
equally convinced. I have discovered on many occasions false
representations, but these do not militate against the genuine phenomena.
There is scarcely a subject with which the human mind is conversant that
may not be simulated or imitated so closely as to deceive and betray the
unsuspecting.
I am as satisfied of the genuineness of the automatic writing presented
by Henry Slade, of the United States, as I am of my own existence, or that
the sun gives light, or is the cause of light, or of any other physical
phenomenon, universally admitted. I do not find fault with the learned
magistrate who defined "palmistry" to be analogous to these new
recondite mental phenomena. Nor do I blame Mr. Henry Slade for
believing that the phenomena are produced by his deceased wife's spirit. I
am firmly convinced that if he had not this belief the phenomena would
not be produced. Blind faith is essential to the exercise of willpower.
It is the will-power during an abnormal or exalted state of brain which
produces all these varied phenomena, no matter how diversified or
apparently complicated.
Absolute blind faith (not exercisable during the normal state of
existence) is necessary to the full development of will-power. Doubt your
own capacity, and it ceases to exist. Conviction of power is the surest road
to success; "he who
140 Psychography.
hesitates is lost." It is really ridiculously funny to find men of the most

ordinary mental faculties writing of the "Common Course of Nature."
All the world believed the postulates advanced by Aristotle, and these
were defined as "The Laws of Nature" until Galileo and Newton
demonstrated the contrary. As to the laws of falling bodies and
gravitation, for two thousand years the whole world had spoken of the
"Common Course of Nature." Common enough would poor Nature be if
interpreted by such conjuring mechanicians. What is that which we entitle
a Law of Nature? Is it, as is generally conceived, an abstract sovereign
rule of Divine authority before the beginning of the world's existence? Or
is it only a synthetical epitome of Nature's operations, such as human
experience and assiduity has found out, and human ingenuity arranged?
Here, on this very topic, is an error most prevalent, even amongst the men
best versed in science. They are too apt to confound scientific theory,
conventionally stamped, as a "law of Nature," as an original principle
established by the fiat of Omnipotence. The poor wretch who has the
temerity or foolish hardihood to question its validity is denounced as a
heretic to the order of Nature herself. Roger Bacon was excommunicated
by the Pope for such a crime, and imprisoned ten years, accused of having
dealings with the devil. At that period (the 13th century) professors were
bound, under oath, to follow no, other guide than Aristotle. "There is a
wide difference between the idols of the human mind and ideas of the
Divine mind."
Dr. Geo. Wyld entertains a somewhat similar idea. In an elaborate paper

printed in the Spiritualist of Dec. 14, 1877, he maintains the opinion "that
all the phenomena we have yet obtained might be produced by the spirits
of the living." Respecting Slade's Psychography, he "believes that it was
produced by his own partially entranced spirit," although Slade was, to all
appearance, in his normal state at the time.
This theory finds a curious illustration in the experiments recorded by

Miss Kislingbury, which I have already quoted. There, however, the
Psychic's will was decidedly not the only active cause. And, most
probably, this may be so in any given case. Dr. Collyer's idea is that most
in accordance with the ancient belief. Those who in days of old have
studied the mysteries of occult phenomena have left for us a more or less
bewildering record of their conclusions. Those who are curious enough to
desire to peep behind the veil, and to master what the wisdom of the
ancients has collected, may do so by perusing a work which has recently
been published by Bouton of New York—ISIS UNVEILED: a Master-Key to
the Mysteries of Ancient and Modern Science and Theology. By H. P.
Blavatsky. There he will find, scattered up and down through two huge
volumes—master-pieces of industry and erudition—much that will attract
his attention and exercise his thought. And there, too, he will find the
views of the ancients and mediaevalists respecting the innate power of the
human spirit set forth at length.
They believed that the human spirit, properly trained to energize

