Encloses Rayleigh's letter [not included]. Wishes that the latter had asked him to bring Myers to Terling, and suggests that he may yet do so. Claims that Mrs Jencken 'seems about the best medium out, and to have her rapping away in the private house of a senior wrangler using all the resources of his laboratory is too tempting a prospect.' Proposes to ask Rayleigh to arrange for some séances with Mrs Jencken in London, to which Myers could bring [John Couch?] Adams. Asks Myers if he could alter the time of his inspectorial visit, in case Rayleigh wishes to confine his invitation to Sidgwick. Reports that their 'anxiety still goes on: but the doctors seem to have good hopes.'
States that Mrs Jencken has failed as far as their strict test is concerned; is going back to London that day, but may be coming again early in September. Tells Myers to expect him on Monday evening. States that he arrives at Penrith and has written to the landlord of the 'George'. Adds that the baby 'is really a charming infant', and states that he has seen a 'Photo of his writing at the age of 5 months and 11 days'.
States that he is quite willing to enter into negotiations with the Newcastle medium. Asks for more information about her. Confesses that he does not quite like what Myers told him about Mrs Fay, and says she told Gurney at Brighton that Sidgwick 'had behaved to her "like a perfect gentleman" or something of that sort.' Claims also that she is not as frank as she seems. States that he still has perfect faith in her, but that this now depends merely on personal impression, supported by Myers', and Gurney's and Crooke's. Feels that he must now drop her and Mrs Jencken out of his ' "Case for Spiritualism" '. Complains about their disagreeableness and 'their persistent and singular frustrations'. Announces that he intends to have some more séances with Herne in December, and will join with Myers in the negotiations with Newcastle, 'especially since the Never-failing Crookes is not to appear in the rôle of Triumphant Liberator till the end of January'. Send his regards to Myers' mother, and declares that he shall be very glad to go to Brandon House [Myers' house at Cheltenham] some time during the F[ ] Season.
[Sent from Lincoln]:- Explains that he has been putting off writing because of 'a sense of incompleteness' about his life. Considers his life 'in three aspects'; in relation to his book [The Methods of Ethics], in relation to his enquiry into Spiritualism, and in relation to 'the holiday-making which may be supposed to be the proper business of the month of August.' Reports that Macmillan has decided to take on his book, and to give him half profits. Had urged Macmillan to show a portion of the MS to Mr John Morley, the editor of the Fortnightly Review, because it is 'written in a rather obscure and technical style, intended primarily for students', he [Henry] feared that it was unfair on Macmillan to ask him to take the risk of publishing the book, but Morley said that the book ought to generate a fair amount of interest, and to pay its expenses. Reports that since then he has been correcting proof sheets.
States that he has plenty of time to spare and has been researching Spiritualism. Reports that he went to stay with Lord Rayleigh early in August to meet Mrs Jencken, 'one of the original Fox girls, in connexion with whom these singular phenomena first attracted attention in America in 1848.' Declares that they heard 'an abundance of "raps" ', but that the experiment that they were trying did not succeed. After leaving Rayleigh he spent a fortnight at Hallsteads. Reports that 'many remarkable phenomena had occurred there before [he] arrived, which were all the more interesting because there was no public medium', and gives details of these incidents. Declares that Hallsteads [home of Walter and Annie Marshall] to be a charming place, and that he enjoyed his stay there very much. Reports that all at Lincoln [new home of his sister and brother-in-law] are well, that Mary is apparently very well, and that the boys are 'in excellent spirits.' Offers his 'sincere commiserations on the matrimonial engagement', and hopes that she is bearing up against the blow.