APPARITIONS;
OR,
THE MYSTERY OF
Ghosts, Hobgoblins,
AND
HAUNTED HOUSES,
DEVELOPED.
"Animum rege."
*** "This Collection of Stories is well chosen, andaffords a fund of amusement that is cheap at the price offive shillings. By putting such a book as this into the handsof children, parents will more effectually guard their mindsagainst weak credulity, than by grave philosophic admonition."Monthly Review, October 1814.
Printed by Macdonald and Son, Cloth Fair, Smithfield
H Corbould delin.t C Knight sculp.t 1814
The Haunted Beach.
APPARITIONS;
OR, THE MYSTERY OF
Ghosts,
Hobgoblins, and Haunted Houses,
DEVELOPED.
BEING A COLLECTION OF
ENTERTAINING STORIES,
FOUNDED ON FACT,
And selected for the purpose of
ERADICATING THOSE FEARS, WHICH THE IGNORANT, THE WEAK,
AND THE SUPERSTITIOUS, ARE BUT TOO APT TO ENCOURAGE,
FOR WANT OF PROPERLY EXAMINING INTO THE CAUSES
OF SUCH ABSURD IMPOSITIONS.
BY JOSEPH TAYLOR.
SECOND EDITION, ENLARGED.
London:
PRINTED FOR LACKINGTON, ALLEN, AND CO.
FINSBURY SQUARE.
1815.
INTRODUCTION.
The subsequent little Work owes its rise andprogress to very trifling circumstances.
In the early part of my life, having read manybooks in favour of Ghosts and Spectral Appearances,the recollection remained so strong in mymind, that, for years after, the dread of phantomsbore irresistible sway. This dread continued tillabout my twenty-third year, when the followingsimple affair fully convinced me, how necessary itwas thoroughly to investigate every thing thattended to supernatural agency, lest idle fearshould gain a total ascendancy over my mind.
About this period, I had apartments in a largeold-fashioned country mansion. From my bed-chamberwas a secret door leading to a privatestaircase, which communicated with some of thelower rooms. This door was fastened both withinand without; consequently all fear of intrusionfrom that quarter was entirely removed. However,[vi]at times, I could not help ruminating on themalpractices that might have been committed byevil-disposed persons, through this communication;and "busy meddling fancy" was fertile inconjuring up imaginary horrors. Every thing,however, was quiet, and agreeable to my wishes,for some months after my arrival. One moonlightnight, in the month of June, I retired to mybed, full