induced to have recourse to the beautiful, though almost forgotten,
theory of astral spirits, or creatures of the elements, surpassing
human beings in knowledge and power, but inferior to them, as being
subject, after a certain space of years, to a death which is to them
annihilation, as they have no share in the promise made to the sons of
Adam. These spirits are supposed to be of four distinct kinds, as the
elements from which they have their origin, and are known, to those
who have studied the cabalistical philosophy, by the names of Sylphs,
Gnomes, Salamanders, and Naiads, as they belong to the elements of
Air, Earth, Fire, or Water. The general reader will find an
entertaining account of these elementary spirits in the French book
entitled, "Entretiens de Compte du Gabalis." The ingenious Compte de
la Motte Fouqu? composed, in German, one of the most successful
productions of his fertile brain, where a beautiful and even
afflicting effect is produced by the introduction of a water-nymph,
who loses the privilege of immortality by consenting to become
accessible to human feelings, and uniting her lot with that of a
mortal, who treats her with ingratitude.

In imitation of an example so successful, the White Lady of Avenel
was introduced into the following sheets. She is represented as
connected with the family of Avenel by one of those mystic ties,
which, in ancient times, were supposed to exist, in certain
circumstances, between the creatures of the elements and the
children of men. Such instances of mysterious union are recognized
in Ireland, in the real Milosian families, who are possessed of a
Banshie; and they are known among the traditions of the Highlands,
which, in many cases, attached an immortal being or spirit to the
service of particular families or tribes. These demons, if they are
to be called so, announced good or evil fortune to the families