THE PHANTOM TRAVELLER, A Legend of the Wayside. BY A POPULAR AUTHOR.-PART II. room 66 66 I thought I heard the curtains rustle-I looked towards the spot-there was the dim form of the phantom traveller gazing intently upon me. I lay motionless-we looked intently at each other-I saw him draw the curtain aside still further, and then, slowly, as if he knew not whether I was awake or no-he stretched out his arm towards me. I sprung up from the bed involuntarily, shrieking out "Begone!-in heaven's name!" I must then have fallen back almost senseless from terror, but was speedily aroused by a violent knocking at my door, accompanied by a cry of "Hallo sir! what's the matter ?" " Come in pray," replied I-and in came mine host in his night apparel. "What's the matter, sir-a dream?" inquired he. I did not choose to confess the fact, and replied, "Yes, landlord, I believe so," and then I was greatly cheered by perceiving that the was partially light-it was day-break. "I'll rise," said I; "I am not well-such a horrible vision - that phantom." "Phantom?" "Aye," said I, "I'll get up." Mine host was going to quit the room, but I would not let him. ""Tis hardly morning yet, sir;" "Never mind," replied I, "I'll get up; and so I did. "I am afraid you are ill, sir." "Oh no, ," said I no-just show me down stairs, let me out." "No, no, sir, I'll go and dress, and get you some breakfast," and just as he said that, some one partly opened the door with a light. "Give me that light, pray," cried I, and he took it from the person at the door and brought it into the room, whispering the words, "the gentleman is ill." "I shall do very well now," said I-"I'll be off on my journey." But mine host insisted on my first recovering myself, and taking breakfast. He left me, and returned in a few moments dressed, and desired me to follow him down stairs into the kitchen. Here he soon made a blazing fire entirely of faggots, and breakfast followed in a few moments. I told him the entire cause of my alarm, and observed that he regarded me very intensely; looked extremely grave, and said nothing. I paid my reckoning, shook hands with mine host, and wonld have departed, but he begged me once more to be seated-he had something to tell me, and hoped I should pardon him for what had happened. I resumed my seat, and gazed upon him in silence,-"Did you meet any one in the road last night, Sir ?" inquired he, for I had not acquainted him with that circumstance. I instantly narrated all that had happened on my road to the inn.-"It is very strange," replied he, after listening to my recital with the utmost attention; "we have not had this happen for several years, and I believed it would never occur again.' "-"What ?" said I.-""Tis a strange story, sir. The vision you met last night was that of the Phantom Traveller-if you had not come to this inn, he would not have followed you." Explain," said I-" go on.""Many years ago, sir," continued he, " two travellers, brothers, it is believed, who (from what cause was never discovered) bore each other deadly enmity, met in that road-the very spot you mention. After a contest and desperate struggle, the one escaped from the other's violence, and fled hither-he slept in that very room you did to-night. How, or by whom, we knew not, but he was found strangled in his bed the following morning. Once since, about four years ago, the same scene occurred as with you this morning, and for a long time I suffered the room to remain empty. Had you told me what you had seen on the road, you should not have been lodged in that apartment last night." -"And what became of the murderer ?"-"He was found in the road, sir, lying dead, weltering in blood with a gash in his throat, and a clasp knife by his side-that was within a short time after the alarm had been given of the Imurder. He was buried at the corner of the road yonder as a suicide-that was the law I believe then, Sir, and is now 66 I was beginning to fall into a pleasant speculative reverie, when, between the clodhoppers in the kitchen, and the heavy hammery sound of iron-footed shoes, I was at last aroused to a sense of its being far beyond the proper hour of village bed time, by hearing the church clock strike eleven. Whilst vainly endeavouring to find a bell in the room, the door was opened, and in came my host, followed by-eh?-yes; some one was behind him, but there was no light in the passage, and I could not see distinctly. "When you wish to go to bed, Sir "Just what I was thinking of, landlord," said I, "if you'll be so good as to show me to my room." "Yes, Sir,-you can take one of these candles, Sir, if you please," and blowing out one of the lights on the table, I took up the other. "All your customers gone?" "Yes, sir-all gone-I've shut my doors for to-nightno one up now but myself." I looked; and must almost have started at what I knew not-there seemed a sort of shadowy face peering at me over mine host's shoulder; but I concealed the feeling of alarm which this phantom created-"I'm quite ready," said I, as calmly as I could, and giving mine host the candle, let him lead the way- I then saw that there was no one in the room but ourselves. With a strange feeling of unconquerable dread, I followed the landlord up stairs, and he showed me into a very comfortable little old-fashioned chamber, where he bade me good night and departed. I was going to lock the door after him, but I found there was no key. Should I ask for one? No;-it would seem so strange-what could there possibly be to excite alarm in such a place? Well-I might place a chair against the door-psha!