"The Steward had no publick Notice of any Harm approaching; but for three or four Days successively he had secret strange Impulses of Dread and Terror upon his Mind that the House was beset, and was to be assaulted by a Troop of Banditti, or as we call them here, House-breakers, who would murther them all, and after they had robb'd the House, would set it on Fire; and this follow'd him so fast, and made such Impression upon his Mind, that he could think of nothing else"
An Essay on the History and Reality of Apparitions
2 entries in ESTC (1727, 1728). For a publication history, see Rodney Baine's 1962 essay, "Daniel Defoe and 'The History and Reality of Apparitions.'" First edition, published by J. Roberts, appeared anonymously on March 18, 1727. Second issues were sold the same year by A. Millar. The 1735 edition, reissued in 1738 and 1740.<br>
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Text from <u>An Essay on the History and Reality of Apparitions: Being an Account of What They are, and What They are Not; Whence They Come, and Whence They Come Not.</u> (London: Printed: and sold by J. Roberts, 1727). &lt;<a href="http://name.umdl.umich.edu/004843878.0001.000">Link to ECCO-TCP</a>&gt;