A Journey from this World to the Next | Page 6

for
the coachman, who was a very thin piece of immaterial substance, he
had the honor while alive of driving the Great Peter, or Peter the Great,
in whose service his soul, as well as body, was almost starved to death.
Such was the vehicle in which I set out, and now, those who are not
willing to travel on with me may, if they please, stop here; those who
are, must proceed to the subsequent chapters, in which this journey is
continued.
CHAPTER II
In which the author first refutes some idle opinions concerning spirits,
and then the passengers relate their several deaths.
It is the common opinion that spirits, like owls, can see in the dark; nay,

and can then most easily be perceived by others. For which reason,
many persons of good understanding, to prevent being terrified with
such objects, usually keep a candle burning by them, that the light may
prevent their seeing. Mr. Locke, in direct opposition to this, hath not
doubted to assert that you may see a spirit in open daylight full as well
as in the darkest night.
It was very dark when we set out from the inn, nor could we see any
more than if every soul of us had been alive. We had traveled a good
way before any one offered to open his mouth; indeed, most of the
company were fast asleep,[4] but, as I could not close my own eyes,
and perceived the spirit who sat opposite to me to be likewise awake, I
began to make overtures of conversation, by complaining HOW DARK
IT WAS. "And extremely cold too," answered my fellow traveler;
"though, I thank God, as I have no body, I feel no inconvenience from
it: but you will believe, sir, that this frosty air must seem very sharp to
one just issued forth out of an oven; for such was the inflamed
habitation I am lately departed from." "How did you come to your end,
sir?" said I. "I was murdered, sir," answered the gentleman. "I am
surprised then," replied I, "that you did not divert yourself by walking
up and down and playing some merry tricks with the murderer." "Oh,
sir," returned he, "I had not that privilege, I was lawfully put to death.
In short, a physician set me on fire, by giving me medicines to throw
out my distemper. I died of a hot regimen, as they call it, in the
small-pox."
[4] Those who have read of the gods sleeping in Homer will not be
surprised at this happening to spirits.
One of the spirits at that word started up and cried out, "The small-pox!
bless me! I hope I am not in company with that distemper, which I have
all my life with such caution avoided, and have so happily escaped
hitherto!" This fright set all the passengers who were awake into a loud
laughter; and the gentleman, recollecting himself, with some confusion,
and not without blushing, asked pardon, crying, "I protest I dreamed
that I was alive." "Perhaps, sir," said I, "you died of that distemper,
which therefore made so strong an impression on you." "No, sir,"

answered he, "I never had it in my life; but the continual and dreadful
apprehension it kept me so long under cannot, I see, be so immediately
eradicated. You must know, sir, I avoided coming to London for thirty
years together, for fear of the small-pox, till the most urgent business
brought me thither about five days ago. I was so dreadfully afraid of
this disease that I refused the second night of my arrival to sup with a
friend whose wife had recovered of it several months before, and the
same evening got a surfeit by eating too many muscles, which brought
me into this good company."
"I will lay a wager," cried the spirit who sat next him, "there is not one
in the coach able to guess my distemper." I desired the favor of him to
acquaint us with it, if it was so uncommon. "Why, sir," said he, "I died
of honor."-- "Of honor, sir!" repeated I, with some surprise. "Yes, sir,"
answered the spirit, "of honor, for I was killed in a duel."
"For my part," said a fair spirit, "I was inoculated last summer, and had
the good fortune to escape with a very few marks on my face. I
esteemed myself now perfectly happy, as I imagined I had no restraint
to a full enjoyment of the diversions of the town; but within a few days
after my coming up I caught cold by overdancing myself at a ball, and
last night died of a violent fever."
After a short silence which now ensued, the fair spirit who spoke last, it
being now daylight, addressed