--how could I be so silly as to think of such a thing? I began to undress, and then to prepare the bed, by making the pillows cosy, and beating out a kind of undulating hollow in the middle-comfortable bed, very-beautifully white curtains! ah! thought I, I'll draw them close all round -and so I did, though it was quite contrary to my usual custom. I finished undressing, put the light by my bed side, then got into bed, extinguished the candle instantly, and buried my head in the pillow and bed-clothes. There I lay-I heard some one giving audible proof of being asleep in the next room, and even that seemed to inspire me with a feeling of confidence, so I resolved to go to sleep; and accordingly after laying for some time with my eyes closed, and wearying my mind with counting, (by the way a capital narcotic,) I fell into a sound slumber. How long I slept I knew not, but I was suddenly awakened by a noise as of a heavy fall somewhere in the room. I was alarmed, I confess, for the remembrance of my phantom traveller instantly came across me. raised my head, gently put aside the bed-curtains, and looked out-there was nothing to be seen, although having drawn aside I might have learnt further details of this extraordinary affair the window-curtain before getting into bed, to prevent my had not mine host been interrupted by a violont knocking at oversleeping myself in the morning, I was able, by a sort of the inn door caused by the arrival of a waggon going to Taunhalf twilight, to distinguish the dim outline of everything around ton. Some silver procured me a seat in the vehicle, and then me. Had I really heard that noise, or could I have been a hearty breakfast at Taunton after a refreshing journey during dreaming? I knew not-all was still-no one else seemed to sunrise recruited my nerves and enabled me to sleep soundly the have been aroused-I must have been dreaming; and consoling next night. Hallo!-why, how deadly pale you are!-comemyself as I thought with this idea, I flung the bed clothes right finish your brandy and water, go to bed, and as you don't beover my head, and tried to sleep again, when I fancied I heard lieve in ghosts, of course I shall not have interrupted your sluma sound like that of very light foot-steps at the bedside. Ibers by my tale of THE PHANTOM TRAVELLER, gradually drew the clothes from off my face and peeped out. THE SELF INSTRUCTOR IN ASTROLOGY. CHAPTER II.-THE INITIATION. mer records the periods when the waters will ebb and flow, on precisely the same rules, and adopting the same groundwork or basis of calculation. Here then is an opportunity, which we freely, and in the most sincere spirit of impartiality offer, for all sceptics to avail themselves of. Let them have a scheme of their nativities erected, and then will the powers of the art be fairly tested. Horary questions are, as we have before explained in another department of our work, those questions asked at a certain hour, when a person feels his mind seriously agitated concerning the result of any undertaking or important event. A figure is then erected for the minute in which the question is asked, and, if the artist be skilful, and the querist sincere, the answer given will be true and satisfactory, revealing the final conclusion of the business, and its ultimate consequences. The figure for a horary question is erected in the same manner as for a nativity, at the AMONGST all the learned writers of the present day, with science same instant of time, because, as the old astrologers alleged, the pushed to its utmost pitch, we find no one attempting to deny or one is the birth of the mind as the other is of the body. The disprove astral influence by the only effectual or creditable mode mind, however, always exists, but the accuracy of the deduction in which they could support their opposition. We find no great is owing to the effect of that sympathy which pervades all nature, philosopher stepping forward to declare that he can adduce facts and which is the fundamental principle of all divination. There which will prove the laws of Hermes, as transmitted by is nothing in it either celestial or diabolical, meritorious or Ptolemy, opposed to the laws of nature. We find no sapient criminal; and, to propose a horary question, is no more than to analyst, or Fellow of the Royal Society, boldly announcing that ask what it is o'clock, for it it is nature itself operating in its the same effects follow, when the planet Jupiter is rising at the usual course. It is the same kind of sympathy