quainted with this subject than the tain with only four hundred a year. Chancellor of the Exchequer; and I Fortunately for me my wife had hope that he will not learn it by the some spirit, and luckily my furniture, same experience I have had." Here horses, and wine, produced a suffiwe all smiled, but the squire to our cient sum to hire a decent house, and astonishment went gravely on: "You a few acres of land in Wales, where may smile," says he, but I shall we lived, and for the next twenty not go back from my assertion, and years lived upon the produce of that I shall repeat it, that I know as much farm and two hundred a year from my of this matter of finance as the Chan- own estate. The remaining eight cellor of the Exchequer." hundred a year was devoted to the

It would be very odd if I did payment of my debts. At the end of not," he continued, for I began to these twenty years I returned back to learn it when I was of his age; and you, my debt being reduced to five thirty odd years have passed over my thousand four hundred pounds. My head since I took my first lesson. steward and lawyer, in the mean You shall judge for yourselves. You time, had been so careful of my promay remember my settling in life: perty, that the leases made at the I was about the same age as Lord beginning of my misfortunes, were Henry Petty, had been educated at long, and on my return home I found the same College, and given more at- but few expiring. My stay in Wales tention to Greek and Latin authors, gave me some little insight into the whom I have now entirely forgotten; value of land, and the year after my than to arithmetic and the rule of arrival, an estate, let at only a hunthree. I thought myself, I recollect, dred a year, fell in. I sold it instantly, very clever, because I could make a and was blamed by all my neighbours; tolérable Latin declamation, and a but I did not tell them, that the sale miserable copy of verses. With this cleared me of all my debts, and put stock of knowledge I married; and four hundred pounds into my pocket. you may remember my setting off. "I had now only nine hundred a My estate was a clear thousand a year, year, and marriageable children, but and I thought it necessary to live up borrowed no more. Another estate to fifteen hundred a year. What sig- of a hundred a year fell in, and was nities, said I to myself, I can borrow sold at a still better rate than the last. five hundred pounds upon my landed My neighbours blamed me, but I security; and if I set apart a hundred a gave to my two daughters, who were year to pay interest and principal, married on the same day, each three it will be soon paid off. The next thousand pounds as a marriage poryear I borrowed another five hun- tion. My income was now reduced dred; and so on I went, living away to eight hundred a year, but this was very pleasantly for the first seven affluence to my wife and me, who years after marriage; though my had lived in Wales; and the next spending money was gradually dimi- estate at a hundred a year, that fell in, nishing, and you may remember it was sold, and produced five thousand was found expedient that I should pounds for my younger son, set him take a trip into Wales for the sake of up in business, and paid all the colthe clear air on its mountains, and lege and temple bills of young hopeother conveniences. ful, my presumed heir, who out of

"The fact was, that the habit and my income, now reduced to seven facility of borrowing had induced a hundred a year, had the modesty to habit and facility of spending; and expect two hundred and fifty for his in both I was very kindly assisted by animal expences. I did not grudge my wife, my attorney, and my stew- the young rogue the money; but let ard. At the end then of seven years, him have that sum and a bonus of instead of my presumed additions of fifty pounds besides.

five hundred a year of debt, I found Thus were my wife and I cut that the debt amounted to twelve down to four hundred a year, but thousand pounds, bearing interest at our prospects were brightening; every six hundred pounds a year, and that I year saw a lease run out, and my rehad a wife and four children to main- maining lands have been so well let, UNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. VII.

2 F

that my income is near fifteen hun- led, make their fortunes, there is none dred a year; and young hopeful is set- whose history is more amusing than tled with eight hundred a year of it that of the Abbe Primi; a man of for his fortune, of which I leave him extraordinary spirit, and concerning to make the most, for the rest of my whom the following particulars are property will be divided amongst my here transcribed from a work of conother children. Now judge," said siderable merit.

the old gentleman, "whether I ought

not to know as much of finance as The Abbe Primi was born at our young Chancellor of the Ex- Bologna; and was the son of a capchequer." maker. Beside a good figure, he pos

