Page:Life of William Shelburne (vol 2).djvu/367

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1785-1788
RETIREMENT
331

and was being attended by Mr. Alsop, whose treatment promised a favourable result. Towards evening however the symptoms becoming decidedly worse, the family were alarmed, and Mr. Jervis sent for Mr. Alsop. It was night before this gentleman reached Bowood; but the moon showed every object clearly. Mr. Alsop had passed through the lodge gate, and was proceeding to the house, when to his astonishment, he saw his patient coming towards him, in all the buoyancy of childhood, restored apparently to health and vigour. "I am delighted, my dear lord," he exclaimed, "to see you; but for heaven's sake go immediately within doors; it is death to you to be here at this time of night." The child made no reply, but turning round was quickly out of sight. Mr. Alsop, unspeakably surprised, hurried to the house. Here all was distress and confusion, for Mr. Petty had expired a few minutes before Mr. Alsop reached the portico. The funeral was directed to take place at Wycombe in the vault which contained the remains of Mr. Petty's mother, and was to halt at two specified places on the two nights on which it would be on the road. Mr. Jervis and Dr. Priestley attended the body. On the first day of their journey the latter, who had hitherto said little on the subject of the appearance to Mr. Alsop, suddenly addressed his companion, with considerable emotion, in nearly these words: "There are some very singular circumstances connected with this event, Mr. Jervis; and a most remarkable coincidence between a dream of the late Mr. Petty, and our present mournful engagement. A few weeks ago, as I was passing by his room one morning, he called me to his bedside. 'Doctor,' said he, 'what is your Christian name?' 'Surely,' said I, 'you know it is Joseph.' 'Well, then,' replied he, in a lively manner, 'if you are a Joseph, you can interpret a dream for me, which I had last night. I dreamed, Doctor, that I set out upon a long journey; that I stopped the first night at Hungerford, whither I went without touching the ground; that I flew from thence to Salt Hill, where I remained the next night;