story as it appears to me proper to relate it. I am, for my own part, perfectly satisfied that I was in a condition which has not impaired my memory either of what I saw or what I felt; and although I was very highly disturbed while actually witnessing what I am now about to communicate, I was also keenly alive to every minute particular, and have treasured up the most exact remembrance of it.

"If it be any gratification to your vanity or your good-nature to know that you were much desired by your friends in their meetings and excur sions, I have means ample to indulge you. While you were roaming in pla ces where, as I learn from your letters, as well as from all other accounts, the moral sublime-if terror be a main ingredient in the idea which that indefinable term represents-abounds even by the way-side, the less enterprising friends whom you had left behind, were purposing to indulge in the quieter and customary pleasures so liberally offered to all who have strength and leisure to walk through the beautiful country extending to the very streets of our metropolis. Every thing favoured our sallying forth—the fresh morning-the confident promise of benign skies-and, in short, all those little kindly and cheerful greetings on which, if I had not something of more interest to relate, I might think it not disagreeable idleness to linger. But we set out with no other regret than that you were not of our party, and many a time we endeavoured to imitate, or imagine, what you would have said and felt when the lights shone out more fairly on the hills, or, from some height, or sudden winding in our way, ocean unexpectedly saluted us. Do not be apprehensive that I am about to give you a diary of our tour. I mention our setting forth merely to awaken in your mind the remembrance of pleasant walks in which you have so often joined, et quorum semper pars magna fuisti.' Call up within you recollections which may not assimilate with the terrible objects now becoming familiar to you, but which will, I hope, weather even fiercer storms than are raging about you, and live to give you comfort, and even counsel, many days hence;-call up these pleasant remembrances, and keep them with you as you read my

story.

"I spare you the recital of all occurrences, expressions, sights, and sounds, from the time when-I was going to say, we shook the city dust from our feet, but this would imply harshness of feeling where no asperity is felt, and I say merely-when we left the town, up to that moment when my narrative properly commences. At that time, we were stretched along a hill, at about two miles' distance from Bray, and gazing on as calm and as beautifully lighted a sea-view as it has ever been my good fortune to behold. It is not easy to disengage yourself from the influence of such a scene; and I have often observed, that it imposes silence on even a gay party, and that the most daring holds his peace, until some change in the appearance of nature seems to break the spell, and restore the power of speech and motion which had been previously suspended. We were all silent, and were watching the lessening light upon the waters with as deep an interest as if the fortunes of some conscious being were connected with it; and I do not believe that even a whispered word was breathed, until the last diminished speck of the evening light had flashed as from a gem its parting radiance, and was seen no more. Then we felt released, and were able to speak and speculate on the surrounding objects. How pleasant we thought it would be to spend some days in that place, and have our eyes in the morning open as they closed at night on a scene of so much tranquil beauty! On the summit of the hill, on the side of which we reclined, very little above us, there was a house, preserving the traces of ancient respectability, but evidently uninhabited and neglected. How comes it,' said I, that this mansion has fallen into such decay? Where could lovers of retirement find a more suitable abode? What fairer spot could be chosen for a temporary sojourn? Positively, I do not see, if we could procure admission, and gain some little appliances, where we could be better lodged for our purposes, than in this deserted mansion.'

Where,' cried out Godfrey, and all joined him- Where could we find any thing more to our taste? and if we can only manage to make good our entrance, it is but a short distance to Bray, and we could easily supply a camp arrangement for the few days we

may remain here.' The next consideration was, whether our design was practicable. The house is not near the high road-our arrival at its neighbourhood was owing to the accident of having chosen to continue our walk along the shore more perseveringly than in any former excursion; and when we became desirous of obtaining shelter, we could see no cottage or cabin where we were likely to learn how we might be gratified. With very little expectation of success, we walked round the house, knocked at its doors, but had no answer. Both doors and windows were firmly closed, and the perfect stillness into which the echoes of our loud knocking died away, convinced us that we were unheard. Baffled in our projects, but not altogether without hope of success upon some other occasion, we pursued our route to Bray, and found ourselves at Quin's before the night had decidedly set in, and before we had half finished what we had to say, or to propose, respecting the sea-view and the solitary house which had so interested and engaged us. What we learned now still farther excited our imaginations. The house was the place where that dreadful murder was perpetrated of which you must remember the harrowing recital-that where a servant was suspected, but in which it was afterwards known that a banditti were concerned. All the particulars were again brought before us, and it was added, that since the horrible event, the house had been deserted that it had acquired the reputation of being haunted-and that the owner, who resided in Bray, had not been able to procure the services of a watchman courageous enough to encounter the terrors by which it was nightly infested.

