947 A. From Proceedings S.P.R., vol. xi. pp. 106-7.

I will now give the account of "Rector"-one of the alleged remoter spirits - as to a quotation from a closed and unknown book. This spirit was, as described above, very intimately associated with Mr. Moses, and habitually wrote for "Imperator," and for the group of guides generally. His handwriting came more and more to resemble that of Mr. Moses himself. To him, moreover, was attributed the power of reading in books unknown to Mr. Moses, and of writing out matter there found through Mr. Moses' hand.

Q. Can you read?

A. "No, friend, I cannot, but Zachary Gray can, and Rector. I am not able to materialise myself, or to command the elements." Q. Are either of those spirits here?

A. "I will bring one by-and-by. I will send . . . Rector is here".

Q. I am told you can read. Is that so? Can you read a book?

A. [Spirit handwriting changed.] "Yes, friend, with difficulty".

Q. Will you write for me the last line of the first book of the Æneid?

A. "Wait--Omnibus errantem terris et fluctibus cestas".

[This was right].

Q. Quite so. But I might have known it. Can you go to the book-case, take the last book but one on the second shelf, and read me the last paragraph of the ninety-fourth page? I have not seen it, and do not even know its name.

A. "I will curtly prove by a short historical narrative, that Popery is a novelty, and has gradually arisen or grown up since the primitive and pure time of Christianity, not only since the apostolic age, but even since the lamentable union of kirk and the state by Constantine".

[The book on examination proved to be a queer one called "Roger's Antipopopriestian, an attempt to liberate and purify Christianity from Popery, Politikirkality, and Priestrule." The extract given above was accurate, but the word "narrative" substituted for "account."]

Q. How came I to pitch upon so appropriate a sentence?

A. "I know not, my friend. It was by coincidence The word was changed by error. I knew it when it was done, but would not change".

Q. How do you read? You wrote more slowly, and by fits and starts.

A. "I wrote what I remembered, and then I went for more. It is a special effort to read, and useful only as a test. Your friend was right last night; we can read, but only when conditions are very good. We will read once again, and write and then impress you of the book: - 'Pope is the last great writer of that school of poetry, the poetry of the intellect, or rather of the intellect mingled with the fancy.' That is truly written. Go and take the eleventh book on the same shelf. [I took a book called Poetry, Romance, and Rhetoric.] It will open at the page for you. Take it and read, and recognise our power, and the permission which the great and good God gives us, to show you of our power over matter. To Him be glory. Amen".

[The book opened at page 145, and there was the quotation perfectly true. I had not seen the book before: certainly had no idea of its contents.] [These books were in Dr. Speer's library. - F. W. H. M].