 his
function; and being admitted, attempted to impose himself as a country squire
upon the conjurer, who calling him by his name, desired him to sit down. This
reception corresponding with the report he had heard, touching our magician's
art, the doctor said he would lay aside all dissimulation; and after having
professed an implicit belief, that his supernatural knowledge did not proceed
from any communication with evil spirits, but was the immediate gift of heaven,
he declared the intention of his coming was to inquire into the health of a good
friend and brother of his, who possessed a certain living in the country, which
he named; and, as he was old and infirm, to know what space of time was allotted
to him in this frail state of mortality, that he might have the melancholy
satisfaction of attending him in his last moments, and assisting him in his
preparations for eternity.
    The conjurer, who at once perceived the purport of this question, after a
solemn pause, during which he seemed absorpt in contemplation, delivered this
response to his consulter, »Tho' I foresee some occurrences, I do not pretend to
be omniscient. I know not to what age that clergyman's life will extend, but so
far I can penetrate into the womb of time, as to discern, that the incumbent
will survive his intended successor.« This dreadful sentence in a moment
banished the blood from the face of the appalled consulter, who hearing his own
doom pronounced, began to tremble in every joint; he lifted up his eyes in the
agony of fear, and saying, »The will of God be done,« withdrew in silent
despondence, his teeth chattering with terror and dismay.
    This client was succeeded by an old man about the age of seventy-five, who
being resolved to purchase a lease, desired to be determined in the term of
years by the necromancer's advice, observing, that as he had no children of his
own body, and had no regard for his heirs at law, the purchase would be made
with a view to his own convenience only; and therefore, considering his age, he
himself hesitated in the period of the lease, between thirty and threescore
years.
    The conjurer, upon due deliberation, advised him to double the last
specified term, because he distinguished in his features something portending
extreme old age and second childhood, and he ought to provide for that state of
incapacity, which otherwise would be attended with infinite misery and
affliction. The superannuated wretch, thunderstruck with this prediction, held
up his hands, and, in
