Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-11-11


the two haifdrawn CURTAINS at the foot OF tho bed,
Indicated as the place occupied BY tho ppartson ask
ed NJ the spectre was stillvieiblos Not entrcy So
sepled the patient because yourperso is betwixi
MN and me, but observe his skull peerinr above
your shoulder. II Is alleged, the man of science
started on the instant. despite philosophy on receiv
ing an answer nscertuning. with such minulcncss
mat the ideal spectre was close TO his own person.
re resorteu 10 other means of invcstgnon and cure
but with equally indifferent success The patient
sunk INTO deeper and deeper detection. aud died in
the same distress of MUD in which he had spent the
latter months OF his life; and his remains mel
anchoy instance OF the power of imagination to kill
the body, even when its fantastic tcrfors CANNOT over
come the intellect of the unfortunate persons who
suffer under them. The patient IN the present case
sunk under his malady; aud the circumstances Of his
Singular disorder remaining concealed, he did not by
his desth and last illness, lose any of the well erted
reputation for prudence and sagacy which had at
tended nus during the whole course of his lifs."
The following account of freak of the imagina-
ton. though readily expcabc, WILL we think, in,e-
rest our readers, IT, we sufmse d, relates 10 fan
cied vision of Lord Byron by bis great broer hard
the author himself. II is thus described Is
Another Illusion ofthe same nature have the
oes, reason for vouchng fact, though Cor certain
reasons, we do not give the names OF the purties.
Not long after the death of late llusr,ous poet
who had hlled, while living, a great station in the
eye OF the public literary friend, to whom the de-
ceased had been well known, was engaged. during
the dsrksnng twilight of autumn evening. in Pc
rusing of the publications. which proessed to de.
tan the habits and opinions of the distinguished in
dlviduawho was now no moccs--AsAihe reader had
enJoyedthe intimacy OF the deceased TO consderab lie
degree, he was deeply interested in the publication
which contained some particulars relating TO himself
aud other friends visitor sitting IN the apart
ment, who was also engaged in reading. Their sit
ing room opened into entrance hall, rather fan
tastically fitted mp with articles of amor skins of
wild animals, and he ;ike II was when layinr down
his book, aud passing into this hail. through which
the moon was beginning TO shihe that the individual
r,rsaI C3n. J. - L =
ding posture, the Representations of his departed
friend, whose recollection had been SO strongly bro't
10 his imagination He stopped for single moment
SO as 10 notice the wonderful accuracy with which
fancy Ind impressed upon the bodily eye the pecui
arities Of dress and posture of the lusrious poet
Sensible, however of the deusIon. he felt no senti
nent save that OF wonder tho extraordinary accr-
racy ofhe resenhanre, stepped EDWARDS towards the
figure, Which resolved ltsclf as he approached into
the various materials of which il was composed d.
These were merely ascreen, occupied by great coats
sh1vs, paids, such other articles as usually are
found IN country entrance hail--The spectator re
turned to the sPt from which he had seen the llu-
sion, and endeavored with all ms Duger 10 recall the
image which had been So sngularlv vivid But this
was beyond his capacity; and the person who had
witnessed the apparltloD properly, whose ex
cited state had beenthe means of raising it, had only
TO return into the apartment, and tell his youno
friend Under what striking Naturalization he had for
a moment lnDoTcd. There is every reason TO believe
thar instances OF this kind equent among persons
| oil certain temperament; and when such occur in
early period of society hey are almost ce tam to
DC considered as real supernatural appearances
The creed of Zoroaster, which naturally occurs Ia
unaSslsed reason as mode Of accounting for the
mingled existence of good and evil in tie visible
world-ihat belief Which, ia one modification or an
other, supposes the co-exsience OF benevolent and
malevolent principle, which contend together, with
out either being able dccsively, 20 prevail over his
antagonist leads the fear and awe deeply impressed
on The human mind to the worship as well of the au
thor OF evil so tremendous in all the effects of which
eredulity accounts HIM the ordinary cause as To tha
of his great opponent who is loved and adorcd as TIL
father Of all thai is good and boun;ful. Nay sucl
is the timd sevility of human nature that The wor
shiPL ers Will neglect the al.ars of the Author o
good, rather than that of Arimsnes, trusting with
indifference to the wcll-known mercy of the one
while they shrink from the idea of irritating the
yvengetul Jealousy OF the awia father Of evil.-[Sn
w. Scoti.l