"Our resolution was instantly taken -we would volunteer to watch. We would go provided against gross, corporeal visitants, and had not much to apprehend from the solemnity of ghostly salutations. Accordingly, we sought an interview with Mr

proprietor of the evil-reputed mansion, obtained his full permission to meet and lay the ghosts who haunted it; and before noon, on the following day, were established in the peaceable possession of house and offices, to hold for such time as might suit our pleasure and convenience. I do not think you have yet become acquainted with

this place-yet it is so well worth the seeing, that when you return, I shall not shrink from the task of accompanying you to visit it. The house stands on an eminence, but, behind it, the ground rises so high, that when on the road you cannot even suspect that such a dwelling should lie between you and the strand. On the platform, or little lawn before the principal entrance, you feel yourself enclosed within hills which sweep in a semicircle to the sea, on one side in forms abrupt, and presenting a rocky and precipitous appearance; on the other, descending gently towards you, and at the summit crowned with larger trees than you often meet with in such a place; the steeps on both sides become rocky as they descend to the water's edge, and between the barriers thus guarding the enclosure, a most verdant lawn slopes down to a little sandy beach of not more than a few yards in width, which separates it from the sea. It is not, however, of the beauty of this sweet seclusion-(that I should apply names like these to such a place!)-I am to write; and I will accordingly pass over all that we said and thought on such subjects, as likewise all our occupations during the day, and come at once to the time when our thoughts were turned to other matters than the beauties which surrounded us.

"We had taken possession of the first floor, as being, for all purposes of defence or observation, the most convenient. We had scrutinized, with the utmost carefulness, all parts of the house, and having, by bolt and bar, made fast every entrance, posted ourselves in a spacious apartment which looked out upon the sea, and was within an ante-room of oblong Form, whose only window was above the entrance at the rear of the mansion. The door opening from our apartment to this ante-room had been removed, but that which admitted to the other parts of the building, and through which alone we could be approached, (for in our chamber there was but one door-way that communicated with the ante-room,) was in good condition; and having very strongly secured it, and having command of the various passes through which the house could be approached or entered, we felt ourselves, so far at least as mortals were concerned, safe from surprise. Being four in number, we

did not think it necessary, which, after the fatigues of the day, would have been inconvenient, that all should keep watch together; and it was proposed to appoint a sentinel. But my amendment was adopted, that two should keep guard at a time, and in their turn have their sleep secured from hostile invasion. The times of guard were decided by lot, and (you know I never have success in such decisions) I was, with Godfrey, to have the duty which was the least pleasant, that of being called from sleep to act the sentinel from midnight until morning. I slept soundly for about three hours. We had an excellent guard-bed; Mr having sent in for our use a large pallet, (we had deprecated bedclothes,) and, with a good fire blazing in the hearth, we felt a covering more than our clothes quite unnecessary. But these are petty details. I was called to my office of sentinel in due course, and my companions succeeded to our vacated couch, and were soon in happy insensibility. My comrade Godfrey speedily betrayed symptoms of a tendency to follow their example; while for my part, I never was more thoroughly awake in all my life. The novelty of my situation would, of it self, have to some extent excited me, but, I ain free to confess, I was not altogether void of apprehension. It would seem that I had no cause, but yet the terms in which my predecessors on guard had announced to me that during their watch all was quiet, were especially calculated to disturb my repose. To my question on waking, how the past hours had gone, Francesco's answer was returned,

