To the disgrace of this enlightened age, a belief in the appearance of ghosts and apparitions still seems to exist in the mind, and exert its baneful influence over the actions of a considerable part of the community. Within the last few days a family that resided in the New-works [Newarke] in this town, has actually quitted its habitation on this account. The person from whom we received the following particulars, informs us that this is not the first time the neighbourhood has been disturbed by the presence of a ghost. About forty years since, a person of the name of Stevens, who held an office in the Spiritual Court, died in the house. On some account this man had rendered himself obnoxious, and even a terror to numbers around him, and, according ancient usage amongst the ignorant and superstitious, he was said to come again.
To such a height did this infatuation arise, that nothing would suffice, but the Parson must come and lay the ghost. At this important ceremony a most unfortunate mistake seems to have been made, for instead of laying the ghost in the Red Sea, as the canons prescribe, this formidable personage was laid in an old tub at one corner of the cellar, which was walled in to prevent all ingress, egress, and regress.
A few weeks since, in making some alteration in the house the aforesaid wall was taken down, when behold! Mr Ghost made his escape, and without ceremony began his old pranks of clapping the doors, letting off guns, making dreadful noises, and performing every other antic ascribed to this order of beings, when
“— Goes the goblin story round; Till superstitious horror creeps o’er all.”
We have not been informed whether the noises have ceased since this creature of the imagination has been left in undisturbed possession, but shall probably have occasion to notice the circumstance again in a future paper.
Leicester Chronicle, 11th November 1815.