to a belief in apparitions, and in company was accustomed to inveigh against any credence being placed in them, but after his presumed interview with the apparition of his old friend, spoke of that in such a way, with his more intimate acquaintances, as quite convinced them of his belief in its spirituality; one of whom, the Rev. Richard Chambre, vicar of Soppington, Shropshire, wrote out an account, still extant, of the affair as related to him by Mr. Shaw.

SPEDLIN'S TOWER.

THIS ancient fortress bore the reputation, for a long number of years, of being haunted by the spirit of a - certain man, known in the flesh as Porteous. The story of this haunting has been frequently told by Grose, the antiquary, and other well-known writers, and the truth of the events about to be recorded has been most emphatically asserted by persons of respectability and credit; indeed, many a ghost story passes current that has not had such corroborative evidence as this tale of antique lore.

Spedlin's Tower, which stands on the south-west bank of the Annan, in the time of Charles the Second was in the possession of Sir Alexander Jardine, of Applegarth. At one time this baronet had confined in the dungeon of his tower a miller, named Porteous, who was suspected,

truthfully or not cannot be known, of having set fire wilfully to his own premises; the alleged object tradition does not condescend to inform us. Sir Alexander Jardine, soon after this man's incarceration, was suddenly called away to Edinburgh, and carrying the keys of the dungeons with him, forgot or disregarded his prisoner, until he was passing through the West Port, when, it has been suggested, perhaps the sight of the warder's keys brought to his mind his own. He sent back immediately a courier to liberate the unfortunate man, but Porteous had, in the meantime, perished of hunger.

No sooner was he dead than his ghost began to torment the household, and no rest was to be had within Spedlin's Tower by day or by night. In this dilemma. Sir Alexander, according to old use and wont, summoned a whole legion of ministers to his aid; and by their strenuous efforts, Porteous was at length confined tỏ the scene of his mortal agonies where, however, he continued to scream occasionally at night, "Let me out, let me out, for I'm deein' o' hunger!" He also used to flutter against the door of the vault, and was always sure to remove the bark from any twig that was sportively thrust through the key-hole.

The spell which thus compelled the spirit to remain in bondage was attached to a large black-lettered Bible, used by the exorcists, and afterwards deposited in a stone-niche, which still remains in the wall of the staircase; and it is certain that after the lapse of many years, when the family repaired to a newer mansion (Jardine Hall), built on the other side of the river, the

Bible was left behind, to keep the restless spirit in order. On one occasion, indeed, the volume requiring to be re-bound was sent to Edinburgh; but the ghost, getting out of the dungeon, and crossing the river, made such a disturbance in the new house, hauling the baronet and his lady out of bed, and committing other annoyances, that the Bible was recalled before it reached Edinburgh, and replaced in its former situation.

The good woman who told Grose this story in 1788, declared that should the Bible again be taken off the premises, no consideration whatever should induce her to remain there a single night. But the charm seems to be now broken, or the ghost must have become either quiet or disregarded; for the old Bible has been removed, and is now kept at Jardine Hall.

STRACHUR MANSE.

ALTHOUGH the name of the person chiefly concerned in the following narrative is concealed under the initial "S," the reference to the house where he had his remarkable vision, and the fact that it was then occupied by a relative of the gallant Captain, will afford sufficient means of identification to the curious. Premising this, it will now suffice to say that some few years ago Captain S was spending a single night in the Manse of Strachur, in Argyleshire. This

residence was then in the occupation of some relations of the Captain, and, so far as is known, had not at that time the reputation of being haunted.

Soon after the weary guest had retired to rest, the curtains of the bed were opened and somebody looked in upon him. Supposing it to be some inmate of the house who was not aware that the bed was occupied, the Captain took no notice of the circumstance till, it being two or three times repeated, he at length said, "What do you want? Why do you disturb me in this manner? "

"I come," replied a voice, "to tell you that this day twelvemonth you will be with your father."

After this Captain S- was no more disturbed. In the morning he related the circumstance to his host, but, being an entire disbeliever in all spiritual phenomena, without attaching any importance to the warning.

In the natural course of events, and quite irrespective of this visitation, on that day twelvemonth he was again at the Manse of Strachur, on his way to the north, for which purpose it was necessary that he should cross the ferry of Craigie. The day was, however, so exceedingly stormy, that his friend begged him not to go; but he pleaded his business, adding that he was determined not to be withheld from his intention by the ghost, and although the minister delayed his departure by engaging him in a game of backgammon, he at length started up, declaring he could stay no longer. They therefore proceeded to the water, but found the boat was moored to the side of the lake, and the boat

man assured them that it would be impossible to cross. Captain S, however, insisted, and as the old man was firm in his refusal, he became somewhat irritated, and laid his cane lightly across his shoulders.

"It ill becomes you, Sir," said the ferryman, "to strike an old man like me; but since you will have your way, you must. I cannot go with you, but my son will; but you will never reach the other side, he will be drowned, and you too."

The boat was then set afloat, and Captain S——, together with his horse and servant, and the ferryman's son, embarked in it.

The distance was not great, but the storm was tremendous; and having, with great difficulty, got half way across the lake, it was found impossible to proceed. The danger of tacking was of course considerable; but, since they could not advance, there was no alternative but to turn back, and it was resolved to attempt it. The manœuvre, however, failed, the boat capsized, and they were all precipitated into the water.

"You keep hold of the horse, I can swim," said Captain S to his servant, when he saw what was

about to happen.

Being an excellent swimmer, and the distance from the shore inconsiderable, he hoped to save himself, but he had on a heavy topcoat, with boots and spurs. The coat he contrived to take off in the water, and then struck out with confidence; but, alas! the coat had got entangled with one of the spurs, and as he swam it clung to him, getting heavier and heavier as it became