fufpeud their Judgments till then. I was once of the Opinion with thafe who despise all Predictions from the Stars, till in the Year 1686, a Man of Quality fhew'd me written in his Album, That the most learned Aftronomer Captain H. affur'd him, He would never believe any thing of the Stars influence, if there were not a great Revolution in England in the Year 1688. Since that Time I began to have other Thoughts, and after eighteen Years diligent Study and Application, I think I have no reason to repent of my Pains. I fhall detain the Reader no longer than to let him know, that the Account I design to give of next Years Events shall take in the principal Affairs that happen in Europe; and if I be denied the Liberty of offering it to my own Country, I shall appeal to the Learn'd World, by publishing it in Latin, and giving order to have it printed in Holland.

FINIS

:

THE

ACCOMPLISHMENT

Of the First of

Mr. Bickerstaff's Predictions.

Being an

ACCOUNT

Of the Death of

Mr.PARTRIGE, the Almanack-maker.

Upon the 29th Inftant.

In a Letter to a Perfon of Honour.

Written in the Year, 1708.

My LORD,

I'

Ń Obedience to your Lordship's Commands, as well as to fatisfie my own Curiofity, I have for fome Days past enquired conftantly after Partrige, the Almanack-maker, of whom it was foretold in Mr. Bicker

Staff's

Staff's Predictions, publish'd about a Month ago, that he should die the 29th Instant about II at Night, of a Raging Fever. I had fome fort of Knowledge of him when I was employ'd in the Revenue, because he used every Year to prefent me with his Almanack, as he did other Gen tlemen, upon the Score of fome little Gratuity we gave him: I faw him accidentally once or twice about 10 Days before he died, and obferved he began very much to Droop and Languish, tho' I hear his Friends did not feem to apprehend him in any Danger. About Two or Three Days ago he grew Ill, was confin'd first to his Chamber, and in a few Hours after to his Bed, where Dr. Cafe and Mrs. Kirleus were fent for to Vifit and to Prescribe to him. Upon this Intelligence I fent thrice every Day one Servant or other to enquire after his Health; and yesterday, about Four in the Afternoon, Word was brought me that he was past Hopes; upon which I prevailed with my felf to go and fee him,. partly out of Commiferation, and, I con

་

fels,

:

The

fels, partly out of Curiofity. He knew me very well, feem'd furprized at my Condescention, and made me Compliments upon it as well as he could in the Condition he was. People about him faid he had been for fome Hours delirious; but when I faw him he had his Understanding as well as ever I knew, and spoke Strong and Hearty, without any feeming Uneafiness or Conftraint. After I had told him how forry I was to fee him in those Melancholy Circumftances, and faid fome other Civilities, fuitable to the Occafion, I defired him to tell me freely and ingenuously whether the Predictions Mr. BickerStaff had publish'd relating to his Death had not too much affected and work'd on his Imagination. He confefs'd he had often had it in his Head, but never with much Apprehenfion till about a Fortnight before; fince which Time it had the perpetual Poffeffion of his Mind and Thoughts, and he did verily believe was the true Natural Caufe of his prefent Di ftemper: For, faid he, I am throughly perfwaded, and I think I have.

very

very good Reasons, that Mr. Bickerftaff spoke altogether by Guefs, and knew no more what will happen this Year than I did my felf. I told him his Difcourfe furprized me and I would be glad he were in a State of Health to be able to tell me what Reafon he had to be convinced of

Mr. Bickerstaff's Ignorance. He reply'd, I am a poor Ignorant Fellow, Bred to a Mean Trade, yet I have Senfe enough to know that all Pretences of foretelling by Aftrology are Deceits, for this manifeft Reafon because the Wife and the Learned, who can only know whether there be any Truth in this Science, do all unanimously agree to laugh at and defpife it; and none but the Poor, Ignorant, Vulgar, give it any Credit, and that only upon the Word of such filly Wretches as I and my Fellows, who can hardly Write or Read. I then ask'd him why he had not Calculated his own Nativity, to fee whether it agreed with Bickerstaff's Prediction? At which he fhook his Head. and faid, O! Sir, this is no Time for Jefting, but for Repenting those Foole