through its will, had incalculable powers; that its action was by no means
limited to the body in which it was imprisoned, but extended, under
favouring circumstances, to almost any distance. They held that this
phenomenon of Psychography, with which they were perfectly familiar,
was effected by the spirit of the Psychic just as really as when his hand
held the pencil and framed the letters.
142 Psychography.
They would say that such performances as we are familiar with are but
the unconscious and feeble products of an untrained spirit, which
possesses magical powers without knowing it. These unconscious and
unregulated Psychic phenomena they would discourage, and would
substitute for their feeble and uncertain results the sure and calculated
efforts of a trained Will. Man, they say, an Incarnate Spirit, has in himself
all he needs for the production of the most apparently miraculous results.
He is lord of creation, with the "promise and potency" within him of all,
even creative power, did he only know it.
The Kabalist is very strong in his claims, but he is at least coherent.

Both Dr. Wyld and Dr. Collyer would seem to mix up two totally different
states: one which I call Psychism, in which the Psychic is so far from
exercising the power of his will with that concentrated energy which alone
avails, that he must ex hypothesi [from the hypothesis] be passive and at
perfect rest in order to obtain results; and another, which is the state of
conscious and concentrated Will-power—a state as positive as the other is
negative—one that admits of no passivity, but is characterized by severest
energy.
There are, indeed, grades of distinction between all three explanations;

and the curious reader may amuse himself, without experiencing much
fear of failure, by suggesting difficulties which neither of the modern
theorists can hope to solve.
In Dr. Morin's journal de Magnetisme, published in Paris, at a time

when table-turning was at its height,
a letter was printed which contains statements of opinion bearing upon

what I am now saving. I quote from the same work of Madame
Blavatsky's before alluded to:—
We, who well know the value of the phenomenon, are perfectly sure
that after having charged the table with our magnetic efflux, we have
called to life, or created, an intelligence analogous to our own, which, like
ourselves, is endowed with a free will—can talk and discuss with us with
a degree of superior lucidity, considering that the resultant is stronger than
the individual, or rather the whole is larger than a part of it…. The
phenomenon is as old as the world…. The priests of India and China
practised before the Egyptians and the Greeks. The savages and the
Esquimaux know it well. It is the phenomenon of Faith, sole source of
every prodigy.
This is the magic secret of the Kabalist, the grand truth enunciated in
days long past by Jesus Christ—"Thy faith hath saved thee," "If ye have
faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say to this mountain, Be thou cast
into the depths of the sea, and it shall be done"—the sole secret of
success, a will that knows no "perhaps," and a faith whose confidence no
temporary failure can shake.
This theory of the action of a new consciousness, framed out of the

intelligences of those present at the experiment, has been many times put
forward, to be as often upset by some fact which it is not sufficient to
explain. It is the fate of theories. All gravitate to the same grave, until the
time comes and the man, who explains, in the light of accumulated facts,
by severe process of deductive logic, what insufficient knowledge has
only blundered over,
144 Psychography.
Perhaps the greatest light will be shed on these obscure phenomena by

the study of mesmerism. The passive state in which the Psychic is thrown
before any phenomena are produced may be regarded by some as a state
of auto-mesmerism, during which his liberated spirit displays some of the
strange phenomena of clairvoyance, prevision, introvision, and the like,
which successful mesmerists study in their "subjects." The trance-state,
during which the best phenomena are observed, is one known to
mesmerists by the name of ecstasis, and many remarkable facts are
recorded respecting it, as, for instance, in a valuable work on the subject
by Professor Gregory, F.R.S.E., entitled Animal Magnetism. This has been
lately republished by Mr. Harrison (38, Great Russell Street), and is an
excellent introduction to the study of the phenomena now under notice.
Indeed the whole subject of the trans-corporeal action of the human

spirit—its power of making its presence felt far away from its bodily
prison-house under the influence of strong emotion; its sympathies and
antipathies; its strange power of mind-reading and transfusion of thought,
under certain circumstances and in certain states;—are all points to be
cleared up by the student of these phenomena before be ought to venture
far into the domain of theory. Professor Barrett very properly said, in the
course of a letter to The Times, when the Slade prosecution was before the
public: "I am inclined to believe that other mental phenomena—such, for
example, as the possibility of the action of one mind upon another, across
space, without the intervention of the senses—demand a prior

