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PRELIMINARY

Superiority of Man.

OBSERVATION.

Man is faid to rank first of all created things in the world; which may be proved in the following manner. That must be accounted beft, the caufe of whose generation is beft; which is the cafe in respect to man, confequently he must be fuperior to all other beings exifting in the world. The major propofition is evident, as the effect is allowed to derive an excellence from the caufe-The minor is proved from the component matter of man. For the material part of man is a compound of the female menftruum, and the male fperma. Some indeed contend, that the menftruum is the matter, and the fperma the effect; the latter being to the former, as the workman to the materials. Be that as it may, the

fperma of man claims a decided fuperiority over that of all other creatures. Secondly, it may be proved thus; that is best whofe parts bear a refemblance to the nobleft work, which may be truly faid of man; for he resembles the Zodiac, inafmuch as his members correfpond with its figns; three of which are warm, namely Aries, Gemini, and Leo; the three parts of man correfpondent thereto, are the heart, liver, and genitals. Three figns are cold, viz. Cancer, Taurus, and Firgo, to which are-affimilated the inteftines, the bladder, and the diaphragm. Three are humid, Scorpio, Aquarius, and Pifces, as are the brain, ftomach, and lungs in man. Three are dry, Capricorn, Sagittarius, and Libra; as are the spleen, gall, and reins.

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PHILOSOPHICAL AND INGENIOUS AMUSEMENTS.

RULES TO BE OBSERVED IN PLAYING THE GAMES OF CRIBBAGE.

By Anthony Pafquin Efq.

A DEALER may fhew every card he has, if he thinks proper, in dealing. If a dealer fhews any of his adverfary's cards in dealing, his adverfary fhall be entitled to mark two points, and have liberty to call a fresh deal or not, as he fhall think proper.

If the dealer gives his adverfary any number of cards more than his due, the non-dealer fhall mark two points, and have liberty to call a new deal, provided he discovers fuch mistake before he takes the cards off the table into his

hand.

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fresh deal or not, as he thinks proper; if he does not choofe a new deal, he fhall have liberty to draw the extra cards out of the dealer's hand.

If a dealer is caught with more cards than his due, after being taken off the table into his hand, his adversary fhall mark four points, and call a fresh deal.

No perfon fhall have liberty to fhuffle, or even touch the cards, from the time the cards are dealt, to the time they are to be cut for the turn-up card, under penalty of two points to be marked to his adversary.

If any perfon takes more points than he has a right to, either in playing the cards or marking his hand or crib, his adverfary may first put him back as many points as he has over-marked, and has then a right to fcore fo many points. towards his own game.

No perfon fhall prefume to touch either of his own pegs, except when he is entitled to mark fomething, without forfeiting two points to his adverfary.

If any perfon by accident puts any of the pegs out of their proper places, it fhall be left to the judgment of fome

perfon

Deceptions at Cribbage.

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If any person takes out his front peg, he muft put the fame into the board behind his other, which must then become his front peg.

If any bye-ftander fpeaks, or any ways interferes in the game, he fhall forfeit.

If any perfon marks a lefs number of points than he ought, his adverfary muft not fcore any thing for fuch omiflion.

Each party fhall have a right to pack his own cards; and if any perfon who puts his own cards to the pack has omitted to take for them, (whether hand or crib,) fuch person fhall not have liberty to mark any thing for the fame afterwards.

PRACTICES COMMONLY MADE USE OF BY PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS, OR SUCH MEN AS ARE GENERALLY KNOWN BY THE APPEL

LATION OF BLACK LEGS, &c.

Handing the Cards)-So called from the cards being fecured in the palm of the hand. The perfon who practifes this art at Cribbage generally takes care to get two fives, with any other two cards, placing one of the two ordinary cards at the top, next to it one five, then the other ordinary card, and under it the other five. Thefe four cards, fo placed, he fecures in the palm of his hand, while he defires his adverfary to shuffle the cards, and being very generous, alfo tells his opponent to cut them. When this is done, he puts his hand which contains the four cards upon that part of the pack which is to be uppermoft, and then leaves the cards on the fame; confequently, when he deals the two fives will fall to his own hand of cards; by which means when a perfon who can hand deals, he is pretty fure of two or more fives.

Weaving)-Is fecuring one or more cards upon the knee, under the table

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you play at; and therefore any perfon who practifes this art has always the choice of exchanging any of the cards he thinks proper for thofe he has thus fecured; which is the fame as fuffering your adverfary to have the choice of fix or feven cards, while you have only your proper number.

Garreting)-Is fo called from the practice of fecuring the cards either under your hat, or behind the head.

