An account

It was some considerable time after it happened that I first heard of it ; but I have done so, without the smallest variation, repeatedly, both from my mother-in-law and from Gowling herself. In conversation with Mr. Podmore, Mrs. Noble gave an account which precisely corresponded with her husband's, and stated that she herself — then a young girl — had heard Gowling describe the dream on the morning after its occurrence. From the Coroner of the district, who has kindly made inquiries, we have learnt the name of the woman who committed suicide, and the fact that the occurrence took place about 40 years ago ; but his and our endeavours to trace the exact date have failed. (470) From Mr. Henry Maitland, Balmungo, St. Andrews. December 28, 1885. On the 16th of August, 1820 — it was the anniversary of his wedding - — my father took my mother and eldest sister to dine and spend the night at the country house of an uncle a few miles off. I can see the trio now, through the long vista of years, starting for Lathrisk on the Irish car, my father in high spirits, and seemingly in perfect health. That night, my two sisters, who were left at home, one 20 and the other 21 years of age, slept together; and early next morning the younger one awakened her companion, to tell her she had had a strange, unhappy dream. She dreamed she was at Lathrisk with her father and mother ; the family party were at dinner, and all went well till the servants had VOL. II. 2 F 2 436 SUPPLEMENT. [chap. cleared the table and withdrawn. My father, she said, then suddenly rose and walked to the window, which he opened as if for air. She, in her dream, went round and set a chair for him, putting her arm round his shoulders to support him in what seemed a sudden faintness. My uncle then came and supported my father, and the doctor soon arrived ; but before then my father had breathed his last. Dreams, however impressive to the dreamer, do not sound equally so in other ears, and this one was no exception to the rule ; the elder sister made no account of it, and no more was said on the subject. A few hours later, a messenger from Lathrisk brought the sad news of my father's death, and the whole details of the closing scene were strictly and literally identical with those of the dream, excepting only that my eldest sister, who went with her parents, was the actor, in place of the dreamer, who remained at home. My father was in his 50th year, full of health five minutes before he died ; and the mental condition of the family was that of joy and hopefulness. We find from the Edinburgh C our ant that Mr. Maitland's father died on August 25th (not 16th), 1820. Mr. Maitland explains that he knew his father's wedding day to have been August 16, from an entry in a family Bible, and that he was either told that the day of the death was the same, or has himself, in memory, modified close proximity into identity. In reply to inquiries, he adds, on Jan. 3, 1886 : — I am the sole survivor of my family. I was not told of the dream at the time ; my age (7 years) precluded this. Let me give you the assurance that both sisters concerned were women in whom, perhaps above most persons, the precious quality of conscientiousness formed the basis of character. In 50 years' close relationship to them, I never heard them speak of a dream but the one in question ; and I don't believe either of them was, either literally or metaphorically, a ' dreamer.'