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A DREAM OF MR. SOUTHCOTT'S.

Sunday Night, July 1st, 1804.

I thought myself in a large wood, that I had to go through in my way to Burton Pynsent, a Seat in Somersetshire, belonging to the Earl of Chatham; the thicket on my right hand seemed impassable, and close on my left was a river of clear water, but so full that at many places it overflowed its banks; and the path between the wood and the river was so very narrow, that I was often forced to crawl as it were on my side, so the cloaths on my left side were quite wet; yet I thought the water did not touch my body. I at last got into the path that led across the wood, in the midst of which I came to a large mount that I had to go over; but to my great surprize, I found it hollow beneath, and I thought I saw some one I knew. We entered into conversation, and I found by him that this subterraneous cavern was inhabited by a banditti of thieves who lived by plunder; and I thought their greatest traffic was in horses, asses, and pigs, which they stole, not only in the neighbourhood, but their trade was extended to different parts of the kingdom; and some were employed in stealing, and others in manufacturing of the carcasses and hides within this place. At last I got in, and saw a great many at work, both men and women; some digging out of the cavern, which seemed full of roots and sand; at the bottom was solid rock of stone. It filled me with horror, and I was exceedingly terrified; but my whole intent was to have them all taken, yet was afraid they should find out my intention and kill me. However, I got out, but was not satisfied, and wanted to see more before I gave the information. I then thought I met my wife, who went with me to the door with a lighted candle in her hand, and lighted me a little way in, till I said I knew the way through very well. She shut the door and left me.

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I was greatly afraid and terrified to think where I was, but determined to go on. In the bottom part

I saw a number of swine that the women were feeding. I passed several who looked at me, but no one molested me. I thought I saw an arched way across the dome, which I had not seen before. I ventured up, though very steep and rugged. When I got near the top, I thought it was all hollow under me, and I could look down and see this banditti at their different employments; some were killing those beasts they had stolen, others were tanning their hides, and others were making soup. Just here I met Miss Townley, which I was very glad of. We had not been long together before we saw two boys coming across with two pans of soup; one of them had a large piece of pork in it. Miss Townley was very curious, and wanted to question the boys, which she did; but they evaded her questions a long time; but at last Miss Townley said, one of them had told her something of importance. I said I had seen enough, and was determined to have them taken. Miss Townley asked me what I meant to do? I told her I would go to the commander of a regiment, and get soldiers enough to surround the whole place, so that not one of them might escape. She thought it very adviseable, and we went out. Just as we got without the door, we had to turn to our right hand; but the way we had to pass was terrible beyond description. I said to Miss Townley, you see, madam, what you have to encounter; and if you mean to undertake it, be resolute and not die in the middle. She said she was not afraid in the least, and asked for my arm. We had then to pass a most tremendous rock, at the top of which was water that ran down over it. However climb it we must, and pass over the top of it, that was so narrow that no one could stand upon it alone, I thought we got up very well, and I took hold of Miss Townley's left arin, with both my hands, and walked along the crags of the rock,

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whilst Miss Townley walked, or rather climbed along the narrow top of this dreadful precipice. However, she did it very heroically, and we got quite safe over. We then went on, and I thought we got into a path that I knew led us out of the wood, and in my imagination I saw a large gravel walk before us. We went on till we came to a house, where we enquired if we were in the right road; but were told we were not, and that we must go back. I told Miss Townley I knew I was right, and that these people be longed to the den of thieves, and were afraid we should betray them. However we went back, and I thought I saw a horse I knew to have been stolen, which made me very eager to get away, as I had such strong proofs of their villainy; and I was going to fetch the soldiers, I thought I met my child Susan, who had in her hand some numbers of a publication of the New Testament. At that time

a genteel elderly looking man came out of this place. I seemed afraid of him, lest he should think I was going to inform against them, and that he would kill me; but he seemed equally alarmed, and came very civilly to us, and asked what we had got? I told him the numbers mentioned above. He took some of them, and either by design or accident left his gloves in my hand, which I could not account for, not knowing if he meant it as a bribe or not; but on the back of one of them was printed in Roman letters, HENRY WILSON. I thought I got back into that horrid place again; but just as I got within the first passage, I stopped to listen. before I ventured to go through that long and dreary pas. sage I had before gone through with Miss Townley; and whilst I stood there, I heard, as I thought, somebody coming in. I looked, and saw coming in at the door a large, fierce looking, ugly dog. He passed me, and went to the entrance of the passage I had to go through, as if to defy my going that way. I went to drive him out, but he flew at

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me, but did not touch me. I struck him hard on the head; he then ran at a small dog I had with me. I followed him, and again struck him hard on the head, and drove him out. Here I awoke greatly terrified and agitated.

COPY OF A LETTER SENT TO THE REV.

REV. SIR,

MR. POMEROY.

July 5th, 1804.

Conscience and honour as a Christian and a Brother to Joanna Southcott, demands me to take her part; for I may say with David, is there not cause enough, when I see my Sister, in every thing she has laid before me, appear clear and innocent; but from the advertisement you put in the paper in 1802, signifying she had signed that you had affirmed her writings were from the devil, which my Sister declares to me you never said; but, that you said, her putting your name in print was from the devil. Although I understand you took an unfair advantage of what you wheedled her to sign, and said in your advertisement, she had acknowledged you had condemned the whole of her writings as from the devil, which the world now condemn her as guilty of. Now to clear my Sister's injured honour, I must demand all the letters she has sent you; as she tells me you promised her to keep the letters faithfully, that she put in your hands year after year; and you promised her they should be returned, as they might appear either for or against her. And now, sir, as a gentleman of honour, I trust you will act with honour in this; for, as she has she has no Husband or Father on earth to protect her, therefore it is my duty, as a Brother, to stand in their stead. I must reason with you as a gentleman, as a husband, as a father, and as a brother. How would you stand and

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see a sister's character injured without demanding justice and all the justice my Sister wants of you, is to return her the letters you promised faithfully to keep, and safely to return to her. She says if you had not promised it, the letters would have been put into the hands of others, and not into yours. She tells me, that in 1797, you asked her to put in your hands the events of the wars, which she did; but depended so much on your honour of returning them, that she never kept the copy; for my Sister says she confesses you gave her roast meat and beat her with the spit after*. I must confess I think you still believe her writings from the Lord, although as a man of the world, you do not like to own it; yet I hope there will be a time when you will piefer the happiness of your immortal soul to that of your mortal body, and that you will, like Judas, return and say, I have sinned in that I have denied and betrayed this innocent woman. I have only to add, that I hope I shall not be obliged to trouble you again for the writings, or I shall be under the necessity of putting the law in force against you. I am, sir,

You are desired to print the following circumstances. On Sunday morning, July 15, 1804, Townley, at eleven o'clock, went to Joanna and found her very unhappy about those whose faith was always wavering; as words were said to her, that the devil had

• Alluding to an expression made use of by Mr. Pomeroy to Joanna.