investigation." He had previously recommended the study of mesmerism;
and he might have added that the whole subject of Psychology in its
various branches, respecting which so little is now known, should receive
careful attention in the light of knowledge which ancient students
possessed. It is thus that the gates will be opened, after prolonged and
patient investigation and study.
But when all this has been admitted, and when these theorisers have
said their say, there remains, it must be confessed, a numerous, compact,
and firm body of observers who correlate these phenomena with others
called spiritual, and refer them to the action of disembodied human spirits.
These are the Spiritualists pur sang [pure breads]. They cut the knot of
every difficulty with an all-sufficient knife; and, starting with a
tremendous postulate, account for everything on comprehensive
principles. They say, in effect, that the pretensions which, it must be
conceded, are invariably put forward by the intelligent operator are such
as they see no reason to reject. They ask, with considerable cogency, what
ground the theorist has for rejecting a hypothesis which has the merit of
being consistently put forward by the Invisible Intelligence; and why this
Intelligence, being interrogated, should invariably return an answer
identifying itself with the spirit of a departed human being, if it be,
indeed, as alleged, only the liberated spirit of the Psychic? They
propound, indeed, several difficulties which are somewhat staggering to
the theorists who maintain the
146 Psychography.
action of the spirit of the Psychic as the sole and sufficient cause; and—
with a faith which, if it cannot move mountains, has apparently no
difficulty in swallowing them—all to them is plain and simple. The world
of spirit, they say, is all around us, only a crass materialism has so blinded
our eyes that we can no longer discern it, save in those comparatively rare
cases where the gulf is bridged by Psychic power. The various Biblical
records, which I need not quote, of the intervention of spirit on the
material plane, fortify them in their faith, which, they allege, has the
venerable prescription of semper, ubique, et ab omnibus [what has been
believed always, everywhere and by all] (who, at least, have not wilfully
closed their spiritual eyes, or become spiritually blind by inheritance of
defective spiritual sense). These claim kinship, too, with the great Eastern
schools of thought whose adepts can demonstrate at will what the Western
Psychic only fitfully evokes. They contend that what strikes the English
mind as portentously incredible is matter of every-day experience to the
spiritually-cultured Eastern; as it has been to all who have striven to obey
the maxim, Know thyself
Between these various theories—and their ramifications are far wider

than I have thought it necessary to indicate—the candid reader may be left
to choose, unless, indeed, he be made in that rare and robust mould which
is content with facts and facts only, satisfied with accumulating and
preserving them, and willing to leave theory, to the day when sufficient
material shall have been accumulated to lift a deduction out of the mists of
mere speculation.
In concluding I am bold to reiterate what I said at starting. I have no

controversial end in view, else my tone had been other than it has been. I
have neither the wish nor the power to force unwelcome truth on
unwilling minds. My aim has been to record facts for such as wilt value
them. I have but enumerated certain theories, without any desire—at this
juncture, and in this volume—to advocate any of them. In the words of
Professor Gregory—writing, I am rejoiced to think, about a subject then
sneered at, but now generally accepted—"My object has not been to
explain the facts I have described, but rather to show that a large number
of facts exist which require explanation, but which can never be explained
unless we study them. I am quite content that any theoretical suggestions I
have made should be thrown aside as quite unimportant, provided the
facts be attended to, because I consider it too early for a comprehensive
theory, and because I believe the facts are as yet but very partially
known."—Animal Magnetism, p. 252.
APPENDIX.
———
SINCE writing the body of this volume, two or three facts have come
under my notice which I take this means of noticing.
1. Henry Slade, being then resident at Berlin, was visited by the Court
Conjurer and Prestidigitator to the Emperor of Germany, Samuel
Bellachini, No. 14 Grossbaron-strasse, who subsequently made affidavit
before a public notary, Gustav Haagen, in the following terms:—
Executed at Berlin on the sixth of December, one thousand eight

hundred and seventy-seven, and entered in the Notary's register under the
number four hundred and eighty-two, for the year eighteen hundred and
seventy-seven.
Signed and officially stamped.

