Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1862-04-25 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

STRANGE STORY.  The following story, which reads like an extract from the "Castle of Udolpho," appears in the London correspondence of Saunder's :—" Really, what with Mr Hume, Mr Forster, and Sir Buiwer Lytton's 'Strange Story,' London society seems just now inflicted with a general phantom-mania. 'The last new phase of the malady is a ghost story, which has lately obtained extensive currency in what are called the upper circles,' and which claims for its believers two counsel learned in the law, and the Lord High Chancellor himself! I don't pretend to vouch that the story can pretend to the ghost'' of a foundation for its existence—l merely testify that it is being talked of by 'everybody,' and that the first question asked at most dinner-tables is, Have you heard of Lord Westbury's ghost ?' The story runs thus : Lord Westbury lately purchased Hackwood House, an old mansion near Basingstoke, the property of Lord Bolton. Snatching a spare day or two to obtain a more minute inspection of his investment, he took with him two of the gentlemen belonging to his official establishment, both members of the learned profession. On separating for the night, the bedreom destined for one of them, a Mr It—, was found to be on the opposite side of the hall to those of the other gentlemen; he therefore shook hands and said, Good night' in the hall, leaving the others talking there. He had not been very long asleep before he 'felt' himself awoke; but could neither hear nor perceive anything. By degrees, however, he became conscious of something luminous on the side of the room opposite his bed which gradually assumed the appearance of a woman clothed in grey. Ile at first thought it was an optical illusion; next, that his companions were playing him some phosphoric trick, and then turning round he composed himself to sleep again. Further on in the night he was awoke again, and then at once he saw the same figure brilliantly conspicuous on the wall. Whilst he was gazing at it it seemed to leave the sall and advance into the middle of the apartment. He immediately jumped out of bed, rushed to it, and of course found—nothing. He was so impressed with the power of the delusion that he found it impossible to seek any more sleep, and as the day was beginning to break, he dressed and made his way into the grounds, where he walked about some time, pondering over the illusion so forcibly produced upon him. On his return to his room he wrote out an'exact account of what he thought he had seen, it being then quite clear to him that it was no trick played by others, but simply an hallucination of his own brain. At the breakfast table, however, he began to fancy that he had been cli verly in posed on by his friends, as they commenced at once bantering him on his night's rest,' 'broken sleep,' I and so forth. Wishing to detect them if possible, he pretended unconsciousness, and utter ignorance of their meaning, when, to his horror, one of them exclaimed, Come, come, don't think we did'nt see one of the women in grey follow you into your room last night!' He rushed up stairs, produced his written I account, which he gave them to read, and the consternation became general. On inquiry, of course, they found the legend of a murder done in days of yore; and the Lord Chancellor is supposed to be exceedingly vexed at an incident which has decidedly shut up one room in his house for ever, if not, in all probability, tabooed the mansion altogether. Thus much do the 'upper ten thousand' aver—how truly is quite another question."