948 B. I add two other cases not included by Mr. Moses in his paper on "The Identity of Spirit." (From Proceedings S.P.R., vol. xi. p. 100).

(1) Fanny Westoby

This case was described by Mr. Moses to Edmund Gurney and myself, while it was still fresh, on our first meeting with him, May 9th, 1874.

On the evening of April 8th, 1874, while at Bedford with his father and mother, Mr. Moses, who had been receiving messages about ancient religions during the day, began to ask a question, "I should 1--," when a meaningless drawing was made in place of intended words.

Q. What is all that? And why was I stopped?

A. "A spirit wishes to communicate, and we are commanded to permit her. She is not able to write with ease, but will communicate through us. Her name is Fanny Westoby. Do you know the name?"

Q. I do not remember.

A. "Your mother knows her well. She is a cousin of hers. She passed from your earth May 15th last.

Q. Was she married?

A. "Yes, her maiden name was Kirkham".

Q. Fanny Kirkham. Yes, I have a dim remembrance. She used to live at Markby.

A. "She says that she was born in Alford, in the house now occupied by Sam Stevenson. She then lived at Markby, and, having married, at Belchford. She passed away at Horncastle, at 63 years of age. You do not remember her, when, in the year 1845, you went to see her at Markby. Her mother, Elizabeth Kirkham, was then just released from a lingering illness, and your mother had gone to condole with her cousin. You were taken round the farm, and rode on a goat (she is anxious on this point), and she threw you in sport into a heap of wheat which was being threshed. The result was that you were severely bitten by the harvest bug. She is very anxious that you should recall this to your mother".

Q. I will. But is it wise?

A. "You will not be able to induce her to search into this matter, but you may satisfy yourself that what is said is true".

Q. Has she any message?

A. "She says, 'I lost much of my opportunity for progress through the gratification of bodily appetite, which cast me back. My course of progress is yet to come. I find my present life not very different from yours. I am nearly the same. I wish I could influence Mary, but I can't get near her.'"

Q. Can she assure me that she is F. W.?

A. "She can give you no further evidence. Stay, ask your father about Donnington and the trap-door".

Q. I have not the least idea what she means. All the better. I will ask. Any more? Is she happy?

A. "She is as happy as may be in her present state".

Q. How did she find me out?

A. "She came by chance, hovering near her friend [i.e. Mrs. Moses], and discovered that she could communicate. She will return now".

Q. Can I help her?

A. "Yes, pray. She and all of us are helped when you devote your talents willingly to aid us".

Q. What do you mean ?

A. "In advocating and advancing our mission with care and judgment. Then we are permeated with joy. May the Supreme bless you." [Book VIII. pp. 78-83].

"x Rector".

[I have inquired of my mother and find the particulars given are exactly true. She wonders how I remember things that occurred when I was only 5 years old! I have not ventured to say how I got the information, believing that it would be unwise and useless. My father I can get nothing out of about the trap-door. He either does not remember or will not say].

[April 9th, 1874. My father has remembered this incident. A trap-door led on to the roof in the house he occupied at Donnington. The house was double roofed, and a good view could be had from it. F. K. on a visit wanted to go there, and got fixed half-way amid great laughter.

Elevation of double roof.

[We have verified Mrs. Westoby's death in the Register of Deaths.- F. W. H. M].

(2) President Garfield

This is a communication made, not by the departed spirit itself, but by friends.

30 St. Peter's, Bedford.

September 20th, 1881, 10 a.m

This morning, on waking at 5.54 a.m., I was aware of a spirit who desired to communicate. It turned out to be Mentor, with him B. Franklin, [Epes] Sargent and others. They told me in effect "The President is gone. We were with him to the last. He died suddenly, and all our efforts to keep him were unavailing. We laboured hard, for his life was of incalculable value to our country. He would have done more to rescue it from shame than any one now left." I asked why it had been deemed necessary to come to me with the news. It was replied that a period of great activity in the spirit world was now being renewed, and that my sympathies with him and with his work, and their own knowledge of me, had inclined them to bring the news. The Daily News contained no tidings, though the bulletins were bad. It seemed, on the contrary, that the news of the previous night which they contained was a little more favourable. I walked down to the station feeling convinced that the news would come, but up to 11.30 a.m. could not hear of it. About 12.37 I again went and found that a rumour had reached Bedford. The evening papers - Globe and Echo - which I purchased at 4.30 p.m. gave me the first mundane information of the event.

It is now stated that he died at 10.50 p.m. on the 19th (yesterday). That in English time is 3.50 a.m. of this day (20th) or two hours before I woke and got the message.

I have since learned that the death was sudden, and the remarkable fluctuations are not inconsistent with efforts such as described.

September 21st

The latest reports fix 10.35, not 10.50 p.m. [or 3.35 a.m. English time] as the exact time of death.