George Fox, the pioneer Quaker, had this faculty well developed, and
numerous instances of its manifestation by him are recorded. For instance,
he foretold the death of Cromwell, when he met him riding at Hampton
Court; he said that he felt "a waft of death" around and about Cromwell;
and Cromwell died shortly afterwards. Fox also publicly foretold the
dissolution of the Rump Parliament of England; the restoration of Charles
II; and the Great Fire of London--these are historical facts, remember.
For that matter, history contains many instances of this kind: the
prophecy of Caesar's death, and its further prevision by his wife, for
instance. The Bible prophecies and predictions, major and minor, give us
semi-historical instances.

A celebrated historical instance of remarkable second-sight and prevision,
is that of Cazotte, whose wonderful prediction and its literal fulfilment
are matters of French history. Dumas has woven the fact into one of his
stories, in a dramatic manner--but even so he does not make the tale any
more wonderful than the bare facts. Here is the recital of the case by La
Harpe, the French writer, who was a personal witness of the occurrence,
and whose testimony was corroborated by many others who were present at
the time. La Harpe says:

"It appears as but yesterday, and yet, nevertheless, it was at the
beginning of the year 1788. We were dining with one of our brethren at the
Academy--a man of considerable wealth and genius. The conversation became
serious; much admiration was expressed on the revolution in thought which
Voltaire had effected, and it was agreed that it was his first claim to
the reputation he enjoyed. We concluded that the revolution must soon be
consummated; that it was indispensible that superstition and fanaticism
should give way to philosophy, and we began to calculate the probability
of the period when this should be, and which of the present company should
live to see it. The oldest complained that they could scarcely flatter
themselves with the hope; the younger rejoiced that they might entertain
this very probable expectation; and they congratulated the Academy
especially for having prepared this great work, and for having been the
rallying point, the centre, and the prime mover of the liberty of thought.

"One only of the guests had not taken part in all the joyousness of this
conversation, and had even gently and cheerfully checked our splendid
enthusiasm. This was Caz