D ESSAYS, AND SKETCHES, BY THE LATE ROBERT MACNISH, LL.D. AUTHOR OF THE ANATOMY OF DRUNKENNESS, THE PHILOSOPHY OF DREAMS, HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. MDCCCXLIV. TALES, SKETCHES, &c. THE METEMPSYCHOSIS. CHAPTER I. A SLIGHT shudder came over me as I was entering the inner-court of the College of Gottingen. It was, however, but momentary; and on recovering from it, I felt both taller, and heavier, and altogether more vigorous than the instant before. Being rather nervous, I did not much mind these feelings, imputing them to some sudden determination to the brain, or some unusual beating about the heart, which had assailed me suddenly, and as suddenly left me. On proceeding, I met a student coming in the opposite direction. I had never seen him before, but as he passed me by, he nodded familiarly-" There is a fine day, Wolstang."- "What does this fellow mean?" said I to myself. "He speaks to me with as much ease as if I had been his intimate acquaintance. And he calls me Wolstang-a person to whom I bear no more resemblance than to the man in the moon." I looked af ter him for some time, pondering whether I should |