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vian ones.

As a farther confirmation of this hypothefis, thefe maffes of fea fhells are found in the very middle of Africa, where there are plains full of fea-fhells above 300 leagues from the fea.

Now fay the contenders for the opinion, "That the fea is continually retreating from off the earth;" is not the above fufficient to prove the constant diminution of the water? And De Maillet, in his book intitled Telliamed (which is his own name reversed) endeavours to prove by his Treatife, that the sea actually diminishes at the rate of one inch (perpendicular) every 75 years, and has ever fince the Creation; but the age of man is fo fhort, comparatively with the flow decrease of the water, that it paffes unnoticed, But if we may credit his asfertion, he informs us, "That himfelf, his father, and grandfather, found it fo by actual observation."

Now to refute this opinion in one word, we need only afk, What is become of the perpendicular cliffs which the fea muft of neceffity leave behind? We cannot be fo weak as to fhut our fenfes against this interrogation.

On the other hand, we may be led to fuppofe that the fea is continually filling itself, and encroaching on the earth by degrees, on account of the numerous rivers difémboguing their incommenfurable ftreams into it. And alfo by reafon of the prodigious quantities of rain constantly falling; infomuch, that in England, if none was to difcharge itself off the ground, it can be proved that it would cover the whole kingdom at the depth of 22 inches in

in a day from the Mediterranean fea by the Sun's heat. He estimated this fea to be 40 degrees in length, and 4 in breadth, allowances being made for the places where it is broader by those where it is narrower, then there will be 160 fquare degrees at least, and every fquare degree of 69 miles will evaporate 33 millions of tons, confequently the whole Mediterranean must lofe in vapours, in the fpace of 12 hours in a fummer's day, at least 5,280 millions of tons, which is above 2,600 times more water than runs down the River Thames in 24 hours time!

And this great man was induced to believe that water is fometimes licked up faster by winds than it exhales by the heat of the fun.

There are others again who affert, that the ocean is continually gaining on one fide of the continent, and lofing on the other, which is certainly the most feasible doctrine; and it feems embraced by Pope, when he says,

How time himself ftands ftill at her command,

Realms fhift their place, and ocean turns to land.

How many authors might be brought in fupport of one or other of the above doctrines? But I come now to fimplify the question-and afk, can a drop of water be created, or annihilated? I anfwer-no. For let a drop of water be compofed of phlogiston, phosphorus, æther, or what you will: fcatter it on the dust, or burn it in the fire; dry it in the wind, or inclofe it in crystal, still I contend that it exists: the only thing that is done, is changing its place; and therefore, I now maintain, and I think with great probability. That there is not a drop of water more or lefs in the world, than there was at the Creation. Therefore, the fea neither increases nor diminishes; nor does it gain on one fide the earth and lofe of the other." For he gave to the fea his decree, that the waters should not pafs his commandment.” Prov. viii. v. 29.

SOLU

SOLUTION TO QUERY V. IN NO. IV.

BY LEO.

BY Peter (in his fecond Epiftle, ch. ii. v. 15), defcribing Balaam to be the fon of Bofor; he could not mean that he was the fon of a perfon called Bofor; because Balaam is described as well by Mofes as by all the other facred writers who lived before Peter's time, to be the son of Beor, and they could not all be miftaken: therefore, I rather think by Peter's calling him the son of Bofor, he only meant that Balaam was a native of that city.

SOLUTION TO QUERY I, IN NO. V.

BY MR. W. DEACON.

THE propriety of Juno's favourite birds never copulating, is in the frictest justice, as the immortality of the individual birds fhewed that their fuperior purity and elemental life was not fubject to the corruptibility of the terreftrial fpecie, the continuation of which can only be maintained by the laws appointed by nature.

SOLUTION TO QUERY 11, IN NO. V.

WHAT is the difference between abfolute and specific gravity? may be answered thus; That the former is the power by which all bodies tend to wards the earth's centre, and the latter by which bodies of the fame dimenfions are of different weights. That is fuppofing abfolute gravity only to exift; every thing at equal diftances from the earth's centre, and of the fame magnitude, would be of the fame weight, and confequently of the fame denfity; but allowing the other, we have the difference in weight between different bodies; for though a pound of feathers is as heavy as a pound of gold, and heavier; yet, confidering

* One being weighed by avoirdupoife, and the other by troy weight.

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QUERY II.

Can a reafon be affigned for the following phenomena; volatile falts in mixing with acid produce cold, whilst the fixed alkaline produce heat ?

