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THE DUKE OF ALBANY'S DOUBE
SLATE.
TO THE EDITOR.
Sir— In Thursday^ Hegtster there is ajra
graph copied from a London paper refeing
to a double slate used by the late Dai of
Alhftnv when testing the nowern nf «ro
called writing medium. The medramre
ferred to is Mr. W. Eglinton, and it happied
that during a visit I lately made to Engnd
I became introduced to Mr. Eglinton. hie
led to my making an appointment to isit
him one morning at 10 o'clock some tune&st
May. I was accompanied by my two niies.
who were travelling with me. On our arjral
at his house we were conducted into a sail
drawing-room, where we were soon joinenbs
Mr. Eglinton himself, who enquired ifcve
had brought our own slates with us, but ave
had not taken that precaution he prodied
several— apparentlynewones— commonsowl
slates, and placed them on a table, togaei
with some pieces of damp sponge and ane
bits of slate pencil about the size of graisof
wheat. We had some chat about whaia
called Spiritualism, and among other thge
which he told us was that the late Dukot
Albany waa a firm believer, and we uner
stood him to say that all the Royal Fanly
were except the Prince of Wales. He fen
showed us the double slate presented to in
by the Duke of Albany, the same to wbh
reference is made in your extract. A3r
that we had a number of written raessies
in answer to questions put by us, and tire
seemed no possibility of deception, b.e
room was as light aa sunlight could makit.
In fact, the sun waa shining throng a
window on to the table around whienwe
were Heated. Mr. Eglinton now askedne
if I had any departed friend from who I
wished to receive a message ; if 80. he )ld
me to write the name on one of the ales,
but not to tell him the name I hadwrisn.
I wrote the name of Mr. George Hamfan,
formerly Police Commissioner, on one ofche
slates, and put the slate out of sight. I ose
the name of my old friend G. fianxon
because during his life we had often on
versed on the subject a8 to whether fere
was a possibility of the mind continuin to
exist alter the death of the body, and I tnk
our conclusions were that the chances hre
very slight, at any rate, no one had rer
come back to tell ua that they still lid.
Mr. Eglinton now asked the question,' la
the person whose name is written onhe
slate present ?' He then placed one pthe
slates under the flap of the table at whicwe
were sitting. We immediately heardhe
scratching oi the pencil, and when he th
drew the slate, after holding it fere
for a few seconds, the word -r3s'
in large letters waa written on it.
Mr. Eglinton then said— 'Perhaps rar
friend has some communication to make,nd
if so, we will try to obtain it on the top che
table.' He then placed one of the ean
slates in front of him, putting one othe
scraps of pencil on the slate, and coving
the slate with another one. At this tiirwe
were all four seated at this little table, hoing
each other's hands, Mr. Eglinton's two hds
being held by Miss Slatter, one of my npes,
on the top of the slates. In an instant,:ter
we had all joined hands, we hearc'the
scratching of the pencil, and in less thahalf
a minute we heard three little taps, aich
Mr. Eglinton told us was an intimatiotthat
the message was finished. Thf top
slate was now removed, and the tder
neath one waa found covered with
writing. The following is an exaefcopy
of the writing we found on the late :
—'And to think I should ever be lie to
return in the manner I do ! It eveneems
incredible to me. I have asked thgnide
of Mr. Eglinton to convey to you times
sage, but! am nevertheless with you How
much happier this beautiful trutrmust
make you, and think of the pleare it
affords us when the gortals are op»ed by
which we can communicate to you. iere is
much of importance I would like t say to
you did the power serve me, but I rot rest
content. Good by, God bless iu.— U-.
Hamilton.' The time occupied im the
commencement of the writing to i finish
?as certainly not more than fi^lf aninute.
The i's were dotted and the t's cross! The
punctuation was the same as in the j«y here
produced. How it was written is rcfj than
I know : but I am certain that itfes not
written by either of the four of ua-'esent.
The slate I brought away with me, al it is
now lying on the table in front of n, with
the writing on it clear and distinct ame day
it was first produced. ;
I am, Sir, &c,
W. FOWER.
Yarroo, November 15, 1884. '
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