Everybody has a right to his own opinion on the matter.
Perhaps the prince and his army are no more upon the air on such a night than on any other; or that being so, they no more hastened their departure by reason of the bells than the eclipse does by reason of the beating of the Emperor of China's gongs.

But this I aver, whatever the cause, upon such nights of storm, the sensoria of some men are crossed by such wild variety and succession of images, as amounts very nearly to the Walpurgis of a fever.

It is not the mere noise--other noises won't do it.

The air, to be sure, is thin, and blood-vessels expand, and perhaps the brain is pressed upon unduly.

Well, I don't know.