attention to this mode of discovering future events; a singular instance whereof is given in the life of the eccentric but fortunate bookseller, Mr. Lackington, which is recorded by himself as follows:

“One Sunday morning, at eight o'clock, my mistress, seeing her sons set off, and knowing that they were gone to a methodist meeting, determined to prevent me from doing the same by locking the door, which she accordingly did ; on which, in a superstitious mood, I opened the Bible for direction what to do, and the first words I read were these “He has given his angels charge concerning thee, lest at any time thou shouldst dash thy foot against a stone." This was enough for me; so without a moment's hesitation, I ran up two pair of stairs to my own room, and out of the window I leaped, to the great terror of my poor mistress. I got up immediately, and ran about two or three hundred yards towards the meeting house; but, alas! I could run no farther; my feet and ancles were most intolerably bruised, so that I was obliged to be carried back and put to bed. l'his my rash adventure made a great noise in the town.”

The author of this book is well acquainted with many persons of erudition anu sound judgment, who, at the present day, privately make use of the foregoing method of prognosticating the event of their undertakings, by opening the Bible in a chance way, and placing reliance upon the first passage of Scripture that meets their eye; and they say it is seldom erroneous.

MARVELLOUS PROPERTIES

OF HERBS, STONES, ROOTS, MINERALS,

&c. &c.

ST. JOHN'S WORT.

THE herb St. John's Wort, being carried about any one, is said to protect the wearer against all invisible beings.

TO CAUSE TRUE DREAMS.

The seeds of flax and flea-wort, finely powdered, and often smelt to, occasion prophetic and ominous dreams. The manuscript from whence this was taken deems it infallible.

A RING FOR POWER, AND TO OVERCOME ENEMIES.

Let the character of Saturn (h) be engraved upon a magnet, or piece of loadstone, in the time. of the moon's increase; and, being worn on the right hand, no enemy or foe shall overcome the

wearer.

FOR THE SIGHT.

Fennel, rose, vervain, celandine, and rue,
Do water make which will the sight renew.

ACONITE, OR WOLFSBANE.

It is said by old herbalists, that these herbs are so extremely pernicious and poisonous, that if either man or beast be wounded with an arrow, knife, sword, or any other instrument, dipped in the juice

of this herb, they die incurably within half an hour afterwards.

MULLETT, OR FLEA-BANE. This herb, burned and smoked where flies, guats, fleas, or any venomous things are, doth drive them away.

HERBS THAT ACT AS A CHARM AGAINST SPIRITS.

“There is an herb called corona regis (or rosemary); the house that is suffumigated therewith, noe devil nor spirit hath power over the same. Piony hath the same virtue.”—( Manuscript.)

TO MAKE A SAD PERSON MERRY. For dull, melancholy men, take the flowers of rosemary, and make them into powder; bind them to the right arm in a linen cloth, and this powder, by working upon the veins, shall make a man more merry and lightsome than ordinary.

MYSTERIOUS PROPERTIES OF THE SUNFLOWER.

Albertus Magnus relates that the heliotropium, or sun-flower, is endued with wonderful virtues ;

for, if gathered when the sun is in the fifth sign of - the zodiac (®), and wrapped in a laurel leaf, thereto

being added a wolf's tooth, the person who carries it about him shall find that nobody can have the power of using any other than mild language to him. Moreover, if anything has been taken from him by stealth, let him lay it under his head at night, and he shall see the thief, and all the circumstances of the theft.

THE VETTLE.

The second herb he notices is the nettle. By holding this herb, together with milfoil, in your hand, you are free from apparitions. Mix it with the juice of sen-green, and smear your hands therewith, putting a part into any water where there are fish, it will not fail to attract them; withdraw it, and they will disperse immediately.

The CWorld of Spirits.

APPARITION OF A MURDERED MAN, AND CONSE

QUENT DISCOVERY OF THE MURDERER. The recent singular and romantically horrible affair at Polstead, having plainly evinced the existence of an ever-watchful Providence over the affairs and destinies of us finite mortals, in spite of the arrogant atheism of the present day, has led us to insert the following affair, which occurred a few years since at a village in Lancashire; where the circumstance, which made much noise at the time, is even now well remembered.

One James Dunstable, a poor labouring man, had, by great industry, amassed a considerable sum of money, which, as he had but a small family, continually increased; so that, by the death of an uncle of his wife, who was a considerable farmer in that part, his possessions made him be looked upon as one of the most able peasants in that county. He lived for some time in this state, and was much respected by his neighbours.

It happened that he was called off to a fair in one of the chief towns, and was away three days. As the fair lasted in general no longer, he was expected on the third; but not coming at the expected time, and being a very sober and punctual man, there was some suspicion that he had met with an accident. On the fifth day, not arriving, his wife and all the neighbourhood were much alarmed, and search was made round the country; but he could not be heard of, nor was he found at all at that time. So that it was concluded, and not without reason, that he had been murdered; especially as he had been known to have set out from the inn after the fair was over.

Things continued in this situation for several years, till the wife was persuaded to give her hand to a neighbour who was thought to be very deserving. He made her a good husband, and for a little space of time they continued happy; but at last it appeared that all was not right with him. His wife was the first who perceived this change in his temper and carriage: he would frequently start as if he beheld something supernatural of a sudden; and he was troubled in his sleep, as if his dreams had been disagreeable. She would sometimes ask him the reason of these emotions, but he always excused himself. His fears grew upon him every day; and his neighbours perceived that he was neither so bold nor so steady in his deportment as usual,

One night, in a party at an ale-house, where a pretty large company were collected, he got elated with drink, and recovered his wonted spirits, so that he was as cheerful and merry as the rest. In the