QUERY III.

The reafon is alfo required, why ftrong fpirits of wine mixed with fnow, fhould, as it is well known, produce to a bottle of water, the greatest degree of cold yet felt?

QUERY. IV.

And why ground-ivy fines ale better than any other vegetable, though fome others feem to contain the fame principle by analization.

How to change a pack of cards into all man

ner of pictures.

YOU must take a pack of cards, and paint upon the back-fide of the one half of the pack, what manner of figures fhall pleafe your fancy beft; as men, women, birds, flowers, &c. Then print the other half of the cards, viz. on that fide where the spots are on, after the fame manner as you did the other half; fo between them both will have a compleat fet pack of you all pictures; and when you will perform this trick, you muft fhew the cards but half way. This is one of the best tricks on the cards.

most card, which is one of the aces, then you may fhew another ace as before, and instead of that lay down another knave proceed in the fame method till instead of the four aces you have laid down the four knaves.

The beholders, all the time thinking that there lay four aces on the table, are greatly deceived when thẹ cards are turned up, and will wonder

at the transformation.

The Golden Head, which leaping and dancing in a Glafs, anfwers different ques

tions.

TO fhew that this head is not connected with any other object, you put fome crown pieces at the bottom of a

them to four knaves.

This trick is one among the many which is effected by a quick flight; for if it is done in a bungling manner, it may be easily detected, and the pretender will be liable to contempt inftead of applaufe.

To do this, make a pack of eight cards, viz. four aces and four knaves, and let them be laid in this order: an ace and a knave, and fo alternately through all the eight cards, then fhuffle them, fo as always at the fecond fhuffing, or at least when you have done fhuffling them, one of the aces may be the nethermoft card; then ufe fome words or device, and putting your hand with the cards to the edge of the table, let out privately a piece of the 'fecond card which is one of the knaves; then, fhewing to the ftanders-by the nether card, which is one of the aces; be fure to cover the piece of the knave with your fingers; then draw out the fame knave, laying it down on the table; then fhuffle the cards as before and you will have two aces at bottom; therefore take off the uppermost card, and thrust it into the middle of the pack; do the fame with the nether

however, does not prevent the head, which you affirm to be of folid gold, from dancing in the glafs to answer by numbers, and to yes or no, questions propofed to it; at the fame time, a bunch of rings, in another glass, at a little distance, as if by fympathy, performs the fame motions.

In the room of the first head, which is fhewn round to the company, you take a fecond from off the table, where the experiment is to be performedThis fecond head is attached to a filken thread which paffes through the partition into the hands of the confede rate; this thread, instead of leaning on the brim of the glafs, where the cover would prevent it from fliding, paffes through a small, well polished nick to give it eafy play, and prevent it from breaking,

N. B. The crown pieces which you put in the bottom of the glass, under pretext of preventing any commu nication between the golden head and the machinery, which may be fufpected to be hid in the table, are not uselefs, for they serve as ballast, and prévent the glass from yielding to the motion occafioned by drawing the thread.

Та

To cut Glass, or even a piece of Crystal, let it be ever fo thick, without the help of a Diamond in the fame fhape as the mark of the Drawing made on it with Ink.

THIS remarkable operation unites ufe with amufement. For being in the country, or in a place where there is no glazier or glassman to be had, the• following means will anfwer the purpofe without them.

Take a bit of a walnut-tree, the thickness of a candle, cut one end of its ends to a point; put that end in the fire, and let it burn till it is quite red. While the ftick is burning, draw on the glafs or cryftal, with ink, the defign or outline of the form in which you mean to cut it out. Then take a file or bit of glass and scratch a little the place where you mean to begin your fection; then take the wood red hot from the fire, and lay the point of it about the thickness of a guinea, from the marked place; taking care to blow always on that point in order to keep it red; follow the drawing traced on the glafs, leaving as before, about the thickness of a guinea, every time that you prefent your piece of wood, which you must take care to blow often.

After having followed exactly the outlines of your drawing, to feparate the two pieces thus cut, you need only

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pull them up and down, and they will divide.

For a Perfon to chufe a Card, you not fuppofed to know what it is, and then for the Perfon to hold the Cards between his Finger and Thumb, to strike them all out of his Hand except the very Card he had taken.

