Supporting Documents

SD2173.  Hiram Powers to George Perkins Marsh

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 25, 354-355 (in part).

June 17th 1858

My Dear Friend

… On the day I recd your letter I called on the Brownings and told them what you wished– They seemed much gratified—spoke of you both very kindly, and Mrs B. expressed a strong desire for the letter Mrs Marsh has promised—said they should leave for France in about 10 days, did not know precisely where they should locate themselves in France for the summer, but if Mrs Marsh would direct her letter to Care of “Abramo Philipson—Banker—Florence[”]—he would know where to forward it, as he is their Banker, and necessarily will soon know of their whereabouts–

Mrs Browning is a great Invalid. She suffers from some pulmonary complaint, and I fear will fall, sooner or later a victim to it– They go to the sea side for her health– She is an earnest seeker for the truth, and I can well understand, that amid all the disputations of Sectarians—is puzzled in the wilderness. She wants to believe and does believe in generals, but she wants more– The various Theologians cannot supply this want, and from them she appears to have turned her eyes to the “Spiritualists.” I have had several conversations with her upon this subject, ardent, earnest and quick. She soon fathoms all I can—or would say, and is not satisfied for I can tell her but little, and that little has always been with reserve—and yet I have seen a good deal of the “spiritual manifestations” quite enough to convince me of the fact. … When Hume was here we had about a dozen sittings with him in our own little parlour– What passed would occupy too much space to tell, but there was enough to satisfy me of the fact of spiritual manifestations—if I had wanted such proofs– I will mention only one, 7 of us were seated at the table—and I watched all hands—14 on the table—a 15th hand arose—near the table—from under it—out of the reach of Mr Humes feet—took a Ladys fan—fanned her—reached over the table and fanned severally—all of us with great vigour– During all this Mr Hume sat perfectly still with both his hands on the table– He brought no visible machinery into the room—came alone—and took none with him out of it. The question is whose was the 15th hand?– I saw the fingers—the motion of the wrist—and all was as natural as life– I am something of a mechanic—and have had some experience in deceptive contrivances. This you know, and will perhaps—therefore grant, that my word in this case should have some weight–

I have been led to this subject by your wife’s proposal to write to Mrs Browning. I know what would interest her more than any other general subject your wife could touch upon—and if she could throw any light upon this—send her the latest news of it pro or con—it would gratify her much– Mr B. sets his face against spiritualism in a very decided manner, and I am told says, that he would not believe if he saw– He wants to know—what is the use of it, &c– But the first consideration is—the fact. Is it a fact?– I do not doubt it, and as for the use, that is another affair: there are many very pernicious things permitted, there are tares among the wheat—and, that much of what is called spiritualism is very mischievous I have no doubt– That there is much trickery too, I believe—we detected Hume in some tricks, and had it not been for—manifestations—far beyond human strength or means of any merely natural sort, I should have attributed all to trickery– …

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: University of Vermont.

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