As you see from her statement, the exact date of the memorable seance cannot be given by her. But some coincidental occurrences [mentioned in detail, show that it was most likely] the 13th or the 20th of May last. It is certain that it was a Sunday, as Mrs. B. states, for I remember that, when I returned from Wilmington Island that Sunday, Mrs. K. told me that Miss Nina B. had been here and had told her to inform me that something important had happened that afternoon, and she had pleasant news to communicate to me. I guessed at once what it referred to; for they had all along been so anxious to get some information about that note, and I was present at the several previous seances, when ineffectual attempts had been made to get that information. . . .

I see Mrs. B. does not answer No. 2 of Dr. H.'s questions (date of sitting where question about the note was first asked) at all; so I will do so as far as I can. It was about a week after Major B.'s demise that the question was put in my presence, and further at several subsequent seances at which I was present; but no exact dates could be given, further than that it occurred, say, between the 6th of April and the 13th of May, on several occasions in my presence, and in the presence of Mrs. B., Miss Nina B., and sometimes of the youngest child (Lettie, eight or nine years).

In answer to No. 5 of Dr. H.'s questions ("Is Mrs. B. certain that neither she nor her daughter put the vest away?") I have to state that I have the repeated assurance of both the ladies that they feel sure that they did not put the vest away, nor that they had the least suspicion that there could have been so valuable a paper in that vest-pocket, or else they would have hunted for the vest in that drawer, among others where clothing might have been stowed away, and thus should have discovered what they hunted for.

And as to question No. 4 (" Can any more definite statement be obtained concerning the putting away of the vest?") I have to state that Mrs. B. and Miss B. always thought that their cousin (Miss Mel Thomas), who had with the most self-sacrificing devotion nursed the major during his sickness and had the entire management of the sick room, had put it away. But on questioning her she said she had no recollection of so trifling an occurrence.

In answer to question No. 6 ("Who were present?") Mrs. B. says, "Pos-sibly one of the children." I have to explain this answer. She ought to have answered, "Possibly my youngest child, Lettie." For of her children, besides Miss Nina, it is only Lettie who has something to do with these seances - she being a far stronger medium than Mrs. B. or Miss B. - but at the same time does not feel the least interest in the matter; on the contrary, hates to be called away from her dolls, puts her hands on the sliding-rod with a great deal of grumbling, and is always very glad to get off, the sooner the better.

Miss Nina reported to me that that Sunday she and her sister Lettie were first holding communication with their father and received some pleasant and convincing messages from their father; then Lettie would not continue any longer. It was then that Miss N. called her mother to take Lettie's place, and the result was the getting of that message in regard to the note. So, you see, it may have been possible that Lettie had not left the room yet at the time. Louis Knorr.

October 27th, 1888. Mr. Richard Hodgson, - Dear Sir, - In answer to your questions I will say: 1. Major B. died just at sunrise (Easter morning), first day of April, 1888.

2. I told all I know about putting away the vest. 3. About three o'clock, Sunday, the first or second week in May. Myself and daughter were the only ones present that I remember - possibly one of the children. It happened just as I stated. To me there is but one solution. - In great haste, very respectfully,

[Signed] E. F. B.

877 A. Note

I think it very desirable that as many persons as possible should provide a decisive test of their own identity, in case they should find themselves able to communicate through any sensitive after their bodily death. The simplest plan is to write down some sentence embodying an idea or a name which you feel it probable that you will remember, if you remember anything, and then to seal this sentence up in an envelope, without communicating it to any person whatever. Then label the envelope "Posthumous letter," and send it, accompanied by a letter giving name and address, to the Secretary, Society for Psychical Research, 20, Hanover Square, London, W. The Secretary will acknowledge receipt, and store the letter safely, with others of the kind. If, then, the writer (it may be many years afterwards) finds himself capable of sending a message from the other world, let him mention this test sentence, and try to reproduce it. The sealed envelope can then be opened; and if the spirit's message should be found to coincide with the words therein written, there will be as good a proof as we can get that that message has at any rate not emanated from any living mind; and has emanated, therefore, from some unlimited source of knowledge, or - which will seem to most persons more probable - from the surviving mind of the original writer.