it was the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and
seventy-five.  spiritual revelations were conceded to england at
that favoured period, as at this.  mrs. southcott had recently
attained her five-and-twentieth blessed birthday, of whom a
prophetic private in the life guards had heralded the sublime
appearance by announcing that arrangements were made for the
swallowing up of london and westminster.  even the cock-lane
ghost had been laid only a round dozen of years, after rapping
out its messages