which causes the birth of an individual, as when the planet Mars is ascending. magnet and iron to approach or repel each other, a detached or that the man born with the moon, in conjunction with Saturn, portion of earth to return towards the common centre, the water is the same in personal form and character as the man born to approach the luminaries, the responsive sound of one untouched when the moon is joined to Venus. Yet such should surely be musical instrument to another that is touched, and so on, through the proper course for adoption, when an onslaught is recklessly a hundred more instances, superfluous to mention. Of course, made upon the practice of one of the most sublime, venerable, the accuracy of the reply must depend, in a great measure, upon and truthful sciences that have been handed down to us from the skill and experience of the artist, but the slightest trial will the most remote antiquity. If it were found that the same be able to afford a striking evidence of the verity of its revelaforms and dispositions were evolved, whether one planet or anotions. Any reflecting person must perceive that effects in general ther were in aspect, and that, in fact, the configurations of the are so disproportionate to their causes, that they must proceed planets, at the time of birth, were the same in the two nativities from astral influence, for, on what else does the whole fabric of of a murderer and a philanthropist; then, indeed, we would the universe depend for its support, and the laws by which it is deem the art but idle superstition-and away with it altogether, governed? To describe the whole to the will of Providence, is but until then, we must be allowed to hesitate. Whether man merely an equivocation, for that all events depend on the will of believe in the influence of the planets, or not, they will continue Providence was never doubted, but Providence always enforces to shed their benefic, or malific, influences as long as the world its will by natural means and secondary causes, and these are endures. The only gift in the hands of man, is the power to dependent upon the planets, which are only the medium of a detect the times, and degrees of their influence, and the tendency higher and controlling power. If, therefore, a stubborn dealer of their influence to evil, when such it becomes, and to receive, in matter-of-fact-one who will believe nothing but what he can gratefully, their benefits, and apply them to the benefit of his distinctly see-chooses to allege that the art is vain and delusive, fellow-creatures and himself. For the right use of this gift, will unworthy of credit, and deserving only of ridicule, let him dare he be responsible, and equally so, for its contemptuous rejec- the artist to the proof, by the construction of a figure which tion? There is no blind fate in this; for though the secondary should reveal to him the events of his past life, and if he depart cause is in operation, it must never be forgotten there is yet anot, on the morrow, "a sadder and a wiser man," his bigoted higher still. Astra regunt homines sed Deus regit astra. We now proceed to initiate our student into the divisions of the art, which may be chiefly regarded as separable, into Mundane and Genethliacal astrology, both dependent on the same fixed laws. Genethliacal astrology, or the science of casting nativities, is that branch which enables us, by means of the position of the heavenly bodies, at the moment of birth, to foresee the description of the person born, and also his future character and destiny. Horary astrology is the system of divining the future result of any undertaking, by the positions of the heavenly bodies, at the commencement, and also of satisfactorily answering any question, when put under feelings of anxiety, for information, on the subject, which shows that Providence has not left us without a means of escape from the mental tortures of suspense and anxiety which, a desire to know the future in matters of grave importance, is so apt to induce. Genethliacal astrology is the most complex, but, at the same time, the most useful of the branches, being capable of affording the most certain and irrefragable proofs of the truth of astral influence. By obtaining within ten minutes-for, during that time, the face of the heavens does not change sufficiently to make any perceptible difference-by obtaining, then, within ten minutes, the exact time when any individual was born, the skilful artist may predicate the peculiarities and appearance of the body, and foresee the exact turn and disposition which the mind will take. And this, with the same unerring certainty, that the skilful astrono pertinacity must be great indeed. Yet this is the only way in which the asseverations of the astrologer can be satisfactorily coufuted, and those who are unwilling to abide by this ordeal are unworthy of advancing an opinion upon the subject. Sir Walter Scott, in his notes to " Guy Mannering," relates some singular particulars which fell under his own personal observation, and which ever after caused him to venerate the mystic science. As these are, doubtless, in the reader's memory, we need not recapitulate them here, but, in our next, we shall endeavour to focus a few facts on the subject, that may tend more clearly to establish this great department of natural philosophy. CAUSE AND EFFECTS.