GUSTAV HAAGEN, Counseller and Notary.
I hereby declare it to be a rash action to give decisive judgment upon

the objective medial performance of the American medium, Mr. Henry
Slade, after only one sitting, and the observations so made.
After I had, at the wish of several highly-esteemed gentlemen of rank

and position, and also for my own interest, tested the physical
mediumship of Mr. Slade in a series of sittings by full daylight, as well as
in the evening, in his bedroom, I must, for the sake of truth, hereby certify
that the phenomenal occurrences with Mr. Slade, have been
149
150 Psychography.
thoroughly examined by me, with the minutest observation and

investigation of his surroundings, including the table, and that I have not
in the smallest instance found anything to be produced by means of
prestidigitative manifestations, or by mechanical apparatus, and that any
explanation of the experiments which took place under the circumslances
and conditions then oblaining, by any reference to prestidigitation, to be
absolutely impossible.
It must rest with such men of science as Crookes and Wallace, in

London; Perty, in Berne; Boutlerof, in St. Petersburg, to search for the
explanation of this phenomenal power, and to prove its reality. I declare,
moreover, the published opinions of laymen, as to the "how" of this
subject to be premature, and according to my view and experience, false
and one-sided. This, my declaration, is signed and executed before a
notary and witnesses.
(Signed) SAMUEL BELLACHINI.
Berlin, 6th December, 1877.
2. Henry Slade having proceeded to St. Petersburg in order to fulfil his

engagement with M. Aksakof and Professor Boutlerof, and to present the
phenomenon of Psychography to the scrutiny of a committee of scientific
experts, has had a series of successful sittings, in the course of which
writing has been obtained in the Russian language. At one recent sitting
writing in six different languages was obtained on a single slate.
On Wednesday, Feb. 20, accompanied by M. Aksakof and Professor

Boutlerof, Slade had a most successful sitting with the Grand Duke
Constantine, who received them cordially, and himself obtained writing
on a new slate held by himself alone.
3. The Rev. Thomas Colley thus testifies, under date January 17,
1878:—
Appendix. 151
This afternoon I had a sitting with Dr. Monck of a somewhat unique

character. I had purchased this morning a transparent drawing-slate; and,
taking out one of the pictures, I wrote my name on the edge of it, with a
request that it and the five objects of the composite sketch might be traced
on the rough side of the ground glass. Not letting Dr. Monck know what I
had done, I placed the marked picture between the five others—three
before it and the glass, and two behind it and the back of the frame. Then,
taking it with me, and not allowing him once to touch it, and scarcely to
see it, as I took it from the side-pocket of my coat, I placed it, with a lead
pencil, beneath the easy chair in which Dr. Monck was sitting (around the
lower part of which I had placed a carriage-rug, to make a sort of camera-
obscura), and held his hands, placing my feet on his feet, and my knees to
his knees, as I sat facing him.
Under these conditions, not asking orally for what I desired to be done,
or intimating in any way to Dr. Monck the nature or particulars of the
experiment I was making, "Samuel" took momentary control, and told me
he had accomplished the matter, affirming that not only had be drawn the
marked picture and traced my autograph, but also that he had written on
the back of the picture these words, "Take this to Serjeant Cox,"
particularly calling my attention at the time to the fact that he had, in a
peculiar way, abbreviated the word Serjeant.'
Control then instantly passed off; and not relinquishing Dr. Monck's
hands, or removing my feet from his, with partially disengaged fingers I
took the transparent slate as it was pushed up from under the chair, and
found a picture traced on the glass, and my name over, written in my own
characters. But this did not agree with the picture next the glass; it
manifestly was a copy of the drawing I had marked and placed between
the others. This was verified later on in the day, for, taking the transparent
slate with me, I went straight to the adjourned debate on Psychography at
the Psychological Society, and handed it to the President (Serjeant Cox),
who publicly opened it and found the marked picture where I had
originally placed it—the fourth from the glass and third from the back;
and on
152 Appendix.
taking it out and placing it under the ground glass, the strongly-outlined
lead-pencil sketch on this latter was found accurately to agree with the
drawing beneath. There also, by the learned President (for I had for the
moment forgotten the circumstance), the writing on the body of the paper
was found, referring to him: "Take this to Ser. Cox."

