Item 181 - Letter from Henry Sidgwick to his mother

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[Sent from Newcastle]:- Regrets to hear that she has been 'dreary and depressed.' Explains that he has been so busy with the correspondence of 'the women's schemes' that he has almost given up all other letter-writing. Refers to his book [The Methods of Ethics], and to some reviews of it, including those in the Spectator; and that by Sully in the Examiner, to which Arthur refers and which he thinks is 'the best... or at least the one most gratifying to the author'. Will probably produce another book in three or four years' time, and due to the reception of this one will 'do the work with more ease and confidence' and therefore he hopes 'better'. Also hopes the sales of this book 'will have been good enough to induce Macmillan to run the risk of another'.

In relation to his investigation into Spiritualism, states that the phenomena that they have witnessed 'are very extraordinary', and that the test that they have applied 'have so far failed to indicate any imposture on the part of the mediums'. They hope to be able to apply stricter tests when the mediums come to London in the next few days. Announces that he returns to Cambridge the following day for two nights, and then to London.

Part transcription in Sidgwick, Arthur, and Sidgwick, E. M, 'Henry Sidgwick'. London: Macmillan, 1906, p 295-296.