-Nature is a vast circular chain of causes and effects. Causes join and produce effects, and these effects unite, and again become causes for other effects, and this chain of causation is universal and constant. The elements of the vital principle are common to all; they pervade the universe, and extend their influence over all animated nature. The atmosphere is universal as regards terrestrial beings, and is a common support to them all. Then as fire consumes the tangible parts of bodies, and converts their natural structure into another form, so does the vital principle consume the atmosphere, and become united with its vital elements - converting food to the nourishment of the body, and preserving itself from decay by its affinity to the elements of life diffused throughout the universe MAGIC AND MAGICIANS. In our first number we gave a rapid sketch of the wondrous powers manifested by the sorcerers and necromancers of old; and we now proceed to detail more elaborately the mystical enchantments and cabalistic performances which have attracted the attention, whilst they baffled the investigations of our modern philosophers. The word magic, in its ancient sense, implied the science, discipline, or doctrine, of the magi, or wise men of Persia. The origin of magic, and the magi, is ascribed to Zoroaster; Salmasius derives the very name from Zoroaster, who, he says, was surnamed Mog, whence magus. Others, instead of making him the author of Persian philosophy, make him only the restorer and improver thereof; alleging, that many of the Persian rites in use among the magi, were borrowed from the Zabii, among the Chaldeans, who agreed in many things with the magi of the Persians; whence some make the name magus common to both the Chaldeans and Persians. Thus Plutarch mentions, that Zoroaster instituted magi among the Chaldeans; in imitatioh whereof the Persians had theirs too. The word magic originally carried along with it a very innocent, nay, a very laudable meaning; being used purely to signify the study of wisdom, and the more sublime parts of knowledge; but as the ancient magi, engaged themselves in divination and sorcery, the term magic, in time, was only used to signify an unlawful and diabolical kind of science, depending on the devil and departed souls. every member of the human body was under their power, and The Chaldean magic was chiefly founded on Astrology, and was conversant with certain animals, metals, and plants. which were employed in all their incantations, and the virtue of which was derived from Stellar influence. Great attention was always paid to the positions and configurations presented by the celestial sphere; and it was only at favourable seasons that the solemn Agrippa divided magic into three kinds, natural, celestial, and rites were celebrated. Those rites were accompanied with many ceremonial or superstitious NATURAL MAGIC was no more than peculiar and fantastic gestures, by leaping, clapping of hands, the application of natural active causes to passive things, or sub- prostrations, loud cries, and not unfrequently unintelligible exjects; by means whereof many surprising, but yet natural effects clamations. Sacrifices and burnt-offerings were used to proare produced. Baptista Porta has a treatise of natural magic, pitiate superior powers; but our knowledge of the magical rites or of secrets for performing very extraordinary things by natural exercised by certain Oriental nations, the Jews only excepted, is causes. The natural magic of the Chaldeans was nothing but extremely limitsd. All the books professedly written on the subthe knowledge of the powers of simples and minerals. The ject, have been swept away by the torrent of time. We learn, magic which they call theurgia, consisted wholly in the know-however, that the professors among the Chaldeans were geneledge of the ceremonies to be observed in the worship of the rally divided into three classes; the Ascaphim, o charmers, gods, in order to be acceptable to them. By the virtue of these whose office it was to remove present, and to avert future evils; ceremonies, they believed they could converse with spiritual to construct talismans, &c.; the Mecaschephim, or magicians beings and cure diseases. CELESTIAL MAGIC bordered nearly properly so called, who were conversant with the occult powers on judiciary astrology, as it attributed to spirits a kind of rule of nature and the supernatural world; and the Chasdim, or or dominion over the planets; and to the planets, a dominion astrologers. From the assembling of the wise men on the occaover men SUPERSTITIOUS, or GEOTIC MAGIC consisted in the sion of the extraordinary dream of Nebuchadnezzar, it would invocation of devils: its effects were