gancies, in point of inftitutional popularity, it had, in part, its origin from Nature.

When men confidered the wonderful migration of birds, how they difappeared at once, and appeared again at ftated times, and could give no guefs where they went, it was almoft natural to fuppofe, that they retired fomewhere out of the fphere of this earth, and perhaps approached the ethereal regions, where they might be in the fame atmosphere with the gods, and thence be able to predict future

events.

Bifhop Stillingfleet, in his Calendar of Hora, urges the natural propenfity of an ignorant people to imagine this, at leaft to believe it, as foon as fome adventurous genius had the impudent temerity to affert it. Add to this, that the difpofition in fome birds to imitate the human voice, muft contribute much to the confirmation of fuch a doctrine.

This inftitution of Augury feems to have been much more ancient than that of Arufpicy; for we find many inftances of the former in Homer, but not a fingle one of the latter, though frequent mention is made of facrifices in that Poet.

From the whole of what has been obferved, it seems probable, that natural Augury gave rife to religious Augury, and this to Arufpicy, as the mind of man makes a very easy tranfition from a little truth to a great deal of error.

A paffage in Ariftophanes gave the int for thefe obfervations. In the comedy of the Birds, he makes one of them fay this" The greatest bleflings

which can happen to you mortals, are derived from us; firft, we fhew you the feafons, viz. Spring, Summer, Winter, Autumn. The Crane points out the time for fowing, when she flies with her warning notes into Egypt; the bids the failor hang up his rudder, and take his reft, and every prudent man provide himself with winter garments. Next, the Kite appearing, proclaims another feason, which indicates the time to fhear his sheep. After that, the Swallow informs you, whether it is time to put on fummer cloaths. We are, to you, adds the Chorus, Ammon, Dodona, and Apollo; for, after confulting us, you undertake every thing-merchandize, marriage, purchafe; every thing that occupies your attention, is performed after our fignals, &c." Now, it feems not at all improbable, that the fame tranfition was made in the fpeculations of men, which appears in the Poet's words; and that they were eafily induced to think, that the furprifing forefight of birds, as to the time of migration, indicated fomething of a divine nature in them; which opinion Virgil, as an epicurean, could not adopt; therefore enters his protest in form, in the Eneid.

A NEAPOLITAN ASTROLOGER.

THOMAS CAMPANELLA was a native of Stilo in Calabría, and at a very early age became a Dominican. His tafte for fingularity induced him to oppofe in a public difpute, a metaphyfical fyllogift, who out of envy upon being overcome by a youth, infidiously accufed him to the ftate of confpiring against the kingdom of Naples. This affair became ferious, and he in confequence bore twenty-feven years im prifonment; during which he fuffered the question ordinary and extraordinary feven times, and did not obtain his liberty but at the interceffion of Pope Urban VIII. after which he came to Paris, where he was protected by Cardinal Richlieu and Lewis XIII. and died there in 1639, aged 71 years. During the time of his imprifonment he tranflated Ptolemy's Mathematics from the Greek, and compofed his Aftrological Predictions and Judgment on Nativities, agreeable to the doctrine of Ptolemy, in Latin. This work, which is not known in English, is much celebrated in France, and has been tranflated into French, by the Abbé Defchamps, in 3 vols. 8vo. and we have reafon to give hopes of a tranflation from the original into English in a fhort time. His other works are merely polemical, and entirely in the difputative ftile of the age he lived in. His Atheifmus Triumphatus gained him moft notice, and the minifters of ftate conftantly confulted him upon the affairs of Italy.

A FRENCH ASTROLOGER.

JOHN BAPTIST MORINUS, a celebrated French aftrologer often mentioned by English writers, was a native of Villa Franca, and received his diploma for the practice of phyfic at VOL. I.

Avignon in the Pope's territories, in 1614. His ardent defire to understand the progrefs and fecret laws of nature led him into many dangers, many of which had nearly proved fatal: while he was in Hungary he met with a peafant, who like our countryman Jedediah Buxton, had made great progrefs in numerical calculations without knowing how to make a figure, and applying thefe calculations to the revolutions of the planets and figns, infpired Morinus with fuch a taste for aftrological calculations, that upon his return to Paris he gave himself entirely up to the fydereal art. Accordingly in 1617, finding by his calculations that his friend and neighbour the Bishop of Boulogne would foon be imprisoned, he went and informed him; but that prelate, though an artist also, laughed at his prediction: the event however proved the truth of Morinus's art in a fhort time. The Duke of Luxemburgh, brother to the Conftable De Luines, took him under his protection, where he remained for near nine years, but foretelling to that nobleman a fever which threatened him within two years time, he was difcarded, and the Duke died within the time predicted. Cardinal Mazarine confulted him, and Cardinal Richlieu granted him a penfion of two thoufand livres, and procured him the mathematical chair in the Royal College. Count De Chavigny, fecretary of state, regulated all his notions by Morinus's advice, who at that time gained great credit by foretelling the death of the great Guftavus Adolphus; and whose daughter, the famous Chriftina, notwithstanding her wit, was a great admirer and benefactress of his. Upon fight of a portrait of the famous Cinq Mars, before he knew who he was, he declared he would lofe his head. Within fixteen days time he hit the event of the Conftable Lesdiguier's. death; and in fix, that of Lewis XIII. He was the most confiderable R writer