THIS is called the Nerve trick, and is thus performed; having previoufly looked at a card, bid the perfon draw one, taking care to fhove that to which you know; when he has looked at it, let him put it at the bottom; let him fhuffle the cards, then you look at them again, and finding the card, place it at the bottom; then cut them in half; give the party that part which contains his chofen card at the bottom, to look between his finger and thumb juft at the corner; bid him pinch them as tight as he can; then ftriking thein pretty fharp, they will all fall to the ground except the bottom one, which is the card he had chofen.

This is a very curious trick, and if cleanly done, is really astonishing; but may be accounted for from the nature of the nerves, which are always more retentive when any thing is attempted to be taken either by force or furprize.

timony of all cotemporary writers, it might be justly confidered as fabulous. Gilles de Laval, Lord of Rais, fprung from one of the most ancient and moft illuftrious families in Brittany, fucceeded to the titles and ef

perufing his very complete Hiftory of France, we have thought proper to acknowledge the fource from whence we derived the interefting sketch of the life of the Lord of Rais. If Mr. Gifford will abide by his ori

ginal intention, and comprize to the reign of

Lewis XVI. in one hundred Numbers, there is little doubt but his fuccefs will equal his merit,

tates

tates of his ancestors, at the early age of twenty. This young nobleman poffeffed many accomplishments both of body and mind; his perfon was majestic, his countenance infinuating; he was endued with courage, and with wit; but he was prodigal, fanatic, voluptuous, and debauched. An annual income of three hundred thoufand livres proved infufficient to defray his expences. His retinue difplayed a motley mixture of chaplains and courtefans; priefts and panders; choristers and comedians. His chapel, richly embellished with gold, filver, and precicus ftones, was ferved by ecclefiaftics who bore the title of deans, and whofe fuperiour wore the epifcopal mitre. All the theatrical exhibitions then in vogue were performed at his refidence. In fhort his expences were fo numerous that they foon exhaufted his fortune. Honoured in his youth with the office of Marefchal of France, in a fhort time he had not wherewithal to fupport the dignity of his rank. The want of money induced him to expose his eftates to fale; but his relations, alarmed at feeing him diffipate, in fuperfluous expences, the patrimony of his ancestors, implored the interference of the king, who iffued an edit that was afterwards confirmed by a fentence of the parlia. ment-forbidding him to alienate his territorial poffeffions. The Duke of Brittany, who, previous to the publication of the edict, had purchased, at an inferior price, the lordships of Ingrande and Chantocè, fent his fon to the king to request he would withdraw the prohibition; this however Charles peremptorily refufed. Gilles being thus deprived of every refource which could enable him to continue his prodigality, applied himself to the ftudy of alchemy. He collected all the impoftors who boasted of their skill in this occult science; but he was fpeedily convinced of the vanity of their profeffions, and all his attempts to difcover the grand fecret of the philofopher's ftone proving fruitless, he chan

ged the courfe of his purfuits, had recourfe to magic, and invoked the affiftance of the devil. A phyfician of Poitou gave him fome leffons in ne cromancy, and after robbing him, ran away. He was next introduced by a prieft of the diocefe of St. Malo, to the acquaintance of an Italian named Prelati, with whom he renewed his infernal incantations, promifing Satan to give him whatever he fhould require, excepting only his foul and his life. It must be obferved, that while he was offering up the most abominable facrifices, fuch as the heart, the hands, the eyes, and the blood of a murdered infant, he continued his pious exercifes with his chaplains! Thefe enormities becoming public, the Duke of Brittany was compelled to iffue an order for apprehending him and bringing him to trial. His judges were the Bishop of Nantes, Chancellor of Brittany, the Vicar of the Inquifition in France, and Peter L'Hofpital, Prefident of the Parliament of Brittany. Gilles, on his first examination, obferved that all ecclefiastics were "fimoniacs and whoremasters, and that he would rather be hanged by the neck than make any reply to fuch judges." But as the trial proceeded he was constrained to change his tone. The monstrous acts of cruelty which had marked his abominable gratifications exceeded every thing which ty rants the most fanguinary and ferocious had ever practifed or conceived. Rape and murder had formed his principal enjoyments; the latter by a refinement of depravity unexampled in the annals of infamy, was made to heighten the gratifications of the former; it was proved that he had polluted and maffacred at the fame in fant, no less than a hundred children of both sexes, at his castles of Machecou and Chantocê. The purity of the historical page will not admit of any farther account of the horrid crimes perpetrated by this monster in human fhape; but fhould the reader be curious to pursue the dreadful reci

tal,