The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1862-04-29 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

STRANGE STORT."—The following story, which reads like an extract from the " Castle of Udolpho," appears in the London correspondence of Saunders : Really, what with Mr. Hume, Mr. Forster, and Sir Bulwer Lytton'a "Strange Story," London society sena just name inflicted with a general phantom-mania. The last new phase of the malady lea 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 in foundation for its existence ; I werely testify that it is being talked of by " everybody," and that the first question asked at most tables is, " Have you heard of Lord Westbury's ghost ?" The story runs thus :—Lord Westbury lately purchased Flackwood House, an old m tuition near Basingstoke, the property of Lord Bolton. Snatching a spare day or two to obtain a more minute inspection of hisinvestment, betook with him tweed the gentlemen belonging to his official establishment, both tnembers of the learned profession. On separating for the night the bedroom destined for one of them, a Mr. R—, was found to be on the opposite side of the ball to those of the other gentlemen; he therefore shook bands and said " Good night" in the ball, leaving the others talking there. He had not been 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 • woman clothed in gray. He at first thought it was an optical illusion ; next, that his companions were playing him some phoephoria trick, and then turning , around he composed himself to sleep again. Further on 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 wall and advance into time 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 delnvion that he found it impossible to seek any more sleep, and as the day was beginning to breek, he dressed and wade his way to time grounds, where he walked about some, 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 Shim 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 cleverly imposed on by his friends, as they commenced at once bantering him on his " night's rest,"" broken sleep," 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 didn't see one of the women in gray follow you int) your room last night !" He rushed upstairs, produced his written amount, which he gave them to read, and the consternation became general. On inquiry, of bourse, they found the legend of • 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. This much do the • upper ten. thousand" aver—bow truly is quite another question. A