this circumstance, however apparently trivial, tends somewhat to enhance the interest of the dream, without in the least impugning its fidelity; for such fissures are characteristic of these sensorial impressions, which are altogether involuntary, and bear a much nearer relation to the productions of the daguerreotype than to those of the portrait-painter, whose lines are at his command."

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MISCELLANEOUS.

CAPTAIN BLOMBERG'S APPARITION.

In the following extraordinary account of an apparition heard, if not seen, by two persons at once, the exact locality where the appearance took place is not stated, but the story is well known and often alluded to, and, therefore, deserves publication here. The Dr. Blomberg, to whom the tale refers, is said to have been a celebrated metropolitan clergyman, in the early part of this century. When Blomberg was a boy, his father, Captain Blomberg, was stationed with his regiment in Martinique.

One day the Captain was ordered to a distant part of the island with some important dispatches. The barracks at head-quarters, where the absent man had been residing, were just then very crowded, and, in consequence, the officers had to share their apartments with one another, in order that all might be housed within the barracks. One night, shortly after Blomberg's departure, the door of one of these apartments was heard

to open, and the noise awakened the two occupants. One of them, a friend of the absent Captain, raised himself in bed, and, to his intense astonishment, beheld Blomberg approach the bedside, and draw back the mosquito curtain.

"Why, Blomberg," said he, "what on earth has brought you back?"

Blomberg looked at him for a few seconds, with a melancholy and abstracted air, but at last said distinctly

"I died this night, and I have come to ask you to take charge of my little orphan boy."

He then gave his friend the address of the child's relatives in London, and asked him to have the boy sent to them at once, adding that the papers necessary to establish the boy's claims to some property would be found in a certain drawer which he designated. This communication made, the visitant departed, closing the door after him with an audible sound, and leaving the friend deeply perplexed. Calling out to the occupant of the other bed, he asked him if he had heard anyone in the room.

"Yes," was the reply, "was it not Blomberg? What did he want?"

The first officer then asked his companion if he had not heard what Blomberg had said, but he answered that he had merely heard the sound of his voice. At breakfast next day the two officers recounted the extraordinary affair to their companions, and were, of course, heartily laughed at for their pains. In the evening,

CAPTAIN BLOMBERG'S APPARITION.

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however, a message arrived that put a speedy stop to their merriment. Captain Blomberg, so they were informed, having given way to depression of spirits in his solitude, had fallen into a fever, and, on the very night and at the very hour in which the apparition had appeared to his friends, had succumbed to the disorder.

The friend to whom the apparition appeared was deeply impressed, and noted down the strange communication which he had received. He sent the boy over to London, to the stated address, which proved to be that of the relatives; and had search made in the drawer designated by Blomberg's apparition, and there, sure enough, were found the deeds which proved the child's title to the property.

This wonderful affair acquired a widespread notoriety and at last reached the ears of Queen Charlotte. Her Majesty was greatly interested, and at once ordered the child to be received into the royal nursery, where, indeed, he was brought up under the direct care and superintendence of his royal benefactress.

Dr. Blomberg, it is stated, was remarkably lax in his ideas of the Sabbath, being so devoted, according to report, to his fiddling, that he kept a greased bow for Sunday playing. But it generally follows, whenever anyone has acquired a reputation for some " uncanny connection or the other, rumour attributes all kinds of unconventional things to him or her.

SMELLIE AND GREENLAW.

POST-MORTEM assignations are among the most frequent and best-known form of ghostly visitations. The instances recorded of dead men keeping appointments made with living friends are so numerous that it is easy to select from them many unimpeachable cases. Such a case is that given in the biography of William Smellie, author of the Philosophy of Natural History. Smellie's most intimate acquaintance was William Greenlaw, a man of great probity, and who, after having gone through the usual theological studies, and taken orders in the Church of Scotland, for certain conscientious reasons refused a living when it was offered to him, and sought his subsistence by teaching the learned languages.

In the course of their long and close friendship Smellie and Greenlaw entered into a solemn compact in writing, and even formally sealed it, and signed it with their blood, whereby both mutually engaged, that whoever died first should return, if possible, and give the survivor an account of the spiritual world. A proviso was made that if the deceased did not return within the expiration of twelve months, it was to be concluded that he was unable, or not permitted, to come back.

Greenlaw died on the 26th of June 1774. When the anniversary of his death drew near Smellie became exceedingly anxious about the expected visit, and lost several