On Tuesday, July 26, 1720, at a sale of the copies belonging to Mr. Awnsham Churchill, of London, Book-seller, which were sold at the Queen’s Head tavern, in Pater Noster Row, there was among them a printed copy of these Miscellanies, corrected for the press by Mr. Aubrey, wherein were many very considerable alterations, corrections, and additions, together with the following letter to Mr. Churchill, written upon the first blank leaf, concerning the then intended second edition.

Mr. Churchill,

There is a very pretty remark in the Athenian Mercury, concerning Apparitions, which I would have inserted under this head, it is in vol. 17, numb. 25.  Tuesday, June 1695.

Mr. Dunton, at the Raven in Jewin-Street, will help you to this Mercury, but yesterday he would not, his wife being newly departed.

J. A.

June 1, 1697.
      **The Passage referred to by Mr. Aubrey, in his Letter
      to Mr. Churchill.*

* The passage referred to in this letter is now here inserted:  the other additions are incorporated in the text.  Ed.

Two persons (Ladies) of quality, (both not being long since deceased,) were intimate acquaintance, and loved each other entirely:  it so fell out, that one of them fell sick of the small-pox, and desired mightily to see the other, who would not come, fearing the catching of them.  The afflicted at last dies of them, and had not been buried very long, but appears at the other’s house, in the dress of a widow, and asks for her friend, who was then at cards, but sends down her woman to know her business, who, in short, told her, “she must impart it to none but her Lady”, who, after she had received this answer, bid her woman have her in a room, and desired her to stay while the game was done, and she would wait on her.  The game being done, down stairs she came to the apparition, to know her business; “madam,” says the ghost, (turning up her veil, and her face appearing full of the small-pox) “You know very well, that you and I, loved entirely; and your not coming to see me, I took it so ill at your hands, that I could not rest till I had seen you, and now I am come to tell you, that you have not long to live, therefore prepare to die; and when you are at a feast, and make the thirteenth person in number, then remember my words” and so the apparition vanished.

To conclude, she was at a feast, where she made the thirteenth person in number, and was afterwards asked by the deceased’s brother, “whether his sister did appear to her as was reported?” she made him no answer, but fell a weeping, and died in a little time after.  The gentleman that told this story, says, that there is hardly any person of quality but what knows it to be true. (From the Athenian Mercury.)

APPENDIX.

      An introduction to the survey and
      natural history of the north Division
      of the county op Wiltshire.