The method of doing this is, to felect out three or four extraordinary good cards, while your adverfary is marking his hand or crib; and placing the fame behind your head. This being done and the cards properly dealt, you take up your own cards, which you take care to examine pretty quick, and after laying out any two you think proper for crib, you immediately with one hand put your other remaining cards upon the pack, and with your other hand take down the cards which have been secured; then in lieu of very bad cards which you poffibly might have had, you have the best which can be got.

Slipping the Cards)-Is performed in various ways, all which tend to put the fame cards at the top again, which have been cut off, and ought to be put underneath. Whenever this is done, you may depend the cards are previoufly placed in fuch manner as will anfwer the purpose of the person who performs the operation.

Walking the Pegs)-Means either putting your own pegs forward, or thofe of your adverfary back, as may beft fuit your purpofe; and it is always executed while you are laying out the cards for crib.

The method generally adopted for this bufinefs is, to take the two cards which you intend to put out for the crib and fix them with your third finger upon the back of the cards, and your others on the front; then holding them. faft in your hand you cover the pegs in the board from the fight of your adverfary, while with your first finger and

thumb

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thumb on the fame hand you take out unperceived any peg you like, and place the fame whereever you think proper. Slipping the Fives)-Slipping the Fives, at Cribbage, is an amazing strong advantage.

The mode of doing this is, firft to mark them in any manner fo as to know them; and whenever it happens that you obferve one coming to your adversary, you give him the next card under in lieu thereof, which many who are in the habits of playing much, perform with extraordinary great dexterity.

Cut Cards)---Cut Cards are fometimes called Longs and Shorts.

These are a pack of cards which are regularly prepared, having the fixes, fevens, eights, and nines, all cut fome thing fhorter; and the fives, and all the tenth cards, cut fomething narrower than they were. By this means, if you want a particular card to start, you cut accordingly.

For Example)---If the cards are cut as above defcribed, and you want a fix, feven, eight, or nine to be the turn up card, you lift up the cards by taking hold of them at each end, by which means the fixes, fevens, eights, and nines being fhorter, that way than the others, the probability is very great that one of thofe will be uppermoft, and confequently the card you with. On the other hand, if you wish for a tenth card or five to ftart, you lift up the cards by taking hold of the pack at each fide, which makes it almost a certainty that fome of the cards you wish for are turned up.

Cards taken out of the Pack) ---It is a very common thing for fome people, to take two or three cards (generally fmall ones) out of the pack, which not being known to his adverfary, makes him play to a very great difadvantage indeed. It is therefore your duty to count the whole pack as frequently as you think proper.

The Old Gentleman)---Is fometimes called a Brief Card; and must have been procured from fome perton who

has the making of cards, it being fome what larger than any which are made up into packs; by which means, by fixing any card you think proper under it, you can always have the card fo placed under for a ftart, when your adverfary deals; or by felecting two fives, with any other card between them, and placing the faid three cards under the Old Gentleman, you are enabled to make your adverfary give you the two fives when he deals, by cutting the cards where you feel the Old Gen. tleman.

Bridging the Cards)---Is done when you with for any particular card to start, and you can by any means find fuch card and place it on the top of the pack. This done you bend the upper part of the cards upwards, and the lower part of the cards downwards; then dividing the cards, and putting those which were under at the top, and the two cards which have been bent opposite ways will be found together, and will form a cavity, fomething like the arch of a bridge, by which means you can perceive where to cut for the card you want.

Giving the Office)----Is when you fuffer any perfon to look over your hand, and fuch perfon by means of his foot or fingers makes your adversary fully acquainted with every card you lay out, which enables him to manage his cards accordingly.

Saddling the Cards)---Is frequently practifed at Cribbage. This is bend. ing the fixes, fevens, eights, and nines in the middle long ways, with the fides downwards; by which it is extremely cafy for you to have one of thofe cards for a ftart, by cutting where you perceive a card bent in that manner, taking due care to leave the card fo bended uppermoft.

Dealing the Fives from the bottom) Is a very common practice: it is there very neceflary for you to be watchful over your adverfary while he deals.

New Cards which have been opened and made up again) Are frequently introduced: it is, therefore, exceeding

proper

The Electrical Spider.

proper (when new Cards are called) to examine very carefully the ftamped wrapper, and always open the cards yourfelf, for fear of their being changed upon you; it being very common for many people to carry cards in their pocket, which are all marked, and confequently as well known by their backs as their faces by the person who introduces them.

Marking Cards)---Is performed in fo many different ways, that there is no pointing them all out; all that can poffibly be done is, to examine the cards often and minutely, and when you perceive any marked, order them to be changed.

