852 A. From the Journal S.P.R., vol. ix. pp. 15-16.

The following incident seems to have been carefully watched and recorded, and was published, with names of guarantors, immediately after the event. It is extracted from a pamphlet, entitled Spiritualisme: Faits Curieux, par Paul Auguez (Dentu, Paris, 1858):-

On December 10th, 1857, we addressed the following letter to M. Morin, vice-president of the Societe du Mesmerisme, asking him to keep the letter sealed until the complete fulfilment of the sad event of which we related the prediction. The said prediction was as clearly expressed as it was wonderful in the extraordinary method of production. We retained a copy of this letter word for word. The original, stamped with the postmark, has been returned to us, after the verification of its date and contents, under the following circumstances:-

Paris, December 10th, 1857.

"Sir, - About a year ago, after a fruitless experiment in hydromancy,1 a young lady, who was with us making these experiments, suddenly saw a very strange scene reflected on the polished surface of a glass into which she had been looking a few minutes before. . . .

"She saw, she said, a room containing two beds. In one of these she saw quite distinctly a sick person, whose distorted features betokened the approach of death.

"Around this bed were standing several people, amongst whom she could distinguish a young woman and two children, all three dressed in black.

"Being much astonished at this vision, and not knowing with what to connect it, we asked the experimenter if these persons were known to her. She replied at once that the dying man seemed to her to be a friend of ours, M. X., an employe" in a government office, and that the three persons dressed in black must be his wife and his two sons.

"Although this appeared very strange, we did not attach much importance to the matter, for M. X. had a strong constitution, and at that time was in good health.

"However, about three months ago - that is to say, about nine months after the vision of which we have given an account - M. X. was suddenly attacked by acute bronchitis and congestion of the lungs; but although his illness was pronounced by the doctor to be rather serious, it did not cause any great uneasiness.

"Then the fatal prediction came into our minds, and we were very anxious about the condition of our friend, which became more and more distressing.

"A few weeks ago the disease assumed a more serious character, and as the arrangement of the apartments in which he was living made it impossible to nurse him efficiently, he determined to take advantage of the privilege attached to his position as government official, and was moved to Val-de-Grace.

"At the time of writing this letter, the invalid, finding himself somewhat better, has just been taken to the house of a relation, where he hopes to stay during his convalescence.

"At the same time, the disease has not diminished in severity, although it is stationary. This is how matters stand to-day, December 10th, 1857.

"As far as we are concerned, however, the prediction is in some measure fulfilled. Indeed, who would ever have thought that a young man, in full strength, would, in such a short time, be in such a state as he is to-day? Who would have supposed that any one who lived in such comfortable circumstances as our unfortunate friend would be obliged by the force of circumstances to have himself taken to a hospital? Who could have foreseen that his family, who had been seen dressed in black, should happen just at that time to be in mourning for a relation who had died a short time previously?

"We must add further that since M. X. was moved to the house of his relation, after attempts to obtain communications by means of a table, for several evenings, a message, giving the name of M. X., appeared spontaneously. Among other things said, in reply to questions asked, were the words: 'Death warning! . . '.

1 Divination by means of pictures, which are delineated in the water before the eyes of the seer [i.e. a species of crystal-gazing].

"We heard later on that at the time when these manifestations occurred, M. X. was lying in a state of lethargic stupor, in consequence of the doses of opium given him to induce sleep".

M. X. died a month after this letter was sent. It was read by us in the presence of MM. le Baron du Potet, Petit d'Ormoy, and Morin, who, after having considered all the circumstances, and having verified the date of the postmark, December 11th, certified that the details therein contained were absolutely accurate.