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vertical-align:top; - } - .tdStyle5 { - padding: 0px 5px; text-align:left; vertical-align:top; - } - .pindent { margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-indent:1.5em; } - .noindent { margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-indent:0; } - .hang { padding-left:1.5em; text-indent:-1.5em; } - .literal-container { text-align:center; margin:0 0; } - .literal { display:inline-block; text-align:left; } - - </style> - <style type="text/css"> - h1 { font-size:1.2em; text-align:center; letter-spacing:.2em; } - h3 { font-size:.8em; text-align:center; padding-bottom:1em; } - .poetry-container { font-size:.9em; padding-left:4em; - margin-top:.5em; margin-bottom:.5em; - margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; } - .literal-container { margin-top:.5em; margin-bottom:.5em } - div.lgc { margin-top:.5em; margin-bottom:.5em } - p { margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em; } - div.blockquote { margin-top:.5em; margin-bottom:.5em; } - body { font-size:100%; } - - h1.pg { font-weight: bold; - clear: both; - font-size: 190%; - margin-top: 0em; - letter-spacing: 0em; } - h3.pg { font-weight: bold; - clear: both; - font-size: 110%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 1em; } - h2 { text-align: center; - clear: both; } - hr.full { width: 100%; - margin-top: 3em; - margin-bottom: 0em; - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; - height: 4px; - border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ - border-style: solid; - border-color: #000000; - clear: both; } - p.pg { margin-top: 1.5em; } - </style> -</head> -<body> -<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Night-Side of Nature, by Catherine Crowe</h1> -<p class="pg">This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States -and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no -restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it -under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this -eBook or online at <a -href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you are not -located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this ebook.</p> -<p class="pg">Title: The Night-Side of Nature</p> -<p class="pg"> Or, Ghosts and Ghost-Seers </p> -<p class="pg">Author: Catherine Crowe</p> -<p class="pg">Release Date: April 10, 2017 [eBook #54532]</p> -<p class="pg">Language: English</p> -<p class="pg">Character set encoding: UTF-8</p> -<p class="pg">***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NIGHT-SIDE OF NATURE***</p> -<p> </p> -<h3 class="pg">E-text prepared by Delphine Lettau, Cindy Beyer,<br /> - and the online Distributed Proofreaders Canada team<br /> - (http://www.pgdpcanada.net)</h3> -<p> </p> -<hr class="full" /> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' id='iid-0000' style='width:380px;height:auto;'/> -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div class='lgc' style=''> <!-- rend=';' --> -<p class='line0' style='margin-top:2em;font-size:.8em;'>THE</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line0' style='margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:1em;font-size:2em;'><span class='gesp'>NIGHT-SIDE OF NATURE</span></p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line0' style='font-size:.7em;'>OR,</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line0' style='margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:1em;'>GHOSTS AND GHOST-SEERS.</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line0' style='font-size:.7em;'>BY</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line0'><span class='gesp'>CATHERINE CROWE</span></p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line0' style='font-size:.7em;'>AUTHORESS OF “SUSAN HOPLEY,” “LILLY DAWSON,” “ARISTODEMUS,” ETC.</p> -</div> <!-- end rend --> - -<div class='literal-container' style='margin-top:1em;'><div class='literal'> <!-- rend=';fs:.7em;' --> -<p class='line0' style='font-size:.7em;'>"Thou com’st in such a questionable shape,</p> -<p class='line0' style='font-size:.7em;'>That I will speak to thee.”</p> -</div></div> <!-- end rend --> - -<div class='lgc' style=''> <!-- rend=';' --> -<p class='line0' style='margin-top:5em;'><span class='gesp'>NEW YORK:</span></p> -<p class='line0' style='margin-top:.2em;margin-bottom:.2em;font-size:.8em;'><span class='gesp'>J. S. REDFIELD, CLINTON HALL.</span></p> -<p class='line0' style='margin-bottom:.2em;font-size:.8em;'><span class='gesp'>BOSTON:—B. B. MUSSEY & CO.</span></p> -<p class='line0'><span class='gesp'>1850.</span></p> -</div> <!-- end rend --> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<p class='line0' style='text-align:center;margin-top:4em;font-size:1.2em;'><span class='gesp'>PREFACE.</span></p> - -<hr class='tbk100'/> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>In</span> my late novel of “Lilly Dawson,” I announced my intention -of publishing a work to be called “The Night-Side of Nature;" -this is it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The term “Night-Side of Nature” I borrow from the Germans, -who derive it from the astronomers, the latter denominating -that side of a planet which is turned from the sun, its <span class='it'>night-side</span>. -We are in this condition for a certain number of hours -out of every twenty-four; and as, during this interval, external -objects loom upon us but strangely and imperfectly, the Germans -draw a parallel between these vague and misty perceptions, -and the similar obscure and uncertain glimpses we get of -that veiled department of nature, of which, while comprising -as it does, the solution of questions concerning us more nearly -than any other, we are yet in a state of entire and wilful ignorance. -For science, at least science in this country, has put it -aside as beneath her notice, because new facts that do not fit into -old theories are troublesome, and not to be countenanced.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We are encompassed on all sides by wonders, and we can -scarcely set our foot upon the ground, without trampling upon -some marvellous production that our whole life and all our faculties -would not suffice to comprehend. Familiarity, however, -renders us insensible to the ordinary works of nature; we are -apt to forget the miracles they comprise, and even, sometimes, -mistaking words for conceptions, commit the error of thinking -we understand their mystery. But there is one class of these -wonders with which, from their comparatively rare occurrence, -we do not become familiar; and these, according to the character -of the mind to which they are presented, are frequently -either denied as ridiculous and impossible, or received as evidences -of supernatural interference—interruptions of those -general laws by which God governs the universe; which latter -mistake arises from our only seeing these facts without the -links that connect them with the rest of nature, just as in the -faint light of a starlit night we might distinguish the tall mountains -that lift their crests high into the sky, though we could not -discern the low chain of hills that united them with each other.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There are two or three books by German authors, entitled -“The Night-Side,” or “The Night-Dominion of Nature,” -which are on subjects, more or less analogous to mine. Heinrick -Schubert’s is the most celebrated among them; it is a sort -of cosmogony of the world, written in a spirit of philosophical -mysticism—too much so for English readers in general.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In undertaking to write a book on these subjects myself, I -wholly disclaim the pretension of <span class='it'>teaching</span> or of enforcing opinions. -My object is to suggest inquiry and stimulate observation, -in order that we may endeavor, if possible, to discover -something regarding our psychical nature, as it exists here in -the flesh; and as it is to exist hereafter, out of it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>If I could only induce a few capable persons, instead of -laughing at these things, to look at them, my object would be -attained, and I should consider my time well spent.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<p class='line0' style='text-align:center;margin-top:2em;font-size:1.2em;'><span class='gesp'>CONTENTS.</span></p> - -<hr class='tbk101'/> - -<table id='tab1' summary='' class='center'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' style='width: 4em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 1em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 27em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 2em;'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tab1c1-col2 tdStyle0' colspan='2'><span style='font-size:x-small'>CHAPTER</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle1'></td><td class='tab1c4 tdStyle2'><span style='font-size:x-small'>PAGE</span></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle3'>I.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle0'>—</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle1'>Introduction</td><td class='tab1c4 tdStyle2'><a href='#Page_7'>7</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle3'>II.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle0'>—</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle1'>The Dwellers in the Temple</td><td class='tab1c4 tdStyle2'><a href='#Page_19'>19</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle3'>III.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle0'>—</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle1'>Waking and Sleeping, and how the Dweller in the Temple sometimes looks abroad</td><td class='tab1c4 tdStyle2'><a href='#Page_29'>29</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle3'>IV.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle0'>—</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle1'>Allegorical Dreams, Presentiments, &c.</td><td class='tab1c4 tdStyle2'><a href='#Page_48'>48</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle3'>V.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle0'>—</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle1'>Warnings</td><td class='tab1c4 tdStyle2'><a href='#Page_66'>66</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle3'>VI.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle0'>—</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle1'>Double Dreaming and Trance, Wraiths, &c.</td><td class='tab1c4 tdStyle2'><a href='#Page_98'>98</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle3'>VII.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle0'>—</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle1'>Wraiths</td><td class='tab1c4 tdStyle2'><a href='#Page_130'>130</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle3'>VIII.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle0'>—</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle1'>Doppelgängers, or Doubles</td><td class='tab1c4 tdStyle2'><a href='#Page_149'>149</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle3'>IX.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle0'>—</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle1'>Apparitions</td><td class='tab1c4 tdStyle2'><a href='#Page_171'>171</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle3'>X.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle0'>—</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle1'>The Future that awaits us</td><td class='tab1c4 tdStyle2'><a href='#Page_204'>204</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle3'>XI.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle0'>—</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle1'>The Power of Will</td><td class='tab1c4 tdStyle2'><a href='#Page_238'>238</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle3'>XII.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle0'>—</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle1'>Troubled Spirits</td><td class='tab1c4 tdStyle2'><a href='#Page_252'>252</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle3'>XIII.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle0'>—</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle1'>Haunted Houses</td><td class='tab1c4 tdStyle2'><a href='#Page_273'>273</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle3'>XIV.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle0'>—</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle1'>Spectral Lights, and Apparitions attached to Certain Families</td><td class='tab1c4 tdStyle2'><a href='#Page_319'>319</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle3'>XV.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle0'>—</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle1'>Apparitions seeking the Prayers of the Living</td><td class='tab1c4 tdStyle2'><a href='#Page_345'>345</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle3'>XVI.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle0'>—</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle1'>The Poltergeist of the Germans, and Possession</td><td class='tab1c4 tdStyle2'><a href='#Page_376'>376</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle3'>XVII.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle0'>—</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle1'>Miscellaneous Phenomena</td><td class='tab1c4 tdStyle2'><a href='#Page_411'>411</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle3'>XVIII.</td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle0'>—</td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle1'>Conclusion</td><td class='tab1c4 tdStyle2'><a href='#Page_434'>434</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<p class='line0' style='text-align:center;margin-top:4em;font-size:1.2em;'>THE</p> - -<p class='line0' style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;font-size:2em;'><span class='gesp'>NIGHT-SIDE OF NATURE.</span></p> - -<hr class='tbk102'/> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='7' id='Page_7'></span><h1 class='nobreak'>CHAPTER I.</h1></div> - -<h3>INTRODUCTION.</h3> - -<div class='blockquote100percent'> - -<p class='pindent'><span style='font-size:smaller'>“Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God -dwelleth in you?”</span></p> - -<p class='line0' style='text-align:right;margin-right:0em;'><span style='font-size:smaller'>—1 <span class='sc'>Corinthians</span>, iii. 16.</span></p> - -</div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>Most</span> persons are aware that the Greeks and Romans entertained -certain notions regarding the state of the soul, or the -immortal part of man, after the death of the body, which have -been generally held to be purely mythological. Many of them -doubtless are so, and of these I am not about to treat; but -among their conceptions, there are some which, as they coincide -with the opinions of many of the most enlightened persons -of the present age, it may be desirable to consider more closely. -I allude here particularly to their belief in the tripartite kingdom -of the dead. According to this system, there were the -Elysian fields, a region in which a certain sort of happiness -was enjoyed; and Tartarus, the place of punishment for the -wicked; each of which was, comparatively, but thinly inhabited. -But there was also a mid-region, peopled with innumerable -hosts of wandering and mournful spirits, who, although -undergoing no torments, are represented as incessantly bewailing -their condition, pining for the life they once enjoyed in the -body, longing after the things of the earth, and occupying themselves -with the same pursuits and objects as had formerly constituted -their business or their pleasure. Old habits are still -dear to them, and they can not snap the link that binds them to -the earth.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, although we can not believe in the existence of Charon, -the three-headed dog, or Alecto, the serpent-haired fury, it may -be worth while to consider whether the persuasion of the ancients -with regard to that which concerns us all so nearly—namely, -the destiny that awaits us when we have shaken off -this mortal coil—may not have some foundation in truth: -whether it might not be a remnant of a tradition transmitted -from the earliest inhabitants of the earth, wrested by observation -from nature, if not communicated from a higher source: -and also whether circumstances of constant recurrence in all -ages and in all nations, frequently observed and recorded by -persons utterly ignorant of classical lore, and unacquainted, -indeed, with the dogmas of any creed but their own, do not, as -well as various passages in the Scriptures, afford a striking -confirmation of this theory of a future life; while it, on the -other hand, offers a natural and convenient explanation of their -mystery.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>To minds which can admit nothing but what can be explained -and demonstrated, an investigation of this sort must appear -perfectly idle: for while, on the one hand, the most acute intellect -or the most powerful logic can throw little light on the -subject, it is, at the same time—though I have a confident -hope that this will not always be the case—equally irreducible -within the present bounds of science; meanwhile, experience, -observation, and intuition, must be our principal if not our only -guides. Because, in the seventeenth century, credulity outran -reason and discretion; the eighteenth century, by a natural reaction, -threw itself into an opposite extreme. Whoever closely -observes the signs of the times, will be aware that another -change is approaching. The contemptuous skepticism of the -last age is yielding to a more humble spirit of inquiry; and -there is a large class of persons among the most enlightened of -the present, who are beginning to believe that much which they -had been taught to reject as fable, has been, in reality, ill-understood -truth. Somewhat of the mystery of our own being, and -of the mysteries that compass us about, are beginning to loom -upon us—as yet, it is true, but obscurely; and, in the endeavor -to follow out the clew they offer, we have but a feeble light to -guide us. We must grope our way through the dim path -before us, ever in danger of being led into error, while we may -confidently reckon on being pursued by the shafts of ridicule—that -weapon so easy to wield, so potent to the weak, so weak -to the wise—which has delayed the births of so many truths, -but never stifled one. The pharisaical skepticism which denies -without investigation, is quite as perilous, and much more contemptible, -than the blind credulity which accepts all that it is -taught without inquiry; it is, indeed, but another form of ignorance -assuming to be knowledge. And by <span class='it'>investigation</span>, I do -not mean the hasty, captious, angry notice of an unwelcome -fact, that too frequently claims the right of pronouncing on a -question; but the slow, modest, pains-taking examination, that -is content to wait upon Nature, and humbly follow out her disclosures, -however opposed to preconceived theories or mortifying -to human pride. If scientific men could but comprehend -how they discredit the science they really profess, by their -despotic arrogance and exclusive skepticism, they would surely, -for the sake of that very science they love, affect more liberality -and candor. This reflection, however, naturally suggests another, -namely, do they really love science, or is it not too frequently -with them but the means to an end? Were the love -of science genuine, I suspect it would produce very different -fruits to that which we see borne by the tree of knowledge, as -it flourishes at present; and this suspicion is exceedingly -strengthened by the recollection that, among the numerous students -and professors of science I have at different times encountered, -the real worshippers and genuine lovers of it, for its own -sake, have all been men of the most single, candid, unprejudiced, -and inquiring minds, willing to listen to all new suggestions, -and investigate all new facts; not bold and self-sufficient, -but humble and reverent suitors, aware of their own ignorance -and unworthiness, and that they are yet but in the primer of -Nature’s works, they do not permit themselves to pronounce -upon her disclosures, or set limits to her decrees. They are -content to admit that things new and unsuspected may yet be -true; that their own knowledge of facts being extremely circumscribed, -the systems attempted to be established on such -uncertain data, must needs be very imperfect, and frequently -altogether erroneous; and that it is therefore their duty, as it -ought to be their pleasure, to welcome as a stranger every -gleam of light that appears in the horizon, let it loom from -whatever quarter it may.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But, alas! poor Science has few such lovers! <span class='it'>Les beaux -yeux de sa cassette</span>, I fear, are much more frequently the -objects of attraction than her own fair face.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The belief in a God, and in the immortality of what we call -the soul, is common to all nations; but our own intellect does -not enable us to form any conception of either one or the other. -All the information we have on these subjects is comprised in -such hints as the Scripture here and there give us: whatever -other conclusions we draw, must be the result of observation -and experience. Unless founded upon these, the opinion of the -most learned theologian or the most profound student of science -that ever lived, is worth no more than that of any other -person. They know nothing whatever about these mysteries; -and all <span class='it'>a priori</span> reasoning on them is utterly valueless. The -only way, therefore, of attaining any glimpses of the truth in -an inquiry of this nature, where our intellect can serve us so -little, is to enter on it with the conviction that, knowing nothing, -we are not entitled to reject any evidence that may be -offered to us, till it has been thoroughly sifted, and proved to -be fallacious. That the facts presented to our notice appear -to us absurd, and altogether inconsistent with the notions our -intellects would have enabled us to form, should have no weight -whatever in the investigation. Our intellects are no measure -of God Almighty’s designs; and, I must say, that I do think -one of the most irreverent, dangerous, and sinful things man or -woman can be guilty of, is to reject with scorn and laughter -any intimation which, however strangely it may strike upon -our minds, and however adverse it may be to our opinions, may -possibly be showing us the way to one of God’s truths. Not -knowing all the conditions, and wanting so many links of the -chain, it is impossible for us to pronounce on what is probable -and consistent, and what is not; and, this being the case, I -think the time is ripe for drawing attention to certain phenomena, -which, under whatever aspect we may consider them, are, -beyond doubt, exceedingly interesting and curious; while, if -the view many persons are disposed to take of them be the -correct one, they are much more than this. I wish, also, to -make the English public acquainted with the ideas entertained -on these subjects by a large proportion of German minds of the -highest order. It is a distinctive characteristic of the thinkers -of that country, that, in the first place, they do think independently -and courageously; and, in the second, that they never -shrink from promulgating the opinions they have been led to -form, however new, strange, heterodox, or even absurd, they -may appear to others. They do not succumb, as people do in -this country, to the fear of ridicule; nor are they in danger of -the odium that here pursues those who deviate from established -notions; and the consequence is, that, though many fallacious -theories and untenable propositions may be advanced, a great -deal of new truth is struck out from the collision; and in the -result, as must always be the case, what is true lives and is -established, and what is false dies and is forgotten. But here, -in Britain, our critics and colleges are in such haste to strangle -and put down every new discovery that does not emanate from -themselves, or which is not a fulfilling of the ideas of the day, -but which, being somewhat opposed to them, promises to be -troublesome from requiring new thought to render it intelligible, -that one might be induced to suppose them divested of -all confidence in this inviolable law; while the more important -and the higher the results involved may be, the more angry -they are with those who advocate them. They do not quarrel -with a new metal or a new plant, and even a new comet or a -new island stands a fair chance of being well received; the -introduction of a planet appears, from late events, to be more -difficult; while phrenology and mesmerism testify that any discovery -tending to throw light on what most deeply concerns -us, namely, our own being, must be prepared to encounter a -storm of angry persecution. And one of the evils of this hasty -and precipitate opposition is, that the passions and interests of -the opposers become involved in the dispute: instead of investigators, -they become partisans; having declared against it in -the outset, it is important to their petty interests that the thing -shall not be true; and they determine that it <span class='it'>shall</span> not, if they -can help it. Hence, these hasty, angry investigations of new -facts, and the triumph with which failures are recorded; and -hence the wilful overlooking of the axiom that a thousand negatives -can not overthrow the evidence of one affirmative experiment. -I always distrust those who have declared themselves -strongly in the beginning of a controversy. Opinions which, -however rashly avowed, may have been honest at first, may -have been changed for many a long day before they are -retracted. In the meantime, the march of truth is obstructed, -and its triumph is delayed; timid minds are alarmed; those -who dare not or can not think for themselves, are subdued; -there is much needless suffering incurred, and much good lost; -but the truth goes quietly on its way, and reaches the goal -at last.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With respect to the subjects I am here going to treat of, it is -not simply the result of my own reflections and convictions that -I am about to offer. On the contrary, I intend to fortify my -position by the opinions of many other writers; the chief of -whom will, for the reasons above given, namely, that it is they -who have principally attended to the question, be Germans. I -am fully aware that in this country a very considerable number -of persons lean to some of these opinions, and I think I might -venture to assert that I have the majority on my side, as far as -regards ghosts—for it is beyond a doubt that many more are -disposed to believe than to confess—and those who do confess, -are not few. The deep interest with which any narration -of spiritual appearances bearing the stamp, or apparent stamp, -of authenticity is listened to in every society, is one proof that, -though the fear of ridicule may suppress, it can not extinguish -that intuitive persuasion, of which almost every one is more or -less conscious.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I avow, that in writing this book, I have a higher aim than -merely to afford amusement. I wish to engage the earnest attention -of my readers; because I am satisfied that the opinions -I am about to advocate, seriously entertained, would produce -very beneficial results. We are all educated in the belief of a -future state, but how vague and ineffective this belief is with -the majority of persons, we too well know; for although, as I -have said above, the number of those who are what is called -believers in ghosts and similar phenomena is very large, it is -a belief that they allow to sit extremely lightly on their -minds. Although they feel that the evidence from within and -from without is too strong to be altogether set aside, they have -never permitted themselves to weigh the significance of the -facts. They are afraid of that bugbear, Superstition—a title -of opprobrium which it is very convenient to attach to whatever -we do not believe ourselves. They forget that nobody -has a right to call any belief superstitious, till he can prove that -it is unfounded. Now, no one that lives can assert that the reappearance -of the dead is impossible; all he has a right to say -is, that he does not believe it; and the interrogation that should -immediately follow this declaration is, “Have you devoted your -life to sifting all the evidence that has been adduced on the other -side, from the earliest periods of history and tradition?” and -even though the answer were in the affirmative, and that the -investigation had been conscientiously pursued, it would be -still a bold inquirer that would think himself entitled to say, -the question was no longer open. But the rashness and levity -with which mankind make professions of believing and disbelieving, -are, all things considered, phenomena much more extraordinary -than the most extraordinary ghost-story that ever was -related. The truth is, that not one person in a thousand, in the -proper sense of the word, believes anything; they only fancy -they believe, because they have never seriously considered the -meaning of the word and all that it involves. That which the -human mind can not conceive of, is apt to slip from its grasp -like water from the hand; and life out of the flesh falls under -this category. The observation of any phenomena, therefore, -which enabled us to master the idea, must necessarily be extremely -beneficial; and it must be remembered, that one single -thoroughly well-established instance of the reappearance of a -deceased person, would not only have this effect, but that it -would afford a demonstrative proof of the deepest of all our intuitions, -namely, that a future life awaits us.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Not to mention the modern Germans of eminence, who have -devoted themselves to this investigation, there have been men -remarkable for intellect in all countries, who have considered -the subject worthy of inquiry. Among the rest, Plato, Pliny, -and Lucien; and in our own country, that good old divine, Dr. -Henry Moore, Dr. Johnson, Addison, Isaac Taylor, and many -others. It may be objected that the eternally-quoted case of -Nicolai, the bookseller at Berlin, and Dr. Ferriar’s “Theory -of Apparitions,” had not then settled the question; but nobody -doubts that Nicolai’s was a case of disease; and he was well -aware of it himself, as it appears to me, everybody so afflicted, -is. I was acquainted with a poor woman, in Edinburgh, who -suffered from this malady, brought on, I believe, by drinking; -but she was perfectly conscious of the nature of the illusions; -and that temperance and a doctor were the proper exorcists to -lay the spirits. With respect to Dr. Ferriar’s book, a more -shallow one was assuredly never allowed to settle any question; -and his own theory can not, without the most violent straining, -and the assistance of what he calls <span class='it'>coincidences</span>, meet even half -the cases he himself adduces. That such a disease, as he describes, -exists, nobody doubts; but I maintain that there are -hundreds of cases on record, for which the explanation does -not suffice; and if they have been instances of spectral illusion, -all that remains to be said, is, that a fundamental reconstruction -of the theory on that subject is demanded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>La Place says, in his “Essay on Probabilities,” that “any case, -however apparently incredible, if it be a recurrent case, is as -much entitled, under the laws of induction, to a fair valuation, -as if it had been more probable beforehand.” Now, no one -will deny that the case in question possesses this claim to investigation. -Determined skeptics may, indeed, deny that there -exists any well-authenticated instance of an apparition; but -that, at present, can only be a mere matter of opinion; since -many persons, as competent to judge as themselves, maintain -the contrary; and in the meantime, I arraign their right to -make this objection till they have qualified themselves to do so, -by a long course of patient and honest inquiry; always remembering -that every instance of error or imposition discovered -and adduced, has no positive value whatever in the argument, -but as regards that single instance; though it may enforce upon -us the necessity of strong evidence and careful investigation. -With respect to the evidence, past and present, I must be allowed -here to remark on the extreme difficulty of producing -it. Not to mention the acknowledged carelessness of observers -and the alleged incapacity of persons to distinguish between -reality and illusion, there is an exceeding shyness in most people, -who, either have seen, or fancied they have seen, an apparition, -to speak of it at all, except to some intimate friend; so -that one gets most of the stories second-hand; while even those -who are less chary of their communications, are imperative -against their name and authority being given to the public. -Besides this, there is a great tendency in most people, after the impression -is over, to think they may have been deceived; and where -there is no communication or other circumstance rendering this -conviction impossible, it is not difficult to acquire it, or at least -so much of it as leaves the case valueless. The seer is glad to -find this refuge from the unpleasant feelings engendered; while -surrounding friends, sometimes from genuine skepticism, and -sometimes from good-nature, almost invariably lean to this explanation -of the mystery. In consequence of these difficulties -and those attending the very nature of the phenomena, I freely -admit that the facts I shall adduce, as they now stand, can have -no scientific value; they can not in short, enter into the region -of science at all, still less into that of philosophy. Whatever -conclusions we may be led to form, can not be founded on pure -induction. We must confine ourselves wholly within the region -of opinion; if we venture beyond which, we shall assuredly -founder. In the beginning, all sciences have been but a collection -of facts, afterward to be examined, compared, and weighed, -by intelligent minds. To the vulgar, who do not see the universal -law which governs the universe, everything out of the -ordinary course of events, is a prodigy; but to the enlightened -mind there are no prodigies; for it perceives that in both the -moral and the physical world, there is a chain of uninterrupted -connection; and that the most strange and even apparently contradictory -or supernatural fact or event will be found, on due -investigation, to be strictly dependent on its antecedents. It is -possible, that there may be a link wanting, and that our investigations -may, consequently, be fruitless; but the link is assuredly -there, although our imperfect knowledge and limited vision -can not find it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>And it is here the proper place to observe, that, in undertaking -to treat of the phenomena in question, I do not propose -to consider them as supernatural; on the contrary, I am persuaded -that the time will come, when they will be reduced -strictly within the bounds of science. It was the tendency of -the last age to reject and <span class='it'>deny</span> everything they did not understand; -I hope it is the growing tendency of the present one to -<span class='it'>examine</span> what we do not understand. Equally disposed with -our predecessors of the eighteenth century to reject the supernatural, -and to believe the order of nature inviolable, we are -disposed to extend the bounds of nature and science, till they -comprise within their limits all the phenomena, ordinary and -extraordinary, by which we are surrounded. Scarcely a month -passes that we do not hear of some new and important discovery -in science. It is a domain in which nothing is stable, and -every year overthrows some of the hasty and premature theories -of the preceding ones; and this will continue to be the -case as long as scientific men occupy themselves each with his -own subject, without studying the great and primal truths—what -the French call <span class='it'>les vérités mères</span>—which link the whole -together. Meantime, there is a continual unsettling. Truth, -if it do not emanate from an acknowledged authority, is generally -rejected; and error, if it do, is as often accepted; while, -whoever disputes the received theory, whatever it be—we -mean especially that adopted by the professors of colleges—does -it at his peril. But there is a day yet brooding in the -bosom of time, when the sciences will be no longer isolated; -when we shall no longer deny, but be able to account for, phenomena -apparently prodigious, or have the modesty, if we can -not explain them, to admit that the difficulty arises solely from -our own incapacity. The system of centralization in statistics -seems to be of doubtful advantage; but a greater degree of -centralization appears to be very much needed in the domain -of science. Some improvement in this respect might do wonders, -particularly if reinforced with a slight infusion of patience -and humility into the minds of scientific men; together with -the recollection that facts and phenomena, which do not depend -on our will, must be waited for—that we must be at their -command, for they will not be at ours.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But to return once more to our own subject. If we do believe -that a future life awaits us, there can be nothing more -natural than the desire to obtain some information as to what -manner of life that is to be for which any one of us may, before -this time to-morrow, have exchanged his present mode of being. -That there does not exist a greater interest with regard -to this question in the mind of man, arises partly from the -vague, intangible kind of belief he entertains of the fact; partly -from his absorption in worldly affairs, and the hard and indigestible -food upon which his clerical shepherds pasture him—for, -under dogmatic theology, religion seems to have withered -away to the mere husk of spiritualism; and partly, also, from -the apparent impossibility of pursuing the inquiry to any purpose. -As I said before, observation and experience can alone -guide us in such an inquiry; for, though most people have a -more or less intuitive sense of their own immortality, intuition -is silent as to the mode of it; and the question I am anxious -here to discuss with my readers is, whether we have any facts -to observe, or any experience from which, on this most interesting -of all subjects, a conclusion may be drawn. Great as the -difficulty is of producing evidence, it will, I think, be pretty -generally admitted that, although each individual case, as it -stands alone, may be comparatively valueless, the amount of -recurrent cases forms a body of evidence that, on any other -subject, would scarcely be rejected; and since, if the facts are -accepted, they imperatively demand an explanation—for, assuredly, -the present theory of spectral illusions can not comprise -them—our inquiry, let it terminate in whatever conclusion -it may, can not be useless or uninteresting. Various views -of the phenomena in question may be taken; and although I -shall offer my own opinions and the theories and opinions of -others, I insist upon none. I do not write to dogmatise, but to -suggest reflection and inquiry. The books of Dr. Ferriar, Dr. -Hibbert, and Dr. Thatcher, the American, are all written to -support one exclusive theory; and they only give such cases as -serve to sustain it. They maintain that the whole phenomena -are referrible to nervous or sanguineous derangement, and are -mere subjective illusions; and whatever instance can not be -covered by this theory, they reject as false, or treat as a case -of extraordinary coincidence. In short, they arrange the facts -to their theory, not their theory to the facts. Their books can -not, therefore, claim to be considered as anything more than -essays on a special disease; they have no pretence whatever to -the character of investigations. The question, consequently, -remains as much an open one as before they treated it; while -we have the advantage of their experience and information, -with regard to the peculiar malady that forms the subject of -their works. On that subject it is not my intention to enter; it -is a strictly medical one, and every information may be obtained -respecting it in the above-named treatises, and others emanating -from the faculty.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The subjects I do intend to treat of are the various kinds of -prophetic dreams, presentiments, second-sight, and apparitions; -and, in short, all that class of phenomena which appears to -throw some light on our physical nature, and on the probable -state of the soul after death. In this discussion, I shall make -free use of my German authorities, Doctors Kerner, Stilling, -Werner, Eschenmayer, Ennemoser, Passavent, Schubert, Von -Meyer, &c., &c.; and I here make a general acknowledgment -to that effect, because it would embarrass my book too much -to be constantly giving names and references, although, when -I quote their words literally, I shall make a point of doing so; -and because, also, that, as I have been both thinking and reading -much on these subjects for a considerable time past, I am, -in fact, no longer in a condition to appropriate, either to them -or to myself, each his own. This, however, is a matter of very -little consequence, as I am not desirous of claiming any idea as -mine that can be found elsewhere. It is enough for me, if I -succeed in making a tolerably clear exposition of the subject, -and can induce other people to reflect upon it.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='19' id='Page_19'></span><h1>CHAPTER II.</h1></div> - -<h3>THE DWELLER IN THE TEMPLE.</h3> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>It</span> is almost needless to observe, that the Scriptures repeatedly -speak of man as a tripartite being, consisting of spirit, soul, and -body: and that, according to St. Paul, we have two bodies—a -natural body and a spiritual body; the former being designed -as our means of communication with the external world—an -instrument to be used and controlled by our nobler parts. It is -this view of it, carried to a fanaticism, which has led to the -various and extraordinary mortifications recorded of ascetics. -As is remarked by the Rev. Hare Townshend, in a late edition -of his book on mesmerism, in this fleshly body consists our organic -life; in the body which we are to retain through eternity, -consists our fundamental life. May not the first, he says, “be -a temporary development of the last, just as leaves, flowers, and -fruits, are the temporary developments of a tree? And in the -same manner that these pass and drop away, yet leave the principle -of reproduction behind, so may our present organs be -detached from us by death, and yet the ground of our existence -be spared to us continuously.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Without entering into the subtle disputes of philosophers, -with regard to the spirit, a subject on which there is a standing -controversy between the disciples of Hegel and those of other -teachers, I need only observe that the Scriptures seem to indicate -what some of the heathen sages taught, that the spirit that -dwells within us is the spirit of God, incorporated in us for a -period, for certain ends of his own, to be thereby wrought out. -What those ends are, it does not belong to my present subject -to consider. In this spirit so imparted to us, dwells, says Eschenmayer, -the conscience, which keeps watch over the body -and the soul, saying, “Thus shalt thou do!” And it is to this -Christ addresses himself when he bids his disciples become -perfect, like their Father in heaven. The soul is subject to the -spirit; and its functions are, <span class='it'>to will</span>, or <span class='it'>choose</span>, <span class='it'>to think</span>, and <span class='it'>to -feel</span>, and to become thereby cognizant of the true, the beautiful, -and the good; comprehending the highest principle, the -highest ideal, and the most perfect happiness. The <span class='it'>Ego</span>, or <span class='it'>I</span>, -is the resultant of the three forces, Pneuma, Psyche, Soma—spirit, -soul, and body.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the spirit or soul, or rather in both conjoined, dwells, also, -the power of <span class='it'>spiritual seeing</span>, or <span class='it'>intuitive knowing</span>; for, as -there is a spiritual body, there is a spiritual eye, and a spiritual -ear, and so forth; or, to speak more correctly, all these sensuous -functions are comprised in one universal sense, which does -not need the aid of the bodily organs; but, on the contrary, is -most efficient when most freed from them. It remains to be -seen whether, or in what degree, such separation can take place -during life; complete it can not be till death; but whoever believes -sincerely that the divine spirit dwells within him, can, I -should think, find no difficulty in conceiving that, although from -the temporary conditions to which that spirit is subjected, this -universal faculty is limited and obscured, it must still retain its -indefeasible attribute.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We may naturally conclude that the most perfect state of man -on earth consists in the most perfect unity of the spirit and the -soul; and to those who in this life have attained the nearest to -that unity will the entire assimilation of the two, after they are -separated from the body, be the easiest; while to those who -have lived only their intellectual and external life, this union -must be extremely difficult, the soul having chosen its part with -the body, and divorced itself, as much as in it lay, from the -spirit. The voice of conscience is then scarcely heard; and the -soul, degraded and debased, can no longer perform its functions -of discerning the true, the beautiful, and the good.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On these distinct functions of the soul and spirit, however, it -is not my intention to insist, since it appears to me a subject on -which we are not yet in a condition to dogmatize. We know -rather more about our bodies, by means of which the soul and -spirit are united and brought into contact with the material -world, and which are constructed wholly with a view to the -conditions of that world; such as time, space, solidity, extension, -&c., &c. But we must conceive of God as necessarily independent -of these conditions. To Him, all times and all places -must be for ever present; and it is <span class='it'>thus</span> that he is omniscient -and omnipresent; and since we are placed by the spirit in immediate -relation with God and the spiritual world, just as we -are placed by the body in immediate relation with the material -world, we may, in the first place, form a notion of the possibility -that some faint gleams of these inherent attributes may, at -times, shoot up through the clay in which the spirit has taken -up its temporary abode; and we may also admit, that through -the connection which exists between us and the spiritual world, -it is not impossible but that we may, at times, and under certain -conditions, become cognizant of, and enter into more immediate -relation with it. This is the only postulate I ask; for, -as I said before, I do not wish to enforce opinions, but to suggest -probabilities, or at least possibilities, and thus arouse reflection -and inquiry.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With respect to the term <span class='it'>invisible world</span>, I beg to remind my -readers, that what we call <span class='it'>seeing</span> is merely the function of an -organ constructed for that purpose in relation to the external -world; and so limited are its powers, that we are surrounded by -many things in that world which we can not see without the aid -of artificial appliances and many other things which we can not -see even with them; the atmosphere in which we live, for example, -although its weight and mechanical forces are the subjects -of accurate calculation, is entirely imperceptible to our -visual organs. Thus, the fact that we do not commonly see -them, forms no legitimate objection to the hypothesis of our -being surrounded by a world of spirits, or of that world being -inter-diffused among us. Supposing the question to be decided -that we do sometimes become cognizant of them, which, however, -I admit it is not, since, whether the apparitions are -subjective, or objective, that is, whether they are the mere -phenomena of disease, or real out-standing appearances, is the -inquiry I desire to promote—but, I say, supposing that question -were decided in the affirmative, the next that arises is, how, -or by what means do we see them; or, if they address us, hear -them? If that universal sense which appears to me to be inseparable -from the idea of spirit, be once admitted, I think -there can be no difficulty in answering this question; and if it -be objected that we are conscious of no such sense, I answer, -that both in dreams and in certain abnormal states of the body, -it is frequently manifested. In order to render this more clear, -and, at the same time, to give an interesting instance of this sort -of phenomenon, I will transcribe a passage from a letter of St. -Augustine to his friend Evadius (Epistola 159. Antwerp edition).</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I will relate to you a circumstance,” he writes, “which will -furnish you matter for reflection. Our brother Sennadius, well -known to us all as an eminent physician, and whom we especially -love, who is now at Carthage, after having distinguished -himself at Rome, and with whose piety and active benevolence -you are well acquainted, could yet, nevertheless, as he has -lately narrated to us, by no means bring himself to believe in a -life after death. Now, God, doubtless, not willing that his soul -should perish, there appeared to him one night, in a dream, a -radiant youth of noble aspect, who bade him follow him; and -as Sennadius obeyed, they came to a city where, on the right -side, he heard a chorus of the most heavenly voices. As he -desired to know whence this divine harmony proceeded, the -youth told him that what he heard were the songs of the blessed; -whereupon he awoke, and thought no more of his dream -than people usually do. On another night, however, behold! -the youth appears to him again, and asks him if he knows him; -and Sennadius related to him all the particulars of his former -dream, which he well remembered. ‘Then,’ said the youth, -‘was it while sleeping or waking that you saw these things?’—‘I -was sleeping,’ answered Sennadius. ‘You are right,’ returned -the youth, ‘it was in your sleep that you saw these -things; and know, O Sennadius, that what you see now is also -in your sleep. But if this be so, tell me where then is your -body?’—‘In my bed-chamber,’ answered Sennadius. ‘But -know you not,’ continued the stranger, ‘that your eyes, which -form a part of your body, are closed and inactive?’—‘I know -it,’ answered he. ‘Then,’ said the youth, ‘with what eyes see -you these things?’ And Sennadius could not answer him; and -as he hesitated, the youth spoke again, and explained to him -the motive of his questions. ‘As the eyes of your body,’ said -he, ‘which lies now on your bed and sleeps, are inactive and -useless, and yet you have eyes wherewith you see me and these -things I have shown unto you; so after death, when these bodily -organs fail you, you will have a vital power, whereby you will -live, and a sensitive faculty, whereby you will perceive. Doubt, -therefore, no longer that there is a life after death.’ And thus,” -said this excellent man, “was I convinced, and all doubts removed.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I confess there appears to me a beauty and a logical truth in -this dream that I think might convince more than the dreamer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is by the hypothesis of this universal sense, latent within -us—an hypothesis which, whoever believes that we are immortal -spirits, incorporated for a season in a material body, can -scarcely reject—that I seek to explain those perceptions which -are not comprised within the functions of our bodily organs. -It seems to me to be the key to all or nearly all of them, as far -as our own part in the phenomena extends. But, supposing -this admitted, there would then remain the difficulty of accounting -for the partial and capricious glimpses we get of it; while -in that department of the mystery which regards apparitions, -except such as are the pure result of disease, we must grope -our way, with very little light to guide us, as to the conditions -and motives which might possibly bring them into any immediate -relation with us.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>To any one who has been fortunate enough to witness one -genuine case of clairvoyance, I think the conception of this -universal sense will not be difficult, however the mode of its -exercise may remain utterly incomprehensible. As I have said -above—to the great Spirit and Fountain of life, all things, in -both space and time, must be present. However impossible it -is to our finite minds to conceive this, we must believe it. It -may, in some slight degree, facilitate the conception to remember -that action, once begun, never ceases—an impulse given -is transmitted on for ever; a sound breathed reverberates in -eternity; and thus the past is always present, although, for the -purpose of fitting us for this mortal life, our ordinary senses are -so constituted as to be unperceptive of these phenomena. With -respect to what we call <span class='it'>the future</span>, it is more difficult still for -us to conceive it as present; nor, as far as I know, can we -borrow from the sciences the same assistance as mechanical -discoveries have just furnished me with in regard to the past. -How a spirit sees that which has not yet, to our senses, taken -place, seems certainly inexplicable. <span class='it'>Foreseeing</span> it is not inexplicable: -we foresee many things by arguing on given premises, -although, from our own finite views, we are always liable to be -mistaken. Louis Lambert says: “Such events as are the product -of humanity, and the result of its intelligence, have their -own causes, in which they lie latent, just as our actions are -accomplished in our thoughts previous to any outward demonstration -of them; presentiments and prophecies consist in the -intuitive perception of these causes.” This explanation, which -is quite conformable with that of Cicero, may aid us in some -degree as regards a certain small class of phenomena; but -there is something involved in the question much more subtle -than this. Our dreams can give us the only idea of it; for -there we do actually see and hear, not only that which never -was, but that which never will be. Actions and events, words -and sounds, persons and places, are as clearly and vividly present -to us as if they were actually what they seem; and I should -think that most people must be somewhat puzzled to decide in -regard to certain scenes and circumstances that live in their -memory, whether the images are the result of their waking or -sleeping experience. Although by no means a dreamer, and -without the most remote approximation to any faculty of presentiment, -I know this is the case with myself. I remember -also a very curious effect being produced upon me, when I was -abroad, some years ago, from eating the unwholesome bread to -which we were reduced, in consequence of a scarcity. Some -five or six times a day I was seized with a sort of vertigo, -during which I seemed to pass through certain scenes, and was -conscious of certain words, which appeared to me to have a -strange connection, with either some former period of my life, -or else some previous state of existence. The words and the -scenes were on each occasion precisely the same: I was always -aware of that, and I always made the strongest efforts to grasp -and retain them in my memory, but I could not. I only knew -that the thing <span class='it'>had been</span>; the words and the scenes were gone. -I seemed to pass momentarily into another sphere and back -again. This was purely the result of disorder; but, like a -dream, it shows how we may be perceptive of that which is -not, and which never may be; rendering it, therefore, possible -to conceive that a spirit may be equally perceptive of that which -shall be. I am very far from meaning to imply that these examples -remove the difficulty: they do not explain the thing; -they only show somewhat the mode of it. But it must be -remembered that when physiologists pretend to settle the whole -question of apparitions by the theory of spectral illusions, they -are exactly in the same predicament. They can supply examples -of similar phenomena; but how a person, perfectly in his -senses, should receive the spectral visits of, not only friends, -but strangers, when he is thinking of no such matter—or by -what process, mental or optical, the figures are conjured up—remains -as much a mystery as before a line was written on the -subject.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>All people and all ages have believed, more or less, in prophetic -dreams, presentiments, and apparitions; and all historians -have furnished examples of them. That the truths may -be frequently distorted and mingled with fable, is no argument -against those traditions; if it were, all history must be rejected -on the same plea. Both the Old and New Testaments furnish -numerous examples of these phenomena; and although Christ -and the apostles reproved all the superstitions of the age, these -persuasions are not included in their reprehensions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Neither is the comparative rarity of these phenomena any -argument against their possibility. There are many strange -things which occur still more rarely, but which we do not look -upon as supernatural or miraculous. Of nature’s ordinary -laws, we yet know but little; of their aberrations and perturbations, -still less. How should we, when the world is a miracle -and life a dream, of which we know neither the beginning nor -the end! We do not even know that we see anything as it is, -or rather, we know that we do not. We see things but as our -visual organs represent them to us; and were those organs differently -constructed, the aspect of the world would to us be -changed. How, then, can we pretend to decide upon what is -and what is not?</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Nothing could be more perplexing to any one who read -them with attention, than the trials for witchcraft of the seventeenth -century. Many of the feats of the ancient thaumaturgists -and wonder-workers of the temples might have been -nearly as much so, but these were got rid of by the easy expedient -of pronouncing them fables and impostures; but, during -the witch-mania, so many persons proved their faith in their -own miraculous powers by the sacrifice of their lives, that it -was scarcely possible to doubt their having some foundation for -their own persuasion, though what that foundation could be, -till the late discoveries in animal magnetism, it was difficult to -conceive; but here we have a new page opened to us which -concerns both the history of the world and the history of man, -as an individual; and we begin to see that that which the ignorant -thought supernatural, and the wise impossible, has been -both natural and true. While the scientific men of Great Britain, -and several of our journalists, have been denying and -ridiculing the reports of these phenomena, the most eminent -physicians of Germany have been quietly studying and investigating -them, and giving to the world, in their works, the results -of their experience. Among the rest, Dr. Joseph Ennemoser, -of Berlin, has presented to us in his two books on “Magic,” -and on “The Connection of Magnetism with Nature and Religion,” -the fruits of his thirty years’ study of this subject—during -the course of which he has had repeated opportunities -of investigating all the phenomena, and of making himself perfectly -familiar with even the most rare and perplexing. To -any one who has studied these works, the mysteries of the temples -and of the witch-trials are mysteries no longer; and he -writes with the professed design, not to make science mystical, -but to bring the mysterious within the bounds of science. The -phenomena, as he justly says, are as old as the human race. -Animal magnetism is no new development, no new discovery. -Inseparable from life, although, like many other vital phenomena, -so subtle in its influences, that only in abnormal cases it -attracts attention, it has exhibited itself more or less in all ages -and in all countries. But its value as a medical agent is only -now beginning to dawn on the civilized world, while its importance -in a higher point of view is yet perceived by but few. -Every human being who has ever withdrawn himself from the -strife, and the turmoil, and the distraction, of the world without, -in order to look within, must have found himself perplexed by a -thousand questions with regard to his own being, which he would -find no one able to solve. In the study of animal magnetism, -he will first obtain some gleams of a light which will show him -that he is indeed the child of God! and that, though a dweller -on the earth, and fallen, some traces of his divine descent, and -of his unbroken connection with a higher order of being, still -remain to comfort and encourage him. He will find that there -exists in his species the germs of faculties that are never fully -unfolded here on earth, and which have no reference to this -state of being. They exist in all men, but in most cases are -so faintly elicited as not to be observable; and when they do -shoot up here and there, they are denied, disowned, misinterpreted, -and maligned. It is true that their development is -often the symptom and effect of disease, which seems to change -the relations of our material and immaterial parts; it is true -that some of the phenomena resulting from these faculties are -stimulated by disease, as in the case of spectral illusions; and it -is true that imposture and folly intrude their unhallowed footsteps -into this domain of science, as into that of all others; but -there is a deep and holy well of truth to be discovered in this -neglected by-path of nature, by those who seek it, from which -they may draw the purest consolations for the present, the most -ennobling hopes for the future, and the most valuable aid in -penetrating through the letter into the spirit of the Scriptures.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I confess it makes me sorrowful when I hear men laughing, -scorning, and denying this their birthright; and I can not but -grieve to think how closely and heavily their clay must be -wrapped about them, and how the external and sensuous life -must have prevailed over the internal, when no gleam from -within breaks through to show them that these things are true.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='29' id='Page_29'></span><h1>CHAPTER III.</h1></div> - -<h3>WAKING AND SLEEPING; AND HOW THE DWELLER IN THE TEMPLE<br/> SOMETIMES LOOKS ABROAD.</h3> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>To</span> begin with the most simple—or rather, I should say, the -most ordinary—class of phenomena, for we can scarcely call -that simple, the mystery of which we have never been able to -penetrate—I mean dreaming—everybody’s experience will -suffice to satisfy them that their ordinary dreams take place in -a state of imperfect sleep, and that this imperfect sleep may be -caused by any bodily or mental derangement whatever, or even -from an ill-made bed, or too much or too little covering; and -it is not difficult to conceive that the strange, confused, and disjointed -visions we are subject to on these occasions, may proceed -from some parts of the brain being less at rest than the -others; so that, assuming phrenology to be fact, one organ is -not in a state to correct the impressions of another. Of such -vain and insignificant visions, I need scarcely say it is not my -intention to treat; but, at the same time, I must observe, that -when we have admitted the above explanation, as far as it goes, -we have not, even in regard to <span class='it'>them</span>, made much progress toward -removing the difficulty. If dreaming resembled thinking, -the explanations might be quite satisfactory; but the truth is, -that dreaming is not thinking, as we think in our waking state, -but is more analogous to thinking in delirium or acute mania, -or in that chronic condition which gives rise to sensuous illusions. -In our ordinary normal state, conceiving of places or -persons does not enable us to see them or hold communion with -them, nor do we fancy that we do either. It is true, that I have -heard some painters say that, by closing their eyes and concentrating -their thoughts on an object, they can bring it more or -less vividly before them, and Blake professed actually to see his -sitters when they were not present; but whatever interpretations -we may put upon this curious faculty, his case was clearly -abnormal, and connected with some personal peculiarity, either -physical or psychical; and, after making the most of it, it must -be admitted that it can enter into no sort of comparison with -that we possess in sleep, when, in our most ordinary dreams, -untrammelled by time or space, we visit the uttermost ends of -the earth, fly in the air, swim in the sea, listen to beautiful music -and eloquent orations, behold the most charming as well as -the most loathsome objects; and not only see, but converse with -our friends, absent or present, dead or alive. Every one, I -think, will grant that there is the widest possible difference -between conceiving of these things when awake, and dreaming -them. When we dream, we do, we see, we say, we hear, &c., -&c., that is, we believe at the time we do so; and what more -can be said of us when we are awake, than that we <span class='it'>believe</span> we -are doing, seeing, saying, hearing, &c. It is by external circumstances, -and the results of our actions, that we are able to -decide whether we have actually done a thing or seen a place, -or only dreamt that we have done so; and as I have said above, -after some lapse of time we are not always able to distinguish -between the two. While dreaming, we frequently ask ourselves -whether we are awake or asleep; and nothing is more common -than to hear people say, “Well, I think I did, or heard, so and -so; but I am not sure whether it was so, or whether I dreamt -it.” Thus, therefore, the very lowest order of dreaming, the -most disjointed and perplexed, is far removed from the most -vivid presentations of our waking thoughts; and it is in this -respect, I think, that the explanations of the phenomena hitherto -offered by phrenologists, and the metaphysicians of this country, -are inadequate and unsatisfactory; while, as regards the analogy -between the visions of sleep and delirium, whatever similarity -there may be in the effects, we can not suppose the cause -to be identical: since, in delirium the images and delusions are -the result of excessive action of the brain, which we must conclude -to be the very reverse of its condition in sleep. Pinel -certainly has hazarded an opinion that sleep is occasioned by an -efflux of blood to the head, and consequent compression of the -brain—a theory which would have greater weight were sleep -more strictly periodical than it is; but which, at present, it -seems impossible to reconcile with many established facts.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Some of the German physiologists and psychologists have -taken a deeper view of this question of dreaming, from considering -it in connection with the phenomena of animal magnetism; -and although their theories differ in some respects, they all unite -in looking toward that department of nature for instruction. -While one section of these inquirers, the Exegetical Society of -Stockholm included, calls in the aid of supernatural agency, -another, among whom Dr. Joseph Ennemoser, of Berlin, appears -to be one of the most eminent, maintains that the explanation -of the mystery is to be chiefly sought in the great and -universal law of polarity, which extends not only beyond the -limits of this earth, but beyond the limits of this system, which -must necessarily be in connection with all others; so that there -is thus an eternal and never-ceasing inter-action, of which, from -the multiplicity and contrariety of the influences, we are insensible, -just as we are insensible to the pressure of the atmosphere, -from its impinging on us equally on all sides.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Waking and sleeping are the day and night sides of organic -life, during which alternations an animal is placed in different -relations to the external world, and to these alternations all -organisms are subject. The completeness and independence of -each individual organism, are in exact ratio to the number and -completeness of the organs it develops; and thus the locomotive -animal has the advantage of the plant or the zoophyte, while, of -the animal kingdom, man is the most complete and independent; -and, although still a member of the universal whole, and therefore -incapable of isolating himself, yet better able than any -other organism to ward off external influences, and comprise -his world within himself. But, according to Dr. Ennemoser, -one of the consequences of this very completeness is a weak -and insignificant development of instinct; and thus the healthy, -waking, conscious man, is, of all organisms, the least sensible to -the impressions of this universal inter-communication and polarity; -although, at the same time, partaking of the nature of the -plant and the animal, he is subject, like the first, to all manner -of atmospheric, telluric, and periodic influences; and frequently -exhibits, like the second, peculiar instinctive appetites and desires, -and, in some individual organizations, very marked antipathies -and susceptibilities with regard to certain objects and -influences, even when not placed in any evident relation with -them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>According to this theory, sleep is a retrograde step—a -retreating into a lower sphere; in which condition, the sensuous -functions being in abeyance, the instincts somewhat resume -their sway. “In sleep and in sickness,” he says, “the higher -animals and man fall in a physico-organical point of view, from -their individual independence, or power of self-sustainment; -and their polar relation, that is, their relation to the healthy and -waking man, becomes changed from a positive to a negative -one; all men, in regard to each other, as well as all nature, -being the subjects of this polarity.” It is to be remembered, -that this theory of Dr. Ennemoser’s was promulgated before -the discoveries of Baron von Reichenback in magnetism were -made public, and the susceptibility to magnetic influences in -the animal organism, which the experiments of the latter go to -establish, is certainly in its favor; but while it pretends to explain -the condition of the sleepers, and may possibly be of some -service in our investigations into the mystery of dreaming, it -leaves us as much in the dark as ever, with respect to the cause -of our falling into this negative state; an inquiry in which little -progress seems to have been hitherto made.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With respect to dreaming, Dr. Ennemoser rejects the physiological -theory, which maintains, that in sleep, magnetic or otherwise, -the activity of the brain is transferred to the ganglionic -system, and that the former falls into a subordinate relation. -“Dreaming,” he says, “is the gradual awakening of activity in -the organs of imagination, whereby the presentation of sensuous -objects to the spirit, which had been discontinued in profound -sleep, is resumed. Dreaming,” he adds, “also arises from the -secret activity of the spirit in the innermost sensuous organs of -the brain, busying the fancy with subjective sensuous images, -the objective conscious day-life giving place to the creative -dominion of the poetical genius, to which night becomes day, -and universal nature its theatre of action; and thus the super-sensuous -or transcendent nature of the spirit becomes more -manifest in dreaming than in the waking state. But, in considering -these phenomena, man must be viewed in both his psychical -and physical relations, and as equally subject to spiritual -as to natural operations and influences; since, during the continuance -of life, neither soul nor body can act quite independently -of the other; for, although it be the immortal spirit -which perceives, it is through the instrumentality of the sensuous -organs that it does so; for of absolute spirit without body, -we can form no conception.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>What is here meant seems to be, that the brain becomes the -world to the spirit, before the impressions from the external -world do actually come streaming through by means of the external -sensuous organs. The inner spiritual light illumines, till -the outward physical light overpowers and extinguishes it. But -in this state the brain, which is the storehouse of acquired -knowledge, is not in a condition to apply its acquisitions effectively; -while the intuitive knowledge of the spirit, if the sleep -be imperfect, is clouded by its interference.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Other physiologists, however, believe, from the numerous and -well-attested cases of the transference of the senses, in disease, -to the pit of the stomach, that the activity of the brain in sleep -<span class='it'>is</span> transferred to the epigastric region. The instances of this -phenomenon, as related by Dr. Petetin and others, having been -frequently published, I need not here quote. But, as Dr. Passavant -observes, it is well known that the functions of the nerves -differ in some animals; and that one set can supply the place -of another; as in those cases where there is a great susceptibility -to light, though no eyes can be discovered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>These physiologists believe, that, even during the most profound -sleep, the spirit retains its activity, a proposition which, -indeed, we can not doubt; “it wakes, though the senses sleep, -retreating into its infinite depths, like the sun at night; living -on its spiritual life undisturbed, while the body sinks into a state -of vegetative tranquillity. Nor does it follow that the soul is -unconscious in sleep because in waking we have frequently lost -all memory of its consciousness; since, by the repose of the -sensuous organs, the bridge between waking and sleeping is -removed, and the recollections of one state are not carried into -the other.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It will occur here to every one, how often in the instant of -waking we are not only conscious that we have been dreaming, -but are also conscious of the subject of the dream, which we -try in vain to grasp, but which eludes us, and is gone for ever -the moment we have passed into a state of complete wakefulness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, with respect to this so-called dreaming in profound sleep, -it is a thing no one can well doubt who thoroughly believes that -his body is a temple built for the dwelling of an immortal spirit; -for we can not conceive of spirit sleeping, or needing that restoration -which we know to be the condition of earthly organisms. -If, therefore, the spirit wakes, may we not suppose that the more -it is disentangled from the obstructions of the body the more -clear will be its perceptions; and that, therefore, in the profound -natural sleep of the sensuous organs we may be in a state -of clear-seeing. All who have attended to the subject are -aware that the clear seeing of magnetic patients depends on the -depth of their sleep; whatever circumstance, internal or external, -tends to interrupt this profound repose of the sensuous -organs, inevitably obscures their perceptions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Again, with respect to the not carrying with us the recollections -of one state into the other, should not this lead us to suspect -that sleeping and waking are two different spheres of -existence; partaking of the nature of that <span class='it'>double life</span>, of which -the records of human physiology have presented us with various -instances wherein a patient finds himself utterly divested of all -recollection of past events and acquired knowledge, and has to -begin life and education anew, till another transition takes -place, wherein he recovers what he had lost, while he at the -same time loses all he had lately gained, which he only recovers, -once more, by another transition, restoring to him his lately-acquired -knowledge, but again obliterating his original stock, -thus alternately passing from one state to the other, and disclosing -a double life—an educated man in one condition, a child -learning his alphabet in the next!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Where the transition from one state to another is complete, -memory is entirely lost; but there are cases in which the -change, being either gradual or modified, the recollections of -one life are carried more or less into the other. We know -this to be the case with magnetic sleepers, as it is with ordinary -dreamers; and most persons have met with instances of the -dream of one night being continued in the next. Treviranus -mentions the case of a student who regularly began to talk the -moment he fell asleep, the subject of his discourse being a -dream, which he always took up at the exact point at which he -had left it the previous morning. Of this dream he had never -the slightest recollection in his waking state. A daughter of -Sir George Mackenzie, who died at an early age, was endowed -with a remarkable genius for music, and was an accomplished -organist. This young lady dreamed, during an illness, that she -was at a party, where she had heard a new piece of music, -which made so great an impression on her by its novelty and -beauty, that, on awaking, she besought her attendants to bring -her some paper, that she might write it down before she had -forgotten it—an indulgence which, apprehensive of excitement, -her medical attendant unfortunately forbade; for, apart from -the additional psychological interest that would have been attached -to the fact, the effects of compliance, judging from what -ensued, would probably have been soothing rather than otherwise. -About ten days afterward, she had a second dream, -wherein she again found herself at a party, where she descried -on the desk of a pianoforte, in a corner of the room, an open -book, in which, with astonished delight, she recognised the -same piece of music, which she immediately proceeded to play, -and then awoke. The piece was not of a short or fugitive -character, but in the style of an overture. The question, of -course, remains, as to whether she was composing the music in -her sleep, or, by an act of clairvoyance, was perceiving some -that actually existed. Either is possible, for, although she -might have been incapable of composing so elaborate a piece -in her waking state, there are many instances on record of -persons performing intellectual feats in dreams, to which they -were unequal when awake. A very eminent person assured -me that he had once composed some lines in his sleep (I think -it was a sonnet) which far exceeded any of his waking performances -of that description.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Somewhat analogous to this sort of double life is the case of -the young girl mentioned by Dr. Abercrombie and others, -whose employment was keeping cattle, and who slept for some -time, much to her own annoyance, in the room adjoining one -occupied by an itinerant musician. The man, who played exceedingly -well, being an enthusiast in his art, frequently practised -the greater part of the night, performing on his violin -very complicated and difficult compositions; while the girl, so -far from discovering any pleasure in his performances, complained -bitterly of being kept awake by the noise. Some time -after this, she fell ill, and was removed to the house of a charitable -lady, who undertook the charge of her; and here, by-and-by, -the family were amazed by frequently hearing the most -exquisite music in the night, which they at length discovered -to proceed from the girl. The sounds were those of a violin, -and the tuning and other preliminary processes were accurately -imitated. She went through long and elaborate pieces, and -afterward was heard imitating, in the same way, the sounds of -a pianoforte that was in the house. She also talked very cleverly -on the subjects of religion and politics, and discussed with -great judgment the characters and conduct of persons, public -and private. Awake, she knew nothing of these things; but -was, on the contrary, stupid, heavy, and had no taste whatever -for music. Phrenology would probably interpret this phenomenon -by saying that the lower elements of the cerebral spinal -axis, as organs of sensation, &c., &c., being asleep, the cluster -of the higher organs requisite for the above combinations were -not only awake, but rendered more active from the repose of the -others: but to me it appears that we here see the inherent faculties -of the spirit manifesting themselves, while the body slept. The -same faculties must have existed when it was in a waking state, -but the impressions and manifestations were then dependent on -the activity and perfection of the sensuous organs, which seem -to have been of an inferior order; and consequently, no rays -of this in-dwelling genius could pierce the coarse integument -in which it was lodged.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Similar unexpected faculties have been not unfrequently -manifested by the dying, and we may conclude to a certain -degree from the same cause, namely, that the incipient death -of the body is leaving the spirit more unobstructed. Dr. Steinbech -mentions the case of a clergyman, who, being summoned -to administer the last sacraments to a dying peasant, found him, -to his surprise, praying aloud in Greek and Hebrew, a mystery -which could be no otherwise explained than by the circumstance -of his having, when a child, frequently heard the then -minister of the parish praying in those languages. He had, -however, never understood the prayers, nor indeed paid any -attention to them; still less had he been aware that they lived -in his memory. It would give much additional interest to this -story had Dr. Steinbech mentioned how far the man now, while -uttering the words, understood their meaning; whether he was -aware of what he was saying, or was only repeating the words -by rote.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With regard to the extraordinary faculty of memory manifested -in these and similar cases, I shall have some observations -to make in a subsequent part of this book.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Parallel instances are those of idiots, who, either in a somnambulic -state, or immediately previous to death, have spoken -as if inspired. At St. Jean de Maurinne, in Savoy, there was -a dumb <span class='it'>cretin</span>, who, having fallen into a natural state of somnambulism, -not only was found to speak with ease, but also to -the purpose; a faculty which disappeared, however, whenever -he awoke. Dumb persons have likewise been known to speak -when at the point of death.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The possibility of suggesting dreams to some sleepers by -whispering in the ear, is a well-known fact; but this can doubtless -only be practicable where the sensuous organs are partly -awake. Then, as with magnetic patients in a state of incomplete -sleep, we have only revery and imagination in place of -clear-seeing.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The next class of dreams are those which partake of the -nature of second sight, or prophecy, and of these there are -various kinds; some being plain and literal in their premonitions, -others allegorical and obscure; while some also regard -the most unimportant, and others the most grave events of our -lives. A gentleman engaged in business in the south of Scotland, -for example, dreams that on entering his office in the -morning, he sees seated on a certain stool a person formerly in -his service as clerk, of whom he had neither heard nor thought -for some time. He inquires the motive of the visit, and is told -that such and such circumstances having brought the stranger -to that part of the country, he could not forbear visiting his old -quarters, expressing at the same time a wish to spend a few -days in his former occupation, &c., &c. The gentleman, being -struck with the vividness of the illusion, relates his dream at -breakfast, and, to his surprise, on going to his office, there sits -the man, and the dialogue that ensues is precisely that of the -dream! I have heard of numerous instances of this kind of -dream, where no previous expectation nor excitement of mind -could be found to account for them, and where the fulfilment -was too exact and literal, in all particulars, to admit of their -being explained away by the ready resource of “an extraordinary -coincidence.” There are also on record, in both this -country and others, many perfectly well-authenticated cases of -people obtaining prizes in the lottery, through having dreamed -of the fortunate numbers. As many numbers, however, may -have been dreamed of that were not drawn prizes, we can -derive no conclusion from this circumstance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A very remarkable instance of this kind of dreaming occurred -a few years since to Mr. A—— F——, an eminent Scotch advocate, -while staying in the neighborhood of Loch Fyne, who -dreamed one night that he saw a number of people in the street -following a man to the scaffold. He discovered the features -of the criminal in the cart distinctly; and, for some reason or -other, which he could not account for, felt an extraordinary -interest in his fate—insomuch that he joined the throng, and -accompanied him to the place that was to terminate his earthly -career. This interest was the more unaccountable, that the -man had an exceedingly unprepossessing countenance, but it -was nevertheless so vivid as to induce the dreamer to ascend -the scaffold, and address him, with a view to enable him to -escape the impending catastrophe. Suddenly, however, while -he was talking to him, the whole scene dissolved away, and the -sleeper awoke. Being a good deal struck with the lifelike -reality of the vision, and the impression made on his mind by -the features of this man, he related the circumstance to his -friends at breakfast, adding that he should know him anywhere, -if he saw him. A few jests being made on the subject, the -thing was forgotten.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the afternoon of the same day, the advocate was informed -that two men wanted to speak to him, and, on going into the -hall, he was struck with amazement at perceiving that one of -them was the hero of his dream!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We are accused of a murder,” said they, “and we wish to -consult you. Three of us went out, last night, in a boat; an -accident has happened; our comrade is drowned, and they -want to make us accountable for him.” The advocate then -put some interrogations to them, and the result produced in -his mind by their answers was a conviction of their guilt. -Probably the recollection of his dream rendered the effects of -this conviction more palpable; for one addressing the other, -said in Gaelic, “We have come to the wrong man; he is against -us.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There is a higher power than I against you,” returned the -gentleman; “and the only advice I can give you is, if you are -guilty, fly immediately.” Upon this, they went away; and the -next thing he heard was, that they were taken into custody on -suspicion of the murder.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The account of the affair was, that, as they said, the three -had gone out together on the preceding evening, and that in -the morning the body of one of them had been found on the -shore, with a cut across his forehead. The father and friend -of the victim had waited on the banks of the lake till the boat -came in, and then demanded their companion; of whom, however, -they professed themselves unable to give any account. -Upon this, the old man led them to his cottage for the purpose -of showing them the body of his son. One entered, and, at the -sight of it, burst into a passion of tears; the other refused to -do so, saying his business called him immediately home, and -went sulkily away. This last was the man seen in the dream.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After a fortnight’s incarceration, the former of these was liberated; -and he then declared to the advocate his intention of -bringing an action of damages for false imprisonment. He was -advised not to do it. “Leave well alone,” said the lawyer; -“and if you’ll take my advice, make off while you can.” The -man, however, refused to fly: he declared that he really did -not know what had occasioned the death of his comrade. The -latter had been at one end of the boat, and he at the other; -when he looked round, he was gone; but whether he had fallen -overboard, and cut his head as he fell, or whether he had been -struck and pushed into the water, he did not know. The advocate -became finally satisfied of this man’s innocence; but the -authorities, thinking it absurd to try one and not the other, -again laid hands on him: and it fell to Mr. A—— F—— to be -the defender of both. The difficulty was, not to separate their -cases in his pleading; for, however morally convinced of the -different ground on which they stood, his duty, professionally, -was to obtain the acquittal of both, in which he finally succeeded, -as regarded the charge of murder. They were, therefore, sentenced -to two years’ imprisonment; and, so far as the dream is -concerned, here ends the story. There remains, however, a -curious sequel to it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A few years afterward, the same gentleman being in a boat -on Loch Fyne, in company with Sir T—— D—— L——, happened -to be mentioning these curious circumstances, when one -of the boatmen said that he “knew well about those two men; -and that a very strange thing had occurred in regard to one of -them.” This one, on inquiry, proved to be the subject of the -dream; and the strange thing was this: On being liberated, he -had quitted that part of the country, and in process of time had -gone to Greenock, and thence embarked in a vessel for Cork. -But the vessel seemed fated never to reach its destination; one -misfortune happened after another, till at length the sailors said: -“This won’t do; there must be a murderer on board with us!” -As is usual, when such a persuasion exists, they drew lots three -times, and each time it fell on that man! He was consequently -put on shore, and the vessel went on its way without him. -What had become of him afterward was not known.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A friend of mine, being in London, dreamed that she saw -her little boy playing on the terrace of her house in Northumberland; -that he fell and hurt his arm, and she saw him lying -apparently dead. The dream recurred two or three times on -the same night, and she awoke her husband, saying she “feared -something must have happened to Henry.” In due course of -post, a letter arrived from the governess, saying that she was -sorry to have to communicate that, while playing on the terrace -that morning, Master Henry had fallen over a heap of stones, -and broken his arm; adding that he had fainted after the accident, -and had lain for some time insensible. The lady to whom -this dream occurred is not aware having ever manifested this -faculty before or since.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mrs. W—— dreamed that she saw people ascending by a -ladder to the chamber of her step-son John; wakes, and says -she is afraid he is dead, and that there was something odd in -her dream about a watch and a candle. In the morning a messenger -is sent to inquire for the gentleman, and they find people -ascending to his chamber-window by a ladder, the door of -the room being locked. They discover him dead on the floor, -with his watch in his hand, and the candle between his feet. -The same lady dreamed that she saw a friend in great agony, -and that she heard him say they were tearing his flesh from his -bones. He was some time afterward seized with inflammation, -lay as she had seen him, and made use of those exact -words.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A friend of mine dreamed lately that somebody said her -nephew must not be bled, as it would be dangerous. The -young man was quite well, and there had been no design of -bleeding him; but on the following morning he had a tooth -drawn, and an effusion of blood ensued, which lasted some days, -and caused a good deal of uneasiness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A farmer, in Worcestershire, dreamed that his little boy, of -twelve years old, had fallen from the wagon and was killed. -The dream recurred three times in one night; but, unwilling -to yield to superstitious fears, he allowed the child to accompany -the wagoner to Kidderminster fair. The driver was very -fond of the boy, and he felt assured would take care of him; -but, having occasion to go a little out of the road to leave a -parcel, the man bade the child walk on with the wagon, and -he would meet him at a certain spot. On arriving there, the -horses were coming quietly forward, but the boy was not with -them; and on retracing the road, he was found dead, having -apparently fallen from the shafts, and been crushed by the -wheels.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A gentleman, who resided near one of the Scottish lakes, -dreamed that he saw a number of persons surrounding a body, -which had just been drawn out of the water. On approaching -the spot, he perceives that it is himself, and the assistants are -his own friends and retainers. Alarmed at the lifelike reality -of the vision, he resolved to elude the threatened destiny by -never venturing on the lake again. On one occasion, however, -it became quite indispensable that he should do so; and, as the -day was quite calm, he yielded to the necessity, on condition -that he should be put ashore at once on the opposite side, while -the rest of the party proceeded to their destinations, where he -would meet them. This was accordingly done: the boat -skimmed gayly over the smooth waters, and arrived safely at -the rendezvous, the gentlemen laughing at the superstition of -their companion, while he stood smiling on the bank to receive -them. But, alas! the fates were inexorable: the little promontory -that supported him had been undermined by the water; -it gave way beneath his feet, and life was extinct before he -could be rescued. This circumstance was related to me by a -friend of the family.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mr. S—— was the son of an Irish bishop, who set somewhat -more value on the things of this world than became his function. -He had always told his son that there was but one thing he -could not forgive, and that was, a bad marriage—meaning, by -a bad marriage, a poor one. As cautions of this sort do not, by -any means, prevent young people falling in love, Mr. S—— -fixed his affections on Lady O——, a fair young widow, without -any fortune; and, aware that it would be useless to apply -for his father’s consent, he married her without asking it. -They were consequently exceedingly poor; and, indeed, nearly -all they had to live on was a small sinecure of forty pounds per -annum, which Dean Swift procured for him. While in this -situation, Mr. S—— dreamed one night that he was in the -cathedral in which he had formerly been accustomed to attend -service; that he saw a stranger, habited as a bishop, occupying -his father’s throne; and that, on applying to the verger for an -explanation, the man said that the bishop was dead, and that -he had expired just as he was adding a codicil to his will in his -son’s favor. The impression made by the dream was so strong, -that Mr. S—— felt that he should have no repose till he had -obtained news from home; and as the most speedy way of -doing so was to go there himself, he started on horseback, much -against the advice of his wife, who attached no importance whatever -to the circumstance. He had scarcely accomplished half -his journey, when he met a courier, bearing the intelligence of -his father’s death; and when he reached home, he found that -there was a codicil attached to the will, of the greatest importance -to his own future prospects; but the old gentleman had -expired, with the pen in his hand, just as he was about to -sign it!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In this unhappy position, reduced to hopeless indigence, the -friends of the young man proposed that he should present himself -at the vice-regal palace, on the next levee day, in hopes -that some interest might be excited in his favor; to which, with -reluctance, he consented. As he was ascending the stairs, he -was met by a gentleman whose dress indicated that he belonged -to the church.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good Heavens!” said he, to the friend who accompanied -him, “who is that?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That is Mr. ——, of so and so.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then he will be bishop of L——!” returned Mr. S——; -“for that is the man I saw occupying my father’s throne.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Impossible!” replied the other; “he has no interest whatever, -and has no more chance of being a bishop than I have.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You will see,” replied Mr. S——; “I am certain he will.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They had made their obeisance above, and were returning, -when there was a great cry without, and everybody rushed to -the doors and windows to inquire what had happened. The -horses attached to the carriage of a young nobleman had become -restiff, and were endangering the life of their master, -when Mr. —— rushed forward, and, at the peril of his own, -seized their heads, and afforded Lord C—— time to descend, -before they broke through all restraint, and dashed away. -Through the interest of this nobleman and his friends, to whom -Mr. —— had been previously quite unknown, he obtained the -see of L——. These circumstances were related to me by a -member of the family.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It would be tedious to relate all the instances of this sort of -dreaming which have come to my knowledge, but were they -even much more rare than they are, and were there none of a -graver and more mysterious kind, it might certainly occasion -some surprise that they should have excited so little attention. -When stories of this sort are narrated, they are listened to with -wonder for the moment, and then forgotten, and few people reflect -on the deep significance of the facts, or the important -consequences to us involved in the question, of how, with our -limited faculties, which can not foretell the events of the next -moment, we should suddenly become prophets and seers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The following dream, as it regards the fate of a very interesting -person, and is, I believe, very little known, I will relate, -though the story is of somewhat an old date:—Major André, -the circumstances of whose lamented death are too well known -to make it necessary for me to detail them here, was a friend -of Miss Seward’s, and, previously to his embarkation for America, -he made a journey into Derbyshire, to pay her a visit, and -it was arranged that they should ride over to see the wonders -of the Peak, and introduce André to Newton, her minstrel, as -she called him, and to Mr. Cunningham, the curate, who was -also a poet.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>While these two gentlemen were awaiting the arrival of their -guests, of whose intentions they had been apprised, Mr. Cunningham -mentioned to Newton, that on the preceding night, -he had had a very extraordinary dream, which he could not -get out of his head. He had fancied himself in a forest; the -place was strange to him; and, while looking about, he perceived -a horseman approaching at great speed, who had scarcely reached -the spot where the dreamer stood, when three men rushed out -of the thicket, and, seizing his bridle, hurried him away, after -closely searching his person. The countenance of the stranger -being very interesting, the sympathy felt by the sleeper for his -apparent misfortune awoke him; but he presently fell asleep -again, and dreamed that he was standing near a great city, -among thousands of people, and that he saw the same person -he had seen seized in the wood brought out and suspended to -a gallows. When André and Miss Seward arrived, he was -horror-struck to perceive that his new acquaintance was the -antitype of the man in the dream.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mr. C——, a friend of mine, told me the other day, that he -had dreamed he had gone to see a lady of his acquaintance, -and that she had presented him with a purse. In the morning -he mentioned the circumstance to his wife, adding that he wondered -what should have made him dream of a person he had -not been in any way led to think of; and, above all, that she -should give him a purse. On that same day, a letter arrived -from that lady to Mrs. C——, containing a purse, of which she -begged her acceptance. Here was the imperfect foreshadowing -of the fact, probably from unsound sleep.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Another friend lately dreamed, one Thursday night, that he -saw an acquaintance of his thrown from his horse; and that he -was lying on the ground with the blood streaming from his face, -which was much cut. He mentioned his dream in the morning, -and being an entire disbeliever in such phenomena, he -could not account for the impression made on his mind. This -was so strong, that on Saturday, he could not forbear calling at -his friend’s house; who, he was told, was in bed, having been -thrown from his horse on the previous day, and much injured -about the face.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Relations of this description having been more or less familiar -to the world in all times and places, and the recurrence of the -phenomena too frequent to admit of their reality being disputed, -various theories were promulgated to account for them; -and indeed, there scarcely seems to be a philosopher or historian -among the Greeks and Romans who does not make some -allusion to this ill-understood department of nature; while, -among the eastern nations, the faith in such mysterious revelations -remains even yet undiminished. Spirits, good and evil, -or the divinities of the heathen mythology, were generally called -in to remove the difficulty; though some philosophers, rejecting -this supernatural interference, sought the explanation in -merely physical causes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the druidical rites of the northern nations, women bore -a considerable part: there were priestesses, who gave forth -oracles and prophecies, much after the manner of the Pythonesses -of the Grecian temples, and no doubt drawing their inspiration -from the same sources; namely, from the influences of -magnetism, and from narcotics. When the pure rites of Christianity -seperseded the heathen forms of worship, tradition kept -alive the memory of these vaticinations, together with some of -the arcana of the druidical groves; and hence, in the middle -ages, arose the race of so-called witches and sorcerers, who -were partly impostors, and partly self-deluded. Nobody thought -of seeking the explanation of the facts they witnessed in natural -causes; what had formerly been attributed to the influence -of the gods, was now attributed to the influence of the devil; -and a league with Satan was the universal solvent of all difficulties.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Persecution followed, of course; and men, women, and children, -were offered up to the demon of superstition, till the candid -and rational part of mankind, taking fright at the holocaust, -began to put in their protest, and lead out a reaction, which, -like all reactions, ran right into the opposite extreme. From -believing everything, they ceased to believe anything; and, after -swallowing unhesitatingly the most monstrous absurdities, -they relieved themselves of the whole difficulty, by denying the -plainest facts; while what it was found impossible to deny, was -referred to <span class='it'>imagination</span>—that most abused word, which explained -nothing, but left the matter as obscure as it was before. -Man’s spiritual nature was forgotten; and what the senses could -not apprehend, nor the understanding account for, was pronounced -to be impossible. Thank God! we have lived through -that age, and in spite of the struggles of the materialistic school, -we are fast advancing to a better. The traditions of the saints -who suffered the most appalling tortures, and slept or smiled -the while, can scarcely be rejected now, when we are daily -hearing of people undergoing frightful operations, either in a -state of insensibility, or while they believe themselves revelling -in delight; nor can the psychological intimations which these -facts offer, be much longer overlooked. One revelation must -lead to another; and the wise men of the world will, ere long, -be obliged to give in their adherence to Shakspere’s much quoted -axiom, and confess that “there <span class='it'>are</span> more things in heaven -and earth than are dreamt of in their philosophy.”</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='48' id='Page_48'></span><h1>CHAPTER IV.</h1></div> - -<h3>ALLEGORICAL DREAMS, PRESENTIMENT, ETC.</h3> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>It</span> has been the opinion of many philosophers, both ancient -and modern, that in the original state of man, as he came forth -from the hands of his Creator, that knowledge which is now -acquired by pains and labor was intuitive. His material body -was given him for the purpose of placing him in relation with -the material world, and his sensuous organs for the perception -of material objects, but his soul was a mirror of the universe, -in which everything was reflected, and, probably, is so still, but -that the spirit is no longer in a condition to perceive it. Degraded -in his nature, and distracted by the multiplicity of the -objects and interests that surround him, man has lost his faculty -of spiritual seeing; but in sleep, when the body is in a state of -passivity, and external objects are excluded from us by the -shutting up of the senses through which we perceive them, the -spirit, to a certain degree freed from its impediments, may -enjoy somewhat of its original privilege. “The soul, which is -designed as the mirror of a superior spiritual order” (to which -it belongs), still receives in dreams, some rays from above, and -enjoys a foretaste of its future condition; and, whatever interpretation -may be put upon the history of the Fall, few will -doubt that, before it, man must have stood in a much more intimate -relation to his Creator than he has done since. If we -admit this, and that, for the above-hinted reasons, the soul in -sleep may be able to exercise somewhat of its original endowment, -the possibility of what is called prophetic dreaming may -be better understood.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Seeing in dreams,” says Ennemoser, “is a self-illumining -of things, places, and times;” for relations of time and space -form no obstruction to the dreamer: things, near and far, are -alike seen in the mirror of the soul, according to the connection -in which they stand to each other; and, as the future is but an -unfolding of the present, as the present is of the past, one being -necessarily involved in the other, it is not more difficult to the -untrammelled spirit to see what is to happen, than what has -<span class='it'>already</span> happened. Under what peculiar circumstances it is -that the body and soul fall into this particular relative condition, -we do not know, but that certain families and constitutions are -more prone to these conditions than others, all experience goes -to establish. According to the theory of Dr. Ennemoser, we -should conclude that they are more susceptible to magnetic influences, -and that the body falls into a more complete state of -negative polarity.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the histories of the Old Testament we constantly find -instances of prophetic dreaming, and the voice of God was -chiefly heard by the prophets in sleep; seeming to establish that -man is in that state more susceptible of spiritual communion, -although the being thus made the special organ of the Divine -will, is altogether a different thing from the mere disfranchisement -of the embodied spirit in ordinary cases of clear seeing -in sleep. Profane history, also, furnishes us with various instances -of prophetic dreaming, which it is unnecessary for me -to refer to here. But there is one thing very worthy of remark, -namely, that the allegorical character of many of the dreams -recorded in the Old Testament, occasionally pervades those of -the present day. I have heard of several of this nature, and -Oberlin, the good pastor of Ban de la Roche, was so subject to -them, that he fancied he had acquired the art of interpreting -the symbols. This characteristic of dreaming is in strict conformity -with the language of the Old Testament, and of the -most ancient nations. Poets and prophets, heathen and Christian, -alike express themselves symbolically, and, if we believe -that this language prevailed in the early ages of the world, before -the external and intellectual life had predominated over -the instinctive and emotional, we must conclude it to be the -natural language of man, who must, therefore, have been gifted -with a conformable faculty of comprehending these hieroglyphics; -and hence it arose that the interpreting of dreams became -a legitimate art. Long after these instinctive faculties were -lost, or rather obscured, by the turmoil and distractions of sensuous -life, the memories and traditions of them remained, and -hence the superstructure of jugglery and imposture that ensued, -of which the gipsies form a signal example, in whom, however, -there can be no doubt that some occasional gleams of this original -endowment may still be found, as is the case, though more -rarely, in individuals of all races and conditions. The whole -of nature is one large book of symbols, which, because we have -lost the key to it, we can not decipher. “To the first man,” -says Hamann, “whatever his ear heard, his eye saw, or his hand -touched, was a living word; with this word in his heart and in -his mouth, the formation of language was easy. Man saw things -in their essence and properties, and named them accordingly.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There can be no doubt that the heathen forms of worship -and systems of religion were but the external symbols of some -deep meanings, and not the idle fables that they have been too -frequently considered; and it is absurd to suppose that the theology -which satisfied so many great minds had no better foundation -than a child’s fairy tale.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A maid-servant, who resided many years in a distinguished -family in Edinburgh, was repeatedly warned of the approaching -death of certain members of that family, by dreaming that one -of the walls of the house had fallen. Shortly before the head -of the family sickened and died, she said she had dreamed that -the main wall had fallen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A singular circumstance which occurred in this same family, -from a member of which I heard it, is mentioned by Dr. Abercrombie. -On this occasion the dream was not only prophetic, -but the symbol was actually translated into fact.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One of the sons being indisposed with a sore throat, a sister -dreamed that a watch, of considerable value, which she had borrowed -from a friend, had stopped; that she had awakened another -sister and mentioned the circumstance, who answered -that “something much worse had happened, for Charles’s breath -had stopped.” She then awoke, in extreme alarm, and mentioned -the dream to her sister, who, to tranquillize her mind, -arose and went to the brother’s room, where she found him -asleep and the watch going. The next night the same dream -recurred, and the brother was again found asleep and the watch -going. On the following morning, however, this lady was writing -a note in the drawing-room, with the watch beside her, -when, on taking it up, she perceived it had stopped; and she -was just on the point of calling her sister to mention the circumstance, -when she heard a scream from her brother’s room, -and the sister rushed in with the tidings that he had just expired. -The malady had not been thought serious; but a sudden -fit of suffocation had unexpectedly proved fatal.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This case, which is established beyond all controversy, is -extremely curious in many points of view; the acting out of -the symbol, especially. Symbolical events of this description -have been often related, and as often laughed at. It is easy to -laugh at what we do not understand; and it gives us the advantage -of making the timid narrator ashamed of his fact, so that -if he do not wholly suppress it, he at least insures himself by -laughing, too, the next time he relates it. It is said that -Goethe’s clock stopped the moment he died; and I have heard -repeated instances of this strange kind of synchronism, or magnetism, -if it be by magnetism that we are to account for the -mystery. One was told me very lately by a gentleman to -whom the circumstances occurred.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 16th of August, 1769, Frederick II., of Prussia, is -said to have dreamed that a star fell from heaven and occasioned -such an extraordinary glare that he could with great difficulty -find his way through it. He mentioned the dream to his -attendants, and it was afterward observed that it was on that -day Napoleon was born.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A lady, not long since, related to me the following circumstance: -Her mother, who was at the time residing in Edinburgh, -in a house one side of which looked into a wynd, while -the door was in the High street, dreamed that, it being Sunday -morning, she had heard a sound which attracted her to the -window; and, while looking out, had dropped a ring from her -finger into the wynd below; that she had, thereupon, gone -down in her night-clothes to seek it, but when she reached the -spot it was not to be found. Returning, extremely vexed at -her loss, as she re-entered her own door she met a respectable -looking young man, carrying some loaves of bread. On expressing -her astonishment at finding a stranger there at so -unseasonable an hour, he answered by expressing his at seeing -her in such a situation. She said she had dropped her ring, -and had been round the corner to seek it; whereupon, to her -delighted surprise, he presented her with her lost treasure. -Some months afterward, being at a party, she recognized the -young man seen in her dream, and learned that he was a -baker. He took no particular notice of her on that occasion; -and, I think, two years elapsed before she met him again. This -second meeting, however, led to an acquaintance, which terminated -in marriage.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Here the ring and the bread are curiously emblematic of the -marriage, and the occupation of the future husband.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Miss L——, residing at Dalkeith, dreamed that her brother, -who was ill, called her to his bedside and gave her a letter, which -he desired her to carry to their aunt, Mrs. H——, with the -request that she would “deliver it to John.” (John was another -brother, who had died previously, and Mrs. H—— was at the -time ill.) He added that “he himself was going <span class='it'>there</span> also, but -that Mrs. H—— would be <span class='it'>there</span> before him.” Accordingly, -Miss L—— went, in her dream, with the letter to Mrs. H——, -whom she found dressed in white, and looking quite radiant and -happy. She took the letter, saying she was going <span class='it'>there</span> directly, -and would deliver it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the following morning Miss L—— learned that her aunt -had died in the night. The brother died some little time -afterward.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A gentleman who had been a short time visiting Edinburgh, -was troubled with a cough, which, though it occasioned him no -alarm, he resolved to go home to nurse. On the first night of -his arrival he dreamed that one half of the house was blown -away. His bailiff, who resided at a distance, dreamed the same -dream on the same night. The gentleman died within a few -weeks.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This symbolical language, which the Deity appears to have -used” (witness Peter’s dream, Acts ii., and others) “in all his -revelations to man, is in the highest degree, what poetry is in a -lower, and the language of dreams, in the lowest, namely, the -original natural language of man; and we may fairly ask -whether this language, which here plays an inferior part, be -not, possibly, the proper language of a higher sphere, while we, -who vainly think ourselves awake, are, in reality, buried in a -deep, deep sleep, in which, like dreamers who imperfectly hear -the voices of those around them, we occasionally apprehend, -though obscurely, a few words of this divine tongue.” (<span class='it'>Vide -Schubert.</span>)</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This subject of sleeping and waking is a very curious one, -and might give rise to strange questionings. In the case of -those patients abovementioned, who seem to have two different -spheres of existence, who shall say which is the waking one, or -whether either of them be so? The speculations of Mr. Dove -on this subject merited more attention, I think, than they met -with when he lectured in Edinburgh. He maintained that, long -before he had paid any attention to magnetism, he had arrived -at the conclusion that there are as many states or conditions of -mind beyond sleep as there are on this side of it; passing -through the different stages of dreaming, revery, contemplation, -&c., up to perfect vigilance. However this be, in this world of -appearance, where we see nothing as it is, and where, both as -regards our moral and physical relations, we live in a state of -continual delusion, it is impossible for us to pronounce on this -question. It is a common remark, that some people seem to -live in a dream, and never to be quite awake; and the most -cursory observer can not fail to have been struck with examples -of persons in this condition, especially in the aged.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With respect to this allegorical language, Ennemoser observes, -that, “since no dreamer learns it of another, and still -less from those who are awake, it must be natural to all men.” -How different too, is its comprehensiveness and rapidity, to our -ordinary language! We are accustomed, and with justice, to -wonder at the admirable mechanism by which, without fatigue -or exertion, we communicate with our fellow-beings; but how -slow and ineffectual is human speech compared to this spiritual -picture-language, where a whole history is understood at a -glance! and scenes that seem to occupy days and weeks, are -acted out in ten minutes. It is remarkable that this hieroglyphic -language appears to be the same among all people; and that -the dream-interpreters of all countries construe the signs alike. -Thus, the dreaming of deep water denotes trouble, and pearls -are a sign of tears.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I have heard of a lady who, whenever a misfortune was -impending, dreamed that she saw a large fish. One night she -dreamed that this fish had bitten two of her little boy’s fingers. -Immediately afterward a schoolfellow of the child’s injured -those two very fingers by striking him with a hatchet; and I -have met with several persons who have learned, by experience, -to consider one particular dream as the certain prognostic -of misfortune.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A lady who had left the West Indies when six years old, -came one night, fourteen years afterward, to her sister’s bedside, -and said, “I know uncle is dead. I have dreamed that I -saw a number of slaves in the large store-room at Barbadoes, -with long brooms, sweeping down immense cobwebs. I complained -to my aunt, and she covered her face and said, ‘Yes, -he is no sooner gone than they disobey him.’ ” It was afterward -ascertained that Mr. P—— had died on that night, and -that he had never permitted the cobwebs in this room to be -swept away, of which, however, the lady assures me she knew -nothing; nor could she or her friends conceive what was meant -by the symbol of the cobwebs, till they received the explanation -subsequently from a member of the family.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The following very curious allegorical dream I give, not in -the words of the dreamer, but in those of her son, who bears a -name destined, I trust, to a long immortality:—</p> - -<div class='blockquote100percent'> - -<div class='lgl' style=''> <!-- rend=';mr:1em;' --> -<p class='line0' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;'>“<span class='sc'>Wooer’s Abbey-Cottage, Dunfermline-in-the-Woods</span>, }</p> -<p class='line0' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;'>“<span class='it'>Monday morning, 31st May, 1847</span>. }</p> -</div> <!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>“<span class='sc'>Dear Mrs. Crowe</span>: <span class='it'>That</span> dream of my mother’s was as -follows: She stood in a long, dark, empty gallery: on her one -side was my father, and on the other my eldest sister Amelia; -then myself, and the rest of the family, according to their ages. -At the foot of the hall stood my youngest sister Alexes, and -above her my sister Catherine—a creature, by-the-way, in -person and mind, more like an angel of heaven than an inhabitant -of earth. We all stood silent and motionless. At last <span class='sc'>it</span> -entered—the unimagined <span class='it'>something</span>, that, casting its grim -shadow before, had enveloped all the trivialities of the preceding -dream in the stifling atmosphere of terror. It entered, -stealthily descending the three steps that led from the entrance -down into the chamber of horror: and my mother <span class='it'>felt</span> <span class='sc'>it</span> <span class='it'>was -Death</span>! He was dwarfish, bent, and shrivelled. He carried -on his shoulder a heavy axe; and had come, she thought, to -destroy ‘all her little ones at one fell swoop.’ On the entrance -of the shape, my sister Alexes leaped out of the rank, interposing -herself between him and my mother. He raised his axe -and aimed a blow at Catherine—a blow which, to her horror, -my mother could not intercept, though she had snatched up a -three-legged stool, the sole furniture of the apartment, for that -purpose. She could not, she felt, fling the stool at the figure -without destroying Alexes, who kept shooting out and in between -her and the ghastly thing. She tried in vain to scream; -she besought my father, in agony, to avert the impending stroke; -but he did not hear, or did not heed her, and stood motionless, -as in a trance. Down came the axe, and poor Catherine fell -in her blood, cloven to ‘the white halse bane.’ Again the axe -was lifted, by the inexorable shadow, over the head of my -brother, who stood next in the line. Alexes had somewhere -disappeared behind the ghastly visitant; and, with a scream, my -mother flung the footstool at his head. He vanished, and she -awoke.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This dream left on my mother’s mind a fearful apprehension -of impending misfortune, ‘which would not pass away.’ It -was <span class='it'>murder</span> she feared; and her suspicions were not allayed by -the discovery that a man (some time before discarded by my -father for bad conduct, and with whom she had, somehow, associated -the <span class='it'>Death</span> of her dream) had been lurking about the -place, and sleeping in an adjoining outhouse on the night it -occurred, and for some nights previous and subsequent to it. -Her terror increased. Sleep forsook her; and every night, -when the house was still, she arose and stole, sometimes with a -candle, sometimes in the dark, from room to room, listening, in -a sort of waking nightmare, for the breathing of the assassin, -who, she imagined, was lurking in some one of them. This -could not last. She reasoned with herself; but her terror became -intolerable, and she related her dream to my father, who, -of course, called her a fool for her pains, whatever might be his -real opinion of the matter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Three months had elapsed, when we children were all of us -seized with scarlet fever. My sister Catherine died almost immediately—sacrificed, -as my mother in her misery thought, to -her (my mother’s) over-anxiety for Alexes, whose danger seemed -more imminent. The dream-prophecy was in part fulfilled. I -also was at death’s door—given up by the doctors, but not by -my mother: she was confident of my recovery; but for my -brother, who was scarcely considered in danger at all, but on -whose head <span class='it'>she had seen</span> the visionary axe impending, her fears -were great; for she could not recollect whether the blow had -or had not descended when the spectre vanished. My brother -recovered, but relapsed, and barely escaped with life; but -Alexes did not. For a year and ten months the poor child lingered, -and almost every night I had to sing her asleep—often, -I remember, through bitter tears, for I knew she was dying, -and I loved her the more as she wasted away. I held her little -hand as she died; I followed her to the grave—the last thing -that I have <span class='it'>loved</span> on earth. And <span class='it'>the dream was fulfilled</span>.</p> - -<p class='line0' style='text-align:left;margin-left:3em;'>“Truly and sincerely yours,</p> -<p class='line0' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;'><span class='sc'>J. Noel Paton</span>.”</p> - -</div> - -<p class='pindent'>The dreaming of coffins and funerals, when a death is impending, -must be considered as examples of this allegorical -language. Instances of this kind are extremely numerous. Not -unfrequently the dreamer, as in cases of second-sight, sees either -the body in the coffin, so as to be conscious of who is to die, or -else is made aware of it from seeing the funeral-procession at -a certain house, or from some other significant circumstance. -This faculty, which has been supposed to belong peculiarly to -the highlanders of Scotland, appears to be fully as well known -in Wales and on the continent, especially in Germany.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The language of dreams, however, is not always symbolical. -Occasionally, the scene, that is transacting at a distance, or that -is to be transacted at some future period, is literally presented -to the sleeper, as things appear to be presented in many cases -of second-sight, and also in clairvoyance; and, since we suppose -him (that is, the sleeper) to be in a temporarily magnetic state, -we must conclude that the degree of perspicuity, or translucency -of the vision, depends on the degree of that state. Nevertheless, -there are considerable difficulties attending this theory. -A great proportion of the prophetic dreams we hear of are connected -with the death of some friend or relative. Some, it is -true, regard unimportant matters, as visits, and so forth; but -this is generally, though not exclusively, the case only with persons -who have a constitutional tendency to this kind of dreaming, -and with whom it is frequent; but it is not uncommon for -those who have not discovered any such tendency, to be made -aware of a death: and the number of dreams of this description -I meet with is very considerable. Now, it is difficult to conceive -what the condition is that causes this perception of an -approaching death; or why, supposing, as we have suggested -above, that, when the senses sleep, the untrammelled spirit <span class='it'>sees</span>, -the memory of this revelation, if I may so call it, so much more -frequently survives than any other, unless, indeed, it be the force -of the shock sustained—which shock, it is to be remarked, -always wakes the sleeper; and this may be the reason that, if -he fall asleep again, the dream is almost invariably repeated.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I could fill pages with dreams of this description which have -come to my knowledge, or been recorded by others.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mr. H——, a gentleman with whom I am acquainted—a man -engaged in active business, and apparently as little likely as any -one I ever knew to be troubled with a faculty of this sort—dreamed -that he saw a certain friend of his dead. The dream -was so like reality, that, although he had no reason whatever -to suppose his friend ill, he could not forbear sending in the -morning to inquire for him. The answer returned was, that -Mr. A—— was out, and was quite well. The impression, however, -was so vivid, that, although he had nearly three miles to -send, Mr. H—— felt that he could not start for Glasgow, whither -business called him, without making another inquiry. This -time his friend was at home, and answered for himself, that he -was very well, and that somebody must have been hoaxing -H——, and making him believe otherwise. Mr. H—— set -out on his journey, wondering at his own anxiety, but unable -to conquer it. He was absent but a few days (I think three); -and the first news he heard on his return was, that his friend -had been seized with an attack of inflammation, and was dead.