Which of these two parties was right about the question of attacking the reality of spiritualism it is neither easy nor necessary to discuss.

For the simple truth, which neither of the two parties and none of the students of Browning seem to have noticed, is that "Mr.
Sludge the Medium" is not an attack upon spiritualism.

It would be a great deal nearer the truth, though not entirely the truth, to call it a justification of spiritualism.

The whole essence of Browning's method is involved in this matter, and the whole essence of Browning's method is so vitally misunderstood that to say that "Mr.Sludge the Medium" is something like a defence of spiritualism will bear on the face of it the appearance of the most empty and perverse of paradoxes.
But so, when we have comprehended Browning's spirit, the fact will be found to be.
The general idea is that Browning must have intended "Sludge" for an attack on spiritual phenomena, because the medium in that poem is made a vulgar and contemptible mountebank, because his cheats are quite openly confessed, and he himself put into every ignominious situation, detected, exposed, throttled, horsewhipped, and forgiven.

To regard this deduction as sound is to misunderstand Browning at the very start of every poem that he ever wrote.