Number of Objects we think on; that for this Reafon, when we fleep foundly without dreaming, we have no Thought about Time, or the Length of it, whilft we fleep; and that the Moments wherein we leave off to think, till the Moment we begin to think again, feem to have no Distance. We fee thofe, who fix their Thoughts very intently on one Thing, fo as to take very little Notice of whatever may offer to amufe them, whilft they are taken up with that earnest Contemplation, let flip out of their Account a good Part of that Duration, and think that Time fhorter than it is.

I might carry this Thought further, and confider a Person as, on one Side, fhortening their Time by thinking on nothing, or but a few Things; fo, on the other, as lengthening it, by employing their Thoughts on many Subjects, or by entertaining a quick and conftant Succeffion of Ideas. My Governess once gave me a French Book, in which the Author tells me, that it is poffible fome Creatures may think Half an Hour as long as we do a thousand Years, or look upon that Space of Duration, which we call a Minute,

as

1

as an Hour, a Week, a Month, or an whole Age.

I remember reading a famous Paffage in the Alcoran, which I happened to dip into one Time, when my Pappa was called from his Study in his Library to speak to a Gentleman. This Paffage (which made fuch an Impreffion on my Mind, that, I believe, I never fhall forget it) looks as if Mahomet had been poffeffed of the fame Notion I have been fpeaking of. It is there faid, that the Angel Gabriel took Mahomet out of his Bed one Morning, to give him a Sight of all Things in the seven Heavens, in Paradise, and in the Place affigned for wicked People, which the Prophet took a diftinct View of; and, after having held ninety thoufand Conferences with God, was brought back again to his Bed. All this, fays the Alcoran, was tranfacted in fo fmall à Space of Time, that Mahomet, at his Return, found his Bed ftill warm, and took up an earthen Pitcher, which was thrown down at the very Inftant that the Angel Gabriel carried him away, before the Water was all fpilt.

We

We are told, my little Schoolfellows, that Ambition is natural to our Sex, and that we fhew it in our very early Years. My Ambition is to fhew you how much I have read, and that what I have read has not been in vain, Thanks to those, into whofe careful Hands it has been my Lot to fall After this Digreffion you will permit me to proceed, and further elucidate my Subject.

There is a very pretty Story in the Turkish Tales, which relates to this Paffage of the famous Impoftor, and bears fome Affinity to the Subject I am now upon.

A Sultan of Egypt, who was an Infidel, ufed to laugh at this Circumftance in Mahomet's Life, as what was altogether impoffible and abfurd. But, converfing one Day with a great Doctor in the Law, who had the Gift of working Miracles, the Doctor told him, he would quickly convince him of the Truth of this Paffage in the Hiftory of Mahomet, if he would confent to do what he fhould defire of him.

Upon this the Sultan was directed to place himfelf by an huge Tub of Water, which he accordingly did; and, as he stood by the

Tub

Tub, amidst a Circle of his great Men, the holy Man bid him plunge his Head into the Water, and draw it up again. The King accordingly thruft his Head into the Water,

The

and at the fame Time found himself at the Foot of a Mountain on the Sea Shore. King immediately began to rage against the Doctor for his Piece of Treachery and Witchcraft; but at length, knowing it was in vain to be angry, he fet himself to think of proper Methods to get a Livelihood in this ftrange Country. Accordingly he applied himself to fome People, whom he faw at Work in a neigh

neighbouring Wood. Thefe People conducted him to the Town that flood at a little Distance from the Wood, where, after fome Adventures, he married a Woman of great Beauty and Fortune. He lived with this Woman fo long, that he had by her feven Sons and feven Daughters. He was afterwards reduced to great Want, and forced to think of plying in the Streets, like a Porter, for his Livelihood.

One Day, as he was walking alone by the Sea Side, being feized with many melancholy Reflections upon his former and his prefent State of Life, which had raised a Fit of Devotion in him, he threw off his Cloaths with a Defign to wash himself, according to the Cuftom of the Mahometans, before he said his Prayers.

After his firft Plunge into the Sea, he no fooner raised his Head above the Water, but he found himself standing by the Side of the Tub, with the great Men of his Court about him, and the holy Man at his Side. He immediately upbraided his Teacher for having fent him on fuch a Course of Adventures, and betrayed him into fo long a State of Mifery

and