feet resting on the
floor, the knockings soon began to be heard._"

Then the doctors held the knees of the fair performers to ascertain if
there was any movement when the sounds were heard:

"The hands were kept in apposition for several minutes at a time, and the
experiments repeated frequently, for the space of half an hour and more,
with negative results; that is to say, _there were plenty of 'raps' when
the knees were not held, and none when the hands were applied, save once;
as the pressure was intentionally relaxed (Dr. Lee being the holder) two
or three faint single 'raps' were heard, and Dr. Lee immediately averred
that the motion of the bone was plainly perceptible to him. The experiment
of seizing the knees as quickly as possible, when the knockings first
commenced, was tried several times, but always with the effect of putting
an immediate quietus upon the demonstrations_."

No sensible person can doubt that the statements of facts within their
actual knowledge, made by these three eminent physicians, are absolutely
true. They say finally:

"_Had our experiments, which were first directed to this joint failed, we
should have proceeded to interrogate, experimentally, other articulations.
But the conclusions seemed clear that the 'Rochester knockings' emanate
from the knee-joint._"

What a pity they did _not_ "interrogate" other articulations!

The report, erroneous as it was in its conclusions, contained so much
significant truth that Mrs. Fish was at first staggered by its purport.
But in March, 1851, she wrote again to the press a lengthy letter, in
which she feebly attempted to counteract the effect of the doctor's
opinion, and incidentally made some grave admissions. Referring to the
fact that whenever the "mediums" were kept in constrained positions there
were no "manifestations," she made this remarkable admission:

"_It is true that when our feet were placed on cushions stuffed with
shavings, and resting on our heels, there were no sounds heard, and that
sounds were heard when our feet were resting on the floor_; and it is just
as true that if our friendly spirits retired when they witnessed such
harsh proceedings on the part of our persecutors, it was not in our power
to detain them."

Then she remarks that certain things happened _after the medical gentlemen
left_:

"Our feet were held from the floor by Dr. Gray and Mr. Clark, in presence
of the whole committee, on the evening of the invest