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I have several books on that great paradox of our day, Spiritualism, but I shall exclude all but three. The bibliography of this subject is now very large. The question is one both of evidence and speculation;—Are the facts true? Are they caused by spirits? These I shall not enter upon: I shall merely recommend this work as that of a spiritualist who does not enter on the subject, which he takes for granted, but applies his derived views to the history of mankind with learning and thought. Mr. Smith was a man of a very peculiar turn of thinking. He was, when alive, the editor, or an editor, of the Family Herald: I say when alive, to speak according to knowledge; for, if his own views be true, he may have a hand in it still. The answers to correspondents, in his time, were piquant and original above any I ever saw. I think a very readable book might be made out of them, resembling 'Guesses at Truth:' the turn given to an inquiry about morals, religion, or socials, is often of the highest degree of unexpectedness: the poor querist would find himself right in a most unpalatable way.

Answers to correspondents, in newspapers, are very often the fag ends of literature. I shall never forget the following. A person was invited to name a rule without exception, if he could: he answered 'A man must be present when he is shaved.' A lady—what right have ladies to decide questions about shaving?—said this was not properly a rule; and the oracle was consulted. The editor agreed with the lady; he said that 'a man must be present when he is shaved' is not a rule, but a fact.

[Among my anonymous communicants is one who states that I have done injustice to the Rev. James Smith in 'referring to him as a spiritualist,' and placing his 'Divine Drama' among paradoxes: 'it is no paradox, nor do spiritualistic views mar or weaken the execution of the design.' Quite true: for the design is to produce and enforce 'spiritualistic views;' and leather does not mar nor weaken a shoemakers plan. I knew Mr. Smith well, and have often talked to him on the subject: but more testimony from me is unnecessary; his book will speak for itself. His peculiar style will justify a little more quotation than is just necessary to prove the point. Looking at the 'battle of opinion' now in progress, we see that Mr. Smith was a prescient:—