New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-14
MIR. HEAPHYS' GHOST.

TRA0RDINARY APPARfTION.
The story of Mr. Heapby's tnot Heaphey) Ghost"
inst revived In England. was first madc public 10
Al The Year Round. under the management OF
Charles Dickens In 1861. Nr. Dickens had re-
ceived from friend series OF MSS, which 30 in
terested hun that he Published them under the title
q Four Ghvst Stories" One Of these was recognized
by Sir Austen Henry Layard 1.-THE famous Ninevite
explorer, and at that date English Ambassador TO
CONSTANT nople) who was visiting Mr.. Dickens, ~
a version OF story that had been related to MN by
Sir EdwxId Lytton taftcrwsrd Lord Lytton), the
novelist Sir Austen Layard informed Mr.. Dick
ems of this fact and ct the same time Mr. Hsaphy.
che noted London artist sent to Mr.. Dickens his
yersvn OF tho story that he might see that It had
been prepared before the incomplete version In All
the Year Round WAS published. and that he himself
was the person who had passed through this "oa-
derful visionary experience. Mr. DICKENS Vas
prompt to apologize to Mr.. Heaphy. aud volun-
seered to publish mis- story should he desire him to
do So; in fact, MIR. Dickens manifested great anx-
iesy 70 do 20. Dir. Dickenss letter to Mr.. Heaphy
was As fellows;
CABS Hill PLACE, HIGHAM-
KENT, SUNDAY, Sep tmber 10, 1861.
DEAR SIR: Allow me to express 10 You tor SIN
cere regret feel that your most rensrkaoie story
(Which | have read with great lnterest) should
have been innoceptly forestaled in the pages OF my
Journal At the time must add that your
mi yarniOl of the experience Is SO very CURIOUS.
and SO much more striking than the account sent
TO me- that snail be happy 20 publish it IN al the
Yecr Round If you sho aid feel disposed 30 ntrust u
I received the story published IN thai jOurnal
first among the " Four Ghost Stories from gen,
tlpman OF distinguished position, ooth literary anu
by reputation He did not send 1t to me Is bis owe.
but the work of young writer IN wholn ne ieeis
through HIM, another ghost story. l will lmme-
dlstey let him know what oorresp"55a ence nave
bad with You; ana H. you sna' 10 inau0
You NAV be quite certain. feel sure that there
has been no betrayal of confluence on the part OF
anyone connected with tho magazine for whom you
reserved your story. 1t must have been repeatedly
told Though probably never correctly III mole
circles than one. Ii happeps thst ar. LayaIa , is
yrrsiun printed in Al the Year hoand as version
of a story ne heard at Sir Edward Lyttons In -,
Hertfordshire. some time since. mo
As do not feel authorized IN retaining your Mo.
without YOUR consent. beg 10 return 1t herewith.
But | sm anxious 60 repeas thy readiness 10 pur-
chase il TOT publication in A me rear hoaHa IN te
authentic story Its interest seems TO me 10 DO
heightened IatDer than impaired. by us having
sgain eIpressing my regret that should have
been however innocently aud unconsciousiv. the
of moments annoyance 70 yps' n,a a: SsAf
sir, faithfully yours. CHARLES LiChLNs.
Thomas Heaphy, Esq.
MIR. Dickens at once set about to investigate the
source OF the Ghost Story" already published anu
two days later wrote to Mr.. Heaphy as subjoined:
GAp's HILL PLACE. HIGHAM-B ROCHESTER,.
KRST, TUESDAY. September IL, 1861.
words not only that your lingering suspicion y
groundless but that sverytdng SO h wne
binary In the version 1 received aud published
there was date. All that was set d9wn as 10
revise the story in the proof for press the need OF
some precise date was so clear 10 me thaS mysei
inserted IN the margin OF the PROOF SSs h,e a,s
shoujd have co,De into my head rather than any
other. anu profoundly unable TO say MT. Laysrd
remembers that it is more than a year shee lie
heard SIR Edward ttou tell the story. and he says
he has . strong impression that be iaid u on tue
table in writing. Moreover MT Lsya,n ~ cou -.
cannot recollect whore. have written TO sir Id
ward to ask him how he came 6y II. HIS answer
1t yon know the pur port in due course. read Mr.
Ixyard your own account. and he was quite clear
in his erbrance that oir hnwaJa VERSION LILY III
fell far short as my contTinu'2I ao g. N
it would be best TO call It " MT H. own nara
tive" OF Mr. HIS own Evidences ana VIII IN
trodnce it with a few lines rs eirlng to the version
already printed. and calling attention to 1t as
hang the authentic story given ut hrsthand.
There is no doubt that 1t ought 10 appeal hsra
after the wrong version rs possible VIII, theIe-
FORE place it In the number L shall make up To-
morrow, which will be published to-m9r Tort
n,yht will send You prof fr"Hi the once la
tns course of tomorrow aud must ask you to
have the kindness to return it on Thursday, as we
pupIish siuiult aneOusly 10 America ana l;ohuoh,
mi The sheets 30 across the Atlantic by the next
mail. Dear SIR faithfully Sours, -,
!, Thomas Heaphy. ESQ., CHARLks D!ChENs.
PS-l observed Ia yonr narrative that YOU
mentioned the yourg laav's eating the beef ana
drinking the claret. Do You remember whether
he Joint was placed on tho table or carved ON the
sidebuardf and whether you seemed to SEQ tho
figure served the three mortals were. or seemed
to lind it already carved without noticing the
progressf
the source of his publication to earth. but was not
sh,a "a do 40. as the following letter shows:
Orvtcp on GALL THE YEAR RoOED,"
FRIDAY September %. 1881.
DEAR SIR: Mr.. Laysrd has not peen aoe 10 ie,
c,ember where or when no SAN some version I'll
vour sJory in print. Sir Edward Lytton received
lis version IN writing from Mr. Edward Ward.
s,psrlor 90 that published here. l therefore sup
ILL IL ia rod nearer your own. He is searching
{"r the MS, bat has not yet been able to lay his
hand upon H. ps'I Esa. CHARLES DICKENS
When Mr. Dickens had Mr.. IIeaphy's version of
the Ghost Story" ready for the press he prefsc"d
1t with the following editorial note IN Al the Year
Round. not giving ut tho time the name OF Mr
Heaphy an full: 49,
There was lately, published in Al! Tie T Z
Round paper entitled our stories ino n NJ
weil-knowu English artist. Nr. Al. IN the pnbll,
cation OF that acoodnt, MIR. II. himself addressed
TO the conductor of tho above journal to MS great
surprise, and forwarded 70 him his own narrative
of the occurrences III question
As Mr.. H. wrote without any oonoea, n,m1,c IN 10
I,ondon aud there no possible doubt of mis-
being a real existing person and o responsible
gentleman Il became dnty 70 reaa ms cSaIu
hsen unconsciously done TO 1t, in tho versoI,pub-
ished as the 6rst of tho Four Stories 1t follows
i;shsd with the sanction and authority OF MIR. H..
and Mr.. III. las himself corrected the proofs.
Entering on theory OF our own toward the
.xnianation of any part of this remarkable nara
s,,. We have prevailed on MI: ii. to present it
without any introductory remarks whatever IL
adj hat n N N
otnoo between us and Mr. II. IN this matter. Tho
Wnois communication is AZ frst-hand; On seeing
The article Four Stories" MT n. frankly ana
soou-nu' 70 lion, mention is made how nv story