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A German professor lately related to a friend of mine, that, -being some distance from home, he dreamed that his father was -dying, and was calling for him. The dream being repeated, -he was so far impressed as to alter his plans, and return home, -where he arrived in time to receive his parent’s last breath. -He was informed that the dying man had been calling upon his -name repeatedly, in deep anguish at his absence.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A parallel case to this is that of Mr. R—— E—— S——, an -accountant in Edinburgh, and a shrewd man of business, who -relates the following circumstance as occurring to himself. He -is a native of Dalkeith, and was residing there, when, being -about fifteen years of age, he left home on a Saturday, to spend -a few days with a friend at Prestonpans. On the Sunday night -he dreamed that his mother was extremely ill, and started out -of his sleep with an impression that he must go to her immediately. -He even got out of bed with the intention of doing so, -but, reflecting that he had left her quite well, and that it was -only a dream, he returned to bed, and again fell asleep. But -the dream returned, and, unable longer to control his anxiety, -he arose, dressed himself in the dark, quitted the house, leaping -the railings that surrounded it, and made the best of his way to -Dalkeith. On reaching home, which he did before daylight, he -tapped at the kitchen-window, and, on gaining admittance, was -informed that on the Saturday evening, after he had departed, -his mother had been seized with an attack of British cholera, -and was lying above, extremely ill. She had been lamenting -his absence extremely, and had scarcely ceased crying, “Oh, -Ralph, Ralph! what a grief that you are away!” At nine -o’clock he was admitted to her room; but she was no longer in -a condition to recognise him, and she died within a day or two.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Instances of this sort are numerous, but it would be tedious -to narrate them, especially as there is little room for variety in -the details. I shall therefore content myself with giving one or -two specimens of each class, confining my examples to such as -have been communicated to myself, except where any case of -particular interest leads me to deviate from this plan. The -frequency of such phenomena may be imagined, when I mention -that the instances I shall give, with few exceptions, have -been collected with little trouble, and without seeking beyond -my own small circle of acquaintance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the family of the above-named gentleman (Mr. R—— -E—— S——), there probably existed a faculty of presentiment; -for, in the year 1810, his elder brother being assistant-surgeon -on board the “Gorgon,” war-brig, his father dreamed -that he was promoted to the “Sparrowhawk,” a ship he had -then never heard of—neither had the family received any intelligence -of the young man for several months. He told his dream, -and was well laughed at for his pains; but in a few weeks a -letter arrived announcing the promotion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When Lord Burghersh was giving theatrical parties at Florence, -a lady (Mrs. M——, whose presence was very important) -excused herself one evening, being in great alarm from having -dreamed in the night that her sister, in England, was dead, -which proved to be the fact.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mr. W——, a young man at Glasgow college, not long since -dreamed that his aunt in Russia was dead. He noted the date -of his dream on the window-shutter of his chamber. In a short -time the news of the lady’s death arrived. The dates, however, -did not accord; but, on mentioning the circumstance to a friend, -he was reminded that the adherence of the Russians to the old -style reconciled the difference.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A man of business, in Glasgow, lately dreamed that he saw -a coffin, on which was inscribed the name of a friend, with the -date of his death. Some time afterward he was summoned to -attend the funeral of that person, who, at the time of the dream, -was in good health, and he was struck with surprise on seeing -the plate of the coffin bearing the very date he had seen in his -dream.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A French gentleman, Monsieur de V——, dreamed, some -years since, that he saw a tomb, on which he read very distinctly, -the following date—23d June, 184—; there were, also, -some initials, but so much effaced that he could not make them -out. He mentioned the circumstance to his wife; and for some -time, they could not help dreading the recurrence of the ominous -month; but, as year after year passed, and nothing happened, -they had ceased to think of it, when at last the symbol -was explained. On the 23d of June, 1846, their only daughter -died at the age of seventeen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Thus far the instances I have related seem to resolve themselves -into cases of simple clairvoyance, or second sight in sleep, -although, in using these words, I am very far from meaning to -imply that I explain the thing, or unveil its mystery. The -theory above alluded to, seems as yet, the only one applicable -to the facts, namely, that the senses, being placed in a negative -and passive state, the universal sense of the immortal spirit -within, which sees, and hears, and knows, or rather, in one -word, <span class='it'>perceives</span>, without organs, becomes more or less free to -work unclogged. That the soul is a mirror in which the spirit -sees all things reflected, is a modification of this theory; but I -confess I find myself unable to attach any idea to this latter form -of expression. Another view, which I have heard suggested -by an eminent person, is, that if it be true, as maintained by -Dr. Wigan, and some other physiologists, that our brains are -double, it is possible that a polarity may exist between the two -sides, by means of which the negative side may, under certain -circumstances, become a mirror to the positive. It seems difficult -to reconcile this notion with the fact, that these perceptions -occur most frequently when the brain is asleep. How far the -sleep is perfect and general, however, we can never know; and -of course, when the powers of speech and locomotion continue -to be exercised, we are aware that it is only partial, in a more -or less degree. In the case of magnetic sleepers, observation -shows us, that the auditory nerves are aroused by being addressed, -and fall asleep again as soon as they are left undisturbed. -In most cases of natural sleep, the same process, if -the voice were heard at all, would disperse sleep altogether; -and it must be remembered that, as Dr. Holland says, sleep is -a fluctuating condition, varying from one moment to another, -and this allowance must be made when considering magnetic -sleep also.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is by this theory of the duality of the brain, which seems -to have many arguments in its favor, and the alternate sleeping -and waking of the two sides, that Dr. Wigan seeks to account -for the state of double or alternate consciousness above alluded -to; and also, for that strange sensation which most people -have experienced, of having witnessed a scene, or heard a conversation, -at some indefinite period before, or even in some -earlier state of existence. He thinks that one half of the brain -being in a more active condition than the other, it takes cognizance -of the scene first; and that thus the perceptions of the -second, when they take place, appear to be a repetition of some -former experiences. I confess this theory, as regards this latter -phenomenon, is to me eminently unsatisfactory, and it is especially -defective in not accounting for one of the most curious -particulars connected with it, namely, that on these occasions -people not only seem to recognise the circumstances as having -been experienced before; but they have, very frequently, an -actual foreknowledge of what will be next said or done.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, the explanation of this mystery, I incline to think, may -possibly lie in the hypothesis I have suggested; namely, that in -profound, and what appears to us generally to have been dreamless -sleep, we are clear-seers. The map of coming events lies open -before us, the spirit surveys it; but with the awaking of the sensuous -organs, this dream-life, with its aerial excursions, passes -away, and we are translated into our other sphere of existence. -But, occasionally, some flash of recollection, some ray of light -from this visionary world, in which we have been living, breaks -in upon our external objective existence, and we recognise the -locality, the voice, the very words, as being but a reacting of some -foregone scenes of a drama.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The faculty of presentiment, of which everybody must have -heard instances, seems to have some affinity to the phenomenon -last referred to. I am acquainted with a lady, in whom this -faculty is in some degree developed, who has evinced it by a -consciousness of the moment when a death was taking place in -her family, or among her connections, although she does not -know who it is that has departed. I have heard of several -cases of people hurrying home from a presentiment of fire; and -Mr. M—— of Calderwood was once, when absent from home, -seized with such an anxiety about his family, that without being -able in any way to account for it, he felt himself impelled to fly -to them and remove them from the house they were inhabiting; -one wing of which fell down immediately afterward. No notion -of such a misfortune had ever before occurred to him, nor -was there any reason whatever to expect it; the accident originating -from some defect in the foundations.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A circumstance, exactly similar to this, is related by Stilling, -of Professor Böhm, teacher of mathematics at Marburg; who -being one evening in company, was suddenly seized with a -conviction that he ought to go home. As however, he was -very comfortably taking his tea, and had nothing to do at home, -he resisted the admonition; but it returned with such force that -at length he was obliged to yield. On reaching his house, he -found everything as he had left it; but he now felt himself -urged to remove his bed from the corner in which it stood to -another; but as it had always stood there, he resisted this impulsion -also. However, the resistance was vain, absurd as it -seemed, he felt he must do it; so he summoned the maid, and -with her aid, drew the bed to the other side of the room; after -which he felt quite at ease and returned to spend the rest of -the evening with his friends. At ten o’clock the party broke -up, and he retired home and went to bed and to sleep. In the -middle of the night, he was awakened by a loud crash, and on -looking out, he saw that a large beam had fallen, bringing part -of the ceiling with it, and was lying exactly on the spot his bed -had occupied.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A young servant-girl in this neighborhood, who had been several -years in an excellent situation, where she was much esteemed, -was suddenly seized with a presentiment that she was -wanted at home; and, in spite of all representations, she resigned -her place, and set out on her journey thither; where, -when she arrived, she found her parents extremely ill, one of -them mortally, and in the greatest need of her services. No -intelligence of their illness had reached her, nor could she herself -in any way account for the impulse. I have heard of numerous -well-authenticated cases of people escaping drowning -from being seized with an unaccountable presentiment of evil -when there were no external signs whatever to justify the apprehension. -The story of Cazotte, as related by La Harpe, is -a very remarkable instance of this sort of faculty; and seems -to indicate a power like that possessed by Zschokke, who relates, -in his autobiography, that frequently while conversing with -a stranger, the whole circumstances of that person’s previous -life were revealed to him, even comprising details of places and -persons. In the case of Cazotte, it was the future that was -laid open to him, and he foretold, to a company of eminent persons, -in the year 1788, the fate which awaited each individual, -himself included, in consequence of the revolution then commencing. -As this story is already in print, I forbear to relate it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One of the most remarkable cases of presentiment I know, is, -that which occurred, not very long since, on board one of her -majesty’s ships, when lying off Portsmouth. The officers being -one day at the mess-table, young Lieutenant P—— suddenly -laid down his knife and fork, pushed away his plate, and turned -extremely pale. He then rose from the table, covering his face -with his hands, and retired from the room. The president of -the mess, supposing him to be ill, sent one of the young men -to inquire what was the matter. At first Mr. P—— was unwilling -to speak, but on being pressed, he confessed that he had -been seized by a sudden and irresistible impression that a -brother he had then in India was dead. “He died,” said he, -“on the 12th of August, at six o’clock; I am perfectly certain -of it!” No arguments could overthrow this conviction, which, -in due course of post, was verified to the letter. The young -man had died at Cawnpore, at the precise period mentioned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When any exhibition of this sort of faculty occurs in animals, -which is by no means unfrequent, it is termed <span class='it'>instinct</span>; and -we look upon it, as what it probably is, only another and more -rare development of that intuitive knowledge which enables -them to seek their food, and perform the other functions necessary -for the maintenance of their existence and the continuance -of their race. Now, it is remarkable, that the life of an animal is -a sort of dream-life; their ganglionic system is more developed -than that of man, and the cerebral less; and since it is, doubtless, -from the greater development of the ganglionic system in -women that they exhibit more frequent instances of such abnormal -phenomena as I am treating of, than men, we may be, -perhaps, justified in considering the faculty of presentiment in -a human being as a suddenly-awakened instinct; just as in an -animal it is an intensified instinct.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Everybody has either witnessed or heard of instances of this -sort of presentiment, in dogs especially. For the authenticity -of the following anecdote I can vouch, the traditions being very -carefully preserved in the family concerned, from whom I have -it. In the last century, Mr. P——, a member of this family, -who had involved himself in some of the stormy affairs of this -northern part of the island, was one day surprised by seeing a -favorite dog, that was lying at his feet, start suddenly up and -seize him by the knee, which he pulled—not with violence, but -in a manner that indicated a wish that his master should follow -him to the door. The gentleman resisted the invitation for -some time, till at length, the perseverance of the animal rousing -his curiosity, he yielded, and was thus conducted by the dog -into the most sequestered part of a neighboring thicket, where, -however, he could see nothing to account for his dumb friend’s -proceeding, who now lay himself down, quite satisfied, and -seemed to wish his master to follow his example, which, determined -to pursue the adventure and find out, if possible, what -was meant, he did. A considerable time now elapsed before -the dog would consent to his master’s going home; but at -length he arose and led the way thither, when the first news -Mr. P—— heard was, that a party of soldiers had been there in -quest of him; and he was shown the marks of their spikes, -which had been thrust through the bed-clothes in their search. -He fled, and ultimately escaped, his life being thus preserved -by his dog.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Some years ago, at Plymouth, I had a brown spaniel that -regularly, with great delight, accompanied my son and his nurse -in their morning’s walk. One day she came to complain to me -that Tiger would not go out with them. Nobody could conceive -the reason of so unusual a caprice; and, unfortunately, we did -not yield to it, but forced him to go. In less than a quarter of -an hour he was brought back, so torn to pieces, by a savage dog -that had just come ashore from a foreign vessel, that it was -found necessary to shoot him immediately.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='66' id='Page_66'></span><h1>CHAPTER V.</h1></div> - -<h3>WARNINGS.</h3> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>This</span> comparison between the power of presentiment in a -human being and the instincts of an animal, may be offensive -to some people; but it must be admitted, that, as far as we can -see, the manifestation is the same, whatever be the cause. Now, -the body of an animal must be informed by an immaterial principle—let -us call it soul or spirit, or anything else; for it is evident -that their actions are not the mere result of organization; -and all I mean to imply is, that this faculty of foreseeing must -be inherent in intelligent spirit, let it be lodged in what form -of flesh it may; while, with regard to what instinct is, we are, -in the meanwhile, in extreme ignorance, <span class='it'>Instinct</span> being a word -which, like <span class='it'>Imagination</span>, everybody uses, and nobody understands.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Ennemoser and Schubert believe, that the instinct by which -animals seek their food, consists in polarity, but I have met with -only two modern theories which pretend to explain the phenomena -of presentiment; the one is, that the person is in a temporarily -magnetic state, and that the presentiment is a kind of clairvoyance. -That the faculty, like that of prophetic dreaming, is -constitutional, and chiefly manifested in certain families, is well -established; and the very unimportant events, such as visits, -and so forth, on which it frequently exercises itself, forbid us to -seek an explanation in a higher source. It seems, also, to be -quite independent of the will of the subject, as it was in the -case of Zschokke, who found himself thus let into the secrets -of persons in whom he felt no manner of interest, while, where -the knowledge might have been of use to him, he could not -command it. The theory of one half of the brain in a negative -state, serving as a mirror to the other half, if admitted at all, -may answer as well, or better, for these waking presentiments, -than for clear-seeing in dreams. But, for my own part, I incline -very much to the views of that school of philosophers who -adopt the first and more spiritual theory, which seems to me to -offer fewer difficulties, while, as regards our present nature, and -future hopes, it is certainly more satisfactory. Once admitted -that the body is but the temporary dwelling of an immaterial -spirit, the machine through which, and by which, in its normal -states, the spirit alone can manifest itself, I can not see any -great difficulty in conceiving that, in certain conditions of that -body, their relations may be modified, and that the spirit may -perceive, by its own inherent quality, without the aid of its material -vehicle; and, as this condition of the body may arise from -causes purely physical, we see at once why the revelations frequently -regard such unimportant events.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Plutarch, in his dialogue between Lamprius and Ammonius, -observes, that if the demons, or protecting spirits, that watch -over mankind, are disembodied souls, we ought not to doubt that -those spirits, even when in the flesh, possessed the faculties they -now enjoy, since we have no reason to suppose that any new -ones are conferred at the period of dissolution; for these faculties -must be inherent, although temporarily obscured, and weak -and ineffective in their manifestations. As it is not when the -sun breaks from behind the clouds that he first begins to shine, -so it is not when the soul issues from the body, as from a cloud -that envelops it, that it first attains the power of looking into -the future.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But the events foreseen are not always unimportant, nor is -the mode of the communication always of the same nature. I -have mentioned above some instances wherein danger was -avoided, and there are many of the same kind recorded in various -works; and it is the number of instances of this description, -corroborated by the universal agreement of all somnambulists -of a higher order, which has induced a considerable -section of the German psychologists to adopt the doctrine of -guardian spirits—a doctrine which has prevailed, more or less, -in all ages, and has been considered by many theologians to be -supported by the Bible. There is in this country, and I believe -in France, also, though with more exceptions, such an extreme -aversion to admit the possibility of anything like what is called -supernatural agency, that the mere avowal of such a persuasion -is enough to discredit one’s understanding with a considerable -part of the world, not excepting those who profess to believe -in the Scriptures. Yet, even apart from this latter authority, I -can not see anything repugnant to reason in such a belief. As -far as we see of nature, there is a continued series from the -lowest to the highest; and what right have we to conclude that -we are the last link of the chain? Why may there not be a -gamut of beings? That such should be the case, is certainly in -accordance with all that we see; and that we do not see them, -affords, as I have said above, not a shadow of argument against -their existence; man, immersed in business and pleasure, living -only his sensuous life, is too apt to forget how limited those -senses are, how merely designed for a temporary purpose, and -how much may exist of which they can take no cognizance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>possibility</span> admitted, the chief arguments against the -<span class='it'>probability</span> of such a guardianship, are the interference it -implies with the free-will of man, on the one hand, and the -rarity of this interference, on the other. With respect to the -first matter of free-will, it is a subject of acknowledged difficulty, -and beyond the scope of my work. Nobody can honestly -look back upon his past life without feeling perplexed by -the question, of how far he was, or was not, able at the moment -to resist certain impulsions, which caused him to commit wrong -or imprudent actions; and it must, I fear, ever remain a <span class='it'>quæstio -vexata</span>, how far our virtues and vices depend upon our -organization—an organization whose constitution is beyond -our own power, in the first instance, although we may certainly -improve or deteriorate it; but which we must admit, at -the same time, to be, in its present deteriorated form, the ill -result of the world’s corruption, and the inherited penalty of -the vices of our predecessors, whereby the sins of the fathers -are visited upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There is, as the Scriptures say, but one way to salvation, -though there are many to perdition—that is, though there are -many wrongs, there is only one right; for truth is one, and -our true liberty consists in being free to follow it; for we can -not imagine that anybody seeks his own perdition, and nobody, -I conceive, loves vice for its own sake, as others love virtue, -that is, because it <span class='it'>is</span> vice: so that, when they follow its -dictates, we must conclude that they are not free, but in bondage, -whose ever bond-slave they be, whether of an evil spirit, -or of their own organization; and I think every human being, -who looks into himself, will feel that he is in effect then only -<span class='it'>free</span> when he is obeying the dictates of virtue; and that the -language of Scripture, which speaks of sin as a bondage, is not -only metaphorically but literally true.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The warning a person of an impending danger or error -implies no constraint; the subject of the warning is free to take -the hint or not, as he pleases; we receive many cautions, both -from other people and from our own consciences, which we -refuse to benefit by.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With regard to the second objection, it seems to have greater -weight; for although the instances of presentiment are very -numerous, taken apart, they are certainly, as far as we know, -still but exceptional cases. But here we must remember -that an influence of this sort might be very continuously, though -somewhat remotely, exercised in favor of an individual, without -the occurrence of any instance of so striking a nature as to render -the interference manifest; and certain it is that some people—I -have met with several, and very sensible persons too—have -all their lives an intuitive persuasion of such a guardianship -existing in relation to themselves. That in our normal -states it was not intended we should hold sensible communion -with the invisible world, seems evident; but nature abounds in -exceptions; and there may be conditions regarding both parties, -the incorporated and the unincorporated spirit, which may -at times bring them into a more intimate relation. No one -who believes that consciousness is to survive the death of the -body, can doubt that the released spirit will then hold communion -with its congeners; it being the fleshly tabernacles we -inhabit which alone disables us from doing so at present. But -since the constitutions of bodies vary exceedingly, not only in -different individuals, but in the same individuals at different -times, may we not conceive the possibility of there existing -conditions which, by diminishing the obstructions, render this -communion practicable within certain limits? For there certainly -are recorded and authentic instances of presentiments -and warnings, that with difficulty admit of any other explanation; -and that these admonitions are more frequently received -in the state of sleep than of vigilance, rather furnishes an additional -argument in favor of the last hypothesis; for if there be -any foundation for the theories above suggested, it is then that, -the sensuous functions being in abeyance and the external life -thereby shut out from us, the spirit would be most susceptible to -the operations of spirit, whether of our deceased friends or of appointed -ministers, if such there be. Jung Stelling is of opinion -that we must decide from the aim and object of the revelation, -whether it be a mere development of the faculty of presentiment, -or a case of spiritual intervention; but this would surely -be a very erroneous mode of judging, since the presentiment -that foresees a visit may foresee a danger, and show us how -to avoid it, as in the following instance:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A few years ago, Dr. W——, now residing at Glasgow, -dreamed that he received a summons to attend a patient at a -place some miles from where he was living; that he started on -horseback; and that, as he was crossing a moor, he saw a bull -making furiously at him, whose horns he only escaped by taking -refuge on a spot inaccessible to the animal, where he waited a -long time, till some people, observing his situation, came to his -assistance and released him. While at breakfast on the following -morning, the summons came; and, smiling at the odd -<span class='it'>coincidence</span>, he started on horseback. He was quite ignorant -of the road he had to go; but by-and-by he arrived at the -moor, which he recognised, and presently the bull appeared, -coming full tilt toward him. But his dream had shown him the -place of refuge, for which he instantly made; and there he -spent three or four hours, besieged by the animal, till the country -people set him free. Dr. W—— declares that, but for the -dream, he should not have known in what direction to run for -safety.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A butcher named Bone, residing at Holytown, dreamed a -few years since that he was stopped at a particular spot on his -way to market, whither he was going on the following day to -purchase cattle, by two men in blue clothes, who cut his throat. -He told the dream to his wife, who laughed at him; but, as it -was repeated two or three times and she saw he was really -alarmed, she advised him to join somebody who was going the -same road. He accordingly listened till he heard a cart passing -his door, and then went out and joined the man, telling him -the reason for so doing. When they came to the spot, there -actually stood the two men in blue clothes, who, seeing he was -not alone, took to their heels and ran.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, although the dream was here probably the means of -saving Bone’s life, there is no reason to suppose that this is a -case of what is called <span class='it'>supernatural intervention</span>. The phenomenon -would be sufficiently accounted for by the admission -of the hypothesis I have suggested, namely, that he was aware -of the impending danger in his sleep, and had been able, from -some cause unknown to us, to convey the recollection into his -waking state.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I know instances in which, for several mornings previous to -the occurrence of a calamity, persons have awakened with a -painful sense of misfortune, for which they could not account, -and which was dispersed as soon as they had time to reflect -that they had no cause for uneasiness. This is the only kind -of presentiment I ever experienced myself; but it has occurred -to me twice, in a very marked and unmistakable manner. As -soon as the intellectual life, the life of the brain, and the external -world, broke in, the instinctive life receded, and the intuitive -knowledge was obscured. Or, according to Dr. Ennemoser’s -theory, the polar relations changed, and the nerves were -busied with conveying sensuous impressions to the brain, their -sensibility or positive state now being transferred from the internal -to the external periphery. It is by the contrary change -that Dr. Ennemoser seeks to explain the insensibility to pain -of mesmerized patients.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A circumstance of a similar kind to the above occurred in a -well-known family in Scotland, the Rutherfords of E——. A -lady dreamed that her aunt, who resided at some distance, was -murdered by a black servant. Impressed with the liveliness -of the vision, she could not resist going to the house of her -relation, where the man she had dreamed of (whom I think she -had never before seen) opened the door to her. Upon this, she -induced a gentleman to watch in the adjoining room during the -night; and toward morning, hearing a foot upon the stairs, he -opened the door and discovered the black servant carrying up -a coal-scuttle full of coals, for the purpose, as he said, of lighting -his mistress’s fire. As this motive did not seem very probable, -the coals were examined, and a knife found hidden among -them, with which, he afterward confessed, he intended to have -murdered his mistress, provided she made any resistance to a -design he had formed of robbing her of a large sum of money -which he was aware she had that day received.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The following case has been quoted in several medical works, -at least in works written by learned doctors, and on that account -I should not mention it here, but for the purpose of remarking -on the extraordinary facility with which, while they do not question -the fact, they dispose of the mystery:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mr. D——, of Cumberland, when a youth, came to Edinburgh, -for the purpose of attending college, and was placed -under the care of his uncle and aunt, Major and Mrs. Griffiths, -who then resided in the castle. When the fine weather came, -the young man was in the habit of making frequent excursions -with others of his own age and pursuits; and one afternoon he -mentioned that they had formed a fishing-party, and had bespoken -a boat for the ensuing day. No objections were made -to this plan; but in the middle of the night, Mrs. Griffiths -screamed out, “The boat is sinking!—oh, save them!” Her -husband said he supposed she had been thinking of the fishing-party, -but she declared she had never thought about it at all, -and soon fell asleep again. But, ere long, she awoke a second -time, crying out that she “saw the boat sinking!”—“It must -have been the remains of the impression made by the other -dream,” she suggested to her husband, “for I have no uneasiness -whatever about the fishing-party.” But on going to sleep -once more, her husband was again disturbed by her cries: -“They are gone!” she said, “the boat has sunk!” She now -really became alarmed, and, without waiting for morning, she -threw on her dressing-gown, and went to Mr. D——, who was -still in bed, and whom with much difficulty she persuaded to -relinquish his proposed excursion. He consequently sent his -servant to Leith with an excuse, and the party embarked without -him. The day was extremely fine when they put to sea, -but some hours afterward a storm arose, in which the boat -foundered—nor did any one of the number survive to tell -the tale!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This dream is easily accounted for,” say the learned gentlemen -above alluded to, “from the dread all women have of -the water, and the danger that attends boating on the firth of -Forth!” Now, I deny that all women have a dread of the -water, and there is not the slightest reason for concluding that -Mrs. Griffiths had. At all events, she affirms that she felt no -uneasiness at all about the party, and one might take leave to -think that her testimony upon that subject is of more value than -that of persons who never had any acquaintance with her, and -who were not so much as born at the time the circumstance -occurred, which was in the year 1731. Besides, if Mrs. Griffiths’s -dread arose simply from “the dread all women have of -the water,” and that its subsequent verification was a mere -coincidence, since women constantly risk their persons for -voyages and boating excursions, such dreams should be extremely -frequent—the fact of there being any accident impending -or not, having, according to this theory, no relation -whatever to the phenomenon. And as for the danger that -attends boating on the firth of Forth, we must naturally suppose -that, had it been considered so imminent, Major Griffiths -would have at least endeavored to dissuade a youth that was -placed under his protection from risking his life so imprudently. -It would be equally reasonable to explain away Dr. W——’s -dream, by saying that all gentlemen who have to ride across -commons are in great dread of encountering a bull—commons -in general being infested by that animal!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Miss D——, a friend of mine, was some time since invited to -join a pic-nic excursion into the country. Two nights before -the day fixed for the expedition, she dreamed that the carriage -she was to go in was overturned down a precipice. Impressed -with her dream, she declined the excursion, confessing her reason, -and advising the rest of the party to relinquish their -project. They laughed at her, and persisted in their scheme. -When, subsequently, she went to inquire how they had spent -the day, she found the ladies confined to their beds from injuries -received, the carriage having been overturned down a precipice. -Still, this was only a coincidence!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Another specimen of the haste with which people are willing -to dispose of what they do not understand, is afforded by a case -that occurred not many years since in the north of Scotland, -where a murder having been committed, a man came forward, -saying that he had dreamed that the pack of the murdered pedlar -was hidden in a certain spot; where, on a search being -made, it was actually found. They at first concluded he was -himself the assassin, but the real criminal was afterward discovered; -and it being asserted (though I have been told erroneously) -that the two men had passed some time together, since -the murder, in a state of intoxication, it was decided that the -crime and the place of concealment had been communicated to -the pretended dreamer—and all who thought otherwise were -laughed at; “for why,” say the rationalists, “should not Providence -have so ordered the dream as to have prevented the -murder altogether?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Who can answer that question, and whither would such a -discussion lead us? Moreover, if this faculty of presentiment -be a natural one, though only imperfectly and capriciously developed, -there may have been no design in the matter: it is an -accident, just in the same sense as an illness is an accident; -that is, not without cause, but without a cause that we can penetrate. -If, on the other hand, we have recourse to the intervention -of spiritual beings, it may be answered that we are -entirely ignorant of the conditions under which any such communication -is possible; and that we can not therefore come to -any conclusions as to why so much is done, and no more.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But there is another circumstance to be observed in considering -the case, which is, that the dreamer is said to have passed -some days in a state of intoxication. Now, even supposing this -had been true, it is well known that the excitement of the brain -caused by intoxication has occasionally produced a very remarkable -exaltation of certain faculties. It is by means of either -intoxicating draughts or vapors that the soothsayers of Lapland -and Siberia place themselves in a condition to vaticinate; and -we have every reason to believe that drugs, producing similar -effects, were resorted to by the thaumaturgists of old, and by -the witches of later days, of which I shall have more to say -hereafter. But, as a case in point, I may here allude to the -phenomena exhibited in a late instance of the application of -ether, by Professor Simpson, of Edinburgh, to a lady who was -at the moment under circumstances not usually found very -agreeable. She said that she was amusing herself delightfully -by playing over a set of quadrilles which she had known in her -youth, but had long forgotten them; but she now perfectly -remembered them, and had played them over several times. -Here was an instance of the exaltation of a faculty from intoxication, -similar to that of the woman who, in her delirium, spoke -a language which she had only heard in her childhood, and of -which, in her normal state, she had no recollection.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That the inefficiency of the communication, or presentiment, -or whatever it may be, is no argument against the fact of such -dreams occurring, I can safely assert, from cases which have -come under my own knowledge. A professional gentleman, -whose name would be a warrant for the truth of whatever he -relates, told me the following circumstance regarding himself. -He was, not very long since, at the seaside with his family, and, -among the rest, he had with him one of his sons, a boy about -twelve years of age, who was in the habit of bathing daily, his -father accompanying him to the water-side. This had continued -during the whole of their visit, and no idea of danger or accident -had ever occurred to anybody. On the day preceding the -one appointed for their departure, Mr. H——, the gentleman -in question, felt himself after breakfast surprised by an unusual -drowsiness, which, having vainly struggled to overcome, -he at length fell asleep in his chair, and dreamed that he was -attending his son to the bath as usual, when he suddenly saw -the boy drowning, and that he himself had rushed into the -water, dressed as he was, and brought him ashore. Though -he was quite conscious of the dream when he awoke, he attached -no importance to it; he considered it merely a dream—no -more; and when, some hours afterward, the boy came into -the room, and said, “Now, papa, it’s time to go—this will be -my last bath”—his morning’s vision did not even recur to him. -They walked down to the sea, as usual, and the boy went into -the water, while the father stood composedly watching him -from the beach, when suddenly the child lost his footing, a wave -had caught him, and the danger of his being carried away was -so imminent, that, without even waiting to take off his greatcoat, -boots, or hat, Mr. H—— rushed into the water, and was -only just in time to save him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Here is a case of undoubted authenticity, which I take to be -an instance of clear-seeing, or second-sight, in sleep. The spirit, -with its intuitive faculty, saw what was impending; the sleeper -remembered his dream, but the intellect did not accept the -warning; and, whether that warning was merely a subjective -process—the clear-seeing of the spirit—or whether it was -effected by any external agency, the free-will of the person -concerned was not interfered with.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I quote the ensuing similar case from the “Frankfort Journal,” -June 25, 1837: “A singular circumstance is said to be -connected with the late attempt on the life of the archbishop -of Autun. The two nights preceding the attack, the prelate -dreamed that he saw a man who was making repeated efforts -to take away his life, and he awoke in extreme terror and agitation -from the exertions he had made to escape the danger. -The features and appearance of the man were so clearly imprinted -on his memory, that he recognised him the moment his -eye fell upon him, which happened as he was coming out of -church. The bishop hid his face, and called his attendants, but -the man had fired before he could make known his apprehensions. -Facts of this description are far from uncommon. It -appears that the assassin had entertained designs against the -lives of the bishops of Dijon, Burgos, and Nevers.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The following case, which occurred a few years since in the -north of England, and which I have from the best authority, is -remarkable from the inexorable fatality which brought about -the fulfilment of the dream: Mrs. K——, a lady of family and -fortune in Yorkshire, said to her son, one morning on descending -to breakfast: “Henry, what are you going to do to-day?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am going to hunt,” replied the young man.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am very glad of it,” she answered. “I should not like -you to go shooting, for I dreamed last night that you did so, -and were shot.” The son answered, gayly, that he would take -care not to be shot, and the hunting party rode away; but, in -the middle of the day, they returned, not having found any -sport. Mr. B——, a visiter in the house, then proposed that -they should go out with their guns and try to find some woodcocks. -“I will go with you,” returned the young man, “but -I must not shoot, to-day, myself; for my mother dreamed last -night I was shot; and, although it is but a dream, she would -be uneasy.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They went, Mr. B—— with his gun, and Mr. K—— without. -But shortly afterward the beloved son was brought home -dead: a charge from the gun of his companion had struck him -in the eye, entered his brain, and killed him on the spot. Mr. -B——, the unfortunate cause of this accident and also the narrator -of it, died but a few weeks since.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is well known that the murder of Mr. Percival, by Bellingham, -was seen in sleep by a gentleman at York, who actually -went to London in consequence of his dream, which was -several times repeated. He arrived too late to prevent the -calamity; neither would he have been believed, had he arrived -earlier.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the year 1461, a merchant was travelling toward Rome -by Sienna, when he dreamed that his throat was cut. He communicated -his dream to the innkeeper, who did not like it, and -advised him to pray and confess. He did so, and then rode -forth, and was presently attacked by the priest he had confessed -to, who had thus learned his apprehensions. He killed the -merchant, but was betrayed, and disappointed of his gains, by -the horse taking fright and running back to the inn with the -money-bags.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I have related this story, though not a new one, on account -of its singular resemblance to the following, which I take from -a newspaper paragraph, but which I find mentioned as a fact in -a continental publication:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“<span class='sc'>Singular Verification of a Dream.</span>—A letter from -Hamburgh contains the following curious story relative to the -verification of a dream. It appears that a locksmith’s apprentice, -one morning lately, informed his master (Claude Soller) -that on the previous night he dreamed that he had been assassinated -on the road to Bergsdorff, a little town at about two -hours’ distance from Hamburgh. The master laughed at the -young man’s credulity, and, to prove that he himself had little -faith in dreams, insisted upon sending him to Bergsdorff with -one hundred and forty rix dollars, which he owed to his brother-in-law, -who resided in the town. The apprentice, after in vain -imploring his master to change his intention, was compelled to -set out at about 11 o’clock. On arriving at the village of Billwaerder, -about half-way between Hamburgh and Bergsdorff, -he recollected his dream with terror; but perceiving the baillie -of the village at a little distance, talking to some of his workmen, -he accosted him, and acquainted him with his singular -dream, at the same time requesting that, as he had money -about his person, one of his workmen might be allowed to -accompany him for protection across a small wood which lay in -his way. The baillie smiled, and, in obedience to his orders, -one of his men set out with the young apprentice. The next -day, the corpse of the latter was conveyed by some peasants to -the baillie, along with a reaping-hook which had been found by -his side, and with which the throat of the murdered youth had -been cut. The baillie immediately recognised the instrument -as one which he had on the previous day given to the workman -who had served as the apprentice’s guide, for the purpose of -pruning some willows. The workman was apprehended, and, -on being confronted with the body of his victim, made a full -confession of his crime, adding that the recital of the dream had -alone prompted him to commit the horrible act. The assassin, -who is thirty-five years of age, is a native of Billwaerder, and, -previously to the perpetration of the murder, had always borne -an irreproachable character.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The life of the great Harvey was saved by the governor of -Dover refusing to allow him to embark for the continent with -his friends. The vessel was lost, with all on board; and the -governor confessed to him, that he had detained him in consequence -of an injunction he had received in a dream to -do so.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There is a very curious circumstance related by Mr. Ward, -in his “Illustrations of Human Life,” regarding the late Sir -Evan Nepean, which I believe is perfectly authentic. I have -at least been assured, by persons well acquainted with him, -that he himself testified to its truth.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Being, at the time, secretary to the admiralty, he found himself -one night unable to sleep, and urged by an undefinable -feeling that he must rise, though it was then only two o’clock. -He accordingly did so, and went into the park, and from that -to the home office, which he entered by a private door, of which -he had the key. He had no object in doing this; and, to pass -the time, he took up a newspaper that was lying on the table, -and there read a paragraph to the effect that a reprieve had -been despatched to York, for the men condemned for coining.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The question occurred to him, was it indeed despatched? -He examined the books and found it was not; and it was only -by the most energetic proceedings that the thing was carried -through, and reached York in time to save the men.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Is not this like the agency of a protecting spirit, urging Sir -Evan to this discovery, in order that these men might be spared, -or that those concerned might escape the remorse they would -have suffered for their criminal neglect?</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is a remarkable fact, that somnambules of the highest order -believe themselves attended by a protecting spirit. To those -who do not believe, because they have never witnessed, the -phenomena of somnambulism, or who look upon the disclosures -of persons in that state as the mere raving of hallucination, this -authority will necessarily have no weight; but even to such -persons the universal coincidence must be considered worthy -of observation, though it be regarded only as a symptom of -disease. I believe I have remarked elsewhere, that many persons, -who have not the least tendency to somnambulism or any -proximate malady, have all their lives an intuitive feeling of -such a guardianship; and, not to mention Socrates and the -ancients, there are, besides, numerous recorded cases in modern -times, in which persons, not somnambulic, have declared -themselves to have seen and held communication with their -spiritual protector.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The case of the girl called Ludwiger, who, in her infancy, -had lost her speech and the use of her limbs, and who was earnestly -committed by her mother, when dying, to the care of her -elder sisters, is known to many. These young women piously -fulfilled their engagement till the wedding-day of one of them -caused them to forget their charge. On recollecting it, at -length, they hastened home, and found the girl, to their amazement, -sitting up in her bed, and she told them that her mother -had been there and given her food. She never spoke again, and -soon after died. This circumstance occurred at Dessau, not -many years since, and is, according to Schubert, a perfectly-established -fact in that neighborhood. The girl at no other -period of her life exhibited any similar phenomena, nor had she -ever displayed any tendency to spectral illusions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The wife of a respectable citizen, named Arnold, at Heilbronn, -held constant communications with her protecting spirit, -who warned her of impending dangers, approaching visiters, -and so forth. He was only once visible to her, and it was in -the form of an old man; but his presence was felt by others as -well as herself, and they were sensible that the air was stirred, -as by a breath.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Jung Stilling publishes a similar account, which was bequeathed -to him by a very worthy and pious minister of the -church. The subject of the guardianship was his own wife, and -the spirit first appeared to her after her marriage, in the year -1799, as a child, attired in a white robe, while she was busy in -her bed-chamber. She stretched out her hand to take hold of -the figure, but it disappeared. It frequently visited her afterward, -and in answer to her inquiries it said, “I died in my -childhood!” It came to her at all hours, whether alone or in -company, and not only at home, but elsewhere, and even when -travelling, assisting her when in danger; it sometimes floated -in the air, spake to her in its own language, which somehow, -she says, she understood, and could speak, too; and it was once -seen by another person. He bade her call him <span class='it'>Immanuel</span>. She -earnestly begged him to show himself to her husband, but he -alleged that it would make him ill, and cause his death. On -asking him <span class='it'>wherefore</span>, he answered, “Few persons are able to -see such things.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Her two children, one six years old, and the other younger, -saw this figure as well as herself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Schubert, in his “Geschichte der Seele,” relates that the -ecclesiastical councillor Schwartz, of Heidelberg, when about -twelve years of age, and at a time that he was learning the -Greek language, but knew very little about it, dreamed that his -grandmother, a very pious woman, to whom he had been much -attached, appeared to him, and unfolded a parchment inscribed -with Greek characters which foretold the fortunes of his future -life. He read it off with as much facility as if it had been in -German, but being dissatisfied with some particulars of the prediction, -he begged they might be changed. His grandmother -answered him in Greek, whereupon he awoke, remembering -the dream, but, in spite of all the efforts to arrest them, he was -unable to recall the particulars the parchment had contained. -The answer of his grandmother, however, he was able to grasp -before it had fled his memory, and he wrote down the words; -but the meaning of them he could not discover without the -assistance of his grammar and lexicon. Being interpreted, they -proved to be these: “As it is prophesied to me, so I prophesy -to thee!” He had written the words in a volume of Gessner’s -works, being the first thing he laid his hand on; and he often -philosophized on them in later days, when they chanced to meet -his eye. How, he says, should he have been able to read and -produce that in his sleep, which, in his waking state, he would -have been quite incapable of? “Even long after, when I left -school,” he adds, “I could scarcely have put together such a -sentence; and it is extremely remarkable that the feminine -form was observed in conformity with the sex of the speaker.” -The words were these: αῦτα Χρησμ῾ωδηθεισα Χρησμωδὲω σοι.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Grotius relates, that when Mr. de Saumaise was councillor -of the parliament at Dijon, a person, who knew not a word of -Greek, brought him a paper on which was written some words -in that language, but not in the character. He said that a voice -had uttered them to him in the night, and that he had written -them down, imitating the sound as well as he could. Mons de -Saumaise made out that the signification of the words was, -“Begone! do you not see that death impends?” Without comprehending -what danger was predicted, the person obeyed the -mandate and departed. On that night the house that he had -been lodging in fell to the ground.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The difficulty in these two cases is equally great, apply to it -whatever explanation we may; for even if the admonitions proceeded -from some friendly guardian, as we might be inclined to -conclude, it is not easy to conceive why they should have been -communicated in a language the persons did not understand.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After the death of Dante, it was discovered that the thirteenth -canto of the “Paradiso” was missing; great search was made for -it, but in vain; and to the regret of everybody concerned, it was -at length concluded that it had either never been written, or had -been destroyed. The quest was therefore given up, and some -months had elapsed, when Pietro Allighieri, his son, dreamed -that his father had appeared to him and told him that if he -removed a certain panel near the window of the room in -which he had been accustomed to write, the thirteenth canto -would be found. Pietro told his dream, and was laughed at, of -course; however, as the canto did not turn up, it was thought -as well to examine the spot indicated in the dream. The panel -was removed, and there lay the missing canto behind it; much -mildewed, but, fortunately, still legible.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>If it be true that the dead do return sometimes to solve our -perplexities, here was not an unworthy occasion for the exercise -of such a power. We can imagine the spirit of the great -poet still clinging to the memory of his august work, immortal -as himself—the record of those high thoughts which can -never die.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There are numerous curious accounts extant of persons being -awakened by the calling of a voice which announced some -impending danger to them. Three boys are sleeping in the -wing of a castle, and the eldest is awakened by what appears to -him to be the voice of his father calling him by name. He rises -and hastens to his parent’s chamber, situated in another part of -the building, where he finds his father asleep, who, on being -awakened, assures him that he had not called him, and the boy -returns to bed. But he is scarcely asleep, before the circumstance -recurs, and he goes again to his father with the same -result. A third time he falls asleep, and a third time he is -aroused by the voice, too distinctly heard for him to doubt -his senses; and now, alarmed at he knows not what, he rises -and takes his brothers with him to his father’s chamber; and -while they are discussing the singularity of the circumstance, a -crash is heard, and that wing of the castle in which the boys -slept falls to the ground. This incident excited so much attention -in Germany that it was recorded in a ballad.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is related by Amyraldus, that Monsieur Calignan, chancellor -of Navarre, dreamed three successive times in one night, -at Berne, that a voice called to him and bade him quit the place, -as the plague would soon break out in that town; that, in consequence, -he removed his family, and the result justified his -flight.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A German physician relates, that a patient of his told him, that -he dreamed repeatedly, one night, that a voice bade him go to -his hop-garden, as there were thieves there. He resisted the injunction -some time, till at length he was told that if he delayed -any longer he would lose all his produce. Thus urged, he -went at last, and arrived just in time to see the thieves, loaded -with sacks, making away from the opposite side of the hop-ground.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A Madame Von Militz found herself under the necessity of -parting with a property which had long been in her family. -When the bargain was concluded, and she was preparing to -remove, she solicited permission of the new proprietor to carry -away with her some little relic as a memento of former days—a -request which he uncivilly denied. On one of the nights -that preceded her departure from the home of her ancestors, -she dreamed that a voice spoke to her, and bade her go to the -cellar and open a certain part of the wall, where she would find -something that nobody would dispute with her. Impressed with -her dream, she sent for a bricklayer, who, after long seeking, -discovered a place which appeared less solid than the rest. A -hole was made, and in a niche was found a goblet, which contained -something that looked like a pot pourri. On shaking out -the contents, there lay at the bottom a small ring, on which was -engraven the name <span class='it'>Anna Von Militz</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A friend of mine, Mr. Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, has -some coins that were found exactly in the same manner. -The child of a Mr. Christison, in whose house his father was -lodging, in the year 1781, dreamed that there was a treasure -hid in the cellar. Her father had no faith in the dream; but -Mr. Sharpe had the curiosity to have the place dug up, and a -copper pot was found, full of coins.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A very singular circumstance was related to me by Mr. -J——, as having occurred not long since to himself. A tonic -had been prescribed to him by his physician, for some slight derangement -of the system, and as there was no good chemist in -the village he inhabited, he was in the habit of walking to a -town about five miles off, to get the bottle filled as occasion required. -One night, that he had been to M—— for this purpose, -and had obtained his last supply, for he was now recovered, -and about to discontinue the medicine, a voice seemed to -warn him that some great danger was impending, his life was -in jeopardy; then he heard, but not with his outward ear, a -beautiful prayer. “It was not myself that prayed,” he said, -“the prayer was far beyond anything I am capable of composing—it -spoke of me in the third person, always as <span class='it'>he</span>; -and supplicated that for the sake of my widowed mother this -calamity might be averted. My father had been dead some -months. I was sensible of all this, yet I can not say whether -I was asleep or awake. When I rose in the morning, the -whole was present to my mind, although I had slept soundly in -the interval; I felt, however, as if there was some mitigation of -the calamity, though what the danger was with which I was -threatened, I had no notion. When I was dressed, I prepared -to take my medicine, but on lifting the bottle, I fancied that the -color was not the same as usual. I looked again, and hesitated, -and finally, instead of taking two tablespoonfuls, which -was my accustomed dose, I took but one. Fortunate it was -that I did so; the apothecary had made a mistake; the drug -was poison; I was seized with a violent vomiting, and other -alarming symptoms, from which I was with difficulty recovered. -Had I taken the two spoonfuls, I should, probably, not have -survived to tell the tale.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The manner in which I happened to obtain these particulars -is not uninteresting. I was spending the evening with Mr. -Wordsworth, at Ridal, when he mentioned to me that a stranger, -who had called on him that morning, had quoted two lines -from his poem of “Laodamia,” which, he said, to him had a -peculiar interest. They were these:—</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“The invisible world with thee hath sympathized;</p> -<p class='line0'>Be thy affections raised and solemnized.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='noindent'>“I do not know what he alludes to,” said Mr. Wordsworth; -“but he gave me to understand that these lines had a deep -meaning for him, and that he had himself been the subject of -such a sympathy.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Upon this, I sought the stranger, whose address the poet gave -me, and thus learned the above particulars from himself. His -very natural persuasion was, that the interceding spirit was his -father. He described the prayer as one of earnest anguish.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One of the most remarkable instances of warning that has -come to my knowledge, is that of Mr. M——, of Kingsborough. -This gentleman, being on a voyage to America, dreamed, one -night, that a little old man came into his cabin and said, “Get -up! Your life is in danger!” Upon which, Mr. M—— awoke; -but considering it to be only a dream, he soon composed himself -to sleep again. The dream, however, if such it were, recurred, -and the old man urged him still more strongly to get -up directly; but he still persuaded himself it was only a dream; -and after listening a few minutes, and hearing nothing to alarm -him, he turned round and addressed himself once more to sleep. -But now the old man appeared again, and angrily bade him -rise instantly, and take his gun and ammunition with him, for he -had not a moment to lose. The injunction was now so distinct -that Mr. M—— felt he could no longer resist it; so he hastily -dressed himself, took his gun, and ascended to the deck, where -he had scarcely arrived, when the ship struck on a rock, which -he and several others contrived to reach. The place, however, -was uninhabited, and but for his gun, they would never have -been able to provide themselves with food till a vessel arrived -to their relief.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now these can scarcely be looked upon as instances of clear-seeing, -or of second-sight in sleep, which, in Denmark, is called -<span class='it'>first-seeing</span>, I believe; for in neither case did the sleeper perceive -the danger, much less the nature of it. If, therefore, we -refuse to attribute them to some external protecting influence, -they resolve themselves into cases of vague presentiment; but -it must then be admitted that the mode of the manifestation is -very extraordinary; so extraordinary, indeed, that we fall into -fully as great a difficulty as that offered by the supposition of a -guardian spirit.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>An American clergyman told me that an old woman, with -whom he was acquainted, who had two sons, heard a voice say -to her in the night, “John’s dead!” This was her eldest son. -Shortly afterward, the news of his death arriving, she said to -the person who communicated the intelligence to her, “If John’s -dead, then I know that David is dead, too, for the same voice -has since told me so;” and the event proved that the information, -whence ever it came, was correct.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Not many years since, Captain S—— was passing a night at -the Manse of Strachur, in Argyleshire, then occupied by a relation -of his own; shortly after he retired, the bed-curtains -were opened, and somebody looked in upon him. Supposing it -to be some inmate of the house, who was not aware that the -bed was occupied, he took no notice of the circumstance, till it -being two or three times repeated, he at length said, “What do -you want? Why do you disturb me in this manner?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I come,” replied a voice, “to tell you, that this day twelvemonth -you will be with your father!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After this, Captain S—— was no more disturbed. In the -morning, he related the circumstance to his host, though, being -an entire disbeliever in all such phenomena, without attaching -any importance to the warning.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the natural course of events, and quite irrespective of this -visitation, on that day twelvemonth he was again at the Manse -of Strachur, on his way to the north, for which purpose it was -necessary that he should cross the ferry to Craigie. The day -was, however, so exceedingly stormy, that his friend begged -him not to go; but he pleaded his business, adding that he was -determined not to be withheld from his intention by the ghost, -and, although the minister delayed his departure, by engaging -him in a game of backgammon, he at length started up, declaring -he could stay no longer. They, therefore, proceeded to the -water, but they found the boat moored to the side of the lake, -and the boatman assured them that it would be impossible to -cross. Captain S——, however, insisted, and, as the old man -was firm in his refusal, he became somewhat irritated, and laid -his cane lightly across his shoulders.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It ill becomes you, sir,” said the ferryman, “to strike an -old man like me; but, since you will have your way, you must; -I can not go with you, but my son will; but you will never -reach the other side; he will be drowned, and you too.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The boat was then set afloat, and Captain S——, together -with his horse and servant, and the ferryman’s son, embarked -in it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The distance was not great, but the storm was tremendous; -and, after having with great difficulty got half way across the -lake, it was found impossible to proceed. The danger of tacking -was, of course, considerable; but, since they could not -advance, there was no alternative but to turn back, and it was -resolved to attempt it. The manœuvre, however, failed; the -boat capsized, and they were all precipitated into the water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You keep hold of the horse—I can swim,” said Captain -S—— to his servant, when he saw what was about to happen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Being an excellent swimmer, and the distance from the shore -inconsiderable, he hoped to save himself, but he had on a heavy -top-coat, with boots and spurs. The coat he contrived to take -off in the water, and then struck out with confidence; but, alas! -the coat had got entangled with one of the spurs, and, as he -swam, it clung to him, getting heavier and heavier as it became -saturated with water, ever dragging him beneath the stream. -He, however, reached the shore, where his anxious friend still -stood watching the event; and, as the latter bent over him, he -was just able to make a gesture with his hand, which seemed -to say, “You see, it was to be!” and then expired.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The boatman was also drowned; but, by the aid of the horse, -the servant escaped.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As I do not wish to startle my readers, nor draw too suddenly -on their faith, I have commenced with this class of phenomena, -which it must be admitted are sufficiently strange, and, -if true, must also be admitted to be well worthy of attention. -No doubt these cases, and still more those to which I shall next -proceed, give a painful shock to the received notions of polished -and educated society in general—especially in this country, -where the analytical or scientifical psychology of the eighteenth -century has almost superseded the study of synthetic or philosophical -psychology. It has become a custom to look at all the -phenomena regarding man in a purely physiological point of -view; for although it is admitted that he has a mind, and although -there is such a science as metaphysics, the existence of -what we call <span class='it'>mind</span> is never considered but as connected with -the body. We know that body can exist without mind; for, -not to speak of certain living conditions, the body subsists without -mind when the spirit has fled; albeit, without the living -principle it can subsist but for a short period, except under particular -circumstances; but we seem to have forgotten that mind, -though dependent upon body as long as the connection between -them continues, can yet subsist without it. There have indeed -been philosophers, purely materialistic, who have denied this, -but they are not many; and not only the whole Christian world, -but all who believe in a future state, must perforce admit it; -for even those who hold that most unsatisfactory doctrine that -there will be neither memory nor consciousness till a second -incorporation takes place, will not deny that the mind, however -in a state of abeyance and unable to manifest itself, must still -subsist as an inherent property of man’s immortal part. Even -if, as some philosophers believe, the spirit, when freed from the -body by death, returns to the Deity and is reabsorbed in the -being of God, not to become again a separate entity until reincorporated, -still what we call mind can not be disunited from -it. And when once we have begun to conceive of mind, and -consequently of perception, as separated from and independent -of bodily organs, it will not be very difficult to apprehend that -those bodily organs must circumscribe and limit the view of the -spiritual in-dweller, which must otherwise be necessarily perceptive -of spirit like itself, though perhaps unperceptive of -material objects and obstructions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is perfectly evident to me,” said Socrates, in his last moments, -“that, to see clearly, we must detach ourselves from the -body, and perceive by the soul alone. Not while we live, but -when we die, will that wisdom which we desire and love be first -revealed to us; it must be then, or never, that we shall attain -to true understanding and knowledge, since by means of the -body we never can. But if, during life, we would make the -nearest approaches possible to its possession, it must be by -divorcing ourselves as much as in us lies from the flesh and its -nature.” In their spiritual views and apprehension of the nature -of man, how these old heathens shame us!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The Scriptures teach us that God chose to reveal himself to -his people chiefly in dreams, and we are entitled to conclude -that the reason of this was, that the spirit was then more free -to the reception of spiritual influences and impressions; and -the class of dreams to which I next proceed seem to be best -explained by this hypothesis. It is also to be remarked that the -awe or fear which pervades a mortal at the mere conception -of being brought into relation with a spirit, has no place in -sleep, whether natural or magnetic. There is no fear then, -no surprise; we seem to meet on an equality—is it not that we -meet spirit to spirit? Is it not that our spirit being then released -from the trammels—the dark chamber of the flesh—it -does enjoy a temporary equality? Is not that true, that some -German psychologist has said—“<span class='it'>The magnetic man is a -spirit!</span>”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There are numerous instances to be met with of persons receiving -information in their sleep, which either is, or seems to -be, communicated by their departed friends. The approach of -danger, the period of the sleeper’s death, or of that of some persons -beloved, has been frequently made known in this form of -dream.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Binns quotes, from Cardanus, the case of Johannes Maria -Maurosenus, a Venetian senator, who, while governor of Dalmatia, -saw in a dream one of his brothers, to whom he was -much attached: the brother embraced him and bade him farewell, -because he was going into the other world. Maurosenus -having followed him a long way weeping, awoke in tears, and -expressed much anxiety respecting this brother. Shortly afterward -he received tidings from Venice that this Domatus, of -whom he had dreamed, had died on the night and at the hour -of the dream, of a pestilential fever, which had carried him off -in three days.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the night of the 21st of June, in the year 1813, a lady, -residing in the north of England, dreamed that her brother, who -was then with his regiment in Spain, appeared to her, saying, -“Mary, I die this day at Vittoria!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Vittoria was a town which, previous to the famous battle, -was not generally known even by name in this country, and this -dreamer, among others, had never heard of it; but, on rising, -she eagerly resorted to a gazetteer for the purpose of ascertaining -if such a place existed. On finding that it was so, she -immediately ordered her horses, and drove to the house of a -sister, some eight or nine miles off, and her first words on entering -the room were, “Have you heard anything of John?”—“No,” -replied the second sister, “but I know he is dead! He -appeared to me last night, in a dream, and told me that he was -killed at Vittoria. I have been looking into the gazetteer and -the atlas, and I find there is such a place, and I am sure that he -is dead!” And so it proved: the young man died that day at -Vittoria, and, I believe, on the field of battle. If so, it is worthy -of observation that the communication was not made till the -sisters slept.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A similar case to this is that of Miss D——, of G——, who -one night dreamed that she was walking about the washing-greens, -when a figure approached, which she recognised as that -of a beloved brother who was at that time with the British army -in America. It gradually faded away into a kind of anatomy, -holding up its hands, through which the light could be perceived, -and asking for clothes to dress a body for the grave. The dream -recurred more than once in the same night, and, apprehending -some misfortune, Miss D—— noted down the date of the occurrence. -In due course of post, the news arrived that this brother -had been killed at the battle of Bunker’s hill. Miss D——, who -died only within the last few years, though unwilling to speak -of the circumstance, never refused to testify to it as a fact.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Here, supposing this to be a real apparition, we see an instance -of that desire for decent obsequies so constantly attributed -by the ancients to the souls of the dead.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When the German poet Collin died at Vienna, a person -named Hartmann, who was his friend, found himself very much -distressed by the loss of a hundred and twenty florins, which he -had paid for the poet, under a promise of reimbursement. As -this sum formed a large portion of his whole possessions, the -circumstance was occasioning him considerable anxiety, when -he dreamed one night that his deceased friend appeared to him, -and bade him immediately set two florins on No. 11, on the -first calling of the little lottery, or loto, then about to be drawn. -He was bade to confine his venture to two florins, neither less -nor more; and to communicate this information to nobody. -Hartmann availed himself of the hint, and obtained a prize of -a hundred and thirty florins.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Since we look upon lotteries, in this country, as an immoral -species of gambling, it may be raised as an objection to this -dream, that such intelligence was an unworthy mission for a -spirit, supposing the communication to have been actually made -by Collin. But, in the first place, we have only to do with facts, -and not with their propriety or impropriety, according to our -notions; and, by-and-by, I shall endeavor to show that such discrepancies -possibly arise from the very erroneous notions commonly -entertained of the state of those who have disappeared -from the terrestrial life.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Simonides the poet, arriving at the seashore with the intention -of embarking on board a vessel on the ensuing day, found -an unburied body, which he immediately desired should be decently -interred. On the same night, this deceased person appeared -to him, and bade him by no means go to sea, as he had -proposed. Simonides obeyed the injunction, and beheld the -vessel founder, as he stood on the shore. He raised a monument -on the spot to the memory of his preserver, which is said -still to exist, on which are engraven some lines, to the effect -that it was dedicated by Simonides, the poet of Cheos, in gratitude -to the dead who had preserved him from death.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A much-esteemed secretary died a few years since, in the -house of Mr. R—— von N——. About eight weeks afterward, -Mr. R—— himself being ill, his daughter dreamed that the -house-bell rang, and that, on looking out, she perceived the secretary -at the door. Having admitted him, and inquired what -he was come for, he answered, “To fetch somebody.” Upon -which, alarmed for her father, she exclaimed, “I hope not my -father!” He shook his head solemnly, in a manner that implied -it was not the old man he had come for, and turned away toward -a guest-chamber, at that time vacant, and there disappeared -at the door. The father recovered, and the lady left home for -a few days, on a visit. On her return, she found her brother -had arrived in the interval to pay a visit to his parents, and was -lying sick in that room, where he died.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I will here mention a curious circumstance regarding Mr. -H——, the gentleman alluded to in a former page, who, being -at the seaside, saw, in a dream, the danger that awaited his son -when he went to bathe. This gentleman has frequently, on -waking, felt a consciousness that he had been conversing with -certain persons of his acquaintance—and, indeed, with some -of whom he knew little—and has afterward, not without a feeling -of awe, learned that these persons had died during the hours -of his sleep.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Do not such circumstances entitle us to entertain the idea -that I have suggested above, namely, that in sleep the spirit is -free to see, and to know, and to communicate with spirit, although -the memory of this knowledge is rarely carried into the -waking state?</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The story of the two Arcadians, who travelled together to -Megara, though reprinted in other works, I can not omit here. -One of these established himself, on the night of their arrival, -at the house of a friend, while the other sought shelter in a -public lodging-house for strangers. During the night, the latter -appeared to the former, in a dream, and besought him to -come to his assistance, as his villanous host was about to take -his life, and only the most speedy aid could save him. The -dreamer started from his sleep, and his first movement was to -obey the summons, but, reflecting that it was only a dream, he -presently lay down, and composed himself again to rest. But -now his friend appeared before him a second time, disfigured -by blood and wounds, conjuring him, since he had not listened -to his first entreaties, that he would, at least, avenge his death. -His host, he said, had murdered him, and was, at that moment, -depositing his body in a dung-cart, for the purpose of conveying -it out of the town. The dreamer was thoroughly alarmed, -arose, and hastened to the gates of the city, where he found, -waiting to pass out, exactly such a vehicle as his friend had -described. A search being instituted, the body was found underneath -the manure; and the host was consequently seized, -and delivered over to the chastisement of the law.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Who shall venture to assert,” says Dr. Ennemoser, “that -this communing with the dead in sleep is merely a subjective -phenomenon, and that the presence of these apparitions is a -pure illusion?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A circumstance fully as remarkable as any recorded, occurred -at Odessa, in the year 1842. An old blind man, named Michel, -had for many years been accustomed to get his living by seating -himself every morning on a beam in one of the timber-yards, -with a wooden bowl at his feet, into which the passengers cast -their alms. This long-continued practice had made him well -known to the inhabitants, and, as he was believed to have been -formerly a soldier, his blindness was attributed to the numerous -wounds he had received in battle. For his own part, he spoke -little, and never contradicted this opinion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One night, Michel, by some accident, fell in with a little girl -of ten years old, named Powleska, who was friendless, and on -the verge of perishing with cold and hunger. The old man -took her home, and adopted her; and, from that time, instead -of sitting in the timber-yards, he went about the streets in her -company, asking alms at the doors of the houses. The child -called him <span class='it'>father</span>, and they were extremely happy together. -But when they had pursued this mode of life for about five -years, a misfortune befell them. A theft having been committed -in a house which they had visited in the morning, Powleska -was suspected and arrested, and the blind man was left once -more alone. But, instead of resuming his former habits, he -now disappeared altogether; and this circumstance causing the -suspicion to extend to him, the girl was brought before the -magistrate to be interrogated with regard to his probable place -of concealment.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do you know where Michel is?” said the magistrate.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He is dead!” replied she, shedding a torrent of tears.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As the girl had been shut up for three days, without any -means of obtaining information from without, this answer, together -with her unfeigned distress, naturally excited considerable -surprise.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Who told you he was dead?” they inquired.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Nobody!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then how can you know it?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I saw him killed!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But you have not been out of the prison?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But I saw it, nevertheless!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But how was that possible? Explain what you mean!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I can not. All I can say is, that I saw him killed.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“When was he killed, and how?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It was the night I was arrested.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That can not be: he was alive when you were seized!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, he was; he was killed an hour after that. They -stabbed him with a knife.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Where were you then?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I can’t tell; but I saw it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The confidence with which the girl asserted what seemed to -her hearers impossible and absurd, disposed them to imagine -that she was either really insane, or pretending to be so. So, -leaving Michel aside, they proceeded to interrogate her about -the robbery, asking her if she was guilty.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, no!” she answered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then how came the property to be found about you?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I don’t know: I saw nothing but the murder.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But there are no grounds for supposing Michel is dead: -his body has not been found.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is in the aqueduct.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And do you know who slew him?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes—it is a woman. Michel was walking very slowly, -after I was taken from him. A woman came behind him with -a large kitchen-knife; but he heard her, and turned round: -and then the woman flung a piece of gray stuff over his head, -and struck him repeatedly with the knife; the gray stuff was -much stained with the blood. Michel fell at the eighth blow, -and the woman dragged the body to the aqueduct and let it fall -in without ever lifting the stuff which stuck to his face.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As it was easy to verify these latter assertions, they despatched -people to the spot; and there the body was found, with the -piece of stuff over his head, exactly as she described. But -when they asked her how she knew all this, she could only -answer, “I don’t know.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But you know who killed him?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not exactly: it is the same woman that put out his eyes; -but, perhaps, he will tell me her name to-night; and if he does, -I will tell it to you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Whom do you mean by <span class='it'>he</span>?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Why, Michel, to be sure!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the whole of the following night, without allowing -her to suspect their intention, they watched her; and it was -observed that she never lay down, but sat upon the bed in a -sort of lethargic slumber. Her body was quite motionless, except -at intervals, when this repose was interrupted by violent -nervous shocks, which pervaded her whole frame. On the -ensuing day, the moment she was brought before the judge, -she declared that she was now able to tell them the name of -the assassin.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But stay,” said the magistrate: “did Michel never tell you, -when he was alive, how he lost his sight?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No—but the morning before I was arrested, he promised -me to do so; and that was the cause of his death.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How could that be?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Last night, Michel came to me, and he pointed to the man -hidden behind the scaffolding on which he and I had been -sitting. He showed me the man listening to us, when he -said, ‘I’ll tell you all about that to-night;’ and then the -man——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do you know the name of this man?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is <span class='it'>Luck</span>. He went afterward to a broad street that leads -down to the harbor, and he entered the third house on the -right——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What is the name of the street?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I don’t know: but the house is one story lower than the -adjoining ones. Luck told Catherine what he had heard, and -she proposed to him to assassinate Michel; but he refused, saying, -‘It was bad enough to have burnt out his eyes fifteen years -before, while he was asleep at your door, and to have kidnapped -him into the country.’ Then I went in to ask charity, and -Catherine put a piece of plate into my pocket, that I might be -arrested; then she hid herself behind the aqueduct to wait for -Michel, and she killed him.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But, since you say all this, why did you keep the plate—why -didn’t you give information?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But I didn’t see it then. Michel showed it me last night.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But what should induce Catherine to do this?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Michel was her husband, and she had forsaken him to come -to Odessa and marry again. One night, fifteen years ago, she -saw Michel, who had come to seek her. She slipped hastily -into her house, and Michel, who thought she had not seen him, -lay down at her door to watch; but he fell asleep, and then -Luck burnt out his eyes, and carried him to a distance.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And is it Michel who has told you this?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes: he came, very pale, and covered with blood; and he -took me by the hand and showed me all this with his fingers.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Upon this, Luck and Catherine were arrested; and it was -ascertained that she had actually been married to Michel in the -year 1819, at Kherson. They at first denied the accusation, -but Powleska insisted, and they subsequently confessed the -crime. When they communicated the circumstances of the -confession to Powleska, she said, “I was told it last night.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This affair naturally excited great interest, and people all -round the neighborhood hastened into the city to learn the sentence.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='98' id='Page_98'></span><h1>CHAPTER VI.</h1></div> - -<h3>DOUBLE-DREAMING AND TRANCE.</h3> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>Among</span> the phenomena of the dream-life which we have to -consider, that of double-dreaming forms a very curious department. -A somewhat natural introduction to this subject may -be found in the cases above-recorded, of Professor Herder and -Mr. S——, of Edinburgh, who appear, in their sleep, to have -received so lively an impression of those earnest wishes of their -dying friends to see them, that they found themselves irresistibly -impelled to obey the spiritual summons. These two cases -occurred to men engaged in active daily life, and in normal -physical conditions, on which account I particularly refer to -them here, although many similar ones might be adduced.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With respect to this subject of double-dreaming, Dr. Ennemoser -thinks that it is not so difficult to explain as might appear -on a first view, since he considers that there exists an -indisputable sympathy between certain organisms, especially -where connected by relationship or by affection, which may -be sufficient to account for the supervention of simultaneous -thoughts, dreams, or presentiments; and I have met with some -cases where the magnetiser and his patient have been the subjects -of this phenomenon. With respect to the power asserted -to have been frequently exercised by causing or suggesting -dreams by an operator at a distance from the sleeper, Dr. E. -considers the two parties to stand in a positive and negative -relation to each other; the antagonistic power of the sleeper -being = 0, he becomes a perfectly passive recipient of the -influence exerted by his positive <span class='it'>half</span>, if I may use the expression; -for, where such a polarity is established, the two beings -seem to be almost blended into one; while Dr. Passavent observes, -that we can not pronounce what may be the limits of -the nervous force, which certainly is not bounded by the termination -of its material conductors.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I have yet, myself, met with no instance of dream compelling -by a person at a distance; but Dr. Ennemoser says that Agrippa -von Nettesheim asserts that this can assuredly be done, and also -that the abbot Trithemius and others possessed the power. In -modern times, Wesermann, in Dusseldorf, pretended to the -same faculty, and affirms that he had frequently exercised it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>All such phenomena, Dr. Passavent attributes to the interaction -of imponderables—or of one universal imponderable under -different manifestations—which acts not only within the organism, -but beyond it, independently of all material obstacles; just -as a sympathy appears between one organ and another, unobstructed -by the intervening ones; and he instances the sympathy -which exists between the mother and the fœtus, as an -example of this sort of double life, and standing as midway -between the sympathy between two organs in the same body -and that between two separate bodies, each having its own life, -and its life also in and for another, as parts of one whole. The -sympathy between a bird and the eggs it sits upon, is of the -same kind; many instances having been observed, wherein -eggs, taken from one bird and placed under another, have produced -a brood feathered like the foster instead of the real -parent.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Thus, this vital force may extend dynamically the circle of -its influence, till, under favorable circumstances, it may act on -other organisms, making their organs its own.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I need scarcely remind my readers of the extraordinary sympathies -manifested by the Siamese twins, Chang and Eng. I -never saw them myself; and, for the benefit of others in the -same situation, I quote the following particulars from Dr. Passavent: -“They were united by a membrane which extended -from the breast-bone to the navel; but, in other respects, were -not different from their countrymen in general. They were -exceedingly alike, only that Eng was rather the more robust -of the two. Their pulsations were not always coincident. -They were active and agile, and fond of bodily exercises; their -intellects were well developed, and their tones of voice and -accent were precisely the same. As they never conversed together, -they had nearly forgotten their native tongue. If one -was addressed, they both answered. They played some games -of skill, but never with each other; as that, they said, would -have been like the right hand playing with the left. They read -the same book at the same time, and sang together in unison. -In America they had a fever, which ran precisely a similar -course with each. Their hunger, thirst, sleeping, and waking, -were alway coincident, and their tastes and inclinations were -identical. Their movements were so simultaneous, that it was -impossible to distinguish with which the impulse had originated; -they appeared to have but one will. The idea of being separated -by an operation was abhorrent to them; and they consider -themselves much happier in their duality than are the -individuals who look upon them with pity.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This admirable sympathy, although necessarily in an inferior -degree, is generally manifested, more or less, between all persons -twin-born. Dr. Passavent and other authorities mention -several instances of this kind, in which, although at some distance -from each other, the same malady appeared simultaneously -in both, and ran precisely a similar course. A very -affecting instance of this sort of sympathy was exhibited, not -very long ago, by a young lady, twin-born, who was suddenly -seized with an unaccountable horror, followed by a strange -convulsion, which the doctor, who was hastily called in, said -exactly resembled the struggles and sufferings of a person -drowning. In process of time, the news arrived that her twin-brother, -then abroad, had been drowned precisely at that period.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is probably a link of the same kind that is established between -the magnetiser and his patient, of which, besides those recorded -in various works on the subject, some curious instances have -come to my knowledge, such as uncontrollable impulses to go -to sleep, or to perform certain actions, in subservience to the will -of the distant operator. Mr. W—— W——, a gentleman well -known in the north of England, related to me that he had been -cured, by magnetism, of a very distressing malady. During -part of the process of curé, after the <span class='it'>rapport</span> had been well -established, the operations were carried on while he was at -Malvern, and his magnetiser at Cheltenham, under which circumstances -the existence of this extraordinary dependence was -frequently exhibited in a manner that left no possibility of -doubt. On one occasion, I remember that Mr. W—— W—— -being in the magnetic sleep, he suddenly started from his seat, -clasping his hands as if startled, and presently afterward burst -into a violent fit of laughter. As, on waking, he could give no -account of these impulses, his family wrote to the magnetiser to -inquire if he had sought to excite any particular manifestations -in his patient, as the sleep had been somewhat disturbed. The -answer was, that no such intention had been entertained, but -that the disturbance might possibly have arisen from one to -which he had himself been subjected. “While my mind was -concentrated on you,” said he, “I was suddenly so much -startled by a violent knock at the door, that I actually jumped -off my seat, clasping my hands with affright. I had a hearty -laugh at my own folly, but am sorry if you were made uncomfortable -by it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I have met with some accounts of a sympathy of this kind -existing between young children and their parents, so that the -former have exhibited great distress and terror at the moment -that death or danger have supervened to the latter; but it -would require a great number of instances to establish this particular -fact, and separate it from cases of accidental coincidence. -Dr. Passavent, however, admits the phenomena.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I shall return to these mysterious influences by-and-by; but -to revert, in the meanwhile, to the subject of double dreams, I -will relate one that occurred to two ladies, a mother and daughter, -the latter of whom related it to me. They were sleeping -in the same bed at Cheltenham, when the mother, Mrs. C——, -dreamed that her brother-in-law, then in Ireland, had sent for -her; that she entered his room, and saw him in bed, apparently -dying. He requested her to kiss him, but, owing to his livid -appearance, she shrank from doing so, and awoke with the horror -of the scene upon her. The daughter awoke at the same -moment, saying, “Oh, I have had such a frightful dream!” -“Oh, so have I!” returned the mother; “I have been dreaming -of my brother-in-law!”—“My dream was about him, too,” -added Miss C——. “I thought I was sitting in the drawing-room, -and that he came in wearing a shroud, trimmed with -black ribands, and, approaching me, he said: ‘My dear niece, -your mother has refused to kiss me, but I am sure you will -not be so unkind!’ ”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As these ladies were not in habits of regular correspondence -with their relative, they knew that the earliest intelligence -likely to reach them, if he were actually dead, would be by -means of the Irish papers; and they waited anxiously for the -following Wednesday, which was the day these journals were -received in Cheltenham. When that morning arrived, Miss -C—— hastened at an early hour to the reading-room, and there -she learned what the dreams had led them to expect: their friend -was dead; and they afterward ascertained that his decease had -taken place on that night. They moreover observed, that neither -one nor the other of them had been speaking or thinking -of this gentleman for some time previous to the occurrence of -the dreams; nor had they any reason whatever for uneasiness -with regard to him. It is a remarkable peculiarity in this case, -that the dream of the daughter appears to be a continuation of -that of the mother. In the one, he is seen alive; in the other, -the shroud and black ribands seem to indicate that he is dead, -and he complains of the refusal to give him a farewell kiss.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One is almost inevitably led here to the conclusion that the -thoughts and wishes of the dying man were influencing the -sleepers, or that the released spirit was hovering near them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Pomponius Mela relates, that a certain people in the interior -of Africa lay themselves down to sleep on the graves of their -forefathers, and believe the dreams that ensue to be the unerring -counsel of the dead.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The following dream, from St. Austin, is quoted by Dr. -Binns: Præstantius desired from a certain philosopher the -solution of a doubt, which the latter refused to give him; but, -on the following night, the philosopher appeared at his bedside -and told him what he desired to know. On being asked, the -next day, why he had chosen that hour for his visit, he answered: -‘I came not to you truly, but in my dream I appeared to you -to do so.’ In this case, however, only one of the parties seems -to have been asleep, for Præstantius says that he was awake; -and it is perhaps rather an example of another kind of phenomena, -similar to the instance recorded of himself by the late -Joseph Wilkins, a dissenting minister, who says that, being one -night asleep, he dreamed that he was travelling to London, and -that, as it would not be much out of his way, he would go by -Gloucestershire and call upon his friends. Accordingly he -arrived at his father’s house, but, finding the front door closed, -he went round to the back and there entered. The family, -however, being already in bed, he ascended the stairs and entered -his father’s bed-chamber. Him he found asleep; but to -his mother, who was awake, he said, as he walked round to her -side of the bed, ‘Mother, I am going a long journey, and am -come to bid you good-by;’ to which she answered, ‘Oh, dear -son, thee art dead!’ Though struck with the distinctness of -the dream, Mr. Wilkins attached no importance to it, till, to his -surprise, a letter arrived from his father, addressed to himself, if -alive—or, if not, to his surviving friends—begging earnestly for -immediate intelligence, since they were under great apprehensions -that their son was either dead, or in danger of death; for -that, on such a night (naming that on which the above dream -had occurred), he, the father, being asleep, and Mrs. Wilkins -awake, she had distinctly heard somebody try to open the fore -door, which being fast, the person had gone round to the back -and there entered. She had perfectly recognised the footstep -to be that of her son, who had ascended the stairs, and entering -the bed-chamber, had said to her, ‘Mother, I am going a long -journey, and am come to bid you good-by;’ whereupon she had -answered, ‘Oh, dear son, thee art dead!’ Much alarmed, she -had awakened her husband and related what had occurred, assuring -him that it was not a dream, for that she had not been -asleep at all. Mr. Wilkins mentions that this curious circumstance -took place in the year 1754, when he was living at -Ottery; and that he had frequently discussed the subject with -his mother, on whom the impression made was even stronger -than on himself. Neither death nor anything else remarkable -ensued.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A somewhat similar instance to this, which I also quote from -Dr. Binns, is that of a gentleman who dreamed that he was -pushing violently against the door of a certain room, in a house -with which he was well acquainted; while the people in that -room were, at the same time, actually alarmed by a violent -pushing against the door, which it required their utmost force -effectually to resist. As soon as the attempt to burst open the -door had ceased, the house was searched, but nothing discovered -to account for the disturbance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>These examples are extremely curious, and they conduct us -by a natural transition to another department of this mysterious -subject.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There must be few persons who have not heard, among their -friends and acquaintance, instances of what is called a <span class='it'>wraith</span>; -that is, that in the moment of death, a person is seen in a place -where <span class='it'>bodily</span> he is not. I believe the Scotch use this term -also in the same sense as the Irish word <span class='it'>fetch</span>; which is a person’s -double seen at some indefinite period previous to his -death, of which such an appearance is generally supposed to -be a prognostic. The Germans express the same thing by the -word <span class='it'>doppelgänger</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With respect to the appearance of wraiths, at the moment -of death, the instances to be met with are so numerous and well-authenticated, -that I generally find the most skeptical people -unable to deny that some such phenomenon exists, although -they evade, without I think, diminishing the difficulty, by pronouncing -it to be of a subjective, and not of an objective, nature; -that is, that the image of the dying person is, by some -unknown operation, presented to the imagination of the seer, -without the existence of any real outstanding figure, from which -it is reflected; which reduces such instances so nearly to the -class of mere sensuous illusion, that it seems difficult to draw -the distinction. The distinction these theorists wish to imply, -however, is that the latter are purely subjective and self-originating, -while the others have an external cause, although not an -external visible object—the image seen being protruded by the -imagination of the seer, in consequence of an unconscious intuition -of the death of the person whose wraith is perceived.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Instances of this kind of phenomenon have been common in -all ages of the world, insomuch that Lucretius, who did not believe -in the immortality of the soul, and was yet unable to deny -the facts, suggested the strange theory that the superficial surfaces -of all bodies were continually flying off, like the coats of -an onion, which accounted for the appearance of wraiths, ghosts, -doubles, &c.; and a more modern author, Gaffarillus, suggests -that corrupting bodies send forth vapors, which being compressed -by the cold night air, appear visible to the eye in the -forms of men.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It will not be out of place, here, to mention the circumstance -recorded in Professor Gregory’s “Abstract of Baron von -Reichenbach’s Researches in Magnetism,” regarding a person -called Billing, who acted in the capacity of amanuensis to the -blind poet Pfeffel, at Colmar. Having treated of various experiments, -by which it was ascertained that certain sensitive persons -were not only able to detect electric influences of which -others were unconscious, but could also perceive, emanating -from the wires and magnets, flames which were invisible to people -in general; “the baron,” according to Dr. Gregory, “proceeded -to a useful application of the results, which is, he says, -so much the more welcome, as it utterly eradicates one of the -chief foundations of superstition, that worst enemy to the development -of human enlightenment and liberty. A singular occurrence, -which took place at Colmar, in the garden of the poet -Pfeffel, has been made generally known by various writings. -The following are the essential facts. The poet, being blind, -had employed a young clergyman, of the evangelical church, as -amanuensis. Pfeffel, when he walked out, was supported and -led by this young man, whose name was Billing. As they -walked in the garden, at some distance from the town, Pfeffel -observed, that as often as they passed over a particular spot, -the arm of Billing trembled, and he betrayed uneasiness. On -being questioned, the young man reluctantly confessed, that as -often as he passed over that spot, certain feelings attacked him, -which he could not control, and which he knew well, as he -always experienced the same, in passing over any place where -human bodies lay buried. He added, that at night, when he -came near such places, he saw supernatural appearances. Pfeffel, -with the view of curing the youth of what he looked on as -fancy, went that night with him to the garden. As they approached -the spot in the dark, Billing perceived a feeble light, -and when still nearer, he saw a luminous ghostlike figure floating -over the spot. This he described as a female form, with -one arm laid across the body, the other hanging down, floating -in the upright posture, but tranquil, the feet only a hand-breadth -or two above the soil. Pfeffel went alone, as the young man -declined to follow him, up to the place where the figure was -said to be, and struck about in all directions with his stick, besides -running actually through the shadow; but the figure was -not more affected than a flame would have been; the luminous -form, according to Billing always returned to its original position -after these experiments. Many things were tried during -several months, and numerous companies of people were -brought to the spot, but the matter remained the same, and the -ghost-seer adhered to his serious assertion, and to the opinion -founded on it, that some individual lay buried there. At last, -Pfeffel had the place dug up. At a considerable depth was -found a firm layer of white lime, of the length and breadth of -a grave, and of considerable thickness, and when this had been -broken into, there were found the bones of a human being. It -was evident that some one had been buried in the place, and -covered with a thick layer of lime (quicklime), as is generally -done in times of pestilence, of earthquakes, and other similar -events. The bones were removed, the pit filled up, the lime -scattered abroad, and the surface again made smooth. When -Billing was now brought back to the place, the phenomena did -not return, and the nocturnal spirit had for ever disappeared.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is hardly necessary to point out to the reader what view -the author takes of this story, which excited much attention in -Germany, because it came from the most truthful man alive, -and theologians and psychologists gave to it sundry terrific -meanings. It obviously falls into the province of chemical -action, and thus meets with a simple and clear explanation from -natural and physical causes. A corpse is a field for abundant -chemical changes, decompositions, fermentation, putrefaction, -gasification, and general play of affinities. A stratum of quicklime, -in a narrow pit, unites its powerful affinities to those of -the organic matters, and gives rise to a long-continued working -of the whole. Rain-water filters through and contributes to -the action: the lime on the outside of the mass first falls to a -fine powder, and afterward, with more water, forms lumps -which are very slowly penetrated by the air. Slaked lime prepared -for building, but not used, on account of some cause connected -with a warlike state of society some centuries since, has -been found in subterraneous holes or pits, in the ruins of old -castles; and the mass, except on the outside, was so unaltered -that it has been used for modern buildings. It is evident, therefore, -that in such circumstances there must be a very slow and -long-continued chemical action, partly owing to the slow penetration -of the mass of lime by the external carbonic acid, partly -to the change going on in the remains of animal matter, at all -events as long as any is left. In the above case, this must have -gone on in Pfeffel’s garden, and, as we know that chemical action -is invariably associated with light, visible to the sensitive, -this must have been the origin of the luminous appearance, -which again must have continued until the mutual affinities of -the organic remains, the lime, the air, and water, had finally -come to a state of chemical rest or equilibrium. As soon, therefore, -as a sensitive person, although otherwise quite healthy, -came that way, and entered into the sphere of the force in -action, he must feel, by day, like Mdlle. Maix, the sensations so -often described, and see by night, like Mdlle. Reichel, the luminous -appearance. Ignorance, fear, and superstition, would dress -up the feebly shining, vaporous light into a human form, and furnish -it with human limbs and members; just as we can at -pleasure fancy every cloud in the sky to represent a man or a -demon.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The wish to strike a fatal blow at the monster superstition, -which, at no distant period, poured out upon European society -from a similar source, such inexpressible misery, when, in trials -for witchcraft, not hundreds, not thousands, but hundreds of -thousands of innocent human beings perished miserably, either -on the scaffold, at the stake, or by the effects of torture—this -desire induced the author to try the experiment of bringing, if -possible, a highly-sensitive patient by night to a churchyard. It -appeared possible that such a person might see, over graves in -which mouldering bodies lie, something similar to that which -Billing had seen. Mdlle. Reichel had the courage, rare in her -sex, to gratify this wish of the author. On two very dark -nights she allowed herself to be taken from the castle of Reisenberg, -where she was living with the author’s family, to the -neighboring churchyard of Grunzing. The result justified his -anticipation in the most beautiful manner. She very soon saw -a light, and observed on one of the graves, along its length, a -delicate, breathing flame: she also saw the same thing, only -weaker on the second grave. But she saw neither witches nor -ghosts; she described the fiery appearances as a shining vapor, -one to two spans high, extending as far as the grave, and floating -near its surface. Some time afterward she was taken to -two large cemeteries near Vienna, where several burials occur -daily, and graves lie about by thousands. Here she saw numerous -graves provided with similar lights. Wherever she -looked, she saw luminous masses scattered about. But this -appearance was most vivid over the newest graves, while in the -oldest it could not be perceived. She described the appearance -less as a clear flame than as a dense, vaporous mass of fire, intermediate -between fog and flame. On many graves the flames were -four feet high, so that when she stood on them, it surrounded her -up to the neck. If she thrust her hand into it, it was like putting -it into a dense, fiery cloud. She betrayed no uneasiness, because -she had all her life been accustomed to such emanations, -and had seen the same, in the author’s experiments, often produced -by natural causes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Many ghost-stories will now find their natural explanation. -We can also see that it was not altogether erroneous, when old -women declared that all had not the gift to see the departed -wandering about their graves; for it must have always been the -sensitive alone who were able to perceive the light given out -by the chemical action going on in the corpse. The author has -thus, he hopes, succeeded in tearing down one of the most impenetrable -barriers erected by dark ignorance and superstitious -folly against the progress of natural truth.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“(The reader will at once apply the above most remarkable -experiments to the explanation of corpse-lights in churchyards, -which were often visible to the gifted alone—to those who had -the second-sight, for example. Many nervous or hysterical females -must often have been alarmed by white, faintly-luminous -objects in dark churchyards, to which objects fear has given a -defined form. In this, as well as in numerous other points, -which will force themselves on the attention of the careful reader -of both works, Baron Reichenbach’s experiments illustrate the -experiences of the Seeress of Prevorst.—W. G.)”<a id='r1'/><a href='#f1' style='text-decoration:none'><sup><span style='font-size:0.9em'>[1]</span></sup></a></p> - -<p class='pindent'>That the flames here described may have originated in chemical -action, is an opinion I have no intention of disputing; the -fact may possibly be so; such a phenomenon has frequently -been observed hovering over coffins and decomposing flesh: -but I confess I can not perceive the slightest grounds for the -assertion that it was the ignorance, fear, and superstition, of -Billing, who was an evangelical clergyman, that caused him to -dress up this vaporous light in a human form and supply it with -members, &c. In the first place, I see no proof adduced that -Billing was either ignorant or superstitious, or even afraid—the -feelings he complained of appearing to be rather physical -than moral; and it must be a weak person indeed, who, in company -with another, could be excited to such a freak of the imagination. -It is easily comprehensible that that which appeared -only a luminous vapor by day, might, when reflected on a darker -atmosphere, present a defined form; and the suggestion of this -possibility might lead to some curious speculations with regard -to a mystery called the <span class='sc'>palinganesia</span>, said to have been practised -by some of the chemists and alchemists of the sixteenth -century.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gaffarillus, in his book, entitled “<span class='it'>Curiosités Inouies</span>,” published -in 1650, when speaking on the subject of talismans, signatures, -&c., observes that, since in many instances the plants -used for these purposes were reduced to ashes, and no longer -retained their form, their efficacy, which depended on their -figure, should inevitably be destroyed; but this, he says, is not -the case, since, by an admirable potency existing in nature, -the form, though invisible, is still retained in the ashes. This, -he observes, may appear strange to those who have never attended -to the subject; but he asserts that an account of the -experiment will be found in the works of Mr. Du Chesne, one -of the best chemists of the period, who had been shown, by a -Polish physician at Cracow, certain vials containing ashes, which, -when duly heated, exhibited the forms of various plants. A -small obscure cloud was first observed, which gradually took -on a defined form, and presented to the eye a rose, or whatever -plant or flower the ashes consisted of. Mr. Du Chesne, however, -had never been able to repeat the experiment, though he -had made several unsuccessful attempts to do so; but at length -he succeeded, by accident, in the following manner: Having -for some purpose extracted the salts from some burnt nettles, -and having left the ley outside the house all night, to cool, in -the morning he found it frozen; and, to his surprise, the form -and figure of the nettles were so exactly represented on the -ice, that the living plant could not be more perfect. Delighted -at this discovery, he summoned Mr. De Luynes, parliamentary -councillor, to behold this curiosity; whence, he says, they both -concluded that, when a body dies, its form or figure still resides -in its ashes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Kircher, Vallemont, Digby, and others, are said to have practised -this art of resuscitating the forms of plants from their ashes -and at the meeting of naturalists at Stuttgard, in 1834, a Swiss -savant seems to have revived the subject, and given a receipt -for the experiment, extracted from a work by Oetinger, called -“Thoughts on the Birth and Generation of Things.”—“The -earthly husk,” says Oetinger, “remains in the retort, while the -volatile essence ascends, like a spirit, perfect in form, but void -of substance.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But Oetinger also records another discovery of this description, -which, he says, he fell upon unawares. A woman having -brought him a large bunch of balm, he laid it under the tiles, -which were yet warm with the summer’s heat, where it dried -in the shade. But, it being in the month of September, the -cold soon came, and contracted the leaves, without expelling -the volatile salts. They lay there till the following June, when -he chopped up the balm, put it into a glass retort, poured rain-water -upon it, and placed a receiver above. He afterward -heated it till the water boiled, and then increased the heat—whereupon -there appeared on the water a coat of yellow oil, -about the thickness of the back of a knife, and this oil shaped -itself into the forms of innumerable balm-leaves, which did not -run one into another, but remained perfectly distinct and defined, -and exhibited all the marks that are seen in the leaves -of the plant. Oetinger says he kept the fluid some time, and -showed it to a number of people. At length, wishing to throw -it away, he shook it, and the leaves ran into one another with -the disturbance of the oil, but resumed their distinct shape again -as soon as it was at rest, the fluid form retaining the perfect -signature.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, how far these experiments are really practicable, I can -not say; their not being repeated, or not being repeated successfully, -is no very decided argument against their possibility, -as all persons acquainted with the annals of chemistry well -know; but there is certainly a curious coincidence between -these details and the experience of Billing, where it is to be -observed that, according to his account—and what right have -we to dispute it?—the figure, after being disturbed by Pfeffel, -always resumed its original form. The same peculiarity has -been observed with respect to some apparitions, where the -spectator has been bold enough to try the experiment. In a -letter to Dr. Bentley, from the Rev. Thomas Wilkins, curate of -Warblington, in Hampshire, written in the year 1695, wherein -he gives an account of an apparition which haunted the parsonage-house, -and which he himself and several other persons had seen, -he particularly mentions that, thinking it might be some fellow -hid in the room, he put his arm out to feel it, and his hand -seemingly went through the body of it, and felt no manner of -substance, until it reached the wall. “Then I drew back my -hand, but still the apparition was in the same place.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Yet this spectre did not appear above or near a grave, but -moved from place to place, and gave considerable annoyance -to the inhabitants of the rectory.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With respect to the lights over the graves, sufficing to account -for the persuasion regarding what are called <span class='it'>corpse-candles</span>, -they certainly, up to a certain point, afford a very satisfactory -explanation, but that explanation does not comprehend the -whole of the mystery; for most of those persons who have professed -to see corpse-candles, have also asserted that they were -not always stationary over the graves, but sometimes moved -from place to place, as in the following instance, related to me -by a gentleman who assured me that he received the account -from the person who witnessed the phenomenon. Now, this -last fact—I mean the locomotion of the lights—will, of course, -be disputed; but so was their existence: yet they exist, for all -that, and may travel from place to place, for anything we know -to the contrary.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The story related to me, or a similar instance, is, I think, -mentioned by Mrs. Grant; but it was to the effect that a minister, -newly inducted in his curé, was standing one evening leaning -over the wall of the churchyard which adjoined the manse, -when he observed a light hovering over a particular spot. Supposing -it to be somebody with a lantern, he opened the wicket -and went forward to ascertain who it might be; but before he -reached the spot, the light moved onward; and he followed, -but could see nobody. It did not rise far from the ground, but -advanced rapidly across the road, entered a wood, and ascended -a hill, till it at length disappeared at the door of a farmhouse. -Unable to comprehend of what nature this light could be, the -minister was deliberating whether to make inquiries at the -house or return, when it appeared again, seeming to come out -of the house, accompanied by another, passed him, and, going -over the same ground, they both disappeared on the spot where -he had first observed the phenomenon. He left a mark on the -grave by which he might recognise it, and the next day inquired -of the sexton whose it was. The man said it belonged to a -family that lived up the hill (indicating the house the light had -stopped at), named M’D——, but that it was a considerable -time since any one had been buried there. The minister was -extremely surprised to learn, in the course of the day, that a -child of that family had died of scarlet fever on the preceding -evening.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With respect to the class of phenomena accompanied by this -phosphorescent light, I shall have more to say by-and-by. The -above will appear a very incredible story to many people, and -there was a time that it would have appeared equally so to myself; -but I have met with so much strange corroborative evidence, -that I no longer feel myself entitled to reject it. I asked -the gentleman who told me the story, whether he believed it; -he said that he could not believe in anything of the sort. I then -inquired if he would accept the testimony of that minister on -any other question, and he answered, “Most assuredly.” As, -however, I shall have occasion to recur to this subject in a subsequent -chapter, I will leave it aside for the present, and relate -some of the facts which led me to the consideration of the above -theories and experiments.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. S—— relates that a Madame T——, in Prussia, dreamed, -on the 16th of March, 1832, that the door opened, and her god-father, -Mr. D——, who was much attached to her, entered the -room, dressed as he usually was when prepared for church on -Sundays; and that, knowing him to be in bad health, she asked -him what he was doing abroad at such an early hour, and -whether he was quite well again. Whereupon, he answered -that he was; and, being about to undertake a very long journey, -he had come to bid her farewell, and to intrust her with a -commission, which was, that she would deliver a letter he had -written to his wife; but accompanying it with an injunction -that she (the wife) was not to open it till that day four years, -when he would return himself, precisely at five o’clock in the -morning, to fetch the answer, till which period he charged her -not to break the seal. He then handed her a letter, sealed with -black, the writing on which shone through the paper, so that -she (the dreamer) was able to perceive that it contained an announcement -to Mrs. D——, the wife, with whom, on account -of the levity of her character, he had long lived unhappily, that -she would die at that time four years.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At this moment, the sleeper was awakened by what appeared -to her a pressure of the hand; and, feeling an entire conviction -that this was something more than an ordinary dream, she was -not surprised to learn that her god-father was dead. She related -the dream to Madame D——, omitting, however, to mention -the announcement contained in the letter, which she thought -the dream plainly indicated was not to be communicated. The -widow laughed at the story, soon resumed her gay life, and -married again. In the winter of 1835-’6, however, she was -attacked by an intermittent fever, on which occasion Dr. S—— -was summoned to attend her. After various vicissitudes, she -finally sunk; and, on the 16th of March, 1836, exactly at five -o’clock in the morning, she suddenly started up in her bed, -and, fixing her eyes apparently on some one she saw standing -at the foot, she exclaimed: “What are you come for? God be -gracious to me! I never believed it!” She then sank back, -closed her eyes, which she never opened again, and, in a quarter -of an hour afterward, expired very calmly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A friend of mine, Mrs. M——, a native of the West Indies, -was at Blair Logie at the period of the death of Dr. Abercrombie, -in Edinburgh, with whom she was extremely intimate. -Dr. A. died quite suddenly, without any previous indisposition, -just as he was about to go out in his carriage, at 11 o’clock on -a Thursday morning. On the night between the Thursday and -Friday, Mrs. M—— dreamed that she saw the family of Dr. A. -all dressed in white, dancing a solemn funereal dance; upon -which she awoke, wondering that she should have dreamed a -thing so incongruous, since it was contrary to their custom to -dance on any occasion. Immediately afterward, while speaking -to her maid who had come to call her, she saw Dr. Abercrombie -against the wall, with his jaw fallen, and a livid countenance, -mournfully shaking his head as he looked at her. She -passed the day in great uneasiness, and wrote to inquire for the -doctor, relating what had happened, and expressing her certainty -that he was dead; the letter was seen by several persons -in Edinburgh on the day of its arrival.