We must, however, remember—first, that the percipient was obviously a lady of great courage, or she would not have followed her ghost into the garden; secondly, that she was a keen observer and very accurate in details. Probably, many generations of schoolboys, passing through her hands, may have quickened her perceptions in both these ways.
As for the stilted style, that presents little difficulty, when one remembers that people of a certain rank in life never use a short word when a long one will answer the purpose!
I claim nothing for the story, beyond the points already mentioned. These are matters of fact.
Each one must interpret it according to his own views and prejudices.
It is quite enough for me to be responsible for the truth and accuracy of my own experiences, to which we will now return.
Note.—Since writing the above I have consulted the "Century Encyclopædia," and find there:
"Oglethorpe—James Edward, born in London, December 21st, 1696, died at Cranham Hall, Essex, England, 1785. An English General and Philanthropist. He projected the Colony of Georgia for insolvent debtors, and persecuted Protestants; conducted the expedition for its settlement, 1733, and returned to England, 1743."
The apparent discrepancy between the date 1733 given in the Encyclopædia, and the 1738 of Captain Carbury's ghostly narrative, may be due to one of two causes:
The young girl copying Miss Porter's letter may have mistaken a three for an eight rather easily.