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Declares Myers' news to be 'excellent'. Asks how long Miss Bibby [a medium] is to stay, and hopes that 'the thing does not act injuriously on her nerves...' Wishes that he were there. Reports that he has seen Crookes and is 'much impressed.' Announces that Herne comes to him the following night. Announces also that his decisive interview with Morley about his book [The Method of Ethics] is to take place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. States that he has forwarded Myers' letter to G[urney]. Asks if he [Sidgwick] could go to Myers early the following week 'if this seemed best as regards Terling [home of Lord Rayleigh]'.

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.

Reports his arrival in Newcastle, and his meeting with Miss Fairlamb in Mr Blake's shop, and their subsequent meeting with Miss Wood - both mediums. States that he engaged them for séances. States that he likes them both 'from a severely scientific point of view', and finds that they know about Myers' letter, but 'were simply disinclined to go... to an unknown place at the instance of an unknown gentleman'. Suggests that he arranges for the two ladies to come for a fortnight, and asks whether he thinks it is worthwhile, adding 'not if [Myers] take[s] Mrs Fay to Terling [home of Lord Rayleigh]'. Refers to the problems relating to his unaccompanied visit to Newcastle; 'that a single individual does not afford a sufficient reservoir of [ ] [force] for materialisations...' Asks if Arthur gave Myers Sidgwick's message. Explains that he 'conjectured an alliance between Crookes and Greenwood', hoping that the latter would find funds for the spiritualistic endeavour and would have the social advantage, while the former would have the scientific advantage.

In relation to 'the guarantee', states that he will take his share, 'and could probably persuade Arthur Balfour if not Rayleigh. Thinks that Crookes and Well[ington?] 'are too poor.' Declares that he does not want to have to pay Paddock's damages for breach of contract. Does not believe that it will be considered that there were adequate grounds for the breach. Wishes that he thought otherwise 'for Eva [Fay?]'s sake' and theirs. Invites Myers to come on Saturday to talk it and other things over. Reports that he has sent off his last copy, but is 'still overwhelmed with labours.' Is condidering going to town at the end of the following week, and asks Myers if he shall be there.

[Sent from London]:- Regrets that he must give up his research into the subject of Spiritualism, due to his work commitments, but hopes to take it up again sometime in the future; calls it 'a most perplexing subject', with 'so much crass imposture and foolish credulity mixed up in it' that it is not surprising that 'men of science' refuse to have anything to do with it. Refers approvingly to Crookes' articles in the Quarterly Journal of Science giving evidence in support of the phenomena, and reports that he [Crookes] 'is exhibiting before the Royal Society experiments of novel and great interest on the motive force of heat'.

Reports that they have had tremendous heat in London, which has made him almost unable to work. Announces that he is now going back to Cambridge for a few days to finish his book, which he hopes to have printed soon. States that it is too technical to give him any general reputation. Hopes that Miss Temple is better. Asks her, if she says anything to 'the Bishop [Frederick Temple]' about Spiritualism, to say that 'no one should pronounce on the prima facie case for serious investigation'. Announces that he is going to the Lakes in August, and that he shall try to see Mary early in September. Asks her to give his 'kind remembrances' to her hosts.

Regrets that he did not see him the previous day - owing to the Marshalls [Stephen and Annie?] not having come back - as he would have liked 'to talk over Mrs Fay etc.' Is considering calling on Crookes on Monday evening to tell him what has happened and to see what he says. Asks Myers for his opinion on the matter. Suggests that it may be better to wait until they can find out through Yorke or otherwise 'something more of the relations of R and N.' Announces that he shall be at 4 Carlton Gardens again on Monday. Offers to send back [ ] book.

Announces that '[Walter?] Leaf is disposed to join' and that it only remains to fix a time. States that the period from 6 to 20 January suits him best. Declares that, on reflection, and for various reasons, he would like to cut off the possibility of his ever 'joining in the Fay business.' Feels disposed to leave Mrs Fay to Myers and Crookes, but adds that as a friend of Myers she will always claim his 'kind regards and service.' Announces that he wishes to undertake 'all the pecuniary liabilities as regards the Newcastle medium [Mrs Petty?] - except what Leaf contributes'. Urges Myers to concentrate his resources on Mrs Fay, whom he would rather keep as far as possible from communication with other professional mediums. Asks Myers whether he shall be in town on the following Sunday. Announces that he shall be at the Midland Hotel, 'having séances and arranging for the week after - but only for one night.'

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Glad to hear they are all well; Caroline sends love; a 'cuckoo for ever calling here' makes him think of 'the dear little boy' [Paul] and of 'Will Shakespeare'. They have just finished Hogg [his life of Shelley], and thinks more of Hogg 'in his queer way' than ever; has been reading a Macmillan edition of Shelley: 'What a poet!'. Has read [Roger] Fry's article in the Burlington Magazine, and paid a second visit to the illuminated manuscripts [exhibition at the Burlington Fine Arts Club] yesterday before leaving London; has also looked through the British Museum facsimiles here and at Grosvenor Crescent. Hopes Fry's wife will 'go on satisfactorily'. The 'Doctorate business' [his forthcoming honorary degree at Cambridge] is 'very plain sailing': Lord Halsbury, Lord Rayleigh, and Sir James Ramsey will also be staying at [Trinity College] Lodge; they lunch at [Gonville &] Caius, whose Master [Ernest Roberts] is Vice Chancellor. Others receiving honorary degrees are: the Duke of Northumberland; Admiral Sir John Fisher; Charles Parsons; Sir James Ramsay; Sir W[illiam] Crookes; Professor Lamb; Professor Marshall; Asquith; Lord Halsbury; Sir Hubert Herkomer; Sir Andrew Noble; Rudyard Kipling; Professor Living; they will 'advance on the Senate House...like the English at Trafalgar'. in two columns. Is looking forward to dinner in the hall at Trinity. Went to Harrow on Tuesday and will tell Robert about it and about the 'Cacciola affair'.

Regrets having missed him Claims that in writing his note to Crookes it became clear to him that they had better not allude 'to "uncorrected proof" etc'. Is of the opinion that Crooke's letter 'had better be brief and as polite in form as possible', and convey the fact that neither he nor his hearers believed that the evidence for telepathy 'appeared to be sufficient to justify a serious attempt at a physical hypothesis...' Suggests that Crookes might add that he '[ ] guarded himself against the idea that he was offering a complete physical [ ].'

Included are letters from John William Strutt, 3rd Baron Rayleigh; J. H. Poynting, Baron Kelvin of Largs; Sir Archibald Geikie; Sir William Crookes; Robert Cary Gilson; J. W L. Glaisher; Sir Richard Claverhouse Jebb; Henry Luke Paget; and a manuscript poem entitled ’Sir Joseph Thomson and the lons’, dedicated to Thomson and signed 'H.D.E. [M.R.I.]’.