fhew them the mysteries of his nature and providence by an intuitive view, and thus inspire them to write, fpeak, and think; to reveal what is hid, and foretel what is future, in a fupernatural manner. For this reason it is that holy Writ calls the Prophets, the Seers, because their intellectual eyes were opened to fee into the invifible world, and discover many wonders of Providence, paft, prefent, and future.

*****

AN ACCOUNT OF AN EXTRAORDINARY CHILD.

ON

N the 14th of March, 1729, was born Charles, the fon of Richard Charlesworth, a Carrier at Longnor, in the county of Stafford. At his birth he was under the common fize; but he grew amazingly fast, that by the time he was four years old, he was near four feet high, and in ftrength, agility, and bulk equal to a fine boy of ten years old. At five, he was four feet feven inches high, and could with ease carry a man of fourteen stone weight; and worked as a man at his father's bufinefs. This was the time of his full vigour, from whence he began gradually to decrease in ftrength like a man in the decline of life. At the age of feven years, his ftrength was gone; his body was totally emaciated, his eyes were funk, and he died with all the figns of extreme old age.

The above is extracted from the account publifhed by Mr. Smith, a Surgeon, of the fame place, and transmitted to the Royal Society.

A WONDERFUL ACCOUNT GIVEN BY DR. CHEYNE.

SOME

OME time ago Dr. Baynard and I were called in to Colonel Townshend, a gentleman of honour and integrity, who was feized with violent vomitings. We attended him twice a day;

but

but his vomitings continuing obftinate against all remedies, we defpaired of his recovery. While he was in this condition, he fent for us one morning: and waiting on him, with Mr. Shrine, his Apothecary, we found his fenfes clear, his mind calm, and his nurfe and feveral fervants about him. He told us, he had fent for us, to give us fome account of an odd fenfation, he had for fome time obferved in himfelf; which was, that compofing himself, he could die or expire when he pleafed, and yet fome how come to life again; we could hardly believe the fact, much lefs give any account of it; unless he fhould pleafe to make the experiment before us. He continued to talk above a quarter of an hour about this furprising fenfation, and infifted on our feeing the trial made. We all three felt his pulfe firft; it was diftin&t, though fmall, and his heart had its ufual beating. He compofed himfelf on his back, and lay in`a ftill pofture fome time; while I held his right hand, Dr. Baynard laid his hand on his heart; and Mr. Shrine held a clean looking-glafs to his mouth. I found his pulfe fink gradually, till at last I could not feel any. Dr. Baynard could not feel the leaft motion in his heart, nor Mr. Shrine the leaft foil of breath on the mirror. Then each of us by turns examined his arm, heart, and breath, but could not difcover the leaft fymptom of life. Finding that he ftill continued in that condition, we began to conclude that he had carried the experiment too far, and was actually dead. This continued about half an hour. As we were going away, we obferved fome motion about the body, and upon examination, found his pulfe and the motion of his heart gradually returning; he began to breathe gently, and speak foftly: we were all aftouifhed to the laft degree, and after fome further converfation with him, went away fully fatisfied; but confounded and puzzled, and not able to form any rational scheme that might account for it.

An

An EXTRACT from THREE DIALOGUES.

[By a late Author.]

DIALOGUE I

**

TWO gentlemen whom we will call Calliftus and Sophronius were fellow-collegians at the University; where, though their difpofitions and characters were not very similar, they foon appeared fo agreeable to each other, that a fhort intimacy produced thofe cordial fentiments of friendship which young minds are eager to indulge.

It was no wonder that Sophronius was charmed with Calliftus; for he seemed to have been formed by nature to engage all hearts: his perfon was beautiful, his carriage graceful, his manners gentle and obliging, his temper fprightly; which with a great deal of wit, rarely at variance with a great deal of goodnature, made his converfation much admired.

Sophronius had nothing about him ftriking; his perfon was agreeable, but not handfome, his manner plain and fimple, his understanding solid, but not shining, his temper easy and cheerful, but not gay; in every thing he said and did, he was fure to be approved, though feldom applauded. Calliftus proved that with all his vivacity he wanted not judgment, by dif tinguishing Sophronius from all his acquaintance, amongst whom there was none who had so just a title to his eftcem.

Four years were our young friends much the happier, and better, for their reciprocal affection; for the fprightliness of Calliftus enlivened the serious difpofition of Sophronius; whilft the gravity of the latter served to keep that sprightliness within proper bounds.

T

Calliftus was the heir of a family of high rank and fortune; and his father died about this time, contented with the hopes, his fon's behaviour gave him, that he would make a proper use of the large eftate he was going to leave him.

This melancholy event separated the two friends; but they comforted themselves with the prospect of meeting again at London in the winter, whither Sophronius was foon to repair, in order to prosecute his ftudies in a profeffion which his father's fuccessful industry recommended to him.

Calliftus has now fix thousand pounds a year entirely at his own difpofal; and Sophronius is fettled in the Temple; from whence he is often hurried by Calliftus, who could not enjoy thofe amusements to which his fortune, his youth, and the fashion of the times invited him, without a participation with his dear Sophronius.

Thus paffed another year: by which time Sophronius's father alfo died. He now found himself poffeffed of five hundred pounds a year, and as his defires were moderate, and his inclination led him to other ftudies, he determined to decline the profeffion of the law, and enjoy the retirement of a country life, to which his genius ftrongly inclined him.

Once more our friends must part; but they parted not with the fame fevere regret as before: Calliftus had now found out many ingenious arts to confole himself for the lofs of a fingle friend; and Sophronius could collect several confiderations to induce him to bear the being torn from his fociety, with patience; notwithstanding which, he took a fad, and folemn teave of Calliftus. Alas! it was a long, a laft farewel to his Calliftus, to that amiable Callistus whom he had loved at College. Riches, pleasures, admiration, flattery, fashion, and the contagion of that fort of fociety which his prefent fituation had thrown him into, by degrees got the better of education, conviction, and that love of virtue, which had formerly warmed his heart; and he was now metamorphofed from the amiable, she worthy Calliftus to--the Man of Fashion. Time fometimes

threw

threw his friend in his way; but he faw him not with that joy with which he used to meet him; confcious that he no longer could demand his esteem, the fight of Sophronius feemed only to reproach him with what he had been, so that his pride foon taught him to avoid as much as poffible that mortification.

Many years had now paffed, during which Sophronius had had little or no communication with Calliftus, when one day he was surprised with a letter, delivered by a fervant, in his livery.

The Letter was as follows:

My dear Friend,

INDULGE me in the pleasure of calling you fo, though I have no right to expect that you will anfwer to that appellation-And yet fuffer me to act in this one inftance as if I thought I had; it is the last time I fhall offend fo much against modesty and you, as to demand a favour of you. Hasten to the relief of one who expects you with all the eagerness of a dying man, who has no other comfort left to hope.

Once more I will fubfcribe myfelf

Most affectionately your

CALLISTUS.

P. S. To fhew you the confidence I have in your goodness, I have sent you a carriage to convey you to me.

Sophronius immediately prepared to depart. On his arrival, he found his friend pale and emaciated, with a countenance the picture of forrow and despair: the fad fight revived all the tenderness of Sophronius, and he flew to his embrace with all the affection he had ever felt for him. They continued locked in each others arms, too much moved to speak, until Sophronius felt Calliftus finking from him; he immediately conveyed him to the eafy chair from whence he was juft risen, and placed himself by him.

VOL. IX.

F

Calliftus