Record

ACS - Personal and professional papers of Alan Archibald Campbell Swinton
- 1 - Correspondence and letter books of Alan Archibald Campbell Swinton
  - 3 - Subject-based Correspondence Files organised by Alan Archibald Campbell Swinton
    - 3 - Water Divining correspondence file of Alan Archibald Campbell Swinton

RefNo	ACS/1/3/3/9
AltRefNo	86438
Level	Item
Title	Letter from [John Walter] Gregory, Geology Department, The University, Glasgow, to [Alan Archibald] Campbell Swinton [Esquire], 66 Victoria Street, London, S. W. 1.
Creator	Gregory; John Walter (1864 - 1932)
Date	9 December 1927
Description	Suggests it may be more persuasive if Lord Farrer to write to [Joseph Ernest] Petavel, commenting that officials are likelier to grant a personal request than to appear to yield to press pressure. Informs that the U.S. Geological Survey has deemed further investigation of water divining a misuse of public funds, and the National Physical Laboratory likely shares this view. References the work of [William Fletcher] Barrett and Bestermann, who have sparked renewed interest in the topic. Proposes that diviners form an association to record successes and failures, which could help clarify where divining is effective. Sceptical of divining’s reliability, with some advocating for testing, while others, particularly professional diviners, avoid amateur diviners’ involvement due to concerns about credibility. Mentions potential tests involving an electrically charged twig, though there’s concern that the National Physical Laboratory might dismiss the idea as too trivial to test. Thanks winton for bringing Lady [Florence Elizabeth] Barrett’s letter to attention and includes a postscript about Wager’s book, seeking Swinton’s opinion on it.
Extent	1p
Format	Typescript
PhysicalDescription	Carbon
AccessStatus	Open

Fellows associated with this archive

Code	PersonName	Dates
NA1348	Gregory; John Walter (1864 - 1932); geologist and naturalist	1864 - 1932
NA8285	Swinton; Alan Archibald Campbell (1863 - 1930); electrical engineer	1863 - 1930
NA8267	Petavel; Sir; Joseph Ernest (1873 - 1936); engineer and physicist	1873 - 1936

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