In the curious and scarce Life and Adventures of Joseph Balsamo, commonly called Count Cagliostro, translated from the Italian, and published in London in 1791, copies are given of certain strange papers found in his possession, concerning which he was examined by the Inquisition during his imprisonment. In one of these documents there is unquestionable reference to De Loutherbourg, though the painter's name is not given at length, and appears surrounded by the jargon of Cagliostro's so-called system of Egyptian freemasonry, of which it is not possible to render any satisfactory interpretation. We extract from the paper the following:—
'On the twentieth day of the eighth month—
'The Grand Master being employed in his operations, after the usual ceremonies, the Pupil, before seeing the angel, said, "I find myself in a dark room.
'"I see a golden sword suspended over my head.
'"I perceive Louth—g arrive.
'"He opens his breast and shows a wound in his heart; he holds out a poniard to me."
'Grand Master. "Is he employed in the service of the Grand Cophte?"
'Pupil. "Yes."
'G. M. "What else do you see?"
'P. "I see a star.