catchers suspend nets to intercept the birds in their
evening and morning flights, and great numbers are taken in this
manner; the time when they suspend the nets, is called
roading-time; and thus, by applying the term, roading, to
disturbed and muttered sleep, they compare the dim, loose thoughts
of the half-dreaming patient, to the flight of the woodcocks,
wheeling their way through the gloomy and darkling woods. It has
been asserted that we never feel _surprise_ in our dreams; and
that we do not _reason_ on the subjects which they present to us.
This, from my own experience, I know to be a mistake. I once
dreamed, whilst residing with a friend in London, that on entering
his breakfast-room, the morning was uncommonly dark; but not very
much more so than sometimes occurs in a November fog, when, as
some one has said, the thick yellow air makes you think you are
walking through pease-soup, and the sun, when seen at all, looks
like the yolk of a poached egg floating on it. My friend was
seated alone by the table, resting his head thoughtfully on his
hand, when, looking towards me, with a very serious countenance,
he said--'Can you account for this darkness? There is no eclipse
stated in the almanack. Some change is taking place in our system.
Go to N----, (a philosophical neighbour, who lived within three
doors of our house,) and ask if he can explain it.' I certainly
felt much surprised at my friend's observations. I went to N----
's house--or, rather, I found myself in his room. He was walking
up and down the room in evident perplexity; and, turning to me,
said, 'This is very extraordinary! A change is taking place in our
system!--look at the barometer.'--I looked at the barometer, which
appeared to be hanging in its usual place in the room, and saw,
with great surprise, that the tube was without quicksilver; it had
fallen almost entirely down to the bulb. Certainly in this dream I
felt great _surprise_, and that the faculty of reason was not
suspended is apparent, nay, perhaps, it was quickened in this
instance, for I doubt, if I had really seen the praeternatural
darkness, whether I should so readily have thought of consulting
an almanack, or referring to a barometer; I should certainly have
gone to my friend N----, for I was in the frequent habit of
appealing to him on any s