ALBERTUS's SECRETS OF NATURE. (Continued from Page 92.) quence; it had alfo the reputation of curing the dropfy. When a perfon has been fufpected of committing any atrocious deed, in order to elicit the fecret from him while he flept, it was THE Amethyft, which is of a purple colour, is fuppofed to prevent inebriation; which property muit great ly enhance its value and render it an invaluable acquifition to the poffeffor: our author adds, that it aids the under-cultomary to ule the Quirim, a ftone to ftanding, as does likewife the pale transparent Beryl. The Armadus is accounted an antidote against poison, befides having the property of communicating uncommon fagacity towards the interpretation of dreams, and folving of enigmatical difficulties. The Coral inheriting a virtue from that element in which it is found, is faid to allay tempefts, and to be a fafeguard to thofe who journey by water. It has morcover been used as a ftyptic. To make the fun appear of a blood-colour, fome have made ufe of a ftone called the He liotrope, which is of an emerald-green, bedropt with blood; this ftone being fmeared with the juice of an herb of the fame name, and put into a vefiel full of water, gives the fun that dusky red which is obfervable during an eclipfe. If you wish to cool water that is boiling over a fire, the Epiftrices, as has been proved by the experiments of ancient and modern philofophers, if thrown into into it will fully anfwer the intent; the ebullation is faid to cease inftantaneously. The Chelidorius is either red or black, the former being wrapped in linen or calf leather, and worn under the left arm-pit, has preferved the bearer from infanity, languor, and lethargic complaints the black fort, wrapped in a leaf of Chelandine, is thought to dim the fight. The Gagates is efteemed an earnest of victory to whoever carries it, fuppofed to be the fame Alcides ufually bore about him: it is beautifully variegated with spots. The Tabrices bearing a refemblance to cryftal was, as we are told by the ancient philofophers Evax and Aaron, in great bequest by thole who aimed at a proficiency in elo be found in the puet's neft. A method difcovered to prevent the hunters and their dags from hurting the object of their purfuit, was to throw in the way the Juperius; the perfecuted animal makes, for it directly as by instinct, in hopes of refuge This flone is common in Lybia, and has been reforted to in fuch cafes. Such is the property of the Unices, that it will burn the hand of a perfon as effectually as if he thruft it into the fire, which is done by holding it tight. To the Lapis Lazuli is attributed, the property of curing melancholy and the quartan. The Gallafia, which in colour and configuration refembles a hailftone, and in hardness vies with the diamond, is faid not to be wrought upon by heat like any other fubftance, though tried in fire of the greatest degree of intenfenefs; owing, it is fuppofed, to the parts adhering fo clofely together as to admit no warmth as others do by their porofity. The Echites, by fome called the aquiline, by reafon of its being found in the nefts of eagles; is of a purple colour, and contains within it another ftone, fo detached from the outward shell, as to be diftinctly heard, refembling a rattle, when fhaken. The teftimony of fome ancient philofophers is adduced to prove its efficacy in promoting conjugal affection, to which end it is appended to the left arm. It has been alfo thought to give relief in fits of the cpilepfy, and prevent abortion in pregnant women. By the Chaldeans is afcribed to it ano ther property not lefs fingular than the preceding; which is, that if put into victuals that have been poisoned, it prevents the eating thereof; this, fays our author, Secrets of Albertus Magnus.. author, I have had an opportunity of witneffing myself. The Hyacinth, of which there are divers forts, that of a greenish caft ftreaked with red being elteemed the beft, was ufually fet in filver, and worn on the finger or the neck by thofe who travelled much, who were fuppofed to derive many advantages from it; amongst others, that of being protected from dangers during their journey or peregrination. In former times, when a husband fufpected his lady encouraged the gallantry of another perfon, he had recourfe to the Galerites, which being put into her hand, if unchafte, it immediately operated on her as a diuretic; and was likewife thought to be efficacious in curing the dropfy. To prevent the dangerous confequences attending the bite of any venomous creature, Albertus recommends ftone, Orithes, of which there are three kinds; one black, another green, and a third of an iron hue; fmooth on one fide, and uneven on the reverfe. The Bena, fays Aaron, a feer deeply verfed in the occult fciences, is effentially neceffary to all who pretend to any proficiency in divination. In Spain, according to the teltimony of 119 Ifiodorus, is found a ftone, by name the Iithmios, which renders any thing incombuftible. A modern author, from motives it fhould feem of the purest humanity, wilhes that its virtue was communicated