“When, on the following evening, we arrived at our destination, and our melancholy deposition had been taken down by the proper authorities, Cameron and I went out for a quiet walk, to endeavor with the assistance of the soothing influence of nature to shake off something of the gloom which paralyzed our spirits.  Suddenly he clutched my arm, and, pointing through some rude railings, said in a trembling voice, ’Yes, there it is! that is the burial-ground of yesterday.’  And, when later on we were introduced to the chaplain of the post, I noticed, though my friends did not, the irrepressible shudder with which Cameron took his hand, and I knew that he had recognized the clergyman of his vision.”

The story concludes with the statement that in all the little details, as well as the main points, the scene at the burial of the commanding officer corresponded exactly with the vision of Cameron.  This story brings out the fact that the Scotch people are especially given to manifestations of second-sight—­particularly the Highlanders or mountain people of that land.  It is hard to find a Scotchman, who, in his heart, does not believe in second-sight, and who has not known of some well authenticated instance of its manifestation.  In other lands, certain races, or sub-races, seem to be specially favored (or cursed, as Cameron asserted) with this power.  It will be noticed, usually, that such people dwell, or have dwelt in the highlands or mountains of their country.  There seems to be something in the mountains and hills which tends to develop and encourage this power in those dwelling among them.  The story is also remarkable in the fact that the impression was so strong in the mind of Cameron that it actually communicated itself by clairaudience to those near to him—­this is quite unusual, though not without correspondence in other cases.  Otherwise, the case is merely a typical one, and may be duplicated in the experience of thousands of other men and women.

George Fox, the pioneer Quaker, had this faculty well developed, and numerous instances of its manifestation by him are recorded.  For instance, he foretold the death of Cromwell, when he met him riding at Hampton Court; he said that he felt “a waft of death” around and about Cromwell; and Cromwell died shortly afterwards.  Fox also publicly foretold the dissolution of the Rump Parliament of England; the restoration of Charles II; and the Great Fire of London—­these are historical facts, remember.  For that matter, history contains many instances of this kind:  the prophecy of Caesar’s death, and its further prevision by his wife, for instance.  The Bible prophecies and predictions, major and minor, give us semi-historical instances.

A celebrated historical instance of remarkable second-sight and prevision, is that of Cazotte, whose wonderful prediction and its literal fulfilment are matters of French history.  Dumas has woven the fact into one of his stories, in a dramatic manner—­but even so he does not make the tale any more wonderful than the bare facts.  Here is the recital of the case by La Harpe, the French writer, who was a personal witness of the occurrence, and whose testimony was corroborated by many others who were present at the time.  La Harpe says: