This account Sir William Dugdale had from the Bishop of Edinburgh, who had inserted it in his Miscellanies, which is now deposited, with other books, in the Museum at Oxford.

The Apparition of a Gentleman to the late Rev. and learned Dr. Scott, on account of an original deed belonging to

his grandson's estate.

The doctor was sitting alone by the fire, either in his study or in his parlour, in Broad Street, where he lived, and reading a book, his door being fast shut and locked; he was well assured there was nobody in the room but himself, when accidentally raising his head a little, he was exceedingly surprised to see sitting in an elbow chair, at the other side of the fireplace or chimney, an ancient grave gentleman in a black velvet gown, a long wig, and looking with a pleasing countenance towards the doctor as if just going to speak.

The doctor, as we may reasonably suppose, was greatly surprised at the sight of him, and indeed the seeing him as sitting in the chair was the most likely to be surprising; because, the doctor knowing the door to be locked, and then seeing a man sitting in the chair, he must immediately and at first sight conclude him to be a spirit, or apparition, or devil, call it as you will. Had he seen him come in at the door, he might at first have supposed him to be really a gentleman come to speak with him, and might think he had omitted fastening the door, as he intended to have done.

The doctor appeared in great disorder at the sight, as he acknowledged to those whom he told the story, and from whom, says my author, I received this account, with very little remove of hands between.

The spectre, it seems, began, for the doctor had not courage at first, as he said, to speak to it; I say the spectre or apparition spoke first, and desired the doctor not to be frighted, nor to be surprised, for that he would not do him any hurt; but that he came to him upon a matter of great importance to an injured family, which was in great danger of being ruined; and though he (the doctor) was a stranger to the family, yet knowing him to be a man of integrity, he had pitched upon him to do an act of very great charity, as well as justice; and that he could depend upon him for a punctual performance.

The doctor was not at first composed enough to receive the introduction of the business with a due attention, but seemed rather inclined to get out of the room if he could, and once or twice made some attempt to knock for some of the family

to come up, at which the apparition appeared a little displeased.

But it seems he need not; for, as the doctor said, he had no power to go out of the room if he had been next the door, or to knock for help if any had been at hand.

But here the apparition, seeing the doctor still in confusion, desired him again to compose himself, for he would not do him the least injury, or offer anything to make him uneasy; but desired that he would give him leave to deliver the business he came about, which, when he had heard, perhaps he would see less cause to be surprised or apprehensive than he did now.

By this time, and by the calm way of discourse above mentioned, the doctor recovered himself so much, though not with any kind of composure, as to speak.

"In the name of God," says the doctor, "what art thou?" "I desired you would not be frightened," said the apparition to him again; "I am a stranger to you, and if I tell you my name, you do not know it, but you may do the business without enquiring."

The doctor continued discomposed and uneasy, and said nothing for some time.

The apparition spoke again to him not to be surprised, and received only for answer the old ignorant question, "In the name of God, who art thou?"

Upon this, the spectre seemed displeased, as if the doctor had not treated him with respect; and expostulated a little with him, telling him he could have terrified him into a compliance, but he chose to come calmly and quietly to him; and used some other discourses, so civil and obliging, that by this time he began to be a little more familiar, and at length the doctor asked, "What is it you would have with me?"

At this, the apparition, as if gratified with the question, began his story thus:

"I lived in the county of Somerset, where I left a very good estate, which my grandson enjoys at this time. But he is sued for the possession by my two nephews, the sons of my younger brother."

Here he gave his own name, the name of his younger brother, and the names of his two nephews; but I am not allowed to publish the names in this relation, nor might it be proper for many reasons.

The doctor then interrupted, and asked him how long the grandson had been in possession of the estate; which he told him was seven years, intimating that he had been so long dead.

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Then he went on, and told him, that his nephews would be too hard for his grandson in the suit, and would deprive him of the mansion house and estate, so that he would be in danger of being entirely ruined, and his family reduced.

Still the doctor could not see into the matter, or what he could do to remedy the evil that threatened the family, and, therefore, asked him some questions, for now they began to be a little better acquainted than at first.

Says the doctor, "and what am I able to do in it if the law be against him?"

"Why", says the spectre, "it is not that the nephews have any right; but the grand deed of settlement, being the conveyance of the inheritance, is lost; and, for want of that deed, they will not be able to make out their title to the estate."

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'Well", says the doctor, "and still what can I do in the case?"

"Why", says the spectre, "if you will go down to my grandson's house, and take such persons with you as you can trust, I will give you such instructions as that you shall find out the deed or settlement, which lies concealed in a place where I put it with my own hands, and where you shall direct my grandson to take it out in your presence.'

