METHOUGHT I was seated one summer 

 evening of the year 2085, in St. James' 

 Hall, Piccadilly. It was filled with a vast 

 assemblage of people, amongst whom I 

 recognised celebrities who had long passed 

 away, as well as many who were still in 

 the land of the living. 



Suddenly the green curtain was drawn 

 up, when I beheld in the middle of the 

 stage a table, on which was placed a large 

 charger, or dish, containing a skull, very 

 like one seen at the Polytechnic Exhibition 

 some years ago, when Professor Pepper 

 appeared to make the head minus its trunk 

 talk in the usual way. 



An undefined sensation ran through the 

 assembly ; loud exclamations of surprise 

 were uttered on all sides, in the midst of 

 B 2 