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The two following cases seem rather to belong to what is -called, in the east, <span class='it'>second hearing</span>,—although sympathy was -probably the exciting cause of the phenomena. A lady and -gentleman in Berwickshire were awakened one night by a loud -cry, which they both immediately recognised to proceed from -the voice of their son, who was then absent and at a considerable -distance. Tidings subsequently reached them, that exactly -at that period their son had fallen overboard and was drowned. -On another occasion, in Perthshire, a person aroused her husband -one night, saying that their son was drowned, for she -had been awakened by the splash. Her presentiment also -proved too well founded, the young man having fallen from the -mast-head of the ship. In both cases, we may naturally conclude -that the thoughts of the young men, at the moment of -the accident, would rush homeward; and, admitting Dr. Ennemoser’s -theory of polarity, the passive sleepers became the -recipients of the force. I confess, however, that the opinions -of another section of philosophers appear to me to be more -germain to the matter; although, to many persons, they will -doubtless be difficult of acceptance, from their appertaining to -those views commonly called mystical.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>These psychologists then believe, as did Socrates and Plato, -and others of the ancients, that in certain conditions of the -body, which conditions may arise naturally, or be produced -artificially, the links which unite it with the spirit may be more -or less loosened; and that the latter may thus be temporarily -disjoined from the former, and so enjoy a foretaste of its future -destiny. In the lowest or first degree of this disunion, we are -awake, though scarcely conscious, while the imagination is -vivified to an extraordinary amount, and our fancy supplies -images almost as lively as the realities. This probably is the -temporary condition of inspired poets and eminent discoverers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Sleep is considered another stage of this disjunction; and -the question has ever been raised whether, when the body is in -profound sleep, the spirit is not altogether free and living in -another world, while the organic life proceeds as usual, and -sustains the temple till the return of its inhabitant. Without -at present attempting to support or refute this doctrine, I will -only observe, that once admitting the possibility of the disunion, -all consideration of <span class='it'>time</span> must be set aside as irrelevant to the -question; for spirit, freed from matter, must move with the -rapidity of thought;—in short, <span class='it'>a spirit must be where its -thoughts and affections are</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is the opinion of these psychologists, however, that in the -normal and healthy condition of man, the union of body, soul, -and spirit, is most complete, and that all the degrees of disunion -in the waking state are degrees of morbid derangement. -Hence it is that somnambulists and clairvoyants are chiefly to -be found among sickly women. There have been persons who -have appeared to possess a power which they could exert at -will, whereby they withdrew from their bodies, these remaining -during the absence of the spirit in a state of catalepsy, -scarcely if at all to be distinguished from death.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I say <span class='it'>withdrew from their bodies</span>, assuming that to be the -explanation of the mystery; for, of course, it is but an assumption. -Epimenides is recorded to have possessed this faculty; -and Hermotinus, of Clazomenes, is said to have wandered, in -spirit, over the world, while his body lay apparently dead. At -length his wife, taking advantage of this absence of his soul, -burned his body and thus intercepted its return: so say Lucien -and Pliny the elder;—and Varro relates, that the eldest of two -brothers, named Corfidius, being supposed to die, his will was -opened and preparations were made for his funeral by the other -brother, who was declared his heir. In the meantime, however, -Corfidius revived, and told the astonished attendants, -whom he summoned by clapping his hands, that he had just -come from his younger brother, who had committed his daughter -to his care, and informed him where he had buried some -gold, requesting that the funeral preparations he had made -might be converted to his own use. Immediately afterward, -the news arrived that the younger brother was unexpectedly -deceased, and the gold was found at the place indicated. The -last appears to have been a case of natural trance; but the two -most remarkable instances of voluntary trance I have met with -in modern times is that of Colonel Townshend, and the dervish -who allowed himself to be buried. With regard to the -former, he could, to all appearance, die whenever he pleased; -his heart ceased to beat; there was no perceptible respiration; -and his whole frame became cold and rigid as death itself; the -features being shrunk and colorless, and the eyes glazed and -ghastly. He would continue in this state for several hours and -then gradually revive; but the revival does not appear to have -been an effort of will—or rather, we are not informed whether -it was so or not. Neither are we told whether he brought any -recollections back with him, nor how this strange faculty was -first developed or discovered—all very important points, and -well worthy of investigation.<a id='r2'/><a href='#f2' style='text-decoration:none'><sup><span style='font-size:0.9em'>[2]</span></sup></a></p> - -<p class='pindent'>With respect to the dervish, or fakeer, an account of his -singular faculty was, I believe, first presented to the public in -the Calcutta papers about nine or ten years ago. He had then -frequently exhibited it for the satisfaction of the natives; but -subsequently he was put to the proof by some of the European -officers and residents. Captain Wade, political agent at Loodhiana, -was present when he was disinterred, ten months after -he had been buried by General Ventura, in presence of the -maharajah and many of his principal sirdars.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It appears that the man previously prepared himself by some -processes, which, he says, temporarily annihilate the powers of -digestion, so that milk received into the stomach undergoes no -change. He next forces all the breath in his body into his -brain, which becomes very hot, upon which the lungs collapse, -and the heart ceases to beat. He then stops up, with wax, -every aperture of the body through which air could enter, -except the mouth, but the tongue is so turned back as to close -the gullet, upon which a state of insensibility ensues. He is -then stripped and put into a linen bag; and, on the occasion in -question, this bag was sealed with Runjeet Sing’s own seal. -It was then placed in a deal box, which was also locked and -sealed, and the box being buried in a vault, the earth was -thrown over it and trod down, after which a crop of barley was -sown on the spot, and sentries placed to watch it. The maharajah, -however, was so skeptical, that, in spite of all these -precautions, he had him, twice in the course of the ten months, -dug up and examined, and each time he was found to be -exactly in the same state as when they had shut him up.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When he is disinterred, the first step toward his recovery is -to turn back his tongue, which is found quite stiff, and requires -for some time to be retained in its proper position by the finger; -warm water is poured upon him, and his eyes and lips moistened -with ghee, or oil. His recovery is much more rapid than -might be expected, and he is soon able to recognise the bystanders, -and converse. He says, that, during this state of trance, -his dreams are ravishing, and that it is very painful to be awakened; -but I do not know that he has ever disclosed any of his -experiences. His only apprehension seems to be, lest he should -be attacked by insects, to avoid which accident the box is slung -to the ceiling. The interval seems to be passed in a complete -state of hibernation; and when he is taken up, no pulse is perceptible, -and his eyes are glazed like those of a corpse.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He subsequently refused to submit to the conditions proposed -by some English officers, and thus incurred their suspicions, -that the whole thing was an imposition; but the experiment has -been too often repeated by people very well capable of judging, -and under too stringent precautions, to allow of this mode of -escaping the difficulty. The man assumes to be <span class='it'>holy</span>, and is -very probably a worthless fellow, but that does not affect the -question one way or the other. Indian princes do not permit -themselves to be imposed on with impunity; and, as Runjeet -Sing would not value the man’s life at a pin’s point, he would -neglect no means of debarring him all access to food or air.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the above-quoted cases, except in those of Corfidius and -Hermotinus, the absence of the spirit is alone suggested to the -spectator by the condition of the body; since the memory of -one state does not appear to have been carried into the other—if -the spirit wandered into other regions it brings no tidings -back; but we have many cases recorded where this deficient -evidence seems to be supplied. The magicians and soothsayers -of the northern countries, by narcotics, and other means, produce -a cataleptic state of the body, resembling death, when -their prophetic faculty is to be exercised; and although we know -that an alloy of imposition is generally mixed up with these exhibitions, -still it is past a doubt, that a state of what we call clear-seeing -is thus induced; and that on awaking, they bring tidings -from various parts of the world of actions then performing and -events occurring, which subsequent investigations have verified.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One of the most remarkable cases of this kind, is that recorded -by Jung Stilling, of a man, who about the year 1740, -resided in the neighborhood of Philadelphia, in the United -States. His habits were retired, and he spoke little; he was -grave, benevolent, and pious, and nothing was known against -his character, except that he had the reputation of possessing -some secrets that were not altogether <span class='it'>lawful</span>. Many extraordinary -stories were told of him, and among the rest, the following: -The wife of a ship-captain, whose husband was on a -voyage to Europe and Africa, and from whom she had been -long without tidings, overwhelmed with anxiety for his safety, -was induced to address herself to this person. Having listened -to her story, he begged her to excuse him for awhile, when he -would bring her the intelligence she required. He then passed -into an inner room, and she sat herself down to wait; but his -absence continuing longer than she expected, she became impatient, -thinking he had forgotten her; and so softly approaching -the door, she peeped through some aperture, and to her surprise, -beheld him lying on a sofa, as motionless as if he was -dead. She of course, did not think it advisable to disturb him, -but waited his return, when he told her that her husband had -not been able to write to her for such and such reasons; but -that he was then in a coffeehouse in London, and would shortly -be home again. Accordingly, he arrived, and as the lady -learned from him that the causes of his unusual silence had been -precisely those alleged by the man, she felt extremely desirous -of ascertaining the truth of the rest of the information; and in -this she was gratified; for he no sooner set his eyes on the magician -than he said that he had seen him before, on a certain -day, in a coffeehouse in London; and that he had told him his -wife was extremely uneasy about him; and that he, the captain, -had thereon mentioned how he had been prevented writing; -adding that he was on the eve of embarking for America. -He had then lost sight of the stranger among the throng, -and knew nothing more about him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I have no authority for this story, but that of Jung Stilling; -and if it stood alone, it might appear very incredible; but it is -supported by so many parallel examples of information given -by people in somnambulic states, that we are not entitled to -reject it on the score of impossibility.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The late Mr. John Holloway, of the bank of England, brother -to the engraver of that name, related of himself that being one -night in bed with his wife and unable to sleep, he had fixed his -eyes and thoughts with uncommon intensity on a beautiful star -that was shining in at the window, when he suddenly found his -spirit released from his body and soaring into that bright sphere. -But, instantly seized with anxiety for the anguish of his wife, -if she discovered his body apparently dead beside her, he returned, -and re-entered it with <span class='it'>difficulty</span> (hence, perhaps, the -violent convulsions with which some somnambules of the highest -order are awakened). He described that returning, was -returning to darkness; and that while the spirit was free, he -was <span class='it'>alternately in the light or the dark, accordingly as his -thoughts were with his wife or with the star</span>. He said that he -always avoided anything that could produce a repetition of this -accident, the consequences of it being very distressing.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We know that by intense contemplation of this sort, the dervishes -produce a state of ecstasy, in which they pretend to be -transported to other spheres; and not only the seeress of Prevorst, -but many other persons in a highly magnetic state, have -asserted the same thing of themselves; and certainly the singular -conformity of the intelligence they bring is not a little remarkable.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Kerner relates of his somnambule, Frederica Hauffe, that -one day, at Weinsberg, she exclaimed in her sleep, “Oh! God!” -She immediately awoke, as if aroused by the exclamation, and -said that she seemed to have heard two voices proceeding from -herself. At this time her father was lying dead in his coffin, at -Oberstenfeld, and Dr. Fohr, the physician, who had attended -him in his illness, was sitting with another person in an adjoining -room, with the door open, when he heard the exclamation -“Oh, God!” so distinctly, that, feeling certain there was nobody -there, he hastened to the coffin, whence the sound had appeared -to proceed, thinking that Mr. W——’s death had only been apparent, -and that he was reviving. The other person, who was -an uncle of Frederica, had heard nothing. No person was -discovered from whom the exclamation could have proceeded, -and the circumstance remained a mystery till an explanation -ensued. Plutarch relates, that a certain man, called Thespesius, -having fallen from a great height, was taken up apparently dead -from the shock, although no external wound was to be discovered. -On the third day after the accident, however, when they -were about to bury him, he unexpectedly revived; and it was -afterward observed, to the surprise of all who knew him, that, -from being a vicious reprobate, he became one of the most virtuous -of men. On being interrogated with respect to the cause -of the change, he related that, during the period of his bodily -insensibility, it appeared to him that he was dead, and that he -had been first plunged into the depths of an ocean, out of which -however, he soon emerged, and then, at one view, the whole of -space was disclosed to him. Everything appeared in a different -aspect, and the dimensions of the planetary bodies, and the -intervals between them, were tremendous, while his spirit -seemed to float in a sea of light, like a ship in calm waters. He -also described many other things that he had seen. He said that -the souls of the dead, on quitting the body, appeared like a -bubble of light, out of which a human form was quickly evolved. -That of these, some shot away at once in a direct line, with -great rapidity, while others, on the contrary, seemed unable to -find their due course, and continued to hover about, going -hither and thither, till at length they also darted away in one -direction or another. He recognised few of these persons he -saw, but those whom he did, and sought to address, appeared -as if they were stunned and amazed, and avoided him with terror. -Their voices were indistinct, and seemed to be uttering -vague lamentings. There were others, also, who floated farther -from the earth, who looked bright, and were gracious; -these avoided the approach of the last. In short, the demeanor -and appearance of these spirits manifested clearly their degrees -of joy or grief. Thespesius was then informed by one of them, -that he was not dead, but that he had been permitted to come -there by a Divine decree, and that his soul, which was yet -attached to his body, as by an anchor, would return to it again. -Thespesius then observed that he was different to the dead by -whom he was surrounded, and this observation seemed to -restore him to his recollection. They were transparent, and -environed by a radiance, but he seemed to trail after him a dark -ray, or line of shadow. These spirits also presented very different -aspects; some were entirely pervaded by a mild, clear -radiance, like that of the full moon; through others there appeared -faint streaks, that diminished this splendor; while others, -on the contrary, were distinguished by spots, or stripes of -black, or of a dark color, like the marks on the skin of a viper.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There is a circumstance which I can not help here mentioning -in connection with this history of Thespesius, which on first -reading struck me very forcibly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>About three years ago, I had several opportunities of seeing -two young girls, then under the care of a Mr. A——, of Edinburgh, -who hoped, chiefly by means of magnetism, to restore -them to sight. One was a maid-servant afflicted with amaurosis, -whom he had taken into his house from a charitable desire -to be of use to her; the other, who had been blind from her -childhood, was a young lady in better circumstances, the daughter -of respectable tradespeople in the north of England. The -girl with amaurosis was restored to sight, and the other was so -far benefited that she could distinguish houses, trees, carriages, -&c., and at length, though obscurely, the features of a person -near her. At this period of the curé she was, unhappily, -removed, and may possibly have relapsed into her former state. -My reason, however, for alluding to these young women on this -occasion is, that they were in the habit of saying, when in the -magnetic state—for they were both, more or less, <span class='it'>clairvoyantes</span>—that -the people whom Dr. A—— was magnetizing, in -the same room, presented very different appearances. Some of -them they described as looking bright, while others were, in -different degrees, streaked with black.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One or two they mentioned over whom there seemed to hang -a sort of cloud, like a ragged veil of darkness. They also said, -though this was before any tidings of Baron von Reichenbach’s -discoveries had reached this country, that they saw light streaming -from the fingers of Mr. A—— when he magnetized them; -and that sometimes his whole person seemed to them radiant. -Now, I am positively certain that neither Mr. A—— nor these -girls had ever heard of this story of Thespesius; neither had I, -at that time; and I confess, when I did meet with it I was a good -deal struck by the coincidence. These young people said that -it was the “goodness or badness,” meaning the moral state, of -the persons that was thus indicated. Now, surely, this concurrence -between the man mentioned by Plutarch, and these two -girls—one of whom had no education whatever, and the other -very little—is worthy of some regard.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I once asked a young person in a highly clairvoyant state, -whether she ever “saw the spirits of them that had passed -away;” for so <span class='it'>she</span> designated the dead, never using the word -<span class='it'>death</span> herself, in any of its forms. She answered me that she did.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then where are they?” I inquired.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Some are waiting, and some are gone on before.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Can you speak to them?” I asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No,” she replied, “there is no meddling nor direction.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In her waking state she would have been quite incapable of -these answers; and that “some are waiting and some gone on -before,” seems to be much in accordance with the vision of -Thespesius.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Passavent mentions a peasant-boy who, after a short but -painful illness, apparently died, his body being perfectly stiff. -He, however, revived, complaining bitterly of being called back -to life. He said he had been in a delightful place, and seen his -deceased relations. There was a great exaltation of the faculties -after this; and having been before rather stupid, he now, -while his body lay stiff and immoveable and his eyes closed, -prayed and discoursed with eloquence. He continued in this -state for seven weeks, but finally recovered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the year 1733, Johann Schwerzeger fell into a similar -state of trance, after an illness, but revived. He said he had -seen his whole life, and every sin he had committed, even those -he had quite forgotten—everything had been as present to him -as when it happened. He also lamented being recalled from -the happiness he was about to enter into; but said that he had -only two days to spend in this valley of tears, during which -time he wished everybody that would, should come and listen -to what he had to tell them. His before sunken eyes now -looked bright, his face had the bloom of youth, and he discoursed -so eloquently, that the minister said they had exchanged -offices, and the sick man had become his teacher. He died at -the time he had foretold.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The most frightful cases of trance recorded are those in which -the patient retains entire consciousness, although utterly unable -to exhibit any evidence of life; and it is dreadful to think how -many persons may have been actually buried, hearing every -nail that was screwed into their own coffin, and as perfectly -aware of the whole ceremony as those who followed them to -the grave.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Binns mentions a girl, at Canton, who lay in this state, -hearing every word that was said around her, but utterly unable -to move a finger. She tried to cry out, but could not, and -supposed that she was really dead. The horror of finding herself -about to be buried at length caused a perspiration to appear -on her skin, and she finally revived. She described that she -felt that her soul had no power to act upon her body, and that -it seemed to be <span class='it'>in her body and out of it, at the same time</span>!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, this is very much what the somnambulists say: their -soul is out of the body, but is still so far in rapport with it, that -it does not leave it entirely. Probably magnetism would be the -best means of reviving a person from this state.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The custom of burying people before there are unmistakable -signs of death, is a very condemnable one. A Mr. M’G—— -fell into a trance, some few years since, and remained insensible -for five days, his mother being meanwhile quite shocked that -the physician would not allow him to be buried. He had afterward -a recurrence of the malady, which continued seven days.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A Mr. S——, who had been some time out of the country, -died, apparently, two days after his return. As he had eaten -of a pudding which his stepmother had made for his dinner -with her own hands, people took into their heads she had -poisoned him; and, the grave being opened for purposes of -investigation, the body was found lying on its face.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One of the most frightful cases extant is that of Dr. Walker, -of Dublin, who had so strong a presentiment on this subject, that -he had actually written a treatise against the Irish customs of -hasty burial. He himself subsequently died, as was believed, -of a fever. His decease took place in the night, and on the -following day he was interred. At this time, Mrs. Bellamy, the -once-celebrated actress, was in Ireland; and as she had promised -him, in the course of conversation, that she would take care -he should not be laid in the earth till unequivocal signs of dissolution -had appeared, she no sooner heard of what had happened -than she took measures to have the grave reopened; but -it was, unfortunately, too late; Dr. Walker had evidently revived, -and had turned upon his side; but life was now quite -extinct.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The case related by Lady Fanshawe, of her mother, is very -remarkable, from the confirmation furnished by the event of -her death. “My mother, being sick of a fever,” says Lady -Fanshawe, in her memoirs, “her friends and servants thought -her deceased, and she lay in that state for two days and a night; -but Mr. Winslow, coming to comfort my father, went into my -mother’s room, and, looking earnestly in her face, said, ‘She -was so handsome, and looked so lovely, that he could not think -her dead;’ and, suddenly taking a lancet out of his pocket, he -cut the sole of her foot, which bled. Upon this, he immediately -caused her to be removed to the bed again, and to be rubbed, -and such means used that she came to life, and, opening her -eyes, saw two of her kinswomen standing by her (Lady Knollys -and Lady Russell), both with great wide sleeves, as the -fashion then was; and she said, ‘Did you not promise me fifteen -years, and are you come again already?’—which they, -not understanding, bade her keep her spirits quiet in that great -weakness wherein she was; but, some hours after, she desired -my father and Dr. Howlesworth might be left alone with her, -to whom she said: ‘I will acquaint you, that, during my trance, -I was in great grief, but in a place I could neither distinguish -nor describe; but the sense of leaving my girl, who is dearer -to me than all my children, remained a trouble upon my spirits. -Suddenly I saw two by me, clothed in long white garments, -and methought I fell down upon my face in the dust, and they -asked me why I was so troubled in so great happiness. I replied, -“Oh, let me have the same grant given to Hezekiah, that -I may live fifteen years to see my daughter a woman!”—to -which they answered, “It is done!”—and then at that instant -I awoke out of my trance!’ And Dr. Howlesworth did affirm -that the day she died made just fifteen years from that time.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I have met with a somewhat similar case to this, which occurred -to the mother of a very respectable person now living -in Edinburgh. She having been ill, was supposed to be dead, -and preparations were making for her funeral, when one of her -fingers was seen to move, and restoratives being applied, she -revived. As soon as she could speak, she said she had been at -the gates of heaven, where she saw some going in, but that -they told her she was not ready. Among those who had passed -her, and been admitted, she said <span class='it'>she had seen Mr. So-and-so, -the baker</span>, and the remarkable thing was, that during the time -she had been in the trance, this man had died.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 10th of January, 1717, Mr. John Gardner, a minister, -at Elgin, fell into a trance, and, being to all appearance dead, -he was put into a coffin, and on the second day was carried to -the grave. But, fortunately, a noise being heard, the coffin was -opened, and he was found alive and taken home again, where, -according to the record, “he related many strange and amazing -things which he had seen in the other world.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Not to mention somnambules, there are numerous other cases -recorded of persons who have said, on awaking from a trance, -that they had been in the other world; though frequently the -freed spirit—supposing that to be the interpretation of the mystery—seems -busied with the affairs of the earth, and brings -tidings from distant places, as in the case of the American above -mentioned. Perhaps, in these latter cases, the disunion is less -complete. Dr. Werner relates of his somnambule, that it was -after those attacks of catalepsy, in which her body had lain stiff -and cold, that she used to say she had been wandering away -through other spheres. Where the catalepsy is spontaneous -and involuntary, and resembles death so nearly as not to be -distinguished from it, we may naturally conclude, if we admit -this hypothesis at all, that the seeing of the spirit would be clear -in proportion to its disentanglement from the flesh.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I have spoken above of dream compelling or suggesting, and -I have heard of persons who have a power of directing their -own dreams to any particular subject.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This faculty may be in some degree analogous to that of the -American, and a few somnambulic persons, who appear to carry -the recollections of one state into the other. The effects produced -by the witch-potions seem to have been somewhat similar, -inasmuch as they dreamed what they wished or expected to -dream. Jung Stilling mentions that a woman gave in evidence, -on a witch-trial, that having visited the so-called witch, she had -found her concocting a potion over the fire, of which she had -advised her (the visiter) to drink, assuring her that she would -then accompany her to the Sâbbath. The woman said, lest she -should give offence, she had put the vessel to her lips, but had -not drunk of it. The witch, however, swallowed the whole, -and immediately afterward sunk down upon the hearth in a -profound sleep, where she had left her. When she went to -see her on the following day, she declared she had been to the -Brocken.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Paolo Minucci relates that a woman accused of sorcery, being -brought before a certain magistrate at Florence, she not -only confessed her guilt, but she declared that, provided they -would let her return home and anoint herself, she would attend -the Sâbbath that very night. The magistrate, a man more enlightened -than the generality of his contemporaries, consented. -The woman went home, used her unguent, and fell immediately -into a profound sleep; whereupon they tied her to the bed, and -tested the reality of the sleep by burns, blows, and pricking -her with sharp instruments. When she awoke on the following -day, she related that she had attended the Sâbbath.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I could quote several similar facts; and Gassendi actually -endeavored to undeceive some peasants who believed themselves -witches, by composing an ointment that produced the -same effects as their own magical applications.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the year 1545, André Laguna, physician to Pope Julius -III., anointed a patient of his, who was suffering from frenzy -and sleeplessness, with an unguent found in the house of a sorcerer, -who had been arrested. The patient slept for thirty-six -hours consecutively, and when, with much difficulty, she was -awakened, she complained that they had torn her from the most -ravishing delights—delights which seem to have rivalled the -heaven of the Mohammedan. According to Llorente, the -women who were dedicated to the service of the mother of the -gods, heard continually the sounds of flutes and tambourines, -beheld the joyous dances of the fauns and satyrs, and tasted of -intoxicating pleasures, doubtless from a similar cause.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is difficult to imagine that all the unfortunate wretches who -suffered death at the stake in the middle ages, for having attended -the unholy assemblies they described, had no faith in -their own stories; yet, in spite of the unwearied vigilance of -public authorities and private malignity, no such assemblage -was ever detected. How, then, are we to account for the pertinacity -of their confessions, but by supposing them the victims -of some extraordinary delusion? In a paper addressed to the -Inquisition, by Llorente, he does not scruple to assert that the -crimes imputed to and confessed by witches have most frequently -no existence but in their dreams, and that their dreams -are produced by the drugs with which they anointed themselves.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The recipes for these compositions, which had descended traditionally -from age to age, have been lost since witchcraft went -out of fashion, and modern science has no time to investigate -secrets which appear to be more curious than profitable; but -in the profound sleep produced by these applications, it is not -easy to say what phenomena may have occurred to justify, or, -at least, account for, their self-accusations.</p> - -<hr class='footnotemark'/> - -<div class='footnote'> -<table summary='footnote_1'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' class='footnoteid'/> -<col span='1'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td style='vertical-align:top;'> -<div class='footnote-id' id='f1'><a href='#r1'>[1]</a></div> -</td><td> - -<p class='pindent'>This very curious work I have translated from the German. Published by -Moore, London.—C. C. Also republished in this country.—<span class='sc'>Am. Ed.</span></p> - -</td></tr> -</table> -</div> - -<div class='footnote'> -<table summary='footnote_2'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' class='footnoteid'/> -<col span='1'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td style='vertical-align:top;'> -<div class='footnote-id' id='f2'><a href='#r2'>[2]</a></div> -</td><td> - -<p class='pindent'>Since the above was penned, I find from the account of Dr. Cheyne, who -attended him, that Colonel Townshend’s own way of describing the phenomenon -to which he was subject, was, that he “could die, or expire, when he pleased; -and yet, by an effort or <span class='it'>somehow</span>, he could come to life again.” He performed -the experiment in the presence of three medical men, one of whom kept his hand -on his heart, another held his wrist, and the third placed a looking-glass before his -lips; and they found that all traces of respiration and pulsation gradually ceased, -insomuch that, after consulting about his condition for some time, they were leaving -the room, persuaded that he was really dead, when signs of life appeared and -he slowly revived. He did not die while repeating this experiment, as has been -sometimes stated.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This reviving “by an effort or somehow,” seems to be better explained by the -hypothesis I have suggested, than by any other—namely, that, as in the case of -Mr. Holloway (mentioned on page 120), his spirit, or soul, was released from his -body, but a sufficient <span class='it'>rapport</span> was maintained to reunite them.</p> - -</td></tr> -</table> -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='130' id='Page_130'></span><h1>CHAPTER VII.</h1></div> - -<h3>WRAITHS.</h3> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>Such</span> instances as that of Lady Fanshawe, and other similar -ones, certainly seem to favor the hypothesis that the spirit is -freed from the body when the latter becomes no longer a fit -habitation for it. It does so when actual death supervenes, and -the reason of its departure we may naturally conclude to be, -that the body has ceased to be available for its manifestations; -and in these cases, which seem so nearly allied to death, that -frequently there would actually be no revival but for the exertions -used, it does not seem very difficult to conceive that this -separation may take place. When we are standing by a death-bed, -all we see is the death of the body—of the going forth of -the spirit we see nothing: so, in cases of apparent death, it may -depart and return, while we are aware of nothing but the reanimation -of the organism. Certain it is, that the Scriptures -countenance this view of the case in several instances; thus, -Luke says, viii. 34: “And he put them all out, and took her -by the hand, and called, saying, ‘Maid, arise!’ And her spirit -came again, and she arose straightway,” &c., &c.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Wigan observes, when speaking of the effects of temporary -pressure on the brain, that the mind is not annihilated, -because, if the pressure is timely removed, it is restored, though, -if continued too long, the body will be resolved into its primary -elements: and he compares the human organism to a watch, -which we can either stop or set going at will—which watch, -he says, will also be gradually resolved into its original elements -by chemical action; and he adds that, to ask where the -mind is, during the interruption, is like asking where the motion -of the watch is. I think a wind-instrument would be a -better simile, for the motion of the watch is purely mechanical. -It requires no informing, intelligent spirit to breathe into its -apertures, and make it the vehicle of the harshest discords, or -of the most eloquent discourses. “The divinely mysterious -essence, which we call the soul,” he adds, “is not, then, the -mind, from which it must be carefully distinguished, if we -would hope to make any progress in mental philosophy. Where -the soul resides during the suspension of the mental powers by -asphyxia, I know not, any more than I know where it resided -before it was united with that specific compound of bones, -muscles, and nerve.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>By a temporary pressure on the brain, the mind is certainly -not annihilated, but its manifestations by means of the brain -are suspended—the source of these manifestations being the -soul, or anima, in which dwells the life, fitting the temple for -its divine inhabitant, the spirit. The connection of the soul and -the body is probably a much more intimate one than that of the -latter with the spirit,—though the soul, as well as the spirit, is -immortal, and survives when the body dies. Somnambulic -persons seem to intimate that the soul of the fleshly body -becomes hereafter the body of the spirit, as if the <span class='it'>imago</span> or -<span class='it'>idolon</span> were the soul.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Wigan and indeed psychologists in general do not appear -to recognise the old distinction between the pneuma, or -anima, and the psyches—the soul and the spirit; and, indeed, -the Scriptures occasionally seem to use the terms indifferently. -But still there are passages enough which mark the distinction; -as where St. Paul speaks of a “living soul and a quickening -spirit:” 1 Cor. xv. 45;—again, 1 Thess. v. 23: “I pray God -your whole spirit, and soul, and body,” &c.;—and also Heb. -iv. 12, where he speaks of the sword of God “dividing asunder -the soul and spirit.” In Genesis, chap. ii., we are told that -“man became a living soul;” but it is distinctly said, 1 Cor. -xii., that the gifts of prophecy, the discerning of spirits, &c., -&c., belong to the spirit. Then, with regard to the possibility -of the spirit absenting itself from the body, St. Paul says, in -referring to his own vision—2 Cor. xii.—“I knew a man in -Christ, about fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I can -not tell; or out of the body, I can not tell: God knoweth); -such a one caught up to the third heaven:” and we are told, -also, that to be “absent from the body is to be present with -the Lord;” and that when we are “at home in the body we -are absent from the Lord.” We are told, also, “the spirit -returns to God, who gave it;” but it depends on ourselves -whether or not our souls shall perish. We must suppose, however, -that even in the worst cases, some remnant of this divine -spirit remains with the soul as long as the latter is not utterly -perverted and rendered incapable of salvation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>St. John also says, that when he prophesied, he was in the -<span class='it'>spirit;</span> but it was the “<span class='it'>souls of the slain</span>” that he saw, and -that “cried with a loud voice,” &c., &c.; <span class='it'>souls</span>, here, being -probably used in the sense of individuals,—as we say, so many -“souls perished by shipwreck,” &c.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the <span class='it'>Revue de Paris</span>, 29th July, 1838, it is related that a -child <span class='it'>saw</span> the soul of a woman, who was lying insensible in a -magnetic crisis in which death nearly ensued, depart out of -her; and I find recorded in another work that a somnambule, -who was brought to give advice to a patient, said: “It is too -late—her soul is leaving her: I see the vital flame quitting her -brain.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From some of the cases I have above related, we are led to -the conclusion that in certain conditions of the body, the spirit, -in a manner unknown to us, resumes a portion of its freedom, -and is enabled to exercise more or less of its inherent properties. -It is somewhat released from those inexorable conditions -of time and space which bound and limit its powers, while in -close connection with matter, and it communes with other -spirits who are also liberated. How far this liberation (if such -it be), or reintegration of natural attributes, may take place in -ordinary sleep, we can only conclude from examples. In prophetic -dreams, and in those instances of information apparently -received from the dead, this condition seems to occur; as also -in such cases as that of the gentleman mentioned in a former -chapter, who has several times been conscious, on awaking, -that he had been conversing with some one, whom he has been -subsequently startled to hear had died at that period, and this -is a man apparently in excellent health, endowed with a vigorous -understanding, and immersed in active business.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the story of the American, quoted in a former chapter -from Jung Stilling, there was one point which I forebore to -comment on at the moment, but to which I must now revert: -this is the assertion that the voyager had seen the man, and -even conversed with him, in the coffeehouse in London whence -the desired intelligence was brought. Now, this single case, -standing alone, would amount to nothing, although Jung Stilling, -who was one of the most conscientious of men, declares -himself to have been quite satisfied with the authority on which -he relates it; but, strange to say—for undoubtedly the thing is -very strange—there are numerous similar instances recorded; -and it seems to have been believed in all ages of the world, that -people were sometimes seen where bodily they were not—seen, -not by sleepers alone, but by persons in a perfect state of -vigilance; and that this phenomenon, though more frequently -occurring at the moment that the individual seen is at the point -of death, does occasionally occur at indefinite periods anterior -to the catastrophe, and sometimes where no such catastrophe is -impending. In some of these cases, an earnest desire seems to -be the cause of the phenomenon. It is not very long since a -very estimable lady, who was dying in the Mediterranean, -expressed herself perfectly ready to meet death, if she could -but once more behold her children, who were in England. -She soon afterward fell into a comatose state, and the persons -surrounding her were doubtful whether she had not already -breathed her last; at all events, they did not expect her to -revive. She did so, however, and now cheerfully announced -that, having seen her children, she was ready to depart. During -the interval that she lay in this state, her family saw her -in England, and were thus aware of her death before the intelligence -reached them. As it is a subject, I understand, they -are unwilling to speak of, I do not know precisely under what -circumstances she was seen;—but this is an exactly analogous -case to that already recorded of Maria Goffe, of Rochester, -who, when dying away from home, expressed precisely the -same feelings. She said she could not die happy till she had -seen her children. By-and-by she fell into a state of coma, -which left them uncertain whether she was dead or alive. Her -eyes were open and fixed, her jaw fallen, and there was no -perceptible respiration. When she revived, she told her -mother, who attended her, that she had been home and seen -her children; which the other said was impossible, since she -had been lying there in bed the whole time. “Yes,” replied -the dying woman, “but I was there in my sleep.” A widow -woman, called Alexander, who had the care of these children, -declared herself ready to take oath upon the sacrament, that, -during this period, she had seen the form of Maria Goffe come -out of the room where the oldest child slept, and approach the -bed where she herself lay with the younger beside her. The -figure had stood there nearly a quarter of an hour, as far as she -could judge; and she remarked that the eyes and the mouth -moved, though she heard no sound. She declared herself to -have been perfectly awake, and that, as it was the longest night -in the year, it was quite light. She sat up in bed, and while -she was looking on the figure the clock on the bridge struck -two. She then adjured the form in the name of God, whereupon -it moved. She immediately arose and followed it, but -could not tell what had become of it. She then became -alarmed, and throwing on her clothes, went out and walked on -the quay, returning to the house ever and anon to look at the -children. At five o’clock she knocked at a neighbor’s door, -but they would not let her in. At six she knocked again and -was then admitted, and related to them what she had seen, -which they, of course, endeavored to persuade her was a dream -or an illusion. She declared herself, however, to have been -perfectly awake, and said that if she had ever seen Maria Goffe -in her life she had seen her that night.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The following story has been currently related in Rome, and -is already in print. I take it from a German work, and I do -not know how far its authenticity can be established. It is to -the effect that two friends having agreed to attend confession -together, one of them went at the appointed time to the Abbate -B——, and made his confession; after which the priest commenced -the usual admonition, in the midst of which he suddenly -ceased speaking. After waiting a short time, the penitent -stepped forward and perceived him lying in the confessional in -a state of insensibility. Aid was summoned and means used to -restore him, which were for some time ineffectual; at length, -when he opened his eyes, he bade the penitent recite a prayer -for his friend, who had just expired. This proved to be the -case, on inquiry; and when the young man, who had naturally -hastened to his friend’s house, expressed a hope that he had not -died without the last offices of the church, he was told in amazement, -that the Abbate B—— had arrived just as he was in <span class='it'>extremis</span>, -and had remained with him till he died.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>These appearances seem to have taken place when the corporeal -condition of the person seen elsewhere, permits us to -conceive the possibility of the spirit’s having withdrawn from -the body; but the question then naturally arises, what is it that -was seen; and I confess, that of all the difficulties that surround -the subject, I have undertaken to treat of, this seems to me the -greatest; for we can not suppose that a spirit can be visible to -the human eye, and both in the above instances and several -others I have to narrate, there is nothing that can lead us to the -conclusion, that the persons who saw the wraith or double, -were in any other than a normal state; the figure, in short, -seems to have been perceived through their external organs of -sense. Before I discuss this question, however, any further, I -will relate some instances of a similar kind, only with this difference, -that the wraith appearing as nearly as could be ascertained -at the moment of death, it remains uncertain whether it -was seen before or after the dissolution had taken place. As -in both these cases above related and those that follow, the material -body was visible in one place, while the wraith was visible -in another, they appear to be strictly analogous; especially, -as in both class of examples, the body itself was either -dead or in a state that closely resembled death.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Instances of people being seen at a distance from the spot on -which they are dying, are so numerous, that in this department -I have positively an <span class='it'>embarras de richesse</span>, and find it difficult -to make a selection; more especially as there is in each case -little to relate, the whole phenomenon being comprised in the -fact of the form being observed and the chief variations consisting -in this, that the seer, or seers, frequently entertain no -suspicion that what they have seen is any other than a form of -flesh and blood; while on other occasions the assurance that -the person is far away, or some peculiarity connected with the -appearance itself, produces the immediate conviction that the -shape is not corporeal.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mrs. K——, the sister of Provost B——, of Aberdeen, was -sitting one day with her husband, Dr. K——, in the parlor of -the manse, when she suddenly said, “Oh! there’s my brother -come! he has just passed the window,” and, followed by her -husband, she hastened to the door to meet the visiter. He was -however not there. “He is gone round to the back door,” said -she; and thither they went; but neither was he there, nor had -the servants seen anything of him. Dr. K—— said she must -be mistaken, but she laughed at the idea; her brother had -passed the window and looked in; he must have gone somewhere, -and would doubtless be back directly. But he came -not; and the intelligence shortly arrived from St. Andrew’s, that -at that precise time, as nearly as they could compare circumstances, -he had died quite suddenly at his own place of residence. -I have heard this story from connections of the family, -and also from an eminent professor of Glasgow, who told me -that he had once asked Dr. K——, whether he believed in these -appearances. “I can not choose but believe,” returned Dr. -K——, and then he accounted for his conviction by narrating -the above particulars.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Lord and Lady M—— were residing on their estate in Ireland: -Lord M—— had gone out shooting in the morning, and -was not expected to return till toward dinner-time. In the -course of the afternoon, Lady M—— and a friend were walking -on the terrace that forms a promenade in front of the castle, -when she said, “Oh, there is M—— returning!” whereupon -she called to him to join them. He, however, took no -notice, but walked on before them, till they saw him enter the -house, whither they followed him;—but he was not to be -found: and before they had recovered their surprise at his sudden -disappearance, he was brought home dead, having been -killed by his own gun. It is a curious fact, in this case, that -while the ladies were walking behind the figure on the terrace, -Lady M—— called the attention of her companion to the shooting-jacket, -observing that it was a convenient one, and that she -had the credit of having contrived it for him herself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A person in Edinburgh, busied about her daily work, saw a -woman enter her house, with whom she was on such ill terms -that she could not but be surprised at the visit; but while she -was expecting an explanation, and under the influence of her -resentment avoiding to look at her, she found she was gone. -She remained quite unable to account for the visit, and, as she -said, “was wondering what had brought her there,” when she -heard that the woman had expired at that precise time.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Madame O—— B—— was engaged to marry an officer who -was with his regiment in India; and, wishing to live in privacy -till the union took place, she retired to the country and boarded -with some ladies of her acquaintance, awaiting his return. She -at length heard that he had obtained an appointment, which, by -improving his prospects, had removed some difficulties out of -the way of the marriage, and that he was immediately coming -home. A short time after the arrival of this intelligence, this -lady, and one of those with whom she was residing, were walking -over a bridge, when the friend said, alluding to an officer -she saw on the other side of the way, “What an extraordinary -expression of face!” But, without pausing to answer, Madame -O—— B—— darted across the road to meet the stranger—but -he was gone: where? they could not conceive. They ran -to the toll-keepers at the ends of the bridge, to inquire if they -had observed such a person, but they had not. Alarmed and -perplexed—for it was her intended husband that she had -seen—Madame O—— B—— returned home; and in due time -the packet which should have brought himself, brought the sad -tidings of his unexpected death.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Madame O—— B—— never recovered the shock, and died -herself of a broken heart not long afterward.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mr. H——, an eminent artist, was walking arm in arm with -a friend in Edinburgh, when he suddenly left him, saying, -“Oh, there’s my brother!” He had seen him with the most -entire distinctness; but was confounded by losing sight of him, -without being able to ascertain whither he had vanished. News -came, ere long, that at that precise period his brother had died.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mrs. T——, sitting in her drawing-room, saw her nephew, -then at Cambridge, pass across the adjoining room. She -started up to meet him, and, not finding him, summoned the -servants to ask where he was. They, however, had not seen -him, and declared he could not be there; while she as positively -declared he was. The young man had died at Cambridge -quite unexpectedly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A Scotch minister went to visit a friend who was dangerously -ill. After sitting with the invalid for some time, he left him to -take some rest, and went below. He had been reading in the -library some little time, when, on looking up, he saw the sick -man standing at the door. “God bless me!” he cried, starting -up, “how can you be so imprudent?” The figure disappeared; -and, hastening up stairs, he found his friend had -expired.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Three young men at Cambridge had been out hunting, and -afterward dined together in the apartments of one of them. -After dinner, two of the party, fatigued with their morning’s -exercise, fell asleep, while the third, a Mr. M——, remained -awake. Presently the door opened, and a gentleman entered -and placed himself behind the sleeping owner of the rooms, -and, after standing there a minute, proceeded to the gyp-room—a -small inner chamber, from which there was no egress. -Mr. M—— waited a little while, expecting the stranger would -come out again; but, as he did not, he awoke his host, saying, -“There’s somebody gone into your room: I don’t know who -it can be.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The young man rose and looked into the gyp-room; but, -there being nobody there, he naturally accused Mr. M—— of -dreaming; but the other assured him he had not been asleep. -He then described the stranger—an elderly man, &c., dressed -like a country squire, with gaiters on, &c. “Why that’s my -father,” said the host, and he immediately made inquiry, thinking -it possible the old gentleman had slipped out unobserved -by Mr. M——. He was not, however, to be heard of; and the -post shortly brought a letter announcing that he had died at -the time he had been seen in his son’s chamber at Cambridge.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mr. C—— F—— and some young ladies, not long ago, were -standing together looking in at a shop window at Brighton,—when -he suddenly darted across the way, and they saw him -hurrying along the street, apparently in pursuit of somebody. -After waiting a little while, as he did not return, they went -home without him; and, when he was come, they of course -arraigned him for his want of gallantry.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I beg your pardon,” said he; “but I saw an acquaintance -of mine that owes me money, and I wanted to get hold of him.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And did you?” inquired the ladies.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No,” returned he; “I kept sight of him some time; but -I suddenly missed him—I can’t think how.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>No more was thought of the matter; but, by the next morning’s -post, Mr. C—— F—— received a letter enclosing a draft, -from the father of the young man he had seen, saying that his -son had just expired, and that one of his last requests had -been that he would pay Mr. C—— F—— the money that he -owed him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Two young ladies, staying at the Queen’s Ferry, arose one -morning early to bathe; as they descended the stairs, they each -exclaimed: “There’s my uncle!” They had seen him standing -by the clock. He died at that time.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Very lately, a gentleman living in Edinburgh, while sitting -with his wife, suddenly arose from his seat and advanced toward -the door with his hand extended, as if about to welcome a -visiter. On his wife’s inquiring what he was about, he answered -that he had seen so-and-so enter the room. She had seen -nobody. A day or two afterward, the post brought a letter -announcing the death of the person seen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A regiment, not very long since, stationed at New Orleans, -had a temporary mess-room erected, at one end of which was -a door for the officers, and at the other, a door and a space -railed off for the messman. One day, two of the officers were -playing at chess, or draughts, one sitting with his face toward -the centre of the room, the other with his back to it. “Bless -me! why, surely that is your brother!” exclaimed the former -to the latter, who looked eagerly round, his brother being then, -as he believed, in England. By this time the figure, having -passed the spot where the officers were sitting, presented only -his back to them. “No,” replied the second, “that is not my -brother’s regiment; that’s the uniform of the rifle-brigade. By -heavens! it <span class='it'>is</span> my brother, though,” he added, starting up and -eagerly pursuing the stranger, who at that moment turned his -head and looked at him, and then, somehow, strangely disappeared -among the people standing at the messman’s end of the -room. Supposing he had gone out that way, the brother pursued -him, but he was not to be found; neither had the messman, -nor anybody there, observed him. The young man died -at that time in England, having just exchanged into the rifle-brigade.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I could fill pages with similar instances, not to mention those -recorded in other collections and in history. The case of Lord -Balcarres is perhaps worth alluding to, from its being so perfectly -well established. Nobody has ever disputed the truth of -it, only they get out of the difficulty by saying that it was a -spectral illusion! Lord Balcarres was in confinement in the -castle of Edinburgh, under suspicion of Jacobitism, when one -morning, while lying in bed, the curtains were drawn aside by -his friend, Viscount Dundee, who looked upon him steadfastly, -leaned for some time on the mantel-piece, and then walked out -of the room. Lord Balcarres, not supposing that what he saw -was a spectre, called to Dundee to come back and speak to him, -but he was gone; and shortly afterward the news came that he -had fallen about that same hour at Killicranky.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Finally, I have met with three instances of persons who are -so much the subjects of this phenomenon, that they see the -wraiths of most people that die belonging to them, and frequently -of those who are merely acquaintance. They see the -person as if he were alive, and unless they know him positively -to be elsewhere, they have no suspicion but that it is himself, in -the flesh, that is before them, till the sudden disappearance of -the figure brings the conviction. Sometimes, as in the case of -Mr. C—— F——, above alluded to, no suspicion arises till the -news of the death arrives; and they mention, without reserve, -that they have met so and so, but he did not stop to speak, and -so forth.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On other occasions, however, the circumstances of the appearance -are such that the seer is instantly aware of its nature. In -the first place, the time and locality may produce the conviction.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mrs. J—— wakes her husband in the night, and tells him she -has just seen her father pass through the room—she being in -the West Indies and her father in England. He died that -night. Lord T—— being at sea, on his way to Calcutta, saw -his wife enter his cabin.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mrs. Mac——, of Skye, went from Lynedale, where she resided, -to pay a visit in Perthshire. During her absence there -was a ball given at Lynedale, and when it was over, three young -ladies, two of them her daughters, assembled in their bed-room -to talk over the evening’s amusement. Suddenly, one of them -cried, “O God! my mother.” They all saw her pass across -the room toward a chest of drawers, where she vanished. They -immediately told their friends what they had seen, and afterward -learned that the lady died that night.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Lord M—— being from home, saw Lady M——, whom he -had left two days before, perfectly well, standing at the foot of -his bed; aware of the nature of the appearance, but wishing to -satisfy himself that it was not a mere spectral illusion, he called -his servant, who slept in the dressing-room, and said, “John, -who’s that?” “It’s my lady!” replied the man. Lady M—— -had been seized with inflammation, and died after a few hours’ -illness. This circumstance awakened so much interest at the -time, that, as I am informed by one of the family, George the -Third was not satisfied without hearing the particulars from -Lord M—— and from the servant also.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But, besides time and locality, there are very frequently other -circumstances accompanying the appearance, which not only -show the form to be spectral, but also make known to the seer -the nature of the death that has taken place.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A lady, with whose family I am acquainted, had a son abroad. -One night she was lying in bed, with a door open which led into -an adjoining room, where there was a fire. She had not been -asleep, when she saw her son cross this adjoining room and -approach the fire, over which he leaned, as if very cold. She -saw that he was shivering and dripping wet. She immediately -exclaimed, “That’s my G——!” The figure turned its face -round, looked at her sadly, and disappeared. That same night -the young man was drowned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mr. P——, the American manager, in one of his voyages to -England, being in bed one night, between sleeping and waking, -was disturbed by somebody coming into his cabin, dripping with -water. He concluded that the person had fallen overboard, -and asked him why he came there to disturb him, when there -were plenty of other places for him to go to. The man muttered -something indistinctly, and Mr. P—— then perceived that -it was his own brother. This roused him completely, and feeling -quite certain that somebody had been there, he got out of -bed to feel if the carpet was wet on the spot where his brother -stood. It was not, however; and when he questioned his shipmates, -the following morning, they assured him that nobody -had been overboard, nor had anybody been in his cabin. Upon -this, he noted down the date and the particulars of the event, -and, on his arrival at Liverpool, sent the paper sealed to a friend -in London, desiring it might not be opened till he wrote again. -The Indian post, in due time, brought the intelligence that on -that night Mr. P——’s brother was drowned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A similar case to this is that of Captain Kidd, which Lord -Byron used to say he heard from the captain himself. He was -one night awakened in his hammock, by feeling something -heavy lying upon him. He opened his eyes, and saw, or thought -he saw, by the indistinct light in the cabin, his brother, in uniform, -lying across the bed. Concluding that this was only an -illusion arising out of some foregone dream, he closed his eyes -again to sleep; but again he felt the weight, and there was the -form still lying across the bed. He now stretched out his hand, -and felt the uniform, which was quite wet. Alarmed, he called -out for somebody to come to him; and, as one of the officers -entered, the figure disappeared. He afterward learned that -his brother was drowned on that night in the Indian ocean.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Ben Jonson told Drummond, of Hawthornden, that, being at -Sir Robert Cotton’s house, in the country, with old Cambden, -he saw, in a vision, his eldest son, then a child at London, appear -to him with a mark of a bloody cross on his forehead; at -which, amazed, he prayed to God; and, in the morning, mentioned -the circumstance to Mr. Cambden, who persuaded him -it was fancy. In the meantime, came letters announcing that -the boy had died of the plague. The custom of indicating an -infected house by a red cross is here suggested, the cross apparently -symbolizing the manner of the death.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mr. S—— C——, a gentleman of fortune, had a son in India. -One fine, calm summer’s morning, in the year 1780, he and his -wife were sitting at breakfast, when she arose and went to the -window; upon which, turning his eyes in the same direction, -he started up and followed her, saying, “My dear, do you see -that?”—“Surely,” she replied, “it is our son. Let us go to -him!” As she was very much agitated, however, he begged -her to sit down and recover herself; and when they looked -again, the figure was gone. The appearance was that of their -son, precisely as they had last seen him. They took note of -the hour, and afterward learned that he had died in India at -that period.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A lady, with whose family I am acquainted, was sitting with -her son, named Andrew, when she suddenly exclaimed that she -had seen him pass the window, in a white mantle. As the window -was high from the ground, and overhung a precipice, no -one could have passed; else, she said, “Had there been a path, -and he not beside her at the moment, she should have thought -he had walked by on stilts.” Three days afterward, Andrew -was seized with a fever which he had caught from visiting some -sick neighbors, and expired after a short illness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In 1807, when several people were killed in consequence of -a false alarm of fire, at Sadler’s Wells, a woman named Price, -in giving her evidence at the inquest, said that her little girl had -gone into the kitchen about half-past ten o’clock, and was surprised -to see her brother there, whom she supposed to be at -the theatre. She spoke to him, whereupon he disappeared. -The child immediately told her mother, who, alarmed, set off -to the theatre, and found the boy dead.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the year 1813, a young lady in Berlin, whose intended -husband was with the army at Dusseldorf, heard some one -knock at the door of her chamber, and her lover entered in a -white <span class='it'>negligé</span>, stained with blood. Thinking that this vision -proceeded from some disorder in herself, she arose and quitted -the room, to call a servant; who not being at hand, she returned, -and found the figure there still. She now became much alarmed, -and having mentioned the circumstance to her father, inquiries -were made of some prisoners that were marching through the -town, and it was ascertained that the young man had been -wounded, and carried to the house of Dr. Ehrlick, in Leipsic, -with great hopes of recovery. It afterward proved, however, -that he had died at that period, and that his last thoughts were -with her. This lady earnestly wished and prayed for another -such visit, but she never saw him again.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the same year, a woman in Bavaria, who had a brother -with the army in Russia, was one day at field-work, on the skirts -of a forest, and everything quiet around her, when she repeatedly -felt herself hit by small stones, though, on looking round, -she could see nobody. At length, supposing it was some jest, -she threw down her implements, and stepped into the wood -whence they had proceeded, when she saw a headless figure, -in a soldier’s mantle, leaning against a tree. Afraid to approach, -she summoned some laborers from a neighboring field, who also -saw it; but on going up to it, it disappeared. The woman declared -her conviction that the circumstance indicated her brother’s -death; and it was afterward ascertained that he had, on -that day, fallen in a trench.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Some few years ago, a Mrs. H——, residing in Limerick, -had a servant whom she much esteemed, called Nelly Hanlon. -Nelly was a very steady person, who seldom asked for a holy-day, -and consequently Mrs. H—— was the less disposed to -refuse her when she requested a day’s leave of absence for the -purpose of attending a fair that was to take place a few miles -off. The petition was therefore favorably heard; but when Mr. -H—— came home and was informed of Nelly’s proposed excursion, -he said she could not be spared, as he had invited some -people to dinner for that day, and he had nobody he could trust -with the keys of the cellar except Nelly, adding that it was not -likely his business would allow him to get home time enough to -bring up the wine himself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Unwilling, however, after giving her consent, to disappoint -the girl, Mrs. H—— said that she would herself undertake the -cellar department on the day in question; so when the wished-for -morning arrived, Nelly departed in great spirits, having -faithfully promised to return that night, if possible, or, at the -latest, the following morning.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The day passed as usual, and nothing was thought about -Nelly, till the time arrived for fetching up the wine, when Mrs. -H—— proceeded to the cellar-stairs with the key, followed by -a servant carrying a bottle-basket. She had, however, scarcely -begun to descend, when she uttered a loud scream and dropped -down in a state of insensibility. She was carried up stairs and -laid upon the bed, while, to the amazement of the other servants, -the girl who had accompanied her said that they had seen -Nelly Hanlon, dripping with water, standing at the bottom of -the stairs. Mr. H—— being sent for, or coming home at the -moment, this story was repeated to him, whereupon he reproved -the woman for her folly; and, proper restoratives being applied, -Mrs. H—— at length began to revive. As she opened her -eyes, she heaved a deep sigh, saying, “Oh, Nelly Hanlon!” and -as soon as she was sufficiently recovered to speak, she corroborated -what the girl had said: she had seen Nelly at the foot of -the stairs, dripping as if she had just come out of the water. -Mr. H—— used his utmost efforts to persuade his wife out of -what he looked upon to be an illusion; but in vain. “Nelly,” -said he, “will come home by-and-by and laugh at you;” while -she, on the contrary, felt sure that Nelly was dead.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The night came, and the morning came, but there was no -Nelly. When two or three days had passed, inquiries were -made; and it was ascertained that she had been seen at the fair, -and started to return home in the evening; but from that moment -all traces of her were lost till her body was ultimately -found in the river. How she came by her death was never -known.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, in most of these cases which I have above detailed, -the person was seen where his dying thoughts might naturally -be supposed to have flown, and the visit seems to have been -made either immediately before or immediately after the dissolution -of the body: in either case, we may imagine that the -final parting of the spirit had taken place, even if the organic -life was not quite extinct.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I have met with some cases in which we are not left in any -doubt with respect to the last wishes of the dying person. For -example: a lady, with whom I am acquainted, was on her way -to India; when near the end of her voyage, she was one night -awakened by a rustling in her cabin, and a consciousness that -there was something hovering about her. She sat up, and saw -a bluish, cloudy form moving away; but persuading herself it -must be fancy, she addressed herself again to sleep; but as -soon as she lay down, she both heard and felt the same thing: -it seemed to her as if this cloudy form hung over and enveloped -her. Overcome with horror, she screamed. The cloud then -moved away, assuming distinctly a human shape. The people -about her naturally persuaded her that she had been dreaming; -and she wished to think so; but when she arrived in India, the -first thing she heard was, that a very particular friend had come -down to Calcutta to be ready to receive her on her landing, -but that he had been taken ill and died, saying he only wished -to live to see his old friend once more. He had expired on the -night she saw the shadowy form in her room.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A very frightful instance of this kind of phenomenon is related -by Dr. H. Werner, of Baron Emilius von O——. This -young man had been sent to prosecute his studies in Paris; -but, forming some bad connections, he became dissipated, and -neglected them. His father’s counsels were unheeded, and his -letters remained unanswered. One day the young baron was -sitting alone on a seat, in the Bois de Boulogne, and had fallen -somewhat into a revery, when, on raising his eyes, he saw his -father’s form before him. Believing it to be a mere spectral -illusion, he struck at the shadow with his riding-whip, upon -which it disappeared. The next day brought him a letter, -urging his return home instantly, if he wished to see his parent -alive. He went, but found the old man already in his grave. -The person who had been about him said that he had been -quite conscious, and had a great longing to see his son; he had, -indeed, exhibited one symptom of delirium, which was, that -after expressing this desire, he had suddenly exclaimed, “My -God! he is striking at me with his riding-whip!” and immediately -expired.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In this case, the condition of the dying man resembles that -of a somnambulist, in which the patient describes what he sees -taking place at a distance; and the archives of magnetism furnish -some instances, especially that of Auguste Müller, of Carlsruhe, -in which, by the force of will, the sleeper has not only -been able to bring intelligence from a distance, but also, like -the American magician, to make himself visible. The faculties -of prophecy and clear or far seeing, frequently disclosed by -dying persons, is fully acknowledged by Dr. Abercrombie and -other physiologists.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mr. F—— saw a female relative, one night, by his bedside. -Thinking it was a trick of some one to frighten him, he struck -at the figure; whereon she said: “What have I done? I know -I should have told it you before.” This lady was dying at a -distance, earnestly desiring to speak to Mr. F—— before she -departed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I will conclude this chapter with the following extract from -“Lockhart’s Life of Scott:”—</p> - -<div class='blockquote100percent'> - -<p class='hang'>“<span class='sc'>Walter Scott</span> <span class='it'>to</span> <span class='sc'>Daniel Terry</span>, <span class='it'>April 30, 1818.</span> (<span class='it'>The new -house at Abbotsford being then in progress,</span> <span class='sc'>Scott</span> <span class='it'>living in an -older part, close adjoining.</span>)</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ‘.....The exposed state of my house has led to a mysterious -disturbance. The night before last we were awakened -by a violent noise, like drawing heavy boards along the new -part of the house. I fancied something had fallen, and thought -no more about it. This was about <span class='it'>two</span> in the morning. Last -night, at the same witching hour, the very same noise occurred. -Mrs. Scott, as you know, is rather timbersome; so up I got, -with Beardie’s broadsword under my arm—</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“Bolt upright,</p> -<p class='line0'>And ready to fight.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='noindent'>But nothing was out of order, neither can I discover what occasioned -the disturbance.’ ”</p> - -</div> - -<p class='pindent'>Mr. Lockhart adds: “On the morning that Mr. Terry received -the foregoing letter, in London, Mr. William Erskine -was breakfasting with him, and the chief subject of their conversation -was the sudden death of George Bullock, which had -occurred on the same night, and, as nearly as they could ascertain, -at the very hour when Scott was roused from his sleep by -the ‘mysterious disturbance’ here described. This coincidence, -when Scott received Erskine’s minute detail of what had happened -in Tenterdon street (that is, the death of Bullock, who -had the charge of furnishing the new rooms at Abbotsford), -made a much stronger impression on his mind than might be -gathered from the tone of an ensuing communication.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It appears that Bullock had been at Abbotsford, and made -himself a great favorite with old and young. Scott, a week or -two afterward, wrote thus to Terry: “Were you not struck -with the fantastical coincidence of our nocturnal disturbances -at Abbotsford, with the melancholy event that followed? I protest -to you, the noise resembled half a dozen men hard at work, -putting up boards and furniture; and nothing can be more certain -than that there was nobody on the premises at the time. -With a few additional touches, the story would figure in Glanville -or Aubrey’s collection. In the meantime, you may set it -down with poor Dubisson’s warnings, as a remarkable coincidence -coming under your own observation.”</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='149' id='Page_149'></span><h1>CHAPTER VIII.</h1></div> - -<h3>DOPPELGÄNGERS, OR DOUBLES.</h3> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>In</span> the instances detailed in the last chapter, the apparition -has shown itself, as nearly as could be discovered, at the moment -of dissolution; but there are many cases in which the -wraith is seen at an indefinite period before or after the catastrophe. -Of these I could quote a great number; but as they -generally resolve themselves into simply seeing a person where -they were not, and death ensuing very shortly afterward, a few -will suffice.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There is a very remarkable story of this kind, related by -Macnish, which he calls “a case of hallucination, arising without -the individual being conscious of any physical cause by -which it might be occasioned.” If this case stood alone, strange -as it is, I should think so too: but when similar instances -abound, as they do, I can not bring myself to dispose of it so -easily. The story is as follows: Mr. H—— was one day -walking along the street, apparently in perfect health, when he -saw, or supposed he saw, his acquaintance, Mr. C——, walking -before him. He called to him aloud; but he did not seem -to hear him, and continued moving on. Mr. H—— then quickened -his pace for the purpose of overtaking him; but the other -increased his, also, as if to keep ahead of his pursuer, and proceeded -at such a rate that Mr. H—— found it impossible to -make up to him. This continued for some time, till, on Mr. -C——’s reaching a gate, he opened it and passed in, slamming -it violently in Mr. H——’s face. Confounded at such treatment -from a friend, the latter instantly opened the gate, and -looked down the long lane into which it led, where, to his -astonishment, no one was to be seen. Determined to unravel -the mystery, he then went to Mr. C——’s house, and his surprise -was great to hear that he was confined to his bed, and -had been so for several days. A week or two afterward, these -gentlemen met at the house of a common friend, when Mr. -H—— related the circumstance, jocularly telling Mr. C—— -that, as he had seen his wraith, he of course could not live long. -The person addressed laughed heartily, as did the rest of the -party; but, in a few days, Mr. C—— was attacked with putrid -sore throat and died; and within a short period of his death, -Mr. H—— was also in the grave.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This is a very striking case; the hastening on, and the actually -opening and shutting the gate, evincing not only <span class='it'>will</span> but <span class='it'>power</span> to -produce mechanical effects, at a time the person was bodily elsewhere. -It is true he was ill, and it is highly probable was at -the time asleep. The showing himself to Mr. H——, who was -so soon to follow him to the grave, is another peculiarity which -appears frequently to attend these cases, and which seems like -what was in old English, and is still in Scotch, called a <span class='it'>tryst</span>—an -appointment to meet again between those spirits, so soon to -be free. Supposing Mr. C—— to have been asleep, he was -possibly, in that state, aware of what impended over both.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There is a still more remarkable case given by Mr. Barham -in his reminiscences. I have no other authority for it: but he -relates, as a fact, that a respectable young woman was awaked, -one night, by hearing somebody in her room, and that on looking -up she saw a young man to whom she was engaged. Extremely -offended by such an intrusion, she bade him instantly -depart, if he wished her ever to speak to him again. Whereupon -he bade her not be frightened, but said he was come to -tell her that he was to die that day six weeks,—and then disappeared. -Having ascertained that the young man himself -could not possibly have been in her room, she was naturally -much alarmed, and, her evident depression leading to some -inquiries, she communicated what had occurred to the family -with whom she lived—I think as dairy-maid; but I quote from -memory. They attached little importance to what seemed so -improbable, more especially as the young man continued in -perfectly good health, and entirely ignorant of this prediction, -which his mistress had the prudence to conceal from him. -When the fatal day arrived, these ladies saw the girl looking -very cheerful, as they were going for their morning’s ride, and -observed to each other that the prophecy did not seem likely -to be fulfilled; but when they returned, they saw her running -up the avenue toward the house in great agitation, and learned -that her lover was either dead or dying, from an accident.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The only key I can suggest as the explanation of such a phenomenon -as this, is, that the young man in his sleep was aware -of the fate that awaited him,—and that while the body lay in -his bed, in a state approaching to trance or catalepsy, the freed -spirit—free as the spirits of the actual dead—went forth to -tell the tale to the mistress of his soul.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Franz von Baader says, in a letter to Dr. Kerner, that -Eckartshausen, shortly before his death, assured him that he -possessed the power of making a person’s double or wraith -appear, while his body lay elsewhere in a state of trance or -catalepsy. He added that the experiment might be dangerous, -if care were not taken to prevent intercepting the rapport of -the ethereal form with the material one.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A lady, an entire disbeliever in these spiritual phenomena, -was one day walking in her own garden with her husband, who -was indisposed, leaning on her arm, when seeing a man with -his back toward them, and a spade in his hand, digging, she -exclaimed, “Look there! who’s that?” “Where?” said her -companion; and at that moment the figure leaning on the spade -turned round and looked at her, sadly shaking its head, and -she saw it was her husband. She avoided an explanation, by -pretending she had made a mistake. Three days afterward the -gentleman died,—leaving her entirely converted to a belief -she had previously scoffed at.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Here, again, the foreknowledge and evident design, as well -as the power of manifesting it, are extremely curious—more -especially as the antitype of the figure was neither in a trance -nor asleep, but perfectly conscious, walking and talking. If -any particular purpose were to be gained by the information -indicated, the solution might be less difficult. One object, it is -true, may have been, and indeed was attained, namely, the -change in the opinions of the wife; and it is impossible to say -what influence such a conversion may have had on her after-life.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It must be admitted that these cases are very perplexing. -We might, indeed, get rid of them by denying them; but the -instances are too numerous, and the phenomenon has been too -well known in all ages, to be set aside so easily. In the above -examples, the apparition, or wraith, has been in some way connected -with the death of the person whose visionary likeness is -seen; and, in most of these instances, the earnest longing to -behold those beloved seems to have been the means of effecting -the object. The mystery of death is to us so awful and impenetrable, -and we know so little of the mode in which the spiritual -and the corporeal are united and kept together during the continuance -of life, or what condition may ensue when this connection -is about to be dissolved, that while we look with wonder -upon such phenomena as those above alluded to, we yet -find very few persons who are disposed to reject them as -utterly apocryphal. They feel that in that department, already -so mysterious, there may exist a greater mystery still; and the -very terror with which the thoughts of present death inspires -most minds, deters people from treating this class of facts with -that scornful skepticism with which many approximate ones -are denied and laughed at. Nevertheless, if we suppose the -person to have been dead, though it be but an inappreciable -instant of time before he appears, the appearance comes under -the denomination of what is commonly called a ghost; for -whether the spirit has been parted from the body one second -or fifty years, ought to make no difference in our appreciation -of the fact, nor is the difficulty less in one case than the other.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I mention this because I have met with, and do meet with, -people constantly, who admit this class of facts, while they -declare they can not believe in ghosts; the instances, they say, -of people being seen at a distance at the period of their death, -are too numerous to permit of the fact being denied. In granting -it, however, they seem to me to grant everything. If, as I have -said above, the person be dead, the form seen is a ghost or spectre, -whether he has been dead a second or a century; if he be -alive, the difficulty is certainly not diminished; on the contrary, -it appears to me to be considerably augmented; and it is to this -perplexing class of facts that I shall next proceed, namely, those -in which the person is not only alive, as in some of the cases -above related, but where the phenomenon seems to occur without -any reference to the death of the subject, present or prospective.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In either case, we are forced to conclude that the thing seen -is the same; the questions are, what is it that we see, and how -does it render itself visible? and, still more difficult to answer, -appears the question, of how it can communicate intelligence, -or exert a mechanical force. As, however, this investigation -will be more in its place when I have reached that department -of my subject commonly called ghosts, I will defer it for the -present, and merely confine myself to that of doubles, or doppelgängers, -as the Germans denominate the appearance of a person -out of his body.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In treating of the case of Auguste Müller, a remarkable somnambule, -who possessed the power of appearing elsewhere, -while his body lay cold and stiff in his bed, Professor Keiser, -who attended him, says, that the phenomenon, as regards the -seer, must be looked upon as purely subjective—that is, that -there was no outstanding form of Auguste Müller visible to the -sensuous organs, but that the magnetic influence of the somnambule, -by the force of his will, acted on the imagination of -the seer, and called up the image which he believed he saw. -But then, allowing this to be possible, as Dr. Werner says, how -are we to account for those numerous cases in which there is -no somnambule concerned in the matter, and no especial rapport, -that we are aware of, established between the parties? -And yet these latter cases are much the most frequent; for, -although I have met with numerous instances recorded by the -German physiologists, of what is called far-working on the part -of the somnambules, this power of appearing out of the body -seems to be a very rare one. Many persons will be surprised -at these allusions to a kind of magnetic phenomena, of which, in -this country, so little is known or believed; but the physiologists -and psychologists of Germany have been studying this -subject for the last fifty years, and the volumes filled with their -theoretical views and records of cases, are numerous beyond -anything the English public has an idea of.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The only other theory I have met with, which pretends to -explain the mode of this double appearance, is that of the spirit -leaving the body, as we have supposed it to do in cases of -dreams and catalepsy; in which instances the nerve-spirit, which -seems to be the archæus or astral spirit of the ancient philosophers, -has the power of projecting a visible body out of the imponderable -matter of the atmosphere. According to this theory, -this nerve-spirit, which seems to be an embodiment of—or -rather, a body constructed out of the nervous fluid, or ether—in -short, the spiritual body of St. Paul, is the bond of union -between the body and the soul, or spirit; and has the plastic -force of raising up an aerial form. Being the highest organic -power, it can not by any other, physical or chemical, be destroyed; -and when the body is cast off, it follows the soul; and -as, during life, it is the means by which the soul acts upon the -body, and is thus enabled to communicate with the external -world, so when the spirit is disembodied, it is through this -nerve-spirit that it can make itself visible, and even exercise -mechanical powers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is certain, that not only somnambules, but sick persons, -are occasionally sensible of a feeling that seems to lend some -countenance to this latter theory.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The girl at Canton, for example, mentioned in a former chapter, -as well as many somnambulic patients, declare, while their -bodies are lying stiff and cold, that they see it, as if out of it; -and, in some instances, they describe particulars of its appearance, -which they could not see in the ordinary way. There are -also numerous cases of sick persons seeing themselves double, -where no tendency to delirium or spectral illusion has been observed. -These are, in this country, always placed under the -latter category; but I find various instances recorded by the -German physiologists, where this appearance has been seen by -others, and even by children, at the same that it was <span class='it'>felt</span> by -the invalid. In one of these cases, I find the sick person saying, -“I can not think how I am lying. It seems to me that I -am divided and lying in two places at once.” It is remarkable, -that a friend of my own, during an illness in the autumn of 1845, -expressed precisely the same feeling; we, however, saw nothing -of this second <span class='it'>ego</span>; but it must be remembered, that the -seeing of these things, as I have said in a former chapter, probably -depends on a peculiar faculty or condition of the seer. The -servant of Elisha was not blind, but yet he could not see what -his master saw, till his eyes were opened—that is, till he was -rendered capable of perceiving spiritual objects.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When Peter was released from prison by the angel—and it -is not amiss here to remark, that even he “wist not that it was -true which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision,” -that is, he did not believe his senses, but supposed himself the -victim of a spectral illusion—but when he was released, and -went and knocked at the door of the gate, where many of his -friends were assembled, they, not conceiving it possible he could -have escaped, said, when the girl who had opened the door insisted -that he was there, “It is his angel.” What did they -mean by this? The expression is not <span class='it'>an</span> angel, but <span class='it'>his</span> angel. -Now, it is not a little remarkable, that in the East, to this day, -a double, or doppelgänger, is called a man’s angel, or messenger. -As we can not suppose that this term was used otherwise -than seriously by the disciples that were gathered together in -Mark’s house, for they were in trouble about Peter, and, when -he arrived, were engaged in prayer, we are entitled to believe -they alluded to some recognised phenomenon. They knew, -either that the likeness of a man—his spiritual self—sometimes -appeared where bodily he was not; and that this <span class='it'>imago</span> or -<span class='it'>idolon</span> was capable of exerting a mechanical force, or else that -other spirits sometimes assumed a mortal form, or they would -not have supposed it to be Peter’s angel that had <span class='it'>knocked</span> at -the gate.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Ennemoser, who always leans to the physical rather than -the psychical explanation of a phenomenon, says, that the faculty -of self-seeing, which is analogous to seeing another person’s -double, is to be considered an illusion; but that this imago of another -seen at a distance, at the moment of death, must be supposed to -have an objective reality. But if we are capable of thus -perceiving the imago of another person, I can not comprehend -why we may not see our own; unless, indeed, the former was -never perceived but when the body of the person seen was in a -state of insensibility; but this does not always seem to be a necessary -condition, as will appear by some examples I am about to detail. -The faculty of perceiving the object, Dr. Ennemoser considers -analogous to that of second sight, and thinks it may be evolved -by local, as well as idiosyncratical conditions. The difficulty -arising from the fact that some persons are in the habit of seeing -the wraiths of their friends and relations, must be explained -by his hypothesis. The spirit, as soon as liberated from the -body, is adapted for communion with <span class='it'>all</span> spirits, embodied or -otherwise; but all embodied spirits are not prepared for communion -with it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A Mr. R——, a gentleman who has attracted public attention -by some scientific discoveries, had had a fit of illness at Rotterdam. -He was in a state of convalescence, but was still so far -taking care of himself as to spend part of the day in bed, when, -as he was lying there one morning, the door opened, and there -entered in tears, a lady with whom he was intimately acquainted, -but whom he believed to be in England. She walked hastily -to the side of his bed, wrung her hands, evincing by her gestures -extreme anguish of mind, and before he could sufficiently -recover his surprise to inquire the cause of her distress and -sudden appearance, she was gone. She did not disappear, but -walked out of the room again, and Mr. R—— immediately summoned -the servants of the hotel, for the purpose of making inquiries -about the English lady—when she came, what had happened -to her, and where she had gone to, on quitting his room? -The people declared there was no such person there; he insisted -there was, but they at length convinced him that they, at -least, knew nothing about her. When his physician visited him, -he naturally expressed the great perplexity into which he had -been thrown by this circumstance; and, as the doctor could find -no symptoms about his patient that could warrant a suspicion -of spectral illusion, they made a note of the date and hour of -the occurrence, and Mr. R—— took the earliest opportunity -of ascertaining if anything had happened to the lady in question. -Nothing had happened to herself, but at that precise period -her son had expired, and she was actually in the state of -distress in which Mr. R—— beheld her. It would be extremely -interesting to know whether her thoughts had been intensely -directed to Mr. R—— at the moment; but that is a point which -I have not been able to ascertain. At all events the impelling -cause of the form projected, be the mode of it what it may, appears -to have been violent emotion. The following circumstance, -which is forwarded to me by the gentleman to whom it occurred, -appears to have the same origin:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“On the evening of the 12th of March, 1792,” says Mr. H——, -an artist, and a man of science, “I had been reading in the ‘Philosophical -Transactions,’ and retired to my room somewhat fatigued, -but not inclined to sleep. It was a bright moonlight -night and I had extinguished my candle and was sitting on the -side of the bed, deliberately taking off my clothes, when I was -amazed to behold the visible appearance of my half-uncle, Mr. R. -Robertson, standing before me; and, at the same instant, I heard -the words, ‘<span class='it'>Twice will be sufficient!</span>’ The face was so distinct -that I actually saw the pock-pits. His dress seemed to be made -of a strong twilled sort of sackcloth, and of the same dingy color. -It was more like a woman’s dress than a man’s—resembling a -petticoat, the neck-band close to the chin, and the garment covering -the whole person, so that I saw neither hands nor feet. -While the figure stood there, I twisted my fingers till they -cracked, that I might be sure I was awake.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“On the following morning, I inquired if anybody had heard -lately of Mr. R., and was well laughed at when I confessed the -origin of my inquiry. I confess I thought he was dead; but -when my grandfather heard the story, he said that the dress I -described, resembled the strait-jacket Mr. R. had been put in -formerly, under an attack of insanity. Subsequently, we -learned that on the night, and at the very hour I had seen him, -he had attempted suicide, and been actually put into a strait-jacket.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He afterward recovered, and went to Egypt with Sir Ralph -Abercrombie. Some people laugh at this story, and maintain -that it was a delusion of the imagination; but surely this is -blinking the question! Why should my imagination create -such an image, while my mind was entirely engrossed with a -mathematical problem?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The words “<span class='it'>Twice will be sufficient.</span>” probably embodied the -thought, uttered or not, of the maniac, under the influence of -his emotion—two blows or two stabs would be sufficient for -his purpose.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Kerner relates a case of a Dr. John B——, who was -studying medicine in Paris, seeing his mother one night, shortly -after he had got into bed, and before he had put out his light. -She was dressed after a fashion in which he had never seen her; -but she vanished,—and thus, aware of the nature of the appearance, -he became much alarmed, and wrote home to inquire -after her health. The answer he received was that she was -extremely unwell, having been under the most intense anxiety -on his account, from hearing that several medical students in -Paris had been arrested as resurrectionists; and, knowing his -passion for anatomical investigations, she had apprehended he -might be among the number. The letter concluded with an -earnest request that he would pay her a visit. He did so; and -his surprise was so great on meeting her, to perceive that she -was dressed exactly as he had seen her in his room at Paris, -that he could not at first embrace her, and was obliged to -explain the cause of his astonishment and repugnance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>An analogous case to these is that of Dr. Donne,—which is -already mentioned in so many publications, that I should not -allude to it here but for the purpose of showing that these -examples belong to a <span class='it'>class</span> of facts, and that it is not to be supposed -that similarity argues identity, or that one and the same -story is reproduced with new names and localities. I mention -this because, when circumstances of this kind are related, I -sometimes hear people say, “Oh, I have heard that story before, -but it was said to have happened to Mr. So-and-so, or at -such a place;” the truth being, that these things happen in all -places and to a great variety of people.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Donne was with the embassy in Paris, where he had -been but a short time, when his friend Mr. Roberts, entering -the <span class='it'>salon</span>, found him in a state of considerable agitation. As -soon as he was sufficiently recovered to speak, he said that his -wife had passed twice through the room with a dead child in -her arms. An express was immediately despatched to England -to inquire for the lady, and the intelligence returned was that, -after much suffering, she had been delivered of a dead infant. -The delivery had taken place at the time that her husband had -seen her in Paris. Nobody has ever disputed Dr. Donne’s -assertion that he saw his wife: but, as usual, the case is -crammed into the theory of spectral illusions. They say Dr. -Donne was naturally very anxious about his wife’s approaching -confinement, of which he must have been aware, and that his -excited imagination did all the rest. In the first place, I do -not find it recorded that he was suffering any particular anxiety -on the subject; and, even if he were, the coincidences in time -and in the circumstance of the dead child remain unexplained. -Neither are we led to believe that the doctor was unwell, or -living the kind of life that is apt to breed thick-coming fancies. -He was attached to the embassy in the gay city of Paris; he -had just been taking luncheon with others of the <span class='it'>suite</span>, and had -been left alone but a short time, when he was found in the state -of amazement above described. If such extraordinary cases of -spectral illusion as this, and many others I am recording, can -suddenly arise in constitutions apparently healthy, it is certainly -high time that the medical world reconsider the subject, and -give us some more comprehensible theory of it; if they are not -cases of spectral illusion, but are to be explained under that -vague and abused term <span class='it'>imagination</span>, let us be told something -more about imagination—a service which those who consider -the word sufficient to account for these strange phenomena, -must of course be qualified to perform. If, however, both these -hypotheses—for they are but simple hypotheses, unsupported -by any proof whatever, only, being delivered with an air of -authority in a rationalistic age, they have been allowed to pass -unquestioned—if, however, they are not found sufficient to -satisfy a vast number of minds, which I know to be the case, I -think the inquiry I am instituting can not be wholly useless or -unacceptable, let it lead us where it may. The <span class='it'>truth</span> is all I -seek; and I think there is a very important truth to be deduced -from the further investigation of this subject in its various relations—in -short, a truth of paramount importance to all others; -one which contains evidence of a fact in which we are more -deeply concerned than in any other, and which, if well established, -brings demonstration to confirm intuition and tradition. -I am very well aware of all the difficulties in the way—difficulties -internal and external,—many inherent to the subject -itself, and others extraneous but inseparable from it; and I am -very far from supposing that my book is to settle the question -even with a single mind. All I hope or expect is to show that -the question is not disposed of yet, either by the rationalists or -the physiologists, and that it is still an open one; and all I desire -is to arouse inquiry and curiosity, and that thus some mind, -better qualified than mine to follow out the investigation, may -be incited to undertake it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Kerner mentions the case of a lady named Dillenius, who -was awakened one night by her son, a child six years of age; her -sister-in-law, who slept in the same room, also awoke at the -same time, and all three saw Madame Dillenius enter the room, -attired in a black dress, which she had lately bought. The sister -said, “I see you double! you are in bed, and yet you are -walking about the room.” They were both extremely alarmed, -while the figure stood between the doors in a melancholy attitude -with the head leaning on the hand. The child—who -also saw it, but seems not to have been terrified—jumped out -of bed, and running to the figure, put his hand through it as he -attempted to push it, exclaiming, “Go away, you black woman.” -The form, however, remained as before; and the child, becoming -alarmed, sprung into bed again. Madame Dillenius expected -that the appearance foreboded her own death; but that -did not ensue. A serious accident immediately afterward occurred -to her husband, and she fancied there might be some -connection between the two events.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This is one of those cases which, from their extremely perplexing -nature, have induced some psychologists to seek an -explanation in the hypothesis that other spirits may for some -purpose, or under certain conditions, assume the form of a person -with a view to giving an intimation or impression, which -the gulf separating the material from the spiritual world renders -it difficult to convey. As regards such instances as that -of Madame Dillenius, however, we are at a loss to discover any -motive—unless, indeed, it be sympathy—for such an exertion -of power, supposing it to be possessed. But in the famous -case of Catherine of Russia, who is said, while lying in bed, to -have been seen by the ladies to enter the throne-room, and, -being informed of the circumstance, went herself and saw the -figure seated on the throne, and bade her guards fire on it, we -may conceive it possible that her guardian-spirit, if such she -had, might adopt this mode of warning her to prepare for a -change, which, after such a life as hers, we are entitled to conclude -she was not very fit to encounter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There are numerous examples of similar phenomena to be -met with. Professor Stilling relates that he heard from the son -of a Madame M——, that his mother, having sent her maid up -stairs on an errand, the woman came running down in a great -fright, saying that her mistress was sitting above, in her arm-chair, -looking precisely as she had left her below. The lady -went up stairs, and saw herself as described by the woman, -very shortly after which she died.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Werner relates that a jeweller at Ludwigsburg, named -Ratzel, when in perfect health, one evening, on turning the corner -of a street, met his own form, face to face. The figure -seemed as real and lifelike as himself; and he was so close as -to look into its very eyes. He was seized with terror, and it -vanished. He related the circumstance to several people, and -endeavored to laugh, but, nevertheless, it was evident he was -painfully impressed with it. Shortly afterward, as he was passing -through a forest, he fell in with some wood-cutters, who -asked him to lend a hand to the ropes with which they were -pulling down an oak-tree. He did so, and was killed by its fall.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Becker, professor of mathematics at Rostock, having fallen -into argument with some friends regarding a disputed point of -theology, on going to his library to fetch a book which he wished -to refer to, saw himself sitting at the table in the seat he usually -occupied. He approached the figure, which appeared to -be reading, and, looking over its shoulder, he observed that the -book open before it was a bible, and that, with one of the fingers -of the right hand, it pointed to the passage—“Make ready -thy house, for thou must die!” He returned to the company, -and related what he had seen, and, in spite of all their arguments -to the contrary, remained fully persuaded that his death -was at hand. He took leave of his friends, and expired on the -following day, at six o’clock in the evening. He had already -attained a considerable age.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Those who would not believe in the appearance, said he had -died of the fright; but, whether he did so or not, the circumstance -is sufficiently remarkable: and, if this were a real, outstanding -apparition, it would go strongly to support the hypothesis -alluded to above, while, if it were a spectral illusion, it is -certainly an infinitely strange one.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As I am aware how difficult it is, except where the appearance -is seen by more persons than one, to distinguish cases of -actual self-seeing from those of spectral illusion, I do not linger -longer in this department; but, returning to the analogous subject -of <span class='it'>doppelgängers</span>, I will relate a few curious instances of -this kind of phenomena:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Stilling relates that a government-officer, of the name of Triplin, -in Weimar, on going to his office to fetch a paper of importance, -saw his own likeness sitting there, with the deed -before him. Alarmed, he returned home, and desired his maid -to go there and fetch the paper she would find on the table. -The maid saw the same form, and imagined that her master had -gone by another road, and got there before her. His mind -seems to have preceded his body.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The landrichter, or sheriff, F——, in Frankfort, sent his secretary -on an errand. Presently afterward, the secretary re-entered -the room, and laid hold of a book. His master asked -him what had brought him back, whereupon the figure vanished, -and the book fell to the ground. It was a volume of -Linnæus. In the evening, when the secretary returned, and -was interrogated with regard to his expedition, he said that he -had fallen into an eager dispute with an acquaintance, as he -went along, about some botanical question, and had ardently -wished he had had his Linnæus with him to refer to.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Werner relates that Professor Happach had an elderly -maid-servant, who was in the habit of coming every morning to -call him, and on entering the room, which he generally heard -her do, she usually looked at a clock which stood under the -mirror. One morning, she entered so softly, that, though he -saw her, he did not hear her foot. She went, as was her custom, -to the clock, and came to his bedside, but suddenly turned -round and left the room. He called after her, but she not -answering, he jumped out of bed and pursued her. He could -not see her, however, till he reached her room, where he found -her fast asleep in bed. Subsequently, the same thing occurred -frequently with this woman.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>An exactly parallel case was related to me, as occurring to -himself, by a publisher in Edinburgh. His housekeeper was -in the habit of calling him every morning. On one occasion, -being perfectly awake, he saw her enter, walk to the window, -and go out again without speaking. Being in the habit of fastening -his door, he supposed he had omitted to do so; but presently -afterward he heard her knocking to come in, and he found -the door was still locked. She assured him she had not been -there before. He was in perfectly good health at the time -this happened.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Only a few nights since, a lady, with whom I am intimately -acquainted, was in bed, and had not been to sleep, when she -saw one of her daughters, who slept in an upper room, and who -had retired to rest some time before, standing at the foot of her -bed. “H——,” she said, “what is the matter? what are you -come for?” The daughter did not answer, but moved away. -The mother jumped out of bed, but not seeing her, got in again: -but the figure was still there. Perfectly satisfied it was really -her daughter, she spoke to her, asking if anything had happened; -but again the figure moved silently away, and again the -mother jumped out of bed, and actually went part of the way -up stairs: and this occurred a third time! The daughter was -during the whole of this time asleep in her bed, and the lady -herself is quite in her usual state of health—not robust, but not -by any means sickly, nor in the slightest degree hysterical or -nervous; yet she is perfectly convinced that she saw the figure -of her daughter on that occasion, though quite unable to account -for the circumstance. Probably the daughter was dreaming -of the mother.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Edward Stern, author of some German works, had a friend -who was frequently seen <span class='it'>out of the body</span>, as the Germans term -it; and the father of that person was so much the subject of this -phenomenon, that he was frequently observed to enter his house -while he was yet working in the fields! His wife used to say -to him, “Why, papa, you came home before;” and he would -answer, “I dare say, I was so anxious to get away earlier, but -it was impossible!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The cook in a convent of nuns, at Ebersdorf, was frequently -seen picking herbs in the garden, when she was in the kitchen -and much in need of them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A Danish physician, whose name Dr. Werner does not mention, -is said to have been frequently seen entering a patient’s -room, and on being spoken to, the figure would disappear, with -a sigh. This used to occur when he had made an appointment -which he was prevented keeping, and was rendered uneasy by -the failure. The hearing of it, however, occasioned him such -an unpleasant sensation, that he requested his patients never to -tell him when it happened.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A president of the supreme court, in Ulm, named Pfizer, attests -the truth of the following case: A gentleman, holding an -official situation, had a son at Göttingen, who wrote home to -his father, requesting him to send him, without delay, a certain -book, which he required to aid him in preparing a dissertation -he was engaged in. The father answered that he had sought -but could not find the work in question. Shortly afterward, the -latter had been taking a book from his shelves, when, on turning -round, he beheld, to his amazement, his son just in the act -of stretching up his hand toward one on a high shelf in another -part of the room. “Hallo!” he exclaimed, supposing it to be -the young man himself, but the figure disappeared; and, on -examining the shelf, the father found there the book that was -required, which he immediately forwarded to Göttingen; but -before it could arrive there, he received a letter from his son, -describing the exact spot where it was to be found.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A case of what is called spectral illusion is mentioned by Dr. -Paterson, which appears to me to belong to the class of phenomena -I am treating of. One Sunday evening, Miss N—— -was left at home, the sole inmate of the house, not being permitted -to accompany her family to church on account of her -delicate state of health. Her father was an infirm old man, who -seldom went from home, and she was not aware whether, on -this occasion, he had gone out with the rest or not. By-and-by, -there came on a severe storm of thunder, lightning, and rain, -and Miss N—— is described as becoming very uneasy about -her father. Under the influence of this feeling, Dr. Paterson -says she went into the back room, where he usually sat, and -there saw him in his arm-chair. Not doubting but it was himself, -she advanced and laid her hand upon his shoulder, but her -hand encountered vacancy; and, alarmed, she retired. As she -quitted the room, however, she looked back, and there still sat -the figure. Not being a believer in what is called the “supernatural,” -Miss N—— resolved to overcome her apprehensions, -and return into the room, which she did, and saw the figure as -before. For the space of fully half an hour she went in and -out of the room in this manner, before it disappeared. She -did not see it vanish, but the fifth time she returned, it was gone.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Paterson vouches for the truth of this story, and no doubt -of its being a mere illusion occurs to him, though the lady had -never before or since, as she assured him, been troubled with -the malady. It seems to me much more likely that, when the -storm came on, the thoughts of the old man would be intensely -drawn homeward: he would naturally wish himself in his comfortable -arm-chair, and, knowing his young daughter to be -alone, he would inevitably feel some anxiety about her too. -There was a mutual projection of their spirits toward each -other; and the one that was most easily freed from its bonds, -was seen where in the spirit it actually was; for, as I have said -above, a spirit out of the flesh, to whom space is annihilated, -must be where its thoughts and affections are, for its thoughts -and affections are <span class='it'>itself</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I observe that Sir David Brewster and others, who have -written on this subject, and who represent all these phenomena -as images projected on the retina from the brain, dwell much -on the fact that they are seen alike, whether the eye be closed -or open. There are, however, two answers to be made to this -argument: first, that even if it were so, the proof would not be -decisive, since it is generally with closed eyes that somnambulic -persons see, whether natural somnambules or magnetic patients; -and, secondly, I find in some instances, which appear to me to -be genuine cases of an objective appearance, that where the -experiment has been tried, the figure is not seen when the eyes -are closed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The author of a work entitled “An Inquiry into the Nature -of Ghosts,” who adopts the illusion theory, relates the following -story, as one he can vouch for, though not permitted to give -the names of the parties:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Miss ——, at the age of seven years, being in a field not -far from her father’s house, in the parish of Kirklinton, in Cumberland, -saw what she thought was her father in the field, at a -time that he was in bed, from which he had not been removed -for a considerable period. There were in the field also, at the -same moment, George Little, and John, his fellow-servant. One -of these cried out, ‘Go to your father, miss!’ She turned -round, and the figure had disappeared. On returning home, she -said, ‘Where is my father?’ The mother answered, ‘In bed, -to be sure, child!’—out of which he had not been.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I quote this case, because the figure was seen by two persons. -I could mention several similar instances, but when only -seen by one, they are, of course, open to another explanation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Goethe (whose family, by-the-way, were ghost-seers) relates -that as he was once in an uneasy state of mind, riding along the -footpath toward Drusenheim, he saw, “not with the eyes of his -body, but with those of his spirit,” himself on horseback coming -toward him, in a dress that he then did not possess. It was -gray, and trimmed with gold. The figure disappeared; but -eight years afterward he found himself, quite accidentally, on -that spot, on horseback, and in precisely that attire. This -seems to have been a case of second-sight.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The story of Byron’s being seen in London when he was lying -in a fever at Patras, is well known; but may possibly have -arisen from some extraordinary personal resemblance, though -so firm was the conviction of its being his actual self, that a bet -of a hundred guineas was offered on it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Some time ago, the “Dublin University Magazine” related -a case—I know not on what authority—as having occurred at -Rome, to the effect that a gentleman had, one night on going -home to his lodging, thrown his servant into great amazement, -the man exclaiming, “Good Lord, sir, you came home before!” -He declared that he had let his master into the house, attended -him up stairs, and, I think, undressed him, and seen him get -into bed. When they went to the room, they found no clothes; -but the bed appeared to have been lain in, and there was a -strange mark upon the ceiling, as if from the passage of an -electrical fluid. The only thing the young man could remember, -whereby to account for this extraordinary circumstance, -was, that while abroad, and in company, he had been overcome -with ennui, fallen into a deep reverie, and had for a time forgotten -that he was not at home.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When I read this story, though I have learned from experience -to be very cautious how I pronounce that impossible -which I know nothing about, I confess it somewhat exceeded -my receptive capacity, but I have since heard of a similar instance, -so well authenticated, that my incredulity is shaken.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Kerner relates that a canon of a catholic cathedral, of -somewhat dissipated habits, on coming home one evening, saw -a light in his bed-room. When the maid opened the door, she -started back with surprise, while he inquired why she had left -a candle burning up stairs; upon which she declared that he -had come home just before, and gone to his room, and she had -been wondering at his unusual silence. On ascending to his -chamber, he saw himself sitting in the arm-chair. The figure -rose, passed him, and went out at the room-door. He was extremely -alarmed, expecting his death was at hand. He, however, -lived many years afterward, but the influence on his moral -character was very beneficial.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Not long since, a professor, I think of theology, at a college -at Berlin, addressed his class, saying, that, instead of his usual -lecture, he should relate to them a circumstance which, the preceding -evening, had occurred to himself, believing the effects -would be no less salutary.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He then told them that, as he was going home the last evening, -he had seen his own imago, or double, on the other side of -the street. He looked away, and tried to avoid it, but, finding -it still accompanied him, he took a short cut home, in hopes of -getting rid of it, wherein he succeeded, till he came opposite -his own house, when he saw it at the door.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It rang, the maid opened, it entered, she handed it a candle, -and, as the professor stood in amazement, on the other side of -the street, he saw the light passing the windows, as it wound -its way up to his own chamber. He then crossed over and -rang; the servant was naturally dreadfully alarmed on seeing -him, but, without waiting to explain, he ascended the stairs. -Just as he reached his own chamber, he heard a loud crash, -and, on opening the door, they found no one there, but the -ceiling had fallen in, and his life was thus saved. The servant -corroborated this statement to the students; and a minister, now -attached to one of the Scotch churches, was present when the -professor told his tale. Without admitting the doctrine of protecting -spirits, it is difficult to account for these latter circumstances.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A very interesting case of an apparent friendly intervention -occurred to the celebrated Dr. A—— T——, of Edinburgh. -He was sitting up late one night, reading in his study, when he -heard a foot in the passage, and knowing the family were, or -ought to be, all in bed, he rose and looked out to ascertain who -it was, but, seeing nobody, he sat down again. Presently, the -sound recurred, and he was sure there was somebody, though -he could not see him. The foot, however, evidently ascended -the stairs, and he followed it, till it led him to the nursery-door, -which he opened, and found the furniture was on fire; and thus, -but for this kind office of his good angel, his children would -have been burned in their beds.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The most extraordinary history of this sort, however, with -which I am acquainted, is the following, the facts of which are -perfectly authentic:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Some seventy or eighty years since, the apprentice, or assistant, -of a respectable surgeon in Glasgow, was known to -have had an illicit connection with a servant-girl, who somewhat -suddenly disappeared. No suspicion, however, seems to -have been entertained of foul play. It appears rather to have -been supposed that she had retired for the purpose of being -confined, and, consequently, no inquiries were made about her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Glasgow was, at that period, a very different place to what -it is at present, in more respects than one; and, among its -peculiarities, was the extraordinary strictness with which the -observance of the sabbath was enforced, insomuch, that nobody -was permitted to show themselves in the streets or public walks -during the hours dedicated to the church services, and there -were actually inspectors appointed to see that this regulation -was observed, and to take down the names of defaulters.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At one extremity of the city, there is some open ground, of -rather considerable extent, on the north side of the river, called -“The Green,” where people sometimes resort for air and exercise; -and where lovers not unfrequently retire to enjoy as -much solitude as the proximity to so large a town can afford.