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From G. H. Darwin to Professor T. H. Huxley

Down, Beckenham, Kent

Friday (1874)

Dear Professor Huxley,

Thank you for your note. Do you not think that the rumour of your presences arose from your family called at No. 6 on the afternoon of our other Séance; however the cat is out of the bag. Your account shall be returned to you─ but I must confess something not very complimentary─ which is, that as I did not think that anyone would care to decipher it─ I copied it tearing out the diagram and gumming it on my copy─ but you shall have a tracing of it.

Your account shall of course be kept to my friends─ but I'm sure it would interest anyone. My uncle you know protests that he didn't leave go─ and I date say Williams did give him something warm to hold.

I had my foot on Wm's but at last he said he was tired and so he rested his on mine─ I felt him gently releasing the pressure but thought it an accidental change of position and so I gently raised my foot so as to renew the pressure and he then gave up the attempt to shake me off. He linked my finger loosely compared to the way he did it at No. 6 and I've no doubt wished to get rid of me.

Your account is slightly incorrect in the order if events. I did not observe on the occultation of the lights until after the change of position. We changed in the dark

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I giving Wms hand into my uncles and groping round to my seat─ then there was rattling on the table and I observed the occultation. Then the candle was lighted and darkness was made. Also when in the light, we were not linked but only had our hands on the table. There were 3 paper cones and I am certain that the accordian concertina was on the far side from the medium as I felt it with my nose before any manifestations began. The first thing on the moving of the chair

[annotated sketch] Huxley Myer Wedgwood GD Wms

was the upsetting the thermom and then it seemed to turn upside down and run up against my uncle where it banged about before it got up. The first notice I had of the release of contact was Wms crying excitedly. Don't leave go of my hand ─ a clever proof (?) of bona fides on his part.

I go back to Cambridge to-day

Believe me

Yours very sincerely

G. H. Darwin.