The

All

130 writer upon mathematical fubjects in his time, as his difputes with Gaffendus upon the fubject of the Copernican Syftem teflify. Cardinal Richelieu was his friend to his death, which happened in 1656, aged 73 years. his works, which moftly confift of fimall curious tracts, are very rare: His principal piece is his Aftrologia Gallica in Latin, 4to. Paris 1657, which is but little known in England; however, Lilly, Gadbury, and their numerous followers, have very much availed themselves of his fydereal labours.

AN ENGLISH ALMANACK MAKER.

JOHN PARTRIDGE was born, as he informs us, at Eaft-Sheen in Surry, in 1644. He was exceedingly illiterate. Mr. Aubrey fays, when he had learned to read and a little to write he was bound apprentice to a fhoe-maker, and when he was eighteen years old he procured a Lilly's Grammar, a Gouldman's Dictionary, Ovid, and a Latin Bible; and by the help of these he acquired Latin enough to read the works of aftrological authors in that language. He ftudied Greek and Hebrew, and alfo phyfic, but still followed fhoemaking in Covent-Garden, in 1680. His almanacks are still continued to this day, now more than a century from their firft publication. As Partridge was fo unfortunate as to be the butt of a celebrated wit in the reign of Queen Anne, the ridiculous part of his character, or rather the ridicule thrown upon it, will be remembered when the rest of his fonal hiftory is forgotten. Died June 1715. He was author of The Black Life of John Gadbury, for it is obfervable that almoft all noted aftrologers fpeak of each other as rogues and impoftors. His principal works, the Opus Reformatum and Defectio Geniturarum, though rather controverfial, fhew him to have been a greater artift than any of his predeceffors: in both

per

thefe pieces he follows closely the Latin works of Placidus and Campanella, two authors of more merit than

fame.

A CELEBRATED MYSTIC.

EMANUEL SWEDENBORG, a celebrated myftic writer, was born at Stockholm, January 29, 1689. In 1710, he began his travels, firit into England, and afterwards into Holland, France and Germany, and returned home in 1714. He frequently converfed with Charles XII. of Sweden, who appointed him to the office of affeffor in the Metalic College, in 1716, which place he refigned in 1747, but ftill retained the falary annexed to it as an appointment for life. His writings having made much noife in the fpeculative world, we fhall refer the inquifitive reader to them, difmiffing the article with his own words: "The Lord himself hath called me: who was graciously pleafed to manifeft himfelf to me his unworthy fervant, in a perfonal appearance, in the year 1743; to open in me a fight of the fpiritual world; and to enable me to converle with fpirits and angels; and this privilege has continued with me to this day. From that time, I began to print and publifh various unknown arcana, that have been either feen by me, or revealed to me, concerning heaven and hell, the ftate of men after death, the fpiritual fenfe of the fcriptures, and many other important truths, tending to faivation and true wifdom; and that mankind might receive benefit from thefe communications, was the only motive which has induced me, at different times, to leave my home to visit other countries. As to this world's wealth, I have what is fufficient, and more I neither feek nor with for." His Regnum Minerale, was printed at Leipfic in 3 vols. folio, 1734.

APPA

THE APPEARANCE OF THE DUTCHESS OF MAZARINE.

(Concluded from Page 105.)

IN one of the serious confultations they had together on this head, it was agreed between them, that on which ever of them the lot fhould fall to be firft called from this world, fhe fhould return, if there was a poffibility of doing fo, and give the other an account in what manner she was difpofed of. This promise it seems was often repeated, and the Dutchefs happening to fall fick, and her life defpaired of by all about her, Madam de Beauclair reminded her of what the expected from her; to which her Grace replied, fhe might depend upon her performance. Thefe words paffed between them not above an hour before the diffolution of that great lady, and were spoken, before feveral perfons who were in the room, but at that time they were far from comprehending the meaning of what they heard.

Some years after the Dutchefs's deceafe, happening, in a vifit I made to Madam de Beauclair, to fall on the topic of futurity, fhe expreffed her difbelief of it with a great deal of warmth, which a little surprised me, as being of a quite contrary way of thinking myfelf, and had always, by the religion fhe profeffed, fuppofed her highly fo. I took the liberty of offering fome arguments, which I imagined would have been convincing to prove the reasonable. nefs of depending on a life to come: To which the answered, that not all that the whole world could fay fhould ever persuade her to that opinion; and then related to me the contract made between her and her dear departed friend the Dutchefs of Mazarine.

