§ 4. There is one interesting group of cases where the idea apparently impressed on the percipient has been simply that of the agent's approach. But here, again, great caution is necessary. Popular opinion is extremely apt to invest persentiments of this sort with a character to which they have no claim. Every day, probably, a large number of people have a more or less strong impression, for which they can assign no distinct reason, that some particular person is near them or is coming to see them. That with some people such an impression should prove correct often enough to be remarked on, is only what we should naturally expect; and it is probable that the impression, when apparently confirmed in this way, would look to memory more definite and confident than it had really been. When it is always about the same person that the impression is felt, there is more prima facie ground for supposing that it may be telepathic. But still the circumstances may make it quite unavailable as evidence.

For instance, Mr. Rowland Rowlands, of Brynce-thin, Bridgend, tells us that when he was manager of the Pen-y-graig Collieries, a man who was acting under him as foreman (since dead) had constantly to come to his house on business in the middle of the night.

"I was invariably aware of his coming, in dream, before he actually appeared, and would leave my bed and watch for him at the window. He himself noticed this, and told the other men that he never came but he found me at the window watching for him".

But those who are in the habit of being waked at night for a special purpose know the way in which the expectation will often haunt their dreams; and in the absence of more definite assurance that the man was never expected when he did not come, and that he never came unexpected, accident is the reasonable explanation of the coincidences. [Two other instances omitted here. - Ed.] We have, however, stronger cases, of which a couple may be worth quoting here. The first is remarkable from the extreme improbability of the visit; the second from the number of times in succession that the impression proved correct.

Miss M. E. Pritchard, of Tan-y-coed, Bangor, says: -

"January 30th, 1884.

(54) "One night, at 12 o'clock, I felt a conviction that a friend of ours, Mr. Jephson, was coming to see us very shortly. I mentioned it to my sister, who merely said it was very improbable, as he must be on his way to Canada, as such was his intention when we had last seen him.

" It was greatly to her astonishment when he actually arrived next morning at 9 a.m. When questioned as to the time of his arrival, we found it corresponded to the time of my remark, and, still more curious, he was then thinking of coming straight down to see us, but decided to wait till morning. This was in March, 1880, as far as I can remember".

In reply to inquiries, Miss Pritchard adds: -

"February 7th, 1884.

" In reply to your question as to whether any other previous impressions had not turned out true, I think, as far as I can remember, any deep impression I have ever had as to anyone calling has invariably been true".

The following corroboration is from Miss Pritchard's sister: -

"Tan-y-coed, February 8th, 1884. "I distinctly remember my sister telling me (at the time) of her impression that a friend was on his way to see us, which turned out to be the fact. - E. B. Pritchard".

[About the second case (No. 55) omitted here, Mr. Gurney says: - ]

Here real pains seem to have been taken to test the phenomenon fairly; but the case is rather remote, and it is very unfortunate that no notes were taken at the time. Some further specimens will be found in the Supplement; and parallel cases where there was an actual sensory impression of the person about to arrive will be found in Chapter XIV (Further Visual Cases Occurring To A Single Percipient)., § 7.