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PSYCHOGRAPHY:

PSYCHIC OR SPIRITUAL PHENOMENA.

The text has not been professionally proofed and

1. A great number of sensible witnesses, who agree on

"Never utter these words: 'I do not know this;

My object has been to present within convenient space a record of facts

I have desired to present no theory for acceptance. I have, indeed,

In submitting what I have written to the judgment of my readers, I

of their far-reaching importance, both on grounds of their intrinsic value,

That men of trained and practised intellect should be found willing to

The result, primarily, of ignorance, next of prejudice, finally of disgust

It is with this conviction that I have endeavoured to elucidate one among

LIST OF WORKS BEARING ON THE SUBJECT ..............11

PSYCHOGRAPHY IN THE PAST: GULDENSTUBBE

PERSONAL EXPERIENCES IN PRIVATE, AND WITH

GENERAL CORROBORATIVE EVIDENCE.

I. THAT ATTESTED BY THE SENSES

II. FROM THE WRITING OF LANGUAGES UNKNOWN TO

Ancient Greek—Evidence of Hon. R. Dale Owen and

III. FROM SPECIAL TESTS WHICH PRECLUDE PREVIOUS

Psychics and Conjurers Contrasted ........................................80

DICTATION of Words at the Time of the Experiment.

WRITING in Answer to Questions Inside a Closed Box.

LETTERS ADDRESSED TO "THE TIMES" ON THE SUBJECT OF THE

EVIDENCE OF W. H. HARRISON, OF "THE SPIRITUALIST".....125

SUMMARY OF FACTS NARRATED . ...............................127

DEDUCTIONS, EXPLANATIONS, AND THEORIES.

THE NATURE OF THE FORCE: ITS MODE OF OPERATION.

Evidence of Hensleigh Wedgwood, J. Page Hopps, Thomas

METHOD OF DIRECTION OF THE FORCE.

Dr. Collyer's Theory ...............................................................135

The Berlin Court Conjurer on Slade.......................................149

La Realite des Esprits el le Phenomene Merveilleux de leur Ecriture

Primitive Christianity and Modern Spiritualism. Eugene Crowell, M.D.

Planchette. Epes Sargent.

Experimental Investigation of the Spirit Manifestations. Robert Hare,

Miracles and Modern Spiritualism. A.R. Wallace, F.R.G.S.

Researches in the Phenomena of Spiritualism. W. Crookes, F.R.S.

Report on Spiritualism of the Committee of the London Dialectical

Arcana of Spiritualism. Hudson Tuttle.

Letters and Tracts on Spiritualism. Judge Edmonds.

Isis Unveiled. H. P. Blavatsky.

The Debatable Land. Hon. R. Dale Owen.

Footfalls on the Boundary of Another World. Hon. R. Dale Owen.

I propose, then, to set forth certain facts within my own knowledge

I propose, further, to record, in a convenient form for reference, certain

Respecting these facts, I do not propose to maintain any theory, though I

I do not propose to anticipate that time in the history of these Psychic

I do not propose to burden my record with any arguments as to the

Respecting this Intelligence which is displayed in the messages written

will not maintain that it is or is not worthy of attention on account of the

Nor will I maintain that the messages always, or even generally,

I will not maintain that the Intelligence is always independent of that of

these phenomena occur, or of some or all of the persons present. This is

I will not even maintain that the Intelligence is intelligent. Sometimes it

In this connexion I may, however, quote the conclusion arrived at by

To this I may add, that in a number of recorded

cases—e.g., in that of Miss Laura Edmunds, the daughter of judge

THIS subject of Psychography, or writing without the intervention of