Not a mouse stirring.' How do you think this answer affected me? It brought up the entire of those awful passages from Hamlet vividly before me. The words seemed ominous of what I was to expect on my watch; and my mind was instantly set into a frame which would render such midnight encounter most terrible. I endeavoured to satisfy myself that no answer could have been devised more pertinent to the occasion, and less a subject of wonder, than that which I had received. I endeavoured to chase away the thick-coming fancies which invaded my spirit; but, for a length of time, to little purpose. You cannot reason back the mind into the calmness out of which some accident

has disturbed it. However trivial the cause or occasion by which you have been agitated, the disturbance is not the less real, and it continues, too, even after the cause has been removed; and though the storm has ceased to blow, the sea is still swelling. In my case, you are aware that some peculiarities of opinion combine to increase the efficacy of these suggestions of fear. You know my doubts as to whether imagination is any thing more than an unsuccessful effort to comprehend realities. We have sometimes discussed, Whether such a creature as man can possibly imagine a species of existence which has not been realised? whether the fecundity of the human mind is greater than that of nature? and, in short, whether he who made me has not created whatsoever it is possible for me to conceive?' I need not remind you, that I have never decided this question in favour of my heart's superstitious yearnings, or that I can produce good and sufficient arguments against forming such a decision; but it is certain, that the love of mystery, co-operating with the perplexing nature of the subject, has, on many an occasion, and on none more remarkably than this of which I am writing the story, so confused and embarrassed my reasonings, as to leave intellect little chance against imagination. Besides, you will remember, how narrowly imagination and belief are separated, how frequently the beings of the one overpass their boundaries, and mix among the inhabitants of the other,how, when reason for a space resigns the office of keeping them apart, the two races become confounded; and you will admit, that he who, with me, familiarizes his mental eye to an imaginary presence, is nurturing within him what may become the persuasion that he beholds an actual existence. You will not wonder, therefore, if, amidst the recollections suggested by that unfortunate expression of my friend, I found some food for the appetite, or love, for the marvellous, by which I acknowledge myself possess◄

ed.

"Amisfortune apparently trivial, and which, under other circumstances, had been of no moment, increased my disquiet. This was the drowsiness of poor Godfrey. I laboured, to the utmost stretch of my abilities, to keep him awake; but in vain. Many a time

have I contended with my own repugnance, and set myself to resist the lethargic influence of companions who would not converse; but never did I labour with greater perseverance, or torment myself to so little purpose, as in my present trial of skill. I soon began to apprehend that some more than ordinary power was upon both Godfrey and myself. He was certainly as the deaf adder; but I, as certainly, had not the charmer's voice. I was conscious of more than wonted deficiency. I never so strenuously sought for thoughts and images, but I never sought so unsuccessfully. Godfrey is, in general, easily excited and easily amused; but if ever I had any ability to interest, it seemed to have deserted me. Memory, and fancy, and the power of speech, forsook me in my need; and all my faculties appeared as if they had learned the black servant's most provoking rule of conduct- the more Massa call me, the more I won't come.' Well, the struggle was over; after various manifestations of consciousness giving way, after monosyllabic answers uttered at random, and some sounds altogether inarticulate, where the power to frame a reply would not second the desire to intimate intelligence, Godfrey gave himself up to sleep; and, with a vague impression that I was set apart to be the witness of some strange apparition-I felt myself alone.

"There is, you are aware, a belief very prevalent among ghost-seers, that spectres do not appear to more than a single spectator. This, according to the philosophy of those from whom I have derived all my visionary lore, is a law of the unsubstantial, and should be as implicitly received as the laws of matter are accepted amongst us. Whether this law (as are those which regulate the seemingly less mysterious portion of existence) be merely a maxim derived from experience, or whether it arise from a knowledge of the powers and capacities with which spiritual beings are invested, and of some great difficulty to be overcome by the bodiless in conversing with more than one mortal at a timewhether it should be received as law, merely because the varieties of apparitions almost uniformly observe it, or because, from the difficulty of contriving a medium of communication between the living and the dead, (which

