Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Religion, Spiritualism, Invention, Controversy, Belief

    Describes his invention for testing books whose religious 'orthodoxy or moral fitness' is 'called in question'. The 'Orthodoxometer or Theoloscope' exploits table-turners' claim that tables are apparently unable to rotate when pious books are placed on them but rotate violently when 'profane or heterodox literature' lies on them. It requires 'practised table-movers to place themselves en rapport with the table' and to record the behaviour of the table after suspect books are placed on it. Includes a list of results which correlate title of work with movement of table/degree of profanity. Hopes his invention will end theological controversy and be 'seized or distrained upon' for debts.