The gaoler was greatly astonished at this, knowing the whole affair to be true just as he had stated, and had no recollection of ever having mentioned the circumstance to any person. Perhaps all this may be attempted to be explained away in some manner, or may be attributed merely to his imagination, or the hazard of an opinion; but it would be a coincidence not to be expected, and very unlikely to happen. Besides, he often hit upon a development of facts, which could not be accounted for, but upon the supposition of some mysterious knowledge of things beyond the reach of common conception, as the following particulars will fully testify:
The next morning, Aug. 13, he told me his own fortune out of his tea-cup. After looking into the cup for some time, he kissed it, and told the gaoler he was going away from this place, that he was going over the water, and must have a box to put his family in; that he saw three papers that were written and sent about him, and that one of them was larger than the other two, and contained something for him that he did not understand, but he would soon know.
The next morning, Aug. 14th, he looked in his cup again, and told the gaoler that these papers were on their way coming, and would be here this day at 4 o’clock, and he would soon know what they contained about him. Accordingly I received papers from Fredericton, containing his pardon, and two letters just as he had predicted!!
In addition to this, the following must be regarded as a very singular and remarkable prediction, which, independently of some unknown mysterious means, cannot be accounted for. Early in the morning he remarked to the gaoler in his usual manner:
“This man over the way has a son who has gone to sea, and is at sea now; but he will be here this night, and you shall see that I will affront him.” Now mark the sequel. It so happened that a fresh breeze springing up to the southward, with a strong flood tide, the vessel which contained the young man was alongside in the dock in St. John, on the same day about two o’clock. He was then and there informed that one of his sisters lay dangerously ill at Kingston, and that Dr. Smith was just going up to visit her. The young man hired a horse, and in company with the doctor, arrived at his father’s about the time that we usually visited the prisoner in the evening.