THE LIVING AND THE DEAD. 637 



which will be almost immediately. So question not I shall subdue 

 your forebodings as speedily as your tooth-ache. God in heaven 

 bless you ! 



" I had thrown my dream into doggrel after I awoke, and as it will 

 save the time of telling, I inclose it. Pray don't consider it a speci- 

 men of my muse. I shall be with you shortly after the time you have 

 conned it over. It is worth two of your's ; for you'll see I dreamt that 

 you told me you had dreamed a dream, and that I told you of my 

 having dreamt one, too. God for ever bless you ! 



" I dreamt I was a little bird 

 Up-springing to the sky, 

 With anxious haste, as on I whirl'd, 

 Thy presence to be nigh. 



" I dreamt I lit on that dear tree 



Which near thy casement grows, 

 And that I sang a song to thee 

 Warning impending woes.' 



" I dreamt thou cam'st in haste, and threw'st 



The casement open wide, 

 And said'st that, thro' a dream, thou knew'st 

 That evil would betide. 



" I dreamt I said, that I too dream'd 



A dream resembling thine, 

 In which some threaten'd evil seem'd 

 To blend thy fate with mine. 



" I dreamt I flew upon the sill 



At thine own sweet command, 



And lost all thought of coming ill 



While perch'd upon thy hand. 



" I dreamt while thus in bliss entranced 



Thou gav'st me crumbs of bread, 

 And while I peck'd HE quick advanced 

 And shot thy poor bird dead !" 



This remarkable dream, shadowing out, as it were, the fatal catas- 

 trophe which took place in the course of the day, was considered not 

 the least singular feature in the development of this extraordinary 

 case. 



Among Mrs. Ashe's papers were also a great many other notes, let- 

 ters, and poems, addressed to her by Clinton, forming the data upon 

 which this hasty and imperfect sketch has been drawn. In the packet 

 containing his vindication was found the portrait of Caroline de la 

 Warre, which it is surprising he had never requested to have returned 

 to him. The incredible exactness of its resemblance to Mrs. Ashe 

 filled every one with astonishment; and, in connection with all the 

 concurrent circumstances of the case, went far to palliate the conduct 

 of both in the minds of even the most fastidious in moral pro- 

 priety ; while many, from a consideration of all the facts that were 

 ascertained, and the inferences to be derived from them, were inclined 

 to regard the whole affair as the result of a particular over-ruling 