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One Sunday morning, the inspectors of public piety above -alluded to having traversed the city, and extended their perquisitions -as far as the lower extremity of the Green, where it -was bounded by a wall, observed a young man lying on the -grass, whom they immediately recognised to be the surgeon’s -assistant. They, of course, inquired why he was not at church, -and proceeded to register his name in their books, but, instead -of attempting to make any excuse for his offence, he only rose -from the ground, saying, “I am a miserable man; look in the -water!” He then immediately crossed a stile, which divided -the wall, and led to a path extending along the side of the river -toward the Rutherglen road. They saw him cross the stile, -but, not comprehending the significance of his words, instead -of observing him further, they naturally directed their attention -to the water, where they presently perceived the body of a -woman. Having with some difficulty dragged it ashore, they -immediately proceeded to carry it into the town, assisted by -several other persons, who by this time had joined them. It was -now about one o’clock, and, as they passed through the streets, -they were obstructed by the congregation that was issuing from -one of the principal places of worship; and, as they stood up -for a moment, to let them pass, they saw the surgeon’s assistant -issue from the church door. As it was quite possible for him to -have gone round some other way, and got there before them, -they were not much surprised. He did not approach them, -but mingled with the crowd, while they proceeded on their way.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On examination, the woman proved to be the missing servant-girl. -She was pregnant, and had evidently been murdered -with a surgeon’s instrument, which was found entangled among -her clothes. Upon this, in consequence of his known connection -with her, and his implied self-accusation to the inspectors, -the young man was apprehended on suspicion of being the -guilty party, and tried upon the circuit. He was the last person -seen in her company, immediately previous to her disappearance; -and there was, altogether, such strong presumptive -evidence against him, as corroborated by what occurred on the -green would have justified a verdict of guilty. But, strange to -say, this last most important item in the evidence failed, and he -established an incontrovertible <span class='it'>alibi</span>; it being proved, beyond -all possibility of doubt, that he had been in church from the -beginning of the service to the end of it. He was, therefore, -acquitted; while the public were left in the greatest perplexity, -to account as they could for this extraordinary discrepancy. -The young man was well known to the inspectors, and it was in -broad daylight that they had met him and placed his name in -their books. Neither, it must be remembered, were they seeking -for him, nor thinking of him, nor of the woman, about whom -there existed neither curiosity nor suspicion. Least of all, would -they have sought her where she was, but for the hint given to -them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The interest excited, at the time, was very great; but no natural -explanation of the mystery has ever been suggested.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='171' id='Page_171'></span><h1>CHAPTER IX.</h1></div> - -<h3>APPARITIONS.</h3> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>The</span> number of stories on record, which seem to support the -views I have suggested in my last chapter, is, I fancy, little suspected -by people in general; and still less is it imagined that -similar occurrences are yet frequently taking place. I had, indeed, -myself no idea of either one circumstance or the other, -till my attention being accidentally turned in this direction, -I was led into inquiries, the result of which has extremely surprised -me. I do not mean to imply that all my acquaintance -are ghost-seers, or that these things happen every day; but the -amount of what I do mean, is this: first, that besides the numerous -instances of such phenomena alluded to in history, -which have been treated as fables by those who profess to believe -the rest of the narratives, though the whole rests upon the -same foundation, that is, tradition and hearsay; besides these, -there exists in one form or another, hundreds and hundreds of -recorded cases, in all countries, and in all languages, exhibiting -that degree of similarity which mark them as belonging to a -class of facts, many of these being of a nature which seems to -preclude the possibility of bringing them under the theory of -spectral illusions; and, secondly, that I scarcely meet any one -man or woman, who, if I can induce them to believe I will not -publish their names, and am not going to laugh at them, is not -prepared to tell me of some occurrence of the sort, as having -happened to themselves, their family, or their friends. I admit -that in many instances they terminate their narration, by saying, -that they think it must have been an illusion, <span class='it'>because</span> they can -not bring themselves to believe in ghosts; not unfrequently adding, -that they <span class='it'>wish</span> to think so; since to think otherwise would -make them uncomfortable. I confess, however, that this seems -to me a very unwise, as well as a very unsafe way of treating -the matter. Believing the appearance to be an illusion, <span class='it'>because</span> -they can not bring themselves to believe in ghosts, simply amounts -to saying, “I don’t believe, because I don’t believe;” and is an -argument of no effect, except to invalidate their capacity for -judging the question, at all; but the second reason for not believing, -namely, that they do not wish to do so, has not only the -same disadvantage, but is liable to much more serious objections; -for it is our duty to ascertain the truth in an affair that -concerns every soul of us so deeply; and to shrink from looking -at it, lest it should disclose something we do not like, is an -expedient as childish as it is desperate.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In reviewing my late novel of “Lilly Dawson,” where I -announce the present work, I observe that while some of the -reviewers scout the very idea of anybody’s believing in ghosts, -others, less rash, while they admit that it is a subject we know -nothing about, object to further investigation, on account of the -terrors and uncomfortable feelings that will be engendered. -Now, certainly, if it were a matter in which we had no personal -concern, and which belonged merely to the region of -speculative curiosity, everybody would be perfectly justified in -following their inclinations with regard to it; there would be -no reason for frightening themselves, if they did not like it; -but, since it is perfectly certain that the fate of these poor -ghosts, be what it may, will be ours some day—perhaps before -another year or another week has passed over our heads—to -shut our eyes to the truth, because it may perchance occasion -us some uncomfortable feelings, is surely a strange mixture of -contemptible cowardice and daring temerity. If it be true -that, by some law of nature, departed souls occasionally revisit -the earth, we may be quite certain that it was intended we -should know it, and that the law is to some good end; for no -law of God can be purposeless or mischievous; and is it conceivable -that we should say we will not know it, because it is -disagreeable to us? Is not this very like saying, “Let us eat, -drink, and be merry, for to-morrow we die!” and yet refusing -to inquire what is to become of us when we do die? refusing -to avail ourselves of that demonstrative proof which God has -mercifully placed within our reach? And, with all this obstinacy, -people do not get rid of the apprehension; they go on -struggling against it and keeping it down by argument and -reason; but there are very few persons indeed, men or women, -who, when placed in a situation calculated to suggest the idea, -do not feel the intuitive conviction striving within them. In -the ordinary circumstances of life, nobody suffers from this -terror; in the extraordinary ones, I find the professed disbelievers -not much better off than the believers. Not long ago, I -heard a lady expressing the great alarm she should have felt, -had she been exposed to spend a whole night on Ben Lomond, -as Margaret Fuller, the American authoress, did lately; “for,” -said she, “though I don’t believe in ghosts, I should have been -dreadfully afraid of seeing one then!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Moreover, though I do not suppose that man, in his normal -state, could ever encounter an incorporeal spirit without considerable -awe, I am inclined to think that the extreme terror the -idea inspires arises from bad training. The ignorant frighten -children with ghosts, and the better educated assure them there -is no such thing. Our understanding may believe the latter, -but our instincts believe the former; so that, out of this education, -we retain the terror, and just belief enough to make it -very troublesome whenever we are placed in circumstances -that awaken it. Now, perhaps, if the thing were differently -managed, the result might be different. Suppose the subject -were duly investigated, and it were ascertained that the views -which I and many others are disposed to entertain with regard -to it are correct,—and suppose, then, children were calmly -told that it is not impossible but that, on some occasion, they -may see a departed friend again—that the laws of nature, -established by an allwise Providence, admit of the dead sometimes -revisiting the earth, doubtless for the benevolent purpose -of keeping alive in us our faith in a future state—that death -is merely a transition to another life, which it depends on ourselves -to make happy or otherwise—and that while those spirits -which appear bright and blessed may well be objects of -our envy, the others should excite only our intense compassion: -I am persuaded that a child so educated would feel no terror -at the sight of an apparition, more especially as there very -rarely appears to be anything terrific in the aspect of these -forms; they generally come in their “habits as they lived,” and -appear so much like the living person in the flesh, that where -they are not known to be already dead, they are frequently -mistaken for them. There are exceptions to this rule,—but -the forms in themselves rarely exhibit anything to create alarm.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As a proof that a child would not naturally be terrified at the -sight of an apparition, I will adduce the following instance, the -authenticity of which I can vouch for:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A lady with her child embarked on board a vessel at Jamaica, -for the purpose of visiting her friends in England, leaving -her husband behind her quite well. It was a sailing packet; -and they had been some time at sea, when one evening, while -the child was kneeling before her saying his prayers previous -to going to rest, he suddenly said: “Mamma, papa!” “Nonsense, -my dear!” the mother answered, “you know your papa -is not here!”—“He is indeed, mamma,” returned the child, -“he is looking at us now.” Nor could she convince him to the -contrary. When she went on deck, she mentioned the circumstance -to the captain, who thought it so strange, that he said he -would note down the date of the occurrence. The lady begged -him not to do so, saying it was attaching a significance to it -which would make her miserable. He did it, however; and, -shortly after her arrival in England, she learned that her husband -had died exactly at that period.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I have met with other instances in which children have seen -apparitions without exhibiting any alarm; and in the case of -Fredericka Hauffe, the infant in her arms was frequently observed -to point smilingly to those which she herself said she -saw. In the above related case, we find a valuable example -of an apparition which we can not believe to have been a mere -subjective phenomenon, being seen by one person and not by -another. The receptivity of the child may have been greater, -or the rapport between it and its father stronger; but this occurrence -inevitably leads us to suggest, how often our departed -friends may be near us, and we not see them!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A Mr. B——, with whom I am acquainted, informed me -that, some years ago, he lost two children. There was an interval -of two years between their deaths; and about as long a -period had elapsed since the decease of the second, when the -circumstance I am about to relate took place. It may be conceived -that at that distance of time, however vivid the impression -had been at first, it had considerably faded from the mind -of a man engaged in business; and he assures me that, on the -night this event occurred, he was not thinking of the children -at all; he was, moreover, perfectly well, and had neither eaten -nor drank anything unusual, nor abstained from eating or drinking -anything to which he was accustomed. He was therefore -in his normal state; when shortly after he had lain down in -bed, and before he had fallen asleep, he heard the voice of one -of the children say: “Papa—papa!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do you hear that?” he said to his wife, who lay beside -him—“I hear Archy calling me, as plain as ever I heard him -in my life!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Nonsense!” returned the lady; “you are fancying it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But presently he again heard “Papa, papa!” and now both -voices spoke. Upon which—exclaiming, “I can stand this no -longer”—he started up, and, drawing back the curtains, saw -both children in their night-dresses, standing near the bed. He -immediately jumped out; whereupon they retreated slowly, -and with their faces toward him, to the window, where they -disappeared. He says that the circumstance made a great -impression upon him at the time; and, indeed, that it was one -that could never be effaced; but he did not know what to think -of it, not believing in ghosts, and therefore concluded it must -have been some extraordinary spectral illusion, especially as -his wife heard nothing. It may have been so; but that circumstance -by no means proves it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From these varying degrees of susceptibility, or affinity, there -seems to arise another consequence, namely, that more than one -person may see the same object, and yet see it differently, and -I mention this particularly, because it is one of the objections -that unreflecting persons make to phenomena of this kind, second -sight especially. In the remarkable instance which is recorded -to have occurred at Ripley, in the year 1812, to which -I shall allude more particularly in a future chapter, much stress -was laid on the fact, that the first seer said, “Look at those -beasts!” While the second answered, they were “not beasts, -but men.” In a former chapter, I mentioned the case of a lady, -on board a ship, seeing and feeling a sort of blue cloud hanging -over her, which afterward, as it retired, assumed a human -form, though still appearing a vapory substance. Now, possibly, -had her receptivity, or the rapport, been greater, she might -have seen the distinct image of her dying friend. I have met -with several instances of these cloudy figures being seen, as if -the spirit had built itself up a form of atmospheric air; and it -is remarkable, that when other persons perceived the apparitions -that frequented the Seeress of Prevorst, some saw those -as cloudy forms, which she saw distinctly attired in the costume -they wore when alive; and thus, on some occasions, apparitions -are represented as being transparent, while on others they have -not been distinguishable from the real corporeal body. All -these discrepancies, and others, to be hereafter alluded to, are -doubtless only absurd to our ignorance; they are the results of -physical laws, as absolute, though not so easily ascertained, as -those by which the most ordinary phenomena around us are -found explicable.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With respect to these cloudy forms, I have met with four instances -lately, two occurring to ladies, and two to gentlemen; -the one a minister, and the other a man engaged in business; -and although I am quite aware that these cases are not easily -to be distinguished from those of spectral illusion, yet I do not -think them so myself; and as they occurred to persons in their -normal state of health, who never before or since experienced -anything of the kind, and who could find nothing in their own -circumstances to account for its happening then, I shall mention -them. In the instances of the gentlemen and one of the ladies, -they were suddenly awakened, they could not tell by what, and -perceived bending over them a cloudy form, which immediately -retreated slowly to the other end of the room, and disappeared. -In the fourth case, which occurred to an intimate friend of my -own, she had not been asleep; but having been the last person -up in the house, had just stepped into the bed, where her -sister had already been some time asleep. She was perfectly -awake, when her attention was attracted by hearing the clink -of glass, and, on looking up, she saw a figure standing on the -hearth, which was exactly opposite her side of the bed, and as -there was water and a tumbler there, she concluded that her -sister had stepped out at the bottom, unperceived by her, and -was drinking. While she was carelessly observing the figure, -it moved toward the bed, and laid a heavy hand upon her, -pressing her arm in a manner that gave her pain. “Oh, Maria, -don’t!” she exclaimed; but as the form retreated, and she lost -sight of it, a strange feeling crept over her, and she stretched -out her hand to ascertain if her sister was beside her. She was, -and asleep; but this movement awoke her, and she found the -other now in considerable agitation. She, of course, tried to -persuade her that it was a dream, or night-mare, as did the -family the next day; but she was quite clear in her mind at the -time, as she then assured me, that it was neither one nor the -other; though now, at the distance of a year from the occurrence, -she is very desirous of putting that construction upon it. -As somebody will be ready to suggest that this was a freak -played by one of the family, I can only answer that that is an -explanation that no one who is acquainted with all the circumstances, -could admit; added to which, the figure did not disappear -in the direction of the door, but in quite an opposite one.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A very singular thing happened to the accomplished authoress -of “Letters from the Baltic,” on which my readers may put -what interpretation they please, but I give it here as a pendant -to the last story. The night before she left Petersburgh she -passed in the house of a friend. The room appropriated to her -use was a large dining-room, in which a temporary bed was -placed, and a folding screen was so arranged as to give an air -of comfort to the nook where the bed stood. She went to bed, -and to sleep, and no one who knows her can suspect her of seeing -spectral illusions, or being incapable of distinguishing her -own condition when she saw anything whatever. As she was -to commence her journey on the following day, she had given -orders to be called at an early hour, and, accordingly, she found -herself awakened toward morning by an old woman in a complete -Russian costume, who looked at her, nodding and smiling, -and intimating, as she supposed, that it was time to rise. Feeling, -however, very sleepy, and very unwilling to do so, she -took her watch from behind her pillow, and, looking at it, perceived -that it was only four o’clock. As, from the costume of -the old woman, she knew her to be a Russian, and therefore -not likely to understand any language she could speak, she -shook her head, and pointed to the watch, giving her to understand -that it was too early. The woman looked at her, and -nodded, and then retreated, while the traveller lay down again -and soon fell asleep. By-and-by, she was awakened by a knock -at the door and the voice of the maid whom she had desired to -call her. She bade her come in, but, the door being locked on -the inside, she had to get out of bed to admit her. It now -occurred to her to wonder how the old woman had entered, but, -taking it for granted that there was some other mode of ingress -she did not trouble herself about it, but dressed, and descended -to breakfast. Of course, the inquiry usually addressed to a -stranger was made—they hoped she had slept well! “Perfectly,” -she said, “only that one of their good people had been -somewhat over anxious to get her up in the morning;” and she -then mentioned the old woman’s visit, but to her surprise, they -declared they had no such person in the family. “It must have -been some old nurse, or laundress, or something of that sort,” -she suggested. “Impossible!” they answered; “you must -have dreamed the whole thing; we have no old woman in the -house; nobody wearing that costume; and nobody could have -got in, since the door must have been fastened long after that!” -And these assertions the servants fully confirmed; added to -which, I should observe, that the house, like foreign houses in -general, consisted of a flat, or floor, shut in by a door, which -separated it entirely from the rest of the building, and, being -high up from the street, nobody could even have gained access -by a window. The lady now beginning to get somewhat puzzled, -inquired if there were any second entrance into the room; -but, to her surprise, she heard there was not; and she then -mentioned that she had locked the door on going to bed, and -had found it locked in the morning. The thing has ever -remained utterly inexplicable, and the family, who were much -more amazed by it than she was, would willingly believe it -to have been a dream; but, whatever the interpretation of it -may be, she feels quite certain that that is not the true one.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I make no comments on the above case, though a very inexplicable -one; and I scarcely know whether to mention any of -those well-established tales, which appear to be certainly as satisfactorily -attested as any circumstance which is usually taken -simply on report. I allude particularly to the stories of General -Wynyard; Lord Tyrone and Lady Beresford; the case -which took place at Havant, in Hampshire, and which is related -in a letter from Mr. Caswell the mathematician to Dr. -Bentley; that which occurred in Cornwall, as narrated by the -Rev. Mr. Ruddle, one of the prebendaries of Exeter, whose -assistance and advice were asked, and who himself had two -interviews with the spirit; and many others, which are already -published in different works; especially in a little book entitled -“Accredited Ghost-Stories.” I may, however, mention that, -with respect to those of Lady Beresford and General Wynyard, -the families of the parties have always maintained their entire -belief in the circumstances; as do the family of Lady Betty -Cobb, who took the riband from Lady Beresford’s arm, after she -was dead—she having always worn it since her interview with -the apparition, in order to conceal the mark he had left by -touching her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There have been many attempts to explain away the story -of Lord Littleton’s warning, although the evidence for it certainly -satisfied the family, as we learn from Dr. Johnson, who -said, in regard to it, that it was the most extraordinary thing -that had happened in his day, and that he heard it from the lips -of Lord Westcote, the uncle of Lord Littleton.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There is a sequel, however, to this story, which is extremely -well authenticated, though much less generally known. It appears -that Mr. Miles Peter Andrews, the intimate friend of -Lord Littleton, was at his house, at Dartford, when Lord L. -died at Pitt-place, Epsom, thirty miles off. Mr. Andrews’ -house was full of company, and he expected Lord Littleton, -whom he had left in his usual state of health, to join him the -next day, which was Sunday.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mr. Andrews himself feeling rather indisposed on the Saturday -evening, retired early to bed, and requested Mrs. Pigou, -one of his guests, to do the honors of his supper-table. He -admitted (for he is himself the authority for the story) that he -fell into a feverish sleep on going to bed, but was awakened -between eleven and twelve by somebody opening his curtains, -which proved to be Lord Littleton, in a night-gown and cap, -which Mr. Andrews recognised. Lord Littleton spoke, saying -that he was come to tell him <span class='it'>all was over</span>. It appears that Lord -Littleton was fond of practical joking, and as Mr. Andrews entertained -no doubt whatever of his visiter being Lord Littleton -himself, in the body, he supposed that this was one of his tricks; -and, stretching his arm out of bed, he took hold of his slippers, -the nearest thing he could get at, and threw them at him, whereupon -the figure retreated to a dressing-room, which had no ingress -or egress except through the bed-chamber. Upon this, -Mr. Andrews jumped out of bed to follow him, intending to chastise -him further, but he could find nobody in either of the rooms, -although the door was locked on the inside; so he rang his bell, -and inquired who had seen Lord Littleton. Nobody had seen -him; but, though how he had got in or out of the room remained -an enigma, Mr. Andrews asserted that he was certainly -there; and, angry at the supposed trick, he ordered that they -should give him no bed, but let him go and sleep at the inn. -Lord Littleton, however, appeared no more, and Mr. Andrews -went to sleep, not entertaining the slightest suspicion that he -had seen an apparition.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It happened that, on the following morning, Mrs. Pigou had -occasion to go at an early hour to London, and great was her -astonishment to learn that Lord Littleton had died on the preceding -night. She immediately despatched an express to Dartford -with the news, upon the receipt of which, Mr. Andrews, -then quite well, and remembering perfectly all that had happened, -swooned away. He could not understand it, but it had -a most serious effect upon him, and, to use his own expression, -he was not his own man again for three years.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There are various authorities for this story, the correctness -of which is vouched for by some members of Mrs. Pigou’s -family, with whom I am acquainted, who have frequently heard -the circumstances detailed by herself, and who assure me it was -always believed by the family. I really, therefore, do not see -what grounds we have for doubting either of these facts. Lord -Westcote, on whose word Dr. Johnson founded his belief of -Lord Littleton’s warning, was a man of strong sense; and that -the story was not looked upon lightly by the family, is proved -by the fact that the dowager Lady Littleton had a picture—which -was seen by Sir Nathaniel Wraxhall in her house in -Portugal street, as mentioned in his memoirs—wherein the -event was commemorated. His lordship is in bed; the dove -appears at the window; and a female figure stands at the foot of -the couch, announcing to the unhappy profligate his approaching -dissolution. That he mentioned the warning to his valet, -and some other persons, and that he talked of <span class='it'>jockeying</span> the -ghost by surviving the time named, is certain; as also that he -died with his watch in his hand, precisely at the appointed -period! Mr. Andrews says that he was subject to fits of strangulation, -from a swelling in the throat, which might have killed -him at any moment; but his decease having proceeded from a -natural and obvious cause, does not interfere one way or the -other with the validity of the prediction, which simply foretold -his death at a particular period, not that there was to be anything -preternatural in the manner of it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As I find so many people willing to believe in wraiths, who -can not believe in ghosts—that is, they are overpowered by -the numerous examples, and the weight of evidence for the -first—it would be desirable if we could ascertain whether these -wraiths are seen before the death occurs or after it; but, though -the day is recorded, and seems always to be the one on which -the death took place, and the hour about the same, minutes are -not sufficiently observed to enable us to answer that question. -It would be an interesting one, because the argument advanced -by those who believe that the dead never are seen, is, that it is -the strong will and desire of the expiring person which enables -him so to act on the nervous system of his distant friend, that -the imagination of the latter projects the form, and sees it as if -objectively. By <span class='it'>imagination</span> I do not simply mean to convey -the common notion implied by that much-abused word, which -is only <span class='it'>fancy</span>, but the <span class='it'>constructive</span> imagination, which is a much -higher function, and which, inasmuch as man is made in the -likeness of God, bears a distant relation to that sublime power -by which the Creator projects, creates, and upholds, his universe; -while the far-working of the departing spirit seems to -consist in the strong will to do, reinforced by the strong faith -that it can be done. We have rarely the strong will, and still -more rarely the strong faith, without which the will remains -ineffective. In the following case, which is perfectly authentic, -the apparition of Major R—— was seen several hours after his -death had occurred.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the year 1785, some cadets were ordered to proceed from -Madras to join their regiments up the country. A considerable -part of the journey was to be made in a barge, and they were -under the conduct of a senior officer, Major R——. In order -to relieve the monotony of the voyage, this gentleman proposed, -one day, that they should make a shooting excursion inland, -and walk round to meet the boat at a point agreed on, which, -owing to the windings of the river, it would not reach till evening. -They accordingly took their guns, and as they had to -cross a swamp, Major R——, who was well acquainted with -the country, put on a heavy pair of top-boots, which, together -with an odd limp he had in his gait, rendered him distinguishable -from the rest of the party at a considerable distance. When -they reached the jungle, they found there was a wide ditch to -leap, which all succeeded in doing except the major, who being -less young active, jumped short of the requisite distance; and -although he scrambled up unhurt, he found his gun so crammed -full of wet sand that it would be useless till thoroughly cleansed. -He therefore bade them walk on, saying he would follow; and -taking off his hat, he sat down in the shade, where they left him. -When they had been beating about for game some time, they -began to wonder why the major did not come on, and they -shouted to let him know whereabouts they were; but there was -no answer, and hour after hour passed without his appearance, -till at length they began to feel somewhat uneasy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Thus the day wore away, and they found themselves approaching -the rendezvous. The boat was in sight, and they -were walking down to it, wondering how their friend could -have missed them, when suddenly, to their great joy, they saw -him before them, making toward the barge. He was without -his hat or gun, limping hastily along in his top-boots, and did -not appear to observe them. They shouted after him, but as he -did not look round, they began to run, in order to overtake him; -and, indeed, fast as he went, they did gain considerably upon -him. Still he reached the boat first, crossing the plank which -the boatmen had placed ready for the gentlemen they saw approaching. -He ran down the companion-stairs, and they after -him; but inexpressible was their surprise when they could not -find him below! They ascended again, and inquired of the -boatmen what had become of him; but they declared he had -not come on board, and that nobody had crossed the plank till -the young men themselves had done so.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Confounded and amazed at what appeared so inexplicable, -and doubly anxious about their friend, they immediately resolved -to retrace their steps in search of him; and, accompanied -by some Indians who knew the jungle, they made their way -back to the spot where they had left him. Thence some footmarks -enabled them to trace him, till, at a very short distance -from the ditch, they found his hat and his gun. Just then the -Indians called out to them to beware, for that there was a sunken -well thereabouts, into which they might fall. An apprehension -naturally seized them that this might have been the fate of their -friend; and on examining the edge, they saw a mark as of a -heel slipping up. Upon this, one of the Indians consented to -go down, having a rope with which they had provided themselves -tied round his waist; for, aware of the existence of the -wells, the natives suspected what had actually occurred, namely, -that the unfortunate gentleman had slipped into one of these -traps, which, being overgrown with brambles, were not discernible -by the eye. With the assistance of the Indian, the -body was brought up and carried back to the boat, amid the -deep regrets of the party, with whom he had been a great favorite. -They proceeded with it to the next station, where an -inquiry was instituted as to the manner of his death, but of -course there was nothing more to be elicited.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I give this story as related by one of the parties present, and -there is no doubt of its perfect authenticity. He says he can -in no way account for the mystery—he can only relate the fact; -and not one, but the whole <span class='it'>five</span> cadets, saw him as distinctly as -they saw each other. It was evident, from the spot where the -body was found, which was not many hundred yards from the -well, that the accident must have occurred very shortly after -they left him. When the young men reached the boat, Major -R—— must have been, for some seven or eight hours, a denizen -of the other world, yet he kept the rendezvous!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was a similar occurrence in Devonshire, some years -back, which happened to the well-known Dr. Hawker, who, -one night in the street, observed an old woman pass him, to -whom he was in the habit of giving a weekly charity. Immediately -after she had passed, he felt somebody pull his coat, -and on looking round saw it was her, whereupon he put his -hand in his pocket to seek for a sixpence, but on turning to -give it to her she was gone. He thought nothing about it; but -when he got home, he inquired if she had had her money that -week,—when, to his amazement, he heard she was dead, but -his family had forgotten to mention the circumstance. I have -met with two curious cases, occurring in Edinburgh, of late -years; in one, a young man and his sister were in their kitchen, -warming themselves over the fire before they retired to bed, -when, on raising their eyes, they both saw a female figure, -dressed in white, standing in the door-way and looking at them; -she was leaning against one of the door-posts. Miss E——, the -young lady, screamed; whereupon the figure advanced, crossed -the kitchen toward a closet, and disappeared. There was no -egress at the closet: and as they lived in a flat, and the door -was closed for the night, a stranger could neither have entered -the house nor got out of it. In the other instance, there were -two houses on one flat, the doors opposite each other. In one -of the houses there resided a person with her two daughters, -grown-up women: in the other lived a shoemaker and his wife. -The latter died, and it was said her husband had ill-treated her -and worried her out of the world. He was a drunken, dissipated -man, and used to be out till a late hour most nights, -while this poor woman sat up for him, and when she heard a -voice on the stairs, or a bell, she used often to come out and -look over to see if it were her husband returned. One night, -when she had been dead some weeks, the two young women -were ascending the stairs to their own door, when, to their -amazement, they both saw her standing at the top, looking over -as she used to do in her lifetime. At the same moment their -mother opened the door and saw the figure also; the girls -rushed past, overcome with terror, and one if not both fainted -as soon as they got into the door. The youngest fell on her -face in the passage.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Another case, which occurred in this town, I mention—although -I know it is liable to be called a spectral illusion—because -it bears a remarkable similarity to one which took place -in America. A respectable woman lost her father, for whom -she had a great affection; she was of a serious turn, and much -attached to the tenets of her church, in which particulars she -thought her father had been deficient. She was therefore very -unhappy about him, fearing that he had not died in a proper -state of mind. A considerable time had elapsed since his death, -but her distrust of his condition was still causing her uneasiness; -when one day, while she was sitting at her work, she felt -something touch her shoulder, and on looking round she perceived -her father, who bade her cease to grieve about him, as -he was not unhappy. From that moment she became perfectly -resigned and cheerful. The American case—I have omitted -to write down the name of the place, and forget it—was that -of a mother and son. She was also a highly respectable person, -and was described to me as perfectly trustworthy by one -who knew her. She was a widow, and had one son, to whom -she was extremely attached. He however disappeared one -day, and she never could learn what had become of him; she -always said that if she did but know his fate she should be happier. -At length, when he had been dead a considerable time, -her attention was one day, while reading, attracted by a slight -noise, which induced her to look round, and she saw her son, -dripping with water, and with a sad expression of countenance. -The features, however, presently relaxed, and they assumed a -more pleasing aspect before he disappeared. From that time -she ceased to grieve, and it was subsequently ascertained that -the young man had run away to sea; but no more was known -of him. Certain it was, however, that she attributed her recovered -tranquillity to having seen her son as above narrated.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A lady with whom I am acquainted was one day, when a -girl, standing at the top of the stairs, with two others, discussing -their games, when they each suddenly exclaimed: “Who’s -that?” There was a fourth among them—a girl in a checked -pinafore; but she was gone again. They had all seen her. -One day a younger brother, in the same house, was playing -with a whip, when he suddenly laughed at something, and -cried “Take that;” and described having seen the same girl. -This led to some inquiry, and it was said that such a girl -as they described had lived in that house, and had died from -the bite of a mad dog; or, rather, had been smothered between -two feather-beds: but whether that was actually done, or was -only a report, I can not say. Supposing this to have been no -illusion, and I really can not see how it could be one, the memory -of past sports and pleasures seems to have so survived as -to have attracted the young soul, prematurely cut off, to the -spot where the same sports and pleasures were being enjoyed -by the living.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A maid-servant in one of the midland counties of England, -being up early one morning, heard her name called in a voice -that seemed to be her brother’s, a sailor then at sea; and running -up, she found him standing in the hall; he said he was -come from afar, and was going again, and mentioned some -other things; when her mistress, hearing voices, called to know -who she was talking to: she said it was her brother from sea. -After speaking to her for some time, she suddenly lost sight of -him, and found herself alone. Amazed and puzzled, she told -her mistress what had happened, who being led thus to suspect -the kind of visiter it was, looked out of the window to ascertain -if there were any marks of footsteps, the ground being covered -with snow. There were, however, none,—and it was therefore -clear that nobody could have entered the house. Intelligence -afterward arrived of the young man’s death.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This last is a case of wraith, but a more complicated one, -from the circumstance of speech being superadded. But this -is not by any means an isolated particular; there are many -such. The author of the book called “Accredited Ghost Stories”—whose -name I at this moment forget, and I have not the -book at hand—gives, on his own authority, the following circumstance, -professing to be acquainted with the parties. A -company were visiting York cathedral, when a gentleman and -lady, who had detached themselves from the rest, observed an -officer wearing a naval uniform approaching them; he walked -quickly, saying to the lady, as he passed, “There <span class='it'>is</span> another -world.” The gentleman, seeing her greatly agitated, pursued -the stranger, but lost sight of him, and nobody had seen such -a person but themselves. On returning to his companion, she -told him that it was her brother, who was then abroad with his -ship, and with whom she had frequently held discussions as to -whether there was or was not a future life. The news of the -young man’s death shortly reached the family. In this case the -brother must have been dead; the spirit must have passed out -of this world into that other, the existence of which he came to -certify. This is one of those cases which—happening not long -ago—leads one especially to regret the want of moral courage -which prevents people giving up their names and avowing their -experience. The author of the abovementioned book, from -which I borrow this story, says that the sheet had gone to the -press with the real names of the parties attached, but that he -was requested to withdraw them, as it would be painful to -the family. My view of this case is so different, that, had it -occurred to myself, I should have felt it my imperative duty to -make it known and give every satisfaction to inquirers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Some years ago, during the war, when Sir Robert H. E—— -was in the Netherlands, he happened to be quartered with two -other officers, one of whom was despatched into Holland on an -expedition. One night, during his absence, Sir R. H. E—— -awoke, and, to his great surprise, saw this absent friend sitting -on the bed which he used to occupy, with a wound in his -breast. Sir Robert immediately awoke his companion, who -saw the spectre also. The latter then addressed them, saying -that he had been that day killed in a skirmish, and that he had -died in great anxiety about his family, wherefore he had come -to communicate that there was a deed of much consequence -to them deposited in the hands of a certain lawyer in London, -whose name and address he mentioned, adding that this man’s -honesty was not to be altogether relied on. He therefore requested -that, on their return to England, they would go to his -house and demand the deed, but that, if he denied the possession -of it, they were to seek it in a certain drawer in his office, -which he described to them. The circumstance impressed them -very much at the time, but a long time had elapsed ere they -reached England, during which period they had gone through -so many adventures and seen so many friends fall around them, -that this impression was considerably weakened, insomuch that -each went to his own home and his own pursuits without thinking -of fulfilling the commission they had undertaken. Some -time afterward, however, it happened that they both met in -London, and they then resolved to seek the street that had been -named to them, and ascertain if such a man lived there. They -found him, requested an interview, and demanded the deed, the -possession of which he denied; but their eyes were upon the -drawer that had been described to them, where they asserted it -to be, and being there discovered, it was delivered into their -hands. Here, also, the soul had parted from the body, while -the memory of the past and an anxiety for the worldly prosperity, -of those left behind, survived; and we thus see that the -condition of mind in which this person had died, remained unchanged. -He was not indifferent to the worldly prosperity -of his relatives, and he found his own state rendered unhappy -by the fear that they might suffer from the dishonesty of his -agent. It may here be naturally objected that hundreds of -much-loved widows and orphans have been ruined by dishonest -trustees and agents, where no ghost came back to instruct -them in the means of obviating the misfortune. This is, -no doubt, a very legitimate objection, and one which it is very -difficult to answer. I must, however, repeat what I said before, -nature is full of exceptional cases, while we know very little -of the laws which regulate these exceptions; but we may see -a very good reason for the fact that such communications are -the exception, and not the rule; for if they were the latter, the -whole economy of this earthly life would be overturned, and its -affairs must necessarily be conducted in a totally different manner -to that which prevails at present. What the effects of such -an arrangement of nature would be, had it pleased God to -make it, he alone knows; but certain it is, that man’s freedom, -as a moral agent, would be in a great degree abrogated, were -the barriers that impede our intercourse with the spiritual -world removed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It may be answered, that this is an argument which may be -directed against the fact of such appearances being permitted -at all; but that is a fallacious objection. Earthquakes and hurricanes -are occasionally permitted, which overthrow the work -of man’s hands for centuries; but if these convulsions of nature -were of every-day occurrence, nobody would think it worth -their while to build a house or cultivate the earth, and the world -would be a wreck and a wilderness. The apparitions that do -appear, are not without their use to those who believe in them; -while there is too great an uncertainty attending the subject, -generally to allow of its ever being taken into consideration in -mundane affairs.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The old, so-called, superstition of the people, that a person’s -“dying with something on his mind” is one of the frequent causes -of these revisitings, seems, like most other of their superstitions, -to be founded on experience. I meet with many cases in -which some apparently trivial anxiety, or some frustrated communication, -prevents the uneasy spirit flinging off the bonds that -bind it to the earth. I could quote many examples characterized -by this feature, but will confine myself to two or three.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Jung Stilling gives a very curious one, which occurred in the -year 1746, and for the authenticity of which he vouches. A gentleman -of the name of Dorrien, of most excellent character and -amiable disposition, who was tutor in the Carolina Colleges, at -Brunswick, died there in that year; and immediately previous to -his death he sent to request an interview with another tutor, of -the name of Hofer, with whom he had lived on terms of friendship. -Hofer obeyed the summons, but came too late, the dying -man was already in the last agonies. After a short time, rumors -began to circulate that Herr Dorrien had been seen by different -persons about the college; but as it was with the pupils that -these rumors originated, they were supposed to be mere fancies, -and no attention whatever was paid to them. At length, -however, in the month of October, three months after the decease -of Herr Dorrien, a circumstance occurred that excited -considerable amazement among the professors. It formed part -of the duty of Hofer to go through the college every night, -between the hours of eleven and twelve, for the purpose of -ascertaining that all the scholars were in bed, and that nothing -irregular was going on among them. On the night in question, -on entering one of the ante-rooms in the execution of this duty, -he saw, to his great amazement, Herr Dorrien, seated, in the -dressing-gown and white cap he was accustomed to wear, and -holding the latter with his right hand, in such a manner as -to conceal the upper part of the face; from the eyes to the -chin, however, it was distinctly visible. This unexpected sight -naturally startled Hofer, but, summoning resolution, he advanced -into the young men’s chamber, and, having ascertained -that all was in order, closed the door; he then turned his eyes -again toward the spectre, and there it sat as before, whereupon -he went up to it, and stretched out his arm toward it; but he was -now seized with such a feeling of indescribable horror, that he -could scarcely withdraw his hand, which became swollen to a -degree that for some months he had no use of it. On the following -day he related this circumstance to the professor of -mathematics, Oeder, who of course treated the thing as a spectral -illusion. He, however, consented to accompany Hofer on -his rounds the ensuing night, satisfied that he should be able -either to convince him it was a mere phantasm, or else a spectre -of flesh and blood that was playing him a trick. They -accordingly went at the usual hour, but no sooner had the professor -set his foot in that same room, than he exclaimed, “By -Heavens! it is Dorrien himself!” Hofer, in the meantime, proceeded -into the chamber as before, in the pursuance of his -duties, and, on his return, they both contemplated the figure -for some time; neither of them had, however, the courage to -address or approach it, and finally quitted the room, very much -impressed, and perfectly convinced that they had seen Dorrien.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This incident soon got spread abroad, and many people came -in hopes of satisfying their own eyes of the fact, but their pains -were fruitless; and even Professor Oeder, who had made up -his mind to speak to the apparition, sought it repeatedly in the -same place in vain. At length, he gave it up, and ceased to -think of it, saying, “I have sought the ghost long enough; if -he has anything to say, he must now seek me.” About a fortnight -after this, he was suddenly awakened, between three and -four o’clock in the morning, by something moving in his chamber, -and on opening his eyes, he beheld a shadowy form, having -the same appearance as the spectre, standing in front of a press -which was not more than two steps from his bed. He raised -himself, and contemplated the figure, the features of which he -saw distinctly for some minutes, till it disappeared. On the -following night he was awakened in the same manner, and saw -the figure as before, with the addition that there was a sound -proceeded from the door of the press, as if somebody was leaning -against it. The spectre also stayed longer this time, and Professor -Oeder, no doubt frightened and angry, addressing it as an -evil spirit, bade it begone, whereon it made gestures with its -head and hands that alarmed him so much, that he adjured it in -the name of God to leave him, which it did. Eight days now -elapsed without any further disturbance, but, after that period, -the visits of the spirit were resumed, and he was awakened by -it repeatedly about three in the morning, when it would advance -from the press to the bed, and hang its head over him in a -manner so annoying, that he started up and struck at it, whereupon -it would retire, but presently advance again. Perceiving -now, that the countenance was rather placid and friendly than -otherwise, the professor at length addressed it, and, having reason -to believe that Dorrien had left some debts unpaid, he asked -him if that were the case, upon which the spectre retreated -some steps, and seemed to place itself in an attitude of attention. -Oeder reiterated the inquiry, whereupon the figure drew -its hand across its mouth, in which the professor now observed -a short pipe. “Is it to the barber you are in debt?” he inquired. -The spectre slowly shook its head. “Is it to the tobacconist, -then?” asked he, the question being suggested by the pipe. -Hereupon the form retreated, and disappeared. On the following -day, Oeder narrated what had occurred to Councillor Erath, -one of the curators of the college, and also to the sister of the -deceased, and arrangements were made for discharging the -debt. Professor Seidler, of the same college, now proposed to -pass the night with Oeder, for the purpose of observing if the -ghost came again, which it did about five o’clock, and awoke -Oeder as usual, who awoke his companion, but just then the -form disappeared, and Seidler said he only saw something white. -They then both disposed themselves to sleep, but presently Seidler -was aroused by Oeder’s starting up and striking out, while -he cried, with a voice expressive of rage and horror, “Begone! -You have tormented me long enough! If you want anything -of me, say what it is, or give me an intelligible sign, and come -here no more!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Seidler heard all this, though he saw nothing; but as soon as -Oeder was somewhat appeased, he told him that the figure had -returned, and not only approached the bed, but stretched itself -upon it. After this, Oeder burned a light, and had some one in -the room every night. He gained this advantage by the light, -that he saw nothing; but about four o’clock, he was generally -awakened by noises in his room, and other symptoms that satisfied -him the ghost was there. At length, however, this annoyance -ceased also; and trusting that his unwelcome guest had -taken his leave, he dismissed his bedfellow, and dispensed with -his light. Two nights passed quietly over; on the third, however, -the spectre returned; but very perceptibly darker. It -now presented another sign, or symbol, which seemed to represent -a picture, with a hole in the middle, through which it -thrust its head. Oeder was now so little alarmed, that he bade -it express its wishes more clearly, or approach nearer. To -these requisitions the apparition shook its head, and then vanished. -This strange phenomenon recurred several times, and -even in the presence of another curator of the college; but it -was with considerable difficulty they discovered what the symbol -was meant to convey. They at length, however, found that -Dorrien just before his illness, had obtained, on trial, several -pictures for a magic lantern, which had never been returned to -their owner. This was now done, and from that time the apparition -was neither seen nor heard again. Professor Oeder -made no secret of these circumstances; he related them publicly -in court and college; he wrote the account to several eminent -persons, and declared himself ready to attest the facts upon -his oath.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Stilling, who relates this story, has been called superstitious; -he may be so; but his piety and his honesty are above suspicion; -he says the facts are well known, and that he can vouch -for their authenticity; and as he must have been a contemporary -of the parties concerned, he had, doubtless, good opportunities -of ascertaining what foundation there was for the story. -It is certainly a very extraordinary one, and the demeanor of -the spirit as little like what we should have naturally apprehended -as possible; but, as I have said before, we have no -right to pronounce any opinion on this subject, except from experience, -and there are two arguments to be advanced in favor -of this narration; the one being, that I can not imagine anybody -setting about to invent a ghost-story, would have introduced -circumstances so apparently improbable and inappropriate; -and the other consisting in the fact, that I have met with -numerous relations, coming from very opposite quarters, which -seem to corroborate the one in question.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With respect to the cause of the spectre’s appearance, Jung -Stilling, I think, reasonably enough, suggests that the poor man -had intended to commission Hofer to settle these little affairs -for him, but that delaying this duty too long, his mind had been -oppressed by the recollection of them in his last moments—he -had carried his care with him, and it bound him to the earth. -Wherefore, considering how many persons die with duties unperformed, -this anxiety to repair the neglect, is not more frequently -manifested, we do not know; some reasons we have -already suggested as possible; there may be others of which -we can form no idea, any more than we can solve the question, -why in some cases communication and even speech seems easy, -while in this instance, the spirit was only able to convey its -wishes by gestures and symbols. Its addressing itself to Oeder -instead of Hofer, probably arose from its finding communication -with him less difficult; the swelling of Hofer’s arm indicating -that his physical nature was not adapted for this spiritual -intercourse. With respect to Oeder’s expedient of burning a -light in his room, in order to prevent his seeing this shadowy -form, we can comprehend, that the figure would be discerned -more easily on the dark ground of comparative obscurity, and -that clear light would render it invisible. Dr. Kerner mentions, -on one occasion, that while sitting in an adjoining room, with -the door open, he had seen a shadowy figure, to whom his patient -was speaking, standing beside her bed; and catching up -a candle, he had rushed toward it; but as soon as he thus illuminated -the chamber, he could no longer distinguish it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The ineffective and awkward attempts of this apparition -to make itself understood, are not easily to be reconciled to -our ideas of a spirit, while, at the same time, that which it -could do, and that which it could not—the powers it possessed -and those it wanted—tend to throw some light on its -condition. As regards space, we may suppose that, in this instance, -what St. Martin said of ghosts in general, may be applicable: -“<span class='it'>Je ne crois pas aux revenants, mais je crois aux restants</span>;” -that is, he did not believe that spirits who had once -quitted the earth returned to it, but he believed that some did -not quit it, and thus, as the somnambule mentioned in a former -chapter said to me, “Some are waiting and some are gone on -before.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dorrien’s uneasiness and worldly care chained him to the -earth, and he was a <span class='it'>restant</span>—but, being a spirit, he was inevitably -inducted into some of the inherent properties of spirit; -matter to him was no impediment, neither doors nor walls could -keep him out; he had the intuitive perception of whom he -could most easily communicate with, or he was brought into -rapport with Oeder by the latter’s seeking him; and he could -either so act on Oeder’s constructive imagination as to enable -it to project his own figure, with the short pipe and the pictures, -or he could, by the magical power of his will, build up these -images out of the constituents of the atmosphere. The last -seems the most probable, because, had the rapport with Oeder, -or Oeder’s receptivity, been sufficient to enable the spirit to act -potently upon him, it would have been also able to infuse into -his mind the wishes it desired to convey, even without speech, -for speech, as a means of communication between spirits, must -be quite unnecessary. Even in spite of these dense bodies of -ours, we have great difficulty in concealing our thoughts from -each other; and the somnambule reads the thoughts of not only -his magnetizer, but of others with whom he is placed in rapport. -In cases where speech appears to be used by a spirit, it -is frequently not audible speech, but only this transference of -thought, which appears to be speech from the manner in which -the thought is borne in and enters the mind of the receiver; -but it is not through his ears, but through his universal supplementary -sense, that he receives it; and it is no more like what -we mean by <span class='it'>hearing</span>, than is the seeing of a <span class='it'>clairvoyant</span>, or a -spirit, like our seeing by means of our bodily organs. In those -cases where the speech is audible to other persons, we must -suppose that the magical will of the spirit can, by means of the -atmosphere, simulate these sounds as it can simulate others, of -which I shall have to treat by-and-by. It is remarkable that, -in some instances, this magical power seems to extend so far as -to represent to the eye of the seer a form apparently so real, -solid, and lifelike, that it is not recognisable from the living -man; while in other cases the production of a shadowy figure -seems to be the limit of its agency, whether limited by its own -faculty or the receptivity of its subject: but we must be quite -sure that the form is, in either instance, equally ethereal or immaterial. -And it will not be out of place here to refer to the -standing joke of the skeptics, about ghosts appearing in coats -and waistcoats. Bentham thought he had settled the question -for ever by that objection; and I have heard it since frequently -advanced by very acute persons; but, properly considered, it -has not the least validity.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Whether or not the soul on leaving its earthly tabernacle finds -itself at once clothed with that spiritual body which St. Paul -refers to, is what we can not know, though it seems highly -probable; but if it be so, we must be sure that this body resembles -in its nature that fluent, subtle kind of matter, called by us -imponderables, which are capable of penetrating all substances; -and unless there be no visible body at all, but only the will of a -disembodied spirit acting upon one yet in the flesh (in which -case it were as easy to impress the imagination with a clothed -figure as an unclothed one), we must conclude that this ethereal -flexible form, whether permanent or temporary, may be held -together and retain its shape by the volition of the spirit, as our -bodies are held together by the principle of life that is in them; -and we see in various instances, where the spectator has been -bold enough to try the experiment, that though the shadowy -body was pervious to any substance passed through it, its integrity -was only momentarily interrupted, and it immediately recovered -its previous shape.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, as a spirit—provided there be no especial law to the -contrary, partial or universal, absolute or otherwise, governing -the spiritual world—must be where its thoughts and wishes -are, just as we should be at the place we intently think of, or -desire, if our solid bodies did not impede us, so must a spirit -appear as it is, or as it <span class='it'>conceives</span> of itself. Morally, it can -only conceive of itself as it is, good or bad, light or dark; but -it may conceive of itself clothed as well as unclothed; and if it -can conceive of its former body, it can equally conceive of its -former habiliments, and so represent them by its power of will -to the eye, or present them to the constructive imagination of -the seer: and it will be able to do this with a degree of distinctness -proportioned to the receptivity of the latter, or to the intensity -of the rapport which exists between them. Now, considered -in this way, the appearance of a spirit “in its habit as -it lived” is no more extraordinary than the appearance of a -spirit at all, and it adds no complexity to the phenomenon. If -it appears at all in a recognisable form, it must come naked or -clothed: the former, to say the least of it, would be much more -frightful and shocking; and if it be clothed, I do not see what -right we have to expect it shall be in a fancy costume, conformable -to our ideas (which are no ideas at all) of the other world; -nor why, if it be endowed with the memory of the past, it -should not be natural to suppose it would assume the external -aspect it wore during its earthly pilgrimage. Certain it is, -whether consistent with our notions or not, all tradition seems -to show that this is the appearance they assume; and the very -fact that on the first view of the case, and until the question is -philosophically considered, the addition of a suit of clothes to -the phenomenon not only renders its acceptance much more -difficult, but throws an air of absurdity and improbability on -the whole subject, furnishes a very strong argument in favor of -the persuasion that this notion has been founded on experience, -and is not the result of either fancy or gratuitous invention.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The idea of spirits appearing like angels, with wings, &c., -seems to be drawn from these relations in the Bible, when messengers -were sent from God to man; but those departed spirits -are not angels, though probably destined in the course of ages -to become so: in the meantime, their moral state continues as -when they quitted the body, and their memories and affections -are with the earth—and so, earthly they appear, more or less. -We meet with some instances in which bright spirits have been -seen—protecting spirits, for example, who have shaken off their -earth entirely, clinging to it yet but by some holy affection or -mission of mercy—and these appear, not with wings, which -whenever seen are merely symbolical, for we can not imagine -they are necessary to the motion of a spirit, but clothed in robes -of light. Such appearances, however, seem much more rare -than the others.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It will seem to many persons very inconsistent with their -ideas of the dignity of a spirit that they should appear and act -in the manner I have described, and shall describe further; and -I have heard it objected that we can not suppose God would -permit the dead to return merely to frighten the living, and that -it is showing him little reverence to imagine he would suffer -them to come on such trifling errands, or demean themselves -in so undignified a fashion. But God permits men of all degrees -of wickedness, and of every kind of absurdity, to exist, -and to harass and disturb the earth, while they expose themselves -to its obloquy or its ridicule.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, as I have observed in a former chapter, there is nothing -more perplexing to us in regarding man as a responsible -being, than the degree to which we have reason to believe his -moral nature is influenced by his physical organization; but -leaving this difficult question to be decided (if ever it can be -decided in this world) by wiser heads than mine, there is one -thing of which we may rest perfectly assured, namely, that let -the fault of an impure, or vicious, or even merely sensuous life, -lie where it will—whether it be the wicked spirit within, or the -ill-organized body without, or a <span class='it'>tertium quid</span> of both combined—still -the soul that has been a party to this earthly career, -must be soiled and deteriorated by its familiarity with evil; and -there seems much reason to believe that the dissolution of the -connection between the soul and body produces far less change -in the former than has been commonly supposed. People generally -think—if they think on the subject at all—that as soon -as they are dead, if they have lived tolerably virtuous lives, or -indeed been free from any great crimes, they will immediately -find themselves provided with wings, and straightway fly up to -some delightful place, which they call heaven, forgetting how -unfit they are for heavenly fellowship; and although I can not -help thinking that the Almighty has mercifully permitted occasional -relaxations of the boundaries that separate the dead from -the living, for the purpose of showing us our error, we are determined -not to avail ourselves of the advantage. I do not mean -that these spirits—these <span class='it'>revenants</span> or <span class='it'>restants</span>—are special -messengers sent to warn us: I only mean that their occasionally -“revisiting the glimpses of the moon” form the exceptional -cases in a great general law of nature which divides the spiritual -from the material world; and that, in framing this law, -these exceptions may have been designed for our benefit.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There are several stories extant in the English, and a vast -number in the German records, which, supposing them to be -well founded—and I repeat, that for many of them we have -just as good evidence as for anything else we believe as hearsay -or tradition—would go to confirm the fact that the spirits -of the dead are sometimes disturbed by what appear to us very -trifling cares. I give the following case from Dr. Kerner, who -says it was related to him by a very respectable man, on whose -word he can entirely rely:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I was,” said Mr. St. S——, of S——, “the son of a man -who had no fortune but his business, in which he was ultimately -successful. At first, however, his means being narrow, he was -perhaps too anxious and inclined to parsimony; so that when -my mother, careful housewife as she was, asked him for money, -the demand generally led to a quarrel. This occasioned her -great uneasiness, and having mentioned this characteristic of -her husband to her father, the old man advised her to get a -second key made to the money-chest, unknown to her husband, -considering this expedient allowable and even preferable to the -destruction of their conjugal felicity, and feeling satisfied that -she would make no ill use of the power possessed. My mother -followed his advice, very much to the advantage of all parties; -and nobody suspected the existence of this second key except -myself, whom she had admitted into her confidence.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Two-and-twenty years my parents lived happily together, -when I, being at the time about eighteen hours’ journey from -home, received a letter from my father informing me that she -was ill—that he hoped for her speedy amendment—but that -if she grew worse he would send a horse to fetch me home to -see her. I was extremely busy at that time, and therefore -waited for further intelligence; and as several days elapsed -without any reaching me, I trusted my mother was convalescent. -One night, feeling myself unwell, I had lain down on the -bed with my clothes on to take a little rest. It was between -11 and 12 o’clock, and I had not been asleep, when some one -knocked at the door, and my mother entered, dressed as she -usually was. She saluted me, and said: ‘We shall see each -other no more in this world: but I have an injunction to give -you. I have given that key to R—— (naming a servant we -then had), and she will remit it to you. Keep it carefully, -or throw it into the water, but never let your father see it—it -would trouble him. Farewell, and walk virtuously through -life.’ And with these words she turned and quitted the room -by the door, as she had entered it. I immediately arose, -called up my people, expressed my apprehension that my -mother was dead, and, without further delay, started for home. -As I approached the house, R——, the maid, came out and -informed me that my mother had expired between the hours -of 11 and 12 on the preceding night. As there was another -person present at the moment, she said nothing further to me, -but she took an early opportunity of remitting me the key, -saying that my mother had given it to her just before she expired, -desiring her to place it in my hands, with an injunction -that I should keep it carefully, or fling it into the water, so that -my father might never know anything about it. I took the -key, kept it for some years, and at length threw it into the -Lahne.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I am aware that it may be objected by those who believe in -wraiths, but in no other kind of apparition, that this phenomenon -occurred before the death of the lady, and that it was produced -by her energetic anxiety with regard to the key. It may be -so, or it may not; but, at all events, we see in this case how a -comparatively trifling uneasiness may disturb a dying person, -and how, therefore—if memory remains to them—they may -carry it with them, and seek, by such means as they have, to -obtain relief from it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A remarkable instance of anxiety for the welfare of those left -behind, is exhibited in the following story, which I received -from a member of the family concerned: Mrs. R——, a lady -very well connected, lost her husband when in the prime of -life, and found herself with fourteen children, unprovided for. -The overwhelming nature of the calamity depressed her energies -to such a degree as to render her incapable of those exertions -which could alone redeem them from ruin. The flood -of misfortune seemed too strong for her, and she yielded to it -without resistance. She had thus given way to despondency -some time, when one day, as she was sitting alone, the door -opened, and her mother, who had been a considerable time -dead, entered the room and addressed her, reproving her for -this weak indulgence of useless sorrow, and bidding her exert -herself for the sake of her children. From that period she -threw off the depression, set actively to work to promote the -fortunes of her family, and succeeded so well that they ultimately -emerged from all their difficulties. I asked the gentleman -who related this circumstance to me whether he believed -it. He answered, that he could only assure me that she herself -affirmed the fact, and that she avowedly attributed the sudden -change in her character and conduct to this cause;—for -his own part, he did not know what to say, finding it difficult -to believe in the possibility of such a visit from the dead.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A somewhat similar instance is related by Dr. Kerner, which -he says he received from the party himself, a man of sense and -probity. This gentleman, Mr. F——, at an early age lost his -mother. Two-and-twenty years afterward he formed an attachment -to a young person, whose hand he resolved to ask in -marriage. Having one evening seated himself at his desk, for -the purpose of writing his proposal, he was amazed, on accidentally -lifting his eyes from the paper, to see his mother, looking -exactly as if alive, seated opposite to him, while she, raising -her finger with a warning gesture, said: “Do not that thing!” -Not the least alarmed, Mr. F—— started up to approach her, -whereupon she disappeared. Being very much attached to the -lady, however, he did not feel disposed to follow her counsel; -but having read the letter to his father, who highly approved -of the match and laughed at the ghost, he returned to his chamber -to seal it; when, while he was adding the superscription, -she again appeared as before and reiterated her injunction. -But love conquered; the letter was despatched, the marriage -ensued, and, after ten years of strife and unhappiness, was -dissolved by a judicial process.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A remarkable circumstance occurred about forty years ago, -in the family of Dr. Paulus, at Stuttgard. The wife of the -head of the family having died, they, with some of their connections, -were sitting at table a few days afterward, in the room -adjoining that in which the corpse lay; suddenly the door of the -latter apartment opened, and the figure of the mother clad in -white robes entered, and, saluting them as she passed, walked -slowly and noiselessly through the room, and then disappeared -again through the door by which she had entered. The whole -company saw the apparition; but the father, who was at that -time quite in health, died eight days afterward.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Madame R—— had promised an old wood-cutter—who -had a particular horror of dying in the poor-house, because he -knew his body would be given to the surgeons—that she would -take care to see him properly interred. The old man lived -some years afterward, and she had quite lost sight of him, and -indeed forgotten the circumstance, when she was one night -awakened by the sound of some one cutting wood in her bed-chamber; -and so perfect was the imitation, that she heard, -every log flung aside as separated. She started up, exclaiming, -“The old man must be dead!” and so it proved,—his -last anxiety having been that Madame R—— should remember -her promise.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That our interest in whatever has much concerned us in this -life accompanies us beyond the grave, seems to be proved by -many stories I meet with, and the following is of undoubted -authenticity: Some years ago, a music-master died at Erfert -at the age of seventy. He was a miser, and had never looked -with very friendly eyes on Professor Rinck, the composer, who -he knew was likely to succeed to his classes. The old man -had lived and died in an apartment adjoining the class-room; -and the first day that Rinck entered on his office, while the -scholars were singing <span class='it'>Aus der tiefe ruf ich dich</span>, which is a -paraphrase of the <span class='it'>De profundis</span>, he thought he saw, through a -hole or bull’s eye in the door, something moving about the inner -chamber. As the room was void of every kind of furniture, -and nobody could possibly be in it, Rinck looked more fixedly, -when he distinctly saw a shadow, whose movements were accompanied -by a strange rustling sound. Perplexed at the circumstance, -he told his pupils that on the following day he -should require them to repeat the same choral. They did so; -and while they were singing, Rinck saw a person walking backward -and forward in the next room, who frequently approached -the hole in the door. Very much struck with so extraordinary -a circumstance, Rinck had the choral repeated on the ensuing -day,—and this time his suspicions were fully confirmed; the -old man, his predecessor, approaching the door, and gazing -steadfastly into the class-room. “His face,” said Rinck—in -relating the story to Dr. Mainzer, who has obligingly furnished -it to me as entered in his journal at the time—“was of an ashy-gray. -The apparition,” he added, “never more appeared to -me, although I frequently had the choral repeated.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am no believer in ghost-stories,” he added, “nor in the -least superstitious; nevertheless, I can not help admitting that -I have seen this: it is impossible for me ever to doubt or to -deny that which I know I saw.”</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='204' id='Page_204'></span><h1>CHAPTER X.</h1></div> - -<h3>THE FUTURE THAT AWAITS US.</h3> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>In</span> all ages of the world, and in all parts of it, mankind have -earnestly desired to learn the fate that awaited them when they -had “shuffled off this mortal coil;” and those pretending to be -their instructors have built up different systems which have -stood in the stead of knowledge, and more or less satisfied the -bulk of the people. The interest on this subject is, at the present -period, in the most highly civilized portions of the globe, -less than it has been at any preceding one. The great proportion -of us live for this world alone, and think very little of the -next: we are in too great a hurry of pleasure or business to -bestow any time on a subject of which we have such vague -notions—notions so vague, that, in short, we can scarcely by -any effort of the imagination bring the idea home to ourselves; -and when we are about to die, we are seldom in a situation to -do more than resign ourselves to what is inevitable, and blindly -meet our fate; while, on the other hand, what is generally called -the religious world is so engrossed by its struggles for power -and money, or by its sectarian disputes and enmities, and so -narrowed and circumscribed by dogmatic orthodoxies, that it -has neither inclination nor liberty to turn back or look around, -and endeavor to gather up from past records and present observation -such hints as are now and again dropped in our path, -to give us an intimation of what the truth may be. The rationalistic -age, too, out of which we are only just emerging, and -which succeeded one of gross superstition, having settled, beyond -appeal, that there never was such a thing as a ghost—that -the dead never do come back to tell us the secrets of their -prison-house, and that nobody believes such idle tales but children -and old women—seemed to have shut the door against -the only channel through which any information could be sought. -Revelation tells us very little on this subject—reason can tell -us nothing; and if Nature is equally silent, or if we are to be -deterred from questioning her from the fear of ridicule, there -is certainly no resource left us but to rest contented in our ignorance, -and each wait till the awful secret is disclosed to ourselves.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A great many things have been pronounced untrue and absurd, -and even impossible, by the highest authorities of the age -in which they lived, which have afterward, and indeed within a -very short period, been found to be both possible and true. I -confess myself, for one, to have no respect whatever for these -dogmatic denials and affirmations, and I am quite of opinion -that vulgar incredulity is a much more contemptible thing than -vulgar credulity. We know very little of what <span class='it'>is</span>, and still -less of what may be; and till a thing has been proved, by induction, -logically impossible, we have no right whatever to pronounce -that it is so. As I have said before, <span class='it'>a priori</span> conclusions -are perfectly worthless; and the sort of investigation that -is bestowed upon subjects of the class of which I am treating, -something worse—inasmuch as they deceive the timid and the -ignorant, and that very numerous class which pins its faith on -authority and never ventures to think for itself, by an assumption -of wisdom and knowledge, which, if examined and analyzed, -would very frequently prove to be nothing more respectable -than obstinate prejudice and rash assertion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For my own part, I repeat, I insist upon nothing. The opinions -I have formed, from the evidence collected, may be quite -erroneous; if so, as I seek only the truth, I shall be glad to be -undeceived, and shall be quite ready to accept a better explanation -of these facts, whenever it is offered to me: but it is in -vain to tell me that this explanation is to be found in what is -called imagination, or in a morbid state of the nerves, or an unusual -excitement of the organs of color and form, or in imposture; -or in all these together. The existence of all such -sources of error and delusion I am far from denying, but I find -instances that it is quite impossible to reduce under any one of -those categories, as we at present understand them. The multiplicity -of these instances, too—for, not to mention the large -number that are never made known or carefully concealed, if I -were to avail myself liberally of cases already recorded in various -works, many of which I know, and many others I hear of -as existing, but which I can not conveniently get access to, I -might fill volumes (German literature abounds in them)—the -number of the examples, I repeat, even on the supposition that -they are not facts, would of itself form the subject of a very -curious physiological or psychological inquiry. If so many -people in respectable situations of life, and in apparently a normal -state of health, are capable of either such gross impostures, -or the subjects of such extraordinary spectral illusions, it would -certainly be extremely satisfactory to learn something of the -conditions that induce these phenomena in such abundance; -and all I expect from my book at present is, to induce a suspicion -that we are not quite so wise as we think ourselves; and -that it might be worth while to inquire a little seriously into -reports, which may perchance turn out to have a deeper interest -for us than all those various questions, public and private, -put together, with which we are daily agitating ourselves.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I have alluded, in an earlier part of this work, to the belief -entertained by the ancients that the souls of men, on being disengaged -from the bodies, passed into a middle state, called -Hades, in which their portions seemed to be neither that of -complete happiness nor of insupportable misery. They retained -their personality, their human form, their memory of the past, -and their interest in those that had been dear to them on earth. -Communications were occasionally made by the dead to the -living: they mourned over their duties neglected and their -errors committed; many of their mortal feelings, passions, and -propensities, seemed to survive; and they sometimes sought to -repair, through the instrumentality of the living, the injuries -they had formerly inflicted. In short, death was merely a transition -from one condition of life to another; but in this latter -state, although we do not see them condemned to undergo any -torments, we perceive that they are not happy. There are, -indeed, compartments in this dark region: there is Tartarus -for the wicked, and the Elysian fields for the good, but they are -comparatively thinly peopled. It is in the mid-region that these -pale shades abound, consistently with the fact that here on earth, -moral as well as intellectual mediocrity is the rule, and extremes -of good or evil the exceptions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With regard to the opinion entertained of a future state by -the Hebrews, the Old Testament gives us very little information; -but what glimpses we do obtain of it appear to exhibit -notions analogous to those of the heathen nations, inasmuch as -that the personality and the form seem to be retained, and the -possibility of these departed spirits revisiting the earth and holding -commune with the living is admitted. The request of the -rich man, also, that Lazarus might be sent to warn his brethren, -yet alive, of his own miserable condition, testifies to the existence -of these opinions; and it is worthy of remark that the -favor is denied, not because its performance is impossible, but -because the mission would be unavailing—a prediction which, -it appears to me, time has singularly justified.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Altogether, the notion that in the state entered upon after we -leave this world, the personality and form are retained, that -these shades sometimes revisit the earth, and that the memory -of the past still survives, seems to be universal; for it is found -to exist among all people, savage and civilized: and if not -founded on observation and experience, it becomes difficult to -account for such unanimity on a subject which I think, speculatively -considered, would not have been productive of such -results; and one proof of this is, that those who reject such -testimony and tradition as we have in regard to it, and rely -only on their own understandings, appear to be pretty uniformly -led to form opposite conclusions. They can not discern the -mode of such a phenomenon; it is open to all sorts of scientific -objections, and the <span class='it'>cui bono</span> sticks in their teeth.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This position being admitted, as I think it must be, we have -but one resource left, whereby to account for the universality -of this persuasion—which is, that in all periods and places, both -mankind and womankind, as well in health as in sickness, have -been liable to a series of spectral illusions of a most extraordinary -and complicated nature, and bearing such a remarkable -similarity to each other in regard to the objects supposed to be -seen or heard, that they have been universally led to the same -erroneous interpretation of the phenomenon. It is manifestly -not impossible that this may be the case; and if it be so, it becomes -the business of physiologists to inquire into the matter, -and give us some account of it. In the meantime, we may be -permitted to take the other view of the question, and examine -what probabilities seem to be in its favor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When the body is about to die, that which can not die, and -which, to spare words, I will call <span class='sc'>the soul</span>, departs from it—whither? -We do not know: but, in the first place, we have -no reason to believe that the space destined for its habitation is -far removed from the earth, since, knowing nothing about it, -we are equally entitled to suppose the contrary; and, in the -next, that which we call distance is a condition that merely -regards material objects, and of which a spirit is quite independent, -just as our thoughts are, which can travel from here to -China, and back again, in a second of time.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Well, then, supposing this being to exist somewhere—and it -is not unreasonable to suppose that the souls of the inhabitants -of each planet continue to hover within the sphere of that planet, -to which, for anything we can tell, they may be attached by a -magnetic attraction—supposing it to find itself in space, free -of the body, endowed with the memory of the past, and consequently -with a consciousness of its own deserts, able to perceive -that which we do not ordinarily perceive, namely, those who -have passed into a similar state with itself—will it not naturally -seek its place among those spirits which most resemble itself, -and with whom, therefore, it must have the most affinity? On -earth, the good seek the good, and the wicked the wicked: and -the axiom that “like associates with like,” we can not doubt -will be as true hereafter as now. “In my Father’s house there -are many mansions,” and our intuitive sense of what is fit and -just must needs assure us that this is so. There are too many -degrees of moral worth and of moral unworth among mankind, -to permit of our supposing that justice could be satisfied by an -abrupt division into two opposite classes. On the contrary, -there must be infinite shades of desert; and, as we must consider -that that which a spirit enters into on leaving the body is -not so much a <span class='it'>place</span> as a <span class='it'>condition</span>, so there must be as many -degrees of happiness or suffering as there are individuals, each -carrying with him his own heaven or hell. For it is a vulgar -notion to imagine that heaven and hell are <span class='it'>places</span>; they are -states; and it is in ourselves we must look for both. When we -leave the body, we carry them with us: “As the tree falls, so -it shall lie.” The soul which here has wallowed in wickedness -or been sunk in sensuality, will not be suddenly purified by the -death of the body: its moral condition remains what its earthly -sojourn has trained it to, but its means of indulging its propensities -are lost. If it has had no godly aspirations here, it will -not be drawn to God there; and if it has so bound itself to the -body that it has known no happiness but that to which the body -ministered, it will be incapable of happiness when deprived of -that enjoyment. Here we see at once what a variety of conditions -must necessarily ensue—how many comparatively negative -states there must be between those of positive happiness -or positive misery!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We may thus conceive how a soul, on entering upon this -new condition, must find its own place or state; if its thoughts -and aspirations here have been heavenward, and its pursuits -noble, its conditions will be heavenly. The contemplation of -God’s works, seen not as by our mortal eyes, but in their -beauty and their truth and ever-glowing sentiments of love and -gratitude—and, for aught we know, good offices to souls in -need—would constitute a suitable heaven or happiness for such -a being; an incapacity for such pleasures, and the absence of -all others, would constitute a negative state, in which the chief -suffering would consist in mournful regrets and a vague longing -for something better, which the untrained soul, that never -lifted itself from the earth, knows not how to seek; while malignant -passions and unquenchable desires would constitute the -appropriate hell of the wicked; for we must remember, that -although a spirit is independent of those physical laws which -are the conditions of matter, the moral law, which is indestructible, -belongs peculiarly to it—that is, to the spirit—and is -inseparable from it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We must next remember, that this earthly body we inhabit -is more or less a mask, by means of which we conceal from -each other those thoughts which, if constantly exposed, would -unfit us for living in community; but when we die, this mask -falls away, and the truth shows nakedly: there is no more disguise; -we appear as we are—spirits of light, or spirits of darkness;—and -there can be no difficulty, I should think, in conceiving -this, since we know that even our present opaque and -comparatively inflexible features, in spite of all efforts to the -contrary, will be the index of the mind; and that the expression -of the face is gradually moulded to the fashion of the -thoughts. How much more must this be the case with the -fluent and diaphanous body which we expect is to succeed the -fleshly one!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Thus, I think, we have arrived at forming some conception -of the state that awaits us hereafter: the indestructible moral -law fixes our place or condition; affinity governs our associations; -and the mask under which we conceal ourselves having -fallen away, we appear to each other as we are;—and I must -here observe, that in this last circumstance must be comprised -one very important element of happiness or misery; for the -love of the pure spirits for each other will be for ever excited, -by simply beholding that beauty and brightness which will be -the inalienable expression of their goodness;—while the reverse -will be the case with the spirits of darkness; for no one -loves wickedness, in either themselves or others, however we -may practise it. We must also understand, that the words -“dark” and “light”—which, in this world of appearance, we -use metaphorically to express good and evil—must be understood -literally when speaking of that other world where everything -will be seen as it is. Goodness is truth, and truth is -light—and wickedness is falsehood, and falsehood is darkness; -and so it will be seen to be. Those who have not the light of -truth to guide them, will wander darkly through this valley of -the shadow of death; those in whom the light of goodness -shines will dwell in the light, which is inherent in themselves. -The former will be in the kingdom of darkness—the latter in -the kingdom of light. All the records existing of the blessed -spirits that have appeared, ancient or modern, exhibit them as -robed in light, while their anger or sorrow is symbolized by -their darkness. Now, there appears to me nothing incomprehensible -in this view of the future; on the contrary, it is the -only one which I ever found myself capable of conceiving or -reconciling with the justice and mercy of our Creator. He -does not punish us—we punish ourselves: we have built up a -heaven or a hell to our own liking, and we carry it with us. -The fire that for ever burns without consuming, is the fiery evil -in which we have chosen our part; and the heaven in which -we shall dwell, will be the heavenly peace which will dwell in -us. We are our own judges and our own chastisers. And -here I must say a few words on the subject of that apparently -(to us) preternatural memory which is developed under certain -circumstances, and to which I alluded in a former chapter. -Every one will have heard that persons who have been drowned -and recovered, have had—in what would have been their last -moments, if no means had been used to revive them—a strange -vision of the past, in which their whole life seemed to float before -them in review; and I have heard of the same phenomenon -taking place, in moments of impending death, in other forms. -Now, as it is not during the struggle for life, but immediately -before insensibility ensues, that this vision occurs, it must be -the act of a moment; and this renders incomprehensible to us -what is said by the seeress of Prevorst, and other somnambules -of the highest order, namely, that the instant the soul is freed -from the body, it sees its whole earthly career in a single sign: -it knows that it is good or evil, and pronounces its own sentence. -The extraordinary memory occasionally exhibited in -sickness, where the link between the soul and the body is probably -loosened, shows us an adumbration of this faculty.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But this self-pronounced sentence we are led to hope is not -final; nor does it seem consistent with the love and mercy of -God that it should be so. There must be few, indeed, who -leave this earth fit for heaven; for, although the immediate -frame of mind in which dissolution takes place is probably -very important, it is surely a pernicious error, encouraged by -jail chaplains and philanthropists, that a late repentance and a -few parting prayers can purify a soul sullied by years of wickedness. -Would we at once receive such a one into our intimate -communion and love? Should we not require time for -the stains of vice to be washed away and habits of virtue to be -formed? Assuredly we should! And how can we imagine -that the purity of heaven is to be sullied by that approximation -which the purity of earth would forbid? It would be cruel to -say, and irrational to think, that this late repentance is of no -avail; it is doubtless so far of avail, that the straining upward -and the heavenly aspirations of the parting soul are carried -with it, so that when it is free, instead of choosing the darkness -it will flee to as much light as is in itself, and be ready, through -the mercy of God and the ministering of brighter spirits, to -receive more. But in this case, as also in the innumerable instances -of those who die in what may be called a negative state, -the advance must be progressive; though, wherever the desire -exists, I must believe that this advance is possible. If not, -wherefore did Christ, after being “put to death in the flesh,” -go and “preach to the spirits in prison”? It would have -been a mockery to preach salvation to those who had no hope; -nor would they, having no hope, have listened to the preacher.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I think these views are at once cheering, encouraging, and -beautiful; and I can not but believe, that were they more generally -entertained and more intimately conceived, they would -be very beneficial in their effects. As I have said before, the -extremely vague notions people have of a future life prevent -the possibility of its exercising any great influence upon the -present. The picture, on one side, is too revolting and inconsistent -with our ideas of Divine goodness to be deliberately -accepted; while, with regard to the other, our feelings somewhat -resemble those of a little girl I once knew, who, being -told by her mother what was to be the reward of goodness if -she were so happy as to reach heaven, put her finger in her -eye and began to cry, exclaiming, “Oh, mamma, how tired -I shall be singing!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The question which will now naturally arise, and which I am -bound to answer, is, how have these views been formed? and -what is the authority for them? And the answer I have to make -will startle many minds when I say, that they have been gathered -from two sources; first and chiefly from the state in which -those spirits appear to be, and sometimes avow themselves to -be, who, after quitting the earth, return to it and make themselves -visible to the living; and, secondly, from the revelations -of numerous somnambules of the highest order, which entirely -conform in all cases, not only with the revelations of the dead, -but with each other. I do not mean to imply, when I say this, -that I consider the question finally settled as to whether somnambules -are really clear-seers or only visionaries; nor that I -have by any means established the fact that the dead do sometimes -actually return; but I am obliged to beg the question for -the moment, since, whether these sources be pure or impure, it -is from them the information has been collected. It is true -that these views are extremely conformable with those entertained -by Plato and his school of philosophers, and also with -those of the mystics of a later age; but the latter certainly, and -the former probably, built up their systems on the same foundation; -and I am very far from using the term <span class='it'>mystics</span> in the opprobrious, -or at least contemptuous, tone in which it has of late -years been uttered in this country; for, although abounding in -errors, as regarded the concrete, and although their want of an -inductive <span class='it'>methodology</span> led them constantly astray in the region -of the real, they were sublime teachers in that of the ideal; and -they seem to have been endowed with a wonderful insight into -this veiled department of our nature.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It may be here objected, that we only admire their insight, -because, being in entire ignorance of the subject of it, we -accept raving for revelation; and that no weight can be attached -to the conformity of later disclosures with theirs, since they -have no doubt been founded upon them. As to the ignorance, -it is admitted; and, simply looking at their views, as they stand, -they have nothing to support them but their sublimity and consistency; -but, as regards the value of the evidence afforded by -conformity, it rests on very different grounds; for the reporters -from whom we collect our intelligence are, with very few exceptions, -those of whom we may safely predicate, that they -were wholly unacquainted with the systems promulgated by the -Platonic philosophers, or the mystics either, nor, in most instances, -had ever heard of their names; for, as regards that peculiar -somnambulic state which is here referred to, the subjects of it -appear to be generally very young people of either sex, and -chiefly girls; and, as regards ghost-seeing, although this phenomenon -seems to have no connection with the age of the seer, -yet it is not usually from the learned or the cultivated that we -collect our cases, inasmuch as the apprehension of ridicule on -the one hand, and the fast hold the doctrine of spectral illusions -has taken of them on the other, prevent their believing in their -own senses, or producing any evidence they might have to -furnish.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>And here will be offered another subtle objection, namely, -that the testimony of such witnesses as I have above described -is perfectly worthless; but this I deny. The somnambulic -states I allude to, are such as have been developed, not artificially, -but naturally; and often, under very extraordinary nervous -diseases, accompanied with catalepsy, and various symptoms -far beyond feigning. Such cases are rare, and, in this -country, seem to have been very little observed, for doubtless -they must occur, and when they do occur they are very carefully -concealed by the families of the patient, and not followed -up or investigated as a psychological phenomenon by the physician; -for it is to be observed that, without questioning, no revelations -are made; they are not, as far as I know, ever spontaneous. -I have heard of two such cases in this country, both -occurring in the higher classes, and both patients being young -ladies; but, although surprising phenomena were exhibited, -interrogation was not permitted, and the particulars were never -allowed to transpire.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>No doubt there are examples of error and examples of imposture, -so there are in everything where room is to be found -for them; and I am quite aware of the propensity of hysterical -patients to deceive, but it is for the judicious observers to examine -the genuineness of each particular instance; and it is -perfectly certain and well established by the German physiologists -and psychologists, who have carefully studied the subject, -that there are many above all suspicion. Provided, then, that -the case be genuine, it remains to be determined how much -value is to be attached to the revelations, for they may be quite -honestly delivered, and yet be utterly worthless—the mere -ravings of a disordered brain; and it is here that conformity -becomes important, for I can not admit the objection that the -simple circumstance of the patients being diseased invalidates -their evidence so entirely as to annul even the value of their -unanimity, because, although it is not logically impossible that -a certain state of nervous derangement should occasion all somnambules, -of the class in question, to make similar answers, -when interrogated regarding a subject of which, in their normal -condition, they know nothing, and on which they have -never reflected, and that these answers should be not only consistent, -but disclosing far more elevated views than are evolved -by minds of a very superior order which <span class='it'>have</span> reflected on it -very deeply—I say, although this is not logically impossible, it -will assuredly be found, by most persons, an hypothesis of much -more difficult acceptance than the one I propose; namely, that -whatever be the cause of the effect, these patients are in a state -of clear-seeing, wherein they have “more than mortal knowledge;” -that is, more knowledge than mortals possess in their -normal condition: and it must not be forgotten, that we have -some facts confessed by all experienced physicians and physiologists, -even in this country, proving that there are states of disease -in which preternatural faculties have been developed, such -as no theory has yet satisfactorily accounted for.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But Dr. Passavent, who has written a very philosophical -work on the subject of vital magnetism and clear-seeing, asserts, -that it is an error to imagine that the ecstatic condition is merely -the product of disease. He says, that it has sometimes exhibited -itself in persons of very vigorous constitutions, instancing -Joan of Arc, a woman, whom historians have little understood, -and whose memory Voltaire’s detestable poem has ridiculed -and degraded, but who was, nevertheless, a great psychological -phenomenon.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The circumstance, too, that phenomena of this kind are more -frequently developed in women than in men, and that they are -merely the consequence of her greater nervous irritability, has -been made another objection to them—an objection, however, -which Dr. Passavent considers founded on ignorance of the essential -difference between the sexes, which is not merely a physical -but a psychological one. Man is more productive than receptive. -In a state of perfectibility, both attributes would be -equally developed in him; but in this terrestrial life, only imperfect -phases of the entire sum of the soul’s faculties are so. Mankind -are but children, male or female, young or old; of man, -in his totality, we have but faint adumbrations, here and there.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Thus the ecstatic woman will be more frequently a seer, instinctive -and intuitive; man, a doer and a worker; and as all -genius is a degree of ecstasy or clear-seeing, we perceive the -reason wherefore in man it is more productive than in woman, -and that our greatest poets and artists, in all kinds, are of the -former sex, and even the most remarkable women produce but -little in science or art; while on the other hand, the feminine -instinct, and tact, and intuitive seeing of truth, are frequently -more sure than the ripe and deliberate judgment of man; and -it is hence that solitude and such conditions as develop the passive -or receptive at the expense of the active, tend to produce -this state, and to assimilate the man more to the nature of the -woman; while in her they intensify these distinguishing characteristics; -and this is also the reason that simple and child-like -people and races are the most frequent subjects of these phenomena.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is only necessary to read Mozart’s account of his own moments -of inspiration, to comprehend not only the similarity, but -the positive identity, of the ecstatic state with the state of genius -in activity. “When all goes well with me,” he says—“when -I am in a carriage, or walking, or when I can not sleep -at night, the thoughts come streaming in upon me most fluently: -whence, or how, is more than I can tell. What comes, I hum to -myself as it proceeds. Then follow the counterpoint and the -clang of the different instruments; and, if I am not disturbed, -my soul is fixed, and the thing grows greater, and broader, and -clearer; and I have it all in my head, even when the piece is a -long one; and I see it like a beautiful picture—not hearing -the different parts in succession as they must be played, but the -whole at once. That is the delight! The composing and the -making is like a beautiful and vivid dream; but this hearing of -it is the best of all.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>What is this but clear-seeing, backward and forward, the -past and the future? The one faculty is not a whit more surprising -and incomprehensible than the other, to those who possess -neither; only we see the material product of one, and -therefore believe in it. But, as Passavent justly observes, these -coruscations belong not to genius exclusively—they are latent -in all men. In the highly-gifted this divine spark becomes a -flame to light the world withal; but even in the coarsest and -least-developed organizations, it may and does momentarily -break forth. The germ of the highest spiritual life is in the -rudest, according to its degree, as well as in the highest form -of man we have yet seen;—he is but a more imperfect type of -the race, in whom this spiritual germ has not unfolded itself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then, with respect to our second source of information, I am -quite aware that it is equally difficult to establish its validity; -but there are a few arguments in our favor here, too. In the -first place, as Dr. Johnson says, though all reason is against us, -all tradition is for us; and this conformity of tradition is surely -of some weight, since I think it would be difficult to find any -parallel instance of a universal tradition that was entirely without -a foundation in truth; for with respect to witchcraft, the -belief in which is equally universal, we now know that the -phenomena were generally facts, although the interpretations -put upon them were fables. It may certainly be objected that -this universal belief in ghosts only arises from the universal -prevalence of spectral illusions; but if so, as I have before observed, -these spectral illusions become a subject of very curious -inquiry; for, in the first place, they frequently occur under circumstances -the least likely to induce them, and to people whom -we should least expect to find the victims of them; and, in the -second, there is a most remarkable conformity here, too, not -only between the individual cases occurring among all classes -of persons, who had never exhibited the slightest tendency to -nervous derangement or somnambulism, but also between these -and the revelations of the somnambules. In short, it seems to -me that life is reduced to a mere phantasmagoria, if spectral -illusions are so prevalent, so complicated in their nature, and -so delusive as they must be if all the instances of ghost-seeing -that come before us are to be referred to that theory. How -numerous these are, I confess myself not to have had the least -idea, till my attention was directed to the inquiry; and that -these instances have been equally frequent in all periods and -places we can not doubt, from the variety of persons that have -given in their adhesion, or at least that have admitted, as Addison -did, that he could not refuse the universal testimony in -favor of the reappearance of the dead, strengthened by that of -many credible persons with whom he was acquainted. Indeed, -the testimony in favor of the facts has been at all periods too -strong to be wholly rejected; so that even the materialists, like -Lucretius and the elder Pliny, find themselves obliged to acknowledge -them; while, on the other hand, the extravagant -admissions that are demanded of us by those who endeavor to -explain them away, prove that their disbelief rests on no more -solid foundation than their own prejudices. I acknowledge all -the difficulty of establishing the facts—such difficulties as indeed -encompass few other branches of inquiry; but I maintain -that the position of the opponents is still worse, although, by -their high tone and contemptuous laugh, they assume to have -taken up one that, being fortified by reason, is quite impregnable, -forgetting that the wisdom of man is pre-eminently -“foolishness before God,” when it wanders into this region of -unknown things;—forgetting, also, that they are just serving -this branch of inquiry, as their predecessors, whom they laughed -at, did physiology; concocting their systems out of their own -brains, instead of the responses of nature—and with still more -rashness and presumption, this department of her kingdom being -more inaccessible, more incapable of demonstration, and -more entirely beyond our control; for these spirits will not -“come when we do call them;”—and I confess it often surprises -me to hear the very shallow nonsense that very clever -men talk upon the subject, and the inefficient arguments they -use to disprove what they know nothing about. I am quite conscious -that the facts I shall adduce are open to controversy: I -can bring forward no evidence that will satisfy a scientific mind; -but neither are my opponents a whit better fortified. All I do -hope to establish is, not a proof, but a presumption; and the -conviction I desire to awaken in people’s minds is, not that -these things <span class='it'>are</span> so, but that they <span class='it'>may be</span> so, and that it is well -worth our while to inquire whether they are or not.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It will be seen that these views of a future state are extremely -similar to those of Isaac Taylor, as suggested in his -physical theory of another life—at least, as far as he has entered -upon the subject;—and it is natural that they should be -so, because he seems also to have been a convert to the opinion -that “the dead do sometimes break through the boundaries -that hem in the ethereal crowds; and if so, as if by trespass, -may in single instances infringe upon the ground of common -corporeal life.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Let us now fancy this dispossessed soul entering on its new -career, amazed, and no more able than when it was in the body to -accommodate itself at once to conditions of existence for which -it was unprepared. If its aspirations had previously been -heavenward, these conditions would not be altogether new, and -it would speedily find itself at home in a sphere in which it had -dwelt before; for, as I have formerly said, a spirit must be -where its thoughts and affections are, and the soul, whose -thoughts and affections had been directed to heaven, would -only awaken after death into a more perfect and unclouded -heaven. But imagine the contrary of all this. Conceive what -this awakening must be to an earth-bound spirit—to one altogether -unprepared for its new home—carrying no light within -it—floating in the dim obscure—clinging to the earth, where -all its affections were garnered up: for where its treasure is, -there shall it be also. It will find its condition evil, more or -less, according to the degree of its moral light or darkness, and -in proportion to the amount of the darkness will be its incapacity -to seek for light. Now, there seems nothing offensive -to our notions of the Divine goodness in this conception of what -awaits us when the body dies. It appears to me, on the contrary, -to offer a more comprehensible and coherent view than -any other that has been presented to me; yet the state I have -depicted is very much the hades of the Greeks and Romans. -It is the middle state, on which all souls enter—a state -in which there are many mansions; that is, there are innumerable -states—probably not permanent, but ever progressive or -retrograde; for we can not conceive of any moral state being -permanent, since we know perfectly well that ours is never so; -it is always advancing or retroceding. When we are not improving, -we are deteriorating; and so it must necessarily be -with us hereafter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, if we admit the probability of this middle state, we -have removed one of the great objections which are made to -the belief in the reappearance of the dead: namely, that the -blest are too happy to return to the earth, and that the wicked -have it not in their power to do so. This difficulty arises, -however, very much from the material ideas entertained of -heaven and hell—the notion that they are places instead of -states. I am told that the Greek word <span class='it'>hades</span> is derived from -<span class='it'>æides</span>, <span class='it'>invisible</span>; and that the Hebrew word <span class='it'>scheôl</span>, which has -the same signification, also implies a state, not a place, since it -may be interpreted into <span class='it'>desiring</span>, <span class='it'>longing</span>, <span class='it'>asking</span>, <span class='it'>praying</span>. -These words in the Septuagint are translated <span class='it'>grave</span>, <span class='it'>death</span>, and -<span class='it'>hell</span>; but previously to the Reformation they seem to have -borne their original meaning—that is, the state into which the -soul entered at the death of the body. It was probably to get -rid of the purgatory of the Roman Church, which had doubtless -become the source of many absurd notions and corrupt -practices, that the doctrine of a middle state or hades was set -aside: besides which, the honest desire for reformation, in all -reforming churches, being alloyed by the <span class='it'>odium theologicum</span>, -the purifying besom is apt to take too discursive a sweep, exercising -less modesty and discrimination than might be desirable, and -thus not uncommonly wiping away truth and falsehood together.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dismissing the idea, therefore, that heaven and hell are -places in which the soul is imprisoned, whether in bliss or woe, -and supposing that, by a magnetic relation, it may remain connected -with the sphere to which it previously belonged, we -may easily conceive that, if it have the memory of the past, the -more entirely sensuous its life in the body may have been, the -closer it will cling to the scene of its former joys; or even if its -sojourn on earth were not a period of joy, but the contrary, -still, if it have no heavenward aspirations, it will find itself, if -not in actual wo, yet aimless, objectless, and out of a congenial -element. It has no longer the organs whereby it perceived, -communicated with, and enjoyed, the material world and its -pleasures. The joys of heaven are not its joys; we might as -well expect a hardened prisoner in Newgate, associating with -others as hardened as himself, to melt into ecstatic delight at the -idea of that which he can not apprehend! How helpless and -inefficient such a condition seems! and how natural it is to us -to imagine that, under such circumstances, there might be -awakened a considerable desire to manifest itself to those yet -living in the flesh, if such a manifestation be possible! And -what right have we, in direct contradiction to all tradition, to -assert that it is not? We may raise up a variety of objections -from physical science, but we can not be sure that these are -applicable to the case; and of the laws of spirit we know very -little, since we are only acquainted with it as circumscribed, -confined, and impeded, in its operations, by the body; and -whenever such abnormal states occur as enable it to act with -any degree of independence, man, under the dominion of his -all-sufficient reason, denies and disowns the facts.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That the manifestation of a spirit to the living, whether seen -or heard, is an exception, and not the rule, is evident; for, supposing -the desire to exist at all, it must exist in millions and -millions of instances which never take effect. The circumstances -must therefore no doubt be very peculiar, as regards -both parties in which such a manifestation is possible. What -these are, we have very little means of knowing; but, as far as -we do know, we are led to conclude that a certain magnetic -rapport or polarity constitutes this condition, while, at the same -time, as regards the seer, there must be what the prophet called -the “opening of the eye,” which may perhaps signify the seeing -of the spirit without the aid of the bodily organ—a condition -which may temporarily occur to any one under we know not -what influence, but which seems, to a certain degree, hereditary -in some families.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The following passage is quoted from Sir William Hamilton’s -edition of Dr. Reid’s works, published in 1846:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No man can show it to be impossible to the Supreme Being -to have given us the power of perceiving external objects, without -any such organs”—that is, our organs of sense. “We -have reason to believe that when we put off these bodies, and -all the organs belonging to them, our perceptive powers shall -rather be improved than destroyed or impaired. We have -reason to believe that the Supreme Being perceives everything -in a much more perfect manner than we do, without bodily -organs. We have reason to believe that there are other created -beings endowed with powers of perception more perfect -and more extensive than ours, without any such organs as we -find necessary;” and Sir William Hamilton adds the following -note:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“However astonishing, it is now proved beyond all rational -doubt that in certain abnormal states of the nervous organism, -perceptions are possible through other than the ordinary channels -of the sense.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Of the existence of this faculty in nature, any one, who -chooses, may satisfy himself by a very moderate degree of -trouble, provided he undertake the investigation honestly; and -this being granted, another objection, if not altogether removed, -is considerably weakened. I allude to the fact that, in numerous -reported cases of ghost-seeing, the forms were visible to only -one person, even though others were present, which, of course, -rendered them undistinguishable from cases of spectral illusion, -and indeed unless some additional evidence be afforded, they -must remain so still, only we have gained thus much, that this -objection is no longer unanswerable; for whether the phenomenon -is to be referred to a mutual rapport, or to the opening -of the spiritual eye, we comprehend how one may see what -others do not. But really, if the seeing depended upon ordinary -vision, I can not perceive that the difficulty is insurmountable; -for we perfectly well know that some people are endowed -with an acuteness of sense, or power of perception, which is -utterly incomprehensible to others; for, without entering into -the disputed region of clear-seeing, everybody must have met -with instances of those strange antipathies to certain objects, -accompanied by an extraordinary capacity for perceiving their -presence, which remain utterly unexplained. Not to speak of -cats and hares, where some electrical effects might be conceived, -I lately heard of a gentleman who fainted if he were introduced -into a room where there was a raspberry tart; and that there -have been persons endowed with a faculty for discovering the -proximity of water and metals, even without the aid of the divining -rod—which latter marvel seems to be now clearly established -as an electrical phenomenon—will scarcely admit of -further doubt.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A very eminent person, with whom I am acquainted, possessing -extremely acute olfactory powers, is the subject of one -single exception. He is insensible to the odor of a beanfield, -however potent: but it would surely be very absurd in him -to deny that the beanfield emits an odor, and the evidence of -the majority against him is too strong to admit of his doing -so.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, we have only the evidence of a minority with regard to -the existence of certain faculties not generally developed, but -surely it argues great presumption to dispute their possibility. -We might, I think, with more appearance of reason, insist upon -it that my friend <span class='it'>must</span> be mistaken, and that he does smell the -beanfield, for we have the majority against him there most decidedly. -The difference is, that nobody cares whether the odor -of the beanfield is perceptible or not: but if the same gentleman -asserted that he had seen a ghost, beyond all doubt his -word would be disputed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Though we do not know what the conditions are that develop -the faculty of what St. Paul calls the discerning of spirits, -there is reason to believe that the approach of death is one. I -have heard of too many instances of this kind, where the departing -person has been in the entire possession of his or her faculties, -to doubt that in our last moments we are frequently visited -by those who have gone before us; and it being admitted by all -physiologists that preternatural faculties are sometimes exhibited -at this period, we can have no right to say that “the discerning -of spirits” is not one of them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There is an interesting story recorded by Beaumont, in his -“World of Spirits,” and quoted by Dr. Hibbert with the remark -that no reasonable doubt can be placed on the authenticity of -the narrative, as it was drawn up by the bishop of Gloucester -from the recital of the young lady’s father; and I mention it -here, not for any singularity attending it, but first, because its -authenticity is admitted, and next, on account of the manner in -which—so much being granted—the fact is attempted to be -explained away:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Sir Charles Lee, by his first lady, had only one daughter, -of which she died in childbirth; and when she was dead, her -sister, the Lady Everard, desired to have the education of the -child, and she was very well educated till she was marriageable, -and a match was concluded for her with Sir W. Parkins, but -was then prevented in an extraordinary manner. Upon a -Thursday night, she thinking she saw a light in her chamber -after she was in bed, knocked for her maid, who presently -came to her, and she asked why she left a candle burning in -her room. The maid answered that she had left none, and that -there was none but what she had brought with her at that time. -‘Then,’ she said, ‘it must be the fire;’ but that, her maid told -her, was quite out, adding she believed it was only a dream, -whereupon Miss Lee answered that it might be so, and composed -herself again to sleep. But, about two of the clock, she -was awakened again, and saw the apparition of a little woman -between her curtains and her pillow, who told her she was her -mother, that she was happy, and that, by twelve of the clock -that day, she should be with her. Whereupon, she knocked -again for her maid, called for her clothes, and when she was -dressed, went into her closet, and came not out again till nine, -and then brought out with her a letter, sealed, to her father, -carried it to her aunt, the Lady Everard, told her what had happened, -and desired that as soon as she was dead it might be -sent to him. The lady thought she was suddenly fallen mad, -and therefore sent presently away to Chelmsford for a physician -and surgeon, who both came immediately, but the physician -could discern no indication of what the lady imagined, or -of any indisposition of her body; notwithstanding, the lady -would needs have her let blood, which was done accordingly; -and when the young woman had patiently let them do what -they would with her, she desired that the chaplain might be -called to read prayers; and when the prayers were ended, she -took her guitar and psalm-book, and sat down upon a chair -without arms, and played and sung so melodiously and admirably, -that her music-master, who was then there, admired at it. -And near the stroke of twelve, she rose and sat herself down -in a great chair with arms, and presently fetching a strong -breathing or two, she immediately expired, and was so suddenly -cold as was much wondered at by the physician and surgeon. -She died at Waltham, in Essex, three miles from -Chelmsford, and the letter was sent to Sir Charles, at his house -in Warwickshire; but he was so afflicted at the death of his -daughter, that he came not till she was buried; but when he -came, he caused her to be taken up, and to be buried with her -mother, at Edmonton, as she desired in her letter.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This circumstance occurred in the year 1662, and is, as Dr. -Hibbert observes, “one of the most interesting ghost-stories on -record;” yet he insists on placing it under the category of spectral -illusions, upon the plea that, let the physician (whose skill -he arraigns) say what he would, her death within so short a -period proves that she must have been indisposed at the time -she saw the vision, and that probably “the languishing female -herself might have unintentionally contributed to the more strict -verification of the ghost’s prediction,” concluding with these -words: “All that can be said of it is, that the coincidence was -a <span class='it'>fortunate one</span>; for, without it, the story would probably never -have met with a recorder,” &c., &c.