usually evil and wicked, appear that Babylon had also her Oneicrotici, or interpreters of though very strange, and seemingly surpassing the powers of dreams-a species of diviners indeed to which almost every nature: they were supposed to be produced by virtue of some nation of antiquity gave birth. The talisman is probably a compact, either tacit or expressed, with evil spirits. Naude has Chaldean invention. It was generally a small image of stone, published an apology for all the great men suspected of magic. or of any metallic substance, and was of various forms. Agrippa says, that the words used by those in compact with the were several mysterious characters, which were cut under a cerdevil, to invoko him, and to succeed in what they undertake, tain configuration of the planets, and some believed to be powerare, dies, mies, jesquet, benedoefet, dorvima, enitemaus. There fully efficacious, not only in averting evils, but in unfolding the are a hundred other formulæ of words prescribed for the same dark and distant picture. Some learned men have lately exoccasion, gathered from several different languages. The pressed their doubts as to the antiquity of the talisman, and have origin of almost all our knowledge may be traced to the earlier even contended that it is not older than the Egyptian Amulet, periods of antiquity. This is peculiarly the case with respect which was probably invented but a short time before the Christo the acts denominated magical. There were few ancient na- tian era; but we have the authority of the sacred writings for tions, however, barbarous, which could not furnish many indi- asserting that the Seraphim, which according to the Jewish viduals to whose spells and enchantments the powers of nature doctors, gave oracular answers, and which, both in form and the immaterial world were supposed to be subjected. The and use bore a great resemblance to the talisman, was known Chaldeans, the Egyptians, and, indeed, all the oriental nations, at an early period. There is no slight reason for concluding were accustomed to refer all strange effects for which they could that the latter is either an imitation of the former, or that both not account, to the agency of demons. Demons were believed to are one and the same device. Like the Chaldean astrologers, preside over herbs, trees, rivers, mountains, and animals; the Persian Magi, from whom our magic is derived, belong to On it the priesthood. Like Plato, who probably imbibed many of their notions, they taught that demons hold a middle rank between gods and men; that they (the demons) presided not only over divinations, auguries, conjurations, oracles, and every species of magic, but also over sacrifices and prayer, which in behalf of men they presented, and rendered acceptable to the gods. Hence they were mediators, whose ministry was thought indispensable in all magical ceremonies. All the three orders of magic enumerated by Porphyry, abstained from wine and marriage, and the first of these orders from animal food. These were indulgences which they considered too vulgar for men who were the favourites of Orosmades, Aremanius, and of the inferior deities, and who were so intimately connected with the offspring of those deities, the numerous hosts of genii and demon. Three kinds of divination were chiefly cultivated by the magic necromancy, which appears to have been twofold; the predicting of future events by the inspection of dead bodies, and the invoking of departed spirits, which were forced to unfold the dark decrees of fate-a science which has in all ages been almost universally diffused over the earth; lecanomancy, by which demons in obedience to certain powerful songs, were obliged to enter a vessel filled with water, and to answer whatever questions were put to them; and hydromancy, which differs from lecanomancy in this, that the voice of the demon was not heard, but his form was perceptible in the water, in which he represented either by means of his satellites, or by written verses. the cause and issue of any particular event. Whether the celebrated Zoroaster was acquainted with these three species, cannot be well determined. He has been called the inventor of magic; with what justice, is quite as doubtful. It has been inferred, and perhaps with greater plausibility, that he did not as much invent as methodize the art. He may likewise have so extended its bounds as to eclipse the fame of his predecessors; and from that, as well as from the other consideration, the honour of the invention may have been assigned him. Of Indian magic we know even less than we do of that exercised by any other ancient nation. We have, however, reason to conclude that much of it was similar to that for which the magi, from whom it was probably derived, were held in so high estimation. But the divination of the Indians differed in one respect from that of all other people, they admitted it in affairs of public moment, but rigorously excluded it from all private concerns. The reason of this prohibition probably was, that the science was