 new Friends and Associates.
Now
Harry
was become a Favourite, especially among the Servants who, in a manner; adored him, since the Adventure of the Box and the Hobgoblin.
Hobgoblin. --In good Time --Nothing amazes me, so much, as the terrifying Apprehensions that the World, from the Beginning, has universally entertained of Ghosts and Spectres.
Do you fear them?
No --I can't say --not much --something of this formerly. I should not like, even now, to lie alone, in a remote Chamber of a ruinous Castle said to be haunted, and have my Curtains, at Midnight, opened suddenly upon me by a Death's-head and Bloody-bones. All Nonsense, I know it; the early Prejudices of a dastardly Fancy --I fear, while I am convinced there is nothing to be feared. --Do you think there is any such Thing in Nature as a Spirit?
I know not that there is any such Thing, in Nature, as Matter.
Not know there is any such Thing as Matter? --You love to puzzle --to throw lets into the Road of common Sense. --What else do you know? from what else can you form any kind of Idea?
The Room is warm enough, more Heat is needless. --I know that Thoughts and Conceptions are raised in my Mind; but, how they are raised, or that they are adequate Images of Things supposed to be represented, I know not. What if this Something, or this Nothing, called Matter, should be a Shadow, a Vacuum, in respect of Spirit, wholely resistless to it and pervadeable by it? Or, what if it be no other than a various Manifestation of the several good and evil Qualities of Spirit? If one infinite Spirit, as is said, fills the Universe, all other Existence must be but as the Space wherein he essentially abides and exists; indeed, they could not be produced, or continued for a Moment, but by his existing omnipotently, indivisibly, entirely, in and throughout every Part.
This is new, very new --but I will not batter my Brains against your Castle. --According to your Thesis, when a Man is apprehensive of a Spirit or Spectre, it is not of Shadows but of Substances that he is afraid.
Certainly; his principal Apprehension arises from his believing it more sufficient, more powerful, and more formidable than himself.
Excuse me, there are more tremendous Reasons. On the
