I remember about fourteen or fifteen years ago (as to time I cannot be very positive) there was a young clergyman in the city of Dublin, in Ireland, who dreamed a very uncommon dream, that a gentleman had killed his wife, a relation of his, by stabbing her in several places; the fright of this awaked him, but finding it a dream, he composed himself again to sleep, when he dreamed a second time the same dream.  This made him a little uneasy; but thinking it proceeded from the impression made on his mind by the former, he went to sleep again, and dreamed the same dream a third time also.  So troubled was he at this, that he arose, and knocked at his mother’s chamber, told his concern, and his apprehensions that all was not right at his relation’s house. Dear son, says the good old gentlewoman, do not mind these foolish dreams; and I very much wonder, that you, being a person in holy orders, should have regard to such illusions.  Upon this he went to bed again, fell asleep, and dreamed a fourth time as before.  And then indeed he put on his night-gown, and went to Smithfield, the place where his relation dwelt.  Here it was, alas! he perceived his dream too sadly fulfilled, by seeing his relation the young lady, big with child, who was a Protestant, stabbed in several places by her barbarous husband, Mr. Eustace, a violent Papist, only for some discourses of religion that happened the day before.  After the wretch had stabbed her in three places, he went to make his escape out at a window; but she cried out, My dear! don’t leave me, come back, and I shall be well again.  At which he returned in a hellish rage, and gave her four wounds more; when, even in this condition, rising from her bed, she wrapped herself in her night-gown, and went to the Lord Bishop of Rapho’s chamber door (the Bishop lodging at that time in the house). My Lord, said she, O my Lord, make haste unto me; but as soon as his Lordship came, she expired in his arms, resigning her precious soul into the hands of Almighty God.  The cruel wretch her husband was shot by the pursuers; too good a death for one who deserved the gibbet; and the lady was universally lamented by all tender and religious people.  And this tragical relation I have mentioned, upon the account of that impulse, or dream, that the clergyman had at the fatal time of the bloody action.

It might be expected I should enter upon the subject of apparitions, and discourse concerning the reality of them; and whether they can revisit the place of their former existence, and resume those faculties of speech and shape as they had when living; but, as these are very doubtful matters, I shall only make a few observations upon them.

I once heard of a man that would allow the reality of apparitions, but laid it all upon the devil, thinking that the souls of men departed, or good men, did never appear.  To this very man something did appear:  He said, he saw the shape of an ancient man pass by him in the dusk, who, holding up his hand in a threatening posture, cried out, O wicked man, repent, repent.  Terrified with this apparition, he consulted several friends, who advised him to take the advice.  But after all, it was not an apparition, but a grave and pious gentleman, who met him by mere accident, and had been sensible of his wickedness; and who never undeceived him, lest it should hinder his reformation.