esteemed too sacred to be employed on the ordinary occurrences of life. Their gymnosophists, or Brahmins (it is not clear that there was any distinction between them), were regarded with as much reverence as the magi, and were probably more worthy of it. Some of them dwelt in woods, and others in the immediate vicinity of cities. They performed the ceremenies of religion; by them indeed kings worshipped the deities of the country: not a few by superior powers cured diseases by enchantments, and foretold future events by the stars. Their skill in medicine was great: the care which they took in educating youth, in familiarizing it with generous and virtuous sentiments did them peculiar honour; and their maxims and discourses, as recorded by historians, prove that they were much accustomed to profound reflection on the principles of civil polity, morality, religion, and philosophy. They preserved their dignity under the sway of the most powerful princes, whom they would not condescend to visit, or to trouble for the slightest favour. If the latter desired the advice or the prayers of the former, they were obliged either to go themselves or to send messengers. The Egyptians also had their magicians from the remotest antiquity. Though these magicians were unable to contend with Moses, they were greatly superior to the Chaldean astrologers, the Persian magi, and the Indian gymnosyphists; they appear to have possessed a deeper insight into the arcana of nature than any other professor of the art. By what extraordinary powers their rods were changed into serpents, the waters of the Nile into blood, and the land of Egypt covered with frogs, has much perplexed wise and good men. Of all the methods of solution which the learning and piety of either Jewish or Christian commentators have applied to this difficult problem, none appears so consonant with the meaning of the sacred text, and at | the same time liable to be so few objections, as this, that the magicians really accomplished, by means of supernatural agents, the wonders recorded by the inspired penman. [This method of solving the above problem is supported by the authority of many fathers of the church.] Earth, air, and ocean, may contain many things of which our philosophy has never dreamt. If this consideration should humble the pride of learning, it may remind the Christian that sacred things belong not to him, but to a higher power. It was maintaied by the Egyptians that besides the Gods, there were many demons which communicated with mortals, and which were often rendered visible by certain ceremonies and songs; that genii exercised an habitual and powerful influence over every particle of matter; that thirty-six of these beings presided over the various members of the human body; and that by magical incantations it might be strengthened, or debilitated, afflicted with, or delivered from diseases. Thus, in every case of sickness, the spirit presiding over the afflicted part, was first duly invoked. But the magicians did not trust solely to their invocations; they were well acquainted with the virtues of certain herbs, which they employed in healing. These herbs were greatly esteemed: thus the cynocephalia, or as the Egyptians themselves termed it the asyrites which was used as a preventive against witchcraft; and the nepenthes which Helen presented in a potion to Menelaus, and which was believed to be powerful in banishing sadness, and in restoring the mind to its accustomed, or even to greater cheerfulness, were of Egyptian growth. It is clearly shewn by the earliest records, that the ancients were in the possession of many powerful remedies; thus Melampus of Argos, the most ancient Greek physician with whom we are acquainted, is said to have cured one of the Argonauts of sterility, by administering the rust of iron in wine for ten days; and the same physician used Hellebore as a purge, on the daughters of King Prœtus, who were afflicted with melancholy. Venesection was also a remedy of very early origin, for Podalerius, on his return from the Torjan war, cured the daughter of Damethus, who had fallen from a height, by bleeding her in both arms. Opium, or a preparation of the poppy, was certainly known in the earliest ages; and it was probably opium that Helen mixed with wine, and gave the guests of Menelaus, under the expressive name of nepenthe, to drive away their cares, and increase their hilarity, and this conjecture receives much support from the fact, that the nepenthe of Homer was obtained from the Egyptian Thebes (whence the Tincture of Opium has been called Thebaic Tincture); and if the opinion of Dr. Darwin may be credited, the Cumaan Sibyll never sat on the portended tripod without first swallowing a few drops of the juice of the cherry-laurel.-In our next we shall consider the art magical as practised amongst the Jews. THE LAWS OF "MATTER."