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, I ask if this is a fair way of treating any fact, transmitted -to us on authority which the objector himself admits to be -perfectly satisfactory—more especially as the assistants on the -occasion appear to have been quite as unwilling to believe in -the <span class='it'>supernatural</span> interpretation of it as Dr. Hibbert could have -been himself, had he been present; for what more could he -have done than conclude the young lady to be mad, and bled -her?—a line of practice which is precisely what would be followed -at the present time, and which proves that they were -very well aware of the sensuous illusions produced by a disordered -state of the nervous system; and with respect to his -conclusion that the “languishing female” contributed to the -verification of the prediction, we are entitled to ask, where is -the proof that she was languishing? A very clever watchmaker -once told me that a watch may go perfectly well for years, -and at length stop suddenly, in consequence of an organic defect -in its construction, which only becomes perceptible, even -to the eye of a watchmaker, when this effect takes place; and -we do know that many persons have suddenly fallen dead immediately -after declaring themselves in the best possible health: -and we have therefore no right to dispute what the narrator -implies, namely, that there were no sensible indications of the -impending catastrophe.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was either some organic defect or derangement in this -lady’s physical economy, which rendered her death inevitable -at the hour of noon, on that particular Thursday, or there was -not. If there was, and her certain death was impending at that -hour, how came she acquainted with the fact? Surely it is a -monstrous assumption to say that it was “a fortunate coincidence,” -when no reason whatever is given us for concluding -that she felt otherwise than perfectly well! If, on the contrary, -we are to take refuge in the supposition that there was no death -impending, and that she only died of the fright, how came she—feeling -perfectly well, and, in this case, we have a right to -conclude <span class='it'>being</span> perfectly well—to be the subject of such an -extraordinary spectral illusion? And if such spectral illusions -can occur to people in a good normal state of health, does it -not become very desirable to give us some clearer theory of -them than we have at present?</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But there is a third presumption to which the skeptical may -have recourse, in order to get rid of this well-established, and -therefore very troublesome fact, namely, that Miss Lee <span class='it'>was</span> ill, -although unconscious of it herself, and indicating no symptoms -that could guide her physician to an enlightened diagnosis; and -that the proof of this is to be found in the occurrence of the -spectral illusion; and that this spectral illusion so impressed her -that it occasioned the precise fulfilment of the imaginary prediction—an -hypothesis which appears to me to be pressing very -hard on the spectral illusion; for it is first called upon to -establish the fact of an existing indisposition of no slight character, -of which neither patient nor physician was aware, and -it is next required to kill the lady with unerring certainty, at -the hour appointed, she being, according to the only authority -we have for the story, in a perfectly calm and composed state -of mind! for there is nothing to be discerned in the description -of her demeanor but an entire and willing submission to the -announced decree, accompanied by that pleasing exaltation, -which appears to me perfectly natural under the circumstances; -and I do not think that anything we know of human -vitality can justify us in believing that life can be so easily extinguished. -But to such straits people are reduced, who write -with a predetermination to place their facts on a Procrustean -bed till they have fitted them into their own cherished theory.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the above-recorded case of Miss Lee, the motive for the -visit is a sufficient one; but one of the commonest objections to -such narrations, is the insignificance of the motive when any -communication is made, or there being apparently no motive -at all, when none is made. Where any previous attachment -has subsisted, we need seek no further for an impelling cause; -but in other cases this impelling cause must probably be sought -in the earthly rapport still subsisting and the urgent desire -of the spirit to manifest itself and establish a communication -where its thoughts and affections still reside; and we must consider -that, provided there be no law of God prohibiting its -revisiting the earth, which law would of course supersede all -other laws, then, as I have before observed, where its thoughts -and affections are it must be also. What is it but our heavy -material bodies that prevents us from being where our thoughts -are? But the being near us, and the manifesting itself to us, -are two very different things, the latter evidently depending on -conditions we do not yet understand.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As I am not writing a book on vital magnetism, and there are -so many already accessible to everybody who chooses to be -informed on it, I shall not here enter into the subject of <span class='it'>magnetic -rapport</span>, it being, I believe, now generally admitted, except -by the most obstinate skeptics, that such a relation can be -established between two human beings. In what this relation -consists, is a more difficult question, but the most rational view -appears to be that of a magnetic polarity, which is attempted to -be explained by two theories—the dynamical and the ethereal, -the one viewing the phenomena as simply the result of the -transmission of forces, the other hypothetizing an ether which -pervades all space and penetrates all substance, maintaining the -connection between body and soul, and between matter and -spirit. To most minds this latter hypothesis will be the most -comprehensible; on which account, since the result would be -the same in either case, we may adopt for the moment; and -there will then be less difficulty in conceiving that the influence -or ether of every being or thing, animate or inanimate, must -extend beyond the periphery of its own terminations: and that -this must be eminently the case where there is animal life, the -nerves forming the readiest conductors for this supposed imponderable. -The proofs of the existence of this ether are said -to be manifold, and more especially to be found in the circumstances -that every created thing sheds an atmosphere around it, -after its kind; this atmosphere becoming, under certain conditions, -perceptible or even visible, as in the instances of -electric fish, &c., the fascinations of serpents, the influence of -human beings upon plants, and <span class='it'>vice versa</span>; and finally, the phenomena -of animal magnetism, and the undoubted fact, to which -I myself can bear witness, that the most ignorant girls, when in -a state of somnambulism, have been known to declare that they -saw their magnetiser surrounded by a halo of light; and it -is doubtless this halo of light, that, from their being strongly -magnetic men, has frequently been observed to surround the -heads of saints and eminently holy persons: the temperament -that produced the internal fervor, causing the visible manifestation -of it. By means of this ether, or force, a never-ceasing -motion and an inter-communication are sustained between all created -things, and between created things and their Creator, who -sustains them and creates them ever anew, by the constant exertion -of his Divine will, of which this is the messenger and the -agent as it is between our will and our own bodies; and without -this sustaining will, so exerted, the whole would fall away, -dissolve, and die; for it is the life of the universe. That all inanimate -objects emit an influence, greater or less, extending -beyond their own peripheries, is established by their effects on -various susceptible individuals, as well as on somnambules; -and thus there exist a universal polarity and rapport, which are -however stronger between certain organisms; and every being -stands in a varying relation of positive and negative to every -other.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With regard to these theories, however, where there is so -much obscurity even in the language, I do not wish to insist; -more especially as I am fully aware that this subject may be -discussed in a manner much more congruous with the dynamical -spirit of the philosophy of this century: but, in the meanwhile, -as either of the causes alluded to is capable of producing -the effects, we adopt the hypothesis of an all-pervading ether -as the one most easily conceived.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Admitting this, then, to be the case, we begin to have some -notion of the <span class='it'>modus operandi</span> by which a spirit may manifest -itself to us, whether to our internal universal sense, or even to -our sensuous organs; and we also find one stumbling-block -removed out of our way, namely, that it shall be visible or even -audible to one person and not to another, or at one time and -not at another; for by means of this ether, or force, we are in -communication with all spirit, as well as with all matter; and -since it is the vehicle of will, a strong exertion of will may reinforce -its influence to a degree far beyond our ordinary conceptions: -but man is not acquainted with his own power, and has, -consequently, no faith in his own will: nor is it probably the -design of Providence, in ordinary cases, that he should. He -can not therefore exert it; if he could, he “might remove -mountains.” Even as it is, we know something of the power -of will in its effect on other organisms, as exhibited by certain -strong-willed individuals; also in popular movements; and -more manifestly in the influence and far-working of the magnetizer -on his patient. The power of will, like the seeing of -the spirit, is latent in our nature, to be developed in God’s own -time; but meanwhile, slight examples are found, shooting up -here and there, to keep alive in man the consciousness that he -is a spirit, and give evidence of his Divine origin.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>What especial laws may appertain to this supersensuous domain -of nature, of course we can not know, and it is therefore -impossible for us to pronounce how far a spirit is free, or not -free, at all times to manifest itself; and we can, therefore, at -present, advance no reason for these manifestations not being -the rule instead of the exception. The law which restrains -more frequent intercourse may, for anything we know to the -contrary, have its relaxations and its limitations, founded in -nature; and a rapport with, or the power of acting on, particular -individuals, may arise from causes of which we are equally -ignorant. Undoubtedly, the receptivity of the corporeal being -is one of the necessary conditions, while, on the part of the incorporeal, -the will is at once the cause and the agent that produces -the effect; while attachment, whether to individuals or -to the lost joys of this world, is the motive. The happy spirits -in whom this latter impulse is weak, and who would float away -into the glorious light of the pure moral law, would have little -temptation to return, and at least would only be brought back -by their holy affections, or desire to serve mankind. The less -happy, clinging to their dear corporeal life, would hover nearer -to the earth; and I do question much whether the often-ridiculed -idea of the mystics, that there is a moral <span class='it'>weight</span>, as well -as a moral <span class='it'>darkness</span>, be not founded in truth. We know very -well that even these substantial bodies of ours are, to our own -sensations (and, very possibly, if the thing could be tested, would -prove to be in fact), lighter or heavier, according to the lightness -or heaviness of the spirit—terms used figuratively, but -perhaps capable of a literal interpretation; and thus the common -idea of <span class='it'>up</span> and <span class='it'>down</span>, as applied to heaven or hell, is -founded in truth, though not mathematically correct, we familiarly -using the words <span class='it'>up</span> and <span class='it'>down</span> to express <span class='it'>farther</span> or -<span class='it'>nearer</span>, as regards the planet on which we live.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Experience seems to justify this view of the case; for, -supposing the phenomena I am treating of to be facts, and -not spectral illusions, all tradition shows that the spirits most -frequently manifested to man have been evidently not in a -state of bliss; while, when bright ones appeared it has been -to serve him; and hence the old persuasion, that they were -chiefly the wicked that haunted the earth, and hence, also, the -foundation for the belief that not only the murderer but the -murdered returned to vex the living, and the just view, that in -taking away life the injury is not confined to the body, but -extends to the surprised and angry soul, which is—</p> - - - <div class='poetry-container' style=''> - <div class='lgp'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<div class='stanza-outer'> -<p class='line0'>“Cut off, even in the blossom of its sin,</p> -<p class='line0'>Unhouselled, disappointed, unaneled;</p> -<p class='line0'>No reckoning made, but sent to its account</p> -<p class='line0'>With all its imperfections on its head.”</p> -</div> -</div></div> <!-- end poetry block --><!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>It seems also to be gathered from experience, that those -whose lives have been rendered wretched, “rest not in their -graves;” at least, several accounts I have met with, as well as -tradition, countenance this view; and this may originate in the -fact that cruelty and ill-usage frequently produce very pernicious -effects on the mind of the sufferer, in many instances -inspiring, not resignation or a pious desire for death, but resentment, -and an eager longing for a fair share of earthly enjoyment. -Supposing, also, the feelings and prejudices of the -earthly life to accompany this dispossessed soul—for, though -the liberation from the body inducts it into certain privileges -inherent in spirit, its moral qualities remain as they were (“as -the tree falls, so it shall lie”)—supposing, therefore, that these -feelings, and prejudices, and recollections, of its past life, are -carried with it, we see at once why the discontented spirits of -the heathen world could not rest till their bodies had obtained -sepulture, why the buried money should torment the soul of -the miser, and why the religious opinions, whatever they may -have been, believed in the flesh, seem to survive with the spirit. -There are two remarkable exceptions, however, and these are -precisely such as might be expected. Those who, during their -corporeal life, have not believed in a future state, return to -warn their friends against the same error. “There is another -world!” said the brother of the young lady who appeared to -her in the cathedral of York, on the day he was drowned; and -there are several similar instances recorded. The belief that -this life “is the be-all and the end-all here,” is a mistake that -death must instantly rectify. The other exception I allude to -is, that that toleration, of which, unfortunately, we see much less -than is desirable in this world, seems happily to prevail in the -next; for, among the numerous narrations I meet with, in which -the dead have returned to ask the prayers or the services of the -living, they do not seem, as will be seen by-and-by, to apply by -any means exclusively to members of their own church. The -<span class='it'>attrait</span> which seems to guide their selection of individuals is -evidently not of a polemical nature. The pure worship of God, -and the inexorable moral law, are what seem to prevail in the -other world, and not the dogmatic theology which makes so -much of the misery of this.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There is a fundamental truth in all religions: the real end -of all is morality, however the means may be mistaken, and -however corrupt, selfish, ambitious, and sectarian, the mass of -their teachers may and generally do become; while the effect -of prayer—in whatever form, or to whatever ideal of the Deity -it may be offered, provided that offering be honestly and earnestly -made—is precisely the same to the supplicant and in its -results.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I have reserved the following story, which is not a fiction, -but the relation of an undoubted and well-attested fact, till the -present chapter, as being particularly applicable to this branch -of my subject:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Some ninety years ago, there flourished in Glasgow a club -of young men, which, from the extreme profligacy of its members, -and the licentiousness of their orgies, was commonly called -the “Hell-Club!” Besides their nightly or weekly meetings, -they held one grand annual saturnalia, in which each tried to -excel the other in drunkenness and blasphemy; and on these -occasions there was no star among them whose lurid light was -more conspicuous than that of young Mr. Archibald B——, -who, endowed with brilliant talents and a handsome person, -had held out great promise in his boyhood, and raised hopes, -which had been completely frustrated by his subsequent reckless -dissipations.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One morning, after returning from this annual festival, Mr. -Archibald B—— having retired to bed, dreamed the following -dream:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He fancied that he himself was mounted on a favorite black -horse, that he always rode, and that he was proceeding toward -his own house—then a country-seat embowered by trees, and -situated upon a hill, now entirely built over, and forming part -of the city—when a stranger, whom the darkness of night prevented -his distinctly discerning, suddenly seized his horse’s rein, -saying, “You must go with me!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And who are you?” exclaimed the young man, with a volley -of oaths, while he struggled to free himself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That you will see by-and-by!” returned the other, in a tone -that excited unaccountable terror in the youth, who, plunging -his spurs into his horse, attempted to fly. But in vain: however -fast the animal flew, the stranger was still beside him, till -at length, in his desperate efforts to escape, the rider was -thrown; but instead of being dashed to the earth, as he expected, -he found himself falling—falling—falling still, as if -sinking into the bowels of the earth.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At length, a period being put to this mysterious descent, he -found breath to inquire of his companion, who was still beside -him, whither they were going: “Where am I? where are you -taking me?” he exclaimed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“To hell!” replied the stranger, and immediately interminable -echoes repeated the fearful sound, “To hell!—to hell!—to -hell!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At length a light appeared, which soon increased to a blaze; -but, instead of the cries, and groans, and lamentings, which the -terrified traveller expected, nothing met his ear but sounds of -music, mirth, and jollity; and he found himself at the entrance -of a superb building, far exceeding any he had seen constructed -by human hands. Within, too, what a scene! No amusement, -employment, or pursuit of man on earth, but was here being -carried on with a vehemence that excited his unutterable amazement. -“There the young and lovely still swam through the -mazes of the giddy dance! There the panting steed still bore -his brutal rider through the excitements of the goaded race! -There, over the midnight bowl, the intemperate still drawled -out the wanton song or maudlin blasphemy! The gambler -plied for ever his endless game, and the slaves of Mammon -toiled through eternity their bitter task; while all the magnificence -of earth paled before that which now met his view!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He soon perceived that he was among old acquaintances, -whom he knew to be dead, and each he observed was pursuing -the object, whatever it was, that had formerly engrossed him; -when, finding himself relieved of the presence of his unwelcome -conductor, he ventured to address his former friend Mrs. D——, -whom he saw sitting, as had been her wont on earth, absorbed -at loo, requesting her to rest from the game, and introduce him -to the pleasures of the place, which appeared to him to be very -unlike what he had expected, and, indeed, an extremely agreeable -one. But, with a cry of agony, she answered that there -was no rest in hell; that they must ever toil on at those very -pleasures: and innumerable voices echoed through the interminable -vaults, “There is no rest in hell!”—while, throwing open -their vests, each disclosed in his bosom an ever-burning flame! -These, they said, were the pleasures of hell: their choice on -earth was now their inevitable doom! In the midst of the -horror this scene inspired, his conductor returned, and at his -earnest entreaty, restored him again to earth; but, as he quitted -him, he said, “Remember!—in a year and a day we meet -again!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At this crisis of his dream, the sleeper awoke, feverish and -ill; and, whether from the effect of his dream, or of his preceding -orgies, he was so unwell as to be obliged to keep his bed -for several days, during which period he had time for many -serious reflections, which terminated in a resolution to abandon -the club and his licentious companions altogether.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He was no sooner well, however, than they flocked around -him, bent on recovering so valuable a member of their society; -and having wrung from him a confession of the cause of his -defection, which, as may be supposed, appeared to them eminently -ridiculous, they soon contrived to make him ashamed of -his good resolutions. He joined them again, resumed his former -course of life, and when the annual saturnalia came round, -he found himself with his glass in his hand at the table—when -the president, rising to make the accustomed speech, began -with saying, “Gentlemen, this being leap-year, it is a year and -a day since our last anniversary,” &c., &c. The words struck -upon the young man’s ear like a knell; but, ashamed to expose -his weakness to the jeers of his companions, he sat out the feast, -plying himself with wine even more liberally than usual, in -order to drown his intrusive thoughts; till, in the gloom of a -winter’s morning, he mounted his horse to ride home. Some -hours afterward, the horse was found, with his saddle and bridle -on, quietly grazing by the roadside, about half way between the -city and Mr. B——’s house; while, a few yards off, lay the -corpse of his master!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, as I have said in introducing this story, it is no fiction: -the circumstance happened as here related. An account of it -was published at the time, but the copies were bought up by -the family. Two or three, however, were preserved, and the -narrative has been reprinted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The dream is evidently of a symbolical character, and accords -in a very remarkable degree with the conclusions to be drawn -from the sources I have above indicated. The interpretation -seems to be, that the evil passions and criminal pursuits which -have been indulged in here, become our curse hereafter. I do -not mean to imply that the ordinary amusements of life are -criminal—far from it. There is no harm in dancing, nor in -playing at loo either; but if people make these things the whole -business of their lives, and think of nothing else, cultivating no -higher tastes, nor forming no higher aspirations, what sort of -preparation are they making for another world? I can hardly -imagine that anybody would wish to be doing these things to -all eternity, the more especially that it is most frequently <span class='it'>ennui</span> -that drives their votaries into excesses, even here; but if they -have allowed their minds to be entirely absorbed in such frivolities -and trivialities, surely they can not expect that God will, -by a miracle, suddenly obliterate these tastes and inclinations, -and inspire them with others better suited to their new condition! -It was their business to do that for themselves, while -here; and such a process of preparation is not in the slightest -degree inconsistent with the enjoyment of all manner of harmless -pleasures; on the contrary, it gives the greatest zest to -them; for a life, in which there is nothing serious—in which -all is play and diversion—is, beyond doubt, next to a life of -active, persevering wickedness, the saddest thing under the -sun! But let everybody remember that we see in nature no -violent transitions; everything advances by almost insensible -steps—at least everything that is to endure: and therefore to -expect that because they have quitted their fleshly bodies, which -they always knew were but a temporary appurtenance, doomed -to perish and decay, they themselves are to undergo a sudden -and miraculous conversion and purification, which is to elevate -them into fit companions for the angels of heaven, and the -blessed that have passed away, is surely one of the most inconsistent, -unreasonable, and pernicious errors, that mankind ever -indulged in!</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='238' id='Page_238'></span><h1>CHAPTER XI.</h1></div> - -<h3>THE POWER OF WILL.</h3> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>The</span> power, be it what it may, whether of dressing up an -ethereal visible form, or of acting on the constructive imagination -of the seer, which would enable a spirit to appear “in his -habit as he lived,” would also enable him to present any other -object to the eye of the seer, or himself in any shape, or fulfilling -any function he willed; and we thus find in various instances, -especially those recorded in the Seeress of Prevorst, -that this is the case. We not only see changes of dress, but -we see books, pens, writing materials, &c., in their hands; and -we find a great variety of sounds imitated—which sounds are -frequently heard, not only by those who have the faculty of -“discerning of spirits,” as St. Paul says, but also by every other -person on the spot, for the hearing these sounds does not seem -to depend on any particular faculty on the part of the auditor, -except it be in the case of speech. The hearing the speech of -a spirit, on the contrary, appears in most instances to be dependent -on the same conditions as the seeing it, which may -possibly arise from there being, in fact, no <span class='it'>audible</span> voice at all, -but the same sort of spiritual communication which exists between -a magnetizer and his patient, wherein the sense is conveyed -without words.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This imitating of sounds I shall give several instances of in a -future chapter. It is one way in which a death is frequently -indicated. I could quote a number of examples of this description, -but shall confine myself to two or three.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mrs. D——, being one night in her kitchen, preparing to go -to bed, after the house was shut up and the rest of the family -retired, was startled by hearing a foot coming along the passage, -which she recognised distinctly to be that of her father, -who she was quite certain was not in the house. It advanced -to the kitchen-door, and she waited with alarm to see if the -door was to open; but it did not, and she heard nothing more. -On the following day, she found that her father had died at that -time; and it was from her niece I heard the circumstance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A Mr. J—— S——, belonging to a highly respectable family, -with whom I am acquainted, having been for some time in declining -health, was sent abroad for change of air. During his -absence, one of his sisters, having been lately confined, an old -servant of the family was sitting half asleep in an arm-chair, in -a room adjoining that in which the lady slept, when she was -startled by hearing the foot of Mr. J—— S—— ascending the -stairs. It was easily recognisable, for, owing to his constant -confinement to the house, in consequence of his infirm health, -his shoes were always so dry that their creaking was heard from -one end of the house to the other. So far surprised out of her -recollection as to forget he was not in the country, the good -woman started up, and, rushing out with her candle in her hand, -to light him, she followed the steps up to Mr. J—— S——’s -own bed-chamber, never discovering that he was not preceding -her till she reached the door. She then returned, quite amazed, -and having mentioned the occurrence to her mistress, they noted -the date; and it was afterward ascertained that the young -man had died at Lisbon on that night.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mrs. F—— tells me that, being one morning, at eleven -o’clock, engaged in her bed-room, she suddenly heard a strange, -indescribable, sweet, but unearthly sound, which apparently -proceeded from a large open box which stood near her. She -was seized with an awe and a horror which there seemed nothing -to justify, and fled up stairs to mention the circumstance, -which she could not banish from her mind. At that precise -day and hour, eleven o’clock, her brother was drowned. The -news reached her two days afterward.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Instances of this kind are so well known that it is unnecessary -to multiply them further. With respect to the mode of producing -these sounds, however, I should be glad to say something -more definite if I could; but, from the circumstance of their -being heard not only by one person, who might be supposed to -be <span class='it'>en rapport</span>, or whose constructive imagination might be acted -upon, but by any one who happens to be within hearing, we are -led to conclude that the sounds are really reverberating through -the atmosphere. In the strange cases recorded in “The Seeress -of Prevorst,” although the apparitions were visible only to certain -persons, the sounds they made were audible to all; and -the seeress says they are produced by means of the nerve-spirit, -which I conclude is the spiritual body of St. Paul and the atmosphere, -as we produce sound by means of our <span class='it'>material</span> body -and the atmosphere.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In this plastic power of the spirit to present to the eye of the -seer whatever object it wills, we find the explanation of such -stories as the famous one of Ficinus and Mercatus, related by -Baronius in his annals. These two illustrious friends, Michael -Mercatus and Marcellinus Ficinus, after a long discourse on -the nature of the soul, had agreed that, if possible, whichever -died first should return to visit the other. Some time -afterward, while Mercatus was engaged in study at an early -hour in the morning, he suddenly heard the noise of a horse -galloping in the street, which presently stopped at his door, -and the voice of his friend Ficinus exclaimed: “Oh, Michael! -oh, Michael! <span class='it'>vera sunt illa!</span>—those things are true!” Whereupon -Mercatus hastily opened his window and espied his friend -Ficinus on a white steed. He called after him, but he galloped -away out of his sight. On sending to Florence to inquire for -Ficinus, he learned that he had died about that hour he called -to him. From this period to that of his death, Mercatus abandoned -all profane studies, and addicted himself wholly to divinity. -Baronius lived in the sixteenth century; and even Dr. -Ferrier and the spectral illusionists admit that the authenticity -of this story can not be disputed, although they still claim it for -their own.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Not very many years ago, Mr. C——, a staid citizen of Edinburgh—whose -son told me the story—was one day riding -gently up Corstorphine hill, in the neighborhood of the city, -when he observed an intimate friend of his own, on horseback -also, immediately behind him; so he slackened his pace to give -him an opportunity of joining company. Finding he did not -come up so quickly as he should, he looked round again, and -was astonished at no longer seeing him, since there was no side -road into which he could have disappeared. He returned -home, perplexed at the oddness of the circumstance, when the -first thing he learned was that during his absence this friend -had been killed, by his horse falling, in Candlemaker’s row.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I have heard of another circumstance, which occurred some -years ago in Yorkshire, where, I think, a farmer’s wife was -seen to ride into a farm-yard on horseback, but could not be -afterward found, or the thing accounted for, till it was ascertained -that she had died at that period.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There are very extraordinary stories extant in all countries, -of persons being annoyed by appearances in the shape of different -animals, which one would certainly be much disposed -to give over altogether to the illusionists; though, at the same -time, it is very difficult to reduce some of the circumstances -under that theory—especially one mentioned page 307 of my -“Translation of the Seeress of Prevorst.” If they are not illusions, -they are phenomena, to be attributed either to this plastic -power, or to that magico-magnetic influence in which the -belief in lycanthropy and other strange transformations have -originated. The multitudes of unaccountable stories of this -description recorded in the witch-trials, have long furnished a -subject of perplexity to everybody who was sufficiently just to -human nature to conclude, that there must have been some -strange mystery at the bottom of an infatuation that prevailed so -universally, and in which so many sensible, honest, and well-meaning -persons were involved. Till of late years, when some -of the arcana of animal or vital magnetism have been disclosed -to us, it was impossible for us to conceive by what means such -strange conceptions could prevail; but since we now know, -and many of us have witnessed, that all the senses of a patient -are frequently in such subjection to his magnetiser, that they -may be made to convey any impressions to the brain that magnetiser -wills, we can without much difficulty conceive how this -belief in the power of transformation took its rise; and we also -know how a magician could render himself visible or invisible -at pleasure. I have seen the sight or hearing of a patient taken -away, and restored by Mr. Spencer Hall in a manner that could -leave no doubt on the mind of the beholder—the evident paralysis -of the eye of the patient testifying to the fact. Monsieur -Eusèbe Salverte, the most determined of rationalistic skeptics, -admits that we have numerous testimonies to the existence of -an art, which he confesses himself at some loss to explain, -although the opposite quarters from which the accounts of it -reach us, render it difficult to imagine that the historians have -copied each other. The various transformations of the gods -into eagles, bulls, &c., have been set down as mere mythological -fables; but they appear to have been founded on an art, -known in all quarters of the world, which enabled the magician -to take on a form that was not his own, so as to deceive his -nearest and dearest friends. In the history of Gengis Khan, -there is mention of a city which he conquered—“in which -dwelt,” says Suidas, “certain men, who possessed the secret -of surrounding themselves with deceptive appearances, insomuch -that they were able to represent themselves to the eyes -of people quite different to what they really were.” Saxo -Grammaticus, in speaking of the traditions connected with the -religion of Odin, says that “the magi were very expert in the -art of deceiving the eyes, being able to assume, and even to -enable others to assume, the forms of various objects, and to -conceal their real aspects under the most attractive appearances.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>John of Salisbury, who seems to have drawn his information -from sources now lost, says that Mercury, the most -expert of magicians, had the art of fascinating the eyes of men -to such a degree as to render people invisible, or make them -appear in forms quite different to what they really bore. We -also learn from an eye-witness that Simon, the magician, possessed -the secret of making another person resemble him so -perfectly that every eye was deceived. Pomponius Mela -affirms that the druidesses of the island of Sena could transform -themselves into any animal they chose, and Proteus has become -a proverb by his numerous metamorphoses.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then, to turn to another age and another hemisphere, we find -Joseph Acosta, who resided a long time in Peru, assuring us -that there existed at that period magicians who had the power -of assuming any form they chose. He relates that the predecessor -of Montezuma, having sent to arrest a certain chief, the -latter successively transformed himself into an eagle, a tiger, -and an immense serpent; and so eluded the envoys, till, having -consented to obey the king’s mandate, he was carried to court -and instantly executed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The same perplexing exploits are confidently attributed to -the magicians of the West Indies; and there were two men -eminent among the natives, the one called Gomez and the other -Gonzalez, who possessed this art in an eminent degree; but -both fell victims to the practice of it, being shot during the period -of their apparent transformations.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is also recorded that Nanuk, the founder of the Sikhs—who -are not properly a nation, but a religious sect—was violently -opposed by the Hindoo zealots; and at one period of -his career, when he visited Vatala, the Yogiswaras—who were -recluses, that, by means of corporeal mortifications, were supposed -to have acquired command over the powers of nature—were -so enraged against him, that they strove to terrify him by -their enchantments, assuming the shapes of tigers and serpents. -But they could not succeed, for Nanuk appears to have been a -real philosopher, who taught a pure theism, and inculcated universal -peace and toleration. His tenets, like the tenets of the -founders of all religions, have been since corrupted by his followers. -We can scarcely avoid concluding that the power by -which these feats were performed is of the same nature as that -by which a magnetiser persuades his patient that the water he -drinks is beer, or the beer wine; and the analogy between it -and that by which I have supposed a spirit to present himself, -with such accompaniments as he desires, to the eye of a spectator, -is evident. In those instances where female figures are -seen with children in their arm, the appearance of the child we -must suppose to be produced in this manner.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Spirits of darkness, however, can not, as I have before observed, -appear as spirits of light; the moral nature can not be -disguised. On one occasion, when Frederica Hauffe asked a -spirit if he could appear in what form he pleased, he answered -“No”—that if he had lived as a brute, he should appear as a -brute: “as our dispositions are, so we appear to you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This plastic power is exhibited in those instances I have -related, where the figure appeared dripping with water, indicating -the kind of death that had been suffered; and also in -such cases as that of Sir Robert H. E——, where the apparition -showed a wound in his breast. There are a vast number -of similar ones on record in all countries;—but I will here -mention one which I received from the lips of a member of the -family concerned, wherein one of the trivial actions of life was -curiously represented.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Miss L—— lived in the country with her three brothers, to -whom she was much attached, as they were to her. These -young men, who amused themselves all the morning with their -out-door pursuits, were in the habit of coming to her apartment -most days before dinner, and conversing with her till they were -summoned to the dining-room. One day, when two of them -had joined her as usual, and they were chatting cheerfully over -the fire, the door opened, and the third came in, crossed the -room, entered an adjoining one, took off his boots, and then, -instead of sitting down beside them as usual, passed again -through the room, went out, leaving the door open, and they -saw him ascend the stairs toward his own chamber, whither -they concluded he was gone to change his dress. These proceedings -had been observed by the whole party: they saw him -enter—saw him take off his boots—saw him ascend the stairs,—continuing -the conversation, without the slightest suspicion of -anything extraordinary. Presently afterward the dinner was -announced; and as this young man did not make his appearance, -the servant was desired to let him know they were waiting -for him. The servant answered that he had not come in -yet; but, being told that he would find him in his bed-room, he -went up stairs to call him. He was, however, not there nor in -the house; nor were his boots to be found where he had been -seen to take them off. While they were yet wondering what -could have become of him, a neighbor arrived to break the -news to the family that their beloved brother had been killed -while hunting, and that the only wish he expressed was that he -could live to see his sister once more.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I observed in a former chapter, while speaking of wraiths, -now very desirable it would be to ascertain whether the phenomenon -takes place before or after the dissolution of the bond -between soul and body: I have since received the most entire -satisfaction on that head, so far as the establishing the fact that -it does sometimes occur after the dissolution. Three cases -have been presented to me, from the most undoubted authority, -in which the wraith was seen at intervals varying from one to -three days after the decease of the person whose image it was; -very much complicating the difficulty of that theory which considers -these phenomena the result of an interaction, wherein -the vital principle of one person is able to influence another -within its sphere, and thus make the organs of that other the -subjects of its will—a magical power, by the way, which far -exceeds that which we possess over our own organs. There is -here, however, where death has taken place, no living organism -to produce the effect, and the phenomenon becomes, therefore, -purely subjective—a mere spectral illusion, attended by a coincidence, -or else the influence is that of the disembodied spirit; -and those who will take the trouble of investigating this subject -will find that the number of these coincidences would violate -any theory of probabilities, to a degree that precludes the -acceptance of that explanation. I do not see, therefore, on -what we are to fall back, except it be the willing agency of the -released spirit, unless we suppose that the operation of the will -of the dying person travelled so slowly, that it did not take -effect till a day or two after it was exerted—an hypothesis too -extravagant to be admitted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Passavent, whose very philosophical work on this occult -department of nature is well worth attention, considers the fact -of these appearances far too well established to be disputed; -and he enters into some curious disquisitions with regard to -what the Germans call <span class='it'>far-working</span>, or the power of acting on -bodies at a distance without any sensible conductor, instancing -the case of a gymnotus, which was kept alive for four months -in Stockholm, and which, when urged by hunger, could kill -fish at a distance without contact, adding that it rarely miscalculated -the amount of the shock necessary to its purpose. These -and all such effects are attributed by this school of physiologists -to the supposed imponderable—the nervous ether I have elsewhere -mentioned—which Dr. Passavent conceives, in cases of -somnambulism, certain sicknesses, and the approach of death, -to be less closely united to its material conductors, the nerves, -and therefore capable of being more or less detached, and acting -at a distance, especially on those with whom relationship, -friendship, or love, establishes a rapport, or polarity; and he -observes that intervening substances or distance can no more -impede this agency than they do the agency of mineral magnetism. -And he considers that we must here seek for the explanation -of those curious so-called coincidences of pictures falling, -and clocks and watches stopping, at the moment of a death, -which we frequently find recorded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With respect to the wraiths, he observes that the more the -ether is freed, as by trance or the immediate approach of death, -the more easily the soul sets itself in rapport with distant persons; -and that thus it either acts magically, so that the seer -perceives the real actual body of the person that is acting upon -him, or else that he sees the ethereal body, which presents the -perfect form of the fleshly one, and which, while the organic -life proceeds, can be momentarily detached and appear elsewhere; -and this ethereal body he holds to be the fundamental -form, of which the external body is only the copy, or husk.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I confess, I much prefer this theory of Dr. Passavent’s, which -seems to me to go very much to the root of the matter. We -have here the “spiritual body” of St. Paul, and the “nerve-spirit” -of the somnambulists, and their magical effects are -scarcely more extraordinary, if properly considered, than their -agency on our own <span class='it'>material</span> bodies. It is this ethereal body -which obeys the intelligent spirit within, and which is the intermediate -agent between the spirit and the fleshly body. We -here find the explanation of wraiths, while persons are in trance, -or deep sleep, or comatose, this ethereal body can be detached -and appear elsewhere; and I think there can be no great difficulty -for those who can follow us so far, to go a little further, -and admit that this ethereal body must be indestructible, and -survive the death of the material one; and that it may, therefore, -not only become visible to us under given circumstances, -but that it may, also, produce effects bearing some similarity to -those it was formerly capable of, since, in acting on our bodies -during life, it is already acting on a material substance in a -manner so incomprehensible to us, that we might well apply -the word <span class='it'>magical</span> when speaking of it, were it not that custom -has familiarized us to the marvel.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is to be observed, that this idea of a spiritual body is one -that pervaded all Christendom in the earlier and purer ages of -Christianity, before priestcraft—and by priestcraft I mean the -priestcraft of all denominations—had overshadowed and obscured, -by its various sectarian heresies, the pure teaching of -Jesus Christ.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Ennemoser mentions a curious instance of this <span class='it'>actio in -distans</span>, or far-working. It appears that Van Helmont having -asserted that it was possible for a man to extinguish the life of -an animal by the eye alone (<span class='it'>oculis intentis</span>), Rousseau, the naturalist, -repeated the experiment, when in the East, and in this -manner killed several toads; but on a subsequent occasion, -while trying the same experiment at Lyons, the animal, on finding -it could not escape, fixed its eyes immovably on him, so -that he fell into a fainting fit, and was thought to be dead. He -was restored by means of theriacum and viper powder—a truly -homeopathic remedy! However, we here probably see the -origin of the universal popular persuasion, that there is some -mysterious property in the eye of a toad; and also of the so -called, superstition of the <span class='it'>evil eye</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A very remarkable circumstance occurred some years ago, -at Kirkaldy, when a person, for whose truth and respectability -I can vouch, was living in the family of a Colonel M——, at -that place. The house they inhabited was at one extremity of -the town, and stood in a sort of paddock. One evening when -Colonel M—— had dined out, and there was nobody at home -but Mrs. M——, her son (a boy about twelve years old), and -Ann the maid (my informant), Mrs. M—— called the latter, -and directed her attention to a soldier, who was walking backward -and forward in the drying ground, behind the house, -where some linen was hanging on the lines. She said she wondered -what he could be doing there, and bade Ann fetch in the -linen, lest he should purloin any of it. The girl, fearing he -might be some ill-disposed person, felt afraid; Mrs. M——, -however, promising to watch from the window, that nothing -happened to her, she went; but still apprehensive of the man’s -intentions, she turned her back toward him, and hastily pulling -down the linen, she carried it into the house; he continuing his -walk the while, as before, taking no notice of her whatever. -Ere long the colonel returned, and Mrs. M—— lost no time in -taking him to the window to look at the man, saying she could -not conceive what he could mean by walking backward and -forward there all that time; whereupon Ann added, jestingly, -“I think it’s a ghost, for my part!” Colonel M—— said “he -would soon see that,” and calling a large dog that was lying in -the room, and accompanied by the little boy, who begged to be -permitted to go also, he stepped out and approached the stranger; -when, to his surprise, the dog, which was an animal of -high courage, instantly flew back, and sprung through the glass-door, -which the colonel had closed behind him, shivering the -panes all around.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The colonel, meantime, advanced and challenged the man, -repeatedly, without obtaining any answer or notice whatever, -till, at length, getting irritated, he raised a weapon with which -he had armed himself, telling him he “must speak or take the -consequences,” when, just as he was preparing to strike, lo! -there was nobody there! The soldier had disappeared, and the -child sunk senseless to the ground. Colonel M—— lifted the -boy in his arms, and as he brought him into the house, he said -to the girl, “You are right, Ann; it <span class='it'>was</span> a ghost!” He was -exceedingly impressed with this circumstance, and much regretted -his own behavior, and also the having taken the child with -him, which he thought had probably prevented some communication -that was intended. In order to repair, if possible, these -errors, he went out every night, and walked on that spot for -some time, in hopes the apparition would return. At length -he said that he had seen and conversed with it; but the purport -of the conversation he would never communicate to any human -being, not even to his wife. The effect of this occurrence on -his own character was perceptible to everybody that knew him. -He became grave and thoughtful, and appeared like one who -had passed through some strange experience. The above-named -Ann H——, from whom I have the account, is now a -middle-aged woman. When the circumstance occurred, she -was about twenty years of age. She belongs to a highly-respectable -family, and is, and always has been, a person of -unimpeachable character and veracity.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In this instance, as in several others I meet with, the animal -had a consciousness of the nature of the appearance, while the -persons around him had no suspicion of anything unusual. In -the following singular case we must conclude that attachment -counteracted this instinctive apprehension. A farmer in Argyleshire -lost his wife, and a few weeks after her decease, as -he and his son were crossing a moor, they saw her sitting on -a stone, with their house-dog lying at her feet, exactly as he -used to do when she was alive. As they approached the spot -the woman vanished, and supposing the dog must be equally -visionary, they expected to see him vanish, also; when, to their -surprise, he rose and joined them, and they found it was actually -the very animal of flesh and blood. As the place was at -least three miles from any house, they could not conceive what -could have taken him there. It was, probably, the influence of -her will.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The power of <span class='it'>will</span> is a phenomenon that has been observed -in all ages of the world, though of late years much less than at -an earlier period; and, as it was then more frequently exerted -for evil than good, it was looked upon as a branch of the art of -black magic, while the philosophy of it being unknown, the -devil was supposed to be the real agent, and the witch, or wizard, -only his instrument. The profound belief in the existence -of this art is testified by the twelve tables of Rome, as well as -by the books of Moses, and those of Plato, &c. It is extremely -absurd to suppose that all these statutes were enacted to suppress -a crime which never existed: and, with regard to these -witches and wizards, we must remember, as Dr. Ennemoser -justly remarks, that the force of will has no relation to the -strength or weakness of the body: witness the extraordinary -feats occasionally performed by feeble persons under excitement, -&c.; and, although these witches and wizards were frequently -weak, decrepit people, they either believed in their own -arts, or else that they had a friend or coadjutor in the devil, -who was able and willing to aid them. They, therefore, did -not doubt their own power, and they had the one great requisite, -<span class='it'>faith</span>. To <span class='it'>will and to believe</span>, was the explanation given -by the Marquis de Puységur of the cures he performed; and -this unconsciously becomes the recipe of all such men as Greatrix, -the Shepherd of Dresden, and many other wonder-workers, -and hence we see why it is usually the humble, the simple and -the child-like, the solitary, the recluse, nay, the ignorant, who -exhibit traces of these occult faculties; for he who can not believe -can not <span class='it'>will</span>, and the skepticism of the intellect disables -the magician; and hence we say, also, wherefore, in certain -parts of the world and in certain periods of its history, these -powers and practices have prevailed. They were believed in -because they existed; and they existed because they were -believed in. There was a continued interaction of cause and -effect—of faith and works. People who look superficially -at these things, delight in saying that the more the witches -were persecuted the more they abounded; and that when the -persecution ceased we heard no more of them. Naturally, the -more they were persecuted the more they believed in witchcraft -and in themselves; when persecution ceased, and men in -authority declared that there was no such thing as witchcraft -or witches, they lost their faith, and with it that little sovereignty -over nature that that faith had conquered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Here we also see an explanation of the power attributed to -blessings and curses. The Word of God is creative, and man -is the child of God, made in his image; who never outgrows -his childhood, and is often most a child when he thinks himself -the wisest, for “the wisdom of this world,” we can not too often -repeat, “is foolishness before God”—and being a child, his -faculties are feeble in proportion; but though limited in amount, -they are divine in kind, and are latent in all of us; still shooting -up here and there, to amaze and perplex the wise, and -make merry the foolish, who have nearly all alike forgotten -their origin, and disowned their birthright.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='252' id='Page_252'></span><h1>CHAPTER XII.</h1></div> - -<h3>TROUBLED SPIRITS.</h3> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>A very</span> curious circumstance, illustrative of the power of -will, was lately narrated to me by a Greek gentleman, to whose -uncle it occurred. His uncle, Mr. M——, was some years ago -travelling in Magnesia with a friend, when they arrived one -evening at a caravanserai, where they found themselves unprovided -with anything to eat. It was therefore agreed that one -should go forth and endeavor to procure food; and the friend -offering to undertake the office, Mr. M—— stretched himself -on the floor to repose. Some time had elapsed, and his friend -had not yet returned, when his attention was attracted by a -whispering in the room. He looked up, but saw nobody, though -still the whispering continued, seeming to go round by the wall. -At length it approached him; but though he felt a burning sensation -on his cheek, and heard the whispering distinctly, he -could not catch the words. Presently he heard the footsteps -of his friend, and thought he was returning; but though they -appeared to come quite close to him, and it was perfectly light, -he still saw nobody. Then he felt a strange sensation—an -irresistible impulse to rise: he felt himself <span class='it'>drawn up</span>, across -the room, out of the door, down the stairs—he must go, he -could not help it—to the gate of the caravanserai, a little farther; -and there he found the dead body of his friend, who had -been suddenly assailed and cut down by robbers, unhappily too -plenty in the neighborhood at that period.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We here see the desire of the spirit to communicate his fate -to the survivor; the imperfection of the rapport, or the receptivity, -which prevented a more direct intercourse; and the -exertion of a magnetic influence, which Mr. M—— could not -resist, precisely similar to that of a living magnetizer over his -patient.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There is a story extant in various English collections, the -circumstances of which are said to have occurred about the -middle of the last century, and which I shall here mention, on -account of its similarity to the one that follows it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Bretton, who was, late in life, appointed rector of Ludgate, -lived previously in Herefordshire, where he married the -daughter of Dr. Santer, a woman of great piety and virtue. -This lady died; and one day, as a former servant of hers—to -whom she had been attached, and who had since married—was -nursing her child in her own cottage, the door opened, and -a lady entered so exactly resembling the late Mrs. Bretton in -dress and appearance, that she exclaimed: “If my mistress -were not dead, I should think you were she!” Whereupon -the apparition told her that she was, and requested her to go -with her, as she had business of importance to communicate. -Alice objected, being very much frightened, and entreated her -to address herself rather to Dr. Bretton; but Mrs. B. answered -that <span class='it'>she had endeavored to do so, and had been several times in -his room for that purpose, but he was still asleep, and she had -no power to do more toward awakening him than once uncover -his feet</span>. Alice then pleaded that she had nobody to leave with -her child; but Mrs. B. promising that the child should sleep -till her return, she at length obeyed the summons; and having -accompanied the apparition into a large field, the latter bade -her observe how much she measured off with her feet, and, having -taken a considerable compass, she bade her go and tell her -brother that all that portion had been wrongfully taken from -the poor by their father, and that he must restore it to them, adding -that she was the more concerned about it, since her name -had been used in the transaction. Alice then asking how she -should satisfy the gentleman of the truth of her mission, Mrs. -B. mentioned to her some circumstance known only to herself -and this brother; she then entered into much discourse with -the woman, and gave her a great deal of good advice, remaining -till, hearing the sound of horse-bells, she said: “Alice, I -must be seen by none but yourself,” and then disappeared. -Whereupon Alice proceeded to Dr. Bretton, who admitted -that he had actually heard some one walking about his room, -in a way he could not account for. On mentioning the thing to -the brother, he laughed heartily, till Alice communicated the -secret which constituted her credentials, upon which he changed -his tone, and declared himself ready to make the required restitution.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Bretton seems to have made no secret of this story, but -to have related it to various persons; and I think it is somewhat -in its favor, that it exhibits a remarkable instance of the -various degrees of receptivity of different individuals, where -there was no suspicion of the cause, nor any attempt made to -explain why Mrs. Bretton could not communicate her wishes -to her husband as easily as to Alice. The promising that the -child should sleep, was promising no more than many a magnetiser -could fulfil. There are several curious stories extant, -of lame and suffering persons suddenly recovering, who attributed -their restoration to the visit of an apparition which had -stroked their limbs, &c.; and these are the more curious from -the fact that they occurred before Mesmer’s time, when people -in general knew nothing of vital magnetism. Dr. Binns quotes -the case of a person named Jacob Olaffson, a resident in some -small island subject to Denmark, who, after lying very ill for a -fortnight, was found quite well, which he accounted for by saying -that a person in shining clothes had come to him in the -night and stroked him with his hand, whereupon he was presently -healed. But the stroking is not always necessary, since -we know that the eye and the will can produce the same effect.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The other case to which I alluded, as similar to that of Mrs. -Bretton, occurred in Germany, and is related by Dr. Kerner.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The late Mr. L—— St. ——, he says, quitted this world -with an excellent reputation, being at the time superintendent -of an institution for the relief of the poor in B——. His son -inherited his property, and, in acknowledgment of the faithful -services of his father’s old housekeeper, he took her into his -family and established her in a country-house, a few miles from -B——, which formed part of his inheritance. She had been -settled there but a short time, when she was awakened in the -night, she knew not how, and saw a tall, haggard-looking man -in her room, who was rendered visible to her by a light that -seemed to issue from himself. She drew the bed-clothes over -her head; but, as this apparition appeared to her repeatedly, -she became so much alarmed that she mentioned it to her master, -begging permission to resign her situation. He however -laughed at her—told her it must be all imagination—and -promised to sleep in the adjoining apartment, in order that she -might call him whenever this terror seized her. He did so; -but, when the spectre returned, she was so much oppressed -with horror that she found it impossible to raise her voice. -Her master then advised her to inquire the motive of its visits. -This she did: whereupon, it beckoned her to follow, which, -after some struggles, she summoned resolution to do. It then -led the way down some steps to a passage, where it pointed -out to her a concealed closet, which it signified to her, by signs, -she should open. She represented that she had no key: whereupon, -it described to her, in sufficiently articulate words, where -she would find one. She procured the key, and, on opening -the closet, found a small parcel, which the spirit desired her to -remit to the governor of the institution for the poor, at B——, -with the injunction that the contents should be applied to the -benefit of the inmates,—this restitution being the only means -whereby he could obtain rest and peace in the other world. -Having mentioned these circumstances to her master, who bade -her do what she had been desired, she took the parcel to the -governor and delivered it, without communicating by what -means it had come into her hands. Her name was entered in -their books and she was dismissed; but, after she was gone, -they discovered to their surprise that the packet contained an -order for thirty thousand florins, of which the late Mr. St. —— -had defrauded the institution and converted to his own -use.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mr. St. ——, jr., was now called upon to pay the money, -which he refusing to do, the affair was at length referred to -the authorities; and the housekeeper being arrested, he and -she were confronted in the court, where she detailed the circumstances -by which the parcel had come into her possession. -Mr. St. —— denied the possibility of the thing, declaring the -whole must be, for some purpose or other, an invention of her -own. Suddenly, while making this defence, he felt a blow -upon his shoulder, which caused him to start and look round, -and at the same moment the housekeeper exclaimed: “See! -there he stands, now—there is the ghost!” None perceived -the figure excepting the woman herself and Mr. St. ——; but -everybody present heard the following words: “My son, repair -the injustice I have committed, that I may be at peace!” The -money was paid; and Mr. St. —— was so much affected by -this painful event, that he was seized with a severe illness, from -which he with difficulty recovered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Kerner says that these circumstances occurred in the -year 1816, and created a considerable sensation at the time, -though, at the earnest request of the family of Mr. St. ——, -there was an attempt made to hush them up; adding, that in -the month of October, 1819, he was himself assured by a very -respectable citizen of B——, that it was universally known -in the town that the ghost of the late superintendent had appeared -to the housekeeper, and pointed out to her where she -would find the packet; that she had consulted the minister of -her parish, who bade her deliver it as directed; that she had -been subsequently arrested, and the affair brought before the -authorities, where, while making his defence, Mr. St. —— had -received a blow from an invisible hand; and that Mr. St. —— -was so much affected by these circumstances, which got abroad -in spite of the efforts to suppress them, that he did not long -survive the event.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Grose, the antiquary, makes himself very merry with the -observation that ghosts do not go about their business like other -people; and that in cases of murder, instead of going to the -nearest justice of peace, or to the nearest relation of the deceased, -a ghost addresses itself to somebody who had nothing -to do with the matter, or hovers about the grave where its -body is deposited. “The same circuitous mode is pursued,” -he says, “with respect to redressing injured orphans or widows; -where it seems as if the shortest and most certain way would -be to go and haunt the person guilty of the injustice, till he -were terrified into restitution.” We find the same sort of strictures -made on the story of the ghost of Sir George Villiers, -which—instead of going directly to his son, the duke of Buckingham, -to warn him of his danger—addressed himself to an -inferior person; while the warning was, after all, inefficacious, -as the duke would not take counsel;—but surely such strictures -are as absurd as the conduct of the ghost: at least I think -there can be nothing more absurd than pretending to prescribe -laws to nature, and judging of what we know so little about.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The proceedings of the ghost in the following case will doubtless -be equally displeasing to the critics. The account is extracted -verbatim from a work published by the Bannatyne Club, -and is entitled, “Authentic Account of the Appearance of a -Ghost in Queen Ann’s County, Maryland, United States of -North America, proved in the following remarkable trial, from -attested notes taken in court at the time by one of the counsel.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It appears that Thomas Harris had made some alteration in -the disposal of his property, immediately previous to his death; -and that the family disputed the will and raised up difficulties -likely to be injurious to his children.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“William Brigs said, that he was forty-three years of age; -that Thomas Harris died in September, in the year 1790. In -the March following he was riding near the place where Thomas -Harris was buried, on a horse formerly belonging to Thomas -Harris. After crossing a small branch, his horse began to walk -on very fast. It was between the hours of eight and nine -o’clock in the morning. He was alone: it was a clear day. He -entered a lane adjoining to the field where Thomas Harris was -buried. His horse suddenly wheeled in a panel of the fence, -looked over the fence into the field where Thomas Harris was -buried, and neighed very loud. Witness then saw Thomas -Harris coming toward him, in the same apparel he had last -seen him in in his lifetime; he had on a sky-blue coat. Just -before he came to the fence, he varied to the right and vanished; -his horse immediately took the road. Thomas Harris -came within two panels of the fence to him; he did not see his -features, nor speak to him. He was acquainted with Thomas -Harris when a boy, and there had always been a great intimacy -between them. He thinks the horse knew Thomas Harris, because -of his neighing, pricking up his ears, and looking over -the fence.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“About the first of June following, he was ploughing in his -own field, about three miles from where Thomas Harris was -buried. About dusk Thomas Harris came alongside of him, -and walked with him about two hundred yards. He was dressed -as when first seen. He made a halt about two steps from him. -J. Bailey who was ploughing along with him, came driving up, -and he lost sight of the ghost. He was much alarmed: not a -word was spoken. The young man Bailey did not see him; he -did not tell Bailey of it. There was no motion of any particular -part: he vanished. It preyed upon his mind so as to affect -his health. He was with Thomas Harris when he died, but had -no particular conversation with him. Some time after, he was -lying in bed, about eleven and twelve o’clock at night, when he -heard Thomas Harris groan; it was like the groan he gave a -few minutes before he expired: Mrs. Brigs, his wife, heard the -groan. She got up and searched the house: he did not, because -he knew the groan to be from Thomas Harris. Some time -after, when in bed, and a great fire-light in the room, he saw a -shadow on the wall, and at the same time he felt a great weight -upon him. Some time after, when in bed and asleep, he felt a -stroke between his eyes, which blackened them both: his wife -was in bed with him, and two young men were in the room. -The blow awaked him, and all in the room were asleep; is certain -no one in the room struck him: the blow swelled his nose. -About the middle of August he was alone, coming from Hickey -Collins’s, after dark, about one hour in the night, when Thomas -Harris appeared, dressed as he had seen him when going down -to the meeting-house branch, three miles and a half from the -graveyard of Thomas Harris. It was starlight. He extended -his arms over his shoulders. Does not know how long he -remained in this situation. He was much alarmed. Thomas -Harris disappeared. Nothing was said. He felt no weight on -his shoulders. He went back to Collins’s, and got a young -man to go with him. After he got home he mentioned it to the -young man. He had, before this, told James Harris he had -seen his brother’s ghost.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In October, about twilight in the morning, he saw Thomas -Harris about one hundred yards from the house of the witness; -his head was leaned to one side; same apparel as before; his -face was toward him; he walked fast and disappeared: there -was nothing between them to obstruct the view; he was about -fifty yards from him, and alone; he had no conception why -Thomas Harris appeared to him. On the same day, about -eight o’clock in the morning, he was handing up blades to John -Bailey, who was stacking them; he saw Thomas Harris come -along the garden fence, dressed as before; he vanished, and -always to the east; was within fifteen feet of him; Bailey did -not see him. An hour and a half afterward, in the same place, -he again appeared, coming as before; came up to the fence; -leaned on it within ten feet of the witness, who called to Bailey -to look there (pointing toward Thomas Harris). Bailey asked -what was there. Don’t you see Harris? Does not recollect -what Bailey said. Witness advanced toward Harris. One or -the other spoke as witness got over the fence on the same panel -that Thomas Harris was leaning on. They walked off together -about five hundred yards; a conversation took place as they -walked; he has not the conversation on his memory. He could -not understand Thomas Harris, his voice was so low. He asked -Thomas Harris a question, and he forbid him. Witness then -asked, ‘Why not go to your brother, instead of me?’ Thomas -Harris said, ‘Ask me no questions.’ Witness told him his will -was doubted. Thomas Harris told him to ask his brother if he -did not remember the conversation which passed between them -on the east side of the wheat-stacks, the day he was taken with -his death-sickness; that he then declared that he wished all his -property kept together by James Harris, until his children -arrived at age, then the whole should be sold and divided among -his children; and, should it be immediately sold, as expressed -in his will, that the property would be most wanting to his children -while minors, therefore he had changed his will, and said -that witness should see him again. He then told witness to -turn, and disappeared. He did not speak to him with the same -voice as in his lifetime. He was not daunted while with -Thomas Harris, but much afterward. Witness then went to -James Harris and told him that he had seen his brother three -times that day. Related the conversation he had with him. -Asked James Harris if he remembered the conversation between -him and his brother, at the wheat-stack; he said he did; -then told him what had passed. Said he would fulfil his brother’s -will. He was satisfied that witness had seen his brother, -for that no other person knew the conversation. On the same -evening, returning home about an hour before sunset, Thomas -Harris appeared to him, and came alongside of him. Witness -told him that his brother said he would fulfil his will. No -more conversation on this subject. He disappeared. He had -further conversation with Thomas Harris, but not on this subject. -He was always dressed in the same manner. He had -never related to any person the last conversation, and never -would.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Bailey, who was sworn in the cause, declared that as he and -Brigs were stacking blades, as related by Brigs, he called to -witness and said, ‘Look there! Do you not see Thomas -Harris?’ Witness said, ‘No.’ Brigs got over the fence, and -walked some distance—appeared by his action to be in deep -conversation with some person. Witness saw no one.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The counsel was extremely anxious to hear from Mr. Brigs -the whole of the conversation of the ghost, and on his cross-examination -took every means, without effect, to obtain it. They -represented to him, as a religious man, he was bound to disclose -the whole truth. He appeared agitated when applied to, -declaring nothing short of life should make him reveal the -whole conversation, and, claiming the protection of the court, -that he had declared all he knew relative to the case.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The court overruled the question of the counsel. Hon. -James Tilgman, judge.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“His excellency Robert Wright, late governor of Maryland, -and the Hon. Joseph H. Nicholson, afterward judge of one of -the courts in Maryland, were the counsel for the plaintiff.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“John Scott and Richard T. Earl, Esqs., were counsel for the -defendant.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Here, as in the case of Col. M——, mentioned in a former -chapter, and some others I have met with, we find disclosures -made that were held sacred.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Kerner relates the following singular story, which he -declares himself to have received from the most satisfactory -authority. Agnes B——, being at the time eighteen years of -age, was living as servant in a small inn at Undenheim, her native -place. The host and hostess were quiet old people, who -generally went to bed about eight o’clock, while she and the -boy, the only other servant, were expected to sit up till ten, -when they had to shut up the house and retire to bed also. -One evening, as the host was sitting on a bench before the door, -there came a beggar, requesting a night’s lodging. The host, -however, refused, and bade him seek what he wanted in the -village; whereon the man went away.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the usual hour the old people went to bed; and the two -servants, having closed the shutters, and indulged in a little -gossip with the watchman, were about to follow their example, -when the beggar came round the corner of the neighboring -street, and earnestly entreated them to give him a lodging for -the night, since he could find nobody that would take him in. -At first the young people refused, saying they dared not, without -their master’s leave; but at length the entreaties of the man -prevailed, and they consented to let him sleep in the barn, on -condition that, when they called him in the morning, he would -immediately depart. At three o’clock they rose, and when the -boy entered the barn, to his dismay, he found that the old man -had expired in the night. They were now much perplexed -with the apprehension of their master’s displeasure; so, after -some consultation, they agreed that the lad should convey the -body out of the barn, and lay it in a dry ditch that was near at -hand, where it would be found by the laborers, and excite no -question, as they would naturally conclude he had laid himself -down there to die.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This was done, the man was discovered and buried, and they -thought themselves well rid of the whole affair; but, on the following -night, the girl was awakened by the beggar, whom she -saw standing at her bedside. He looked at her, and then quitted -the room by the door. “Glad was I,” she says, “when the -day broke; but I was scarcely out of my room when the boy -came to me, trembling and pale, and, before I could say a word -to him of what I had seen, he told me that the beggar had been -to his room in the night, had looked at him, and then gone -away. He said he was dressed as when we had seen him alive, -only he looked blacker, which I also had observed.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Still afraid of incurring blame, they told nobody, although -the apparition returned to them every night; and although they -found removing to the other bed-chambers did not relieve them -from his visits. But the effects of this persecution became so -visible on both, that much curiosity was awakened in the village -with respect to the cause of the alteration observed in them; -and at length the boy’s mother went to the minister, requesting -him to interrogate her son, and endeavor to discover what was -preying on his mind. To him the boy disclosed their secret; -and this minister, who was a protestant, having listened with -attention to the story, advised him, when next he went to Mayence, -to market, to call on Father Joseph, of the Franciscan -convent, and relate the circumstance to him. This advice was -followed; and Father Joseph, assuring the lad that the ghost -could do him no harm, recommended him to ask him, in the -name of God, what he desired. The boy did so; whereupon -the apparition answered, “Ye are children of mercy, but I am -a child of evil; in the barn, under the straw, you will find my -money. Take it; it is yours.” In the morning, the boy found -the money accordingly, in an old stocking hid under the straw; -but having a natural horror of it, they took it to their minister, -who advised them to divide it into three parts, giving one to the -Franciscan convent at Mayence, another to the reformed church -in the village, and the other third to that to which they themselves -belonged, which was of the Lutheran persuasion. This they -did, and were no more troubled with the beggar. With respect -to the minister who gave them this good advice, I can only say, -all honor be to him! I wish there were many more such! The -circumstance occurred in the year 1750, and is related by the -daughter of Agnes B——, who declared that she had frequently -heard it from her mother.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The circumstance of this apparition looking darker than the -man had done when alive, is significant of his condition, and -confirms what I have said above, namely, that the moral state -of the disembodied soul can no longer be concealed as it was in -the flesh, but that as he is, he must necessarily appear.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There is an old saying, that we should never lie down to rest -at enmity with any human being; and the story of the ghost of -the Princess Anna of Saxony, who appeared to Duke Christian -of Saxe-Eisenburg, is strongly confirmatory of the wisdom of -this axiom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Duke Christian was sitting one morning in his study, when -he was surprised by a knock at his door—an unusual circumstance, -since the guards as well as the people in waiting were -always in the ante-room. He, however, cried, “Come in!” -when there entered, to his amazement, a lady in an ancient costume, -who, in answer to his inquiries, told him that she was no -evil spirit, and would do him no harm; but that she was one -of his ancestors, and had been the wife of Duke John Casimer, -of Saxe-Coburg. She then related that she and her husband -had not been on good terms at the period of their deaths, and -that, although she had sought a reconciliation, he had been inexorable; -pursuing her with unmitigated hatred, and injuring -her by unjust suspicions; and that, consequently, although <span class='it'>she</span> -was happy, <span class='it'>he</span> was still wandering in cold and darkness, between -time and eternity. She had, however, long known that -one of their descendants was destined to effect this reconciliation -for them, and they were rejoiced to find the time for it had at -length arrived. She then gave the duke eight days to consider -if he were willing to perform this good office, and disappeared; -whereupon he consulted a clergyman, in whom he had great -confidence, who, after finding the ghost’s communication verified, -by a reference to the annals of the family, advised him to -comply with her request.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As the duke had yet some difficulty in believing it was really -a ghost he had seen, he took care to have his door well watched; -she, however, entered at the appointed time, unseen by the -attendants, and, having received the duke’s promise, she told -him she would return with her husband on the following night; -for that, though she could come by day, he could not; that then, -having heard the circumstances, the duke must arbitrate between -them, and then unite their hands, and bless them. The -door was still watched, but nevertheless the apparitions both -came, the Duke Casimer in full royal costume, but of a livid -paleness; and when the wife had told her story, he told his. -Duke Christian decided for the lady, in which judgment Duke -Casimer fully acquiesced. Christian then took the ice-cold hand -of Casimer and laid it in that of his wife, which felt of a natural -heat. They then prayed and sang together, and the apparitions -disappeared, having foretold that Duke Christian would -ere long be with them. The family records showed that these -people had lived about one hundred years before Duke Christian’s -time, who himself died in 1707, two years after these -visits of his ancestors. He desired to be buried in quicklime—it -is supposed from an idea that it might prevent his ghost -walking the earth.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The costume in which they appeared was precisely that they -had worn when alive, as was ascertained by a reference to their -portraits.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The expression that her husband was <span class='it'>wandering in cold and -darkness, between time and eternity</span>, is here very worthy of -observation, as are the circumstances that his hand was cold, -while hers was warm; and also, the greater privilege she -seemed to enjoy. The hands of the unhappy spirits appear, I -think, invariably to communicate a sensation of cold.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I have heard of three instances of persons now alive, who -declare that they hold continual intercourse with their deceased -partners. One of these is a naval officer, whom the author of -a book lately published, called “The Unseen World,” appears -to be acquainted with. The second is a professor in a college -in America, a man of eminence and learning, and full of activity -and energy—yet he assured a friend of mine that he receives -constant visits from his departed wife, which afford him great -satisfaction. The third example is a lady in this country. She -is united to a second husband, has been extremely happy in -both marriages, and declares that she receives frequent visits -from her first. Oberlin, the good pastor of <span class='it'>Ban de la Roche</span>, -asserted the same thing of himself. His wife came to him frequently -after her death; was seen by the rest of his household, -as well as himself; and warned him beforehand of many events -that occurred.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mrs. Mathews relates in the memoirs of her husband, that he -was one night in bed and unable to sleep, from the excitement -that continues some time after acting, when, hearing a rustling -by the side of the bed, he looked out, and saw his first wife, -who was then dead, standing by the bedside, dressed as when -alive. She smiled, and bent forward as if to take his hand; -but in his alarm he threw himself out on the floor to avoid the -contact, and was found by the landlord in a fit. On the same -night, and at the same hour, the present Mrs. Mathews, who -was far away from him, received a similar visit from her predecessor, -whom she had known when alive. She was quite awake, -and in her terror seized the bell-rope to summon assistance, -which gave way, and she fell with it in her hand to the ground.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Professor Barthe, who visited Oberlin in 1824, says, that -while he spoke of his intercourse with the spiritual world as -familiarly as of the daily visits of his parishioners, he was at the -same time perfectly free from fanaticism, and eagerly alive to -all the concerns of this earthly existence. He asserted, what I -find many somnambules and deceased persons also assert, that -everything on earth is but a copy, of which the antitype is to be -found in the other.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He said to his visiter, that he might as well attempt to persuade -him that that was not a table before them, as that he did -not hold communication with the other world. “I give you -credit for being honest when you assure me that you never saw -anything of the kind,” said he; “give me the same credit when -I assure you that I do.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With respect to the faculty of ghost-seeing, he said, it depends -on several circumstances, external and internal. People -who live in the bustle and glare of the world seldom see them, -while those who live in still, solitary, thinly-inhabited places, -like the mountainous districts of various countries, do. So if I -go into the forest by night, I see the phosphoric light of a piece -of rotten wood; but if I go by day I can not see it; yet it is -still there. Again, there must be a rapport. A tender mother -is awakened by the faintest cry of her infant, while the maid -slumbers on and never hears it; and if I thrust a needle among -a parcel of wood-shavings, and hold a magnet over them, the -needle is stirred while the shavings are quite unmoved. There -must be a particular aptitude; what it consists in I do not know; -for of my people, many of whom are ghost-seers, some are -weak and sickly, others vigorous and strong. Here are several -pieces of flint: I can see no difference in them; yet some have -so much iron in them that they easily become magnetic; others -have little or none. So it is with the faculty of ghost-seeing. -People may laugh as they will, but the thing is a fact, nevertheless.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The visits of his wife continued for nine years after her death, -and then ceased.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At length she sent him a message, through another deceased -person, to say that she was now elevated to a higher state, and -could therefore no longer revisit the earth.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Never was there a purer spirit, nor a more beloved human -being, than Oberlin. When first he was appointed to the curé -of Ban de la Roche, and found his people talking so familiarly -of the reappearance of the dead, he reproved them and preached -against the superstition; nor was he convinced, till after the -death of his wife. She had, however, previously received a -visit from her deceased sister, the wife of Professor Oberlin, of -Strasburg, who had warned her of her approaching death, for -which she immediately set about preparing, making extra -clothing for her children, and even laying in provision for the -funeral feast. She then took leave of her husband and family, -and went quietly to bed. On the following morning she died; -and Oberlin never heard of the warning she had received, till -she disclosed it to him in her spectral visitations.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In narrating the following story, I am not permitted to give -the names of the place or parties, nor the number of the regiment, -with all of which, however, I am acquainted. The account -was taken down by one of the officers, with whose family -I am also acquainted; and the circumstance occurred within -the last ten years.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“About the month of August,” says Captain E——, “my attention -was requested by the schoolmaster-sergeant, a man of -considerable worth, and highly esteemed by the whole corps, -to an event which had occurred in the garrison hospital. Having -heard his recital, which, from the serious earnestness with -which he made it, challenged attention, I resolved to investigate -the matter; and, having communicated the circumstances to a -friend, we both repaired to the hospital for the purpose of inquiry.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There were two patients to be examined—both men of -good character, and neither of them suffering from any disorder -affecting the brain; the one was under treatment for consumptive -symptoms, and the other for an ulcerated leg: and they -were both in the prime of life.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Having received a confirmation of the schoolmaster’s statement -from the hospital-sergeant, also a very respectable and -trustworthy man, I sent for the patient principally concerned, -and desired him to state what he had seen and heard, warning -him, at the same time, that it was my intention to take down -his deposition, and that it behooved him to be very careful, as -possibly serious steps might be taken for the purpose of discovering -whether an imposition had been practised in the wards -of the hospital—a crime for which, he was well aware, a very -severe penalty would be inflicted. He then proceeded to relate -the circumstances, which I took down in the presence of -Mr. B—— and the hospital-sergeant, as follows:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ‘It was last Tuesday night, somewhere between eleven and -twelve, when all of us were in bed, and all lights out except the -rush-light that was allowed for the man with the fever, when I -was awoke by feeling a weight upon my feet, and at the same -moment, as I was drawing up my legs, Private W——, who -lies in the cot opposite mine, called out, “I say, Q——, there’s -somebody sitting upon your legs!”—and as I looked to the -bottom of my bed, I saw some one get up from it, and then -come round and stand over me, in the passage between my cot -and the next. I felt somewhat alarmed, for the last few nights -the ward had been disturbed by sounds as of a heavy foot walking -up and down; and as nobody could be seen, it was beginning -to be supposed among us that it was haunted, and fancying -this that came up to my bed’s head might be the ghost, I called -out, “Who are you, and what do you want?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ‘The figure then, leaning with one hand on the wall, over -my head, and stooping down, said, in my ear, “I am Mrs. -M——;” and I could then distinguish that she was dressed in -a flannel gown, edged with black riband, exactly similar to a -set of grave-clothes in which I had assisted to clothe her corpse, -when her death took place a year previously.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ‘The voice, however, was not like Mrs. M——’s, nor like -anybody else’s, yet it was very distinct, and seemed somehow -to sing through my head. I could see nothing of a face beyond -a darkish color about the head, and it appeared to me that I -could see through her body against the window-glasses.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ‘Although I felt very uncomfortable, I asked her what she -wanted. She replied, “I am Mrs. M——, and I wish you to -write to him that was my husband, and tell him.....”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ‘I am not, sir,’ said Corporal Q——, ‘at liberty to mention -to anybody what she told me, except to her husband. He is at -the dépôt in Ireland, and I have written and told him. She -made me promise not to tell any one else. After I had promised -secrecy, she told me something of a matter that convinced -me I was talking to a spirit, for it related to what only I and -Mrs. M—— knew, and no one living could know anything -whatever of the matter; and if I was now speaking my last -words on earth, I say solemnly that it was Mrs. M——’s spirit -that spoke to me then, and no one else. After promising that -if I complied with her request, she would not trouble me or the -ward again, she went from my bed toward the fireplace, and -with her hands she kept feeling about the wall over the mantel-piece. -After a while, she came toward me again; and while -my eyes were upon her, she somehow disappeared from my -sight altogether, and I was left alone.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ‘It was then that I felt faint-like, and a cold sweat broke -out over me; but I did not faint, and after a time I got better, -and gradually I went off to sleep.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ‘The men in the ward said, next day, that Mrs. M—— had -come to speak to me about purgatory, because she had been a -Roman catholic, and we had often had arguments on religion: -but what she told me had no reference to such subjects, but to -a matter only she and I knew of.’</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“After closely cross-questioning Corporal Q——, and endeavoring -without success to reason him out of his belief in the -ghostly character of his visiter, I read over to him what I had -written, and then, dismissing him, sent for the other patient.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“After cautioning him, as I had done the first, I proceeded -to take down his statement, which was made with every appearance -of good faith and sincerity:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ‘I was lying awake,’ said he, ‘last Tuesday night, when I -saw some one sitting on Corporal Q——’s bed. There was so -little light in the ward, that I could not make out who it was, -and the figure looked so strange that I got alarmed, and felt -quite sick. I called out to Corporal Q—— that there was -somebody sitting upon his bed, and then the figure got up; and -as I did not know but it might be coming to me, I got so much -alarmed, that being but weakly’ (this was the consumptive man), -‘I fell back, and I believe I fainted away. When I got round -again, I saw the figure standing and apparently talking to the -corporal, placing one hand against the wall and stooping down. -I could not, however, hear any voice; and being still much -alarmed, I put my head under the clothes for a considerable -time. When I looked up again I could only see Corporal -Q——, sitting up in bed alone, and he said he had seen a ghost; -and I told him I had also seen it. After a time he got up and -gave me a drink of water, for I was very faint. Some of the -other patients being disturbed by our talking, they bade us be -quiet, and after some time I got to sleep. The ward has not -been disturbed since.’</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The man was then cross-questioned; but his testimony remaining -quite unshaken, he was dismissed, and the hospital-sergeant -was interrogated with regard to the possibility of a -trick having been practised. He asserted, however, that this -was impossible; and, certainly, from my own knowledge of the -hospital regulations, and the habits of the patients, I should say -that a practical joke of this nature was too serious a thing to -have been attempted by anybody, especially as there were patients -in the ward very ill at the time, and one very near his -end. The punishment would have been extremely severe, and -discovery almost certain, since everybody would have been -adverse to the delinquent.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The investigation that ensued was a very brief one, it being -found that there was nothing more to be elicited; and the affair -terminated with the supposition that the two men had been -dreaming. Nevertheless, six months afterward, on being interrogated, -their evidence and their conviction were as clear as -at first, and they declared themselves ready at any time to repeat -their statement upon oath.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Supposing this case to be as the men believed it, there are -several things worthy of observation. In the first place, the -ghost is guilty of that inconsistency so offensive to Francis -Grose and many others. Instead of telling her secret to her -husband, she commissions the corporal to tell it him, and it is -not till a year after her departure from this life that she does -even that; and she is heard in the ward two or three nights -before she is visible. We are therefore constrained to suppose -that, like Mrs. Bretton, she could not communicate with her -husband, and that, till that Tuesday night, the necessary conditions -for attaining her object, as regarded the corporal, were -wanting. It is also remarkable that, although the latter heard -her speak distinctly, and spoke to her, the other man heard no -voice, which renders it probable that she had at length been -able to produce that impression upon him which a magnetizer -does on his somnambule, enabling each to understand the other -by a transference of thought, which was undistinguishable to -the corporal from speech, as it is frequently to the somnambule. -The imitating the actions of life by leaning against the wall and -feeling about the mantel-piece, are very unlike what a person -would have done who was endeavoring to impose on the man; -and equally unlike what they would have reported, had the -thing been an invention of their own.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Among the established jests on the subject of ghosts, their -sudden vanishing is a very fruitful one; but, I think, if we examine -this question, we shall find that there is nothing comical -in the matter except the ignorance or want of reflection of the -jesters.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the first place, as I have before observed, a spirit must be -where its thoughts and affections are, for they are itself; our -spirits are where our thoughts and affections are, although our -solid bodies remain stationary: and no one will suppose that -walls or doors, or material obstacles of any kind, could exclude -a spirit any more than they can exclude our thoughts.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But, then, there is the visible body of the spirit—what is -that, and how does it retain its shape?—for we know that there -is a law (discovered by Dalton) that two masses of gaseous matter -can not remain in contact, but they will immediately proceed -to diffuse themselves into one another; and accordingly, it may -be advanced that a gaseous corporeity in the atmosphere is an -impossibility, because it could not retain its form, but would -inevitably be dissolved away, and blend with the surrounding -air. But precisely the same objection might be made by a -chemist to the possibility of our fleshly bodies retaining their -integrity and compactness: for the human body, taken as a -whole, is known to be an impossible chemical compound, except -for the vitality which upholds it; and no sooner is life withdrawn -from it, than it crumbles into putrescence; and it is -undeniable that the aeriform body would be an impossible mechanical -phenomenon, but for the vitality which, we are entitled -to suppose, may uphold it. But, just as the state or condition -of organization protects the fleshly body from the natural reactions -which would destroy it, so may an analogous condition of -organization protect a spiritual ethereal body from the destructive -influence of the mutual interdiffusion of gases.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Thus, supposing this aeriform body to be a permanent appurtenance -of the spirit, we see how it may subsist and retain -its integrity; and it would be as reasonable to hope to exclude -the electric fluid by walls or doors as to exclude by them -this subtle, fluent form. If, on the contrary, the shape be only -one constructed out of the atmosphere by an act of will, the -same act of will, which is a vital force, will preserve it entire, -until, the will being withdrawn, it dissolves away. In either -case, the moment the will or thought of the spirit is elsewhere, -it is gone—it has vanished.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For those who prefer the other hypothesis—namely, that -there is no outstanding shape at all, but that the will of the -spirit, acting on the constructive imagination of the seer, enables -him to conceive the form, as the spirit itself conceives of -it—there can be no difficulty in understanding that the becoming -invisible will depend merely on a similar act of will.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='273' id='Page_273'></span><h1>CHAPTER XIII.</h1></div> - -<h3>HAUNTED HOUSES.</h3> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>Everybody</span> has heard of haunted houses; and there is no -country, and scarcely any place, in which something of the sort -is not known or talked of; and I suppose there is no one who, -in the course of their travels, has not seen very respectable, -good-looking houses shut up and uninhabited, because they had -this evil reputation assigned to them. I have seen several such, -for my own part; and it is remarkable that this <span class='it'>mala fama</span> -does not always, by any means, attach itself to buildings one -would imagine most obnoxious to such a suspicion. For example, -I never heard of a ghost being seen or heard in Haddon -hall, the most ghostly of houses; nor in many other antique, -mysterious-looking buildings, where one might expect them, -while sometimes a house of a very prosaic aspect remains uninhabited, -and is ultimately allowed to fall to ruin, for no other -reason, we are told, than that nobody can live in it. I remember, -in my childhood, such a house in Kent—I think it was on -the road between Maidstone and Tunbridge—which had this -reputation. There was nothing dismal about it: it was neither -large nor old, and it stood on the borders of a well-frequented -road; yet I was assured it had stood empty for years; and as -long as I lived in that part of the country it never had an inhabitant, -and I believe was finally pulled down—and all for no -other reason than that it was haunted, and nobody could live in -it. I have frequently heard of people, while travelling on the -continent, getting into houses at a rent so low as to surprise -them, and I have, moreover, frequently heard of very strange -things occurring while they were there. I remember, for instance, -a family of the name of S—— S——, who obtained a -very handsome house at a most agreeably cheap rate, somewhere -on the coast of Italy—I think it was at Mola de Gaeta. -They lived very comfortably in it till one day, while Mrs. S—— -S—— was sitting in the drawing-room, which opened into a -balcony overhanging the sea, she saw a lady dressed in white -pass along before the windows, which were all closed. Concluding -it was one of her daughters, who had been accidentally -shut out, she arose and opened the window, to allow her to -enter; but on looking out, to her amazement there was nobody -there, although there was no possible escape from the balcony -unless by jumping into the sea! On mentioning this circumstance -to somebody in the neighborhood, they were told that -“that was the reason they had the house so cheap: nobody -liked to live in it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I have heard of several houses, even in populous cities, to -which some strange circumstance of this sort is attached—some -in London even, and some in this city and neighborhood; and, -what is more, unaccountable things actually do happen to those -who inhabit them. Doors are strangely opened and shut, a -rustling of silk, and sometimes a whispering, and frequently -footsteps, are heard. There is a house in Ayrshire to which -this sort of thing has been attached for years, insomuch that it -was finally abandoned to an old man and woman, who said that -they were so used to it that they did not mind it. A distinguished -authoress told me that some time ago she passed a -night at the house of an acquaintance, in one of the midland -counties of England. She and her sister occupied the same -room, and in the night they heard some one ascending the stairs. -The foot came distinctly to the door, then turned away, ascended -the next flight, and they heard it overhead. In the morning, on -being asked if they had slept well, they mentioned this circumstance. -“That is what everybody hears who sleeps in that -room,” said the lady of the house. “Many a time I have, when -sleeping there, drawn up the night-bolt, persuaded that the -nurse was bringing the baby to me; but there was nobody to -be seen. We have taken every pains to ascertain what it is, -but in vain; and are now so used to it, that we have ceased to -care about the matter.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I know of two or three other houses in this city, and one in -the neighborhood, in which circumstances of this nature are -transpiring, or have transpired very lately; but people hush -them up, from the fear of being laughed at, and also from an -apprehension of injuring the character of a house; on which -account, I do not dwell on the particulars. But there was, -some time since, a <span class='it'>fama</span> of this kind attached to a house in St. -J—— street, some of the details of which became very public. -It had stood empty a long time, in consequence of the annoyances -to which the inhabitants had been subjected. There was -one room, particularly, which nobody could occupy without -disturbance. On one occasion, a youth who had been abroad a -considerable time, either in the army or navy, was put there to -sleep on his arrival, since, knowing nothing of these reports, it -was hoped his rest might not be interrupted. In the morning, -however, he complained of the dreadful time he had had, with -people looking in at him between the curtains of his bed all -night—avowing his resolution to terminate his visit that same -day, as he would not sleep there any more. After this period, -the house stood empty again for a considerable time, but was -at length taken and workmen sent in to repair it. One day, -when the men were away at dinner, the master tradesman took -the key and went to inspect progress, and, having examined -the lower rooms, he was ascending the stairs, when he heard a -man’s foot behind him. He looked round, but there was nobody -there, and he moved on again; still there was somebody -following, and he stopped and looked over the rails; but there -was no one to be seen. So, although feeling rather queer, he -advanced into the drawing-room, where a fire had been lighted; -and, wishing to combat the uncomfortable sensation that was -creeping over him, he took hold of a chair, and drawing it resolutely -along the floor, he slammed it down upon the hearth with -some force and seated himself in it; when, to his amazement, -the action, in all its particulars of sound, was immediately repeated -by his unseen companion, who seemed to seat himself -beside him on a chair as invisible as himself. Horror-struck, -the worthy builder started up and rushed out of the house.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There is a house in S—— street, in London, which, having -stood empty a good while, was at length taken by Lord B——. -The family were annoyed by several unpleasant occurrences, -and by the sound of footsteps, which were often audible, especially -in Lady B——’s bed-room—who, though she could not -see the form, was occasionally conscious of its immediate -proximity.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Some time since, a gentleman having established himself in a -lodging in London, felt, the first night he slept there, that the -clothes were being dragged off his bed. He fancied he had -done it himself in his sleep, and pulled them on again;—but it -happens repeatedly: he gets out of bed each time—can find -nobody, no string, no possible explanation—nor can obtain -any from the people of the house, who only seem distressed -and annoyed. On mentioning it to some one in the neighborhood, -he is informed that the same thing has occurred to several -preceding occupants of the lodging, which, of course, he -left.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The circumstances that happened at New House, in Hampshire—as -detailed by Mr. Barham in the third volume of the -“Ingoldsby Legends”—are known to be perfectly authentic; -as are the following, the account of which I have received from -a highly respectable servant, residing in a family with whom I -am well acquainted: she informs me that she was, not very -long since, living with a Colonel and Mrs. W——, who, being -at Carlisle, engaged a furnished house, which they obtained at -an exceedingly cheap rate, because nobody liked to live in it. -This family, however, met with no annoyance, and attached no -importance to the rumor which had kept the house empty. -There were, however, two rooms in it wholly unfurnished; and -as the house was large, they were dispensed with till the recurrence -of the race week, when, expecting company, these two -rooms were temporarily fitted up for the use of the nurses and -children. There were heavy Venetian blinds to the windows; -and, in the middle of the night, the person who related the circumstance -to me, was awakened by the distinct sound of these -blinds being pulled up and down with violence, perhaps as -many as twenty times. The fire had fallen low, and she could -not see whether they were actually moved or not, but lay trembling -in indescribable terror. Presently feet were heard in -the room, and a stamping as if several men were moving about -without stockings. While lying in this state of agony, she was -comforted by hearing the voice of a nurse, who slept in another -bed in the same chamber, exclaiming: “The Lord have mercy -upon us!” This second woman then asked the first if she had -courage to get out of bed and stir up the fire, so that they -might be able to see; which by a great effort she did, the chimney -being near her bed. There was, however, nothing to be -discovered, everything being precisely as when they went to -bed. On another occasion, when they were sitting in the evening -at work, they distinctly heard some one counting money, -and the chink of the pieces as they were laid down. The -sound proceeded from the inner room of the two, but there was -nobody there. This family left the house, and though a large -and commodious one, she understood it remained unoccupied, -as before.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A respectable citizen of Edinburgh, not long ago, went to -America to visit his son, who had married and settled there. -The morning after his arrival, he declared his determination to -return immediately to Philadelphia, from which the house was -at a considerable distance; and, on being interrogated as to the -cause of this sudden departure, he said that in the previous -night he had heard a man walking about his room, who had -approached the bed, drawn back the curtains, and bent over -him. Thinking it was somebody who had concealed himself -there with ill intentions, he had struck out violently at the figure, -when, to his horror, his arm passed unimpeded through it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Other extraordinary things happened in that house, which -had the reputation of being haunted, although the son had not -believed it, and had therefore not mentioned the report to the -father. One day the children said they had been running after -“such a queer thing in the cellar; it was like a goat, and not -like a goat; but it seemed to be like a shadow.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A few years ago, some friends of mine were taking a house -in this city, when the servants of the people who were leaving -advised them not to have anything to do with it, for that there -was a ghost in it that screamed dreadfully, and that they never -could keep a stitch of clothes on them at night—the bed-coverings -were always pulled off. My friends laughed heartily -and took the house; but the cries and groans all over it were -so frequent, that they at length got quite used to them. It is -to be observed that the house was a <span class='it'>flat</span>, or <span class='it'>floor</span>, shut in; so -that there could be no draughts of air nor access for tricks. -Besides, it was a woman’s voice, sometimes close to their ears, -sometimes in a closet, sometimes behind their beds—in short, -in all directions. Everybody heard it that went to the house.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The tenant that succeeded them, however, has never been -troubled with it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The story of the Brown Lady at the Marquis of T——’s, in -Norfolk, is known to many. The Hon. H. W—— told me that -a friend of his, while staying there, had often seen her, and had -one day inquired of his host, “Who was the lady in brown that -he had met frequently on the stairs?” Two gentlemen, whose -names were mentioned to me, resolved to watch for her and -intercept her. They at length saw her but she eluded them -by turning down a staircase, and when they looked over she -had disappeared. Many persons have seen her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There is a Scotch family of distinction, who, I am told, are -accompanied by an unseen attendant, whom they call “Spinning -Jenny.” She is heard spinning in their house in the country, -and when they come into town she spins here; servants -and all hear the sound of her wheel. I believe she accompanies -them no further than to their own residences, not to those -of other people. Jenny is supposed to be a former housemaid -of the family, who was a great spinner, and they are so accustomed -to her presence as to feel it no annoyance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The following very singular circumstance was related to me -by the daughter of the celebrated Mrs. S——: Mrs. S—— and -her husband were travelling into Wales, and had occasion to -stop on their way, some days, at Oswestry. There they established -themselves in a lodging, to reach the door of which they -had to go down a sort of close, or passage. The only inhabitants -of the house were the mistress, a very handsome woman, -and two maids. Mr. and Mrs. S——, however, very soon had -occasion to complain of the neglected state of the rooms, which -were apparently never cleaned or dusted; though, strange to -say, to judge by their own ears, the servants were doing nothing -else all night, their sleep being constantly disturbed by the -noise of rubbing, sweeping, and the moving of furniture. When -they complained to these servants of the noise in the night, and -the dirt of the rooms, they answered that the noise was not -made by them, and that it was impossible for them to do their -work, exhausted as they were by sitting up all night with their -mistress, who could not bear to be alone when she was in bed. -Mr. and Mrs. S—— afterward discovered that she had her room -lighted up every night; and one day, as they were returning -from a walk, and she happened to be going down the close before -them, they heard her saying, as she turned her head sharply -from side to side, “Are you there again? What, the devil! -Go away, I tell you!” &c., &c. On applying to the neighbors -for an explanation of these mysteries, the good people only -shook their heads, and gave mysterious answers. Mr. and Mrs. -S—— afterward learned that she was believed to have murdered -a girl who formerly lived in her service.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There is nothing in the conduct of this unhappy woman which -may not be perfectly well accounted for, by the supposition of -a guilty conscience; but the noises heard by Mr. and Mrs. S—— -at night, are curiously in accordance with a variety of similar -stories, wherein this strange visionary repetition of the trivial -actions of daily life, or of some particular incident, has been -observed. The affair of Lord St. Vincent’s was of this nature; -and there is somewhere extant, an account of the ghost of Peter -the Great, of Russia, having appeared to Doctor Doppelio, -complaining to him of the sufferings he endured from having -to act over again his former cruelties; a circumstance which -exhibits a remarkable coincidence with the Glasgow dream, -mentioned in a preceding chapter. We must, of course, attach -a symbolical meaning to these phenomena, and conclude that -these reactings are somewhat of the nature of our dreams. -Certainly, there would need no stronger motive to induce us -to spend the period allotted to us on earth, in those pure and -innocent pleasures and occupations, which never weary or sicken -the soul, than the belief that such a future awaits us!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A family in one of the English counties, was a few years ago -terribly troubled by an unseen inmate who chiefly seemed to -inhabit a large cellar, into which there was no entrance except -the door which was kept locked. Here there would be a loud -knocking—sometimes a voice crying—heavy feet walking, &c., -&c. At first, the old trustworthy butler would summon his -accolytes, and descend, armed with sword and blunderbuss; -but no one was to be seen. They could often hear the feet following -them up stairs from this cellar; and once, when the family -had determined to watch, they found themselves accompanied -up stairs not only by the sound of the feet, but by a <span class='it'>visible</span> -shadowy companion! They rushed up, flew to their chamber, -and shut the door, when instantly they felt and saw the handle -turned in their hand by a hand outside. Windows and doors -were opened in spite of locks and keys; but notwithstanding -the most persevering investigations, the only clew to the mystery -was the appearance of that spectral figure.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The knockings and sounds of people at work, asserted to be -heard in mines, is a fact maintained by many very sensible men, -overseers, and superintendents, &c., as well as by the workmen -themselves; and there is a strong persuasion, I know, among -the miners of Cornwall, and those of Mendip, that these visionary -workmen are sometimes heard among them; on which occasions -the horses evince their apprehensions by trembling and -sweating; but as I have no means of verifying these reports, I -do not dwell upon them further.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When the mother of George Canning, then Mrs. Hunn, was -an actress in the provinces, she went, among other places, to -Plymouth, having previously requested her friend, Mr. Bernard, -of the theatre, to procure her a lodging. On her arrival Mr. -B. told her that if she was not afraid of a ghost, she might have -a comfortable residence at a very low rate, “For there is,” said -he, “a house belonging to our carpenter, that is reported to be -haunted, and nobody will live in it. If you like to have it, you -may, and for nothing, I believe, for he is so anxious to get a -tenant; only you must not let it be known that you do not pay -rent for it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mrs. Hunn, alluding to the theatrical apparitions, said it would -not be the first time she had had to do with a ghost, and that -she was very willing to encounter this one; so she had her luggage -taken to the house in question, and the bed prepared. At -her usual hour, she sent her maid and her children to bed, and, -curious to see if there was any foundation for the rumor she -had heard, she seated herself, with a couple of candles and a -book, to watch the event. Beneath the room she occupied was -the carpenter’s workshop, which had two doors. The one which -opened into the street was barred and bolted within; the other, -a smaller one, opening into the passage, was only on the latch; -and the house was, of course, closed for the night. She had -read something more than half an hour, when she perceived a -noise issuing from this lower apartment, which sounded very -much like the sawing of wood. Presently other such noises as -usually proceed from a carpenter’s workshop were added, till -by-and-by, there was a regular concert of knocking and hammering, -and sawing and planing, &c.; the whole sounding like -half a dozen busy men in full employment. Being a woman -of considerable courage, Mrs. Hunn resolved, if possible, to -penetrate the mystery; so taking off her shoes, that her approach -might not be heard, with her candle in her hand, she -very softly opened her door and descended the stairs, the noise -continuing as loud as ever, and evidently proceeding from the -workshop, till she opened the door, when instantly all was silent—all -was still—not a mouse was stirring; and the tools and -the wood, and everything else, lay as they had been left by the -workmen when they went away. Having examined every part -of the place, and satisfied herself that there was nobody there, -and that nobody could get into it, Mrs. Hunn ascended to her -room again, beginning almost to doubt her own senses, and -question with herself whether she had really heard the noise or -not, when it recommenced and continued, without intermission, -for about half an hour. She however went to bed, and the next -day told nobody what had occurred, having determined to watch -another night before mentioning the affair to any one. As, -however, this strange scene was acted over again, without her -being able to discover the cause of it, she now mentioned the -circumstance to the owner of the house and to her friend Bernard; -and the former, who would not believe it, agreed to -watch with her, which he did. The noise began as before, and -he was so horror-struck that, instead of entering the workshop -as she wished him to do, he rushed into the street. Mrs. Hunn -continued to inhabit the house the whole summer; and, when -referring afterward to the adventure, she observed that use was -second nature, and that she was sure if any night these ghostly -carpenters had not pursued their visionary labors, she should -have been quite frightened, lest they should pay her a visit up stairs.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From many recorded cases, I find the vulgar belief, that buried -money is frequently the cause of these disturbances, is -strongly borne out by facts. This certainly does seem to us -very strange, and can only be explained by the hypothesis suggested, -that the soul awakes in the other world in exactly the -same state in which it quitted this.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the abovementioned instances, of what are called <span class='it'>haunted -houses</span>, there is generally nothing seen; but those are equally -abundant where the ghostly visiter is visible.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Two young ladies were passing the night in a house in the -north, when the youngest, then a child, awoke and saw an old -man, in a Kilmarnock nightcap, walking about their bed-room. -She said, when telling the story in after-life, that she was not -the least frightened—she was only surprised! but she found -that her sister, who was several years older than herself, was in -a state of great terror. He continued some time moving about, -and at last went to a chest of drawers, where there lay a parcel -of buttons, belonging to a travelling tailor who had been at work -in the house. Whether the old man threw them down or not, -she could not say; but, just then, they all fell rattling off the -drawers to the floor, whereupon he disappeared. The next -morning, when they mentioned the circumstance, she observed -that the family looked at each other in a significant manner; -but it was not till she was older she learned that the house was -said to be haunted by this old man. “It never occurred to me,” -she said, “that it was a ghost. Who could have thought of a -ghost in a Kilmarnock nightcap!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the Leipsic fair, lodgings are often very scarce, and on -one occasion a stranger, who had arrived late in the evening, -had some difficulty in finding a bed. At length he found a vacant -chamber in the house of a citizen. It was one they made -no use of, but they said he was welcome to it; and, weary and -sleepy, he gladly accepted the offer. Fatigued as he was, however, -he was disturbed by some unaccountable noises, of which -he complained to his hosts in the morning. They pacified him -by some excuses; but the next night, not long after he had -gone to bed, he came down stairs in great haste, with his portmanteau -on his shoulder, declaring he would not stay there another -hour for the world; for that a lady, in a strange old-fashioned -dress, had come into the room with a dagger in her hand, -and made threatening gestures at him. He accordingly went -away, and the room was shut up again; but some time afterward, -a servant-girl in the family of this citizen, being taken ill, -they were obliged to put her into that room, in order to separate -her from the rest of the family. Here she recovered her -health rapidly; and as she had never complained of any annoyance, -she was asked, when she was quite well, whether anything -particular had happened while she inhabited that chamber. -“Oh, yes,” she answered; “every night there came a strange -lady into the room, who sat herself on the bed and stroked me -with her hand, and I believe it is to her I owe my speedy recovery; -but I could never get her to speak to me—she only -sighs and weeps.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Not very long since, a gentleman set out, one fine midsummer’s -evening, when it is light all night in Scotland, to walk -from Montrose to Brechin. As he approached a place called -Dunn, he observed a lady walking on before, which, from the -lateness of the hour, somewhat surprised him. Sometime afterward, -he was found by the early laborers lying on the -ground, near the churchyard, in a state of insensibility. All he -could tell them was, that he had followed this lady till she had -turned her head and looked round at him, when, seized with -horror, he had fainted. “Oh,” said they, “you have seen the -lady of Dunn.” What is the legend attached to this lady of -Dunn, I do not know.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Monsieur De S. had been violently in love with Hippolyte -Clairon, the celebrated French actress, but she rejected his -suit, in so peremptory a manner, that even when he was at the -point of death, she refused his earnest entreaties, that she would -visit him. Indignant at her cruelty, he declared that he would -haunt her, and he certainly kept his word. I believe she never -saw his ghost, but he appears to have been always near her; -at least, on several occasions when other people doubted the -fact, he signalized his presence at her bidding, by various -sounds, and this, wherever she happened to be at the moment. -Sometimes it was a cry, at others, a shot, and at others, a clapping -of hands or music. She seems to have been slow to believe -in the extra-natural character of these noises; and even -when she was ultimately convinced, to have been divided between -horror on the one hand, and diversion, at the oddness of -the circumstance, on the other. The sounds were heard by -everybody in her vicinity; and I am informed by Mr. Charles -Kirkpatrick Sharpe, that the margrave of Anspach, who was -subsequently her lover, and Mr. Keppel Craven, were perfectly -well acquainted with the circumstances of this haunting, and -entertained no doubt of the facts above alluded to.