The philosophy of sleep / [Robert Macnish].

  • Robert Macnish
Date:
1834
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The philosophy of sleep / [Robert Macnish]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    with which I am acquainted, but it must be looked upon as merely accidental. The lady’s mind was deeply interested in the fate of her lover, and full of that event which she most deeply dreaded — his death. The time of this occurrence, as coin- ciding with her dream, is certainly curious; but still there is nothing in it which can justify us in referring it to any other origin than chance. 'The following events, which occurred to myself, in August 1821, are almost equally remarkable, and are imputable to the same fortuitous cause. I was then in Caithness, when I dreamed that a near relation of my own, residing three hundred miles off, had suddenly died: and immediately thereafter awoke in a state of inconceivable terror, similar to that produced by a paroxysm of night- mare. The same day, happening to be writing home, I mentioned the circumstance in a half-jest- ing, half-earnest way. 'To tell the truth, I was afraid to be serious, lest I should be laughed at for putting any faith in dreams. However, in the interval between writing and receiving an answer, I remained in a state of most unpleasant suspense. I felt a presentiment that something dreadful had happened, or would happen ; and although I could not help blaming myself for a childish weakness in so feeling, I was unable to get rid of the pain- ful idea which had taken such rooted possession of my mind. Three days after sending away the letter, what was my astonishment when I received one written the day subsequent to mine, and stat-
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