Transcriber’s Notes Words in italics are marked with _underscores_. Words in small capitals are shown in UPPER CASE. Please also see the note at the end of the book. THEORY OF APPARITIONS. AN ESSAY TOWARDS A THEORY OF APPARITIONS. BY _JOHN FERRIAR, M. D._ A thousand fantasies Begin to throng into my memory, Of calling shapes, and beck’ning shadows dire, And airy tongues, that syllable men’s names On sands, and shores, and desert wildernesses. These thoughts may startle well, but not astound. COMUS, 1. 205. LONDON: PRINTED FOR CADELL AND DAVIES; BY J. AND J. HADDOCK, WARRINGTON. 1813. CONTENTS. Page. CHAPTER I. _Reality of spectral impressions--General law of the system, to which they may be referred--Division of the subject--Spectral illusions exemplified_ 13 CHAPTER II. _A lawyer’s argument for the existence of witchcraft--Proofs of spectral impressions, from recollected perceptions--New England witches--Cardan--Donne--Jonson--The maid of France--and other visionaries_ 30 CHAPTER III. _Beaumont’s Visions--Those of Tasso--Kotter--Drabicius--Arise Evans--Bovet_ 69 CHAPTER IV. _Medical distinctions of spectral impressions. Sepulchral remedies: Preparations of the human skull--Mumia--Apparition of Ficinus to Michael Mercato--Warning voice to Quarræus--Visions of Dr. Pordage. Latent lunacy; exemplified in the character of Hamlet_ 95 CHAPTER V. _Accessory causes of delusion, regarding spectral impressions--Apparition of Desfontaines--Ghosts at Portnedown Bridge--Lucian’s story of a Split Ghost--Instance of a Ghost in two places at once._ 117 PREFACE. When a late ingenious Physician discovered the elastic fluid, which he termed his ‘Gas of Paradise,’ and which he hoped to render a cheap substitute for inebriating liquors, he claimed the honors due to the inventor of a new pleasure.