… Talking of graves reminds us of a foolish ghost story, which has lately attracted some notice, to say nothing of the curiosity engendered by anything pertaining to the marvellous. It was reported that the house of one Alleyne, who was some time back hung for murder, was haunted, and that the furniture therein had, at sundry times, thought proper to make divers harlequinades. The police were sent up, and on a polite hint, that if the “wanderer of the night” did not keep himself or herself still, he or she would be taken up, the spirit beat a retreat. It is rather late in the day, to come Cock Lane ghosts, over us.
Barbadian, 12th November 1856.