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303
The Book of Dreams and Ghosts
·
Andrew Lang
129
LORD
LYTTELTON'S
GHOST
"Sir,"
said
Dr.
Johnson,
"it
is
the
most
extraordinary
thing
that
has
happened
in
my
day."
The
doctor's
day
included
the
rising
of
1745
and
of
the
Wesleyans,
the
seizure
of
Canada,
the
Seven
Years'
War,
the
American
Rebellion,
the
Cock
Lane
ghost,
and
other
singular
occurrences,
but
"the
most
extraordinary
thing"
was--Lord
Lyttelton's
ghost!
Famous
as
is
that
spectre,
nobody
knows
what
it
was,
nor
even
whether
there
was
any
spectre
at
all.
Thomas,
Lord
Lyttelton,
was
born
in
1744.
In
1768
he
entered
the
House
of
Commons.
In
1769
he
was
unseated
for
bribery.
He
then
vanishes
from
public
view,
probably
he
was
playing
the
prodigal
at
home
and
abroad,
till
February,
1772,
when
he
returned
to
his
father's
house,
and
married.
He
then
went
abroad
(with
a
barmaid)
till
1773,
when
his
father
died.
In
January,
1774,
he
took
his
seat
in
the
House
of
Lords.
In
November,
1779,
Lyttelton
went
into
Opposition.
On
Thursday,
25th
November,
he
denounced
Government
in
a
magnificent
speech.
As
to
a
sinecure
which
he
held,
he
said,
"Perhaps
I
shall
not
keep
it
long!"
Something
had
Happened!
On
the
night
before
his
speech,
that
of
Wednesday,
24th
November,
Lyttelton
had
seen
the
ghost,
and
had
been
told
that
he
would
die
in
three
days.
He
mentioned
this
to
Rowan
Hamilton
on
the
Friday.
{129a}
On
the
same
day,
or
on
Friday,
he
mentioned
it
to
Captain
Ascough,
who
told
a
lady,
who
told
Mrs.
Thrale.
{129b}
On
the
Friday
he
went
to
Epsom
with
friends,
and
mentioned
the
ghost
to
them,
among
others
to
Mr.
Fortescue.
{129c}
About
midnight
on
28th
November,
Lord
Lyttelton
died
suddenly
in
bed,
his
valet
having
left
him
for
a
moment
to
fetch
a
spoon
for
stirring
his
medicine.
The
cause
of
death
was
not
stated;
there
was
no
inquest.
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