indeed Cardan and others acknowledge,) immaterial beings are constrained to submit to it, I cannot pronounce; but this I can unhesitatingly affirm, that, in my circumstances, there was nothing extravagant in imagining the existence and authority of some such law, and supposing myself singled out to witness an example of it. You may smile at this, but even of you I would scarcely fear to assert, that, were you in my condition, your smile would be but sickly. There lay two of my companions stretched out on their pallet, and sleeping so deeply that even their breathing could not be heard; Godfrey also, his head reclined against the chimney-piece, in a most tranquil sleep, perfectly motionless-nothing, in fact, which had movement in the chamber, except occasionally the light of the fire, and the shadows from the candles, quivering upon the walls or ceiling. To be so circumstanced, on such an occasion, with my recollections, and with an unusual vitality of feeling, was to be, I confess it, very closely bordering on that state in which marvellous things may be imagined. I shall fully allow for this pre-disposition to fancy strange matters, and you may make the proper drawback before you give your assent. I had, at an earlier period of the night, acted the censor on my rashness in undertaking the part which I was performing. I had endeavoured to think that the matter was ridiculous, and sought thus to fortify my mind against the thoughts of awe which were coming upon it; but now, all such efforts had ceased. I had become changed; the influence of the hour-the silence-the solita.inessthe images of insensibility before me, and my own acute wakefulness-all this, and perhaps something more mysterious still, exercised much power over me, and caused me to think that the change which I felt taking place within me, was but preparatory to something for which I was intended. I recollected that notices usually precede the coming of spiritual visitants, and I began to fancy, that the altered state of my mind should be regarded as a warning. You will perhaps, before you read any farther, exclaim, that in such a state of mind I was no more to be relied on than one in the delirium of fever. But attend ;-I was not under such excitement when

my singular adventure happened. The current of my thoughts and fears was changed; and although something of mystery and superstitious awe may have still lingered about me and mingled with my sensations, they had not, I am perfectly confident, such power as they might have acquired had their influence been uninterrupted.

"But to proceed: After a vain combat with the awe which was overmastering me, in a hope of obtaining some relief by change of place, I rose and walked to the window, which looked out upon the sea. The sound of my footsteps startled me, as if they were not my own. The truth is and this, I believe, is a general truth, for I have had experience of it under other circumstances-when you have sat alone and musing late into the night, you often forget the existence of any other portion of your being than that which thinks, and, when you move, it seems to you for a moment strange that you cannot move in silence. In other cases, the state of feeling in which this phenomenon occurs, is of a pleasing, as well as of a solemn character-in mine, the previous excitement was so great, that it became painfully exasperated for the first instant, and then (I suppose I could bear no more) the intensity of my mysterious emotions began rapidly to subside; and although the first salute I received, on reaching the window, was the flapping of wings from a large bird which flew heavily past, my returning composure was not scared, and I looked forth over the shining sea with comparative tranquillity. I had now an opportunity, such as never before was so fully given me, of comparing the admiration in which the nocturnal heavens are contemplated, with that superstitious awe which I had just before experienced. Pardon me for dwelling thus at length on my observations and emotions. I have been so much in the habit of opening my entire soul to you, that I am very desirous of laying before you every thing which was presented to my mind and my senses on a night which, I suppose, I never can forget. What I thought has to me its importance much enhanced by what I saw and heard; and I should begin to think of you as one who did not participate in all my secrets, were you to remain unacquainted with it. I was speaking of

the difference between that state of feeling in which I gazed on the silent heavens, and that in which I was fascinated by my terrors. To some the difficulty would be to discern resemblance, not to detect a difference, between states of mind so seemingly unlike each other. You, however, are not of this number. You know that the influence of the night heavens is full of mystery-that he who yields himself to it, feels an indefinite expectation that some wonder is about to take place. I speak of nights when the moon shines brightly,-nature then, in its quietness, seems as if it awaited some great event. I was going to say, the theatre is lighted up, and the stillness is no more than the suitable prelude and pause of expectation with which the coming wonder is looked for; but I reject my illustration, because, although it might assimilate with the principle on which we are moved, it is very unsuitable to the emotion thus originated. Without simile or illustration, however, it is perfectly clear, that we never stand out alone in the silent moonlight, without being conscious (if no other sensations have pre-occupied us) of some vague imagination that all is not yet complete, and that what we behold, and what we feel, is no more than due preparation for the voice or the vision which is to be revealed to us. But this imagination is altogether destitute of gloom and terror; our anticipations are benign, our feelings are wholesome, and our sensations differ as widely from such as I had lately experienced, as they would on our escaping from some fetid charnel vault, and emerging into the lights and airs of this upper world.

"How long I enjoyed the beautiful prospect before me, and my relief from shapeless terrors, I cannot say. I was recalled to a sense of the place and my condition, by a shrill whistle which I heard, faint, but perfectly distinct, at a considerable distance to my left, and close to the shore. This was, I concluded, a signal, for it was presently answered from seemingly a greater distance. I now deliberated whether I ought not to awaken my companions, but the occasion did not, I thought, justify apprehension, and I determined to await something more decisive. Shortly after, a little boat appeared issuing from the direction in which the