A NEW GHOST STORY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 189, 24 June 1862, Page 6

A NEW GHOST STORY.

We give the following story from the London correspondence of Saaivler's News Letter, without in any way vouching for its veracity:—

" Really, what with Mr. Hume, Mr. Eorster, and Sir Bulwer Lytton's " Strange Story," London society seems just now inflicted with a general phantom-mania. The last new phase of the malady is a ghost story, which has lately obtained extensive currency in what are called the <; upper circles," and which claims for its believers two counsel learned injthe law, and the Lord High Chancellor himself! I don't pretend to vouch that the story can pretend to the " ghost" of a foundation for its existence—l merely testify that it is being talked of by " everybody," and that the first question asked at most dinner-tables is, " Have you heard of Lord Wcstbury's ghost ?" Tho story runs tbus : Lord Westbury lately purchased Hackwood House, an old mansion near Basingstoke, the property of Lord Bolton. Snatching a spare day or two, to obtain a more minute inspection of liis investment, lie took with him two of the gentlemen belonging to his official establishment, both members of the learned profession. On separating for the night the bed-room destined for one of them, n Mr. R——, was found to bs on the opposite of the hall to those of the other gentlemen; he therefore shook hands and said "Good night" in the hall, leaving the others talking there. He had not been very long asleep before he "felt" himself awoke; but could neither hear nor perceive anything. By degrees, however, he became conscious of something luminous on the side of the room opposite his bed, wliich gradually assumed tho appearance of a woman clothed in grey. He at first thought it was an optical illusion ; next, that his companions were playing him some phosphoric trick, and then turning round he composed himself to sleep again, Further on in the night he was awoke again, aud then at once he saw the same figure brilliantly conspicuous on the wall. . Whilst.he was gazing at it, it seemed to leave the wall and advance into the middle of .'the apartment. He immediately jumped out of bed, rushed to it, and of course found—nothing. He was so impressed with the power ofthe delusion that he found it impossible to seek any more sleep, and as the day was beginning to break, he dressed and made his way into the grounds, where he walked about for some time, pondering over the illusion so forcibly produced upon him. On his return to his room he wrote out,an exact account of what he thought he had seen, it being then quite clear to him that it was no trick' played upon him by others, but simply an hallucination of his brain. At the breakfast-table, however, he began to fancy that he had been cleverly imposed on by his friends, as they commenced at once bantering him on his "night's rest,'' "broken sleep," and so forth. Wishing to detect them if possible, he pretended unconsciousness, and utter ignorance of their meaning, when, to his horror, one of them exclaimed, " Come, come, don't think we didn't see one of the women in grey follow you into your room last night!" He rushed up stairs, produced his written accouut, which he gave them to read, and the consternation became general. On inquiry, of course, they found the legend of a murder done in days of yore ; and the Lord Chancellor is supposed to be exceedingly vexed at an incident which has decidedly shut up one room in his house for ever, if not, in all probability, tabooed the mansion altogether. Thus much do the ' upper ten thousand ' aver—how truly, is quite another question."— Glpbe.