821 A. In the following case, as in that of Mr. C. W. Moses, quoted in the text, some subliminal sense of smell may be conjectured. It is taken from the Proceedings S.P.R., vol. xi. p. 421.

23 St. Andrew's Drive, Pollokshields, Glasgow, March 31st, 1893.

Fifteen or sixteen years have elapsed since I had the following clairvoyant experience, but at the time I was much struck by it, and described it minutely to several of my friends, so that I feel sure I can remember the facts accurately. The circumstances were most prosaic, and I a matter-of-fact individual, with little interest and less faith in psychical phenomena. I was about eighteen years of age, at home for my winter holiday, but taking no interest in household matters, and I question whether on that particular evening I knew that it had been the washing-day.

I had gone upstairs to look for a missing knitting needle, and was returning to the parlour wondering whether I had dropped it there, when suddenly I was arrested by a strange feeling, and saw before me a vision of flames, and felt irresistibly impelled to go through a door at the end of the passage and down some steps into the kitchen. There all was quiet, and I came partially out of the trance-like state, and found myself thinking, "Why am I here? I'll go upstairs." But again I saw the fire, and felt I must go into the adjoining laundry. On opening the door, I was in no way surprised to see just such a scene as had during the preceding moments been distinctly before my mental vision. A jointed gas bracket had just fallen on to a dry heap of sheets and towels, which were blazing almost to the ceiling. With a little difficulty I extinguished the flames, and went to tell the rest of the household what had occurred. I remember I had a strange feeling in my head, as if I had just awakened out of an unnatural state.

No other person was near at the time, the washerwoman having gone home, and the servants being upstairs. Nor could I even unconsciously have smelled burning, as two doors were closed between, and the gas-pipe had evidently fallen only a few moments before I entered, or the flames would have spread further. The laundry was situated just under a wooden staircase in the middle of a very dry house, so if the fire had been undiscovered for even a few minutes the consequences must have been disastrous to the house.

Several members of the family remember the occurrence, and I have still an old servant of the family who distinctly remembers it. I have never had any recurrence of such a phenomenon, and was at the time much surprised that I should have been the subject of an experience so strange and so real.

M. H. Gray.

The gentleman who sends this case writes that he has received orally the confirmatory testimony of Jessie, the old servant, and encloses the corroborative statement of Mrs. Elizabeth White, stepmother of the percipient.

Mrs. Elizabeth White does not remember that she was told at the time of the fire part of the vision. She writes:-

My daughter, at home from school, not naturally domesticated, seldom went near the kitchen, which was shut off from the hall by a swing-door. On the night above mentioned she came into the parlour looking so pale and agitated being naturally nervous - that I at once asked what was the matter, and when she could speak she said, "Mamma, it is a wonder the house was not on fire," and then told of having the strong impression that she must go down to the laundry,' that there was fire. She had to go through two closed doors to get there, and was not aware that no one was in the laundry at the time. Her promptitude in stamping out the fire of the burning sheets no doubt saved the house, and accounted for her pallid look on returning to the parlour. This occurred about fifteen years ago. Elizabeth White.

Norwood, Thirm.