3586. Robert Bulwer Lytton to EBB
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 21, 209–210.
1 Park Lane
Sunday– [22 July 1855] [1]
My dear Mrs Browning,
I was at Mr Hume’s, or rather Mr Rhymer’s [2] last night & as I know your interest in these supposed “manifestations” I write you, (tho’ in great haste) a line to say what I saw—& heard—& felt–
1st I heard “raps” as they call them, tho[’] they are not at all like raps, as loud at times as that of a brass knocker,—I shd say about 20 all of different tone, at the same time, not only on the table but various parts of the Room, and so strong at times as to shake all the furniture, they were almost “frightful” at one time.
2d I heard, an Accordion played upon, with great apparent skill, so as to produce real melody, and as loud as an organ, and also saw it moved up & down, without any apparent Agency– When placed in my father’s hand it produced sound but not melody–
3d I saw, a large drawing-room table, with books ornaments & a heavy lamp on it, uplifted and so tilted over as almost to be upset without displacing, ornaments, books, or lamp—it remained so, without hands upon it; no pressure cd have so uplifted it; it appeared to be heaved up as from a power underneath, but I looked under & cd discover no body–
4th I distinctly saw several times, I shd say seven or eight times, hands and arms of various sizes—the arm always draped–
5th I was touched by these hands—the touch was that of a human hand–
My legs when sitting at the table, were seized under the table, by a very powerful grasp– Every body’s hands being at that time on the table, and on looking under it, I cd discover nothing– A bell was conveyed to me from the hand of a person sitting at the opposite side of the table, and placed in my own, by an agency wh I cd neither discover nor account for–
Rings were several times taken out of my hand, by these spectral fingers, and placed on the fingers of other persons present. I frequently tried to clutch the supposed spiritual hand, it did not melt in one’s clasp, but alluded [sic] it by a sudden & brisk withdrawal as that of a skilful human being might do–
The touch was always soft warm, & human in its nature, & I cd feel at times, the nails.
My father was seized by a hand so strong—that believing it to be a bonâ fide human hand and determined to trace it to its owner, he retained firm hold of it, & was dragged half under the table, when it broke from his hold—at the same moment the room was filled with sounds so loud & violent to shake every thing—a very strong man cd hardly have produced them–
Mr H went twice into a trance, & gave us a sort of “inspired lecture”—but what he said was really “great twaddle.”
I shd mention that I distinctly saw the muslin curtain of the window moved up & down, backwards & forward, hooked up, & unhooked again, and that I seemed to percieve [sic] at the same time that the moonlight was darkened by a faint shadowy & transparent outline of a hand arm & shoulder moving the curtain.* The “phantom” hands & arms were however most palpable both to touch & sight,—the arm always draped in folds of white—the appearance was something like this– Illus.
My father says he felt the drapery & that it felt like muslin–
The arm seemed at times to elongate itself in a very singular way and stretch all across the table & then fade away—it generally rose thus– Illus.
Table
like the beak of a bird– One hand came up so Illus.
With all fingers spread—approached Mr H, who seemed rather frightened & begged it not to touch him– The drapery was always thickly wound round & round like the ruffles of the sleeve of a night gown– In greatest haste
ever faithfully yours
R. Lytton
(*) During this phenomenon no one was near the window.
Address: Mrs Browning / 13 Dorset St / Baker St / Portman Sq.
Publication: BBIS-10, pp. 109–112.
Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library.
1. This letter is postmarked 23 July 1855, a Monday.
2. John Snaith Rymer (1806–76), Home’s host in Ealing, later published Spirit Manifestations (1857), a 42-page pamphlet that “drew heavily upon his controversial public lectures” (see Waddington, p. 353).
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