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Example)----Let A. and B. deal against C. and D. each perfon to hold a three, four, fix, seven, with any tenth card, and each to lay out their tenth card for the crib, D. then cuts the cards for the turn-up, which proving to be a knave; A. and B. mark two points---It being C.'s first play he leads with pitching his four, which B. pairs and marks two points, D. then plays his four, and marks fix points, for a pair royal, A. then plays his four, making a double pair royal, for which he fcores twelve points; C. then plays again with his three, which is paired by B. who marks two points more; D. plays his three, and marks fix for a pair royal; and A. comes in with his three likewife, which making a double pair royal, and the end hole, he marks for fuch thirteen points; C. then plays off again with his feven, which B. pairs and marks two points; D. plays his feven, and marks fix points; and A. playing his seven, makes a double pair royal, for which, and the end hole, he marks thirteen points more; here again C. plays his fix, which is paired VOL. I.

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by B. who fcores two points; D. plays his fix, and marks fix points; and A. who is the laft player, makes a double pair royal with his fix, for which, and the end hole, he marks thirteen points, which, with the various other points, played by A. and B. compleat the game, or fixty-one points; while C. and D. have only been able to play twenty-four points. Thus the game is won by A. and B. without holding a fingle point.

An artificial Spider, which moves by Electricity.

TAKE a bit of burnt cork, as big as a pea; give it the fhape of a spider; and make its legs with threads of hemp; put a grain of lead in the cork to give it fome weight; then hang this artificial spider by a bit of grey fewing filk (that is not twisted) between two bodies, the one electrified and the other not; or between two bodies endowed with different electricities; it will go and come between thefe two bodies, and the movement of the legs will be feen as plain as if it were a living ipider.

This artificial fpider, if well made, will attonifh thofe who fee it move fo naturally.

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To find out a Lover.

352 lighted candles, which will be extinguifhed by the powder, whilft it will make the phofphorus take fire, which will light the other two.

You may likewife light a wax candle, on the wick of which phosphorus has been applied, according to the foregoing method, by means of a fword well heated in a near room. You need only prefent the point of the fword to the wick of the candle, commanding it to light.

N. B. Obferve that you are not to touch the phofphorus with your fingers; but take the point of a knife, or a pair of final pincers. You must take care alfo, that the wick of the candle is cold before you put the phofphorus to it; without this precaution it would take fire immediately.

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PREPARATION OF THE LIQUOR.

Cut in several small chips a piece of Fernambuco wood; put them in a large glafs full of good white wine vinegar; add to it a bit of common white allum, of the fize of a small nut; make the whole fimmer over a gentle fire for half an hour, in a new earthen pot or pipkin; taking care to ftir this compofition, in order to prevent it from boil ing over while on the fire.

When it is taken from the fire, let it cool, and strain it through a piece of linen; then pour it into a bottle of clear glafs.

You must make all these preparations before-hand; as thefe experiments are only agreeable when performed with quickness.

You will find it neceffary to provide yourself with a tube of clear glafs, about fifteen or eighteen inches long, about the thickness of a wax candle,

taking care to have it, ftopt at one end.

When you present yourself before a company, in order to perform this experiment, you are to carry the tube in your pocket, and holding the phial in your hand, you are to fay, "Ladies and gentlemen, here is a phial containing liquid blood; I hope to make you know by it the perfon moft addicted to love in the company,

Pleafe to obferve that I pour a little of this liquor in this tube. As you might imagine that this liquor, like that put in thermometers, may rife by dilating itself when expofed to heat, and confequently the preffure of the hand will fuffice to produce this effect, and it will condenfe by rarifying when expofed to cold; I affure you, ladies and gentlemen, it is not the cafe; this liquor differs entirely from that put in thermometers; and you may easily be convinced of it before I make the ex. periment I promifed you. You may put it near the heat of a candle, and even that of a fire, without any degree of heat making it rife in the leaft; but by a peculiar and fympathetic virtue you will fee it boil, when the tube is touched by a person of an amorous difpofition."

tle pot-afh, keep it in the interior part Then take out of your pocket a litof the hand that holds the tube at the top, as if you wanted to keep it fhut, and as foon as the perfon you wish to make pafs for the most amorous in the company takes the loweft part of the tube in his hand, you are to let fall dexterously a little of the potash in it, and you will fee the liquor boil and rife to the top of the tube, to the great aftonishment of the spectators.

To prepare a room in fuch a manner that any perfon, entering with a lighted candle, will think himfelf furrounded with fire.

TAKE a pretty large quantity of brandy, put it in a bowl, and fet it on the fire (the fire must be flow) to re

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