Smyrna times., 1859-09-22
From the Bridgewa,er (Nlass.) Gazette, Aug. 3.
A REMARKABLE DREAM,

!
at distance from Bridgewater were prompted
to visit the venerable subject of it, and hear
the relation from his own lips The writer, in
common with many others, being much i'm
pressed on hearing clear statement of it, md
thinking that recent occurrences and the pre-.
sent stirring scenes in Europe may render il a
matter OF interest to GAany readers of the Gu
2ette, will here give the particulars as they
were related by several reliable men, mostly,
however, by one, the late Nathan Alden, ESQ.
man OF strong memory and great accuracy.
Deacon JOSIAH Richards was born in the
West Parish of Bridgewater December l7th,
1925; member of the society and an officer
Of the church of which the Rev. Dr. Reed was
so long and SO faithful pastor A devoted,
true, Chris ian man, Mr.. Richards sought by
precPp and example to serve his God and aid
his fellow men in accomplishing the work of
life. Jealous student of the Divine Word,
he found he promises OF inspiration a constant
comfort. The sublime visions of spiritual things
untoded in the prophecies were to him per-
feet realities, and his rapt soul as he neared
he goal of life was cheered by that which TO
INN was ever the substance of things hoped
inr. Never i'll but once, his temperate, up
ght life had been prolonged far beyond that
: ra when, as the Psalmist anciently sang, and
permitted to see such length of days, their
very strength is labor and sorrow; he had now
no anxiety but to be assured that all his chill
drcn had obtained the great salvation.
The opening of the year 1914 brought with
II wars and rumors of wars. Our own country
had been in a state OF commoiOn. Battle after
battle had been fought by land and sea between
England and AmerIca-5etween those who
should have been like kindred drops all min
gled into one." On the other side of the At
lantic the various nations were all asllr they
re at this moment. The mighty conQueror
Napoleon was the theme Of the civilized world.
Our people had from time to time received the
news of his mighty powers Monte Note, the
first in the series of his victories; the terrible
encounter at the Bridge of Lodi, raked by a
n. n.ulttude of cannon, when the hero, advancing
as If into the jaws of death, put the legions Of
Austria to flight. Again MarengO ard llohen-
linden had witnessed the defeat OF the Austri-
ans, and the great battle of Austerluz had for
a time completely slenced Russia aud Austria.
The victory of Jena left Prussia subdued, and
The battles of Eylau and Friedland had induced
Alexander of Russia to solicit peace. These
victories and many more had been heard Of,
and Notwithstanding the defeat IN the buttle OF
Trafalgar, the repulse at Acre. and lhe dIsas-
sand eXpedients had, in 1913, defeated the
Russians and Prussans at both Lutzen and
Bautzen, and again the combined forces of Rus
sia, Prussia and Austria, at Dresden, and
though at Leipslc he was compelled to retreat,
still his fertile brain wrought such plans that
his enemies were utterly astonshed at finding
him suddenly rushing upon them like an avail
anche, and overturning them. But a sad re-
verse now came upon the conqueror. The
heights of Montmarte became the scene OF a
battle disastrous to the French, and Alexa nder
and Frederick ook possession of Paris March
3lst, and Napoleon abdicated his throne on the
4th of April.
Just after this last event and long before any
news of Napoeons defeat had reached Ouf
shores. Deacon Richards had one night lard
down to rest, as we may we'll suppose with his
mind filled with devout and solemn reflections
on the ProvIdential care of that Being who
holds all causes in His hand, who "from SEEM
ing evil still educes good" who protects even
the sparrow's fall, and overrules conflicting
armies and nations-When 10, IN the midst rl
his slumbers it seemed TO him that he was sud-
denly transported over continents and mighty
waters, and was standing on one of the banks
of the Ganges. Before him stood an angelic
being with a roll of parchment in his hand
Richards, have news to impart TO you. The
conqueror Bonaparte has been captured by hi.
enemies, dethroned, and sent as prisoner to III
| island of the sea, but his detention there will
not be long. He will rise again, will regain
his imperial authority, and after brief exercise
of power will fall never TO rise again." The
messenger then proceeded to set forth some
thlnps that were to occur. He stated that af
ter some years pestilence should visit Ameri.
ca, that there should be great awakening iT
the churches, and that the meeting-house II
West Brdgewater wou be filled with wor
shippers, but that it would not take place du
ring the natural life of DR.. Reed-and that ca
fanatics were 10 come upon America which ht
was unwilling to describe to any one. Also
4 that from the time of these prophecies Mr.
Richards would live but little while.
Strongly impressed with the revelation thu
far made 10 hun, curiosity lead the listener Il
ask some questions, of which the writer is nov
uncertain, to which the angel answered, " Tha
you will know when the end of time shall be.
The dreamer then said, +" When will the end O
tune oe!" Whereupon, instead of giving
oral reply, the angel unrolled the parchmen
. IN his hand. and presented 1t to him 10 read
Examining the record, The words seemed t
him confused, and he reached his hand to ia k
MS BpeCtdClGs NOul NCob pOChels lluIUeu
ately he awoke. and found himself sitting up i
bed and fumblng at his side. In an lnstar
The recollection of all that had just passe
rushed into his mind. Perfectly overwhelmed
he sprang from his bed, md commenced wall
ing up and down his chamber, until eXhauste
J, nature obliged him to lie down again, when
e fell asleep, dreamed the same things ovt
/. again, in precisely the same order, aud awob
), 10 the same way, aud found himself searchIn
for his spectacles. ln great agtatIon he aga
e rose from his bed, and paced his room unl
II weariness compelled him to fall asleep, and
II dreamed the same things, third time, exact
as before.
. After the news that Napoleon was really
IS lhroned had reached our shores, and was beir
q dlffused around our various towns, DeacC
!. Richards who had not heOrd of this event fro
~ any outward source, was standing near b
house, when a man passing along, excaime
I" Deacon Richards, Bonaparte has been co