65

Winton, Sat 11th June 1853.
Table movings, or Spirit-Knockings.
I have experimented in these so called things
on two occasions since the one noted
and commented on in the last pages, mak-
-ing the third that I have had with the
knockings. The first time I was struck with
wonderful amusement and very serious consideration
but came to the [??] decision it was natural, not super
natural. The second time, a night or two after, I was
[confirmed?] the [were in?] opinion that it was the hum
an body and mind combined in operations that pro
duced the mysterious responses or effects by some
natural agency [worked?] and hitherto unknown.
The third time, last night, I felt and feel still
more [confirmed?] that the wood put in [??]-
[??] with the human body and human will
is [??] [??] and made to do effects seem-
ingly of [??]- are divine only in the same
manner that [??] thunder and rain, or
any other law of nature is divine - that it is
not supernatural, with which a stranger to
the mysterious things for the first time would
be [??] [??]. The more I think of it,
note, compare and [??] of it, the more I am
of the opinion that it-is natural, but in the
most puzzling mysterious sense imaginable.
The most hardended sceptic goes to the table
and watches for him or herself and rises a
confirmed convert, at first full of [??], but
after, of matter-of-fact-seriousness. This [??]
-ting to [??] the effect upon a sceptic [??]
first hand. Last night, a young man, a sceptic
when he laid his hands on the table, after seeing
and hearing for himself cried while he was laughing.
He was [??] with the belief it was natural, or he would not have laughed.