Major Georges Sydenham.

We find the following account in a remarkable collection of authentic stories of apparitions and other Spiritist phenomena, published in London in the year 1682 by the Reverend J. Granville and Dr. H. More. It is entitled: “Apparition of the Spirit of Major Sydenham to Captain V. Dick,” extracted from a letter by Mr. Jacques Douche, of Mongton, to Mr. J. Granville.

“… A short time after the death of Major Georges, Dr. Th. Dyke, a close relative of the Captain, was called to attend a sick child. The physician and the captain lay in the same bed. After sleeping a little, the captain called the servant and ordered him to bring two lighted candles, the largest and thickest he could find. The doctor asked him what this meant. — You know, said the captain, of my discussions with the major, concerning the existence of God and the immortality of the soul: it was not possible for us to clarify these two points, although we had always desired to do so.

“It was agreed between the two of us that whichever one died first would come on the third night after the funeral, between midnight and one o'clock, to the garden of this little house, and there enlighten the survivor on the matter. It is this very day, said the captain, that the major must fulfill the promise. Consequently, he placed the clock near him and, at half past eleven, rose, took a candle in each hand, went out by the back door, and walked in the garden for two hours and a half. Upon returning, he declared to the physician that he had seen nothing, nor heard anything that was not quite natural; but, he added, I know that my major would have come, had he been able to. “Six weeks later, accompanied by the doctor, the captain went to Eaton, in order to place his son in the college. They lodged at an inn called Saint-Christophe, remaining there two or three days; but they did not sleep together, as in Dalverson: they occupied separate rooms.

“One morning the captain remained in his room longer than usual before calling the doctor. At last he entered the latter's room, his countenance completely altered; his hair on end, his eyes wild, and his whole body trembling. — “What has happened, cousin captain?” — said the major. The captain answered: — “I have seen my major.” The doctor seemed to smile. — “I assure you that I never saw him in my life, or I saw him today.” Then he gave me the following account: “This morning, at the break of day, someone stationed himself at the edge of my bed, pulled off the covers, and cried out: Cap., cap. (It was the familiar manner the major used to call the captain). I answered: Well now! My major? — He continued: I could not come on the appointed day; but now, here I am to tell you: “There is a God, very just and terrible; if you do not change your skin, you will see when you arrive here.” “On the table there was a sword that the major had given me. After having made two or three turns about the room, he took up the sword, drew it from its scabbard, and, not finding it as polished as it ought to be, said: Cap., cap., this sword was better kept when it was with me. At these words he suddenly disappeared.”

Not only did the captain remain perfectly persuaded of the reality of what he had seen and heard, but from then on he became much more serious. His character, formerly jovial and frivolous, was notably modified. When he invited his friends he treated them with generosity, but he showed himself very sober with regard to himself. The persons who knew him affirmed that he often thought he heard, repeating themselves in his ears, the words of the major, and this during the two years in which he lived after that adventure.

Allan Kardec.

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