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21 THE PHILOSOPHY OF DREAMS.

Dr Cantor delivered a lecture a short time since the course of which be mentioned some curious circumstances respecting dreams. He said that the succession of ideas, which had passed through our mind when awake were remembered and recalled during sleep, and that what was called dreaming. Dreams really took place when the circulation of the blood was impeded. Our memory was much more distinct and strong when we dreamed than when we were awake. It was because when we were asleep, the association of the ideas went on without being disturbed or counteracted, and there was no controlling power over it. He would say, a few words about the most extraordinary of all classes of dreams, namely, prophetic dreams, in which the future is revealed to the dreamer. They were all acquainted with the facts connected with the death of Mr Percivil, the Prime Minister. When that statesman was still alive, a gentleman in the country of the name of Williams, dreamed that he was standing is the lobby of the House of Commons, and saw Mr Perceval enter, and instantly man levelled a pistol at him. Mr Williams told his wife, who thought little of it, and his friends called him a fanatic. A week after, however, the news arrived that Mr Perceval had been murdered in the very same way the gentleman had dreamed. A very remarkable instance had ocurred to the late Sir John Stuart.