my Readers, that I my self saw a Prophecy about two Months after the Battle of Hockstadt, which exactly described that great Event in all its Circumstances.  The same Prophecy foretold, that in seven Years Lewis the Fourteenth should not have Ground enough to make him a Grave; and tho’ this did not exactly come to pass, it cannot be imputed to the Ignorance of the Astrologer, but to those Counsels and Events which would not suffer the Prophecy to take Place.

I am my self a considerable Proficient in this Study, and have told several Things that have greatly surprized the Hearers.  I am consulted chiefly by the Ladies, who come to my Lodgings by Two’s and by Three’s; and it is pleasant to hear them titter, and laugh among themselves, before they venture to knock at my Door.  The young Things come in blushing, and express all the Fears and Confusions natural to Youth and Innocence:  Immediately I examine them:  One tells me, she desires to know when she shall be married; another is as importunate to learn when she shall be a Widow:  I interrupt them, by telling one, I know that she is a married Woman; and the other, that she shall soon be married.  I proceed to ask them several Questions, which they are very ingenious in answering:  And then I tell them a hundred Things, every one of which they knew to a Tittle before-hand.  The Result is, that they go away frighted and amazed at my profound Skill; and I often over-hear them saying, that He certainly must deal with the Devil, or he could not have told us such and such Circumstances.

But the Excellency of my Skill consists in giving an Account of things lost:  I would not have the Reader suppose that I descend to the trifling Study of consulting Fate, about who stole a Spoon, or what became of a straggling Thimble, Things of which the Stars take no Cognizance.  These Toys I leave to the Six-penny Philomaths of Moorfields, and the Astrologers of Grub-street:  My Enquiries are a little more sublime.  I account for Things which some lose, and no other finds; of this Nature are the Maidenheads of Women, and the Honour of Great Men.  They, who are short-sighted in the Sciences, cannot see they fly up to the Moon, from whence they never return, as the learned Ariosta discovered before me:  And therefore it is an Absurdity in our Language, and ought to be corrected, when we say of Things which we cannot account for, I know no more than the Man in the Moon.

Astrology consists of many Branches, which the Learned, who have travelled thro’ the Spheres, very well know; and every Proficient takes the Road which he likes best.  A Student, now living, has made great Discoveries concerning the Duration of this Earthly Globe; and tho’ by his Art he found out, it could not last above Ten Years, yet being a good Protestant, and to shew his great Trust in Government Securities, he purchased an Annuity for Ninety and Nine Years, and, ’tis thought, means to leave the Reversion of it to the Poor till Doomesday.