--Philosphers agree to call everything with which they are acquainted, MATTER; but great are the diversities found in bodies formed of matter. Thus electricity differs from wood, wood from iron, iron from heat, heat from oil, and oil from spirits-yet matter remains in every form and modification. Again, if we mix an acid and an alkali together, the product will be different from either, in the same way that a mixture of blue and yellow, forms neither blue nor yellow, but green. So does a substance very often unite in itself the elements of different other substances, and thus the elements of heat may have connexion with the elements of electricity, and the elements of electricity may have some connexion with the vital principle. But to suppose them the same, would be a belief for which we have no warrant in analogical reasoning. From the above considerations, then, we have this conclusion arrived at, that what we call LIFE, or the vital principle, is a real substance, pervading all things animate; that this substance is exceeding minute, active, and penetrating, similar in our ideas to heat, electricity, or other minute substances, and yet that it is as different from any one of these as one of these is from the rest. INQUIRENDO.-We were fully conscious that a change for the better was about to take place, and are glad to find that our prognostic has been already partly realised. The "mechanical pursuit" alluded to, appeared to us, from the aspect of Mars, more akin to surgery than what our correspondent believes. You need not fear for the future; your wishes in the last horary question will be duly accomplished when the planet Jupiter transits the cusp of the third house, which will take place about the 16th of March next. In the meantime persevere. It required some time to bury St. Edmund! T. W. T.-To the first question "yes" in eight months time, but there does not seem much to receive. A son will be born soon after. w. S.-Read the preliminary instructions for consulting the "oracle." We cannot solve questions as children do conundrums by the process of guessing E. B.-We are really delighted with the astrological attainments displayed in the last letter, and congratulate him sincerely on the advancement he has made. We are not inclined to look upon the Sun quartile with much apprehension, as there appear, on a hasty glance, to be counteracting influences. He shall receive, however, early attention. As a new month opens to us its store of future woe or fortune, J. T. C.-We cannot, at least for the present, make the calculations he requires. the SEER, with mindful awe and veneration, withdraws the veil It would occupy more time than we can now conveniently devote to the subject. that shadows the events to come. Now doth he foresee great excitement in the world-political and strange mutations are at hand. The peaceful beams of the benefic Jupiter irradiate all lands beneath its influence in the progress of its transit through Aries. In 1832, when he last passed through that sign, the result was the Reform Bill, and similar sweeping legislative changes for the better may now with confidence be predicated. The unhappy tendency to incendiary revenge is again visible throughout the eastern counties, and on the 8th instant, when Herschel and Jupiter are in the ascendant, and Mars quartile, we hear of disastrous events occurring from the culminating planet. The ASTROLOGER judges that the present week will witness an accident on the waters, with loss of life, and a strange disclosure of long-concealed peculations, which will create some interest in the city. A late Bank robbery is the theme again of conversation, from the implication of the guilty parties, and though death has been already busy in the higher circles, another nobleman is, towards the 5th instant, gathered to the tomb of his ancestors. Some scandal is abroad respecting the proceedings of a lady of rank, but the unfounded allegations fall to the ground. THE ORACLE OF DESTINY. In which all Questions from Correspondents are answered gratuitously, in accordance with the true and unerring principles of Astrological Science. TO CORRESPONDENTS. T. MORRIS.-It is because we labour for the love of our art, and not for mere WILL THESPIS is either a noodle or a wag, as he volunteers his services in T. B.-We can only repeat our former answer; study the science as one requiring profound analogical research and deep mathematical calculations. We decline his second question altogether, for the presuming tone in which it is addressed. CAVIL -Astro-meterology is yet in its infancy; and, in a climate so exposed shortly. A CONVERT, who calls our attention to "the singular and extraordinary verifi- HERSCHEL.-If our correspondent will meet us on Salisbury Plain at midnight, D. D. ALEXANDER.-J. M. S, &c., &c. with other correspondents whose questions arrived too late for responses this week, will receive due attention in the following number. **All letters and communications are requested to be addressed to "The Astrologer," 11, Wellington Street North, Strand, London. London: Printed by J. HADDOCK, 130, Drury Lane. Published by G. Vickers; and sold by Strange, Cleave, Berger, Purkess, Clements, Barth, and all Booksellers. |