‘Very secret’.

(Foreign [?] Office Papers. Passim [?])

8 Gibson Place

St Andrews

Scotland

Jan 4

Dear Mr Lodge

I ground-baited the stream, and tried to lower Prof. Tait's moral tone, some, by throwing in my book, Cock Lane, and he rose freely, saying, in the kindest manner, that it entertained him. But he did not bite at your point at all. Please destroy this note and keep the contents dark, as I like the Professor, who is a capital fellow, and I don't want to make sport of him. But he takes no interest in Eusapia. He talks of Slade and D.D. Home (who are not quite on a level) and he quotes poetry about charlatans and rapping tables, which rapping tables are no great part of the show. He says that he can dimly conceive a ‘purpose’ in second sight, (if there were any second sight) and so on.

You may possibly have remarked that training in physical science, and genius for it, do not invariably bring the philosophic mind. For example, Mr A.R. Wallace's writings on Spookology are conspicuous for lack of logic, and for historical inaccuracy of a flagrant kind. I don't, myself, see what ‘purpose’ has got to do with the matter in hand. The idea is pre-Lucretian, in science, though, for my part, I have no doubt that ‘an unceasing purpose runs’. But that is manifestly not the question at issue. So, on the whole, the worthy Professor is not interested in Madame Paladino. I confess that I think professional conjurers would be the best critics, though they, like General Councils, ‘may err and have erred.’ I am sorry this is all there is of it, and that Tait did not come over here and play Golf.

He had expected, I fancy, something in the line of Hertz's and Clerk Maxwell's ideas, – whatever they may be, – not a physical examination of Madame Palladino.

He says the more precautions are taken, the more one confides [?] in them, and is, ergo, the more easily a victim. But if you don't take precautions, the other argument of ‘careless idiot’ is generally produced.

Such is the scientific intellect and the discovery of Truth must be left to men of letters, who are destitute of scientific training.