to gun-powder, fpirituous. liquors, and female conftitutions. By means of the flone Iris, a rain-bow may be imitated; it refembles crystal, is of a fquare figure, and being held in the rays of the fun, produces the appearance of an arch with all the colours beautifully fhaded, which are diftinguifhable in the natural bow decorated by the hand of the fupreme Being. In order to discover the fecret thoughts of a perfon, the black Seratides was used by the ancients; and if their veracitymay be depended upon, that stone being kept in the mouth, imparted an extraordinary thare of fagacity. Such was the property attributed to the Saunus, that being applied to the hand of a woman in travail, it affuaged her pains, but retarded the birth, for which reafon, when obftetric afliftance could not immediately be procured, the advantage of being poffeffed of fuch a ftone is obvious. (To be continued.) jec pa. THE ENGLISH FORTUNE-TELLER, NO III. WE promifed in our laft Number, to introduce questions proper to the fi tuations of young men; accordingly, we mean to vary the fex alternately, till we have filled up our career. Young men are as often in want of advice as young women, and though the vernal heat is kindled in their veins later than in thofe of the other fex, it burns for that reafon the fiercer, and wants the inore to be cooled by good advice. Such ought then to remember, that neither fortune nor wisdom are to be fought for with a rafh eagernefs; fince difappointment attends inconfideration, and turbulence hinders memory from reflecting on the fituation of things around us, and retaining falutary advice. Strong paflions too eagerly purfued render a man unfit to look into futurity; they only darken a cloudy profpect, already too dark to ditcover the rays of feaion: but fteady wifdom may be let into the fecrets of the morrow; it may even deferve that the veil fhould be till farther removed. Thus nature has very wifely ordained that the weak-fighted fhould not be dazzled by too much light; and thus the book of our future deftiny is hid from the eyes of the generality of mankind. Let thofe therefore who approach the facred porch of prophecy, come with awe and reverence, with Reafon for their guide; and fhewing the vifible marks of a laudable emulation to acting what is right, which is always beft known by the command they appear to have SECRETS IN OCCULT PHILOSOPHY. Receipt, to know how any relation, abfent friend, or acquaintance does, during their abfence, or if travelling into any other country. IT is well known, nature has a fecret communication within herself through all her works, and the occult principle If you is found in human nature, as well as in vitriol A Wonderful Secret. vitriol or fpirits of wine, and keep it clofe ftopped up in a glafs from the air; now if your friend is well, the blood will look lively, fresh and florid; but on the contrary, if he is ill, or the leaft thing indifpofed, you may perceive it by the changing colour of the blood, 'which will immediately happen according as he is difeafed in his body. If the blood gains a redder hue, you may pronounce him in a fever, but if it grows paler and feems mixed with water, and to part in different colours, his fickness is dangerous, and he is reduced to the laft ftage of weakness. And after this indifpofition if he recovers his health, the blood will again look fresh and lively as at first; but unfortu nately, fhould death enfue, the blood will putrify and ftink accordingly, jutt as the reft of the body decays. has been proved feveral times, as Dr. Blagrave in his Aftrological Phyfic reports, and the fame effects have been produced with Sir Kenelm Digby's ympathetic powder, which will cure wounds at a distance, being applied to fome of the fresh blood collected there from. This Way to know each other's mind at a distance, by fympathy of motion; a fecret from the works of the Honourable Robert Boyle. LET there be two needles made of the fame iron wire, at the fame time, and touched by the fame load-ftone; let them be framed north and fouth, when the D is in to ♂ and applying to one of the fortunes. The needles fo made, place them in a concave box each by itfelf; then make two circles answerable to the diameters of the needles, divide them into twenty four equal parts, according to the number of letters in the alphabet; then place the letters in order round each circle. Now when you defire to make known each other's mind, the day and hour being first concluded on, you must place your boxes with the needles properly fufpended therein, then having VOL. 1. 