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The ghost known by the designation of “the White Lady,” -which is frequently seen in different castles or palaces belonging -to the royal family of Prussia, has been mentioned in another -publication, I think. She was long supposed to be a Countess -Agnes, of Orlamunde; but a picture of a princess called Bertha, -or Perchta von Rosenberg, discovered some time since, -was thought so exceedingly to resemble the apparition, that it -is now a disputed point which of the two ladies it is, or whether -it is or is not the same apparition that is seen at different places. -Neither of these ladies appears to have been very happy in their -lives: but the opinion of its being the Princess Bertha, who -lived in the fifteenth century, was somewhat countenanced by -the circumstance, that at a period when, in consequence of the -war, an annual benefit which she had bequeathed to the poor -was neglected, the apparition seemed to be unusually disturbed, -and was seen more frequently. She is often observed before -a death; and one of the Fredericks said, shortly before his decease, -that he should “not live long, for he had met the White -Lady.” She wears a widow’s band and veil, but it is sufficiently -transparent to show her features, which do not express -happiness, but placidity. She has only been twice heard to -speak. In December, 1628, she appeared in the palace at -Berlin, and was heard to say, “<span class='it'>Veni, judica vivos et mortuos! -Judicium mihi adhuc superest.</span>”—“Come, judge the quick and -the dead! I wait for judgment.” On the other occasion, which -is more recent, one of the princesses at the castle of Neuhaus, -in Bohemia, was standing before a mirror, trying on a new -head-dress, when, on asking her waiting-maid what the hour -was, the white lady suddenly stepped from behind a screen and -said: “Zehn uhr ist es ihr liebden!”—“It is ten o’clock, your -love!” which is the mode in which the sovereign princes address -each other, instead of “your highness.” The princess -was much alarmed, soon fell sick, and died in a few weeks. -She has frequently evinced displeasure at the exhibition of -impiety or vice; and there are many records of her different -appearances to be found in the works of Balbinus and of Erasmus -Francisci; and in a publication called “The Iris,” published -in Frankfort in 1819, the editor, George Doring, who is said to -have been a man of great integrity, gives the following account -of one of her later appearances, which he declares he received -just as he gives it, from the lips of his own mother, on whose -word and judgment he could perfectly rely; and shortly before -his death, an inquiry being addressed to him with regard to the -correctness of the narration, he vouched for its authenticity.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It seems that the elder sister of his mother was companion -to one of the ladies of the court, and that the younger ones were -in the habit of visiting her frequently. Two of these (Doring’s -mother and another), aged fourteen and fifteen, were once -spending a week with her, when she being out and they alone -with their needlework, chattering about the court diversions, -they suddenly heard the sound of a stringed instrument, like a -harp, which seemed to proceed from behind a large stove that -occupied one corner of the room. Half in fear and half in fun, -one of the girls took a yard measure that lay beside them, and -struck the spot, whereupon the music ceased, but the stick was -wrested from her hand. She became alarmed; but the other, -named Christina, laughed and said she must have fancied it, -adding that the music doubtless proceeded from the street, -though they could not descry any musicians. To get over her -fright, of which she was half ashamed, the former now ran out -of the room to visit a neighbor for a few minutes; but when -she returned, she found Christina lying on the floor in a swoon, -who, on being revived with the aid of the attendants who had -heard a scream, related, that no sooner had her sister left her -than the sound was repeated, close to the stove, and a white -figure had appeared and advanced toward her, whereupon she -had screamed and fainted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The lady who owned the apartments flattered herself that -this apparition betokened that a treasure was hidden under the -stove, and, imposing silence on the girls, she sent for a carpenter -and had the planks lifted. The floor was found to be -double, and below was a vault, from which issued a very unwholesome -vapor, but no treasure was found, nor anything but -a quantity of quicklime. The circumstance being now made -known to the king, he expressed no surprise; he said that the -apparition was doubtless that of a countess of Orlamunde, who -had been buried alive in that vault. She was the mistress of -a margrave of Brandenburg, by whom she had two sons. -When the prince became a widower, she expected he would -marry her; but he urged as an objection that he feared, in that -case, her sons might hereafter dispute the succession with the -lawful heirs. In order to remove this obstacle out of her way, -she poisoned the children; and the margrave, disgusted and -alarmed, had her walled up in that vault for her pains. He -added that she was usually seen every seven years, and was -preceded by the sound of a harp, on which instrument she -had been a proficient; and also that she more frequently appeared -to children than to adults,—as if the love she had denied -her own offspring in life was now her torment, and that -she sought a reconciliation with childhood in general. I know -from the best authority that the fact of these appearances is not -doubted by those who have the fullest opportunities of inquiry -and investigation; and I remember seeing in the English papers, -a few years since, a paragraph copied from the foreign -journals, to the effect that the White Lady had been seen again, -I think at Berlin.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The following very curious relation I have received from the -gentleman to whom the circumstance occurred, who is a professional -man residing in London:—</p> - -<div class='blockquote100percent'> - -<p class='pindent'>“I was brought up by a grandfather and four aunts, all -ghost-seers and believers in supernatural appearances. The -former had been a sailor, and was one of the crew that sailed -round the world with Lord Anson. I remember, when I was -about eight years old, that I was awakened by the screams of -one of these ladies, with whom I was sleeping, which summoned -all the family about her to inquire the cause of the disturbance. -She said that she had ‘seen Nancy by the side of -the bed, and that she was slipping into it.’ We had scarcely -got down stairs in the morning, before intelligence arrived that -that lady had died, precisely at the moment my aunt said she -saw her. Nancy was her brother’s wife. Another of my -aunts, who was married and had a large family, foretold my -grandfather’s death, at a time that we had no reason to apprehend -it. He, also, had appeared at her bedside; he was then -alive and well, but he died a fortnight afterward. But it would -be tedious were I to enumerate half the instances I could recall -of a similar description; and I will therefore proceed to the -relation of what happened to myself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I was, some few years since, invited to pass a day and -night at the house of a friend in Hertfordshire, with whom I -was intimately acquainted. His name was B——, and he had -formerly been in business as a saddler, in Oxford street, where -he realized a handsome fortune, and had now retired to enjoy -his <span class='it'>otium cum dignitate</span>, in the rural and beautiful village of -Sarratt.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It was a gloomy Sunday, in the month of November, when -I mounted my horse for the journey, and there was so much -appearance of rain, that I should certainly have selected some -other mode of conveyance, had I not been desirous of leaving -the animal in Mr. E——’s straw-yard for the winter. Before -I got as far as St. John’s wood, the threatening clouds broke, -and by the time I reached Watford I was completely soaked. -However, I proceeded, and arrived at Sarratt before my friend -and his wife had returned from church. The moment they did -so, they furnished me with dry clothes, and I was informed that -we were to dine at the house of Mr. D——, a very agreeable -neighbor. I felt some little hesitation about presenting myself -in such a costume, for I was decked out in a full suit of Mr. -B——’s, who was a stout man, of six feet in height, while I am -rather of the diminutive order; but my objections were overruled; -we went, and my appearance added not a little to the -hilarity of the party. At ten o’clock we separated, and I returned -with Mr. and Mrs. B—— to their house, where I was -shortly afterward conducted to a very comfortable bed-room.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Fatigued with my day’s ride, I was soon in bed, and soon -asleep, but I do not think I could have slept long before I was -awakened by the violent barking of dogs. I found that the -noise had disturbed others as well as myself, for I heard Mr. -B——, who was lodged in the adjoining room, open his window -and call to them to be quiet. They were obedient to his voice, -and as soon as quietness ensued I dropped asleep again; but I -was again awakened by an extraordinary pressure upon my -feet; <span class='it'>that I was perfectly awake, I declare</span>; the light that stood -in the chimney-corner shone strongly across the foot of the bed, -and I saw the figure of a well-dressed man in the act of stooping, -and supporting himself in so doing by the bed-clothes. He -had on a blue coat, with bright gilt buttons, but I saw no head; -the curtains at the foot of the bed, which were partly looped -back, just hung so as to conceal that part of his person. At -first I thought it was my host, and as I had dropped my clothes, -as is my habit, on the floor at the foot of the bed, I supposed -he was come to look after them, which rather surprised me: -but, just as I had raised myself upright in bed, and was about -to inquire into the occasion of his visit, the figure passed on. I -then recollected that I had locked the door; and, becoming -somewhat puzzled, I jumped out of bed; but I could see nobody; -and on examining the room I found no means of ingress -but the door through which I had entered, and one other; both -of which were locked on the inside. Amazed and puzzled I -got into bed again, and sat some time ruminating on the extraordinary -circumstance, when it occurred to me that I had not -looked under the bed; so I got out again, fully expecting to find -my visiter, whoever he was, there; but I was disappointed. So, -after looking at my watch, and ascertaining that it was ten minutes -past two, I stepped into bed again, hoping now to get some -rest. But, alas! sleep was banished for that night; and after -turning from side to side, and making vain endeavors at forgetfulness, -I gave up the point, and lay till the clocks struck seven, -perplexing my brain with the question of who my midnight visiter -could be, and also how he had got in and how he had got -out of my room. About eight o’clock I met my host and his -wife at the breakfast-table, when, in answer to their hospitable -inquiries of how I had passed the night, I mentioned, first, that -I had been awaked by the barking of some dogs, and that I had -heard Mr. B—— open his window and call to them. He answered -that two strange dogs had got into the yard and had -disturbed the others. I then mentioned my midnight visiter, -expecting that they would either explain the circumstance, or -else laugh at me and declare I must have dreamed it. But, to -my surprise, my story was listened to with grave attention, and -they related to me the tradition with which this spectre, for -such I found they deemed it to be, was supposed to be connected. -This was to the effect, that many years ago a gentleman -so attired had been murdered there, under some frightful -circumstances, and that his head had been cut off. On perceiving -that I was very unwilling to accept this explanation of the -mystery, for, in spite of my family peculiarity, I had always -been an entire disbeliever in supernatural appearances, they -begged me to prolong my visit for a day or two, when they -would introduce me to the rector of the parish, who could furnish -me with such evidence with regard to circumstances of a similar -nature, as would leave no doubt on my mind as to the possibility -of their occurrence. But I had made an engagement to -dine at Watford, on my way back, and I confess, moreover, that -after what I had heard I did not feel disposed to encounter the -chance of another visit from the mysterious stranger; so I -declined the proffered hospitality, and took my leave.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Some time after this, I happened to be dining at C—— -street, in company with some ladies resident in the same county, -when, chancing to allude to my visit to Sarratt, I added, that I -had met with a very extraordinary adventure there, which I had -never been able to account for, when one of these ladies immediately -said that she hoped I had not had a visit from the headless -gentleman, in a blue coat and gilt buttons, who was said to -have been seen by many people in that house.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Such is the conclusion of this marvellous tale as regards -myself; and I can only assure you that I have related facts as -they occurred, and that I had never heard a word about this -apparition in my life, till Mr. B—— related to me the tradition -above alluded to. Still, as I am no believer, in supernatural -appearances, I am constrained to suppose that the whole affair -was the product of my imagination.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I must add, that Mr. B—— mentioned some strange circumstances -connected with another house in the county, inhabited -by a Mr. M——, which were corroborated by the ladies -above alluded to. Both parties agreed that, from the unaccountable -noises, &c., &c., which were heard there, that gentleman -had the greatest difficulty in persuading any servants to -remain with him.</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;'>“A—— W—— M——.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“<span class='it'>C—— street, 5th September, 1846.</span>”</p> - -</div> - -<p class='pindent'>This is one of those curious instances of determined skepticism -that fully justify the patriarch’s prediction.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The following interesting letter, written by a member of a -very distinguished English family, will furnish its own explanation:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“As you express a wish to know what degree of credit is to -be attached to a garbled tale which has been sent forth, after a -lapse of between thirty and forty years, as an ‘accredited ghost-story,’ -I will state the facts as they were recalled to my mind -last year by a daughter of Sir William A. C——, who sent the -book to me, requesting me to tell her if there was any foundation -for the story, which she could scarcely believe, since she -had never heard my mother allude to it. I read the narrative -with surprise, it being evidently not furnished by any of the -family, nor indeed by any one who was with us at the time! -yet, though full of mistakes in names, &c., &c., some particulars -come so near the truth as to puzzle me. The facts are as follows:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Sir James, my mother, with myself and my brother Charles, -went abroad toward the end of the year 1786. After trying -several different places, we determined to settle at Lille, where -we found the masters particularly good, and where we had -also letters of introduction to several of the best French -families. There Sir James left us, and, after passing a few -days in an uncomfortable lodging, we engaged a nice, large -family house, which we liked very much, and which we obtained -at a very low rent, even for that part of the world.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“About three weeks after we were established in our new -residence, I walked one day with my mother to the bankers, -for the purpose of delivering our letter of credit from Sir Robert -Herries, and drawing some money, which, being paid in -heavy five-franc pieces, we found we could not carry, and therefore -requested the banker to send, saying, ‘We live in the -Place du Lion D’or.’ Whereupon he looked surprised, and -observed that he knew of no house there fit for us, ‘except, -indeed,’ he added, ‘the one that has been long uninhabited, on -account of the <span class='it'>revenant</span> that walks about it.’ He said this quite -seriously, and in a natural tone of voice, in spite of which we -laughed, and were quite entertained at the idea of a ghost; but -at the same time we begged him not to mention the thing to our -servants, lest they should take any fancies into their heads; and -my mother and I resolved to say nothing about the matter to -any one. ‘I suppose it is the ghost,’ said my mother, laughing, -‘that wakes us so often by walking over our heads.’ We had, -in fact, been awakened several nights by a heavy foot, which -we supposed to be that of one of the men-servants, of whom we -had three English and four French; of women-servants we had -five English, and all the rest were French. The English ones, -men and women, every one of them, returned ultimately to -England with us.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A night or two afterward, being again awakened by the -step, my mother asked Creswell, ‘Who slept in the room above -us?’ ‘No one, my lady,’ she replied—‘it is a large, empty -garret.’</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“About a week or ten days after this, Creswell came to my -mother, one morning, and told her that all the French servants -talked of going away, because there was a <span class='it'>revenant</span> in the -house; adding that there seemed to be a strange story attached -to the place, which was said, together with some other property, -to have belonged to a young man, whose guardian, who -was also his uncle, had treated him cruelly and confined him -in an iron cage; and as he had subsequently disappeared, it -was conjectured he had been murdered. This uncle, after inheriting -the property, had suddenly quitted the house and sold -it to the father of the man of whom we had hired it. Since -that period, though it had been several times let, nobody had -ever stayed in it above a week or two, and for a considerable -time past it had had no tenant at all.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ‘And do you really believe all this nonsense, Creswell?’ -said my mother.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ‘Well, I don’t know, my lady,’ answered she; ‘but there’s -the iron cage in the garret over your bed-room, where you -may see it, if you please.’</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Of course we rose to go; and as just at that moment an old -officer, with his Croix de St. Louis, called on us, we invited -him to accompany us and we ascended together. We found, -as Creswell had said, a large empty garret with bare brick -walls; and in the further corner of it stood an iron cage, such -as wild beasts are kept in, only higher; it was about four feet -square, and eight in height, and there was an iron ring in the -wall at the back, to which was attached an old rusty chain with -a collar fixed to the end of it. I confess it made my blood -creep when I thought of the possibility of any human being -having inhabited it! And our old friend expressed as much -horror as ourselves, assuring us that it must certainly have been -constructed for some such dreadful purpose. As, however, we -were no believers in ghosts, we all agreed that the noises must -proceed from somebody who had an interest in keeping the -house empty; and since it was very disagreeable to imagine -that there were secret means of entering it at night, we resolved, -as soon as possible, to look out for another residence, -and in the meantime to say nothing about the matter to anybody. -About ten days after this determination, my mother, -observing one morning that Creswell, when she came to dress -her, looked exceedingly pale and ill, inquired if anything was -the matter with her. ‘Indeed, my lady,’ she answered, ‘we -have been frightened to death, and neither I nor Mrs. Marsh -can sleep again in the room we are now in.’</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ‘Well,’ returned my mother, ‘you shall both come and -sleep in the little spare room next us; but what has alarmed -you?’</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ‘Some one, my lady, went through our room in the night; -we both saw the figure, but we covered our heads with the -bed-clothes, and lay in a dreadful fright till morning.’</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“On hearing this, I could not help laughing, upon which -Creswell burst into tears; and seeing how nervous she was, we -comforted her by saying we had heard of a good house, and -that we should very soon abandon our present habitation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A few nights afterward, my mother requested me and -Charles to go to her bed-room and fetch her frame, that she -might prepare her work for the next day. It was after supper, -and we were ascending the stairs by the light of a lamp which -was always kept burning, when we saw going up before us a -tall, thin figure, with hair flowing down his back, and wearing -a loose powdering gown. We both at once concluded it was -my sister Hannah, and called out: ‘It won’t do, Hannah—you -can not frighten us!’ Upon which the figure turned into a -recess in the wall; but, as there was nobody there when we -passed, we concluded that Hannah had contrived, somehow or -other, to slip away and make her escape by the back stairs. -On telling this to my mother, she said: ‘It is very odd, for -Hannah went to bed with a headache before you came in from -your walk;’ and sure enough, on going to her room, there we -found her fast asleep; and Alice, who was at work there, assured -us that she had been so for more than an hour. On mentioning -this circumstance to Creswell, she turned quite pale -and exclaimed that that was precisely the figure she and Marsh -had seen in their bed-room.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“About this time, my brother Harry came to spend a few -days with us, and we gave him a room up another pair of -stairs, at the opposite end of the house. A morning or two -after his arrival, when he came down to breakfast, he asked my -mother angrily whether she thought he went to bed drunk and -could not put out his own candle, that she sent those French -rascals to watch him. My mother assured him that she never -thought of doing such a thing; but he persisted in the accusation, -adding: ‘Last night I jumped up and opened the door, -and, by the light of the moon through the skylight, I saw the -fellow in his loose gown at the bottom of the stairs. If I had -not been in my shirt, I would have gone after him and made -him remember coming to watch me.’</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We were now preparing to quit the house, having secured -another, belonging to a gentleman who was going to spend -some time in Italy; but, a few days before our removal, it happened -that Mr. and Mrs. Atkyns, some English friends of ours, -called, to whom we mentioned these circumstances, observing -how extremely unpleasant it was to live in a house that -somebody found means of getting into, though how they contrived -it we could not discover, nor what their motive could be -except it was to frighten us; adding, that nobody could sleep -in the room Marsh and Creswell had been obliged to give up. -Upon this Mrs. Atkyns laughed heartily, and said she should -like, of all things, to sleep there, if my mother would allow her, -adding, that with her little terrier she should not be afraid of -any ghost that ever appeared. As my mother had, of course, -no objection to this fancy of hers, she requested Mrs. Atkyns to -ride home with the groom, in order that the latter might bring -her night-things before the gates of the town would be shut, as -they were then residing a little way in the country. Mr. Atkyns -smiled and said she was very bold; but he made no difficulties, -and sent the things,—and his wife retired with her dog -to her room when we retired to ours, apparently without the -least apprehension.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“When she came down in the morning, we were immediately -struck at seeing her look very ill; and on inquiring if -she too had been frightened, she said she had been awakened -in the night by something moving in her room, and that, by the -light of the night-lamp, she saw most distinctly a figure, and -that the dog, which was spirited and flew at everything, never -stirred, although she had endeavored to make him. We saw -clearly that she had been very much alarmed; and when Mr. -Atkyns came, and endeavored to dissipate the feeling by persuading -her that she might have dreamed it, she got quite -angry. We could not help thinking that she had actually seen -something; and my mother said, after she was gone, that though -she could not bring herself to believe it was really a ghost, still -she earnestly hoped that she might get out of the house without -seeing this figure, which frightened people so much.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We were now within three days of the one fixed for our -removal. I had been taking a long ride, and, being tired, had -fallen asleep the moment I lay down; but, in the middle of the -night, I was suddenly awakened—I can not tell by what, for -the steps over our heads we had become so used to that it no -longer disturbed us. Well, I awoke. I had been lying with -my face toward my mother, who was asleep beside me, and, as -one usually does on awaking, I turned to the other side, where, -the weather being warm, the curtain of the bed was undrawn, -as it was, also, at the foot; and I saw standing by a chest of -drawers, which were betwixt me and the window, a thin, tall -figure, in a loose powdering gown, one arm resting on the -drawers, and the face turned toward me. I saw it quite distinctly -by the night-light, which burned clearly. It was a long, -thin, pale, young face, with, oh, such a melancholy expression -as can never be effaced from my memory! I was, certainly, -very much frightened; but my great horror was, lest my mother -should awake and see the figure. I turned my head gently -toward her, and heard her breathing high in a sound sleep. -Just then the clock on the stairs struck four. I dare say it was -nearly an hour before I ventured to look again, and when I did -take courage to turn my eyes toward the drawers, there was -nothing; yet I had not heard the slightest sound, though I had -been listening with the greatest intensity.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“As you may suppose, I never closed my eyes again; and -glad I was when Creswell knocked at the door, as she did every -morning, for we always locked it, and it was my business to get -out of bed and let her in; but on this occasion, instead of doing -so, I called out, ‘Come in; the door is not fastened;’ upon -which she answered that it was, and I was obliged to get out of -bed and admit her as usual.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“When I told my mother what had happened, she was very -grateful to me for not waking her, and commended me much -for my resolution; but as she was always my first object, that -was not to be wondered at. She however resolved not to risk -another night in the house; and we got out of it that very day, -after instituting, with the aid of the servants, a thorough search, -with a view to ascertain if there was any possible means of -getting into the rooms except by the usual modes of ingress; -but our search was vain—none could be discovered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I think, from the errors in the names, &c., that the publisher -of the ‘Accredited Ghost-Stories’ must have obtained his account -from the inhabitants of Lille.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Considering the number of people that were in the house, -the fearlessness of the family, and their disinclination to believe -in what is called <span class='it'>the supernatural</span>, together with the great interest -the owner of this large and handsome residence must have -had in discovering the trick, if there had been one, I think it is -difficult to find any other explanation of this strange story, than -that the sad and disappointed spirit of this poor, injured, and -probably murdered boy, had never been disengaged from its -earthly relations, to which regret for its frustrated hopes and -violated rights still held it attached.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There is a story told by Pliny the younger, of a house at -Athens, in which nobody could live, from its being haunted. -At length the philosopher Athenadorus took it; and the first -night he was there, he seems to have comported himself very -much as the courageous Mrs. Canning did, on a similar occasion, -at Plymouth. He sent his servants to bed, and set himself -seriously to work with his writing materials, determined -that fancy should not be left free to play him false. For some -time all was still, and his mind was wholly engaged in his labors, -when he heard a sound like the rattling of chains—which -was the sound that had frightened everybody out of the house; -but Athenadorus closed his ears, kept his thoughts collected, -and wrote on, without lifting up his eyes. The noise, however, -increased; it approached the door; it entered the room; then -he looked round, and beheld the figure of an old man, lean, -haggard, and dirty, with dishevelled hair, and a long beard, who -held up his finger and beckoned him. Athenadorus made a -gesture with his own hand in return, signifying that he should -wait, and went on with his writing. Then the figure advanced -and shook his chains over the philosopher’s head, who, on looking -up, saw him beckoning as before; whereupon he arose and -followed him. The apparition walked slowly, as if obstructed -by his chains; and having conducted him to a certain spot in -the court, which separated the two divisions of an ancient Greek -house, he suddenly disappeared. Athenadorus gathered together -some grass and leaves, in order to mark the place; and -the next day he recommended the authorities to dig there, which -they did, and found the skeleton of a human being encircled -with chains. It being taken up, and the rights of sepulture duly -performed, the house was no longer disturbed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This was, probably, some poor prisoner also; and in his desire -to direct notice to his body, we see the prejudices of his -age and country surviving dissolution. Grose, the antiquary, -who is, as I have before observed, very facetious on the subject -of ghosts, remarks that “Dragging chains is not the custom of -English ghosts, chains and black vestments being chiefly the -accoutrements of foreign spectres, seen in arbitrary governments.” -Now, this is a very striking observation. Grose’s -studies had, doubtless, introduced him to many histories of this -description; and the different characteristics of these apparitions, -under different governments, is a circumstance in remarkable -conformity with the views of those who have been led to -take a much more serious view of the subject. They appear -as they lived, and as they conceive of themselves; and when -rapport or receptivity enable them to see, and to render themselves -visible to those yet living in the flesh, it is by so appearing -that they tell their story, and ask for sympathy and assistance. -I say enable them <span class='it'>to see</span>, because there seem many -reasons for concluding that they do not, under ordinary circumstances, -see us, any more than we see them. Whether it be -rapport with certain inhabitants, or whether the phenomenon be -dependent on certain periods, or any other condition, we can -not tell; but I have met with several accounts of houses in -which an annoyance of this sort has recurred more than once, -at different intervals, sometimes at a distance of seven or ten -years, the intermediate time being quite free from it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One of the most melancholy and impressive circumstances of -this sort I have met with, occurred to Mrs. L——, a lady with -whose family I am acquainted; Mrs. L—— herself having -been kind enough to furnish me with the particulars: A few -years since, she took a furnished house in Stevenson street, -North Shields, and she had been in it but a very few hours before -she was perplexed by hearing feet in the passage, though, -whenever she opened the door, she could see nobody. She -went to the kitchen, and asked the servant if she had not heard -the same sound. She said she had not, but that there seemed -to be strange noises in the house. When Mrs. L—— went to -bed, she could not go to sleep for the noise of a child’s rattle, -which seemed to be inside her curtains. It rattled round her -head, first on one side, then on the other; then there were -sounds of feet, and of a child crying, and a woman sobbing; -and, in short, so many strange noises that the servant became -frightened and went away. The next girl Mrs. L—— engaged -came from Leith, and was a stranger to the place; but she had -only passed a night in the house, when she said to her mistress, -“This is a troubled house you’ve got into, ma’am;” and she -described, among the rest, that she had repeatedly heard her -own name called by a voice near her, though she could see nobody.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One night Mrs. L—— heard a voice, like nothing human, -close to her, cry, “Weep! weep! weep!” Then there was a -sound like some one struggling for breath, and again “Weep! -weep! weep!” Then the gasping, and a third time, “Weep! -weep! weep!” She stood still, and looked steadfastly on the -spot whence the voice proceeded, but could see nothing; and -her little boy, who held her hand, kept saying, “What is that, -mamma? What is that?” She describes the sound as most -frightful. All the noises seemed to suggest the idea of childhood, -and of a woman in trouble. One night, when it was crying -round her bed, Mrs. L—— took courage and adjured it; -upon which the noise ceased, for that time, but there was no -answer. Mr. L—— was at sea when she took the house, and -when he came home he laughed at the story at first, but soon -became so convinced the account she gave was correct, that he -wanted to have the boards taken up, because, from the noises -seeming to hover much about one spot, he thought perhaps some -explanation of the mystery might be found. But Mrs. L—— -objected that if anything of a painful nature were discovered -she should not be able to continue in the house, and as she must -pay the year’s rent, she wished, if possible, to make out the -time.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She never saw anything but twice; once, the appearance of -a child seemed to fall from the ceiling, close to her, and then -disappear; and another time she saw a child run into a closet -in a room at the top of the house; and it was most remarkable -that a small door in that room, which was used for going -out on to the roof, always stood open. However often they -shut it, it was opened again immediately by an unseen hand, -even before they got out of the room; and this continued the -whole time they were in the house; while, night and day, some -one in creaking shoes was heard pacing backward and forward -in the room over Mr. and Mrs. L——’s heads.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At length the year expired; and to their great relief they -quitted the house; but five or six years afterward, a person -who had bought it having taken up the floor of that upper -room to repair it, there was found, close to the small door above -alluded to, the skeleton of a child. It was then remembered -that some years before a gentleman of somewhat dissolute habits -had resided there, and that he was supposed to have been on -very intimate terms with a young woman-servant who lived -with him, but there had been no suspicion of anything more -criminal.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>About six years ago, Mr. C——, a gentleman engaged in -business in London, heard of a good country-house in the -neighborhood of the metropolis, which was to be had at a low -rent. It was rather an old-fashioned place, and was surrounded -by a garden and pleasure-ground; and having taken a lease of -it for seven years, furnished as it was, his family removed -thither, and he joined them once or twice a week, as his -business permitted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They had been some considerable time in the house without -the occurrence of anything remarkable, when one evening, -toward dusk, Mrs. C——, on going into what was called the -oak bed-room, saw a female figure near one of the windows. It -was apparently a young woman with dark hair hanging over -her shoulders, a silk petticoat, and a short, white robe, and she -appeared to be looking eagerly through the window, as if expecting -somebody. Mrs. C—— clapped her hand upon her -eyes, “as thinking she had seen something she ought not to -have seen,” and when she looked again the figure had disappeared.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Shortly after this, a young girl who filled the situation of -under nursery-maid, came to her in great agitation, saying that -she had had a terrible fright, from seeing a very ugly old -woman looking in upon her as she passed the window in the -lobby. The girl was trembling violently, and almost crying, so -that Mrs. C—— entertained no doubts of the reality of her -alarm. She, however, thought it advisable to laugh her out of -her fear, and went with her to the window, which looked into -a closed court, but there was no one there, neither had any of -the other servants seen such a person. Soon after this, the -family began to find themselves disturbed with strange, and frequently -very loud, noises during the night. Among the rest, there -was something like the beating of a crow-bar upon the pump -in the abovementioned court; but, search as they would, they -could discover no cause for the sound. One day, when Mr. C—— -had brought a friend from London to stay the night with him, -Mrs. C—— thought proper to go up to the oak bed-room, where -the stranger was to sleep, for the purpose of inspecting the arrangements -for his comfort, when, to her great surprise, some -one seemed to follow her up to the fireplace, though, on turning -round, there was nobody to be seen. She said nothing about -it, however, and returned below, where her husband and the -stranger were sitting. Presently, one of the servants (not the -one mentioned above) tapped at the door and requested to -speak with her, and Mrs. C—— going out, she told her, in great -agitation, that in going up stairs to the visiter’s room, a footstep -had followed her all the way to the fireplace, although she could -see nobody. Mrs. C—— said something soothing, and that -matter passed, she, herself, being a good deal puzzled, but still -unwilling to admit the idea that there was anything extra-natural -in these occurrences. Repeatedly, after this, these footsteps -were heard in different parts of the house, when nobody was to -be seen; and often, while she was lying in bed, she heard them -distinctly approach her door, when, being a very courageous -woman, she would start out with a loaded pistol in her hand, -but there was never any one to be seen. At length it was -impossible to conceal from herself and her servants that these -occurrences were of an extraordinary nature, and the latter, as -may be supposed, felt very uncomfortable. Among other unpleasant -things, while sitting all together in the kitchen, they -used to see the latch lifted and the door open, though no one -came in that they could see; and when Mr. C—— himself -watched for these events, although they took place, and he was -quite on the alert, he altogether failed in detecting any visible -agent.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One night, the same servant who had heard the footsteps following -her to the bed-room fireplace, happening to be asleep in -Mrs. C——’s chamber, she became much disturbed, and was -heard to murmur, “Wake me! wake me!” as if in great mental -anguish. Being aroused, she told her mistress a dream she -had had, which seemed to throw some light upon these mysteries. -She thought she was in the oak bed-room, and at one end -of it she saw a young female in an old-fashioned dress, with -long dark hair, while in another part of the room was a very -ugly old woman, also in old-fashioned attire. The latter addressing -the former said, “What have you done with the child, -Emily? What have you done with the child?” To which the -younger figure answered, “Oh, I did not kill it. He was preserved, -and grew up, and joined the —— regiment, and went -to India.” Then addressing the sleeper, the young lady continued, -“I have never spoken to mortal before; but I will tell -you all. My name is Miss Black; and this old woman is Nurse -Black. Black is not her name, but we call her so because she -has been so long in the family.” Here the old woman interrupted -the speaker by coming up and laying her hand on the -dreaming girl’s shoulder, while she said something; but she -could not remember what, for, feeling excruciating pain from -the touch, she had been so far aroused as to be sensible she was -asleep, and to beg to be wholly awakened.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As the old woman seemed to resemble the figure that one -of the other servants had seen looking into the window, and -the young one resembled that she had herself seen in the oak -chamber, Mrs. C—— naturally concluded that there was something -extraordinary about this dream, and she consequently -took an early opportunity of inquiring in the neighborhood -what was known as to the names or circumstances of the former -inhabitants of this house; and, after much investigation, -she learned that, about seventy or eighty years before, it had -been in the possession of a Mrs. Ravenhall, who had a niece, -named Miss Black, living with her. This niece Mrs. C—— -supposed might be the younger of the two persons who was -seen. Subsequently, she saw her again in the same room, -wringing her hands, and looking with a mournful significance -to one corner. They had the boards taken up on that spot, -but nothing was found.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One of the most curious incidents, connected with this story, -remains to be told. After occupying the house three years, -they were preparing to quit it—not on account of its being -haunted, but for other reasons—when on awaking one -morning, a short time before their departure, Mrs. C—— saw, -standing at the foot of her bed, a dark-complexioned man, in a -working dress, a fustian jacket, and red comforter round his -neck—who, however, suddenly disappeared. Mr. C—— was -lying beside her at the time, but asleep. This was the last apparition -seen. But the strange thing is, that a few days after -this, it being necessary to order in a small quantity of coals to -serve till their removal, Mr. C—— undertook to perform the -commission on his way to London. Accordingly, the next day, -she mentioned to him that the coals had arrived; which he said -was very fortunate, since he had entirely forgotten to order -them. Wondering whence they had come, Mrs. C—— hereupon -inquired of the servants, who none of them knew anything -about the matter; but on interrogating a person in the village, -by whom they had frequently been provided with this article, -he answered that they had been ordered by a dark man, in -a fustian jacket and red comfort, who had called for the -purpose.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After this last event, Mr. and Mrs. C—— quitted the house; -but I have heard that its subsequent tenants encountered some -similar annoyances, although I have no means of ascertaining -the particulars.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But perhaps one of the most remarkable cases of haunting in -modern times, is that of Willington, near Newcastle, in my account -of which, however, I find myself anticipated by Mr. -Howitt; and as he has had the advantage of visiting the place, -which I have not, I shall take the liberty of borrowing his description -of it, prefacing the account with the following letter -from Mr. Proctor, the owner of the house, who it will be seen -vouches for the general authenticity of the narrative. The letter -was written in answer to one from me, requesting some -more precise information than I had been able to obtain:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Josh. Proctor hopes C. Crowe will excuse her note having -remained two weeks unanswered, during which time J. P. has -been from home, or particularly engaged. Feeling averse to -add to the publicity the circumstances occurring in his house, -at Willington, have already obtained, J. P. would rather not -furnish additional particulars; but if C. C. is not in possession -of the number of ‘Howitt’s Journal,’ which contains a variety -of details on the subject, he will be glad to forward her one. -He would, at the same time, assure C. Crowe of the strict accuracy -of that portion of W. Howitt’s narrative which is extracted -from ‘Richardson’s Table Book.’ W. Howitt’s statements, -derived from his recollection of verbal communications with -branches of J. Proctor’s family, are likewise essentially correct, -though, as might be expected in some degree, erroneous circumstantially.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“J. P. takes leave to express his conviction that the unbelief -of the educated classes in apparitions of the deceased and kindred -phenomena is not grounded on a fair philosophic examination -of the facts, which have induced the popular belief of all -ages and countries; and that it will be found by succeeding -ages to have been nothing better than unreasoning and unreasonable -prejudice.</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:1em;'>“<span class='it'>Willington, near Newcastle-on-Tyne</span>,</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:3em;'><span class='it'>7th mo. 22, 1847</span>.”</p> - -<div class='lgc' style='margin-top:1em;'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<p class='line'>“VISITS TO REMARKABLE PLACES.</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line'>“<span class='sc'>by william howitt.</span></p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line' style='margin-bottom:1em;'>“THE HAUNTED HOUSE AT WILLINGTON, NEAR NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.</p> -</div> <!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>“We have of late years settled it as an established fact that -ghosts and haunted houses were the empty creation of ignorant -times. We have comfortably persuaded ourselves that such -fancies only hovered in the twilight of superstition, and that in -these enlightened days they had vanished for ever. How often -has it been triumphantly referred to, as a proof that all such -things were the offspring of ignorance, that nothing of the kind -is heard of now? What shall we say, then, to the following -facts? Here we have ghosts and a haunted house still. We -have them in the face of our vaunted noonday light—in the -midst of a busy and a populous neighborhood—in the neighborhood -of a large and most intelligent town—and in a family -neither ignorant nor in any other respect superstitious. For -years have these ghosts and hauntings disturbed the quiet of a -highly respectable family, and continue to haunt and disturb, -spite of the incredulity of the wise, the investigations of the curious, -and the anxious vigilance of the suffering family itself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Between the railway running from Newcastle-on-Tyne to -North Shields, and the river Tyne, there lie in a hollow some -few cottages, a parsonage, a mill, and a miller’s house: these -constitute the hamlet of Willington. Just above these the railway -is carried across the valley on lofty arches, and from it -you look down on the mill and cottages, lying at a considerable -depth below. The mill is a large steam flour-mill, like a factory, -and the miller’s house stands near it, but not adjoining it. -None of the cottages which lie between these premises and the -railway, either, are in contact with them. The house stands -on a sort of little promontory, round which runs the channel of -a water-course, which appears to fill and empty with the tides. -On one side of the mill and house, slopes away upward a field -to a considerable distance, where it is terminated by other enclosures; -on the other stands a considerable extent of ballast-hill—<span class='it'>i. e.</span>, -one of the numerous hills on the banks of the Tyne -made by the deposite of ballast from the vessels trading thither. -At a distance, the top of the mill seems about level with the -country around it. The place lies about half-way between -Newcastle and North Shields.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This mill is, I believe, the property of, and is worked by, -Messrs. Unthank and Procter. Mr. Joseph Procter resides on -the spot in the house just by the mill, as already stated. He is -a member of the society of friends—a gentleman in the very -prime of life—and his wife, an intelligent lady, is of a family -of friends in Carlisle. They have several young children. -This very respectable and well-informed family, belonging to a -sect which of all others is most accustomed to control, to regulate, -and to put down even the imagination—the last people in -the world, as it would appear, in fact, to be affected by any -mere imaginary terrors or impressions—have for years been -persecuted by the most extraordinary noises and apparitions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The house is not an old house, as will appear; it was built -about the year 1800. It has no particularly spectral look about -it. Seeing it in passing, or within, ignorant of its real character, -one should by no means say that it was a place likely to -have the reputation of being haunted. Yet looking down from -the railway, and seeing it and the mill lying in a deep hole, one -might imagine various strange noises likely to be heard in such -a place in the night, from vessels on the river—from winds -sweeping and howling down the gulley in which it stands—from -engines in the neighborhood connected with coal-mines, -one of which, I could not tell where, was making at the time I -was there a wild sighing noise, as I stood on the hill above. -There is not any passage, however, known of under the house, -by which subterranean noises could be heard; nor are they -merely noises that are heard,—distinct apparitions are declared -to be seen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Spite of the unwillingness of Mr. Procter, that these mysterious -circumstances should become quite public, and averse as he -is to make known himself these strange visitations, they were -of such a nature that they soon became rumored over the whole -neighborhood. Numbers of people hurried to the place to inquire -into the truth of them, and at length a remarkable occurrence -brought them into print. What this occurrence was, the -pamphlet which appeared, and which was afterward reprinted -in ‘The Local Historian’s Table-Book,’ published by Mr. M. A. -Richardson, of Newcastle, and which I here copy, will explain. -It will be seen that the writer of this article has the fullest faith -in the reality of what he relates, as, indeed, vast numbers of the -best informed inhabitants of the neighborhood have.</p> - -<div class='lgc' style='margin-top:1em;'> <!-- rend=';' --> -<p class='line'>“<span class='sc'>authentic account of a visit to the haunted house</span></p> -<p class='line' style='margin-bottom:1em;'><span class='sc'>at willington.</span></p> -</div> <!-- end rend --> - -<p class='pindent'>“Were we to draw an inference from the number of cases -of reported visitations from the invisible world that have been -made public of late, we might be led to imagine that the days -of supernatural agency were about to recommence, and that -ghosts and hobgoblins were about to resume their sway over -the fears of mankind. Did we, however, indulge in such an -apprehension, a glance at the current tone of the literature and -philosophy of the day, when treating of these subjects, would -show a measure of unbelief regarding them as scornful and uncompromising -as the veriest atheist or materialist could desire. -Notwithstanding the prevalence of this feeling among the educated -classes, there is a curiosity and interest manifested in -every occurrence of this nature, that indicate a lurking faith at -bottom, which an affected skepticism fails entirely to conceal. -We feel, therefore, that we need not apologise to our readers -for introducing the following particulars of a <span class='it'>visit</span> to a house in -this immediate neighborhood, which had become notorious for -some years previous, as being ‘haunted;’ and several of the -reputed deeds, or misdeeds, of its supernatural visitant had been -published far and wide by rumor’s thousand tongues. We -deem it as worthy to be chronicled as the doings of its contemporary -<span class='it'>genii</span> at Windsor, Dublin, Liverpool, Carlisle, and Sunderland, -and which have all likewise hitherto failed, after public -investigation, to receive a solution consistent with a rejection -of spiritual agency.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We have visited the house in question, which is well known -to many of our readers, as being near a large steam corn-mill, -in full view of Willington viaduct, on the Newcastle and -Shields railway; and it may not be irrelevant to mention that -it is quite detached from the mill, or any other premises, and -has no cellaring under it. The proprietor of the house, who -lives in it, declines to make public the particulars of the disturbance -to which he has been subjected, and it must be understood -that the account of the visit we are about to lay before -our readers is derived from a friend to whom Dr. Drury presented -a copy of his correspondence on the subject, with power -to make such use of it as he thought proper. We learned that -the house had been reputed, at least one room in it, to have been -haunted forty years ago, and had afterward been undisturbed -for a long period, during some years of which quietude the -present occupant lived in it unmolested. We are also informed -that about the time that the premises were building, viz., in 1800 -or 1801, there were reports of some deed of darkness having -been committed by some one employed about them. We -should extend this account beyond the limits we have set to -ourselves, did we now enter upon a full account of the strange -things which have been seen and heard about the place by several -of the neighbors, as well as those which are reported to -have been seen, heard, and felt, by the inmates, whose servants -have been changed, on that account, many times. We proceed, -therefore, to give the following letters which have been passed -between individuals of undoubted veracity, leaving the reader -to draw his own conclusions on the subject.”</p> - -<div class='blockquote100percent'> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:1em;'>“(<span class='sc'>Copy, No. 1.</span>)</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;font-size:.9em;'>“<span class='it'>17th June, 1840.</span></p> - -<p class='noindent'>“<span class='sc'>To Mr. Procter</span>:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“<span class='sc'>Sir</span>: Having heard from indisputable authority, viz., that -of my excellent friend, Mr. Davison, of Low Willington, farmer, -that you and your family are disturbed by most unaccountable -noises at night, I beg leave to tell you that I have -read attentively Wesley’s account of such things, but with, I -must confess, no great belief; but an account of this report -coming from one of your sect, which I admire for candor and -simplicity, my curiosity is excited to a high pitch, which I -would fain satisfy. My desire is to remain alone in the house -all night with no companion but my own watch-dog, in which, -as far as courage and fidelity are concerned, I place much more -reliance than upon any three young gentlemen I know of. And -it is also my hope that, if I have a fair trial, I shall be able to -unravel this mystery. Mr. Davison will give you every satisfaction -if you take the trouble to inquire of him concerning me.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am, sir, yours most respectfully,</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;'>“<span class='sc'>Edward Drury</span>.</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:0em;font-size:.9em;'>“At C. C. Embleton’s, Surgeon,</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:1em;font-size:.9em;'>“<span class='it'>No. 10 Church street, Sunderland</span>.”</p> - -</div> - -<div class='blockquote100percent'> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:1em;'>“(<span class='sc'>Copy, No. 2.</span>)</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Joseph Procter’s respects to Edward Drury, whose note -he received a few days ago, expressing a wish to pass a night -in his house at Willington. As the family is going from home -on the 23d instant, and one of Unthank and Procter’s men will -sleep in the house, if Edward Drury feel inclined to come on -or after the 24th, to spend a night in it, he is at liberty so to do, -with or without his faithful dog, which, by-the-by, can be of no -possible use, except as company. At the same time, Joseph -Procter thinks it best to inform him that particular disturbances -are far from frequent at present, being only occasional, and -quite uncertain, and therefore the satisfaction of Edward Drury’s -curiosity must be considered as problematical. The best -chance will be afforded by sitting up alone in the third story, -till it be fairly daylight, say two or three A. M.</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:1em;font-size:.9em;'>“<span class='it'>Willington, 6th mo. 21st, 1840.”</span></p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Joseph Procter will leave word with T. Maun, foreman, to -admit Edward Drury.</p> - -<p class='line'> </p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Mr. Procter left home with his family on the 23d of June, -and got an old servant, who was then out of place in consequence -of ill-health, to take charge of the house during their -absence. Mr. Procter returned alone, on account of business, -on the 3d of July, on the evening of which day Mr. Drury and -his companion also unexpectedly arrived. After the house had -been locked up, every corner of it was minutely examined. -The room out of which the apparition issued is too shallow -to contain any person. Mr. Drury and his friend had lights by -them, and were satisfied that there was no one in the house besides -Mr. Procter, the servant, and themselves.”</p> - -</div> - -<div class='blockquote100percent'> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:1em;'>“(<span class='sc'>Copy, No. 3.</span>)</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;font-size:.9em;'>“<span class='sc'>Monday Morning</span>, <span class='it'>July 6th, 1840</span>.</p> - -<p class='noindent'>“<span class='it'>To Mr. Procter</span>:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“<span class='sc'>Dear Sir</span>: I am sorry I was not at home to receive you -yesterday, when you kindly called to inquire for me. I am -happy to state, that I am really surprised that I have been so -little affected as I am, after that horrid and most awful affair. -The only bad effect that I feel is a heavy dullness in one of my -ears, the right one. I call it heavy dullness because I not only -do not hear distinctly, but feel in it a constant noise. This I -never was affected with before; but I doubt not it will go off. -I am persuaded that no one went to your house at any time -more <span class='it'>disbelieving in respect to seeing anything peculiar</span>; and -now no one can be more satisfied than myself. I will, in the -course of a few days, send you a full detail of all I saw and -heard. Mr. Spence and two other gentlemen came down to -my house in the afternoon to hear my detail; but, sir, could I -account for these noises from natural causes, yet so firmly am I -persuaded of the horrid apparition, that I would affirm that -what I saw with my eyes was a punishment to me for my -scoffing and unbelief; that I am assured that, as far as the horror -is concerned, they are happy that believe and have not -seen. Let me trouble you, sir, to give me the address of your -sister, from Cumberland, who was alarmed, and also of your -brother. I would feel a satisfaction in having a line from them; -and, above all things, it will be a great cause of joy to me, if -you never allow your young family to be in that horrid house -again. Hoping you will write a few lines at your leisure,</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;'>“I remain, dear sir, yours very truly,</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;'>“<span class='sc'>Edward Drury</span>.”</p> - -</div> - -<div class='blockquote100percent'> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:1em;'>“(<span class='sc'>Copy, No. 4.</span>)</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;font-size:.9em;'>“<span class='sc'>Willington</span>, <span class='it'>7th mo. 9, 1840</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“<span class='sc'>Respected Friend, E. Drury</span>: Having been at Sunderland, -I did not receive thine of the 6th till yesterday morning. -I am glad to hear thou art getting well over the effects of thy -unlooked-for visitation. I hold in respect thy bold and manly -assertion of the truth, in the face of that ridicule and ignorant -conceit with which that which is called the supernatural, in the -present day, is usually assailed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I shall be glad to receive thy detail, in which it will be -needful to be very particular in showing that thou couldst not -be asleep or attacked by nightmare, or mistake a reflection of -the candle, as some sagaciously suppose.</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;'>“I remain, respectfully, thy friend,</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;'>“<span class='sc'>Josh. Procter</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“P. S.—I have about thirty witnesses to various things -which can not be satisfactorily accounted for on any other principle -than that of spiritual agency.”</p> - -</div> - -<div class='blockquote100percent'> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:1em;'>“(<span class='sc'>Copy, No. 5.</span>)</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;font-size:.9em;'>“<span class='sc'>Sunderland</span>, <span class='it'>July 13, 1840</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“<span class='sc'>Dear Sir</span>: I hereby, according to promise in my last letter, -forward you a true account of what I heard and saw at -your house, in which I was led to pass the night from various -rumors circulated by most respectable parties—particularly -from an account by my esteemed friend Mr. Davison, whose -name I mentioned to you in a former letter. Having received -your sanction to visit your mysterious dwelling, I went on the -3d of July, accompanied by a friend of mine, T. Hudson. This -was not according to promise, nor in accordance with my first -intent, as I wrote to you I would come alone; but I felt gratified -at your kindness in not alluding to the liberty I had taken, -as it ultimately proved for the best. I must here mention that, -not expecting you at home, I had in my pocket a brace of pistols, -determining in my mind to let one of them drop before -the miller, as if by accident, for fear he should presume to play -tricks upon me; but, after my interview with you, I felt there -was no occasion for weapons, and did not load them, after you -had allowed us to inspect as minutely as we pleased every portion -of the house. I sat down on the third story landing, -fully expecting to account for any noises that I might hear, in -a philosophical manner. This was about eleven o’clock P. M. -About ten minutes to twelve, we both heard a noise, as if a -number of people were pattering with their bare feet upon the -floor; and yet so singular was the noise, that I could not -minutely determine whence it proceeded. A few minutes -afterward we heard a noise, as if some one was knocking with -his knuckles among our feet; this was followed by a hollow -cough from the very room from which the apparition proceeded. -The only noise after this, was as if a person was -rustling against the wall in coming up stairs. At a quarter to -one, I told my friend that, feeling a little cold, I would like to -go to bed, as we might hear the noise equally well there; he -replied that he would not go to bed till daylight. I took up a -note which I had accidentally dropped, and began to read it, -after which I took out my watch to ascertain the time, and -found that it wanted ten minutes to one. In taking my eyes -from the watch, they became riveted upon a closet-door, which -I distinctly saw open, and saw also the figure of a female attired -in grayish garments, with the head inclining downward, and one -hand pressed upon the chest as if in pain, and the other, viz., -the right hand, extended toward the floor, with the index finger -pointing downward. It advanced with an apparently cautious -step across the floor toward me; immediately as it approached -my friend, who was slumbering, its right hand was extended -toward him: I then rushed at it, giving, as Mr. Procter states, -a most awful yell; but, instead of grasping it, I fell upon my -friend, and I recollected nothing distinctly for nearly three -hours afterward. I have since learned that I was carried down -stairs in an agony of fear and terror.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I hereby certify that the above account is strictly true and -correct in every respect.</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;'>“<span class='sc'>Edward Drury.</span></p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:1em;font-size:.9em;'>“<span class='it'>North Shields.”</span></p> - -</div> - -<div class='blockquote100percent'> - -<p class='pindent'>“The following more recent case of an apparition seen in -the window of the same house from the outside, by four credible -witnesses, who had the opportunity of scrutinizing it for -more than ten minutes, is given on most unquestionable authority. -One of these witnesses is a young lady, a near connection -of the family, who, for obvious reasons, did not sleep in the -house; another, a respectable man, who has been many years -employed in, and is foreman of, the manufactory; his daughter, -aged about seventeen; and his wife, who first saw the object -and called out the others to view it. The appearance presented -was that of a bareheaded man, in a flowing robe like a -surplice, who glided backward and forward about three feet -from the floor, or level with the bottom of the second story window, -seeming to enter the wall on each side, and thus present -a side view in passing. It then stood still in the window, and -a part of the body came through both the blind, which was close -down, and the window, as its luminous body intercepted the -view of the framework of the window. It was semi-transparent, -and as bright as a star, diffusing a radiance all around. -As it grew more dim, it assumed a blue tinge, and gradually -faded away from the head downward. The foreman passed -twice close to the house under the window, and also went to -inform the family, but found the house locked up. There was -no moonlight, nor a ray of light visible anywhere about, and no -person near. Had any magic lantern been used, it could not -possibly have escaped detection; and it is obvious nothing of -that kind could have been employed on the inside, as in that -case the light could only have been thrown upon the blind, and -not so as to intercept the view both of the blind and of the -window from without. The owner of the house slept in that -room, and must have entered it shortly after this figure had -disappeared.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It may well be supposed what a sensation the report of the -visit of Mr. Drury and its result must have created. It flew -far and wide, and when it appeared in print, still wider; and, -what was not a little singular, Mr. Procter received, in consequence, -a great number of letters from individuals of different -ranks and circumstances, including many of much property, -informing him that their residences were, and had been for -years, subject to annoyances of precisely a similar character.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“So, the ghosts and the hauntings are not gone, after all! -We have turned our backs on them, and, in the pride of our -philosophy, have refused to believe in them; but they have -persisted in remaining, notwithstanding!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“These singular circumstances being at various times related -by parties acquainted with the family at Willington, I was curious, -on a tour northward some time ago, to pay this haunted -house a visit, and to solicit a night’s lodging there. Unfortunately -the family was absent, on a visit to Mrs. Procter’s relatives -in Carlisle, so that my principal purpose was defeated; -but I found the foreman and his wife, mentioned in the foregoing -narrative, living just by. They spoke of the facts above -detailed with the simple earnestness of people who had no -doubts whatever on the subject. The noises and apparitions in -and about this house seemed just like any other facts connected -with it—as matters too palpable and positive to be questioned, -any more than that the house actually stood, and the mill -ground. They mentioned to me the circumstance of the young -lady, as above stated, who took up her lodging in their house, -because she would no longer encounter the annoyances of the -haunted house—and what trouble it had occasioned the family -in procuring and retaining servants.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The wife accompanied me into the house, which I found in -charge of a recently-married servant and her husband, during -the absence of the family. This young woman—who had, -previous to her marriage, lived some time in the house—had -never seen anything, and therefore had no fear. I was shown -over the house, and especially into the room on the third story, -the main haunt of the unwelcome visiters, and where Dr. Drury -had received such an alarm. This room, as stated, was and -had been for some time abandoned as a bed-room, from its bad -character, and was occupied as a lumber-room.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“At Carlisle, I again missed Mr. Procter: he had returned -to Willington, so that I lost the opportunity of hearing from -him or Mrs. Procter any account of these singular matters. I -saw, however, various members of his wife’s family, most intelligent -people, of the highest character for sound and practical -sense, and they were unanimous in their confirmation of the -particulars I had heard, and which are here related.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“One of Mrs. Procter’s brothers—a gentleman in middle -life, and of a peculiarly sensible, sedate, and candid disposition, -a person apparently most unlikely to be imposed on by fictitious -alarms or tricks—assured me that he had himself, on a -visit there, been disturbed by the strangest noises; that he had -resolved, before going, that if any such noises occurred, he -would speak, and demand of the invisible actor who he was, and -why he came thither: but the occasion came, and he found -himself unable to fulfil his intention. As he lay in bed one -night, he heard a heavy step ascend the stairs toward his room, -and some one striking, as it were, with a thick stick on the -banisters, as he went along. It came to his door, and he essayed -to call, but his voice died in his throat. He then sprang -from his bed, and, opening the door, found no one there—but -now heard the same heavy steps deliberately descending, though -invisible, the steps before his face, and accompanying the descent -with the same loud blows on the banisters.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“My informant now proceeded to the room-door of Mr. -Procter, who he found had also heard the sounds, and who now -also arose, and with a light they made a speedy descent below, -and a thorough search there, but without discovering anything -that could account for the occurrence.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The two young ladies, who, on a visit there, had also been -annoyed by this invisible agent, gave me this account of it: -The first night, as they were sleeping in the same bed, they -felt the bed lifted up beneath them. Of course, they were much -alarmed. They feared lest some one had concealed himself -there for the purpose of robbery. They gave an alarm, search -was made, but nothing was found. On another night, their bed -was violently shaken, and the curtains suddenly hoisted up<a id='r3'/><a href='#f3' style='text-decoration:none'><sup><span style='font-size:0.9em'>[3]</span></sup></a> all -round to the very tester, as if pulled by cords, and as rapidly -let down again, several times! Search again produced no -evidence of the cause. The next, they had the curtains totally -removed from the bed, resolving to sleep without them, as they -felt as though evil eyes were lurking behind them. The consequences -of this, however, were still more striking and terrific. -The following night, as they happened to awake, and the chamber -was light enough (for it was summer) to see everything in -it, they both saw a female figure, of a misty substance, and -bluish-gray hue, come out of the wall at the bed’s head, and -through the head-board, in a horizontal position, and lean over -them. They saw it most distinctly—they saw it as a female -figure come out of, and again pass into, the wall. Their terror -became intense, and one of the sisters from that night refused -to sleep any more in the house, but took refuge in the house -of the foreman during her stay; the other shifting her quarters -to another part of the house. It was the young lady who slept -at the foreman’s who saw, as above related, the singular apparition -of the luminous figure in the window, along with the foreman -and his wife.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It would be too long to relate all the forms in which this -nocturnal disturbance is said by the family to present itself. -When a figure appears, it is sometimes that of a man, as already -described, which is often very luminous, and passes through the -walls as though they were nothing. This male figure is well -known to the neighbors by the name of “Old Jeffrey!” At -other times, it is the figure of a lady, also in gray costume, and -as described by Mr. Drury. She is sometimes seen sitting -wrapped in a sort of mantle, with her head depressed, and her -hands crossed on her lap. The most terrible fact is, that she is -without eyes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“To hear such sober and superior people gravely relate to -you such things, gives you a very odd feeling. They say that -the noise made is often like that of a pavior with his rammer -thumping on the floor. At other times it is coming down stairs, -making a similar loud sound. At others it coughs, sighs, and -groans, like a person in distress; and, again, there is the sound -of a number of little feet pattering on the floor of the upper -chamber, where the apparition has more particularly exhibited -itself, and which, for that reason, is solely used as a lumber-room. -Here these little footsteps may be often heard as if -careering a child’s carriage about, which in bad weather is -kept up there. Sometimes, again, it makes the most horrible -laughs. Nor does it always confine itself to the night. On one -occasion, a young lady, as she assured me herself, opened the -door in answer to a knock, the housemaid being absent, and a -lady in fawn-colored silk entered, and proceeded up stairs. As -the young lady, of course, supposed it a neighbor come to make -a morning call on Mrs. Procter, she followed her up to the -drawing-room, where, however, to her astonishment, she did -not find her, nor was anything more seen of her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Such are a few of the ‘questionable shapes’ in which this -troublesome guest comes. As may be expected, terror of it is -felt by the neighboring cottagers, though it seems to confine its -malicious disturbance almost solely to the occupants of this one -house. There is a well, however, near to which no one ventures -after it is dark, because it has been seen near it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is useless to attempt to give any opinion respecting the -real causes of these strange sounds and sights. How far they -may be real or imaginary, how far they may be explicable by -natural causes or not—the only thing which we have here to -record is, the very singular fact of a most respectable and intelligent -family having for many years been continually annoyed -by them, as well as their visiters. They express themselves as -most anxious to obtain any clew to the true cause, as may be -seen by Mr. Procter’s ready acquiescence in the experiment of -Mr. Drury. So great a trouble is it to them, that they have -contemplated the necessity of quitting the house altogether, -though it would create great inconvenience as regarded business. -And it only remains to be added that we have not heard -very recently whether these visitations are still continued, -though we have a letter of Mr. Procter’s to a friend of ours, -dated September, 1844, in which he says: ‘Disturbances have -for a length of time been only very unfrequent, which is a comfort, -as the elder children are getting old enough (about nine -or ten years) to be more injuriously affected by anything of the -sort.’</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Over these facts let the philosophers ponder, and if any of -them be powerful enough to exorcise ‘Old Jeffrey,’ or the -bluish-gray and misty lady, we are sure that Mr. Joseph Procter -will hold himself deeply indebted to them. We have lately -heard that Mr. Procter has discovered an old book, which -makes it appear that the very same ‘hauntings’ took place in -an old house, on the very same spot, at least two hundred -years ago.”</p> - -</div> - -<p class='pindent'>To the above information, furnished by Mr. Howitt, I have -to subjoin that the family of Mr. Procter are now quitting the -house, which he intends to divide into small tenements for the -work-people. A friend of mine who lately visited Willington, -and who went over the house with Mr. Procter, assures me that -the annoyances still continue, though less frequent than formerly. -Mr. Procter informed her that the female figure generally -appeared in a shroud, and that it had been seen in that -guise by one of the family only a few days before. A wish -being expressed by a gentleman visiting Mr. Procter that some -natural explanation of these perplexing circumstances might be -discovered, the latter declared his entire conviction, founded -on an experience of fifteen years, that no such elucidation was -possible.</p> - -<hr class='footnotemark'/> - -<div class='footnote'> -<table summary='footnote_3'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' class='footnoteid'/> -<col span='1'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td style='vertical-align:top;'> -<div class='footnote-id' id='f3'><a href='#r3'>[3]</a></div> -</td><td> - -<p class='pindent'>It is remarkable that this hoisting of the bed-curtains is similar to an incident -recorded in the account of the visit of Lord Tyrone’s ghost to Lady Beresford.</p> - -</td></tr> -</table> -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='319' id='Page_319'></span><h1>CHAPTER XIV.</h1></div> - -<h3>SPECTRAL LIGHTS, AND APPARITIONS ATTACHED TO CERTAIN FAMILIES.</h3> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>In</span> commencing another chapter, I take the opportunity of -repeating what I have said before, viz., that in treating of these -phenomena, I find it most convenient to assume what I myself -believe—that they are to be explained by the existence and -appearance of what are called GHOSTS; but in so doing, I am -not presuming to settle the question: if any one will examine -into the facts and furnish a better explanation of them, I shall -be ready to receive it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the meantime, assuming this hypothesis, there is one phenomenon -frequently attending their appearance, which has -given rise to a great deal of thoughtless ridicule, but which, in -the present state of science, merits very particular attention. -Grose, whom Dr. Hibbert quotes with particular satisfaction, -says: “I can not learn that ghosts carry tapers in their hands, -as they are sometimes depicted; though the room in which they -appear, even when without fire or candle, is frequently said to -be as light as day.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Most persons will have heard of this peculiarity attending -the appearance of ghosts. In the case of Professor Dorrien’s -apparition, mentioned in a former chapter, Professor Oeder -saw it, when there was no light in the room, by a flame which -proceeded from itself. When he had the room lighted, he saw -it no longer, the light of the lamp rendering invisible the more -delicate phosphorescent light of the spectre: just as the bright -glare of the sun veils the feebler lustre of the stars, and obscures -to our senses many chemical lights which are very perceptible -in darkness. Hence the notion, so available to those who satisfy -themselves with scoffing without inquiring, that broad daylight -banishes apparitions, and that the belief in them is merely -the offspring of physical as well as moral darkness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I meet with innumerable cases in which this phosphorescent -light is one of the accompaniments, the flame sometimes proceeding -visibly from the figure; while in others, the room appeared -pervaded with light, without its seeming to issue from -any particular object.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I remember a case of the servants in a country-house, in -Aberdeenshire, hearing the door-bell ring after their mistress -was gone to bed; on coming up to open it, they saw through a -window that looked into a hall that it was quite light, and that -their master, Mr. F——, who was at the time absent from home, -was there in his travelling dress. They ran to tell their mistress -what they had seen; but when they returned, all was -dark, and there was nothing unusual to be discovered. That -night Mr. F—— died at sea, on his voyage to London.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A gentleman, some time ago, awoke in the middle of a dark -winter’s night, and perceived that his room was as light as if it -were day. He awoke his wife and mentioned the circumstance, -saying he could not help apprehending that some misfortune -had occurred to his fishing-boats, which had put to sea. The -boats were lost that night.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Only last year, there was a very curious circumstance happened -in the south of England, in which these lights were seen. -I give the account literally as I extracted it from the newspaper, -and also the answer of the editor to my further inquiries. -I know nothing more of this story; but it is singularly in keeping -with others proceeding from different quarters.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“<span class='sc'>A Ghost at Bristol.</span>—We have this week a ghost-story -to relate. Yes, a ghost-story; a real ghost-story, and a ghost-story -without, as yet, any clew to its elucidation. After the -dissolution of the Calendars, their ancient residence, adjoining -and almost forming a part of All-Saint’s church, Bristol, was -converted into a vicarage-house, and it is still called by that -name, though the incumbents have for many years ceased to -reside there. The present occupants are Mr. and Mrs. Jones, -the sexton and sextoness of the church, and one or two lodgers; -and it is to the former and their servant-maid that the strange -visiter has made his appearance, causing such terror by his -nightly calls, that all three have determined on quitting the -premises, if indeed they have not already carried their resolution -into effect. Mr. and Mrs. Jones’s description of the disturbance -as given to the landlord, on whom they called in great -consternation, is as distinct as any ghost-story could be. The -nocturnal visiter is heard walking about the house when the -inhabitants are in bed; and Mr. Jones, who is a man of by no -means nervous constitution, declares he has several times seen -a light flickering on one of the walls. Mrs. Jones is equally -certain that she has heard a man with creaking shoes walking -in the bed-room above her own, when no man was on the premises -(or at least ought to be), and “was nearly killed with the -fright.” To the servant-maid, however, was vouchsafed the -unenvied honor of seeing this restless night-visiter; she declares -she has repeatedly had her bed-room door unbolted at night -between the hours of twelve and two o’clock—the period -when such beings usually make their promenades—by something -in human semblance; she can not particularize his dress, -but describes it as something antique, and of a fashion “lang -syne gane,” and to some extent corresponding to that of the -ancient Calendars, the former inhabitants of the house. She -further says he is a “whiskered gentleman” (we give her own -words)—which whiskered gentleman has gone the length of -shaking her bed, and she believes would have shaken herself -also, but that she invariably puts her head under the clothes -when she sees him approach. Mrs. Jones declares she believes -in the appearance of the whiskered gentleman, and she had -made up her mind, the night before she called on her landlord, -to leap out of the window (and it is not a trifle that will make -people leap out of the windows) as soon as he entered the -room. The effect of the ‘flickering light’ on Mr. Jones was -quite terrific, causing excessive trembling, and the complete -doubling up of his whole body into a round ball, like.”—<span class='it'>Bristol -Times.</span></p> - -<div class='blockquote100percent'> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;'>“<span class='sc'>Bristol Times Office</span>, <span class='it'>June 3, 1846</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“<span class='sc'>Madam</span>: In reply to your inquiries respecting the ghost-story, -I have to assure you that the whole affair remains wrapped -in the same mystery as when chronicled in the pages of the -<span class='it'>Bristol Times</span>.</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;'>“I am, madam, yours obediently,</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;'>“<span class='sc'>The Editor</span>.”</p> - -</div> - -<p class='pindent'>I subsequently wrote to Mrs. Jones, who I found was not a -very dexterous scribe; but she confirmed the above account—adding, -however, that the Rev. Mr. ——, the clergyman of the -parish, said I had better write to him about it, and that he does -not believe in such things. Of course he does not, and it -would have been useless to have asked his opinion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There never was, perhaps, a more fearless human being -than Madame Gottfried, the empoisonneuse of Bremen; at least, -she felt no remorse—she feared nothing but discovery; and -yet, when after years of successful crime she was at length -arrested, she related that soon after the death of her first husband, -Miltenburg, whom she had poisoned, as she was standing, -in the dusk of the evening, in her drawing-room, she suddenly -saw a bright light hovering at no great distance above -the floor, which advanced toward her bed-room door and then -disappeared. This phenomenon occurred on three successive -evenings. On another occasion, she saw a shadowy appearance -hovering near her—“Ach! denke ich, das ist Miltenburg, -seine erscheinung!”—(Alas! thought I, that is the ghost of -Miltenburg!) Yet did not this withhold her murderous hand.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The lady who met with the curious adventure in Petersburgh, -mentioned in a former chapter, had no light in her room; -yet she saw the watch distinctly by the old woman’s light, -though of what nature it was, she does not know. Of the lights -seen over graves, familiarly called “corpse-candles,” I have -spoken elsewhere—as also of the luminous form perceived by -Rilling in the garden at Colmar, as mentioned by Baron von -Reichenbach. Most people have heard the story of the Radiant -Boy seen by Lord Castlereagh—an apparition which the -owner of the castle admitted to have been visible to many -others. Dr. Kerner mentions a similar fact, wherein an advocate -and his wife were awakened by a noise and a light, and -saw a beautiful child enveloped by the sort of glory that is seen -surrounding the heads of saints. It disappeared, and they -never had a repetition of the phenomenon, which they afterward -heard was believed to recur every seven years in that -house, and to be connected with the cruel murder of a child by -its mother.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>To these instances I will add an account of the ghost seen in -C—— castle, copied from the handwriting of C—— M—— -H—— in a book of manuscript extracts, dated C—— castle, -December 22, 1824, and furnished to me by a friend of the -family:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In order to introduce my readers to the haunted room, I -will mention that it forms part of the old house, with windows -looking into the court, which in early times was deemed a -necessary security against an enemy. It adjoins a tower built -by the Romans for defence; for C—— was properly more a -border tower than a castle of any consideration. There is a -winding staircase in this tower, and the walls are from eight to -ten feet thick.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“When the times became more peaceable, our ancestors enlarged -the arrow-slit windows, and added to that part of the -building which looks toward the river Eden; the view of -which, with its beautiful banks, we now enjoy. But many additions -and alterations have been made since that.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“To return to the room in question, I must observe that it is -by no means remote or solitary, being surrounded on all sides -by chambers that are constantly inhabited. It is accessible by -a passage cut through a wall eight feet in thickness, and its -dimensions are twenty-one by eighteen. One side of the wainscoting -is covered with tapestry; the remainder is decorated -with old family-pictures, and some ancient pieces of embroidery, -probably the handiwork of nuns. Over a press, which has -doors of Venetian glass, is an ancient oaken figure, with a battle-axe -in his hand, which was one of those formerly placed on -the walls of the city of Carlisle, to represent guards. There -used to be, also, an old-fashioned bed and some dark furniture -in this room; but, so many were the complaints of those who -slept there, that I was induced to replace some of these articles -of furniture by more modern ones, in the hope of removing a -certain air of gloom, which I thought might have given rise to -the unaccountable reports of apparitions and extraordinary -noises which were constantly reaching us. But I regret to say -I did not succeed in banishing the nocturnal visiter, which still -continues to disturb our friends.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I shall pass over numerous instances, and select one as being -especially remarkable, from the circumstance of the apparition -having been seen by a clergyman well known and highly -respected in this county, who, not six weeks ago, repeated the -circumstances to a company of twenty persons, among whom -were some who had previously been entire disbelievers in such -appearances.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The best way of giving you these particulars, will be by -subjoining an extract from my journal, entered at the time the -event occurred.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“<span class='sc'>Sept. 8, 1803.</span>—Among other guests invited to C—— castle, -came the Rev. Henry A——, of Redburgh, and rector of -Greystoke, with Mrs. A——, his wife, who was a Miss S——, -of Ulverstone. According to previous arrangements, they were -to have remained with us for some days; but their visit was cut -short in a very unexpected manner. On the morning after -their arrival, we were all assembled at breakfast, when a chaise -and four dashed up to the door in such haste that it knocked -down part of the fence of my flower-garden. Our curiosity -was, of course, awakened to know who could be arriving at so -early an hour; when, happening to turn my eyes toward Mr. -A——, I observed that he appeared extremely agitated. ‘It -is our carriage!’ said he; ‘I am very sorry, but we must absolutely -leave you this morning.’</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We naturally felt and expressed considerable surprise, as -well as regret at this unexpected departure; representing that -we had invited Colonel and Mrs. S——, some friends whom -Mr. A—— particularly desired to meet, to dine with us on that -day. Our expostulations, however, were vain; the breakfast -was no sooner over than they departed, leaving us in consternation -to conjecture what could possibly have occasioned so -sudden an alteration in their arrangements. I really felt quite -uneasy lest anything should have given them offence; and we -reviewed all the occurrences of the preceding evening in order -to discover, if offence there was, whence it had arisen. But our -pains were vain; and after talking a great deal about it for -some days, other circumstances banished it from our minds.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It was not till we some time afterward visited the part of -the country in which Mr. A—— resides, that we learned the -real cause of his sudden departure from C——. The relation -of the fact, as it here follows, is in his own words:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Soon after we went to bed, we fell asleep: it might have -been between one and two in the morning when I awoke. I -observed that the fire was totally extinguished; but although -that was the case, and we had no light, I saw a glimmer in the -centre of the room, which suddenly increased to a bright flame. -I looked out, apprehending that something had caught fire, -when, to my amazement, I beheld a beautiful boy, clothed in -white, with bright locks, resembling gold, standing by my bedside, -in which position he remained some minutes, fixing his -eyes upon me with a mild and benevolent expression. He then -glided gently away toward the side of the chimney, where it is -obvious there is no possible egress, and entirely disappeared. I -found myself again in total darkness, and all remained quiet -until the usual hour of rising. I declare this to be a true -account of what I saw at C—— castle, upon my word as a clergyman.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I am acquainted with some of the family, and with several -of the friends of Mr. A——, who is still alive, though now an -old man, and I can most positively assert that his own conviction, -with regard to the nature of this appearance, has remained -ever unshaken. The circumstance made a lasting impression -upon his mind, and he never willingly speaks of it; but when -he does, it is always with the greatest seriousness, and he never -shrinks from avowing his belief, that what he saw admits of no -other interpretation than the one he then put upon it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, let us see whether in this department of the phenomenon -of ghost-seeing, namely, the lights that frequently accompany -the apparitions, there is anything so worthy of ridicule as -Grose and other such commentators seem to think.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Of God, the uncreated, we know nothing; but the created -spirit, man, we can not conceive of independent of some organism -or organ, however different that organ may be to those -which form our means of apprehension and communication at -present. This organ, we may suppose to be that pervading -ether which is now the germ of what St. Paul calls the <span class='it'>spiritual -body</span>, the <span class='it'>astral spirit</span> of the mystics, the <span class='it'>nerve-spirit</span> of the -clear-seers; the fundamental body, of which the external fleshly -body is but the copy and husk—an organ comprehending all -those distinct ones which we now possess in the one universal, -or, as some of the German physiologists call it, the <span class='it'>central</span> -sense, of which we occasionally obtain some glimpses in somnambulism, -and in other peculiar states of nervous derangement; -especially where the ordinary senses of sight, hearing, feeling, -&c., are in abeyance; an effect which Dr. Ennemoser considers to -be produced by a change of polarity, the external periphery of -the nerves taking on a negative state; and which Dr. Passavent -describes as the retreating of the ether from the external to the -internal, so that the nerves no longer receive impressions, or -convey information to the brain; a condition which may be produced -by various causes, as excess of excitement, great elevation -of the spirit, as we see in the ecstatics and martyrs, over-irritation -producing consequent exhaustion; and also artificially, -by certain manipulations, narcotics, and other influences. All -somnambules of the highest order—and when I make use of -this expression, I repeat that I do not allude to the subjects of -mesmeric experiments, but to those extraordinary cases of disease, -the particulars of which have been recorded by various -continental physicians of eminence—all persons in that condition -describe themselves as hearing and seeing, not by their -ordinary organs, but by some means the idea of which they can -not convey further than that they are pervaded by light, and -that this is not the <span class='it'>ordinary</span> physical light is evident, inasmuch -as they generally see best in the dark, a remarkable instance of -which I myself witnessed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I never had the slightest idea of this internal light, till, in the -way of experiment, I inhaled the sulphuric ether; but I am -now very well able to conceive it: for, after first feeling an -agreeable warmth pervading my limbs, my next sensation was -to find myself, I can not say in this heavenly light, for the light -was in <span class='it'>me</span>—I was pervaded by it: it was not perceived by my -eyes, which were closed, but perceived internally, I can not tell -how. Of what nature this heavenly light was—and I can not -forbear calling it <span class='it'>heavenly</span>, for it was like nothing on earth—I -know not, nor how far it may be related to those luminous emanations -occasionally seen around ecstatics, saints, martyrs, and -dying persons; or to the flames seen by somnambules issuing -from various objects, or to those observed by Von Reichenbach’s -patients proceeding from the ends of the fingers, &c. But at -all events, since the process which maintains life is of the nature -of combustion, we have no reason to be amazed at the presence -of luminous emanations; and as we are the subjects of various -electrical phenomena, nobody is surprised when, on combing -their hair or pulling off their silk-stockings, they hear a crackling -noise, or even see sparks.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Light, in short, is a phenomenon which seems connected with -all forms of life; and I need not here refer to that emitted by -glow-worms, fire-flies, and those marine animals which illuminate -the sea. The eyes also of many animals shine with a light -which is not merely a reflected one—as has been ascertained -by Rengger, a German naturalist, who found himself able to -distinguish objects in the most profound darkness, by the flaming -eyes of a South American monkey.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The seeing of a clear-seer,” says Dr. Passavent, “may be -called a <span class='it'>solar</span> seeing, for he lights and inter-penetrates his object -with his <span class='it'>own</span> organic light, viz., his nervous ether, which -becomes the organ of the spirit;” and under certain circumstances -this organic light becomes visible, as in those above -alluded to. Persons recovering from deep swoons and trances, -frequently describe themselves as having been in this region -of light—this light of the spirit, if I may so call it—this palace -of light, in which it dwells, which will hereafter be its proper -light; for the physical or solar light, which serves us while in -the flesh, will be no longer needed, when out of it, nor probably -be perceived by the spirit, which will then, I repeat, be a -light to itself: and as this organic light—this germ of our future -spiritual body—occasionally becomes partially visible now, -there can not, I think, be any great difficulty in conceiving that -it may, under given circumstances, be so hereafter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The use of the word <span class='it'>light</span>, in the Scriptures, must not be -received in a purely symbolical sense. We shall dwell in light, -or we shall dwell in darkness, in proportion as we have shaken -off the bonds that chain us to the earth; according, in short, to -our moral state, we shall be pure and bright, or impure and -dark.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Monsieur Arago mentions, in his treatise on lightning and -the electrical fluid, that all men are not equally susceptible of -it, and that there are different degrees of receptivity, verging -from total insensibility to the extreme opposite; and he also -remarks that animals are more susceptible to it than men. He -says the fluid will pass through a chain of persons, of whom -perhaps one (though forming only the second link) will be -wholly insensible of the shock. Such persons would be rarely -struck by lightning, while another would be in as great danger -from a flash as if he were made of metal. Thus it is not only -the situation of a man, during a storm, but also his physical -constitution, that regulates the amount of his peril. The horse -and the dog are particularly susceptible.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, this varying susceptibility is analogous to, if not the -very same, that causes the varying susceptibility to such phenomena -as I am treating of; and, accordingly, we know that in -all times, horses and dogs have been reputed to have the faculty -of seeing spirits: and when persons who have the second-sight -see a vision, these animals, if in contact with them, perceive -it also, and frequently evince symptoms of great terror. -We also here find the explanation of another mystery, namely, -what the Germans call <span class='it'>ansteckung</span>, and the English (skeptics -when alluding to these phenomena) <span class='it'>contagion</span>—meaning simply -<span class='it'>contagious fear</span>; but, as when several persons form a chain, -the shock from an electrical machine will pass through the whole -of them—so, if one person is in such a state as to become sensible -of an apparition or some similar phenomenon, he may be -able to communicate that power to another; and thus has arisen -the conviction among the highlanders, that a seer, by touching -a person near him, enables him frequently to participate in his -vision.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A little girl, in humble life, called Mary Delves, of a highly -nervous temperament, has been frequently punished for saying -that the cat was on fire, and that she saw flames issuing from -various persons and objects.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With regard to the perplexing subject of corpse-lights, there -would be little difficulty attending it if they always remained -stationary over the graves; but it seems very well established -that that is not the case. There are numerous stories, proceeding -from very respectable quarters, proving the contrary; and -I have heard two from a dignitary of the church, born in Wales, -which I will relate:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A female relation of his had occasion to go to Aberystwith, -which was about twenty miles from her home, on horseback; -and she started at a very early hour for that purpose, with her -father’s servant. When they had nearly reached the half-way, -fearing the man might be wanted at home, she bade him return, -as she was approaching the spot where the servant of the lady -she was going to visit was to meet her, in order to escort her -the other half.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The man had not long left her, when she saw a light coming -toward her, the nature of which she suspected. It moved, -according to her description, steadily on, about three feet -from the ground. Somewhat awestruck, she turned her horse -out of the bridle-road, along which it was coming, intending -to wait till it had passed; but, to her dismay, just as it came -opposite to her, it stopped, and there remained perfectly fixed -for nearly half an hour, at the end of which period it moved on -as before.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The servant presently came up, and she proceeded to the -house of her friend, where she related what she had seen. A -few days afterward, the very servant who came to meet her was -taken ill and died: his body was carried along that road; and, -at the very spot where the light had paused, an accident occurred, -which caused a delay of half an hour.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The other story was as follows: A servant in the family of -Lady Davis, my informant’s aunt, had occasion to start early -for market. Being in the kitchen, about three o’clock in the -morning, taking his breakfast alone, when everybody else was -in bed, he was surprised at hearing a sound of heavy feet on -the stairs above; and, opening the door to see who it could be, -he was struck with alarm at perceiving a great light, much -brighter than could have been shed by a candle, at the same -time that he heard a violent thump, as if some very heavy body -had hit the clock, which stood on the landing. Aware of the -nature of the light, the man did not await its further descent, -but rushed out of the house—whence he presently saw it issue -from the front door, and proceed on its way to the churchyard.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As his mistress, Lady Davis, was at that period in her bed, -ill, he made no doubt that her death impended; and when he -returned from the market at night, his first question was, whether -she was yet alive: and though he was informed she was better, -he declared his conviction that she would die, alleging as his -reason what he had seen in the morning—a narration which -led everybody else to the same conclusion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The lady, however, recovered; but, within a fortnight, another -member of the family died: and as his coffin was brought -down the stairs, the bearers ran it violently against the clock—upon -which the man instantly exclaimed, “That is the very -noise I heard!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I could relate numerous stories wherein the appearance of a -ghost was accompanied by a light; but as there is nothing that -distinguishes them from those abovementioned, I will not dilate -further on this branch of the subject, on which, perhaps, I have -said enough to suggest to the minds of my readers that, although -we know little <span class='it'>how</span> such things are, we do know enough of -analogous phenomena to enable us to believe, at least, their -possibility.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I confess I find much less difficulty in conceiving the existence -of such facts as those above described, than those of another -class, of which we meet with occasional instances.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For example, a gentleman of fortune and station, in Ireland, -was one day walking along the road, when he met a very old -man, apparently a peasant, though well-dressed, and looking as -if he had on his Sunday habiliments. His great age attracted -the gentleman’s attention the more, that he could not help wondering -at the alertness of his movements, and the ease with -which he was ascending the hill. He consequently accosted -him, inquiring his name and residence; and was answered that -his name was Kirkpatrick, and that he lived at a cottage, which -he pointed out. Whereupon the gentleman expressed his surprise -that he should be unknown to him, since he fancied he -had been acquainted with every man on his estate. “It is -odd you have never seen me before,” returned the old man, -“for I walk here every day.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How old are you?” asked the gentleman.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am one hundred and five,” answered the other; “and -have been here all my life.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After a few more words, they parted; and the gentleman, -proceeding toward some laborers in a neighboring field, inquired -if they knew an old man of the name of Kirkpatrick. -They did not; but on addressing the question to some older -tenants, they said, “Oh, yes;” they had known him, and had -been at his funeral; he had lived at the cottage on the hill, but -had been dead twenty years.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How old was he when he died?” inquired the gentleman, -much amazed. “He was eighty-five,” said they: so that the -old man gave the age that he would have reached had he survived -to the period of this rencontre.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This curious incident is furnished by the gentleman himself -and all he can say is, that it certainly occurred, and that he is -quite unable to explain it. He was in perfect health at the -time, and had never heard of this man in his life, who had been -dead several years before the estate came into his possession.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The following is another curious story. The original will be -found in the register of the church named, from which it has -been copied for my use:—</p> - -<div class='blockquote100percent'> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:1em;'>EXTRACT FROM THE REGISTER IN BRISLEY CHURCH, NORFOLK.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“<span class='sc'>December 12, 1706.</span>—I, Robert Withers, M. A., vicar of -Gately, do insert here a story which I had from undoubted -hands; for I have all the moral certainty of the truth of it -possible:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Mr. Grose went to see Mr. Shaw on the 2d of August last. -As they sat talking in the evening, says Mr. Shaw: ‘On the -21st of the last month, as I was smoking a pipe, and reading in -my study, between eleven and twelve at night, in comes Mr. -Naylor (formerly fellow of St. John’s college, but had been -dead full four years). When I saw him, I was not much -affrighted, and I asked him to sit down, which accordingly he -did for about two hours, and we talked together. I asked him -how it fared with him. He said, “Very well.”—“Were any -of our old acquaintances with him?”—“No!” (at which I was -much alarmed), “but Mr. Orchard will be with me soon, and -yourself not long after.” As he was going away, I asked him -if he would not stay a little longer, but he refused. I asked -him if he would call again. “No;” he had but three days’ -leave of absence, and he had other business.’</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“N. B.—Mr. Orchard died soon after. Mr. Shaw is now -dead: he was formerly fellow of St. John’s college—an ingenious, -good man. I knew him there; but at his death he had a -college-living in Oxfordshire, and here he saw the apparition.”</p> - -</div> - -<p class='pindent'>An extraordinary circumstance occurred some years ago, in -which a very pious and very eminent Scotch minister, Ebenezer -Brown of Inverkeithing, was concerned. A person of ill -character in the neighborhood having died, the family very -shortly afterward came to him to complain of some exceedingly -unpleasant circumstances connected with the room in -which the dissolution had taken place, which rendered it uninhabitable, -and requesting his assistance. All that is known by -his family of what followed, is that he went and entered the -room alone; came out again, in a state of considerable excitement -and in a great perspiration; took off his coat and re-entered -the room; a great noise and I believe voices were then -heard by the family, who remained the whole time at the door; -when he came out finally, it was evident that something very -extraordinary had taken place; what it was, he said, he could -never disclose; but that perhaps after his death some paper -might be found upon the subject. None, however, as far as I -can learn, has been discovered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A circumstance of a very singular nature is asserted to have -occurred, not very many years back, in regard to a professor -in the college of A——, who had seduced a girl and married -another woman. The girl became troublesome to him; and -being found murdered, after having been last seen in his company, -he was suspected of being some way concerned in the -crime. But the strange thing is, that, from that period, he -retired every evening at a particular hour to a certain room, -where he stayed a great part of the night, and where it was declared -that <span class='it'>her</span> voice was distinctly heard in conversation with -him: a strange, wild story, which I give as I have it, without -pretending to any explanation of the belief that seems to have -prevailed, that he was obliged to keep this fearful tryst.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Visitations of this description—which seem to indicate that -the deceased person is still, in some way incomprehensible to -us, an inhabitant of the earth—are more perplexing than any -of the stories I meet with. In the time of Frederick II. of -Prussia, the cook of a catholic priest residing at a village named -Quarrey, died, and he took another in her place; but the poor -woman had no peace or rest from the interference of her -predecessor, insomuch that she resigned her situation, and the -minister might almost have done without any servant at all. -The fires were lighted, and the rooms swept and arranged, and -all the needful services performed, by unseen hands. Numbers -of people went to witness the phenomena, till at length the -story reached the ears of the king, who sent a captain and a -lieutenant of his guard to investigate the affair. As they approached -the house, they found themselves preceded by a -march, though they could see no musicians; and when they -entered the parlor and witnessed what was going on, the captain -exclaimed: “If that doesn’t beat the devil!” upon which -he received a smart slap on the face, from the invisible hand -that was arranging the furniture.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In consequence of this affair, the house was pulled down, by -the king’s orders, and another residence built for the minister -at some distance from the spot.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, to impose on Frederick II. would have been no slight -matter, as regarded the probable consequences; and the officers -of his guard would certainly not have been disposed to -make the experiment; and it is not likely that the king would -have ordered the house to be pulled down without being thoroughly -satisfied of the truth of the story.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One of the most remarkable stories of this class I know—excepting -indeed the famous one of the Grecian bride—is that -which is said to have happened at Crossen, in Silesia, in the -year 1659, in the reign of the Princess Elizabeth Charlotte. -In the spring of that year, an apothecary’s man, called Christopher -Monig—a native of Serbest, in Anhalt—died, and was -buried with the usual ceremonies of the Lutheran church. -But, to the amazement of everybody, a few days afterward, he, -at least what seemed to be himself, appeared in the shop, -where he would sit himself down, and sometimes walk, and -take from the shelves boxes, pots, and glasses, and set them -again in other places; sometimes try and examine the goodness -of the medicines, weigh them with the scales, pound the drugs -with a mighty noise—nay, serve the people that came with -bills to the shop, take their money and lay it up in the counter: -in a word, do all things that a journeyman in such cases used -to do. He looked very ghostly upon his former companions, -who were afraid to say anything to him, and his master being -sick at that time, he was very troublesome to him. At last he -took a cloak that hung in the shop, put it on and walked -abroad, but minding nobody in the streets; he entered into -some of the citizen’s houses, especially such as he had formerly -known, yet spoke to no one but to a maid-servant, whom he -met with hard by the church-yard, whom he desired to go -home and dig in a lower chamber of her master’s house, where -she would find an inestimable treasure. But the girl, amazed -at the sight of him, swooned away; whereupon he lifted her -up, but left a mark upon her, in so doing, that was long visible. -She fell sick in consequence of the fright, and having told what -Monig had said to her, they dug up the place indicated, but -found nothing but a decayed pot with a hemarites or bloodstone -in it. The affair making a great noise, the reigning princess -caused the man’s body to be taken up, which being done, -it was found in a state of putrefaction, and was reinterred. -The apothecary was then recommended to remove everything -belonging to Monig—his linen, clothes, books, &c.—after -which the apparition left the house and was seen no more.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The fact of the man’s reappearance in this manner was considered -to be so perfectly established at the time, that there -was actually a public disputation on the subject in the academy -of Leipsic. With regard to the importance the apparition -attached to the bloodstone, we do not know but that there may -be truth in the persuasion that this gem is possessed of some -occult properties of much more value than its beauty.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The story of the Grecian bride is still more wonderful, and -yet it comes to us so surprisingly well authenticated, inasmuch -as the details were forwarded by the prefect of the city in -which the thing occurred, to the proconsul of his province, and -by the latter were laid before the emperor Hadrian—and as it -was not the custom to mystify Roman emperors—we are constrained -to believe that what the prefect and proconsul communicated -to him, they had good reason for believing themselves.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It appears that a gentleman, called Demostrates, and Charito, -his wife, had a daughter called Philinnion, who died; and that -about six months afterward, a youth named Machates, who had -come to visit them, was surprised on retiring to the apartments -destined to strangers, by receiving the visits of a young maiden -who eats and drinks and exchanges gifts with him. Some accident -having taken the nurse that way, she, amazed by the sight, -summons her master and mistress to behold their daughter, who -is there sitting with the guest.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Of course, they do not believe her; but at length, wearied by -her importunities, the mother follows her to the guest’s chamber; -but the young people are now asleep, and the door closed; -but looking through the keyhole, she perceives what she believes -to be her daughter. Still unable to credit her senses, she -resolves to wait till morning before disturbing them; but when -she comes again the young lady had departed; while Machates, -on being interrogated, confesses that Philinnion had been with -him, but that she had admitted to him that it was unknown to -her parents. Upon this, the amazement and agitation of the -mother were naturally very great; especially when Machates -showed her a ring which the girl had given him, and a bodice -which she had left behind her; and his amazement was no less, -when he heard the story they had to tell. He, however, promised -that if she returned the next night, he would let them see -her; for he found it impossible to believe that his bride was -their dead daughter. He suspected, on the contrary, that some -thieves had stripped her body of the clothes and ornaments in -which she had been buried, and that the girl who came to his -room had bought them. When, therefore, she arrived, his servant -having had orders to summon the father and mother, they -came; and perceiving that it was really their daughter, they -fell to embracing her, with tears. But she reproached them for -the intrusion, declaring that she had been permitted to spend -three days with this stranger, in the house of her birth; but -that now she must go to the appointed place; and immediately -fell down dead, and the dead body lay there visible to all.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The news of this strange event soon spread abroad, the house -was surrounded by crowds of people, and the prefect was -obliged to take measures to avoid a tumult. On the following -morning, at an early hour, the inhabitants assembled in the theatre, -and thence they proceeded to the vault, in order to ascertain -if the body of Philinnion was where it had been deposited -six months before. It was not; but on the bier there lay the -ring and cap which Machates had presented to her the first -night she visited him; showing that she had returned there in -the interim. They then proceeded to the house of Democrates, -where they saw the body, which it was decreed must now be -buried without the bounds of the city. Numerous religious ceremonies -and sacrifices followed, and the unfortunate Machates, -seized with horror, put an end to his own life.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The following very singular circumstance occurred in this -country toward the latter end of the last century, and excited, -at the time, considerable attention; the more so, as it was -asserted by everybody acquainted with the people and the -locality, that the removal of the body was impossible by any -recognised means; besides, that no one would have had the -hardihood to attempt such a feat:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Mr. William Craighead, author of a popular system of -arithmetic, was parish-schoolmaster of Monifieth, situate upon -the estuary of the Tay, about six miles east from Dundee. It -would appear that Mr. Craighead was then a young man, fond -of a frolic, without being very scrupulous about the means, or -calculating the consequences. There being a lykewake in the -neighborhood, according to the custom of the times, attended by -a number of his acquaintance, Craighead procured a confederate, -with whom he concerted a plan to draw the watchers -from the house, or at least from the room where the corpse -lay. Having succeeded in this, he dexterously removed the -dead body to an outer house, while his companion occupied the -place of the corpse in the bed where it had lain. It was agreed -upon between the confederates, that when the company were -reassembled Craighead was to join them, and, at a concerted -signal the impostor was to rise, shrouded like the dead man, -while the two were to enjoy the terror and alarm of their companions. -Mr. Craighead came in, and, after being some time -seated, the signal was made, but met no attention; he was -rather surprised; it was repeated, and still neglected. Mr. -Craighead, in his turn, now became alarmed; for he conceived -it impossible that his companion could have fallen asleep in that -situation; his uneasiness became insupportable; he went to the -bed, and found his friend lifeless! Mr. Craighead’s feelings, as -may well be imagined, now entirely overpowered him, and the -dreadful fact was disclosed. Their agitation was extreme, and -it was far from being alleviated when every attempt to restore -animation to the thoughtless young man proved abortive. As -soon as their confusion would permit, an inquiry was made after -the original corpse, and Mr. Craighead and another went to -fetch it in, but it was not to be found. The alarm and consternation -of the company were now redoubled; for some time a -few suspected that some hardy fellow among them had been -attempting a Rowland for an Oliver, but when every knowledge -of it was most solemnly denied by all present, their situation -can be more easily imagined than described; that of Mr. -Craighead was little short of distraction. Daylight came without -relieving their agitation; no trace of the corpse could be -discovered, and Mr. Craighead was accused as the <span class='it'>primum -mobile</span> of all that had happened: he was incapable of sleeping, -and wandered several days and nights in search of the body, -which was at last discovered in the parish of Tealing, deposited -in a field, about six miles distant from the place whence it was -removed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is related that this extraordinary affair had a strong and -lasting effect upon Mr. Craighead’s mind and conduct; that he -immediately became serious and thoughtful, and ever after conducted -himself with great prudence and sobriety.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Among what are called <span class='it'>superstitions</span>, there are a great many -curious ones attached to certain families; and from some members -of these families I have been assured that experience has -rendered it impossible for them to forbear attaching importance -to these persuasions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A very remarkable circumstance occurred lately in this part -of the world, the facts of which I had an opportunity of being -well acquainted with.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One evening, somewhere about Christmas, of the year 1844, -a letter was sent for my perusal, which had been just received -from a member of a distinguished family, in Perthshire. The -friend who sent it me, an eminent literary man, said, “Read the -enclosed; and we shall now have an opportunity of observing if -any event follows the prognostics.” The information contained -in the letter was to the following effect:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Miss D——, a relative of the present Lady C——, who had -been staying some time with the earl and countess, at their seat -near Dundee, was invited to spend a few days at C—— castle, -with the earl and countess of A——. She went: and while -she was dressing for dinner, the first evening of her arrival, she -heard a strain of music under her window, which finally resolved -itself into a well-defined sound of a drum. When her -maid came up stairs, she made some inquiries about the drummer -that was playing near the house; but the maid knew nothing -on the subject. For the moment, the circumstance passed -from Miss D——’s mind; but recurring to her again during -the dinner, she said, addressing Lord A——, “My lord, who is -your drummer?”—upon which his lordship turned pale, Lady -A—— looked distressed, and several of the company (who all -heard the question) embarrassed; while the lady, perceiving -that she had made some unpleasant allusion, although she knew -not to what their feelings referred, forbore further inquiry till -she reached the drawing-room, when, having mentioned the circumstance -again to a member of the family, she was answered, -“What! have you never heard of the drummer-boy?”—“No,” -replied Miss D——; “who in the world is he?”—“Why,” -replied the other, “he is a person who goes about the house -playing his drum whenever there is a death impending in the -family. The last time he was heard was shortly before the -death of the last countess (the earl’s former wife), and that is -why Lord A—— became so pale when you mentioned it. ‘The -drummer’ is a very unpleasant subject in this family, I assure -you!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Miss D—— was naturally much concerned, and, indeed, not -a little frightened at this explanation, and her alarm being augmented -by hearing the sounds on the following day, she took -her departure from C—— castle and returned to Lord C——’s, -stopping on her way to call on some friends, where she related -this strange circumstance to the family, through whom the information -reached me.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This affair was very generally known in the north, and we -awaited the event with interest. The melancholy death of the -countess about five or six months afterward, at Brighton, sadly -verified the prognostic. I have heard that a paper was found -in her desk after her death, declaring her conviction that the -drum was for her; and it has been suggested that probably the -thing preyed upon her mind and caused the catastrophe: but -in the first place, from the mode of her death, that does not -appear to be the case; in the second, even if it were, the fact -of the verification of the prognostic remains unaffected; besides -which, those who insist upon taking refuge in this hypothesis -must admit that, before people living in the world like Lord -and Lady A——, could attach so much importance to the prognostic -as to entail such fatal effects, they must have had very -good reason for believing in it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The legend connected with “the drummer” is, that either -himself, or some officer whose emissary he was, had become an -object of jealousy to a former Lord A——, and that he was -put to death by being thrust into his own drum and flung from -the window of the tower in which Miss D——’s room was -situated. It is said that he threatened to haunt them if they -took his life; and he seems to have been as good as his word, -having been heard several times in the memory of persons yet -living.