Item 60 - Letter from Henry Sidgwick to Mary "Minnie" Benson

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Reports that he went up to London on the previous Saturday to lecture on Psychical Research to a 'College for Men and Women', and called to see her on Sunday, but found that they had gone to Ramsgate. Is delighted by her haunted house story, and wishes to begin making further inquiries. Enquires if she can find out for them where Mrs Tilghmans H[ ] is to be found in London. Asks her if she thinks his colleague Frank Podmore might call and ask her questions, or if Minnie would undertake the task herself. Lays out the main questions that he would like to have answered; wishes to know if the sisters Anna and Henrietta will write an account of their experiences, if the servants could be persuaded to testify, 'expecially Hannah Lilley and Minnie Forbes, and if it would be found out from Miss Hastings the names of the other persons who have lived in the house. Thinks that they certainly ought to take the house, if it is to be taken year by year. Remarks that a seven year lease 'would be rather a high price to pay for apparitions that may never come.' Encloses one of their slips 'of Phantasms of the Living '[book in preparation by Podmore, Myers and Gurney, published in 1886] not included], which Minnie may be able to help them in. Asks her if she could find out whether 'Rev.d James Walker' is alive, and if not whether he has left relations 'who know anything of the story.'

Announces that they shall probably be up in London again for the General Meeting of the Society of Psychical Research on Friday 28 March, and hopes to see her. Nora sends her love and hopes that 'nothing worse than transient colds' drove [them] to Ramsgate. Trust that Edward 'bears the sh[ ] of work prosperously'.