121 pen, ink and paper in readiness, and with each party a loadstone, he that intends firft to begin, muft with his loadftone gently caufe the needle to move from one letter unto another, till a word is perfected, according to which motion the other needle will turn. After a small stay they must begin another word, and fo forward until his mind is known; which being done, the other friend with his loadstone muft do as before; moving gently from letter to letter, until he has returned answer accordingly. This has held fo true when rightly managed, that hundreds of pounds have been won in the late Irish Lotteries. Receipt to make the Sympathetical Powder, from Sir Kenelm Digby; for curing wounds at a diflance, without feeing the party injured. TAKE fix ounces of roman vitriol, pound it in a mortar and fearse it fine. Dr. Blagrave recommends this to be done when is in S, which ufually happens about the middle of July; then spread it fine upon a earthen glazed difh, and expofe it for forty days to the diurnal heat of the fun, and be careful it gets no damp at nights. With this powder alone, great cures have been performed; and though it failed in the inftance of the perfidious Count Konickmark, that failure cannot be attributed to its want of efficacy, but to the unfkilfulness of the preparer, or it was the will of the all difpofer of things to fet the fympathetic property afide for that time, for no cures whatever can be performed without divine auxilliarifm. Dr. Butler relates various inftances of its wonderful effect. A brother of his, living at Southcote, near Reading, had a mastiff dog fhot in the neck with a brace of bullets; the animal being very much fwelled, lay pining away, and was in appearance near expiring. A gentleman coming by accidentally, having fome of this powder about him, immediately made trial thereof upon this dog; and taking fome of the runQ ning 122 Ufe of Sympathetic Powder. ning matter with blood from the wound, which was in his neck, applied a fmall quantity of the powder to it, keeping it warm; whereupon prefently the dog feemed to revive, ftood up and appeared very grateful for the cafe procured him; then prefently for further trial, they laid the powder and corrupted blood and matter to the open air, and then the dog fhivered and feemed dying, but immediately clofing it up again, and afterwards keeping it warm, the dog in a fhort time recovered. The late Mr. Canton, mafter of the Academy in Spital-Square, read a paper to the Royal Society, upon a new method of preparing this powder, which he made moftly from oyiter-fhells calcined, a particular receipt for which we fhall give in a future Number. Ufe and application of this wonderful Powder. It is not to be imagined that other proper methods of cure are to be neglected though this powder is at hand; but it is a valuable fecret, and if well managed, much good may refult therefrom, and it will certainly aid the effect of other applications. Mixed with a little of the patient's blood, and worn about their neck, it will remove habitual fits. Inveterate agues have been cured therewith in the following manner; mix a fmall quantity of the patient's blood with this powder, and a like quantity of herbs fuitable to the cure in powder alfo, and gathered at the right planetary hour; make them up together in a fmall bag made of fheep-fkin, and wear it juft over the pit of the ftomach, and it will infallibly deftroy the complaint. I have known, fays Culpepper, a great number of people fuppofc fumething fuperftitious and contrary to good contained in the form and making ute of this method of cure; but what can be faid for the folly of fome people who cannot difcern lawful from unlawful things. I have known, fays Dr. Bla grave, in his Aftrologion Practice of Phyfic, an obftinate ague cured by nothing effe but wearing the name of our Saviour written upon a bit of vellum in Hebrew characters, about them a certain time, and then. burning it. A grocer, in a capital line within the memory of many, in the City, and near the Bank, cured numbers of all conditions and ages, of agues, by giving them only a paper fealed up, charging them not to open it upon any condition, but after a certain number of days, to bury it in a fecret place in fome field, where no animal might come at it. This gentleman was reported to be the feventh fon of a feventh fon, which genealogy is very rare, (1o be continued.) An account of fome natural effects produced by their contraries, from a fcarce French work entitled Effets Merveilleux, printed at Amsterdam, in 1704, 12mo. HOW many natural effects do we fee daily produced by their contraries? Thus it is that poifons are ingrédients in the compofition of the most excellent antidotes. The oils of tartar, and vitriol, mixed together, grow hot and boil, though feparately cold. A pafte, made with equal parts of filings of iron and fulphur, takes fire when fprinkled with common water. A piece of unflacked lime, which is cold, receives a brifk heat by the mixture of water, which is ftill colder. During the preparation of lime, heat breaks in the calcination the fibres of the ftones, forms in them new pores, and enlarges thofe they had before. Thofe pores and interftices are filled up with fome fubtile matter and igneous bodies. When the lime begins to cool, the external air penetrates into feveral pores, and is condented therein by the fhrinking in of the parts one upon another. The fubtile matter and igneous particles trive to diffolve thofe ærial condenfed parts, but want for that purpofe foine degrees of force. The agitation of the water that penetrates with imp |