But why, then, can you not direct your grandson himself to do this?" says the doctor.

"Ask me not about that", says the apparition; "there are divers reasons which you may know hereafter. I can depend upon your honesty in it; in the meantime, and you may so dispose of matters, that you shall have your expenses paid you, and be handsomely allowed for your trouble."

After this discourse, and several other expostulations (for the doctor was not easily prevailed upon to go, till the spectre seemed to look angrily, and even to threaten him for refusing), he did at last promise to go.

Having obtained a promise of him, he told him he might let his grandson know that he had formerly conversed with his grandfather (but not how lately, or in what manner), and ask to see the house; and that in such an upper room, or loft, he should see a deal of old lumber, old coffers, old chests, and such things as were out of fashion now, thrown by, and piled up one upon another, to make room for fashionable furniture, cabinets, chests of drawers, and the like.

That, in such a particular corner, was such a certain old chest, with an old broken lock upon it, and a key in it, which could neither be turned in the lock, or pulled out. "In

that chest', says he, "and in that place, lies the grand deed or charter of the estate, which conveys the inheritance, and without which the family will be turned out of doors."

After this discourse, the doctor promised to go down into the country and dispatch this important commission. The apparition, putting on a very pleasant and smiling aspect, thanked him, and disappeared.

After some days, and within the time limited by the proposal of the spectre, the doctor went down accordingly into Somersetshire, and finding the gentleman's house very readily, by the direction, knocked at the door, and asked if he was at home; and, after being told he was, and the servants informing their master it was a clergyman, the gentleman came to the door, and very courteously invited him in.

After the doctor had been there some time, he observed the gentleman received him with unexpected civility, though a stranger, and without business. They entered upon many friendly discourses, and the doctor pretended to have heard much of the family (as so indeed he had), and of his grandfather; "from whom, sir", says he, "I perceive the estate more immediately descends to yourself".

"Aye", says the gentleman, and shook his head, "my father died young, and my grandfather has left things so confused, that for want of one principal writing, which is not yet come to hand, I have met with a great deal of trouble from a couple of cousins, my grandfather's brother's children, who have put me to very great expenses about it". And with that the doctor seemed a little inquisitive.

"But I hope you have got over it, sir?" says he.

"No, truly", says the gentleman, "to be so open with you, we shall never get quite over it, unless we can find this old deed; which, however, I hope we shall find, for I intend to make a general search after it."

"I wish with all my heart you may find it, sir," says the doctor.

"I don't doubt but we shall; I had a strange dream about it last night," says the gentleman.

"A dream about the writing!" says the doctor; "I hope it was that you should find it then."

"I dreamed", says the other, " that a strange gentleman came to me that I had never seen in my life and helped me to look for it. I don't know but you are the man."

"I should be very glad to be the man, I'm sure", says the doctor.

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"Nay", says the gentleman, "you may be the man to help ine to look after it."

"Aye, sir", says the doctor, "I may help you to look after it, indeed, and I'll do that with all my heart; but I would much rather be the man that should help you to find it. Pray, when do you intend to search?"

"To-morrow", says the gentleman, "I have appointed to

do it."

"But", says the doctor, "in what manner do you intend to search."

Why", replies the gentlemen, "it is all our opinions that my grandfather was so very much concerned to preserve this writing, and had so much jealousy that some that were about him would take it from him if they could, that he hid it in some secret place; and I am resolved to pull half the house down but I'll find it, if it is above ground.

"Truly," says the doctor, "he may have hid it, so that you may pull the whole house down before you find it, and perhaps not then. I have known such things utterly lost by the very care taken to preserve them."

"If it was made of something the fire would not destroy," says the gentleman, "I would burn the house down, but I would find it."

"I suppose you have searched all the old gentleman's chests, and trunks, and coffers, over and over," says the doctor.

"Ay," says the gentleman, "and turned them all inside outward, and there they lay in a heap up in a great loft, or garret, with nothing in them; nay, we knocked three or four of them in pieces to search for private drawers, and then I burnt them for anger, though they were fine old cypress chests, that cost money enough when they were in fashion."

"I am sorry you burnt them," says the doctor.

"Nay," says the gentleman, "I did not burn a scrap of them till they were all split to pieces, and it was not possible there could be anything there."

This made the doctor a little easy, for he began to be surprised when he told him "he had split some of them, and burnt them."

"Well," says the doctor, "if I cannot do you any service in your search, I will come to see you again to-morrow, and wait upon you during it with my best good wishes."

Nay," says the gentleman, "I don't design to part with you, since you are so kind to offer me your help; you shall stay all night then, and be at the first of it."

The doctor had now gained his point, so far as to make