It was in vain I urged the ftrong probability there was that fouls in another world might not be permitted to perform the engagements they had entered into in this, especially, when they

were of a nature, repugnant to the divine will. But nothing I could fay made the leaft impreffion; and I found to my great concern, that she was become as great an advocate for the new doctrine of non-existence after death, as any of those who firit propofed it; on which, from that time forward, I avoided all difcourfe with her on that head.

It was not however many months after we had this converfation, that I happened to be at the houfe of a perfon of condition, whom, fince the death of the Dutchefs of Mazarine, Madain de Beauclair had the greatest intimacy with of any of her acquaintance. We were juft fat down to cards about nine o'clock in the evening, as near as I can remember, when a fervant came haftily into the room, and acquainted the lady I was with, that Madam de Beauclair had fent to intreat fhe would come that moment to her; adding, that if she ever defired to fee her more in this world, fhe muft not delay her visit.

So odd a meffage might very well furprise the perfon to whom it was' delivered; and not knowing what to think of it, fhe afked, Who brought it? And being told it was Madam de Beauclair's groom of the chamber, ordered he fhould come in, and demanded of him, if his lady were well, or if he knew of any thing extraordinary that had happened to her which fhould occafion this hafty fummons ? To which he answered, that he was intirely incapable of telling her the meaning; only as to his lady's health, he never faw nor heard his lady complain of the leaft indifpofition.

"Well then," said the lady, (a little out of humour)" I defire you'll make my excufe, as I have really a great cold, and am fearful the night air may increafe it, but to-morrow I will not fail to wait on her very early in the morning."

The man being gone, we were be-
R_2

gin

ginning to form feveral conjectures on this meffage of Madam de Beauclair, but before we had time to agree on what might be the moft feasible occafion, he returned again, and with him Mrs. Ward, her woman, both feemingly very much confufed and out of breath. "O, madam," cried fhe," my lady expreffes an infinite concern that you fhould refufe this requelt, which fhe fays will be her laft. She fays that he is convinced of her not being in a condition to receive your vifit tomorrow; but as a token of her friendfhip, bequeaths you this little caiket containing her watch, necklace, and fome jewels, which fhe defires you will wear in remembrance of her.

These words were accompanied with the delivery of the legacy fhe mentioned, and that, as well as Mrs. Ward's words, threw us both into a confternation we were not able to exprefs. The lady would fain have entered into fome difcourfe with Mrs. Ward concerning the affair; but the evaded it by faying, fhe had only left an under-maid with Madam de Beauclair, and muft return immediately; on which the la dy cried, all at once, "I will go with you; there must be fomething very uncommon certainly in this." I offered to attend her, being, as well I might, defirous of getting fome light into what at prefent appeared fo myfterious.

In fine, we went that inftant, but as no mention was made of me, nor Madam de Beauclair might not probably be informed I was with the lady when her fervant came; good manners and de ency obliged me to wait in a lower apartment, unless fhe gave leave for my admittance.

She was however no fooner informed I was there, than fhe defired I would come up. I did fo, and found her fitting in an eafy chair near her bed fide, and in my eyes, as well as all thofe prefent, feemed in as perfect health as ever he had been.

On our enquiring if fhe felt any inward diforder which fhould give room or the melancholy apprehenfions her

meffage teftified, fhe replied in the negative; yet, faid fhe, with a little figh, you will foon, very foon, behold me pafs from this world into that eternity which I once doubted, but am now affured of.

As the fpoke thefe laft words, fhe looked full in my face, as it were to remind me of the converfation we frequently had held together on that fubject.

I told her, I was heartily glad to find fo great a change in her ladyfhip's fentiments; but that I hoped the had no reafon to imagine the conviction would be fatal: which fhe only anfwered with a gloomy fmile; and a clergyman of her own perfuafion whom fhe had fent for, that moment coming in, we all quitted the room, to leave him at liberty to exercise his function.

It exceeded not half an hour before we were called in again, and fhe appeared, after having difburthened her confcience, to be more chearful than before; her eyes, which were as piercing as poffible, fparkled with uncommon vivacity; and he told us, fhe fhould die with the more fatisfaction, as fhe enjoyed, in her last moments, the prefence of two perfons the moft agreeable to her in this world, and in the next would be fure of enjoying the fociety of one, who, in life, had been the dearest to her.

We were both beginning to diffuade her from giving way to thoughts which there feemed not the leaft probability of being verified; when he put a stop to what we were about to urge, by faying" Talk no more of that,-my time is fhort, and I would not have the fmall space allowed me to be with you walled in vain delufion.-Know,” continued fhe, "I have feen my dear Dutchefs of Mazarine. I perceived not how he entered, but turning my eyes towards yonder corner of the room I faw her ftand in the fame form and habit fhe was accustomed to appear in when living;-fain would I have fpoke, but had not the power of utterance; fhe took a little circuit round the cham

ber,