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There is a curious legend attached to the family of G——, -of R——, to the effect that, when a lady is confined in that -house, a little old woman enters the room when the nurse is -absent, and strokes down the bed-clothes; after which the patient, -according to the technical phrase, “never does any good,” -and dies. Whether the old lady has paid her visits or not I do -not know, but it is remarkable that the results attending several -late confinements there have been fatal.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was a legend, in a certain family, that a single swan -was seen on a particular lake before a death. A member of -this family told me that on one occasion, the father, being a -widower, was about to enter into a second marriage. On the -wedding-day, his son appeared so exceedingly distressed, that -the bridegroom was offended, and, expostulating with him, was -told by the young man that his low spirits were caused by his -having seen the swan. He (the son) died that night quite unexpectedly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Besides Lord Littleton’s dove, there are a great many very -curious stories recorded in which birds have been seen in a -room when a death was impending; but the most extraordinary -prognostic I know is that of “the black dog,” which seems to -be attached to some families:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A young lady of the name of P——, not long since was sitting -at work, well and cheerful, when she saw, to her great -surprise, a large black dog close to her. As both door and -window were closed, she could not understand how he had got -in; but when she started up to put him out, she could no longer -see him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Quite puzzled, and thinking it must be some strange illusion, -she sat down again and went on with her work, when, -presently, he was there again. Much alarmed, she now ran -out and told her mother, who said she must have fancied it, or -be ill. She declared neither was the case; and, to oblige her, -the mother agreed to wait outside the door, and if she saw it -again, she was to call her. Miss P—— re-entered the room, -and presently there was the dog again; but when she called her -mother, he disappeared. Immediately afterward, the mother -was taken ill and died. Before she expired, she said to her -daughter, “Remember the black dog!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I confess I should have been much disposed to think this a -spectral illusion, were it not for the number of corroborative -instances; and I have only this morning read in the review of -a work called “The Unseen World,” just published, that there -is a family in Cornwall who are also warned of an approaching -death by the apparition of a black dog: and a very curious -example is quoted, in which a lady newly married into the -family, and knowing nothing of the tradition, came down from -the nursery to request her husband would go up and drive -away a black dog that was lying on the child’s bed. He went -up, and found the child dead!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I wonder if this phenomenon is the origin of the French -phrase “<span class='it'>bête noir</span>,” to express an annoyance, or an augury -of evil?</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Most persons will remember the story of Lady Fanshawe, as -related by herself—namely, that while paying a visit to Lady -Honor O’Brien, she was awakened the first night she slept there -by a voice, and, on drawing back the curtain, she saw a female -figure standing in the recess of the window, attired in white, -with red hair and a pale and ghastly aspect. “She looked out -of the window,” says Lady Fanshawe, “and cried in a loud -voice, such as I never before heard, ‘A horse!—a horse!—a -horse!’ and then with a sigh, which rather resembled the wind -than the voice of a human being, she disappeared. Her body -appeared to me rather like a thick cloud than a real solid substance. -I was so frightened,” she continues, “that my hair -stood on end, and my night-cap fell off. I pushed and shook -my husband, who had slept all the time, and who was very -much surprised to find me in such a fright, and still more so -when I told him the cause of it, and showed him the open window. -Neither of us slept any more that night, but he talked to -me about it, and told me how much more frequent such apparitions -were in that country than in England.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This was, however, what is called a <span class='it'>banshee</span>: for in the morning -Lady Honor came to them, to say that one of the family -had died in the night, expressing a hope that they had not been -disturbed: “for,” said she, “whenever any of the O’Briens is -on his death-bed, it is usual for a woman to appear at one of -the windows every night till he expires; but when I put you -into this room, I did not think of it.” This apparition was connected -with some sad tale of seduction and murder.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I could relate many more instances of this kind, but I wish -as much as possible to avoid repeating cases already in print; -so I will conclude this chapter with the following account of -“Pearlin Jean,” whose persevering annoyances, at Allanbank, -were so thoroughly believed and established, as to have formed -at various times a considerable impediment to letting the place. -I am indebted to Mr. Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe for the account -of Jean, and the anecdote that follows.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A housekeeper, called Bettie Norrie, that lived many years -at Allanbank, declared she and various other people had frequently -seen Jean, adding that they were so used to her, as to -be no longer alarmed at her noises.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In my youth,” says Mr. Sharpe, “Pearlin Jean was the -most remarkable ghost in Scotland, and my terror when a child. -Our old nurse, Jenny Blackadder, had been a servant at Allanbank, -and often heard her rustling in silks up and down stairs, -and along the passage. She never saw her—but her husband -did.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“She was a French woman, whom the first baronet of Allanbank -(then Mr. Stuart) met with at Paris, during his tour to -finish his education as a gentleman. Some people said she was -a nun, in which case she must have been a sister of charity, as -she appears not to have been confined to a cloister. After some -time, young Stuart became either faithless to the lady, or was -suddenly recalled to Scotland by his parents, and had got into -his carriage, at the door of the hotel, when his Dido unexpectedly -made her appearance, and stepping on the fore-wheel of -the coach to address her lover, he ordered the postillion to -drive on; the consequence of which was, that the lady fell, and -one of the wheels going over her forehead, killed her!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In a dusky autumnal evening, when Mr. Stuart drove under -the arched gateway of Allanbank, he perceived Pearlin Jean -sitting on the top, her head and shoulders covered with blood.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“After this, for many years, the house was haunted: doors -shut and opened with great noise at midnight; and the rustling -of silks, and pattering of high-heeled shoes, were heard in bed-rooms -and passages. Nurse Jenny said there were seven ministers -called together at one time, to <span class='it'>lay</span> the spirit; ‘but they -did no mickle good, my dear.’</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The picture of the ghost was hung between those of her -lover and his lady, and kept her comparatively quiet; but when -taken away, she became worse-natured than ever. This portrait -was in the present Sir J—— G——’s possession. I am -unwilling to record its fate.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The ghost was designated ‘Pearlin,’ from always wearing -a great quantity of that sort of lace.<a id='r4'/><a href='#f4' style='text-decoration:none'><sup><span style='font-size:0.9em'>[4]</span></sup></a></p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Nurse Jenny told me that when Thomas Blackadder was -her lover (I remember Thomas very well), they made an assignation -to meet one moonlight night in the orchard at Allanbank. -True Thomas, of course, was the first comer; and, -seeing a female figure, in a light-colored dress, at some distance, -he ran forward with open arms to embrace his Jenny. -Lo, and behold! as he neared the spot where the figure stood, -it vanished; and presently he saw it again, at the very end of -the orchard, a considerable way off. Thomas went home in a -fright; but Jenny, who came last, and saw nothing, forgave -him, and they were married.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Many years after this, about the year 1790, two ladies paid -a visit at Allanbank—I think the house was then let—and -passed a night there. They had never heard a word about the -ghost; but they were disturbed the whole night with something -walking backward and forward in their bed-chamber. This I -had from the best authority.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Sir Robert Stuart was created a baronet in the year 1687.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Lady Stapleton, grandmother of the late Lord le Despencer, -told me that the night Lady Susan Fane (Lord Westmoreland’s -daughter) died in London, she appeared to her father, -then at Merriworth, in Kent. He was in bed, but had not -fallen asleep. There was a light in the room; she came in, -and sat down on a chair at the foot of the bed. He said to -her, ‘Good God, Susan! how came you here? What has -brought you from town?’ She made no answer; but rose -directly, and went to the door, and looked back toward him -very earnestly: then she retired, shutting the door behind her. -The next morning he had notice of her death. This, Lord -Westmoreland himself told to Lady Stapleton, who was by -birth a Fane, and his near relation.”</p> - -<hr class='footnotemark'/> - -<div class='footnote'> -<table summary='footnote_4'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' class='footnoteid'/> -<col span='1'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td style='vertical-align:top;'> -<div class='footnote-id' id='f4'><a href='#r4'>[4]</a></div> -</td><td> - -<p class='pindent'>“A species of lace made of thread.”—<span class='sc'>Jamieson.</span></p> - -</td></tr> -</table> -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='345' id='Page_345'></span><h1>CHAPTER XV.</h1></div> - -<h3>APPARITIONS SEEKING THE PRAYERS OF THE LIVING.</h3> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>With</span> regard to the appearance of ghosts, the frequency of -haunted houses, presentiments, prognostics, and dreams, if we -come to inquire closely, it appears to me that all parts of the -world are much on an equality—only, that where people are -most engaged in business or pleasure, these things are, in the -first place, less thought of and less believed in, consequently -less observed; and when they <span class='it'>are</span> observed, they are readily -explained away: and in the second place—where the external -life, the life of the brain, wholly prevails—either they do not -happen, or they are not perceived—the rapport not existing, -or the receptive faculty being obscured.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But, although the above phenomena seem to be equally well -known in all countries, there is one peculiar class of apparitions -of which I meet with no records but in Germany. I -allude to ghosts, who, like those described in the “Seeress of -Prevorst,” seek the prayers of the living. In spite of the positive -assertions of Kerner, Eschenmayer, and others, that after -neglecting no means to investigate the affair, they had been -forced into the conviction that the spectres that frequented -Frederica Hauffe were not subjective illusions, but real outstanding -forms, still, as she was in the somnambulic state, many -persons remain persuaded that the whole thing was delusion. -It is true, that as those parties were not there, and as all those -who did go to the spot came to a different conclusion, this -opinion being only the result of preconceived notions or prejudices, -and not of calm investigation, is of no value whatever; -nevertheless, it is not to be denied that these narrations are -very extraordinary; but, perplexing as they are, they by no -means stand alone. I find many similar ones noticed in various -works, where there has been no somnambule in question. In all -cases, these unfortunate spirits appear to have been waiting for -some one with whom they could establish a rapport, so as to be -able to communicate with them; and this waiting has sometimes -endured a century or more. Sometimes they are seen -by only one person, at other times by several, with varying degrees -of distinctness, appearing to one as a light, to another as -a shadowy figure, and to a third as a defined human form. -Other testimonies of their presence—as sounds, footsteps, lights, -visible removing of solid articles without a visible agent, -odors, &c.—are generally perceived by many; in short, the -sounds seem audible to all who come to the spot, with the exception -of the voice, which in most instances is only heard by -the person with whom the rapport is chiefly established. Some -cases are related, where a mark like burning is left on the articles -seen to be lifted. This is an old persuasion, and has given -rise to many a joke. But, upon the hypothesis I have offered, -the thing is simple enough: the mark will probably be of the -same nature as that left by the electrical fluid;—and it is this -particular, and the lights that often accompany spirits, that have -caused the notion of material flames, sulphur, brimstone, &c., -to be connected with the idea of a future state. According to -our views, there can be no difficulty in conceiving that a happy -and blessed spirit would emit a mild radiance; while anger or -malignity would necessarily alter the character of the effulgence.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As whoever wishes to see a number of these cases may have -recourse to my translation of the “Seeress of Prevorst,” I will -here only relate one, of a very remarkable nature, that occurred -in the prison of Weinsberg, in the year 1835.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Kerner, who has published a little volume containing a -report of the circumstances, describes the place where the -thing happened to be such a one as negatives at once all possibility -of trick or imposture. It was in a sort of block-house or -fortress—a prison within a prison—with no windows but -what looked into a narrow passage, closed with several doors. -It was on the second floor; the windows were high up, heavily -barred with iron, and immovable without considerable mechanical -force. The external prison is surrounded by a high wall, -and the gates are kept closed day and night. The prisoners in -different apartments are of course never allowed to communicate -with each other, and the deputy-governor of the prison -and his family, consisting of a wife, niece, and one maid-servant, -are described as people of unimpeachable respectability -and veracity. As depositions regarding this affair were laid -before the magistrates, it is on them I found my narration.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 12th September, 1835, the deputy-governor or keeper -of the jail, named Mayer, sent in a report to the magistrates -that a woman called Elizabeth Eslinger was every night visited -by a ghost, which generally came about eleven o’clock, and -which left her no rest, as it said she was destined to release it, -and it always invited her to follow it; and as she would not, it -pressed heavily on her neck and side till it gave her pain. The -persons confined with her pretended also to have seen this -apparition.</p> - -<table id='tab2' summary='' class='center'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' style='width: 25em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 5em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 6em;'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle3'>Signed</td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'>“<span class='sc'>Mayer.</span>”</td></tr> -</table> - -<p class='pindent'>A woman named Rosina Schahl, condemned to eight days’ -confinement for abusive language, deposed, that about eleven -o’clock, Eslinger began to breathe hard as if she was suffocating; -she said a ghost was with her, seeking his salvation. “I -did not trouble myself about it, but told her to wake me when -it came again. Last night I saw a shadowy form, between four -and five feet high, standing near the bed; I did not see it move. -Eslinger breathed very hard, and complained of a pressure on -the side. For several days she has neither ate nor drank anything.</p> - -<table id='tab3' summary='' class='center'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' style='width: 25em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 5em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 6em;'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td class='tab3c1 tdStyle3'>Signed</td><td class='tab3c2 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab3c3 tdStyle4'>“<span class='sc'>Schahl.</span>”</td></tr> -</table> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;font-size:.8em;'>“COURT RESOLVES,</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That Eslinger is to be visited by the prison physician, and -a report made as to her mental and bodily health.</p> - -<table id='tab4' summary='' class='center'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' style='width: 21em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 5em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 10em;'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td class='tab4c1 tdStyle3'>“Signed by the magistrates,</td><td class='tab4c2 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab4c3 tdStyle4'></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab4c1 tdStyle3'></td><td class='tab4c2 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab4c3 tdStyle4'>“<span class='sc'>Eckhardt</span>,</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab4c1 tdStyle3'></td><td class='tab4c2 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab4c3 tdStyle4'>“<span class='sc'>Theurer</span>,</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab4c1 tdStyle3'></td><td class='tab4c2 tdStyle4'></td><td class='tab4c3 tdStyle4'>“<span class='sc'>Knorr</span>.”</td></tr> -</table> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;font-size:.8em;'>“REPORT.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Having examined the prisoner, Elizabeth Eslinger, confined -here since the beginning of September, I found her of sound -mind, but possessed with one fixed idea, namely, that she is -and has been for a considerable time troubled by an apparition, -which leaves her no rest, coming chiefly by night, and requiring -her prayers to release it. It visited her before she came to the -prison, and was the cause of the offence that brought her here. -Having now, in compliance with the orders of the supreme -court, observed this woman for eleven weeks, I am led to the -conclusion that there is no deception in this case, and also that -the persecution is not a mere monomaniacal idea of her own, -and the testimony not only of her fellow-prisoners, but that of -the deputy-governor’s family, and even of persons in distant -houses, confirms me in this persuasion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Eslinger is a widow, aged thirty-eight years, and declares -that she never had any sickness whatever, neither is she aware -of any at present; but she has always been a ghost-seer, though -never till lately had any communication with them; that now, -for eleven weeks that she has been in the prison, she is nightly -disturbed by an apparition, that had previously visited her in -her own house, and which had been once seen also by a girl of -fourteen—a statement which this girl confirms. When at -home, the apparition did not appear in a defined human form, -but as a pillar of cloud, out of which proceeded a hollow voice, -signifying to her that she was to release it, by her prayers, from -the cellar of a woman in Wimmenthal, named Singhaasin, -whither it was banished, or whence it could not free itself. -She (Eslinger) says that she did not then venture to speak to it, -not knowing whether to address it as <span class='it'>Sie</span>, <span class='it'>Ihr</span>, or <span class='it'>Du</span> (that is, -whether she should address it in the second or third person)—which -custom among the Germans has rendered a very important -point of etiquette. It is to be remembered that this woman -was a peasant, without education, who had been brought into -trouble by treasure-seeking, a pursuit in which she hoped to be -assisted by this spirit. This digging for buried treasure is a -strong passion in Germany.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The ghost now comes in a perfect human shape, and is -dressed in a loose robe, with a girdle, and has on its head a -four-cornered cap. It has a projecting chin and forehead, fiery, -deep-set eyes, a long beard, and high cheek-bones, which look -as if they were covered with parchment. A light radiates about -and above his head, and in the midst of this light she sees the -outlines of the spectre.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Both she and her fellow-prisoners declare, that this apparition -comes several times in a night, but always between the -evening and morning bell. He often comes through the closed -door or window, but they can then see neither door nor window, -nor iron bars; they often hear the closing of the door, and -can see into the passage when he comes in or out that way, so -that if a piece of wood lies there they see it. They hear a -shuffling in the passage as he comes and goes. He most frequently -enters by the window, and they then hear a peculiar -sound there. He comes in quite erect. Although their cell is -entirely closed, they feel a cool wind<a id='r5'/><a href='#f5' style='text-decoration:none'><sup><span style='font-size:0.9em'>[5]</span></sup></a> when he is near them. -All sorts of noises are heard, particularly a crackling. When -he is angry, or in great trouble, they perceive a strange mouldering, -earthy smell. He often pulls away the coverlet, and sits -on the edge of the bed. At first the touch of his hand was icy -cold, since he became brighter it is warmer; she first saw the -brightness of his finger-ends; it afterward spread further. If she -stretches out her hand she can not feel him, but when he touches -her she feels it. He sometimes takes her hands and lays them -together, to make her pray. His sighs and groans are like a -person in despair; they are heard by others as well as Eslinger. -While he is making these sounds, she is often praying aloud, or -talking to her companions, so they are sure it is not she who -makes them. She does not see his mouth move when he -speaks. The voice is hollow and gasping. He comes to her -for prayers, and he seems to her like one in a mortal sickness, -who seeks comfort in the prayers of others. He says he was a -catholic priest in Wimmenthal, and lived in the year 1414.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>(Wimmenthal is still catholic; the woman Eslinger herself is -a Lutheran, and belongs to Backnang.)</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He says, that among other crimes, a fraud committed conjointly -with his father, on his brothers, presses sorely on him; -he can not get quit of it; it obstructs him. He always entreated -her to go with him to Wimmenthal, whither he was banished, -or consigned, and pray there for him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“She says she can not tell whether what he says is true; and -does not deny that she thought to find treasures by his aid. She -has often told him that the prayers of a sinner, like herself, can -not help him, and that he should seek the Redeemer; but he -will not forbear his entreaties. When she says these things, he -is sad, and presses nearer to her, and lays his head so close that -she is obliged to pray into his mouth. <span class='it'>He seems hungry for -prayers.</span> She has often felt his tears on her cheek and neck; -they felt icy cold; but the spot soon after burns, and they have -a bluish red mark. (These marks are visible on her skin.)</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“One night this apparition brought with him a large dog, -which leaped on the beds, and was seen by her fellow-prisoners -also, who were much terrified, and screamed. The ghost, however, -spoke, and said, ‘Fear not; this is my father.’ He had -since brought the dog with him again, which alarmed them -dreadfully, and made them quite ill.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Both Mayer and the prisoners asserted, that Eslinger was -scarcely seen to sleep, either by night or day, for ten weeks. -She ate very little, prayed continually, and appeared very much -wasted and exhausted. She said she saw the spectre alike, -whether her eyes were opened or closed, which showed that it -was a magnetic perception, and not <span class='it'>seeing</span> by her bodily organs. -It is remarkable that a cat belonging to the jail, being shut up -in this room, was so frightened when the apparition came, that -it tried to make its escape by flying against the walls; and -finding this impossible, it crept under the coverlet of the bed, -in extreme terror. The experiment was made again, with the -same result; and after this second time the animal refused all -nourishment, wasted away, and died.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In order to satisfy myself,” says Dr. Kerner, “of the truth -of these depositions, I went to the prison on the night of the -15th of October, and shut myself up without light in Eslinger’s -cell. About half-past eleven I heard a sound as of some hard -body being flung down, but not on the side where the woman -was, but the opposite; she immediately began to breathe hard, -and told me the spectre was there. I laid my hand on her -head, and adjured it as an evil spirit to depart. I had scarcely -spoken the words when there was a strange rattling, crackling -noise, all round the walls, which finally seemed to go out through -the window; and the woman said that the spectre had departed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“On the following night it told her that it was grieved at -being addressed as an evil spirit, which it was not, but one -that deserved pity; and that what it wanted was prayers and -redemption.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“On the 18th of October, I went to the cell again, between -ten and eleven, taking with me my wife, and the wife of the -keeper, Madame Mayer. When the woman’s breathing showed -me the spectre was there, I laid my hand on her, and adjured -it, in gentle terms, not to trouble her further. The same sort -of sound as before commenced, but it was softer, and this time -continued all along the passage, where there was certainly nobody. -We all heard it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“On the night of the 20th I went again, with Justice Heyd. -We both heard sounds when the spectre came, and the woman -could not conceive why we did not see it. We could not; but -we distinctly felt a cool wind blowing upon us when, according -to her account, it was near, although there was no aperture by -which air could enter.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On each of these occasions Dr. Kerner seems to have -remained about a couple of hours.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Madame Mayer now resolved to pass a night in the cell, for -the purpose of observation; and she took her niece, a girl aged -nineteen, with her: her report is as follows:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It was a rainy night, and, in the prison, pitch dark. My -niece slept sometimes; I remained awake all night, and mostly -sitting up in bed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“About midnight I saw a light come in at the window; it -was a yellowish light, and moved slowly; and though we were -closely shut in, I felt a cool wind blowing on me. I said to the -woman, ‘The ghost is here, is he not?’ She said ‘Yes,’ and -continued to pray, as she had been doing before. The cool -wind and the light now approached me; my coverlet was quite -light, and I could see my hands and arms; and at the same -time I perceived an indescribable odor of putrefaction; my -face felt as if ants were running over it. (Most of the prisoners -described themselves as feeling the same sensation when -the spectre was there.) Then the light moved about, and went -up and down the room; and on the door of the cell I saw a -number of little glimmering stars, such as I had never before -seen. Presently, I and my niece heard a voice which I can -compare to nothing I ever heard before. It was not like a -human voice. The words and sighs sounded as if they were -drawn up out of a deep hollow, and appeared to ascend from -the floor to the roof in a column; while this voice spoke, the -woman was praying aloud: so I was sure it did not proceed -from her. No one could produce such a sound. They were -strange, superhuman sighs and entreaties for prayers and -redemption.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It is very extraordinary that, whenever the ghost spoke, I -always <span class='it'>felt it beforehand</span>. [Proving that the spirit had been -able to establish a rapport with this person. She was in a -magnetic relation to him.] We heard a crackling in the room -also. I was perfectly awake, and in possession of my senses; -and we are ready to make oath to having seen and heard these -things.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 9th of December, Madame Mayer spent the night -again in the cell, with her niece and her maid-servant; and her -report is as follows:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It was moonlight, and I sat up in bed all night, watching -Eslinger. Suddenly I saw a white shadowy form, like a small -animal, cross the room. I asked her what it was; and she answered, -‘Don’t you see it’s a lamb? It often comes with the -apparition.’ We then saw a stool, that was near us, lifted and -<span class='it'>set down</span> again on its legs. She was in bed, and praying the -whole time. Presently, there was such a noise at the window -that I thought all the panes were broken. She told us it was -the ghost, and that he was sitting on the stool. We then heard -a walking and shuffling up and down, although I could not see -him; but presently I felt a cool wind blowing on me, and out -of this wind the same hollow voice I had heard before, said, ‘In -the name of Jesus, look on me!’</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Before this, the moon was gone, and it was quite dark; but -when the voice spoke to me, I saw a light around us, though -still no form. Then there was a sound of walking toward the -opposite window, and I heard the voice say, ‘Do you see me -now?’ And then, for the first time, I saw a shadowy form, -stretching up as if to make itself visible to us, but could distinguish -no features.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“During the rest of the night, I saw it repeatedly, sometimes -sitting on the stool, and at others moving about; and I am perfectly -certain that there was no moonlight now, nor any other -light from without. How I saw it, I can not tell; it is a thing -not to be described.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Eslinger prayed the whole time, and the more earnestly she -did so, the closer the spectre went to her. It sometimes sat -upon her bed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“About five o’clock, when he came near to me, and I felt the -cool air, I said, ‘Go to my husband, in his chamber, and leave -a sign that you have been there!’ He answered distinctly, -‘Yes.’ Then we heard the door, which was fast locked, open -and shut; and we saw the shadow float out (for he floated rather -than walked), and we heard the shuffling along the passage.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In a quarter of an hour we saw him return, entering by the -window; and I asked him if he had been with my husband, -and what he had done. He answered by a sound like a short, -low, hollow laugh. Then he hovered about without any noise, -and we heard him speaking to Eslinger, while she still prayed -aloud. Still, as before, I always knew when he was going to -speak. After six o’clock, we saw him no more. In the morning, -my husband mentioned, with great surprise, that his chamber -door, which he was sure he had fast bolted and locked, even -taking out the key when he went to bed, he had found wide -open.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 24th, Madame Mayer passed the night there again; -but on this occasion she only saw a white shadow coming and -going, and standing by the woman, who prayed unceasingly. -She also heard the shuffling.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Between prisoners and the persons in authority who went to -observe, the number of those who testify to this phenomenon is -considerable; and, although the amount of what was perceived -varied according to the receptivity of the subject in each case, -the evidence of all is perfectly coincident as to the character of -the phenomena. Some saw only the light; others distinguished -the form in the midst of it; all heard the sound, and perceived -the mouldering earthy smell.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That the receptivity of the women was greater than that of -the men, after what I have elsewhere said, should excite no -surprise; the preponderance of the sympathetic system in them -being sufficient to account for the difference.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Frederica Follen, from Lowenstein, who was eight weeks in -the same cell with Eslinger, was witness to all the phenomena, -though she only once arrived at seeing the spectre in its perfect -human form, as the latter saw it; but it frequently spoke to her, -bidding her amend her life, and remember that it was one who -had tasted of death that give her this counsel. This circumstance -had a great effect upon her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When any of them swore, the apparition always evinced -much displeasure, grasped them by the throat, and forced them -to pray. Frequently, when he came or went, they said it sounded -like a flight of pigeons.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Catherine Sinn, from Mayenfels, was confined in an adjoining -room for a fortnight. After her release, she was interrogated -by the minister of her parish, and deposed that she had known -nothing of Eslinger, or the spectre; “but every night, being -quite alone, I heard a rustling and a noise at the window, which -looked only into the passage. I felt and heard, though I could -not see anybody, that some one was moving about the room; -<span class='it'>these sounds</span> were accompanied by a cool wind, though the -place was closely shut up. I heard also a crackling, and a -shuffling, and a sound as if gravel were thrown; but could find -none in the morning. Once it seemed to me that a hand was -laid softly on my forehead. I did not like staying alone, on account -of these things, and begged to be put into a room with -others; so I was placed with Eslingen and Follen. The same -things continued here, and they told me about the ghost; but -not being alone, I was not so frightened. I often heard him -speak; it was hollow and slow, not like a human voice; but I -could seldom catch the words. When he left the prison, which -was generally about five in the morning, he used to say, ‘Pray!’ -and when he did so, he would add, ‘God reward you!’ I never -saw him distinctly till the last morning I was there; then I saw -a white shadow standing by Eslinger’s bed.</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;'>Signed,</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;'>“<span class='sc'>Catherine Sinn</span>.</p> - -<p class='noindent'>“<span class='sc'>Minister Binder</span>, Mayenfels.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It would be tedious, were I to copy the depositions of all the -prisoners, the experience of most of them being similar to the -above. I will therefore content myself with giving an abstract -of the most remarkable particulars.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Besides the crackling, rustling as of paper, walking, shuffling, -concussions of the windows and of their beds, &c., &c., they -heard sometimes a fearful cry, and not unfrequently the bed-coverings -were pulled from them; it appearing to be the object -of the spirit to manifest himself thus to those to whom he could -not make himself visible; and as I find this pulling off the bed-clothes, -and heaving up the bed as if some one were under it, -repeated in a variety of cases, foreign and English, I conclude -the motive to be the same. Several of the women heard him -speak.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>All these depositions are contained in Dr. Kerner’s report to -the magistrates; and he concludes by saying, that there can be -no doubt of the fact of the woman Elizabeth Eslinger suffering -these annoyances, by whatever name people may choose to call -them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Among the most remarkable phenomena, is the real or apparent -opening of the door, so that they could see what was in the -passage. Eslinger said that the spirit was often surrounded by -a light, and his eyes looked fiery; and there sometimes came -with him two lambs, which occasionally appeared as stars. He -often took hold of Eslinger, and made her sit up, put her hands -together, that she might pray; and once he appeared to take a -pen and paper from under his gown, and wrote, laying it on -her coverled.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is extremely curious that, on two occasions, Eslinger saw -Dr. Kerner and Justice Heyd enter with the ghost, when they -were not there in the body, and both times Heyd was enveloped -in a black cloud. The ghost, on being asked, told Eslinger -that the cloud indicated that trouble was impending. A few -days afterward his child died very unexpectedly, and Dr. Kerner -now remembered, that the first time Eslinger said she had -seen Heyd in this way, his father had died directly afterward. -Kerner attended both patients, and was thus associated in the -symbol. Follen also saw these two images, and spoke, believing -the one to be Dr. Kerner himself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On other occasions she saw strangers come in with the ghost, -whom afterward, when they <span class='it'>really</span> came in the body, she recognised. -This seems to have been a sort of second sight.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. K. says, I think justly enough, that if Eslinger had been -feigning, she never would have ventured on what seemed so -improbable.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Some of the women, after the spectre had visibly leaned over -them, or had spoken into their ears, were so affected by the -odor he diffused that they vomited, and could not eat till they -had taken an emetic; and those parts of their persons that he -touched became painful and swollen, an effect I find produced -in numerous other instances.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The following particulars are worth observing, in the evidence -of a girl sixteen years of age, called Margaret Laibesberg, -who was confined for ten days for plucking some grapes -in a vineyard. She says she knew nothing about the spectre, -but that she was greatly alarmed the first night at hearing the -door burst open and something come shuffling in. Eslinger -bade her not fear, and said that it would not injure her. The -girl, however, being greatly terrified every night, and hiding her -head under the bed-clothes, on the fourth Eslinger got out of her -own bed, and, coming to her, said: “Do, in the name of God, -look at him! He will do you no harm, I assure you.”—“Then,” -says the girl, “I looked out from under the clothes, and I saw -two white forms, like two lambs—so beautiful that I could -have looked at them for ever. Between them stood a white, -shadowy form, as tall as a man, but I was not able to look -longer, for my eyes failed me.” The terrors of this girl were -so great, that Eslinger had repeatedly occasion to get out of -bed and fetch her to lie with herself. When she could be -induced to look, she always saw the figure, and he bade her -also pray for him. Whenever he touched her, which he did -on the forehead and eyes, she felt pain, but says nothing of any -subsequent swelling. Both this girl and another, called Neidhardt, -who was brought in on the last day of Margaret L——’s -imprisonment, testified that on the previous night they had -heard Eslinger ask the ghost why he looked so angry; and -that they had heard him answer that it was “because she had -on the preceding night neglected to pray for him as much as -usual,” which neglect arose from two gentlemen having passed -the night in the cell.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When on the tenth day the girl Margaret L—— was released, -she said that there was something so awful to her in this apparition, -that she had firmly resolved and vowed to be pious and -lead henceforth a virtuous life.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Some of them seem to have felt little alarm; Maria Bar, -aged forty-one, said: “I was not afraid, for I have a good conscience.” -The offences for which these women were confined -appear to have been very slight ones, such as quarrelling, &c.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In a room that opened into the same passage, men were shut -up for disputing with the police, neglect of regulations, and -similar misdemeanors. These persons not only heard the -noises as above described, such as the walking, shuffling, opening -and shutting the door, &c., &c., but some of them saw the -ghost. Christian Bauer deposed that he had never heard anything -about the ghost, but that, being disturbed by a knocking -and rustling toward three o’clock on the second morning of his -incarceration, he looked up and saw a white figure bending -over him, and heard a strange hollow voice say: “You must -needs have patience!” He said he thought it must be his -grandfather, at which Stricker, his companion, laughed. Stricker -deposed that he heard a hollow voice say: “You must needs -have patience;” and that Bauer told him that there was a white -apparition near him, and that he supposed it was his grandfather. -Bauer said that he was frightened the first night, but -got used to it and did not mind.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is worthy of observation, that when they heard the door -of the women’s room open, they also heard the voice of Eslinger -praying, which seems as if the door not only appeared to -open, but actually did so. We have already seen that this -spirit could open doors. In the “Seeress of Prevorst,” the -doors were constantly <span class='it'>audibly</span> and <span class='it'>visibly</span> opened, as by an unseen -hand, when she saw a spectre enter; and I know to an -absolute certainty that the same phenomenon takes place in a -house not far from where I am writing; and this, sometimes, -when there are two people sleeping in the room—a lady and -gentleman. The door having been fast locked when they went -to bed, the room thoroughly examined, and every precaution -taken—for they are unwilling to believe in the spiritual character -of the disturbances that annoy them—they are aroused -by a consciousness that it is opening, and they do find it open, -on rising to investigate the fact.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One of the most remarkable proofs, either of the force of volition -or of the electrical powers of the apparition that haunted -Eslinger, or else of his power to imitate sounds, was the real, -or apparent, violent shaking of the heavy, iron-barred window, -which it is asserted the united efforts of six men could not -shake at all when they made the experiment.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The supreme court having satisfied itself that there was no -imposture in this case, it was proposed that some men of science -should be invited to investigate the strange phenomenon, -and endeavor if possible to explain it. Accordingly, not only -Dr. Kerner himself and his son, but many others, passed nights -in the prison for this purpose. Among these, besides some -ministers of the Lutheran church, there was an engraver called -Duttenhofer; Wagner, an artist; Kapff, professor of mathematics -at Heilbroun; Frass, a barrister; Doctors Seyffer and -Sicherer, physicians; Heyd, a magistrate; Baron von Hugel, -&c., &c.: but their perquisitions elicited no more than has been -already narrated—all heard the noises, most of them saw the -lights, and some saw the figure. Duttenhofer and Kapff saw it -without a defined outline; it was itself bright, but did not illuminate -the room. Some of the sounds appeared to them like -the discharging of a Leyden jar. There was also a throwing -of gravel, and a heavy dropping of water, but neither to be -found. Professor Kapff says that he was quite cool and self-possessed, -till there was such a violent concussion of the heavy, -barred window, that he thought it must have come in; then -both he and Duttenhofer felt horror-struck.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As they could not see the light emitted by the spectre when -the room was otherwise lighted, they were in the dark; but -they took every care to ascertain that Eslinger was in her bed -while these things were going on. She prayed aloud the whole -time, unless when speaking to them. By the morning, she -used to be dreadfully exhausted, from this continual exertion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is also mentioned that the straw on which she lay was frequently -changed and examined, and every means taken to -ascertain that there was nothing whatever in her possession -that could enable her to perform any sort of jugglery. Her -fellow-prisoners were also invited to tell all they knew or could -discover; and a remission of their sentences promised to those -who would make known the imposition, if there was one.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Sicherer, who was accompanied by Mr. Frass, says that, -having heard of these phenomena, which he thought the more -unaccountable from the circumstances of the woman’s age and -condition, &c.—she being a healthy, hard-working person, aged -thirty-eight, who had never known sickness—he was very desirous -of inquiring personally into the affair.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>While they were in the court of the prison, waiting for admittance, -they heard extraordinary noises, which could not be -accounted for, and during the night there was a repetition of -those above described—especially the apparent throwing of -gravel, or peas, which seemed to fall so near him that he involuntarily -covered his face. Then followed the feeling of a cool -wind; and then the oppressive odor, for which, he says, he can -find no comparison, and which almost took away his breath. -He was perfectly satisfied that it was no smell originating in -the locality or the state of the prison. Simultaneously with the -perception of this odor, he saw a thick, gray cloud, of no defined -shape, near Eslinger’s bed. When this cloud disappeared, -the odor was no longer perceptible. It was a fine moonlight -night, and there was light enough in the room to distinguish -the beds, &c.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The same phenomena recurred several times during the -night: Eslinger was heard, each time the ghost was there, praying -and reciting hymns. They also heard her say, “Don’t -press my hands so hard together!”—“Don’t touch me!” &c. -The voice of the spirit they did not hear. Toward three or -four o’clock, they heard heavy blows, footsteps, opening and -shutting of the door, and a concussion of the whole house, that -made them think it was going to fall on their heads. About -six o’clock, they saw the phantom again; and altogether these -phenomena recurred at least ten times in the course of the -night.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Sicherer concludes by saying that he had undertaken the -investigation with a mind entirely unprepossessed; and that in -the report he made, at the desire of the supreme court, he had -recorded his observations as conscientiously as if he had been -upon a jury. He adds that he had examined everything; and -that neither in the person of the woman, nor in any other of -the inmates of the prison, could he find the smallest grounds for -suspicion, nor any clew to the mystery, which, in a scientific -point of view, appeared to him utterly inexplicable. Dr. Sicherer’s -report is dated Heilbronn, January 8, 1836.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mr. Fraas, who accompanied him, confirms the above statement -in every particular, with the addition that he several times -saw a light, of a varying circumference, moving about the room; -and that it was while he saw this, that the woman told him the -ghost was there. He also felt an oppression of the breath and -a pressure on his forehead each time before the apparition came, -especially once, when, although he had carefully abstained from -mentioning his sensations, she told him it was standing close at -his head. He stretched out his hand, but perceived nothing, -except a cool wind and an overpowering smell.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Seyffer being there one night, with Dr. Kerner, in order -to exclude the possibility of light entering through the window, -they stopped it up. They, however, saw the phosphorescent -light of the spectre, as before. It moved quietly about, and -remained a quarter of an hour. The room was otherwise perfectly -dark; the sounds accompanying it were like the dropping -of water and the discharge of a Leyden jar. They fully -ascertained that these phenomena did not proceed from the -woman.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I have already given the depositions of Madame Mayer, the -wife of the deputy-governor or keeper of the prison, who is -spoken of as a highly respectable person. Mayer himself, however, -though quite unable to account for all these extraordinary -proceedings, found great difficulty in believing that there was -anything supernatural in the affair; and he told Eslinger that, -if she wished him to be convinced, she must send the ghost to -do it!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He says: “The night after I had said this, I went to bed and -to sleep, little expecting such a visiter; but, toward midnight, -I was awakened by something touching my left elbow. This -was followed by a pain; and in the morning, when I looked at -the place, I saw several blue spots. I told Eslinger that this -was not enough, and that she must tell the ghost to touch my -other elbow. This was done on the following night, and, at -the same time, I perceived a smell like putrefaction. The blue -spots followed.” (It will be remembered that Eslinger had -blue spots also.)</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mayer continues to say that the spectre made known its -presence in his chamber by various sounds, such as were heard -in the other part of the house. He never saw the figure distinctly, -but his wife did: she always prayed when it was there. -He, however, felt the cool wind that they all described.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The ghost told Eslinger that he should continue his visits to -the prison after she had quitted it, and he did so. The second -night after her release, they felt his approach, especially from -the cool wind, and Madame Mayer desired him to testify his -presence to her husband. Immediately there were sounds like -a wind-instrument, and these were repeated at her desire.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The prisoners also heard and felt the apparition after Eslinger’s -departure; and Mayer says he is perfectly assured that in -this jail, where the inmates were frequently changed, everybody -was locked up, and every place thoroughly examined, it was -utterly impossible for any trick to be played: besides which, -all parties agreed that the sounds were often of a description -that could not have been produced by any known means.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But it was not to the prison alone that this apparition confined -his visits. To whomsoever Eslinger sent him, he went—testifying -his presence by the same signs as above described. -He visited the chambers of several of the magistrates, of a -teacher named Neuffer, of the referendary burgher, of a citizen -named Rummel, and many others. Of these, some only perceived -his presence by the noises, the cool air, the smell, or -the touch; others saw the light also, and others perceived the -figure with more or less distinctness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A Mr. Dorr, of Heilbronn, seems to have scoffed very much -at these rumors, and Dr. Kerner bade Eslinger ask the ghost -to convince him, which she did.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mr. Dorr says: “When I heard these things talked of, I -always laughed at them, and was thought very sensible for so -doing. Now I shall be laughed at in my turn, no doubt.” He -then relates that, on the morning of the 30th of December, -1835, he awoke, as usual, about five o’clock, and was thinking -of some business he had in hand, when he became conscious -that there was something near him, and he felt as if it blew -cold upon him. He started up, thinking some animal had got -into his room, but could find nothing. Next he heard a noise, -like sparks from an electrical machine, and then a report close -to his right ear. Had there been anything visible, it was light -enough to see it. This report was frequently heard in the -prison.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wherever the apparition once made a visit, he generally continued -to go for several successive nights. He also visited -Professor Kapff at Heilbronn, and Baron von Hugel at Eschenau, -without being desired to do so by Eslinger; and Neuffer, -whom he also went to, she knew nothing of.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When he visited Dr. Kerner’s chamber, his wife, who had -prided herself on her incredulity, and boasted of being born on -St. Thomas’s day, was entirely converted, for she not only heard -him, but saw him distinctly. He visited them for several nights, -accompanied by the noises and the light.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One night, while lying awake observing these phenomena, -they fancied they heard their horse come out of his stable, which -was under their room. In the morning, he was found standing -outside, with his halter on; it was not broken, and it was evident -that the horse had not got loose by any violence. Moreover, -the door of the stable was closed behind him, as it had -been at night when he was shut up.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Kerner’s sister, who came from a distance to visit them, -had heard very little about this affair, yet she was awakened -by a sound that seemed like some one trying to speak into her -ear; and, looking up, she saw two stars, like those described -by Margaret Laibesberg. She observed that they emitted no -rays. She also felt the cool air, and perceived the corpse-like -odor. This odor accompanied the ghost even when it appeared -at Heilbronn.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is remarkable that some of these persons, both men and -women, felt themselves unable to move or call out while the -spectre was there, and that they were relieved the moment he -went away. They appeared to be magnetized; but this feeling -was by no means universal. Many were perfectly composed -and self-possessed the whole time, and made their observations -to each other. All agreed that the speaking of the apparition -seemed like that of a person making efforts to speak. Now, -as we are to presume that he did not speak by means of organs, -as we do, but that he imitated the sounds of words as he imitated -other sounds, by some means with which we are unacquainted—for -since the noises were heard by everybody within -hearing, we must suppose that they actually existed—we, who -know the extreme difficulty of imitating human speech, may -conceive how this imitation should be very defective.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dutthenhofer and others remarked that there was no echo -from the sounds, as well as that the phosphorescence shed no -light around; and though the spectre could touch <span class='it'>them</span>, or produce -the sensation that he did, they could not feel <span class='it'>him</span>: but, as -in all similar cases, could thrust their hands through what appeared -to be his body. The sensation of his falling tears, and -the marks they left, seem most unaccountable; and yet, in the -records of a ghost that haunted the countess of Eberstein, in -1685, we find the same thing asserted. This account was made -public by the authority of the consistorial court, and with the -consent of the family.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At length, on the 11th of February, the ghost took his departure -from Eslinger; at least, after that day he was no more seen -or heard by her or anybody else. He had always entreated -her to go to Wimmenthal, where he had formerly lived, to pray -for him; and, after she was released from the jail, by the advice -of her friends, she did it. Some of them accompanied her, and -they saw the apparition near her while she was kneeling in the -open air, though not all with equal distinctness. A very respectable -woman, called Wörner—a stranger to Eslinger, whom -she says she never saw or spoke to till that day—offered to -make oath that she had accompanied her to Wimmenthal, and -that, with the other friends, she had stood about thirty paces -off, quite silent and still, while the woman knelt and prayed; -and that she had seen the apparition of a man, accompanied by -two smaller spectres, hovering near her. “When the prayer -was ended, he went close to her, and there was a light like a -falling star; then I saw something like a white cloud, that -seemed to float away: and after that, we saw no more.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Eslinger had been very unwilling to undertake this expedition: -she took leave of her children before she started, and -evidently expected mischief would befall her; and now, on approaching -her, they found her lying cold and insensible. When -they had revived her, she told them that, on bidding her farewell, -before he ascended—which he did, accompanied by two -bright infantine forms—the ghost had asked her to give him -her hand; and that, after wrapping it in her handkerchief, she -had complied. “A small flame had arisen from the handkerchief -when he touched it; and we found the marks of his fingers -like burns, but without any smell.” This, however, was -not the cause of her fainting; but she had been terrified by a -troop of frightful animals that she saw rush past her, when the -spirit floated away.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From this time, nobody, either in the prison or out of it, was -troubled with this apparition.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This is certainly a very extraordinary story; and what is -more extraordinary, such cases do not seem to be very uncommon -in Germany. I meet with many recorded: and an eminent -German scholar of my acquaintance tells me that he has -also heard of several, and was surprised that we have no similar -instances here. If these things occurred merely among the -Roman catholics, we might be inclined to suppose that they -had some connection with their notion of purgatory: but, on -the contrary, it appears to be among the Lutheran population -they chiefly occur—insomuch that it has even been suggested -that the omission of prayers for the dead, in the Lutheran -church, is the cause of the phenomenon. But, on the other -hand, as in the present case, and in several others, the person -that revisits the earth was of the catholic persuasion when alive, -we are bound to suppose that he had the benefit of his own -church’s prayers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I am here assuming that all the above strange phenomena -were really produced by the agency of an apparition. If -they were not, what were they? The three physicians, who -were among the visiters, must have been perfectly aware of -the contagious nature of some forms of nervous disorder, and -from the previous incredulity of two of them, they must have -been quite prepared to regard these phenomena from that point -of view; yet they seem unable to bring them under the category -of sensuous illusions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The apparently electrical nature of the lights, and of several -of the sounds, is very remarkable, as are also the swellings produced -on some of the persons by the touch of the ghost, which -remind us of Professor Hofer’s case, mentioned in a former chapter. -The apparition of the dog and the lambs also, strange as -they are, are by no means isolated cases. These appearances -seem to be symbolical: the father had been evil, and had led -his son to do evil, and he appeared in the degraded form of a -dog; and the innocence of the children, who had been, probably, -in some way wronged, was symbolized by their appearing -as lambs. “If I had lived as a beast,” said an apparition to the -Seeress of Provorst, “I should appear as a beast.” These -symbolical transfigurations can not appear very extravagant to -those who accept the belief of many theologians, that the serpent -of the garden of Eden was an evil spirit incarnated in that -degraded form.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>How for the removal of the horse out of the stable was connected -with the rest of the phenomena, it is impossible to say; -but a similar circumstance has very lately occurred with regard -to a dog that was locked up in the house in this neighborhood, -which I have several times alluded to, where footsteps and rustlings -are heard, doors are opened, and a feeling that some one -is blowing or breathing upon them is felt by the inhabitants.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The holes burnt in the handkerchief are also quite in accordance -with many other relations of the kind, especially that of -the maid of Orlach, and also that of the Hammerschan family, -mentioned in “Stilling’s Pneumatology,” when a ghost who had -been, as he said, waiting one hundred and twenty years for -some one to release him by their prayers, was seen to take a -handkerchief, on which he left the marks of his five fingers, -appearing like burnt spots. A bible that he touched was -marked in the same manner; and these two mementoes of the -apparition were carefully retained in the family. This particularity, -also, reminds us of Lord Tyrone’s leaving the marks of -his hand on Lady Beresord’s wrist, on which she ever afterward -wore a black riband. In several instances I find it -reported that when an apparition is requested to render himself -visible to, or to enter into communication with, other persons -besides those to whom he addresses himself, he answers -that it is impossible; and in other cases, that he could do it, but -that the consequences to those persons would be pernicious. -This, together with the circumstance of their waiting so long -for the right person, tends strongly to support the hypothesis -that an intense magnetic rapport is necessary to any facility of -intercourse. It also appears that the power of establishing this -rapport with one or more persons, varies exceedingly among -these denizens of a spiritual world, some being only able to -render themselves audible, others to render themselves visible -to one person, while a few seem to possess considerably greater -powers or privileges.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Another particular to be observed is, that in many instances, -if not in all, these spirits are what the Germans call <span class='it'>gebannt</span>, -that is, <span class='it'>banned</span>, or <span class='it'>proscribed</span>, or, as it were, <span class='it'>tethered</span> to a certain -spot, which they can occasionally leave, as Anton did the -cellar at Wimmenthal, to which he was <span class='it'>gebannt</span>, but from -which they can not free themselves. To this spot they seem to -be attached, as by an invisible chain, whether by the memory -of a crime committed there, or by a buried treasure, or even -by its being the receptacle of their own bodies. In short, it -seems perfectly clear, admitting them to be apparitions of the -dead, that, whatever the bond may be that keeps them down, -they can not quit the earth; they are, as St. Martin says, <span class='it'>remainers</span>, -not <span class='it'>returners</span>, and this seems to be the explanation of -haunted houses.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the year 1827, Christian Eisengrun, a respectable citizen -of Neckarsteinach, was visited by a ghost of the above kind, -and the particulars were judically recorded. He was at Eherbach, -in Baden, working as a potter, which was his trade, in the -manufactory of Mr. Gehrig, when he was one night awakened -by a noise in his chamber, and, on looking up, he saw a faint -light, which presently assumed a human form, attired in a -loose gown; he could see no head. He had his own head under -the clothes; but it presently spoke, and told him that he -was destined to release it, and for that purpose he must go -to the catholic churchyard of Neckarsteinach, and there, for -twenty-one successive days, repeat the following verse from the -New Testament, before the stone sepulchre there:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit -of man which is in him? So, the things of God knoweth no -man, but the spirit of God.”—1 Cor. ii. 11.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The ghost having repeated his visits and his request, the man -consulted his master what he should do, and he advised him -not to trifle with the apparition, but to do what he required, -adding that he had known many similar instances. Upon this, -Eisengrun went to Neckarsteinach, and addressed himself to -the catholic priest there, named Seitz, who gave him the same -counsel, together with his blessing and also a hymn of Luther’s, -which he bade him learn and repeat, as well as the verse, when -he visited the sepulchre.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As there was only one stone sepulchre in the churchyard, -Eisengrun had no difficulty in finding it; and while he performed -the service imposed on him by the ghost, the latter stood -on the grave with his hands folded as if in prayer; but when -he repeated the hymn, he moved rapidly backward and forward, -but still not overstepping the limits of the stone. The -man, though very frightened, persevered in the thing for the -time imposed, twenty-one days; and during this period he saw -the perfect form of the apparition, which had no covering on -its head except very white hair. It always kept its hands -folded, and had large eyes, in which he never perceived any -motion; this filled him with horror. Many persons went to -witness the ceremony.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The surviving nephews and nieces of the apparition brought -an action against Eisengrun, and they contrived to have him -seized and carried to the magistrate’s house, one day, at the -time he should have gone to the churchyard. But the ghost -came and beckoned, and made signs to him to follow him, till -the man was so much affected and terrified that he burst into -tears. The two magistrates could not see the spectre, but feeling -themselves affected with a cold shudder, they consented to -his going.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He was then publicly examined in court, together with the -offended family and a number of witnesses; and the result was, -that he was permitted to continue the service for the twenty-one -days, after which he never saw or heard more of the ghost, -who had been formerly a rich timber-merchant. The terror -and anxiety attendant on these daily visits to the churchyard, -affected Eisengrun so much, that it was some time before he -recovered his usual health. He had all his life been a ghost-seer, -but had never had communication with any before this -event.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The catholic priest, in this instance, appears to have been -more liberal than the deceased timber-merchant, for the latter -did not seem to like the Lutheran hymn which the former prescribed. -His dissatisfaction, however, may have arisen from -their making any addition to the formula he had himself indicated.</p> - -<hr class='footnotemark'/> - -<div class='footnote'> -<table summary='footnote_5'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' class='footnoteid'/> -<col span='1'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td style='vertical-align:top;'> -<div class='footnote-id' id='f5'><a href='#r5'>[5]</a></div> -</td><td> - -<p class='pindent'>It is to be observed that this is the sensation asserted to be felt by Reichenbach’s -patients on the approach of the magnet.</p> - -</td></tr> -</table> -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='376' id='Page_376'></span><h1>CHAPTER XVI.</h1></div> - -<h3>THE POLTERGEIST OF THE GERMANS, AND POSSESSION.</h3> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>With</span> regard to the so-called <span class='it'>hauntings</span>, referred to in the -preceding chapter, there seems reason to believe that the invisible -guest was formerly a dweller upon earth, in the flesh, -who is prevented by some circumstance which we are not qualified -to explain, from pursuing the destiny of the human race, -by entering freely into the next state prepared for him. He is -like an unfortunate caterpillar that ‘can not entirely free itself -from the integuments of its reptile life which chain it to the -earth, while its fluttering wings vainly seek to bear it into the -region to which it now belongs.’ But there is another kind of -<span class='it'>haunting</span>, which is still more mysterious and strange, though by -no means unfrequent, and which, from the odd, sportive, mischievous -nature of the disturbances created, one can scarcely -reconcile to our notions of what we understand by the term -<span class='it'>ghost</span>; for in those cases where the unseen visitant appears to -be the spirit of a person deceased, we see evidences of grief, -remorse, and dissatisfaction, together with, in many instances, -a disposition to repeat the acts of life—or at least to simulate -a repetition of them: but there is nothing sportive or mischievous, -nor, except where an injunction is disobeyed or a request -refused, are there generally any evidences of anger or malignity. -But in the other cases alluded to, the annoyances appear -rather like the tricks of a mischievous imp. I refer to what the -Germans call the <span class='it'>poltergeist</span>, or racketing spectre, for the phenomenon -is known in all countries, and has been known in all -ages.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Since hearing of the phenomenon of the electric girl, which -attracted so much attention and occasioned so much controversy -in Paris lately, and other similar cases which have since -reached me, I feel doubtful whether some of these strange circumstances -may not have been connected with electricity in one -form or another. The famous story of what is familiarly called -the Stockwell ghost, for example, might possibly be brought -under this category. I have heard some people assert that the -mystery of this affair was subsequently explained away, and -the whole found to be a trick: but that is a mistake. Some -years ago, I was acquainted with persons whose parents were -living on the spot at that time, who knew all the details, and to -them it remained as great a mystery as ever; not the smallest -light had ever been thrown upon it. People are so glad to get -rid of troublesome mysteries of this description, that they are -always ready to say, “The trick has been found out!” and -those who pride themselves on not believing idle stories, are to -the last degree credulous when “the idle story” flatters their -skepticism.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The circumstances of the so-called Stockwell ghost, which I -extract from a report published at the time, are as follows:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The pamphlet was entitled: “An authentic, candid, and Circumstantial -Narrative of the astonishing Transactions at Stockwell, -in the County of Surrey, on Monday and Tuesday, the -6th and 7th days of January, 1772; containing a Series of the -most surprising and unaccountable Events that ever happened, -which continued, from first to last, upward of twenty hours, -and at different places: published with the consent and approbation -of the family and other parties concerned, to authenticate -which the original copy is signed by them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Before we enter upon a description of the most extraordinary -transactions that perhaps ever happened, we shall begin -with an account of the parties who were principally concerned, -and, in justice to them, give their characters, by which means -the impartial world may see what credit is due to the following -narrative:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The events, indeed, are of so strange and singular a nature, -that we can not be at all surprised the public should be -doubtful of the truth of them, more especially as there have -been too many impositions of this sort; but, let us consider, -here are no sinister ends to be answered, no contributions to -be wished for, nor would be accepted, as the parties are in -reputable situations and good circumstances, particularly Mrs. -Golding, who is a lady of an independent fortune: Richard -Fowler and his wife might be looked upon as an exception to -this assertion; but, as their loss was trivial, they must be left -out of the question, except so far as they appear corroborating -evidences. Mr. Pain’s maid lost nothing.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How or by what means these transactions were brought -about, has never transpired: we have only to rest our confidence -on the veracity of the parties, whose descriptions have -been most strictly attended to, without the least deviation: -nothing here offered is either exaggerated or diminished—the -whole stated in the clearest manner, just as they occurred: as -such only we lay them before the candid and impartial public.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Mrs. Golding, an elderly lady at Stockwell, in Surrey, at -whose house the transactions began, was born in the same -parish (Lambeth), has lived in it ever since, and has always -been well known and respected as a gentlewoman of unblemished -honor and character. Mrs. Pain, a niece of Mrs. Golding, -has been married several years to Mr. Pain, a farmer, at -Brixton causeway, a little above Mr. Angel’s—has several -children, and is well known and respected in the parish. Mary -Martin, Mr. Pain’s servant, an elderly woman, has lived two -years with them and four years with Mrs. Golding, where she -came from. Richard Fowler lives almost opposite to Mr. Pain, -at the Brick pound—an honest, industrious, and sober man. -And Sarah Fowler, wife to the above, is an industrious and -sober woman.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“These are the subscribing evidences that we must rest the -truth of the facts upon; yet there are numbers of other persons -who were eye-witnesses of many of the transactions during the -time they happened, all of whom must acknowledge the truth -of them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Another person who bore a principal part in these scenes -was Ann Robinson, Mrs. Golding’s maid, a young woman about -twenty years old, who had lived with her but one week and -three days. So much for the <span class='it'>historiæ personæ</span>, and now for -the narrative.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“On Monday, January the 6th, 1772, about ten o’clock in -the forenoon, as Mrs. Golding was in her parlor, she heard the -china and glasses in the back kitchen tumble down and break; -her maid came to her and told her the stone plates were falling -from the shelf; Mrs. Golding went into the kitchen and saw -them broke. Presently after, a row of plates from the next -shelf fell down likewise, while she was there, and nobody near -them; this astonished her much, and while she was thinking -about it, other things in different places began to tumble about, -some of them breaking, attended with violent noises all over -the house; a clock tumbled down and the case broke; a lantern -that hung on the staircase was thrown down and the glass -broken to pieces; an earthen pan of salted beef broke to pieces -and the beef fell about: all this increased her surprise and -brought several persons about her, among whom was Mr. -Rowlidge, a carpenter, who gave it as his opinion that the -foundation was giving way and that the house was tumbling -down, occasioned by the too great weight of an additional -room erected above: so ready are we to discover natural -causes for everything! But no such thing happened, as the -reader will find; for whatever was the cause, that cause ceased -almost as soon as Mrs. Golding and her maid left any place, -and followed them wherever they went. Mrs. Golding ran -into Mr. Gresham’s house, a gentleman living next door to -her, where she fainted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In the interim, Mr. Rowlidge and other persons were -removing Mrs. Golding’s effects from her house, for fear of the -consequences he had prognosticated. At this time all was -quiet; Mrs. Golding’s maid, remaining in the house, was gone -up stairs, and when called upon several times to come down, -for fear of the dangerous situation she was thought to be in, -she answered very coolly, and after some time came down as -deliberately, without any seeming fearful apprehensions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Mrs. Pain was sent for from Brixton Causeway, and desired -to come directly, as her aunt was supposed to be dead: this was -the message to her. When Mrs. Pain came, Mrs. Golding was -come to herself, but very faint.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Among the persons who were present was Mr. Gardner, a -surgeon, of Clapham, whom Mrs. Pain desired to bleed her -aunt, which he did. Mrs. Pain asked him if the blood should -be thrown away: he desired it might not, as he would examine -it when cold. These minute particulars would not be taken -notice of, but as a chain to what follows. For the next circumstance -is of a more astonishing nature than anything that had -preceded it: the blood that was just congealed, sprang out of -the basin upon the floor, and presently after the basin broke to -pieces! This china basin was the only thing broke belonging -to Mr. Gresham; a bottle of rum that stood by it broke at the -same time.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Among the things that were removed to Mr. Gresham’s, -was a tray full of china, a japan bread-basket, some mahogany -waiters, with some bottles of liquors, jars of pickles, &c., and a -pier-glass, which was taken down by Mr. Saville (a neighbor -of Mrs. Golding’s); he gave it to one Robert Hames, who laid it -on the grass-plat at Mrs. Gresham’s: but, before he could put -it out of his hands, some parts of the frame on each side flew -off! It rained at that time; Mrs. Golding desired it might be -brought into the parlor, where it was put under a sideboard, -and a dressing-glass along with it. It had not been there long, -before the glasses and china which stood on the sideboard began -to tumble about and fall down, and broke both the glasses -to pieces. Mr. Saville and others being asked to drink a glass -of wine or rum, both the bottles broke in pieces before they -were uncorked!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Mrs. Golding’s surprise and fear increasing, she did not -know what to do, or where to go. Wherever she and her maid -were, these strange, destructive circumstances followed her, -and how to help or free herself from them was not in her power -or any other person’s present. Her mind was one confused -chaos, lost to herself and everything about her—drove from -her own home, and afraid there would be no other to receive -her. At last she left Mr. Gresham’s and went to Mr. Mayling’s, -a gentleman at the next door; here she stayed about three quarters -of an hour, during which time nothing happened. Her maid -stayed at Mr. Gresham’s to put up what few things remained -unbroken of her mistress’s, in a back apartment, when a jar of -pickles that stood upon a table turned upside down; then a jar -of raspberry jam broke to pieces; next two mahogany waiters -and a quadrille-box likewise broke in pieces.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Mrs. Pain, not choosing her aunt should stay too long at Mr. -Mayling’s, for fear of being troublesome, persuaded her to go to -her house at Rush Common, near Brixton Causeway, where she -would endeavor to make her as happy as she could, hoping by -this time all was over, as nothing had happened at that gentleman’s -house while she was there. This was about two o’clock -in the afternoon.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Mr. and Miss Gresham were at Mr. Pain’s house when -Mrs. Pain, Mrs. Golding, and her maid, went there. It being -about dinner-time, they all dined together; in the interim, Mrs. -Golding’s servant was sent to her house to see how things remained. -When she returned, she told them nothing had happened -since they left it. Some time after, Mr. Gresham and -miss went home, everything remaining quiet at Mr. Pain’s; -but about eight o’clock in the evening a fresh scene began. -The first thing that happened was, a whole row of pewter -dishes, except one, fell from off a shelf to the middle of the -floor, rolled about a little while, then settled; and, what is -almost beyond belief, as soon as they were quiet, turned upside -down! They were then put on the dresser, and went through -the same a second time. Next fell a whole row of pewter -plates from off the second shelf over the dresser to the ground, -and, being taken up and put on the dresser one in another, they -were thrown down again.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The next thing was, two eggs that were upon one of the -pewter shelves, one of them flew off, crossed the kitchen, struck -a cat on the head, and then broke in pieces.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Next, Mary Martin, Mrs. Pain’s servant, went to stir the -kitchen fire; she got to the right-hand side of it, being a large -chimney, as is usual in farmhouses. A pestle and mortar that -stood nearer the left-hand end of the chimney-shelf, jumped -about six feet on the floor! Then went candlesticks and other -brasses, scarcely anything remaining in its place. After this, -the glasses and china were put down on the floor for fear of -undergoing the same fate: they presently began to dance and -tumble about, and then broke to pieces. A teapot that was -among them flew to Mrs. Golding’s maid’s foot, and struck it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A glass tumbler that was put on the floor jumped about -two feet and then broke. Another that stood by it jumped -about at the same time, but did not break till some hours after, -when it jumped again, and then broke. A china bowl that -stood in the parlor jumped from the floor to behind a table that -stood there. This was most astonishing, as the distance from -where it stood was between seven and eight feet, but was not -broke. It was put back by Richard Fowler to its place, where -it remained some time, and then flew to pieces.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The next thing that followed was a mustard-pot, that jumped -out of a closet and was broke. A single cup that stood upon -the table (almost the only thing remaining) jumped up, flew -across the kitchen, ringing like a bell, and then was dashed to -pieces against the dresser. A candlestick that stood on the -chimney-shelf flew across the kitchen to the parlor-door, at -about fifteen feet distance. A teakettle under the dresser was -thrown out about two feet; another kettle, that stood at one end -of the range, was thrown against the iron that is fixed to prevent -children from falling into the fire. A tumbler with rum-and-water -in it, that stood upon a waiter upon a table in the -parlor, jumped about ten feet, and was broke. The table then -fell down, and along with it a silver tankard belonging to Mrs. -Golding—the waiter in which stood the tumbler, and a candlestick. -A case-bottle then flew to pieces.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The next circumstance was, a ham that hung in one side -of the kitchen-chimney raised itself from the hook and fell down -to the ground. Some time after, another ham, that hung on the -other side of the chimney, likewise underwent the same fate. -Then a flitch of bacon, which hung up in the same chimney, -fell down.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“All the family were eye-witnesses to these circumstances, -as well as other persons, some of whom were so alarmed and -shocked, that they could not bear to stay, and were happy in -getting away, though the unhappy family were left in the midst -of their distresses. Most of the genteel families around were -continually sending to inquire after them, and whether all was -over or not. Is it not surprising that some among them had -not the inclination and resolution to try to unravel this most -intricate affair, at a time when it would have been in their -power to have done so? There certainly was sufficient time -for so doing, as the whole, from first to last, continued upward -of twenty hours.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“At all the times of action, Mrs. Golding’s servant was walking -backward and forward, in either the kitchen or parlor, or -wherever some of the family happened to be. Nor could they -get her to sit down five minutes together, except at one time -for about half an hour toward the morning, when the family -were at prayers in the parlor; then all was quiet: but in the -midst of the greatest confusion, she was as much composed as -at any other time, and with uncommon coolness of temper advised -her mistress not to be alarmed or uneasy, as she said -these things could not be helped. Thus she argued, as if -they were common occurrences, which must happen in every -family!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This advice surprised and startled her mistress almost as -much as the circumstances that occasioned it. For how can -we suppose that a girl of about twenty years old (an age when -female timidity is too often assisted by superstition) could remain -in the midst of such calamitous circumstances (except they -proceed from causes best known to herself), and not be struck -with the same terror as every other person was who was present? -These reflections led Mr. Pain (and, at the end of the -transactions, likewise Mrs. Golding) to think that she was not -altogether so unconcerned as she appeared to be; but, hitherto, -the whole remains mysterious and unrivalled.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“About ten o’clock at night, they sent over the way to Richard -Fowler, to desire he would come and stay with them. He -came and continued till one in the morning, and was so terrified -that he could remain no longer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“As Mrs. Golding could not be persuaded to go to bed, Mrs. -Pain at that time (one o’clock) made an excuse to go up stairs -to her youngest child, under pretence of getting it to sleep, but -she really acknowledges it was through fear, as she declares -she could not sit up to see such strange things going on, as -everything, one after another, was broke, till there was not -above two or three cups and saucers remaining out of a considerable -quantity of china, &c, which was destroyed to the amount -of some pounds.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“About five o’clock on Tuesday morning, Mrs. Golding went -up to her niece, and desired her to get up, as the noises and -destruction were so great, she could continue in the house no -longer. At this time all the tables, chairs, drawers, &c., were -tumbling about. When Mrs. Pain came down, it was amazing -beyond all description. Their only security then was to quit -the house, for fear of the same catastrophe as had been expected -the morning before at Mrs. Golding’s. In consequence -of this resolution, Mrs. Golding and her maid went over the -way to Richard Fowler’s. When Mrs. Golding’s maid had -seen her safe to Richard Fowler’s, she came back to Mrs. Pain, -to help her to dress the children in the barn, where she had -carried them for fear of the house falling. At this time all was -quiet. They then went to Fowler’s, and then began the same -scene as had happened at the other places. It must be remarked, -all was quiet here as well as elsewhere, till the maid -returned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“When they got to Mr. Fowler’s, he began to light a fire in -his back room. When done, he put the candle and candlestick -upon a table in the fore-room. This apartment Mrs. Golding -and her maid had passed through. Another candlestick, with -a tin lamp in it, that stood by it, were both dashed together, and -fell to the ground. A lantern, with which Mrs. Golding was -lighted across the road, sprang from a hook to the ground, and -a quantity of oil spilled on the floor. The last thing was, the -basket of coals tumbled over, the coals rolling about the room -The maid then desired Richard Fowler not to let her mistress -remain there, as she said wherever she was the same things -would follow. In consequence of this advice, and fearing -greater losses to himself, he desired she would quit his house; -but first begged her to consider within herself, for her own and -the public’s sake, whether or not she had been guilty of some -atrocious crime, for which Providence was determined to pursue -her on this side of the grave: for he could not help thinking -she was the object that was to be made an example to posterity, -by the all-seeing eye of Providence, for crimes which -but too often none but that Providence can penetrate, and by -such means as these bring to light.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Thus was the poor gentlewoman’s measure of affliction -complete, not only to have undergone all which has been related, -but to have added to it the character of a bad and wicked -woman, when till this time she was esteemed as a most deserving -person. In candor to Fowler, he could not be blamed. -What could he do? what would any man have done that was -so circumstanced? Mrs. Golding soon satisfied him: she told -him she would not stay in his house or any other person’s, as -her conscience was quite clear, and she could as well wait the -will of Providence in her own house as in any other place whatever; -upon which she and her maid went home. Mr. Pain -went with them. After they had got to Mrs. Golding’s the last -time, the same transactions once more began upon the remains -that were left.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A nine-gallon cask of beer, that was in the cellar, the door -being open, and no person near it, turned upside down. A pail -of water, that stood on the floor, boiled like a pot! A box of -candles fell from a shelf in the kitchen to the floor; they rolled -out, but none were broke: and a round mahogany table overset -in the parlor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Mr. Pain then desired Mrs. Golding to send her maid for -his wife to come to them. When she was gone, all was quiet. -Upon her return she was immediately discharged, and no disturbances -have happened since. This was between six and -seven o’clock on Tuesday morning.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“At Mrs. Golding’s were broke the quantity of three pailfuls -of glass, china, &c. At Mrs. Pain’s they filled two pails.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Thus ends the narrative—a true, circumstantial, and faithful -account of which we have laid before the public; and have -endeavored as much as possible, throughout the whole, to state -only facts, without presuming to obtrude any opinion on them. -If we have in part hinted anything that may appear unfavorable -to the girl, it is not from a determination to charge her with -the cause, right or wrong, but only from a strict adherence to -truth, most sincerely wishing this extraordinary affair may be -unravelled.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The above narrative is absolutely and strictly true, in witness -whereof we have set our hands this eleventh day of January, -1772:—</p> - -<table id='tab5' summary='' class='center'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' style='width: 19em;'/> -<col span='1' style='width: 17em;'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td class='tab5c1 tdStyle5'></td><td class='tab5c2 tdStyle5'>“<span class='sc'>Mary Golding</span>,</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab5c1 tdStyle5'></td><td class='tab5c2 tdStyle5'>“<span class='sc'>John Pain</span>,</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab5c1 tdStyle5'></td><td class='tab5c2 tdStyle5'>“<span class='sc'>Mary Pain</span>,</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab5c1 tdStyle5'></td><td class='tab5c2 tdStyle5'>“<span class='sc'>Richard Fowler</span>,</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab5c1 tdStyle5'></td><td class='tab5c2 tdStyle5'>“<span class='sc'>Sarah Fowler</span>,</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab5c1 tdStyle5'></td><td class='tab5c2 tdStyle5'>“<span class='sc'>Mary Martin</span>.”</td></tr> -</table> - -<p class='pindent'>“The original copy of this narrative, signed as above, with -the parties’ own hands, was put into the hands of Mr. Marks, -bookseller, in St. Martin’s Lane, to satisfy persons who choose -to inspect the same.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Such phenomena as this of the Stockwell ghost are by no -means uncommon, and I am acquainted with many more instances -than I can allude to here. One occurred very lately in -the neighborhood of London, as I learned from the following -newspaper paragraph. I subsequently heard that the little girl -had been sent away; but whether the phenomena then ceased, -or whether she carried the disturbance with her, I have not -been able to ascertain, nor does it appear certain that she had -anything to do with it:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“<span class='sc'>A Mischievous and Mysterious Ghost.</span>—(From a correspondent.)—The -whole of the neighborhood of Black Lion-lane, -Bayswater, is ringing with the extraordinary occurrences that -have recently happened in the house of a Mr. Williams, in the -Moscow-road, and which bear a strong resemblance to the celebrated -Stockwell ghost affair in 1772. The house is inhabited -by Mr. and Mrs. Williams, a grown-up son and daughter, and a -little girl between ten and eleven years of age. On the first day, -the family, who are remarkable for their piety, were startled all -at once by a mysterious movement among the things in the sitting-rooms -and kitchen, and other parts of the house. At one -time, without any visible agency, one of the jugs came off the -hook over the dresser, and was broken; then followed another, -and next day another. A china teapot, with the tea just made -in it, and placed on the mantel-piece, whisked off on to the floor, -and was smashed. A pewter one, which had been substituted -immediately after, did the same, and, when put on the table, -was seen to hop about as if bewitched, and was actually held -down while the tea was made for Mr. Williams’s breakfast, before -leaving for his place of business. When for a time all had -been quiet, off came from its place on the wall, a picture in a -heavy gilt frame, and fell to the floor without being broken. All -was now amazement and terror, for the old people are very superstitious, -and ascribing it to a supernatural agency, the other -pictures were removed, and stowed away on the floor. But -the spirit of locomotion was not to be arrested. Jugs and -plates continued at intervals to quit their posts, and skip off -their hooks and shelves into the middle of the room, as though -they were inspired by the magic flute, and at supper, when the -little girl’s mug was filled with beer, the mug slided off the table -on to the floor. Three times it was replaced, and three times -it moved off again. It would be tedious to relate the fantastic -tricks which have been played by household articles of every -kind. An Egyptian vase jumped off the table suddenly, when -no soul was near, and was smashed to pieces. The teakettle -popped off the fire into the grate as Mr. Williams had filled the -teapot, which fell off the chimney-piece. Candlesticks, after a -dance on the table, flew off, and ornaments from the shelves, -and bonnets and cap-boxes flung about in the oddest manner. -A looking-glass hopped off a dressing-table, followed by combs -and brushes and several bottles, and a great pincushion has -been remarkably conspicuous for its incessant jigs from one -part to another. The little girl, who is a Spaniard, and under -the care of Mr. and Mrs. Williams, is supposed by their friends -to be the cause of it all, however extraordinary it may seem in -one of her age, but up to the present time it continues a mystery, -and the <span class='it'>modus operandi</span> is invisible.”—<span class='it'>Morning Post.</span></p> - -<p class='pindent'>To imagine that these extraordinary effects were produced -by the voluntary agency of the child, furnishes one of those -remarkable instances of the credulity of the skeptical, to which -I have referred. But when we read a true statement of the -effects involuntarily exhibited by Angelique Cottin, we begin to -see that it is just possible the other strange phenomena may be -provided by a similar agency.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The French Academy of Sciences had determined, as they -had formerly done by Mesmerism, that the thing should not be -true. Monsieur Arago was nonsuited; but although it is extremely -possible that either the phenomenon had run its course -and arrived at a natural termination, or that the removal of the -girl to Paris had extinguished it, there appears no doubt that it -had previously existed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Angelique Cottin was a native of La Perriere, aged fourteen, -when, on the 15th of January, 1846, at eight o’clock in the -evening, while weaving silk-gloves at an oaken frame, in company -with other girls, the frame began to jerk, and they could -not by any efforts keep it steady. It seemed as if it were alive, -and becoming alarmed, they called in the neighbors, who would -not believe them; but desired them to sit down and go on with -their work. Being timid, they went one by one, and the frame -remained still till Angelique approached, when it recommenced -its movements, while she was also attracted by the frame: -thinking she was bewitched or possessed, her parents took her -to the presbytery that the spirit might be exorcised. The curate, -however, being a sensible man, refused to do it, but set -himself, on the contrary, to observe the phenomenon, and being -perfectly satisfied of the fact, he bade them take her to a physician.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Meanwhile, the intensity of the influence, whatever it was, -augmented; not only articles made of oak, but all sorts of -things were acted upon by it and reacted upon her, while persons -who were near her, even without contact, frequently felt -electric shocks. The effects, which were diminished when she -was on a carpet or a waxed cloth, were most remarkable when -she was on the bare earth. They sometimes entirely ceased for -two or three days, and then recommenced. Metals were not -affected. Anything touched by her apron or dress would fly -off, although a person held it; and Monsieur Hebert, while -seated on a heavy tub or trough, was raised up with it. In -short, the only place she could repose on, was a stone covered -with cork; they also kept her still by isolating her. When she -was fatigued the effects diminished. A needle suspended horizontally, -oscillated rapidly with the motion of her arm, without -contact, or remained fixed, while deviating from the magnetic -direction. Great numbers of enlightened medical and scientific -men witnessed these phenomena, and investigated them -with every precaution to prevent imposition. She was often -hurt by the violent involuntary movements she was thrown into, -and was evidently afflicted by chorea.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Unfortunately, her parents, poor and ignorant, insisted much -against the advice of the doctors, on exhibiting her for money; -and under these circumstances, she was brought to Paris; and -nothing is more probable than that after the phenomena had -really ceased, the girl may have been induced to simulate what -had originally been genuine. The thing avowedly ceased altogether -on the 10th of April, and there has been no return of it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In 1831, a young girl, also aged fourteen, who lived as under -nursery-maid in a French family, exhibited the same phenomena, -and when the case of Angelique Cottin was made public, -her master published hers. He says that things of such an extraordinary -nature occurred as he dare not repeat, since none -but an eye-witness could believe them. The thing lasted for -three years, and there was ample time for observation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the year 1686, a man at Brussels, called Breekmans, was -similarly affected. A commission was appointed by the magistrates -to investigate his condition; and, being pronounced a -sorcerer, he would have been burnt, had he not luckily made -his escape.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Many somnambulic persons are capable of giving an electric -shock; and I have met with one person, not somnambulic, who -informs me that he has frequently been able to do it by an -effort of the will.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Ennemoser relates the case of a Mademoiselle Emmerich, -sister to the professor of theology at Strasburg, who also possessed -this power. This young lady, who appears to have been -a person of very rare merit and endowments, was afflicted with -a long and singular malady, originating in a fright, in the course -of which she exhibited many very curious phenomena, having -fallen into a state of natural somnambulism, accompanied by a -high degree of lucidity. Her body became so surcharged with -electricity, that it was necessary to her relief to discharge it; -and she sometimes imparted a complete battery of shocks to -her brother and her physician, or whoever was near her, and -that frequently when they did not touch her. Professor Emmerich -mentions also that she sent him a smart shock, one day, -when he was several rooms off. He started up and rushed into -her chamber, where she was in bed; and as soon as she saw -him she said, laughing: “Ah, you felt it, did you?” Mademoiselle -Emmerich’s illness terminated in death.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cotugno, a surgeon, relates that, having touched with his -scalpel the intercostal nerve of a mouse that had bitten his leg, -he received an electric shock; and where the torpedo abounds, -the fishermen, in pouring water over the fish they have caught -for the purpose of washing them, know if one is among them -by the shock they sustain.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A very extraordinary circumstance, which we may possibly -attribute to some such influence as the above, occurred at Rambouillet -in November, 1846. The particulars are furnished by -a gentleman residing on the spot at the time, and were published -by the Baron Dupotel—who, however, attempts no -explanation of the mystery:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One morning some travelling merchants, or pedlars, came to -the door of a farmhouse, belonging to a man named Bottel, -and asked for some bread, which the maid-servant gave them, -and they went away. Subsequently one of the party returned -to ask for more, and was refused. The man, I believe, expressed -some resentment and uttered vague threats, but she -would not give him anything and he departed. That night at -supper the plates began to dance and roll off the table, without -any visible cause, and several other unaccountable phenomena -occurred; and the girl going to the door and chancing to place -herself just where the pedlar had stood, she was seized with -convulsions and an extraordinary rotatory motion. The carter -who was standing by laughed at her, and out of bravado placed -himself on the same spot, when he felt almost suffocated, and -was so unable to command his movements that he was overturned -into a large pool in front of the house.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Upon this they rushed to the curé of the parish for assistance; -but he had scarcely said a prayer or two before he was attacked -in the same manner, though in his own house; and his furniture -beginning to oscillate and crack as if it were bewitched, -the poor people were frightened out of their wits.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>By-and-by the phenomena intermitted, and they hoped all -was over; but presently it began again, and this occurred more -than once before it subsided wholly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 8th December, 1836, at Stuttgard, Carl Fischer, a -baker’s boy, aged seventeen, of steady habits and good character, -was fixed with a basket on his shoulders, in some unaccountable -way, in front of his master’s house. He foresaw the -thing was to happen when he went out with his bread very -early in the morning; earnestly wished that the day was over, -and told his companion that if he could only cross the threshold, -on his return, he should escape it. It was about six when he -did return; and his master, hearing a fearful noise which he -could not describe—“as if proceeding from a multitude of beings”—looked -out of the window, where he saw Carl violently -struggling and fighting with his apron, though his feet were -immoveably fixed to one spot. A hissing sound proceeded -from his mouth and nose, and a voice, which was neither his -nor that of any person present, was heard to cry, “Stand fast, -Carl!” The master says that he could not have believed such -a thing; and he was so alarmed that he did not venture into -the street, where numerous persons were assembled. The boy -said he must remain there till eleven o’clock; and the police -kept guard over him till that time, as the physician said he -must not be interfered with, and the people sought to push him -from the spot. When the time had expired, he was carried to -the hospital, where he seemed exceedingly exhausted and fell -into a profound sleep.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I meet with numerous extraordinary records of a preternatural -ringing of all the bells in a house; sometimes occurring periodically -for a considerable time, and continuing after precautions -have been taken which precluded the possibility of trick -or deception, the wires being cut, and vigilant eyes watching -them; and yet they rung on, by day or night, just the same.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is certainly very difficult to conceive, but at the same time -it is not impossible, that such strange phenomena as that of the -Stockwell ghost, and many similar ones, may be the manifestations -of some extraordinary electrical influence; but there are -other cases of poltergeist which it is impossible to attribute to -the same cause, since they are accompanied by evident manifestations -of will and intelligence. Such was the instance related -in Southey’s Life of Wesley, which occurred in the year -1716, beginning with a groaning, and subsequently proceeding -to all manner of noises, lifting of latches, clattering of windows, -knockings of a most mysterious kind, &c., &c. The family -were not generally frightened, but the young children, when -asleep, showed symptoms of great terror. This annoyance -lasted, I think, two or three months, and then ceased. As in -most of these cases, the dog was extremely frightened, and hid -himself when the visitations commenced.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the year 1838, a circumstance of the same kind occurred -in Paris, in the Rue St. Honoré; and not very long ago there -was one in Caithness, in which most unaccountable circumstances -transpired. Among the rest, stones were flung, which -never hit people, but fell at their feet, in rooms perfectly closed -on all sides. A gentleman who witnessed these extraordinary -phenomena, related the whole story to an advocate of my acquaintance, -who assured me that, however impossible he found -it to credit such things, he should certainly place entire reliance -on that gentleman’s word in any other case.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then there is the famous story of the drummer of Tedworth;<a id='r6'/><a href='#f6' style='text-decoration:none'><sup><span style='font-size:0.9em'>[6]</span></sup></a> -and the persecution of Professor Schuppart, at Giessen, -in Upper Hesse, which continued, with occasional intermission, -for six years. This affair began with a violent knocking -at the door one night; next day stones were sent whizzing -through closed rooms in all directions, so that, although no one -was struck, the windows were all broken; and no sooner were -new panes put in, than they were broken again. He was persecuted -with slaps on the face, by day and by night, so that he -could get no rest; and when two persons were appointed by -the authorities to sit by his bed to watch him, they got the slaps -also. When he was reading at his desk, his lamp would suddenly -rise up and remove to the other end of the room—not as -if thrown, but evidently carried. His books were torn to pieces -and flung at his feet; and when he was lecturing, this mischievous -sprite would tear out the leaf he was reading; and it is -very remarkable, that the only thing that seemed available as a -protection, was a drawn sword brandished over his head by -himself or others, which was one of the singularities attending -the case of the drummer of Tedworth. Schuppart narrated all -these circumstances in his public lectures, and nobody ever disputed -the facts.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A remarkable case of this sort occurred in the year 1670, at -Keppock, near Glasgow. There, also, stones were thrown -which hit nobody, but the annoyance only continued eight days; -and there are several more to be found recorded in works of -that period. The disturbance that happened in the house of -Gilbert Cambell, at Glenluce, excited considerable notice. -Here, as elsewhere, stones were thrown; but, as in most similar -instances I meet with, no human being was damaged—the -license of these spirits, or goblins, or whatever they be, seeming -to extend no further than worrying and tormenting their victims. -In this case, however, the spirit spoke to them, though -he was never seen. The annoyance commenced in November, -of the year 1654, I think, and continued till April, when there -was some intermission till July, when it recommenced. The -loss of the family from the things destroyed was ruining; for -their household goods and chattels were rendered useless, their -food was polluted and spoiled, and their very clothes cut to -pieces while on their backs, by invisible hands; and it was in -vain that all the ministers about the country assembled to exorcise -this troublesome spirit, for whoever was there the thing -continued exactly the same.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At length poor Cambell applied to the synod of presbyters -for advice; and a meeting was convened in October, 1655, and -a solemn day of humiliation was imposed through the whole -bounds of the presbytery, for the sake of the afflicted family. -Whether it was owing to this or not, there ensued an alleviation -from that time till April, and from April till August they -were entirely free, and hoped all was over; but then it began -again worse than ever, and they were dreadfully tormented -through the autumn; after which the disturbance ceased, and -although the family lived in the house many years afterward, -nothing of the sort ever happened again.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was another famous case, which occurred at a place -called Ring-Croft, in Kirkcudbright, in the year 1695. The -afflicted family bore the name of Mackie. In this instance, the -stones did sometimes hit them, and they were beaten as if by -staves; they, as well as strangers who came to the house, were -lifted off the ground by their clothes; their bed-coverings were -taken off their beds; things were visibly carried about the house -by <span class='it'>in</span>visible hands; several people were hurt, even to the effusion -of blood, by stones and blows; there were fire-balls seen -about the house, which were several times ignited; people, -both of the family and others, felt themselves grasped as if by -a hand; then there was groaning, crying, whistling, and a voice -that frequently spoke to them. Crowds of people went to the -house; but the thing continued just the same whether there -were many or few, and sometimes the whole building shook as -if it were coming down.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A day of humiliation was appointed in this case also, but -without the least effect. The disturbance commenced in February, -and ended on the 1st of May. Numberless people witnessed -the phenomenon, and the account of it is attested by fourteen -ministers and gentlemen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The same sort of thing occurred in the year 1659, in a place -inhabited by an evangelical bishop, called Schlotterbeck. It -began in the same manner, by throwing of stones and other -things, many of which came through the roof, insomuch that -they believed at first that some animal was concealed there. -However, nothing could be found, and the invisible guest soon -proceeded to other annoyances similar to those abovementioned; -and though they could not see him, his footsteps were -for ever heard about the house. At length, wearied out, the -bishop applied to the government for aid; and they sent him a -company of soldiers to guard the house by day and night, out -of which he and his family retired. But the goblin cared no -more for the soldiers than it had done for the city watch; the -thing continued without intermission, whoever was there, till it -ceased of its own accord. There was a house at Aix-la-Chapelle -that was for several years quite uninhabitable from a similar -cause.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I could mention many other cases, and, as I have said before, -they occur in all countries; but these will suffice as specimens -of the class. It is in vain for people who were not on the spot -to laugh, and assert that these were the mischievous tricks of -servants or others, when those who were there, and who had -such a deep interest in unravelling the mystery, and such -abundance of time and opportunity for doing it, could find no -solution whatever. In many of the above cases, the cattle were -unloosed, the horses were turned out of their stables, and uniformly -all the animals in the way exhibited great terror, sweating -and trembling, while the visitation continued.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Since we can not but believe that man forms but one class in -an immense range of existences, do not these strange occurrences -suggest the idea that occasionally some individual out of -this gamut of beings comes into rapport with us, or crosses our -path like a comet, and that, while certain conditions last, it can -hover about us, and play these <span class='it'>puckish</span>, mischievous tricks, till -the charm is broken, and then it re-enters its own sphere, and -we are cognizant of it no more!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But one of the most extraordinary examples of this kind of -annoyance is that which occurred, in the year 1806, in the castle -of Prince Hohenlohe, in Silesia. The account is given at -length by Councillor Hahn, of Ingelfingen, who witnessed the -circumstances; and in consequence of the various remarks that -have been since made on the subject, in different publications, -he has repeatedly reasserted the facts in letters, which have -been printed and laid before the public. I can not, therefore, -see what right we have to disbelieve a man of honor and character, -as he is said to be, merely because the circumstances he -narrates are unaccountable, more especially as the story, strange -as it is, by no means stands alone in the annals of demonology. -The following details were written down at the time the events -occurred, and they were communicated by Councillor Hahn to -Dr. Kerner in the year 1828:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“After the campaign of the Prussians against the French, in -the year 1806, the reigning prince of Hohenlohe gave orders -to Councillor Hahn, who was in his service, to proceed to -Slawensick, and there to wait his return. His serene highness -advanced from Leignitz toward his principality, and Hahn also -commenced his journey toward Upper Silesia on the 19th November. -At the same period, Charles Kern, of Kuntzlau, who -had fallen into the hands of the French, being released on parole, -and arriving at Leignitz in an infirm condition, he was -allowed to spend some time with Hahn, while awaiting his exchange.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hahn and Kern had been friends in their youth, and their -destinies having brought them both at this time into the Prussian -states, they were lodged together in the same apartment -of the castle, which was one on the first floor, forming an angle -at the back of the building, one side looking toward the -north and the other to the east. On the right of the door of -this room was a glass door, which led into a chamber divided -from those which followed by a wainscot partition. The door -in this wainscot, which communicated to those adjoining rooms, -was entirely closed up, because in them all sorts of household -utensils were kept. Neither in this chamber, nor in the sitting-room -which preceded it, was there any opening whatever which -could furnish the means of communication from without; nor -was there anybody in the castle besides the two friends, except -the prince’s two coachmen and Hahn’s servant. The whole -party were fearless people; and as for Hahn and Kern, they -believed in nothing less than ghosts or witches, nor had any -previous experience induced them to turn their thoughts in that -direction. Hahn, during his collegiate life, had been much -given to philosophy—had listened to Fichte, and earnestly -studied the writings of Kant. The result of his reflections was -a pure materialism; and he looked upon created man, not as -an aim, but merely as a means to a yet undeveloped end. -These opinions he has since changed, like many others who -think very differently in their fortieth year to what they did in -their twentieth. The particulars here given are necessary -in order to obtain credence for the following extraordinary -narrative; and to establish the fact that the phenomena were -not merely accepted by ignorant superstition, but coolly and -courageously investigated by enlightened minds. During the -first days of their residence in the castle, the two friends, -living together in solitude, amused their long evenings with -the works of Schiller, of whom they were both great admirers; -and Hahn usually read aloud. Three days had thus passed -quietly away, when, as they were sitting at the table, which -stood in the middle of the room, about nine o’clock in the -evening, their reading was interrupted by a small shower of -lime which fell around them. They looked at the ceiling, concluding -it must have come thence, but could perceive no abraded -parts; and while they were yet seeking to ascertain whence -the lime had proceeded, there suddenly fell several larger pieces, -which were quite cold, and appeared as if they had belonged to -the external wall. At length, concluding the lime must have -fallen from some part of the wall, giving up further inquiry, they -went to bed, and slept quietly till morning, when, on awaking, -they were somewhat surprised at the quantity which strewed -the floor, more especially as they could still discover no part of -the walls or ceiling from which it could have fallen. But they -thought no more of the matter till evening, when, instead of the -lime falling as before, it was thrown, and several pieces struck -Hahn. At the same time they heard heavy blows, sometimes -below, and sometimes over their heads, like the sound of distant -guns; still, attributing these sounds to natural causes, they -went to bed as usual, but the uproar prevented their sleeping, -and each accused the other of occasioning it by kicking with -his feet against the foot-board of his bed, till, finding that the -noise continued when they both got out and stood together in -the middle of the room, they were satisfied that this was not the -case. On the following evening, a third noise was added, which -resembled the faint and distant beating of a drum. Upon this, -they requested the governess of the castle to send them the key -of the apartments above and below, which was brought them -by her son; and while he and Kern went to make their investigations, -Hahn remained in their own room. Above, they -found an empty room; below, a kitchen. They knocked, but -the noise they made was very different to that which Hahn continued -all the while to hear around him. When they returned, -Hahn said, jestingly, ‘The place is haunted!’ On this night, -when they went to bed, with a light burning, they heard what -seemed like a person walking about the room with slippers on, -and a stick, with which he struck the floor as he moved step by -step. Hahn continued to jest, and Kern to laugh, at the oddness -of these circumstances, for some time, when they both, as -usual, fell asleep, neither in the slightest degree disturbed by -these events, nor inclined to attribute them to any supernatural -cause. But on the following evening the affair became more -inexplicable: various articles in the room were thrown about; -knives, forks, brushes, caps, slippers, padlocks, funnel, snuffers, -soap—everything, in short, that was moveable; while lights -darted from the corners, and everything was in confusion; at -the same time, the lime fell and the blows continued. Upon -this, the two friends called up the servants, Knittel, the castle -watch, and whoever else was at hand, to be witnesses of these -mysterious operations. In the morning all was quiet, and generally -continued so till after midnight. One evening, Kern -going into the chamber to fetch something, and hearing an -uproar that almost drove him backward to the door, Hahn -caught up the light, and both rushed into the room, where they -found a large piece of wood lying close to the wainscot. But -supposing this to be the cause of the noise, who had set it -in motion? For Kern was sure the door was shut, even while -the noise was making; neither had there been any wood in the -room. Frequently, before their eyes, the knives and snuffers -rose from the table, and fell, after some minutes, to the ground; -and Hahn’s large shears were once lifted in this manner between -him and one of the prince’s cooks, and falling to the ground, -stuck into the floor. As some nights, however, passed quite -quietly, Hahn was determined not to leave the rooms; but -when, for three weeks, the disturbance was so constant that they -could get no rest, they resolved on removing their beds into the -large room above, in hopes of once more enjoying a little quiet -sleep. Their hopes were vain—the thumping continued as -before; and not only so, but articles flew about the room which -they were quite sure they had left below. ‘They may fling as -they will,’ cried Hahn, ‘sleep I must;’ while Kern began to -undress, pondering on these matters as he walked up and down -the room. Suddenly Hahn saw him stand, as if transfixed, before -the looking-glass on which he had accidentally cast his eyes. -He had so stood for some time, when he was seized with a violent -trembling, and turned from the mirror with his face as -white as death. Hahn, fancying the cold of an uninhabited -room had seized him, hastened to throw a cloak over him, when -Kern, who was naturally very courageous, recovered himself, -and related, though with trembling lips, that as he had accidentally -looked in the glass, he had seen a white female figure looking -out of it; she was in front of his own image, which he distinctly -saw behind her. At first he could not believe his eyes; -he thought it must be fancy, and for that reason he had stood -so long; but when he saw that the eyes of the figure moved, -and looked into his, a shudder had seized him, and he had -turned away. Hahn, upon this, advanced with firm steps to the -front of the mirror, and called upon the apparition to show -itself to him; but he saw nothing, although he remained a quarter -of an hour before the glass, and frequently repeated his exhortation. -Kern then related that the features of the apparition -were very old, but not gloomy or morose; the expression was -that of indifference; but the face was very pale, and the head -was wrapped in a cloth which left only the features visible.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“By this time it was four o’clock in the morning; sleep was -banished from their eyes, and they resolved to return to the -lower room and have their beds brought back again: but the -people who were sent to fetch them returned, declaring they -could not open the door, although it did not appear to be fastened. -They were sent back again; but a second and a third -time they returned with the same answer. Then Hahn went -himself, and opened it with the greatest ease. The four servants, -however, solemnly declared that all their united strength -could make no impression on it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In this way a month had elapsed: the strange events at the -castle had got spread abroad; and among others who desired -to convince themselves of the facts were two Bavarian officers -of dragoons, namely, Captain Cornet and Lieutenant Magerle, -of the regiment of Minuci. Magerle offering to remain in the -room alone, the others left him; but scarcely had they passed -into the next apartment, when they heard Magerle storming -like a man in a passion, and cutting away at the tables and -chairs with his sabre, whereupon the captain thought it advisable -to return, in order to rescue the furniture from his rage. -They found the door shut, but he opened it on their summons, -and related, in great excitement, that as soon as they had quitted -the room, some cursed thing had begun to fling lime and -other matters at him, and, having examined every part of the -room without being able to discover the agent of the mischief, -he had fallen into a rage and cut madly about him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The party now passed the rest of the evening together in -the room, and the two Bavarians closely watched Hahn and -Kern in order to satisfy themselves that the mystery was no -trick of theirs. All at once, as they were quietly sitting at the -table, the snuffers rose into the air and fell again to the ground -behind Magerle, and a leaden ball flew at Hahn and hit him -upon the breast, and presently afterward they heard a noise at -the glass-door, as if somebody had struck his fist through it, -together with a sound of falling glass. On investigation they -found the door entire, but a broken drinking-glass on the floor. -By this time the Bavarians were convinced, and they retired -from the room to seek repose in one more peaceful.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Among other things, the following, which occurred to -Hahn, is remarkable. One evening about eight o’clock, being -about to shave himself, the implements for the purpose, which -were lying on a pyramidal stand in a corner of the room, flew -at him, one after the other—the soap-box, the razor, the brush, -and the soap—and fell at his feet, although he was standing -several paces from the pyramid. He and Kern, who was sitting -at the table, laughed, for they were now so accustomed to -these events that they only made them subjects of diversion. -In the meantime, Hahn poured some water, which had been -standing on the stove, in a basin, observing, as he dipped his -finger into it, that it was of a nice heat for shaving. He seated -himself before the table and strapped his razor, but when he -attempted to prepare the lather, the water was clean vanished -out of the basin. Another time, Hahn was awakened by goblins -throwing at him a squeezed-up piece of sheet-lead in -which tobacco had been wrapped, and when he stooped to pick -it up, the self-same piece was flung at him again. When this -was repeated a third time, Hahn flung a heavy stick at his -invisible assailant.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Dorfel, the book-keeper, was frequently a witness to these -strange events. He once laid his cap on the table by the -stove; when, being about to depart, he sought for it, it had -vanished. Four or five times he examined the table in vain; -presently afterward he saw it lying exactly where he had placed -it when he came in. On the same table, Knittel having once -placed his cap and drawn himself a seat, suddenly, although -there was nobody near the table, he saw the cap flying through -the room to his feet, where it fell.