In the “Museum of Wonders,” vol. 2, chap. ii., page 152, there is a
striking instance of a presentiment, related by Madame de Beaumont,
in the eigth volume of the “Universal Magazine for Art and Nature.”
She says, “My whole family still remembers an accident, from which my
father was preserved by a presentiment of danger. Sailing upon the
river is one of the common amusements of the city of Rouen, in France.
My father also took great pleasure in these water-parties, and he
seldom suffered many weeks to pass over without enjoying it. On one
occasion he agreed with a party to sail to Port St. Omer, about ten
miles from Rouen. Dinner and musical instruments had been sent on board
the vessel, and every preparation made for a pleasant excursion. When
it was time to go on board, an aunt of my father’s, who was deaf and
dumb, uttered a kind of howl, placed herself at the door, blocked up
the way with her arms, struck her arms together, and gave by signs
to understand that she conjured him to remain at home. My father who
had promised himself much pleasure from this excursion, only laughed
at her entreaties: but the lady fell at his feet, and manifested such
poignant signs of grief, that he at length determined to yield to her
entreaties, and postpone his excursion to another day. He therefore
endeavored to detain the rest also; but they laughed at him for being
so easily persuaded, and set sail. Scarcely had the vessel proceeded
half the distance, before those on board had the greatest reason to
repent that they had not followed his advice. The vessel went to
pieces, several lost their lives, and those that saved themselves by
swimming were so much terrified at their narrow escape, that they with
difficulty got the better of it.”
No mechanical explanation can apply to this remarkable presentiment.
The warning angel found he could work on no one better than the person
who was deaf and dumb, he therefore selected her for the execution of
his commission.
In the same volume of the “Museum of Wonders,” page 153, there is an
equally striking presentiment related, which the editor had from the
lips of a credible person. This individual had a friend who had a
responsible situation in the country. Being unmarried, he committed
his domestic concerns to the care of a housekeeper, who had been with
him many years. His birthday arrived, he made many preparations for
celebrating it; and told his housekeeper early in the morning, that as
the day was fine, she should clean out a certain arbor in the garden,
which he named, because he intended to pass the day in it with his
guests. Scarcely had she received this commission, than she seemed
quite in a maze, and she delayed the fulfillment of it. At length
she entreated him rather to receive his guests in one of the rooms
of the house, for she had a presentiment that the arbor would that
day be struck by lightning. He laughed at her assertion, as there was
no appearance of a storm coming on that day, and on her renewing her
entreaties, he was only the more urgent that the arbor he had pointed
out should be made ready, that it might not appear that he gave way to
her superstitious feelings. At length she went, and did as her master
ordered her. The day continued fine, the company that had been invited
arrived, they went into the arbor and made themselves merry. In the
meantime, however, clouds had gathered in the distant horizon, and were
at length powerfully driven toward the place by the wind. The company
were so intent upon their entertainment, that they did not in the least
observe it; but scarcely was the housekeeper aware that the storm was
approaching, than she begged her master to leave the arbor with his
company, for she could not divest herself at all of the idea of the
lightning striking it. At first they would not listen to her, but she
continued her entreaties unremittingly; and, at length, as the storm
approached with great violence, they suffered themselves to be induced
to leave the arbor. They had not been in the room more than a few
minutes when the lightning struck the arbor, and dashed everything that
had been left in it to pieces.