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hahn now determined to find out the secret himself, and -for this purpose seated himself, with two lights before him, in -a position where he could see the whole of the room and all -the doors and windows it contained;—but the same things occurred, -even when Kern was out, the servants in the stables, -and nobody in the room but himself; and the snuffers were as -usual flung about, although the closest observation could not -detect by whom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The forest-master, Radzensky, spent a night in the room, -but, although the two friends slept, he could get no rest. He -was bombarded without intermission, and in the morning his -bed was found full of all manner of household articles.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“One morning, in spite of all the drumming and flinging, -Hahn was determined to sleep; but a heavy blow on the wall -close to his bed soon awoke him from his slumbers. A second -time he went to sleep, and was awaked by a sensation as if -some person had dipped his finger in water and was sprinkling -his face with it. He pretended to sleep again, while he watched -Kern and Knittel, who were sitting at the table; the sensation -of sprinkling returned, but he could find no water on his face.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“About this time, Hahn had occasion to make a journey as -far as Breslau; and when he returned he heard the strangest -story of all. In order not to be alone in this mysterious chamber, -Kern had engaged Hahn’s servant, a man of about forty -years of age, and of entire singleness of character, to stay with -him. One night as Kern lay in his bed, and this man was -standing near the glass-door in conversation with him, to his -utter amazement he beheld a jug of beer, which stood on a -table in the room at some distance from him, slowly lifted to a -height of about three feet, and the contents poured into a -glass that was standing there also, until the latter was half -full. The jug was then gently replaced, and the glass lifted -and emptied as by some one drinking; while John, the servant, -exclaimed in terrified surprise, ‘Lord Jesus! it swallows!’ -The glass was quietly replaced, and not a drop of beer was to -be found on the floor. Hahn was about to require an oath of -John in confirmation of this fact; but forbore, seeing how -ready the man was to take one, and satisfied of the truth of the -relation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“One night Knetsch, an inspector of the works, passed the -night with the two friends, and in spite of the unintermitting -flinging they all three went to bed. There were lights in the -room, and presently all three saw two napkins, in the middle -of the room, rise slowly up to the ceiling, and, having there -spread themselves out, flutter down again. The china bowl of -a pipe belonging to Kern flew about and was broken. Knives -and forks were flung, and at last one of the latter fell on Hahn’s -head, though fortunately with the handle downward: and having -now endured this annoyance for two months, it was unanimously -resolved to abandon this mysterious chamber, for this -night at all events. John and Kern took up one of the beds -and carried it into the opposite room, but they were no sooner -gone than a pitcher for holding chalybeate-water flew to the -feet of the two who remained behind, although no door was -open, and a brass candlestick was flung to the ground. In the -opposite room the night passed quietly, although some sounds -still issued from the forsaken chamber. After this there was -a cessation to these strange proceedings, and nothing more -remarkable occurred, with the exception of the following circumstance. -Some weeks after the abovementioned removal, -as Hahn was returning home and crossing the bridge that leads -to the castle-gate, he heard the foot of a dog behind him. He -looked round, and called repeatedly on the name of a grayhound -that was much attached to him, thinking it might be her; -but, although he still heard the foot, even when he ascended -the stairs, as he could see nothing, he concluded it was an illusion. -Scarcely, however, had he set his foot within the room, -than Kern advanced and took the door out of his hand, at the -same time calling the dog by name,—immediately adding, -however, that he thought he had seen the dog, but that he had -no sooner called her than she disappeared. Hahn then inquired -if he had really seen the dog. ‘Certainly I did,’ replied Kern, -‘she was close behind you—half within the door—and that -was the reason I took it out of your hand, lest, not observing -her, you should have shut it suddenly and crushed her. It was -a white dog, and I took it for Flora.’ Search was immediately -made for the dog, but she was found locked up in the stable -and had not been out of it the whole day. It is certainly -remarkable—even supposing Hahn to have been deceived with -respect to the footsteps—that Kern should have seen a white -dog behind him, before he had heard a word on the subject -from his friend, especially as there was no such animal in the -neighborhood; besides, it was not yet dark, and Kern was very -sharp-sighted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hahn remained in the castle for half a year after this, without -experiencing anything extraordinary; and even persons -who had possession of the mysterious chambers were not subjected -to any annoyance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The riddle, however, in spite of all the perquisitions and -investigations that were set on foot remained unsolved—no -explanation of these strange events could be found; and even -supposing any motive could exist, there was nobody in the -neighborhood clever enough to have carried on such a system -of persecution, which lasted so long, that the inhabitants of the -chamber became almost indifferent to it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In conclusion, it is only necessary to add that Councillor -Hahn wrote down this account for his own satisfaction, with the -strictest regard to truth. His words are:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ‘I have described these events exactly as I heard and saw -them: from beginning to end I observed them with the most -entire self-possession. I had no fear, nor the slightest tendency -to it; yet the whole thing remains to me perfectly inexplicable. -Written the 19th of November, 1808.</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;margin-bottom:.5em;'>“ ‘<span class='sc'>Augustus Hahn</span>, <span class='it'>Councillor</span>.’</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Doubtless many natural explanations of these phenomena -will be suggested by those who consider themselves above the -weakness of crediting stories of this description. Some say -that Kern was a dexterous juggler, who contrived to throw -dust in the eyes of his friend Hahn; while others affirm that -both Hahn and Kern were intoxicated every evening! I did -not fail to communicate these objections to Hahn, and here -insert his answer:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ‘After the events alluded to, I resided with Kern for a quarter -of a year in another part of the castle of Slawensick (which -has since been struck by lightning, and burnt), without finding -a solution of the mystery, or experiencing a repetition of the -annoyance, which discontinued from the moment we quitted -those particular apartments. Those persons must suppose me -very weak, who can imagine it possible that, with only one -companion, I could have been the subject of his sport for two -months without detecting him. As for Kern himself, he was, -from the first, very anxious to leave the rooms; but as I was -unwilling to resign the hope of discovering some natural cause -for these phenomena, I persisted in remaining; and the thing -that at last induced me to yield to his wishes was the vexation -at the loss of his china-pipe, which had been flung against the -wall and broken. Besides, jugglery requires a juggler, and I -was frequently quite alone when these events occurred. It is -equally absurd to accuse us of intoxication. The wine there -was too dear for us to drink at all, and we confined ourselves -wholly to weak beer. All the circumstances that happened are -not set down in the narration; but my recollection of the whole -is as vivid as if it had occurred yesterday. We had also many -witnesses, some of whom have been mentioned. Councillor -Klenk also visited me at a later period, with every desire to -investigate the mystery; and when, one morning, he had -mounted on a table, for the purpose of doing so, and was -knocking at the ceiling with a stick, a powder-horn fell upon -him, which he had just before left on the table in another room. -At that time Kern had been for some time absent. I neglected -no possible means that could have led to a discovery of the -secret; and at least as many people have blamed me for my -unwillingness to believe in a supernatural cause as the reverse. -Fear is not my failing, as all who are acquainted with me -know; and, to avoid the possibility of error, I frequently asked -others what they saw when I was myself present; and their -answers always coincided with what I saw myself. From 1809 -to 1811 I lived in Jacobswald, very near the castle where the -prince himself was residing. I am aware that some singular -circumstances occurred while he was there; but as I did not -witness them myself, I can not speak of them more particularly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“ ‘I am still as unable as ever to account for those events, -and I am content to submit to the hasty remarks of the world, -knowing that I have only related the truth, and what many persons -now alive witnessed as well as myself.</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;'>“ ‘<span class='sc'>Councillor Hahn.</span></p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:left;margin-left:1em;margin-bottom:.3em;font-size:.9em;'>“ ‘<span class='sc'>Ingelfinger</span>, <span class='it'>August 24, 1828</span>.’ ”<a id='r7'/><a href='#f7' style='text-decoration:none'><sup><span style='font-size:0.9em'>[7]</span></sup></a></p> - -<p class='pindent'>The only key to this mystery ever discovered was, that after -the destruction of the castle by lightning, when the ruins were -removed, there was found the skeleton of a man without a -coffin. His skull had been split, and a sword lay by his -side!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, I am very well aware how absurd and impossible these -events will appear to many people, and that they will have recourse -to any explanation rather than admit them for facts. -Yet, so late as the year 1835, a suit was brought before the -sheriff of Edinburgh, in which Captain Molesworth was defendant, -and the landlord of the house he inhabited (which was at -Trinity, about a couple of miles from Edinburgh) was plaintiff, -founded upon circumstances not so varied, certainly, but quite -as inexplicable. The suit lasted two years, and I have been -favored with the particulars of the case by Mr. M—— L——, -the advocate employed by the plaintiff, who spent many hours -in examining the numerous witnesses, several of whom were -officers of the army, and gentlemen of undoubted honor and -capacity for observation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Captain Molesworth took the house of a Mr. Webster, who -resided in the adjoining one, in May or June, 1835; and when -he had been in it about two months, he began to complain of -sundry extraordinary noises, which, finding it impossible to -account for, he took it into his head (strangely enough) were -made by Mr. Webster. The latter naturally represented that -it was not probable he should desire to damage the reputation -of his own house, and drive his tenant out of it, and retorted -the accusation. Still, as these noises and knockings continued, -Captain Molesworth not only lifted the boards in the room most -infected, but actually made holes in the wall which divided his -residence from Mr. Webster’s, for the purpose of detecting the -delinquent—of course without success. Do what they would, -the thing went on just the same: footsteps of invisible feet, -knockings, and scratchings, and rustlings, first on one side, and -then on the other, were heard daily and nightly. Sometimes -this unseen agent seemed to be knocking to a certain tune, and -if a question were addressed to it which could be answered -numerically—as, “How many people are there in this room?” -for example—it would answer by so many knocks. The beds, -too, were occasionally heaved up, as if somebody were underneath, -and where the knockings were, the wall trembled visibly, -but, search as they would, no one could be found.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Captain Molesworth had had two daughters, one of whom, -named Matilda, had lately died; the other, a girl between twelve -and thirteen, called Jane, was sickly, and generally kept her -bed; and, as it was observed that, wherever she was, these -noises most frequently prevailed, Mr. Webster, who did not -like the <span class='it'>mala fama</span> that was attaching itself to his house, declared -that she made them, while the people in the neighborhood -believed that it was the ghost of Matilda, warning her -sister that she was soon to follow.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Sheriff’s officers, masons, justices of peace, and the officers -of the regiment quartered at Leith, who were friends of Captain -Molesworth, all came to his aid, in hopes of detecting or -frightening away his tormentor, but in vain. Sometimes it was -said to be a trick of somebody outside the house, and then they -formed a cordon round it; and next, as the poor sick girl was -suspected, they tied her up in a bag—but it was all to no -purpose.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At length, ill and wearied out by the annoyances and the -anxieties attending the affair, Captain Molesworth quitted the -house, and Mr. Webster brought an action against him for the -damages committed by lifting the boards, breaking the walls, -and firing at the wainscoat, as well as for the injury done to his -house by saying it was haunted, which prevented other tenants -taking it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The poor young lady died, hastened out of the world, it is -said, by the severe measures used while she was under suspicion; -and the persons that have since inhabited the house have -experienced no repetition of the annoyance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The manner in which these strange persecutions attach themselves -to certain persons and places, seems somewhat analogous -to another class of cases, which bear a great similarity to what -was formerly called <span class='sc'>possession</span>: and I must here observe that -many German physicians maintain that, to this day, instances -of genuine possession occur, and there are several works published -in their language on the subject; and for this malady -they consider magnetism the only remedy, all others being -worse than useless. Indeed, they look upon <span class='it'>possession</span> itself as -a demono-magnetic state, in which the patient is in rapport with -mischievous or evil spirits; as, in the <span class='it'>agatho</span> (or good) magnetic -state, which is the opposite pole, he is in rapport with good -ones: and they particularly warn their readers against confounding -this infliction with cases of epilepsy or mania. They -assert that, although instances are comparatively rare, both -sexes and all ages are equally subject to this misfortune; and -that it is quite an error to suppose, either, that it has ceased -since the resurrection of Christ, or that the expression used in -the Scriptures, “possessed by a devil,” meant merely insanity -or convulsions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This disease, which is not contagious, was well known to the -Greeks; and in later times Hoffmann has recorded several well-established -instances. Among the distinguishing symptoms, -they reckon the patient’s speaking in a voice that is not his -own; frightful convulsions and motions of the body, which arise -suddenly, without any previous indisposition; blasphemous and -obscene talk; a knowledge of what is secret, and of the future; -a vomiting of extraordinary things such as hair, stones, pins, -needles, &c., &c. I need scarcely observe that this opinion is -not universal in Germany; still, it obtains among many who -have had considerable opportunities for observation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Bardili had a case in the year 1830, which he considered -decidedly to be one of possession. The patient was a peasant-woman, -aged thirty-four, who never had any sickness whatever, -and the whole of whose bodily functions continued perfectly -regular while she exhibited the following strange phenomena: -I must observe that she was happily married, and had three -children—was not a fanatic, and bore an excellent character -for regularity and industry—when, without any warning or -perceptible cause, she was seized with the most extraordinary -convulsions, while a strange voice proceeded from her, which -assumed to be that of an unblessed spirit, who had formerly -inhabited a human form. While these fits were on her, she -entirely lost her own individuality, and became this person: on -returning to herself, her understanding and character were as -entire as before. The blasphemy and cursing, and barking and -screeching, were dreadful. She was wounded and injured -severely by the violent falls and blows she gave herself; and -when she had an intermission, she could do nothing but weep -over what they told her had passed, and the state in which she -saw herself. She was, moreover, reduced to a skeleton; for -when she wanted to eat, the spoon was turned round in her -hand, and she often fasted for days together.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This affliction lasted for three years; all remedies failed, and -the only alleviation she obtained was by the continued and earnest -prayers of those about her, and her own: for although this -demon did not like prayers, and violently opposed her kneeling -down, even forcing her to outrageous fits of laughter, still they -had a power over him. It is remarkable that pregnancy, confinement, -and the nursing her child, made not the least difference -in this woman’s condition: all went on regularly, but the -demon kept his post. At length, being magnetized, the patient -fell into a partially somnambulic state, in which another voice -was heard to proceed from her, being that of her protecting -spirit, which encouraged her to patience and hope, and promised -that the evil guest would be obliged to vacate his quarters. -She often now fell into a magnetic state without the aid of a -magnetizer. At the end of three years she was entirely relieved -and as well as ever.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the case of Rosina Wildin, aged ten years, which occurred -at Pleidelsheim, in 1834, the demon used to announce himself -by crying out, “Here I am again!” Whereupon the weak, -exhausted child, who had been lying like one dead, would rage -and storm in a voice like a man’s, perform the most extraordinary -movements and feats of violence and strength, till he would -cry out, “Now I must be off again!” This spirit spoke generally -in the plural number, for he said she had another besides -himself, a dumb devil, who plagued her most. “He it is that -twirls her round and round, distorts her features, turns her -eyes, locks her teeth, &c. What he bids me, I must do!” -This child was at length cured by magnetism.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Barbara Rieger, of Steinbach, aged ten, in 1834, was possessed -by two spirits, who spoke in two distinctly different male -voices and dialects; one said he had formerly been a mason, -the other gave himself out for a deceased provisor; the latter -of whom was much the worst of the two. When they spoke, -the child closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she -knew nothing of what they had said. The mason confessed to -have been a great sinner, but the provisor was proud and hardened, -and would confess nothing. They often commanded -food, and made her eat it, which, when she recovered her individuality, -she felt nothing of, but was very hungry. The mason -was very fond of brandy and drank a great deal; and if -not brought when he ordered it, his raging and storming was -dreadful. In her own individuality the child had the greatest -aversion to this liquor. They treated her for worms, and other -disorders, without the least effect; till at length, by magnetism, -the mason was cast out. The provisor was more tenacious, -but finally they got rid of him too, and the girl remained quite -well.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In 1835, a respectable citizen, whose full name is not given, -was brought to Dr. Kerner. He was aged thirty-seven, and -till the last seven years had been unexceptionable in conduct -and character. An unaccountable change had, however, come -over him in his thirtieth year, which made his family very unhappy; -and at length, one day, a strange voice suddenly spoke -out of him, saying that he was the late magistrate S——, and -that he had been in him six years. When this spirit was driven -out, by magnetism, the man fell to the earth, and was almost -torn to pieces by the violence of the struggle; he then lay for -a space as if dead, and arose quite well and free.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In another case, a young woman at Gruppenbach, was quite -in her senses, and heard the voice of her demon (who was also -a deceased person) speak out of her, without having any power -to suppress it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In short, instances of this description seem by no means rare; -and if such a phenomenon as possession ever did exist, I do -not see what right we have to assert that it exists no longer, -since, in fact, we know nothing about it; only, that being determined -to admit nothing so contrary to the ideas of the present -day, we set out by deciding that the thing is impossible.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Since these cases occur in other countries, no doubt they -must do so in this; and, indeed, I have met with one instance -much more remarkable in its details than any of those abovementioned, -which occurred at Bishopwearmouth, near Sunderland, -in the year 1840; and as the particulars of this case have been -published and attested by two physicians and two surgeons, not -to mention the evidence of numerous other persons, I think we -are bound to accept the facts, whatever interpretation we may -choose to put upon them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The patient, named Mary Jobson, was between twelve and -thirteen years of age; her parents, respectable people in -humble life, and herself an attendant on a Sunday-school. She -became ill in November, 1839, and was soon afterward seized -with terrific fits, which continued, at intervals, for eleven weeks. -It was during this period that the family first observed a strange -knocking, which they could not account for. It was sometimes -in one place, and sometimes in another; and even about the -bed, when the girl lay in a quiet sleep, with her hands folded -outside the clothes. They next heard a strange voice, which -told them circumstances they did not know, but which they -afterward found to be correct. Then there was a noise like the -clashing of arms, and such a rumbling that the tenant below -thought the house was coming down; footsteps where nobody -was to be seen, water falling on the floor, no one knew whence, -locked doors opened, and above all, sounds of ineffably sweet -music. The doctors and the father were suspicious, and every -precaution was taken, but no solution of the mystery could be -found. This spirit, however, was a good one, and it preached -to them, and gave them a great deal of good advice. Many -persons went to witness this strange phenomenon, and some -were desired to go by the voice, when in their own homes. -Thus Elizabeth Gauntlett, while attending to some domestic -affairs at home, was startled by hearing a voice say, “Be thou -faithful, and thou shalt see the works of thy God, and shalt hear -with thine ears!” She cried out, “My God! what can this be!” -and presently she saw a large white cloud near her. On the -same evening the voice said to her, “Mary Jobson, one of your -scholars is sick; go and see her, and it will be good for you.” -This person did not know where the child lived, but having inquired -the address, she went: and at the door she heard the -same voice bid her go up. On entering the room she heard -another voice, soft and beautiful, which bade her be faithful, -and said, “I am the Virgin Mary.” This voice promised her -a sign at home; and accordingly, that night, while reading the -Bible, she heard it say, “Jemima, be not afraid; it is I: if you -keep my commandments it shall be well with you.” When she -repeated her visit the same things occurred, and she heard the -most exquisite music.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The same sort of phenomena were witnessed by everybody -who went—the immoral were rebuked, the good encouraged. -Some were bidden instantly to depart, and were forced to go. -The voices of several deceased persons of the family were also -heard, and made revelations.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Once the voice said, “Look up, and you shall see the sun -and moon on the ceiling!” and immediately there appeared a -beautiful representation of these planets in lively colors, viz., -green, yellow, and orange. Moreover, these figures were permanent; -but the father, who was a long time skeptical, insisted -on whitewashing them over; however, they still remained -visible.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Among other things, the voice said, that though the child appeared -to suffer, she did not; that she did not know where her -body was; and that her own spirit had left it, and another had -entered; and that her body was made a speaking trumpet. The -voice told the family and visiters many things of their distant -friends, which proved true.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The girl twice saw a divine form standing by her bedside -who spoke to her, and Joseph Ragg, one of the persons who -had been invited by the voice to go, saw a beautiful and heavenly -figure come to his bedside about eleven o’clock at night, -on the 17th of January. It was in male attire, surrounded by -a radiance; it came a second time on the same night. On each -occasion it opened his curtains and looked at him benignantly, -remaining about a quarter of an hour. When it went away, -the curtains fell back into their former position. One day, -while in the sick child’s room, Margaret Watson saw a lamb, -which passed through the door and entered a place where the -father, John Jobson, was; but he did not see it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One of the most remarkable features in this case is the beautiful -music which was heard by all parties, as well as the family, -including the unbelieving father; and indeed it seems to -have been, in a great degree, this that converted him at last. -This music was heard repeatedly during a space of sixteen -weeks: sometimes it was like an organ, but more beautiful; at -others there was singing of holy songs, in parts, and the words -distinctly heard. The sudden appearance of water in the room -too was most unaccountable; for they felt it, and it was really -water. When the voice desired that water should be sprinkled, -it immediately appeared as if sprinkled. At another time, a -sign being promised to the skeptical father, water would suddenly -appear on the floor; this happened “not once, but -twenty times.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the whole course of this affair, the voices told them -that there was a miracle to be wrought on this child; and accordingly -on the 22d of June, when she was as ill as ever and -they were only praying for her death, at five o’clock the voice -ordered that her clothes should be laid out, and that everybody -should leave the room except the infant, which was two -years and a half old. They obeyed; and having been outside -the door a quarter of an hour, the voice cried, “Come in!” -and when they entered, they saw the girl completely dressed -and quite well, sitting in a chair with the infant on her knee, -and she had not had an hour’s illness from that time till the -report was published, which was on the 30th of January, 1841.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, it is very easy to laugh at all this, and assert that these -things never happened, because they are absurd and impossible; -but while honest, well-meaning, and intelligent people, -who were on the spot, assert that they did, I confess I find myself -constrained to believe them, however much I find in the -case which is discrepant with my notions. It was not an affair -of a day or an hour—there was ample time for observation—for -the phenomena continued from the 9th of February to the 22d -of June; and the determined unbelief of the father regarding -the possibility of spiritual appearances, insomuch that he ultimately -expressed great regret for the harshness he had used, -is a tolerable security against imposition. Moreover, they pertinaciously -refused to receive any money or assistance whatever, -and were more likely to suffer in public opinion than -otherwise by the avowal of these circumstances.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Clanny, who publishes the report with the attestations -of the witnesses, is a physician of many years’ experience, and -is also, I believe, the inventor of the improved Davy lamp; -and he declares his entire conviction of the facts, assuring his -readers that “many persons holding high rank in the established -church, ministers of other denominations, as well as many -lay-members of society, highly respected for learning and piety, -are equally satisfied.” When he first saw the child lying on -her back, apparently insensible, her eyes suffused with florid -blood, he felt assured that she had a disease of the brain; and -he was not in the least disposed to believe in the mysterious -part of the affair, till subsequent investigation compelled him to -do so: and that his belief is of a very decided character we may -feel assured, when he is content to submit to all the obloquy he -must incur by avowing it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He adds that, since the girl has been quite well, both her -family and that of Joseph Ragg have frequently heard the same -heavenly music as they did during her illness; and Mr. Torbock, -a surgeon, who expresses himself satisfied of the truth of -the above particulars, also mentions another case, in which he, -as well as a dying person he was attending, heard divine music -just before the dissolution.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Of this last phenomenon—namely, sounds as of heavenly -music being heard when a death was occurring—I have met -with numerous instances.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From the investigation of the above case, Dr. Clanny has -arrived at the conviction that the spiritual world do occasionally -identify themselves with our affairs; and Dr. Drury asserts -that, besides this instance, he has met with another circumstance -which has left him firmly convinced that we live in a world of -spirits, and that he has been in the presence of an unearthly -being, who had “passed that bourne from which,” it is said, -“no traveller returns.”<a id='r8'/><a href='#f8' style='text-decoration:none'><sup><span style='font-size:0.9em'>[8]</span></sup></a></p> - -<p class='pindent'>But the most extraordinary case I have yet met with is the -following; because it is one which can not, by any possibility, -be attributed to disease or illusion. It is furnished to me from -the most undoubted authority, and I give it as I received it, -with the omission of the names. I have indeed, in this instance, -thought it right to change the initial, and substitute G. for the -right one—the particulars being of a nature which demand the -greatest delicacy, as regards the parties concerned:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Mrs. S. C. Hall, in early life, was intimately acquainted -with a family, one of whom, Richard G——, a young officer in -the army, was subject to a harassing visitation of a kind that is -usually regarded as supernatural. Mrs. H. once proposed to -pay a visit to her particular friend, Catherine G——, but was -told that it would not be convenient exactly at that time, as -Richard was on the point of coming home. She thought the -inconvenience consisted in the want of a bed-room, and spoke -of sleeping with Miss G——, but found that the objection -really lay in the fact of Richard being ‘haunted,’ which rendered -it impossible for anybody else to be comfortable in the -same house with him. A few weeks after Richard’s return, -Mrs. Hall heard of Mrs. G——’s being extremely ill; and -found, on going to call, that it was owing to nothing but the distress -the old lady suffered in consequence of the strange circumstance -connected with her son. It appeared that Richard, -wherever he was—at home, in camp, in lodgings, abroad, or -in his own country—was liable to be visited in his bed-room -at night by certain extraordinary noises. Any light he kept in -the room was sure to be put out. Something went beating -about the walls and his bed, making a great noise, and often -shifting close to his face, but never becoming visible. If a -cage-bird was in his room, it was certain to be found dead in -the morning. If he kept a dog in the apartment, it would make -away from him as soon as released, and never come near him -again. His brother, even his mother, had slept in the room, -but the visitation took place as usual. According to Miss -G——’s report, she and other members of the family would -listen at the bed-room door, after Richard had gone to sleep, -and would hear the noises commence; and they would then -hear him sit up and express his vexation by a few military -execrations. The young man, at length, was obliged by this -pest to quit the army and go upon half-pay. Under its influence -he became a sort of Cain; for, wherever he lived, the -annoyance was so great that he was quickly obliged to remove. -Mrs. Hall heard of his having ultimately gone to settle in Ireland, -where, however, according to a brother whom she met -about four years ago, the visitation which afflicted him in his -early years was in no degree abated.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This can not be called a case of possession, but seems to be -one of a rapport, which attaches this invisible tormentor to his -victim.</p> - -<hr class='footnotemark'/> - -<div class='footnote'> -<table summary='footnote_6'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' class='footnoteid'/> -<col span='1'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td style='vertical-align:top;'> -<div class='footnote-id' id='f6'><a href='#r6'>[6]</a></div> -</td><td> - -<p class='pindent'>There was also a remarkable case of this sort at Mr. Chaves, in Devonshire, -in the year 1810, where affidavits were made before the magistrates attesting the -facts, and large rewards offered for discovery, but in vain. The phenomena continued -several months, and the spiritual agent was frequently seen in the form -of some strange animal.</p> - -</td></tr> -</table> -</div> - -<div class='footnote'> -<table summary='footnote_7'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' class='footnoteid'/> -<col span='1'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td style='vertical-align:top;'> -<div class='footnote-id' id='f7'><a href='#r7'>[7]</a></div> -</td><td> - -<p class='pindent'>Translated from the original German.—C. C.</p> - -</td></tr> -</table> -</div> - -<div class='footnote'> -<table summary='footnote_8'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' class='footnoteid'/> -<col span='1'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td style='vertical-align:top;'> -<div class='footnote-id' id='f8'><a href='#r8'>[8]</a></div> -</td><td> - -<p class='pindent'>Alluding, I conclude, to the affair at Willington.</p> - -</td></tr> -</table> -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='411' id='Page_411'></span><h1>CHAPTER XVII.</h1></div> - -<h3>MISCELLANEOUS PHENOMENA.</h3> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>In</span> a former chapter, I alluded to the forms seen floating over -graves, by Billing, Pfeffel’s amanuensis. By some persons, this -luminous form is seen only as a light, just as occurs in many of -the apparition cases I have related. How far Baron Reichenbach -is correct in his conclusion, that these figures are merely -the result of the chemical process going on below, it is impossible -for any one at present to say. The fact that these lights -do not always hover over the graves, but sometimes move from -them, militates against this opinion, as I have before observed; -and the insubstantial nature of the form which reconstructed -itself after Pfeffel had passed his stick through it proves nothing, -since the same thing is asserted of all apparitions I meet -with, let them be seen where they may, except in such very -extraordinary cases as that of the Bride of Corinth, supposing -that story to be true.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the same time, although these cases are not made out to -be chemical phenomena, neither are we entitled to class them -under the head of what is commonly understood by the word -<span class='it'>ghost</span>; whereby we comprehend a shadowy shape, informed by -an intelligent spirit. But there are some cases, a few of which -I will mention, that it seems extremely difficult to include under -one category or the other.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The late Lieutenant-General Robertson, of Lawers, who -served during the whole of the American war, brought home -with him, at its termination, a negro, who went by the name of -Black Tom, and who continued in his service. The room appropriated -to the use of this man, in the general’s town residence -(I speak of Edinburgh), was on the ground floor; and he -was heard frequently to complain that he could not rest in it, -for that every night the figure of a headless lady, with a child -in her arms, rose out of the hearth and frightened him dreadfully. -Of course nobody believed this story, and it was supposed -to be the dream of intoxication, as Tom was not remarkable -for sobriety; but, strange to say, when the old mansion -was pulled down to build Gillespie’s hospital, which stands on -its site, there was found, under the hearth-stone in that apartment, -a box containing the body of a female, from which the -head had been severed; and beside her lay the remains of an -infant, wrapped in a pillow-case trimmed with lace. She appeared, -poor lady, to have been cut off in the “blossom of her -sins;” for she was dressed, and her scissors were yet hanging -by a riband to her side, and her thimble was also in the box, -having, apparently, fallen from the shrivelled finger.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, whether we are to consider this a ghost, or a phenomenon -of the same nature as that seen by Billing, it is difficult to -decide. Somewhat similar is the following case, which I have -borrowed from a little work entitled “Supernaturalism in New -England.” Not only does this little extract prove that the same -phenomena, be they interpreted as they may, exist in all parts -of the world, but I think it will be granted me that, although -we have not here the confirmation that time furnished in the -former instance, yet it is difficult to suppose that this unexcitable -person should have been the subject of so extraordinary a -spectral illusion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Whoever has seen Great pond, in the east parish of Haverhill, -has seen one of the very loveliest of the thousand little -lakes or ponds of New England. With its soft slopes of greenest -verdure—its white and sparkling sand-rim—its southern -hem of pine and maple, mirrored, with spray and leaf, in the -glassy water—its graceful hill-sentinels round about, white with -the orchard-bloom of spring, or tasselled with the corn of autumn—its -long sweep of blue waters, broken here and there -by picturesque headlands—it would seem a spot, of all others, -where spirits of evil must shrink, rebuked and abashed, from -the presence of the beautiful. Yet here, too, has the shadow -of the supernatural fallen. A lady of my acquaintance, a staid, -unimaginative church-member, states that, a few years ago, she -was standing in the angle formed by two roads, one of which -traverses the pond-shore, the other leading over the hill which -rises abruptly from the water. It was a warm summer evening, -just at sunset. She was startled by the appearance of a -horse and cart, of the kind used a century ago in New England, -driving rapidly down the steep hill-side, and crossing the wall -a few yards before her, without noise or displacing of a stone. -The driver sat sternly erect, with a fierce countenance, grasping -the reins tightly, and looking neither to the right nor the -left. Behind the cart, and apparently lashed to it, was a woman -of gigantic size, her countenance convulsed with a blended expression -of rage and agony, writhing and struggling, like Laocoon -in the folds of the serpent. Her head, neck, feet, and -arms, were naked; wild locks of gray hair streamed back from -temples corrugated and darkened. The horrible cavalcade -swept by across the street, and disappeared at the margin of -the pond.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Many persons will have heard of the “Wild Troop of Rodenstein,” -but few are aware of the curious amount of evidence -there is in favor of the strange belief which prevails among the -inhabitants of that region. The story goes, that the former -possessors of the castles of Rodenstein and Schnellert were robbers -and pirates, who committed, in conjunction, all manner of -enormities; and that, to this day, the troop, with their horses -and carriages, and dogs, are heard, every now and then, wildly -rushing along the road between the two castles. This sounds -like a fairy tale; yet so much was it believed, that, up to the -middle of the last century, regular reports were made to the -authorities in the neighborhood of the periods when the troop -had passed. Since that, the landgericht, or court leet, has -been removed to Furth, and they trouble themselves no longer -about the Rodenstein troop; but a traveller, named Wirth, who -a few years ago undertook to examine into the affair, declares -the people assert that the passage of the visionary cavalcade -still continues; and they assured him that certain houses, that -he saw lying in ruins, were in that state because, as they lay -directly in the way of the troop, they were uninhabitable. -There is seldom anything seen; but the noise of carriage-wheels, -horses’ feet, smacking of whips, blowing of horns, and -the voice of these fierce hunters of men urging them on, are -the sounds by which they recognise that the troop is passing -from one castle to the other; and at a spot which was formerly -a blacksmith’s, but is now a carpenter’s, the invisible lord of -Rodenstein still stops to have his horse shod. Mr. Wirth copied -several of the depositions out of the court records, and they -are brought down to June, 1764. This is certainly a strange -story; but it is not much more so than that of the black man, -which I know to be true.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>During the seven years’ war in Germany, a drover lost his -life in a drunken squabble on the high road. For some time -there was a sort of rude tombstone, with a cross on it, to mark -the spot where his body was interred; but this has long fallen, -and a milestone now fills its place. Nevertheless, it continues -commonly asserted by the country people, and also by various -travellers, that they have been deluded in that spot by seeing, -as they imagine, herds of beasts, which, on investigation, prove -to be merely visionary. Of course, many people look upon this -as a superstition; but a very singular confirmation of the story -occurred in the year 1826, when two gentlemen and two ladies -were passing the spot in a post-carriage. One of these was a -clergyman, and none of them had ever heard of the phenomenon -said to be attached to the place. They had been discussing -the prospects of the minister, who was on his way to a vicarage, -to which he had just been appointed, when they saw a large -flock of sheep, which stretched quite across the road, and was -accompanied by a shepherd and a long-haired black dog. As -to meet cattle on that road was nothing uncommon, and indeed -they had met several droves in the course of the day, no remark -was made at the moment, till, suddenly, each looked at the other -and said, “What is become of the sheep?” Quite perplexed -at their sudden disappearance, they called to the postillion to -stop, and all got out in order to mount a little elevation and -look around; but still unable to discover them, they now bethought -themselves of asking the postillion where they were, -when, to their infinite surprise, they learned that he had not -seen them. Upon this, they bade him quicken his pace, that -they might overtake a carriage that had passed them shortly -before, and inquire if that party had seen the sheep; but they -had not.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Four years later, a postmaster, named J——, was on the -same road, driving a carriage, in which were a clergyman and -his wife, when he saw a large flock of sheep near the same -spot. Seeing they were very fine wethers, and supposing them -to have been bought at a sheep-fair that was then taking place -a few miles off, J—— drew up his reins and stopped his horse, -turning at the same time to the clergyman to say, that he wanted -to inquire the price of the sheep, as he intended going next day -to the fair himself. While the minister was asking him what -sheep he meant, J—— got down and found himself in the midst -of the animals, the size and beauty of which astonished him. -They passed him at an unusual rate, while he made his way -through them to find the shepherd, when, on getting to the end -of the flock, they suddenly disappeared. He then first learned -that his fellow-travellers had not seen them at all.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, if such cases as these are not pure illusions, which I -confess I find it difficult to believe, we must suppose that the -animals and all the extraneous circumstances are produced by -the magical will of the spirit, either acting on the constructive -imagination of the seers, or else actually constructing the ethereal -forms out of the elements at its command, just as we have -supposed an apparition able to present himself with whatever -dress or appliances he conceives; or else we must conclude -these forms to have some relation to the mystery called PALINGNESIA, -which I have previously alluded to, although the -motion and change of place render it difficult to bring them -under this category. As for the animals, although the drover -was slain, they were not; and therefore, even granting them to -have souls, we can not look upon them as the apparitions of the -flock. Neither can we consider the numerous instances of -armies seen in the air to be apparitions; and yet these phenomena -are so well established that they have been accounted for -by supposing them to be atmospherical reflections of armies -elsewhere, in actual motion. But how are we to account for -the visionary troops which are not seen in the air, but on the -very ground on which the seers themselves stand, which was -the case especially with those seen in Havarah park, near Ripley, -in the year 1812? These soldiers wore a white uniform, -and in the centre was a personage in a scarlet one.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After performing several evolutions, the body began to march -in perfect order to the summit of a hill, passing the spectators -at the distance of about one hundred yards. They amounted -to several hundreds, and marched in a column, four deep, across -about thirty acres; and no sooner were they passed, than another -body, far more numerous, but dressed in dark clothes, -arose and marched after them, without any apparent hostility. -Both parties having reached the top of the hill, and there formed -what the spectators called an L, they disappeared down the -other side, and were seen no more; but at that moment a volume -of smoke arose like the discharge of a park of artillery, -which was so thick that the men could not, for two or three -minutes, discover their own cattle. They then hurried home -to relate what they had seen, and the impression made on them -is described as so great, that they could never allude to the -subject without emotion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One of them was a farmer of the name of Jackson, aged -forty-five; the other was a lad of fifteen, called Turner: and -they were at the time herding cattle in the park. The scene -seems to have lasted nearly a quarter of an hour, during which -time they were quite in possession of themselves, and able to -make remarks to each other on what they saw. They were -both men of excellent character and unimpeachable veracity, -insomuch that nobody who knew them doubted that they actually -saw what they described, or, at all events, believed that -they did. It is to be observed, also, that the ground is not -swampy, nor subject to any exhalations.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>About the year 1750, a visionary army of the same description -was seen in the neighborhood of Inverness, by a respectable -farmer, of Glenary, and his son. The number of troops -was very great, and they had not the slightest doubt that they -were otherwise than substantial forms of flesh and blood. They -counted at least sixteen pairs of columns, and had abundance -of time to observe every particular. The front ranks marched -seven abreast, and were accompanied by a good many women -and children, who were carrying tin cans and other implements -of cookery. The men were clothed in red, and their arms -shone brightly in the sun. In the midst of them was an animal—a -deer or a horse, they could not distinguish which—that -they were driving furiously forward with their bayonets. The -younger of the two men observed to the other that every now -and then the rear ranks were obliged to run to overtake the -van; and the elder one, who had been a soldier, remarked that -that was always the case, and recommended him, if he ever -served, to try and march in the front. There was only one -mounted officer: he rode a gray dragoon horse, and wore a -gold-laced hat and blue hussar cloak, with wide, open sleeves, -lined with red. The two spectators observed him so particularly, -that they said afterward they should recognise him anywhere. -They were, however, afraid of being ill-treated, or -forced to go along with the troops, whom they concluded had -come from Ireland, and landed at Kyntyre; and while they -were climbing over a dike to get out of their way, the whole -thing vanished.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Some years since, a phenomenon of the same sort was observed -at Paderborn, in Westphalia, and seen by at least thirty -persons, as well as by horses and dogs, as was discovered by -the demeanor of these animals. In October, 1836, on the very -same spot, there was a review of twenty thousand men; and -the people then concluded that the former vision was a second-sight.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A similar circumstance occurred in Stockton forest, some -years ago; and there are many recorded elsewhere—one especially, -in the year 1686, near Lanark, where, for several afternoons, -in the months of June and July, there were seen, by -numerous spectators, companies of men in arms, marching in -order by the banks of the Clyde, and other companies meeting -them, &c., &c.; added to which there were showers of bonnets, -hats, guns, swords, &c., which the seers described with the -greatest exactness. All who were present could not see these -things, and Walker relates that one gentleman, particularly, was -turning the thing into ridicule, calling the seers “damned witches -and warlocks, with the second-sight!”—boasting that “the devil -a thing he could see!”—when he suddenly exclaimed, with fear -and trembling, that he now saw it all; and entreated those who -did not see, to say nothing—a change that may be easily accounted -for, be the phenomenon of what nature it may, by supposing -him to have touched one of the seers, when the faculty -would be communicated like a shock of electricity.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With regard to the palinganesia, it would be necessary to -establish that these objects had previously existed, and that, as -Oetinger says, the earthly husk having fallen off, “the volatile -essence had ascended perfect in form, but void of substance.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The notion supported by Baron Reichenbach, that the lights -seen in churchyards and over graves are the result of a process -going on below, is by no means new, for Gaffarillus suggested -the same opinion in 1650; only he speaks of the appearances -over graves and in churchyards as shadows, <span class='it'>ombres</span>, as they -appeared to Billing; and he mentions, casually, as a thing frequently -observed, that the same visionary forms are remarked -on ground where battles have been fought, which he thinks -arise out of a process between the earth and the sun. When -a limb has been cut off, some somnambules still discern the -form of the member as if actually attached.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But this magical process is said to be not only the work of -the elements, but also possible to man; and that as the forms -of plants can be preserved after the substance is destroyed, so -can that of man be either preserved or reproduced from the -elements of his body. In the reign of Louis XIV., three alchemists, -having distilled some earth taken from the cemetery of -the Innocents, in Paris, were forced to desist, by seeing the -forms of men appearing in their vials, instead of the philosopher’s -stone, which they were seeking; and a physician, who, after -dissecting a body, and pulverizing the cranium (which was then -an article admitted into the materia medica), had left the powder -on the table of his laboratory, in charge of his assistant, the -latter, who slept in an adjoining room, was awakened in the -night by hearing a noise, which, after some search, he ultimately -traced to the powder—in the midst of which he beheld, -gradually constructing itself, a human form! First appeared -the head, with two open eyes, then the arms and hands, and, by -degrees, the rest of the person, which subsequently assumed -the clothes it had worn when alive! The man was, of course, -frightened out of his wits—the rather, as the apparition planted -itself before the door, and would not let him go away till it had -made its own exit, which it speedily did. Similar results have -been said to arise from experiments performed on blood. I -confess I should be disposed to consider these apparitions, if -ever they appeared, cases of genuine ghosts, brought into rapport -by the operation, rather than forms residing in the bones -or blood. At all events, these things are very hard to believe; -but seeing we were not there, I do not think we have any right -to say they did not happen; or at least that some phenomena -did not occur, that were open to this interpretation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is highly probable that the seeing of those visionary armies -and similar prodigies is a sort of second-sight; but having admitted -this, we are very little nearer an explanation. Granting -that, as in the above experiments, the essence of things may -retain the forms of the substance, this does not explain the -seeing that which has not yet taken place, or which is taking -place at so great a distance, that neither Oetinger’s essence nor -the superficial films of Lucretius can remove the difficulty.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is the fashion to say that second-sight was a mere superstition -of the highlanders, and that no such thing is ever heard of -now; but those who talk in this way know very little of the -matter. No doubt, if they set out to look for seers, they may -not find them; such phenomena, though known in all countries -and in all ages, are <span class='it'>comparatively</span> rare, as well as uncertain and -capricious, and not to be exercised at will: but I know of too -many instances of the existence of this faculty in families, as -well as of isolated cases occurring to individuals above all suspicion, -to entertain the smallest doubt of its reality. But the -difficulty of furnishing evidence is considerable: because, when -the seers are of the humbler classes, they are called impostors -and not believed; and when they are of the higher, they do not -make the subject a matter of conversation, nor choose to expose -themselves to the ridicule of the foolish; and consequently the -thing is not known beyond their own immediate friends. When -the young duke of Orleans was killed, a lady, residing here, saw -the accident, and described it to her husband at the time it was -occurring in France. She had frequently seen the duke, when -on the continent.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Captain N—— went to stay two days at the house of Lady -T——. After dinner, however, he announced that he was under -the necessity of going away that night, nor could he be -induced to remain. On being much pressed for an explanation, -he confided to some of the party that, during the dinner, -he had seen a female figure with her throat cut, standing behind -Lady T——’s chair. Of course, it was thought an illusion, but -Lady T—— was not told of it, lest she should be alarmed. -That night the household was called up for the purpose of summoning -a surgeon—Lady T—— had cut her own throat!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mr. C——, who, though a Scotchman, was an entire skeptic -with regard to the second-sight, was told by a seer whom he -had been jeering on the subject, that, within a month, he (Mr. -C——) would be a pall-bearer at a funeral; that he would go -by a certain road, but that, before they had crossed the brook, -a man in a drab coat would come down the hill and take the -pall from him. The funeral occurred, Mr. C—— was a bearer, -and they went by the road described; but he firmly resolved -that he would disappoint the seer by keeping the pall while they -crossed the brook; but shortly before they reached it, the postman -overtook them, with letters, which in that part of the country -arrived but twice a week, and Mr. C——, who was engaged -in some speculations of importance, turned to received them—at -which moment the pall was taken from him, and on looking -round, he saw it was by a man in a drab coat!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A medical friend of mine, who practised some time at Deptford, -was once sent for to a girl who had been taken suddenly -ill. He found her with inflammation of the brain, and the only -account the mother could give of it was, that shortly before, she -had run into the room, crying, “Oh, mother, I have seen Uncle -John drowned in his boat under the fifth arch of Rochester -bridge!” The girl died a few hours afterward; and, on the -following night, the uncle’s boat ran foul of the bridge, and he -was drowned, exactly as she had foretold.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mrs. A——, an English lady, and the wife of a clergyman, -relates that, previous to her marriage, she with her father and -mother being at the seaside, had arranged to make a few days’ -excursion to some races that were about to take place; and -that the night before they started, the father having been left -alone, while the ladies were engaged in their preparations, they -found him, on descending to the drawing-room, in a state of -considerable agitation—which, he said, had arisen from his -having seen a dreadful face at one corner of the room. He -described it as a bruised, battered, crushed, discolored face, with -the two eyes protruding frightfully from their sockets; but the -features were too disfigured to ascertain if it were the face of -any one he knew. On the following day, on their way to the -races, an accident occurred; and he was brought home with -his own face exactly in the condition he had described. He -had never exhibited any other instance of this extraordinary -faculty, and the impression made by the circumstance lasted the -remainder of his life, which was unhappily shortened by the -injuries he had received.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The late Mrs. V——, a lady of fortune and family, who -resides near Loch Lomond, possessed this faculty in an extraordinary -degree, and displayed it on many remarkable occasions. -When her brother was shipwrecked in the channel, she -was heard to exclaim, “Thank God, he is saved!” and described -the scene with all its circumstances.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Colonel David Steward, a determined believer in what he -calls the supernatural, in his book on the highlanders, relates -the following fact as one so remarkable, that “credulous -minds” may be excused for believing it to have been prophetic. -He says that, late in an autumnal evening of the year -1773, the son of a neighbor came to his father’s house, and soon -after his arrival inquired for a little boy of the family, then -about three years old. He was shown up to the nursery, and -found the nurse putting a pair of new shoes on the child, which -she complained did not fit. “Never mind,” said the young -man, “they will fit him before he wants them”—a prediction -which not only offended the nurse, but seemed at the moment -absurd, since the child was apparently in perfect health. When -he joined the party in the drawing-room, he being much jeered -upon this new gift of second-sight, explained that the impression -he had received originated in his having just seen a funeral -passing the wooden bridge which crossed a stream at a short -distance from the house. He first observed a crowd of people, -and on coming nearer he saw a person carrying a small coffin, -followed by about twenty gentlemen, all of his acquaintance, -his own father and a Mr. Stewart being among the number. -He did not attempt to join the procession, which he saw turn -off into the churchyard: but knowing his own father could not -be actually there, and that Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were then at -Blair, he felt a conviction that the phenomenon portended the -death of the child: a persuasion which was verified by its suddenly -expiring on the following night;—and Colonel Stewart -adds that the circumstances and attendants at the funeral were -precisely such as the young man had described. He mentions, -also, that this gentleman was not a seer; that he was a man of -education and general knowledge; and that this was the first -and only vision of the sort he ever had.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I know of a young lady who has three times seen funerals in -this way.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The old persuasion that fasting was a means of developing -the spirit of prophecy, is undoubtedly well founded, and the -annals of medicine furnish numerous facts which establish it. -A man condemned to death at Viterbo, having abstained from -food in the hope of escaping execution, became so clairvoyant, -that he could tell what was doing in any part of the prison; the -expression used in the report is that he “saw through the -walls:” this, however, could not be with his natural organs of -sight.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is worthy of observation, that idiots often possess some -gleams of this faculty of second-sight or presentiment; and it -is probably on this account that they are in some countries held -sacred. Presentiment, which I think may very probably be -merely the vague and imperfect recollection of what we <span class='it'>knew</span> -in our sleep, is often observed in drunken people.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the great plague at Basle, which occurred toward the end -of the sixteenth century, almost everybody who died called -out in their last moments the name of the person that was to -follow them next.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Not long ago, a servant girl on the estate of D——, of S——, -saw with amazement five figures ascending a perpendicular -cliff, quite inaccessible to human feet; one was a boy wearing -a cap with red binding. She watched them with great curiosity -till they reached the top, where they all stretched themselves -on the earth, with countenances expressive of great dejection. -While she was looking at them they disappeared, and -she immediately related her vision. Shortly afterward, a foreign -ship, in distress, was seen to put off a boat with four men -and a boy: the boat was dashed to pieces in the surf, and the -five bodies, exactly answering the description she had given, -were thrown on shore at the foot of the cliff, which they had -perhaps climbed in the spirit!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>How well what we call clairvoyance was known, though how -little understood, at the period of the witch persecution, is -proved by what Dr. Henry More says in his “Antidote against -Atheism”:—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We will now pass to those supernatural effects which are -observed in them that are bewitched or possessed; and such as -foretelling things to come, telling what such and such persons -speak or do, as exactly as if they were by them, when the party -possessed is at one end of the town, and sitting in a house -within doors, and those parties that act and confer together are -without, at the other end of the town; to be able to see some -and not others; to play at cards with one certain person, and -not to discern anybody else at the table beside him; to act and -talk, and go up and down, and tell what will become of things, -and what happens in those fits of possession; and then, as soon -as the possessed or bewitched party is out of them, to remember -nothing at all, but to inquire concerning the welfare of -those whose faces they seemed to look upon just before, when -they were in their fits;”—a state which he believes to arise -from the devil’s having taken possession of the body of the -magnetic person, which is precisely the theory supported by -many fanatical persons in our own day. Dr. More was not a -fanatic: but these phenomena, though very well understood by -the ancient philosophers, as well as by Paracelsus, Van Helmont, -Cornelius Agrippa, Jacob Behmen, a Scotch physician -(called Maxwell) who published on the subject in the seventeenth -century, and many others, were still, when observed, -looked upon as the effects of diabolical influence by mankind -in general.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When Monsieur Six Deniers, the artist, was drowned in the -Seine in 1846, after his body had been vainly sought, a somnambule -was applied to, in whose hands they placed a portfolio -belonging to him; and being asked where the owner was, she -evinced great terror, held up her dress as if walking in the -water, and said that he was between two boats, under the Pont -des Arts, with nothing on but a flannel waistcoat: and there he -was found.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A friend of mine knows a lady who, early one morning—being -in a natural state of clairvoyance without magnetism—saw -the porter of the house where her son lodged ascend to his -room with a carving-knife, go to his bed where he lay asleep, -lean over him, then open a chest, take out a fifty-pound note, -and retire. On the following day, she went to her son and -asked him if he had any money in the house; he said, “Yes, I -have fifty pounds:” whereupon she bade him seek it, but it -was gone. They stopped payment of the note; but did not -prosecute, thinking the evidence insufficient. Subsequently, -the porter being taken up for other crimes, the note was found -crumpled up at the bottom of an old purse belonging to him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Ennemoser says that there is no doubt of the ancient Sibyls -having been <span class='it'>clairvoyant</span> women, and that it is impossible so -much value could have been attached to their books, had not -their revelations been verified.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A maid-servant residing in a family in Northumberland, one -day last winter was heard to utter a violent scream immediately -after she had left the kitchen. On following her to inquire -what had happened, she said that she had just seen her father -in his night-clothes, with a most horrible countenance, and she -was sure something dreadful had happened to him. Two days -afterward there arrived a letter, saying he had been seized with -<span class='it'>delirium tremens</span>, and was at the point of death; which accordingly -ensued.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There are innumerable cases of this sort recorded in various -collections, not to mention the much more numerous ones that -meet with no recorder; and I could myself mention many more, -but these will suffice—one, however, I will not omit, for, though -historical, it is not generally known. A year before the rebellion -broke out, in consequence of which Lord Kilmarnock lost -his head, the family were one day startled by a scream, and on -rushing out to inquire what had occurred, they found the servants -all assembled, in amazement, with the exception of one -maid, who they said had gone up to the garrets to hang some -linen on the lines to dry. On ascending thither, they found the -girl on the floor, in a state of insensibility; and they had no -sooner revived her than, on seeing Lord Kilmarnock bending -over her, she screamed and fainted again. When ultimately -recovered, she told them that while hanging up her linen, and -singing, the door had burst open and his lordship’s bloody head -had rolled in. I think it came twice. This event was so well -known at the time, that on the first rumors of the rebellion, -Lord Saltoun said, “Kilmarnock will lose his head.” It was -answered, “that Kilmarnock had not joined the rebels.” “He -will, and will be beheaded,” returned Lord Saltoun.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, in these cases we are almost compelled to believe that -the phenomenon is purely subjective, and there is no veritable -outstanding object seen; yet, when we have taken refuge in -this hypothesis, the difficulty remains as great as ever; and is -to me much more incomprehensible than ghost-seeing, because -in the latter we suppose an external agency acting in some -way or other on the seer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I have already mentioned that Oberlin, the good pastor of -Ban de la Roche, himself a ghost-seer, asserted that everything -earthly had its counterpart, or antitype, in the other world, not -only organized, but unorganized matter. If so, do we sometimes -see these antitypes?</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Ennemoser, in treating of second-sight—which, by the -way, is quite as well known in Germany, and especially in -Denmark, as in the highlands of Scotland—says, that as in natural -somnambulism there is a partial internal vigilance, so does -the seer fall, while awake, into a dream-state. He suddenly -becomes motionless and stiff: his eyes are open, and his senses -are, while the vision lasts, unperceptive of all external objects; -the vision may be communicated by the touch, and sometimes -persons at a distance from each other, but connected by blood -or sympathy, have the vision simultaneously. He remarks, -also, that, as we have seen in the above case of Mr. C——, any -attempt to frustrate the fulfilment of the vision never succeeds, -inasmuch as the attempt appears to be taken into the account.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The seeing in glass and in crystals is equally inexplicable; as -is the magical seeing of the Egyptians. Every now and then we -hear it said that this last is discovered to be an imposition, because -some traveller has either actually fallen into the hands of -an impostor—and there are impostors in all trades—or because -the phenomenon was imperfectly exhibited; a circumstance -which, as in the exhibitions of clairvoyants and somnambulists, -where all the conditions are not under command, or -even recognised, must necessarily happen. But not to mention -the accounts published by Mr. Lane and Lord Prudhoe, whoever -has read that of Monsieur Léon Laborde must be satisfied -that the thing is an indisputable fact. It is, in fact, only another -form of the seeing in crystals, which has been known in all -ages, and of which many modern instances have occurred among -somnambulic patients.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We see by the forty-fourth chapter of Genesis that it was by -his cup that Joseph prophesied: “Is not this it in which my -lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth?” But, as Dr. -Passavent observes, and as we shall presently see, in the anecdote -of the boy and the gipsy, the virtue does not lie in the -glass nor in the water, but in the seer himself, who may possess -a more or less developed faculty. The external objects and -ceremonies being only the means of concentrating the attention -and intensifying the power.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Monsieur Léon Laborde witnessed the exhibition, at Cairo, -before Lord P——’s visit; the exhibitor, named Achmed, appeared -to him a respectable man, who spoke simply of his science, -and had nothing of the charlatan about him. The first -child employed was a boy eleven years old, the son of a European; -and Achmed having traced some figures on the palm of -his hand, and poured ink over them, bade him look for the reflection -of his own face. The child said he saw it; the magician -then burnt some powders in a brazier, and bade him tell him -when he saw a soldier sweeping a place; and while the fumes -from the brazier diffused themselves, he pronounced a sort of -litany. Presently the child threw back his head, and screaming -with terror, sobbed out, while bathed in tears, that he had seen -a dreadful face. Fearing the boy might be injured, Monsieur -Laborde now called up a little Arab servant, who had never -seen or heard of the magician. He was gay and laughing, and -not at all frightened; and the ceremony being repeated, he said -he saw the soldier sweeping in the front of a tent. He was -then desired to bid the soldier bring Shakspere, Colonel Cradock, -and several other persons; and he described every person -and thing so exactly as to be entirely satisfactory. During -the operations the boy looked as if intoxicated, with his eyes -fixed and the perspiration dripping from his brow. Achmed -disenchanted him by placing his thumbs on his eyes. He gradually -recovered, and gayly related all he had seen, which he -perfectly remembered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now this is merely another form of what the Laplanders, the -African magicians, and the Schaamans of Siberia, do by taking -narcotics and turning round till they fall down in a state of insensibility, -in which condition they are clear-seers, and besides -vaticinating, describe scenes, places, and persons, they have -never seen. In Barbary they anoint their hands with a black -ointment, and then holding them up in the sun, they see whatever -they desire, like the Egyptians.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Lady S—— possesses somewhat of a singular faculty, naturally. -By walking rapidly round a room several times, till a -certain degree of vertigo is produced, she will name to you -any person you have privately thought of or agreed upon with -others. Her phrase is: “I <span class='it'>see</span>” so and so.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Monsieur Laborde purchased the secret of Achmed, who -said he had learned it from two celebrated scheicks of his own -country, which was Algiers. Monsieur L. found it connected -with both physics and magnetism, and practised it himself afterward -with perfect success; and he affirms, positively, that under -the influence of a particular organization and certain ceremonies, -among which he can not distinguish which are indispensable -and which are not, that a child, without fraud or collusion, -can see, as through a window or peep-hole, people moving, who -appear and disappear at their command, and with whom they -hold communication—and they remember everything after the -operation. He says: “I narrate, but explain nothing; I produced -those effects, but can not comprehend them; I only affirm -in the most positive manner that what I relate is true. I performed -the experiment in various places, with various subjects, -before numerous witnesses, in my own room or other rooms, -in the open air, and even in a boat on the Nile. The exactitude -and detailed descriptions of persons, places, and scenes, -could by no possibility be feigned.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Moreover, Baron Dupotet has very lately succeeded in obtaining -these phenomena in Paris, from persons not somnambulic -selected from his audience,—the chief difference being -that they did not recollect what they had seen when the crisis -was over.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cagliostro, though a charlatan, was possessed of this secret, -and it was his great success in it that chiefly sustained his reputation; -the spectators, convinced he could make children see -distant places and persons in glass, were persuaded he could -do other things, which appeared to them no more mysterious. -Dr. Dee was perfectly honest with regard to his mirror, in -which he could <span class='it'>see</span> by concentrating his mind on it; but, as he -could not remember what he saw, he employed Kelly to <span class='it'>see</span> for -him, while he himself wrote down the revelations: and Kelly -was a rogue, and deceived and ruined him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A friend of Pfeffel’s knew a boy, apprenticed to an apothecary -at Schoppenweyer, who, having been observed to amuse -himself by looking into vials filled with water, was asked what -he saw; when it was discovered that he possessed this faculty -of <span class='it'>seeing</span> in glass, which was afterward very frequently exhibited -for the satisfaction of the curious. Pfeffel also mentions -another boy who had this faculty, and who went about the -country with a small mirror, answering questions, recovering -stolen goods, &c. He said that he one day fell in with some -gipsies, one of whom was sitting apart and staring into this -glass. The boy, from curiosity, looked over his shoulder and -exclaimed that he saw “a fine man who was moving about;” -whereupon the gipsy, having interrogated him, gave him the -glass; “for,” said he, “I have been staring in it long enough, -and can see nothing but my own face.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is almost unnecessary to observe that the sacred books of -the Jews and of the Indians testify to their acquaintance with -this mode of divination, as well as many others.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Many persons will have heard or read an account of Mr. Canning -and Mr. Huskisson having seen, while in Paris, the visionary -representation of their own deaths in water, as exhibited -to them by a Russian or Polish lady there: as I do not, however, -know what authority there is for this story, I will not -insist on it here. But St. Simon relates a very curious circumstance -of this nature, which occurred at Paris, and was related -to him by the duke of Orleans, afterward regent. The latter -said that he had sent on the preceding evening for a man, then -in Paris, who pretended to exhibit whatever was desired in a -glass of water. He came, and a child of seven years old, belonging -to the house, being called up, they bade her tell what -she saw doing in certain places. She did; and as they sent to -these places and found her report correct, they bade her next -describe under what circumstances the king would die, without, -however, asking when the death would take place.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The child knew none of the court, and had never been at -Versailles; yet she described everything exactly—the room, -bed, furniture, and the king himself, Madame de Maintenon, -Fagon, the physician, the princes and princesses—everybody, -in short, including a child, wearing an order, in the arms of a -lady whom she recognised as having seen; this was Madame -de Ventadour.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was remarkable that she omitted the dukes de Bourgogne -and Berry, and Monseigneur, and also the duchess de Bourgogne. -Orleans insisted they must be there, describing them; -but she always said “<span class='it'>No.</span>” These persons were then all well, -but they died before the king. She also saw the children of -the prince and princess of Conti, but not themselves—which -was correct, as they also died shortly after this occurrence.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Orleans then wished to see his own destiny; and the man -said, if he would not be frightened he could show it to him, as -if painted on the wall; and after fifteen minutes of conjuration, -the duke appeared, of the natural size, dressed as usual, but -with a <span class='it'>couronne fermée</span> or closed crown on his head, which they -could not comprehend, as it was not that of any country they -knew of. It covered his head, had only four circles, and nothing -at the top. They had never seen such a one. When he -became regent, they understood that that was the interpretation -of the prediction.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In connection with this subject, the aversion to glass frequently -manifested by dogs is well worthy of observation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When facts of this kind are found to be recorded or believed -in, in all parts of the world, from the beginning of it up to the -present time, it is surely vain for the so-called <span class='it'>savants</span> to deny -them; and, as Cicero justly says in describing the different -kinds of magic, “What we have to do with is the facts, since -of the cause we know little. Neither,” he adds, “are we to -repudiate these phenomena, because we sometimes find them -imperfect, or even false, any more than we are to distrust that -the human eye sees, although some do this very imperfectly, or -not at all.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>We are part spirit and part matter: by the former we are -allied to the spiritual world and to the absolute spirit; and as -nobody doubts that the latter can work magically, that is, by -the mere act of will—for by the mere act of will all things -were created, and by its constant exertion all things are sustained—why -should we be astonished that we, who partake of -the Divine nature and were created after God’s own image, -should also, within certain limits, partake of this magical power? -That this power has been frequently abused, is the fault of -those who, being capable, refuse to investigate, and deny the -existence of these and similar phenomena; and, by thus casting -them out of the region of legitimate science, leave them to become -the prey of the ignorant and designing.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dr. Ennemoser, in his very learned work on magic, shows -us that all the phenomena of magnetism and somnambulism, -and all the various kinds of divination, have been known and -practised in every country under the sun; and have been intimately -connected with, and indeed may be traced up to the -fountain-head of every religion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>What are the limits of these powers possessed by us while in -the flesh—how far they may be developed—and whether, at -the extreme verge of what we can effect, we begin to be aided -by God or by spirits of other spheres of existence bordering on -ours—we know not; but, with respect to the morality of these -practices, it suffices that what is good in act or intention, must -come of good; and what is evil in act or intention, must come -of evil: which is true now, as it was in the time of Moses and -the prophets, when miracles and magic were used for purposes -holy and unholy, and were to be judged accordingly. God -works by natural laws, of which we yet know very little, and, -in some departments of his kingdom, nothing; and whatever -appears to us supernatural, only appears so from our ignorance; -and whatever faculties or powers he has endowed us with, it -must have been designed we should exercise and cultivate for -the benefit and advancement of our race: nor can I for one -moment suppose that, though like everything else, liable to -abuse, the legitimate exercise of these powers, if we knew their -range, would be useless, much less pernicious or sinful.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Of the magical power of <span class='sc'>will</span>, as I have said before, we know -nothing; and it does not belong to a purely rationalistic age to -acknowledge what it can not understand. In all countries men -have arisen, here and there, who <span class='it'>have</span> known it, and some -traces of it have survived both in language and in popular superstitions. -“If ye have faith as a grain of mustard-seed, ye -shall say unto this mountain, ‘Remove hence,’ and it shall remove; -and nothing shall be impossible to you. Howbeit, this -kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” And, <span class='it'>veuillez -et croyez</span>—will and believe—was the solution Puységur gave -of his magical cures; and no doubt the explanation of those -affected by royal hands is to be found in the fact that they believed -in <span class='it'>themselves</span>; and having <span class='it'>faith</span>, they could exercise <span class='it'>will</span>. -But, with the belief in the divine right of kings, the faith and -the power would naturally expire together.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With respect to what Christ says, in the above-quoted passage, -of <span class='it'>fasting</span>, numerous instances are extant, proving that -clear-seeing and other magical or spiritual powers are sometimes -developed by it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wilhelm Krause, a doctor of philosophy and a lecturer at -Jena, who died during the prevalence of the cholera, cultivated -these powers and preached them. I have not been able to obtain -his works, they being suppressed as far as is practicable -by the Prussian government. Krause could leave his body, -and, to all appearance, die whenever he pleased. One of his disciples, -yet living, Count von Eberstein, possesses the same faculty.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Many writers of the sixteenth century were well acquainted -with the power of will, and to this was attributed the good or -evil influence of blessings and curses. They believed it to be -of great effect in curing diseases, and that by it alone life might -be extinguished. That, <span class='it'>subjectively</span>, life may be extinguished, -we have seen by the cases of Colonel Townshend, the dervish -that was buried, Hermotinus, and others: for doubtless the -power that could perform so much, could, under an adequate -motive, have performed more: and since all things in nature, -spiritual and material, are connected, and that there is an unceasing -interaction between them, we being members of one -great whole, only individualized by our organisms, it is possible -to conceive that the power which can be exerted on our own -organism might be extended to others: and since we can not -conceive man to be an isolated being—the only intelligence -besides God—none above us and none below—but must, on -the contrary, believe that there are numerous grades of intelligences, -it seems to follow, of course, that we must stand in some -kind of relation to them, more or less intimate; nor is it at all -surprising that with some individuals this relation should be -more intimate than with others. Finally, we are not entitled -to deny the existence of this magical or spiritual power, as exerted -by either incorporated or unincorporated spirits, because -we do not comprehend how it can be exerted; since, in spite -of all the words that have been expended on the subject, we -are equally ignorant of the mode in which our own will acts -upon our own muscles. We know the fact, but not the mode -of it.</p> - -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<div><span class='pageno' title='434' id='Page_434'></span><h1>CHAPTER XVIII.</h1></div> - -<h3>CONCLUSION.</h3> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>Of</span> the power of the mind over matter, we have a remarkable -example in the numerous well-authenticated instances of -the <span class='it'>stigmata</span>. As in most cases this phenomenon has been connected -with a state of religious exaltation, and has been appropriated -by the Roman church as a miracle, the fact has been in -this country pretty generally discredited, but without reason. -Ennemoser, Passavent, Schubert, and other eminent German -physiologists, assure us that not only is the fact perfectly established, -as regards many of the so-called saints, but also that -there have been indubitable modern instances, as in the case of -the ecstaticas of the Tyrol, Catherine Emmerich (commonly -called the Nun of Dulmen), Maria Morl, and Domenica Lazzari, -who have all exhibited the stigmata.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Catherine Emmerich, the most remarkable of the three, began -very early to have visions, and to display unusual endowments. -She was very pious; could distinguish the qualities of -plants, reveal secrets or distant circumstances, and knew people’s -thoughts; but was, however, extremely sickly, and exhibited -a variety of extraordinary and distressing symptoms, which -terminated in her death. The wounds of the crown of thorns -round her head, and those of the nails in her hands and feet, -were as perfect as if painted by an artist, and they bled regularly -on Fridays. There was also a double cross on her breast. -When the blood was wiped away, the marks looked like the -puncture of flies. She seldom took any nourishment but water; -and, having been but a poor cow-keeper, she discoursed, when -in the ecstatic state, as if inspired.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I am well aware that on reading this, many persons who never -saw her, will say it was all imposture. It is very easy to say -this; but it is as absurd as presumptuous to pronounce on what -they have had no opportunity of observing. I never saw these -women either; but I find myself much more disposed to accept -the evidence of those who did, than of those who only “do not -believe, because they do not believe.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Neither Catherine Emmerich nor the others made their sufferings -a source of profit, nor had they any desire to be exhibited—but -quite the contrary. She could see in the dark as -well as the light, and frequently worked all night at making -clothes for the poor, without lamp or candle.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There have been instances of magnetic patients being stigmatized -in this manner. Madame B. von N—— dreamed one -night that a person offered her a red and a white rose, and that -she chose the latter. On awaking she felt a burning pain in -her arm, and by degrees there arose there the figure of a rose -perfect in form and color. It was rather raised above the skin. -The mark increased in intensity till the eighth day, after which -it faded away, and by the fourteenth was no longer perceptible.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A letter from Moscow, addressed to Dr. Kerner, in consequence -of reading the account of the “Nun of Dulmen,” relates -a still more extraordinary case. At the time of the French -invasion, a Cossack having pursued a Frenchman into a <span class='it'>cul de -sac</span>—an alley without an outlet—there ensued a terrible conflict -between them, in which the latter was severely wounded. -A person who had taken refuge in this close and could not get -away, was so dreadfully frightened, that when he reached home, -there broke out on his body the very same wounds that the -Cossack had inflicted on his enemy!</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The signatures of the fœtus are analogous facts; and if the -mind of the mother can thus act on another organism, why not -the minds of the saints, or of Catherine Emmerich, on their -own? From the influence of the mother on the child, we have -but one step to that asserted to be possible between two organisms -not visibly connected for the difficulty therein lies, that -we do not see the link that connects them, though doubtless it -exists. Dr. Blacklock, who lost his eyesight at an early period, -said that, when awake, he distinguished persons by hearing and -feeling them; but when asleep, he had a distinct impression of -another sense. He then seemed to himself united to them by -a kind of distant contact, which was effected by threads passing -from their bodies to his, which seems to be but a metaphorical -expression of the fact; for, whether the connection be maintained -by an all-pervading ether, or be purely dynamic, that the -intertraction exists between both organic and inorganic bodies, -is made evident wherever there is sufficient excitability to render -the effects sensible.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Till very lately, the powers of the divining-rod were considered -a mere fable; yet, that this power exists, though not in -the rod, but in the person that holds it, is now perfectly well -established. Count Tristan, who has written a book on the -subject, says that about one in forty have it, and that a complete -course of experiments has proved the phenomenon to be electric. -The rod seems to serve, in some degree, the same purpose -as the magical mirror and conjurations, and it is also serviceable -in presenting a result visible to the eye of the spectator. -But numerous cases are met with, in which metals or water are -perceived beneath the surface of the earth, without the intervention -of the rod. A man, called Bleton, from Dauphiny, -possessed this divining power in a remarkable degree, as did -a Swiss girl, called Katherine Beutler. She was strong and -healthy, and of a phlegmatic temperament, yet so susceptible -of these influences that, without the rod, she pointed out and -traced the course of water, veins of metal, coal-beds, salt-mines, -&c. The sensations produced were sometimes on the soles of -her feet, sometimes on her tongue, or in her stomach. She -never lost the power wholly, but it varied considerably in intensity -at different times, as it did with Bleton. She was also -rendered sensible of the bodily pains of others, by laying her -hand on the affected part, or near it; and she performed several -magnetic cures.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A person now alive, named Dussange, in the Maçonnés, possesses -this power. He is a simple, honest man, who can give -no account of his own faculty. The Abbés Chatelard and Paramelle -can also discover subterraneous springs; but they say -it is effected by means of their geological science. Monsieur -D——, of Cluny, however, found the faculty of Dussange much -more to be relied on. The Greeks and Romans made hydroscopy -an art; and there are works alluded to as having existed -on this subject, especially one by Marcellus. The caduceus of -Mercury, the wand of Circe, and the wands of the Egyptian -sorcerers, show that the wand or rod was always looked upon -as a symbol of divination. One of the most remarkable instances -of the use of the divining-rod, is that of Jacques Aymar.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On the 5th of July, 1692, a man and his wife were murdered -in a cellar at Lyons, and their house was robbed. Having no -clew whatever to the criminal, this peasant, who had the reputation -of being able to discover murderers, thieves, and stolen -articles, by means of the divining-rod, was sent for from Dauphiny. -Aymar undertook to follow the footsteps of the assassins, -but he said he must first be taken into the cellar where -the murder was committed. The procurator royal conducted -him thither; and they gave him a rod out of the first wood that -came to hand. He walked about the cellar, but the rod did not -move till he came to the spot where the man had been killed. -Then Aymar became agitated, and his pulse beat as if he were -in a high fever; and all these symptoms were augmented when -he approached the spot on which they had found the body of the -woman. From this, he, of his own accord, went into a sort of -shop where the robbery had been committed; thence he proceeded -into the street, tracing the assassin, step by step, first -to the court of the archbishop’s palace, then out of the city, -and along the right side of the river. He was escorted all the -way by three persons appointed for the purpose, who all testified -that sometimes he detected the traces of three accomplices, -sometimes only of two. He led the way to the house of a gardener, -where he insisted that they had touched a table and one -of three bottles that were yet standing upon it. It was at first -denied; but two children, of nine or ten years old, said that -three men had been there, and had been served with wine in -that bottle. Aymar then traced them to the river where they -had embarked in a boat; and, what is very extraordinary, he -tracked them as surely on the water as on the land. He followed -them wherever they had gone ashore, went straight to -the places they had lodged at, pointed out their beds, and the -very utensils of every description that they had used. On arriving -at Sablon, where some troops were encamped, the rod and -his own sensations satisfied him that the assassins were there; -but fearing the soldiers would ill treat him, he refused to pursue -the enterprise further, and returned to Lyons. He was, -however, promised protection, and sent back by water, with -letters of recommendation. On reaching Sablon, he said they -were no longer there; but he tracked them into Languedoc, -entering every house they had stopped at, till he at length -reached the gate of the prison, in the town of Beaucaire, where -he said one of them would be found. They brought all the -prisoners before him, amounting to fifteen; and the only one -his rod turned on was a little <span class='it'>Bossu</span>, or deformed man, who had -just been brought in for a petty theft. He then ascertained -that the two others had taken the road to Nimes, and offered to -follow them; but as the man denied all knowledge of the murder, -and declared he had never been at Lyons, it was thought -best that they should return there; and as they went the way -they had come, and stopped at the same houses, where he was -recognised, he at length confessed that he had travelled with -two men who had engaged him to assist in the crime. What is -very remarkable, it was found necessary that Jacques Aymar -should walk in front of the criminal, for when he followed him -he became violently sick. From Lyons to Beaucaire is forty-five -miles.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As the confession of the <span class='it'>Bossu</span> confirmed all Aymar had asserted, -the affair now created an immense sensation; and a -great variety of experiments were instituted, every one of -which proved perfectly satisfactory. Moreover, two gentlemen, -one of them the controller of the customs, were discovered -to possess this faculty, though in a minor degree. They -now took Aymar back to Beaucaire, that he might trace the -other two criminals; and he went straight again to the prison-gate, -where he said that now another would be found. On inquiry, -however, it was discovered that a man had been there to -inquire for the <span class='it'>Bossu</span>, but was gone again. He then followed -them to Toulon, and finally to the frontier of Spain, which set -a limit to further researches. He was often so faint and overcome -with the effluvia, or whatever it was that guided him, that -the perspiration streamed from his brow, and they were obliged -to sprinkle him with water to prevent his fainting.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He detected many robberies in the same way. His rod -moved whenever he passed over metals or water, or stolen -goods; but he found that he could distinguish the track of a -murderer from all the rest, by the horror and pain he felt. He -made this discovery accidentally, as he was searching for water. -They dug up the ground, and found the body of a woman that -had been strangled.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I have myself met with three or four persons in whose hands -the rod turned visibly; and there are numerous very remarkable -cases recorded in different works. In the Hartz, there is a -race of people who support themselves entirely by this sort of -divination; and as they are paid very highly, and do nothing -else, they are generally extremely worthless and dissipated.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The extraordinary susceptibility to atmospheric changes in -certain organisms, and the faculty by which a dog tracks the -foot of his master, are analogous facts to those of the divining-rod. -Mr. Boyle mentions a lady who always perceived if a -person that visited her came from a place where snow had -lately fallen. I have seen one who, if a quantity of gloves are -given her, can tell to a certainty to whom each belongs; and a -particular friend of my own, on entering a room, can distinguish -perfectly who has been sitting in it, provided these be persons -he is familiarly acquainted with. Numerous extraordinary stories -are extant respecting this kind of faculty in dogs.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Doubtless not only our bodies, but all matter, sheds its atmosphere -around it; the sterility of the ground where metals are -found is notorious; and it is asserted that, to some persons, the -vapors that emanate from below are visible, and that, as the -height of the mountains round a lake furnishes a measure of its -depth, so does the height to which these vapors ascend show -how far below the surface the mineral treasures or the waters -lie. The effect of metals on somnambulic persons is well known -to all who have paid any attention to these subjects; and surely -may be admitted, when it is remembered that Humboldt has -discovered the same sensibility in zoophytes, where no traces -of nerves could be detected; and, many years ago, Frascatorius -asserted that symptoms resembling apoplexy were sometimes -induced by the proximity of a large quantity of metal. A gentleman -is mentioned who could not enter the mint at Paris -without fainting. In short, so many well-attested cases of idiosyncratic -sensibilities exist, that we have no right to reject others -because they appear incomprehensible.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Now, we may not only easily conceive, but we know it to be -a fact, that fear, grief, and other detrimental passions, vitiate -the secretions,<a id='r9'/><a href='#f9' style='text-decoration:none'><sup><span style='font-size:0.9em'>[9]</span></sup></a> and augment transpiration; and it is quite natural -to suppose that, where a crime has been committed which -necessarily aroused a number of turbulent emotions, exhalations -perceptible to a very acute sense may for some time hover -over the spot; while the anxiety, the terror, the haste, in short, -the general commotion of system, that must accompany a murderer -in his flight, is quite sufficient to account for his path -being recognisable by such an abnormal faculty, “for the wicked -flee when no man pursueth.” We also know that a person -perspiring with open pores is more susceptible than another to -contagion; and we have only to suppose the pores of Jacques -Aymar so constituted as easily to imbibe the emanations shed -by the fugitive, and we see why he should be affected by the -disagreeable sensations he describes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The disturbing effect of odors on some persons, which are -quite innoxious to others, must have been observed by everybody. -Some people do actually almost “die of a rose in aromatic -pain.” Boyle says that, in his time, many physicians avoided -giving drugs to children, having found that external applications, -to be imbibed by the skin, or by respiration, were sufficient; -and the homeopaths occasionally use the same means -now. Sir Charles Bell told me that Mr. F——, a gentleman -well known in public life, had only to hold an old book to his -nose to produce all the effects of a cathartic. Elizabeth Okey -was oppressed with most painful sensations when near a person -whose frame was sinking. Whenever this effect was of a certain -intensity, Dr. Elliotson observed that the patient invariably -died.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Herein lies the secret of amulets and talismans, which grew -to be a vain superstition, but in which, as in all popular beliefs, -there was a germ of truth. Somnambulic persons frequently -prescribe them; and absurd as it may seem to many, there are -instances in which their efficacy has been perfectly established, -be the interpretation of the mystery what it may. In a great -plague which occurred in Moravia, a physician, who was constantly -among the sufferers, attributed the complete immunity -of himself and his family to their wearing amulets composed of -the powder of toads, “which,” says Boyle, “caused an emanation -adverse to the contagion.” A Dutch physician mentions, -that in the plague at Nimeguen, the pest seldom attacked any -house till they had used soap in washing their linen. Wherever -this was done it appeared immediately.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In short, we are the subjects, and so is everything around us, -of all manner of subtle and inexplicable influences: and if our -ancestors attached too much importance to these ill-understood -arcana of the night-side of nature, we have attached too little. -The sympathetic effects of multitudes upon each other, of the -young sleeping with the old, of magnetism on plants and animals, -are now acknowledged facts: may not many other asserted -phenomena that we yet laugh at be facts also, though -probably too capricious in their nature—by which I mean, depending -on laws beyond our apprehension—to be very available? -For I take it, that as there is no such thing as chance, -but all would be certainty if we knew the whole of the conditions, -so no phenomena are really capricious and uncertain: -they only appear so to our ignorance and shortsightedness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The strong belief that formerly prevailed in the efficacy of -sympathetic cures, can scarcely have existed, I think, without -some foundation: nor are they a whit more extraordinary than -the sympathetic falling of pictures and stopping of clocks and -watches, of which such numerous well-attested cases are extant -that several learned German physiologists of the present day -pronounce the thing indisputable. I have myself heard of some -very perplexing instances.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Gaffarillus alludes to a certain sort of magnet, not resembling -iron, but of a black-and-white color, with which if a needle or -knife were rubbed, the body might be punctured or cut without -pain. How can we know that this is not true? Jugglers who -slashed and cauterized their bodies for the amusement of the -public were supposed to avail themselves of such secrets.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>How is it possible for us, either, to imagine that the numerous -recorded cases of the <span class='it'>Blood Ordeal</span>, which consisted in the -suspected assassin touching the body of his victim, can have -been either pure fictions or coincidences? Not very long ago, -an experiment of a frightful nature is said to have been tried -in France on a somnambulic person, by placing on the epigastric -region a vial filled with the arterial blood of a criminal just -guillotined. The effect asserted to have been produced was -the establishment of a rapport between the somnambule and -the deceased which endangered the life of the former.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Franz von Baader suggests the hypothesis of a <span class='it'>vis sanguinis -ultra mortem</span>, and supposes that a rapport or <span class='it'>communio vitæ</span> -may be established between the murderer and his victim; and -he conceives the idea of this mutual relation to be the true interpretation -of the sacrificial rites common to all countries, as -also of the <span class='it'>Blutschuld</span>, or the requiring blood for blood.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With regard to the blood ordeal, the following are the two -latest instances of it recorded to have taken place in this country; -they are extracted from “Hargrave’s State Trials:”—</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Evidence having been given with respect to the death of -Jane Norkott, an ancient and grave person, minister of the parish -in Hertfordshire where the murder took place, being sworn, -deposed, that the body being taken up out of the grave, and the -four defendants being present, were required each of them, to -touch the dead body. Okeman’s wife fell upon her knees, and -prayed God to show token of her innocency. The appellant -did touch the body, whereupon the brow of the deceased, which -was before of a livid and carrion color, began to have a dew, -or gentle sweat on it, which increased by degrees till the sweat -ran down in drops on the face, the brow turned to a lively and -fresh color, and the deceased opened one of her eyes and shut -it again, and this opening the eye was done three several times; -she likewise thrust out the ring, or marriage finger, three times, -and pulled it in again, and blood dropped from the finger on the -grass.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Sir Nicholas Hyde, the chief justice, seeming to doubt this -evidence, he asked the witness who saw these things besides -him, to which he, the witness, answered, ‘My lord, I can not -swear what others saw, but I do believe the whole company -saw it; and if it had been thought a doubt, proof would have -been made, and many would have attested with me. My lord,’ -added the witness, observing the surprise his evidence awakened, -‘I am minister of the parish, and have long known all -the parties, but never had displeasure against any of them, nor -they with me, but as I was minister. The thing was wonderful -to me, but I have not interest in the matter, except as called -on to testify to the truth. My lord, my brother, who is minister -of the next parish, is here present, and, I am sure, saw all -that I have affirmed.’ ”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hereupon, the brother, being sworn, he confirmed the above -evidence in every particular, and the first witness added, that -having dipped his finger into what appeared to be blood, he felt -satisfied that it was really so. It is to be observed, that this -extraordinary circumstance must have occurred, if it occurred -at all, when the body had been upward of a month dead; for -it was taken up in consequence of various rumors implicating -the prisoners, after the coroner’s jury had given in a verdict of -<span class='it'>felo de se</span>. On their first trial, they were acquitted, but an appeal -being brought, they were found guilty and executed. It -was on this latter occasion that the above strange evidence was -given, which, being taken down at the time by Sir John Maynard, -then sergeant-at-law, stands recorded, as I have observed, -in Hargrave’s edition of “State Trials.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The above circumstances occurred in the year 1628, and in -1688 the blood ordeal was again had recourse to in the trial of -Sir Philip Stansfield for parricide, on which occasion the body -had also been buried, but for a short time. Certain suspicions -arising, it was disinterred and examined by the surgeons, and, -from a variety of indications, no doubt remained that the old -man had been murdered, nor that his son was guilty of his death. -When the body had been washed and arrayed in clean linen, -the nearest relations and friends were desired to lift it and -replace it in the coffin; and when Sir Philip placed his hand -under it, he suddenly drew it back, stained with blood, exclaiming, -“Oh, God!” and letting the body fall, he cried, “Lord, have -mercy upon me!” and went and bowed himself over a seat in -the church, in which the corpse had been inspected. Repeated -testimonies are given to this circumstance in the course of the -trial; and it is very remarkable that Sir John Dalrymple, a man -of strong intellect, and wholly free from superstition, admits it -as an established fact in his charge to the jury.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In short, we are all, though in different degrees, the subjects -of a variety of subtle influences, which, more or less, neutralize -each other, and many of which, therefore, we never observe; -and frequently when we do observe the effects, we have neither -time nor capacity for tracing the cause; and when in more susceptible -organisms such effects are manifested, we content ourselves -with referring the phenomena to disease or imposture. -The exemption, or the power, whichever it may be, by which -certain persons or races are enabled to handle venomous animals -with impunity, is a subject that deserves much more attention -than it has met with; but nobody thinks of investigating -secrets that seem rather curious than profitable; besides which, -to believe these things implies a reflection on one’s sagacity. -Yet, every now and then, I hear of facts so extraordinary, -which come to me from undoubted authority, that I can see no -reason in the world for rejecting others that are not much more -so. For example, only the other day, Mr. B. C——, a gentleman -well known in Scotland, who has lived a great deal abroad, -informed me, that having frequently heard of the singular phenomenon -to be observed by placing a scorpion and a mouse -together under a glass, he at length tried the experiment; and -the result perfectly established what he had been previously -unable to believe. Both animals were evidently frightened, but -the scorpion made the first attack, and stung the mouse, which -defended itself bravely, and killed the scorpion. The victory, -however, was not without its penalties, for the mouse swelled -to an unnatural size, and seemed in danger of dying from the -poison of its defeated antagonist, when it relieved itself and was -cured by eating the scorpion, which was thus proved to be an -antidote to its own venom; furnishing a most interesting and -remarkable instance of isopathy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There is a religious sect in Africa, not far from Algiers, who -eat the most venomous serpents alive, and certainly, it is said, -without extracting their fangs. They declare they enjoy the -privilege from their founder. The creatures writhe and struggle -between their teeth; but possibly, if they do bite them, the -bite is innocuous.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then, not to mention the common expedients of extracting -the poisonous fangs, or forcing the animal by repeated bitings -to exhaust their venom, the fact seems too well established to -be longer doubted, that there are persons in whom the faculty -of charming, or, in other words, disarming serpents, is inherent, -as the psylli and marsi of old, and the people mentioned -by Bruce, Hassequist, and Lempriere, who were themselves -eye-witnesses of the facts they relate. With respect to the -marsi, it must be remembered, that Heliogabalus made their -priests fling venomous serpents into the circus when it was full -of people, and that many perished by the bites of these animals, -which the marsi had handled with impunity. The modern -charmers told Bruce that their immunity was born with them; -and it was established beyond a doubt, during the French expedition -into Egypt, that these people go from house to house -to destroy serpents, as men do rats in this country. They declare -that some mysterious instinct guides them to the animals, -which they immediately seize with fury and tear to pieces with -their hands and teeth. The negroes of the Antilles can smell -a serpent which they do not see, and of whose presence a -European is quite insensible; and Madame Calderon de la -Barca mentions, in her letters from Mexico, some singular cases -of exemption from the pernicious effects of venomous bites; -and further relates, that in some parts of America, where rattlesnakes -are extremely abundant, they have a custom of innoculating -children with the poison, and that this is a preservative -from future injury. This may or may not be true; but it is so -much the fashion in these days to set down to the account of -fable everything deviating from our daily experience, that travellers -may repeat these stories for ages before any competent -person will take the trouble of verifying the report. However, -taking the evidence altogether, it appears clear that there does -exist in some persons a faculty of producing in these animals a -sort of numbness, or <span class='it'>engourdissement</span>, which renders them for -the time incapable of mischief; though of the nature of the -power we are utterly ignorant, unless it be magnetic. The -senses of animals, although generally resembling ours, are yet -extremely different in various instances; and we know that -many of them have one faculty or another exalted to an intensity -of which we have no precise conception. Galen asserted, -on the authority of the marsi and psylli themselves, that they -obtained their immunity by feeding on the flesh of venomous -animals: but Pliny, Elian, Silius Italicus, and others, account -for the privilege by attributing it to the use of some substance -of a powerful nature, with which they rubbed their bodies; -and most modern travellers incline to the same explanation. -But if this were the elucidation of the mystery, I suspect it -would be easily detected.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is observable that in all countries where a secret of this -sort exists, there is always found some custom which may be -looked upon as either the cause or the consequence of the discovery. -In Hindostan, for example, in order to test the truth -of an accusation, the cobra capello is flung into a deep pot of -earth with a ring; and if the supposed criminal succeeds in -extracting the ring without being bitten by the serpent, he is -accounted innocent. So the sacred asps in Egypt inflicted -death upon the wicked, but spared the good. Dr. Allnut mentions -that he saw a negro in Africa touch the protruded tongue -of a snake with the black matter from the end of his pipe, which -he said was tobacco-oil. The effects were as rapid as a shock -of electricity. The animal never stirred again, but stiffened, -and was as rigid and hard as if it had been dried in the sun.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It is related of Machamut, a Moorish king, that he fed on -poisons till his bite became fatal and his saliva venomous. -Cœlius Rhodiginus mentions the same thing of a woman who -was thus mortal to all her lovers; and Avicenna mentions a -man whose bite was fatal in the same way.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The boy that was found in the forest of Arden, in 1563, and -who had been nourished by a she-wolf, made a great deal of -money for a short time, after he was introduced to civilized -life, by exempting the flocks and herds of the shepherds from -the peril they nightly ran of being devoured by wolves. This -he did by stroking them with his hands, or wetting them with -his saliva, after which they for some time enjoyed an immunity. -His faculty was discovered from the circumstance of the beasts -he kept never being attacked. It left him, however, when he -was about fourteen, and the wolves ceased to distinguish him -from other human beings.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>However, my readers will, I think, ere now have supped full -with <span class='it'>wonders</span>, if not with <span class='it'>horrors</span>—and it is time I should -bring this book to a conclusion. If I have done no more, I -trust I shall at least have afforded some amusement; but I shall -be better pleased to learn that I have induced any one, if it be -<span class='it'>but</span> one, to look upon life and death, and the mysteries that -attach to both, with a more curious and inquiring eye than they -have hitherto done. I can not but think that it would be a -great step if mankind could familiarize themselves with the -idea that they are spirits incorporated for a time in the flesh; -but that the dissolution of the connection between soul and -body, though it changes the external conditions of the former, -leaves its moral state unaltered. What a man has made himself, -he will be; his state is the result of his past life, and his -heaven or hell is in himself. At death we enter upon a new -course of life, and what that life shall be depends upon ourselves. -If we have provided oil for our lamps, and fitted ourselves -for a noble destiny and the fellowship of the great and -good spirits that have passed away, such will be our portion; -and if we have misused our talent, and sunk our souls in the -sensual pleasures or base passions of this world, we shall carry -our desires and passions with us, to make our torment in the -other—or perhaps be tethered to the earth by some inextinguishable -remorse or disappointed scheme, like those unhappy -spirits I have been writing about—and that perhaps for hundreds -of years; for, although they be evidently freed from -many of the laws of space and matter, while unable to leave -the earth, they are still the children of time and have not -entered into eternity. It is surely absurd to expect that because -our bodies have decayed and fallen away, or been destroyed -by an accident, that a miracle is to be wrought in our -favor, and that the miser’s love of gold, or the profligate’s love -of vice, is to be immediately extinguished, and be superseded -by inclinations and tastes better suited to his new condition! -New circumstances do not so rapidly engender a new mind -here, that we should hope they will do so there: more especially -as, in the first place, we do not know what facilities of -improvement may remain in us; and in the second, since the -law that like seeks like must be undeviating, the blind will seek -the blind, and not those who could help them to light.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I think, too, that if people would learn to remember that they -are spirits, and acquire the habit of conceiving of themselves as -individuals, apart from the body, that they would not only be -better able to realize this view of a future life, but they would -also find it much less difficult to imagine, that, since they belong -to the spiritual world on the one hand, quite as much as they -belong to the material world on the other, that these extraordinary -faculties, which they occasionally see manifested by certain -individuals, or in certain states, may possibly be but faint -rays of those properties which are inherent in spirit, though -temporarily obscured by its connection with the flesh—and -designed to be so, for the purposes of this earthly existence. -The most ancient nations of the world knew this, although we -have lost sight of it, as we learn by the sacred books of the -Hebrews.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>According to the <span class='it'>Cabbalah</span>, “Mankind are endowed by nature, -not only with the faculty of penetrating into the regions -of the supersensuous and invisible, but also of working magically -above and below, or in the worlds of light and darkness. -As the Eternal fills the world, sees, and is not seen, so does the -soul (<span class='it'>N’schamach</span>) fill the body, and sees without being seen. -The soul perceives that which the bodily eye can not. Sometimes -a man is seized suddenly with a fear, for which he can -not account, which is because the soul descries an impending -misfortune. The soul possesses also the power of working with -the elementary matter of the earth, so as to annihilate one form -and produce another. Even by the force of imagination, human -beings can injure other things; yea, even to the slaying of a -man!” (The new platonist, Paracelsus, says the same thing.) -The “Cabbalah” teaches that there have in all times existed -men endowed with powers, in a greater or less degree, to work -good or evil; for, to be a virtuoso in either, requires a peculiar -spiritual vigor: thence, such men as heroes and priests in the -kingdom of Tumah (the kingdom of the clean and unclean). -“If a man therefore sets his desires on what is godly, in proportion -as his efforts are not selfish, but purely a seeking of -holiness, he will be endowed, by the free grace of God, with -supernatural faculties; and it is the highest aim of existence, -that man should regain his connection with his inward, original -source, and exalt the material and earthly into the spiritual.” -The highest degree of this condition of light and spirit is commonly -called “the holy ecstasy,” which is apparently the degree -attained by the ecstatics of the Tyrol.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>I am very far from meaning to imply that it is our duty, or -in any way desirable, that we should seek to bring ourselves -into this state of holy ecstasy, which seems to involve some derangement -of the normal relations between the soul and body; -but it is at least equally unwise in us to laugh at, or deny it or -its proximate conditions, where they really exist. It appears -perfectly clear that, as by giving ourselves up wholly to our -external and sensuous life, we dim and obscure the spirit of -God that is in us—so, by annihilating, as far as in us lies, the -necessities of the body, we may so far subdue the flesh as to -loosen the bonds of the spirit, and enable it to manifest some -of its inherent endowments. Ascetics and saints have frequently -done this voluntarily; and disease, or a peculiar constitution, -sometimes does this for us involuntarily: and it is far from desirable -that we should seek to produce such a state by either -means, but it <span class='it'>is</span> extremely desirable that we should avail ourselves -of the instruction to be gained by the simple knowledge -that such phenomena have existed and been observed in all -ages; and that thereby our connection with the spiritual world -may become a demonstrated fact to all who choose to open their -eyes to it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With regard to the cases of apparitions I have adduced, they -are not, as I said before, one hundredth part of those I could -have brought forward, had I resorted to a few of the numerous -printed collections that exist in all languages.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Whether the view I acknowledge myself to take of the facts -be or not the correct one—whether we are to look to the region -of the psychical or the hyperphysical for the explanation—the -facts themselves are certainly well worthy of observation; -the more so, as it will be seen that, although ghosts are -often said to be out of fashion, such occurrences are, in reality, -as rife as ever: while, if these shadowy forms be actually visiters -from the dead, I think we can not too soon lend an attentive -ear to the tale their reappearance tells us.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That we do not all see them, or that those who promise to -come do not all keep tryst, amounts to nothing. We do not -know why they can come, nor why they can not; and as for -not seeing them, I repeat, we must not forget how many other -things there are that we do not see: and since, in science, we -know that there are delicate manifestations which can only be -rendered perceptible to our organs by the application of the -most delicate electrometers, is it not reasonable to suppose that -there may exist certain susceptible or diseased organisms, which, -judiciously handled, may serve as electrometers to the healthy -ones?</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As my book is designed as an inquiry, with a note of interrogation -I characteristically bid adieu to my readers.</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:right;margin-right:1em;'>C. C.</p> - -<hr class='footnotemark'/> - -<div class='footnote'> -<table summary='footnote_9'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' class='footnoteid'/> -<col span='1'/> -</colgroup> -<tr><td style='vertical-align:top;'> -<div class='footnote-id' id='f9'><a href='#r9'>[9]</a></div> -</td><td> - -<p class='pindent'>In the “Medical Annals,” a case is recorded of a young lady whose axillary -excretions were rendered so offensive, by the fright and horror she had experienced -in seeing some of her relations assassinated in India, that she was unable to go -into society.</p> - -</td></tr> -</table> -</div> - -<p> </p> -<hr class='pbk'/> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:4em;margin-bottom:2em;font-size:1.2em;'>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Misspelled words and printer errors have been corrected. -Where multiple spellings occur, majority use has been -employed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Punctuation has been maintained except where obvious -printer errors occur.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A book cover image was created for this eBook and is placed in the -public domain.</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<hr class="full" /> -<p class="pg">***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NIGHT-SIDE OF NATURE***</p> -<p class="pg">******* This file should be named 54532-h.htm or 54532-h.zip *******</p> -<p class="pg">This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> -<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/5/4/5/3/54532">http://www.gutenberg.org/5/4/5/3/54532</a></p> -<p class="pg"> -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed.</p> - -<p class="pg">Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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