We all nodded assent, and begged sessed a lively wit, and a determined his opinion of the grand schemes of resolution to make his fortune. With finance. "I will tell it you," he re- this intention he came into France, plied: "all those tables that the and at Lyons took his place in the young Chancellor has published for diligence for Paris. One of his felyour amusement, are not worth one low-travellers happened to be a man farthing. He has made a loan for of talent, named Duval, who took a this year of fourteen millions. The liking to Primi. Among the travelnation will redeem in the course of lers was one whose person was so of the year, by its sinking fund, eight fensive, that the others heartily wish millions five hundred thousand ed to get rid of him. Duval attempted pounds. Of course at the end of the this service, and making use of Primi, year, the national debt will be in- after having concerted the scheme creased five millions five hundred together, he inquired of Primi whethousand pounds. The next year the ther any credit might be given to the debt will be still farther increased; rumour current in France, that there and when the time will come for were persons in Italy who could forediminishing this debt, God only tell what would happen to an indiviknows. It may amuse the young dual by only seeing his hand-writing? Chancellor to talk about such a time; Primi answered, that although he but no one can tell what the national could not take upon him to affirm the income will be seven years hence, absolute infallibility of this art, yet it and who may then preside over the was often practised successfully; and finances. My experience tells me, that he himself having made this that if you place young men in such kind of study an amusement, had sela situation, they cannot fail at the end dom failed of informing persons, of that time to have learned some- from the inspection of their handthing, if they will but study, as I did, writing, what actually had happened, the doctrine of compound interest: or what would happen to them. but, if they trust to the underlings of Duval appearing somewhat emoffice for calculations of schemes, boldened by the modesty of Primi, they will be just as wise at going out shewed him his hand-writing. After of, as they were on coming into, the having carefully examined it, the cabinet." Here we all laughed, and Italian enumerated, at great length, the good old squire took his pipe and a variety of extraordinary events, dishis punch, and resumed his usual eases, successions, and gallantries:

these Duval acknowledged to be true as to the past, and therefore he trusted T. HEARTY. in the truth of what was foretold him. The other travellers also submitted their writing to the inspection of Primi, who related to them what had

FORTUNE TELLING.
HE court of Lewis the Four-

THE teerth abounded in remarkable already befallen them, which they

characters and occurrences. Among acknowledged, and foretold what the most memorable and successful awaited them, which they affected to of those adventurers who resorted to believe. The stinkard, surprized at Paris during the reign of this mo- what he had heard, spurred on by his narch, in order to acquire celebrity curiosity, and convinced by the suc and riches, or, as it is commonly cal- cess of Primi, shewed him bis hand

writing, intreating his prediction of of Soissons, especially, patronized what awaited him. Primi's counte- him, and having a strong inclination nance fell in perusing it, and he re- to intrigue, it is extremely probable turned the paper, saying only, that that she entered into this of Primi. "he hoped he was mistaken." The Madame of France visited Primi, who party so strongly urged further expla- related to her with great particularity nation, that Primi at length acknow- the events of her life; and even spoke ledged, that the journey he was then without reserve of her then connec taking would prove fatal to him, and tions with the Comte de Guiche, that he would be assassinated at Paris, which so effectually surprised her, Besides being infective, as already that she described Primi to the King mentioned, this man was suspicious as a most extraordinary man, and and cowardly. He reflected on the pressed his Majesty to send his handpredictions he had heard, and fearing writing for his opinion. After reto come to an untimely end, he quit- peated solicitations, Louis gave a bilted the carriage, and returned to his let apparently of his own writing, home. which Madame instantly communiDelighted with the riddance, and cated to Pimi, who, on seeing it, the success of the plan, Duval com- pronounced it to be the wilting of plimented Primi, adding, that his ta- an old miser, of a curmudgeon, of a lents could not fail of attaining dis- man, in short, incapable of any thing tinction, if he would follow a course handsome and becoming. that might be traced out for him. The astonishment of Madame Primi promised docility, and Duval, was extreme, at finding her forwhen arrived at Paris, presented him tune-teller thus mistaken; she to the Abbé de la Beaume, afterwards took away the billet, assuring him Archbishop of d'Embrun, who was that for once he was completely a handsome man, with pleasing man- wrong, but the Italian maintained ners, and a well cultivated mind. He that he was perfectly correct. Mawas also well received among the dame gave the billet back to the women, and of very general acquaint- King, repeating the affirmation of ance with them, especially with Hen- Primi. The monarch was astonished tietta of England. in his turn, and the more, as this bilThe Abbé de la Baume, after let which he had given as his own several conferences with Primi, per- writing, was, in fact, the writing of ceiving in his cunning, in his boldness, M. le Président Rose, secretary of the even in his jargon compounded of cabinet, who so well counterfeited Italian and French, the materials for the hand-writing of Louis, that the imposition, shut him up during six King commissioned him to answer weeks without suffering him to see many things, which answers he inany body but the Duke de Vendome, tended should pass for his own writing. and the Great Prior of France, his This Primi knew from M. de Venbrother, to whom he introduced him. dome; and, moreover, M. Rose was They employed the time of this seclu- accused of all the faults with which sion in teaching the Italian the gene- Primi had charged the writer of the alogies of the principal persons, their billet. connections, friendships, amours, ri- The King, intent on clearing p valships, hatreds, &c. and when they the mystery, directed Bontemps, his thought him sufficiently instructed, confidential valet de chambre, to the Abbé de la Bauine reported bring the Italian the next day into his among his acquaintance that he knew cabinet, whom he thus addressed: an Italian to whom the past and the " Primi, I have only two words to future were perfectly well known, say-your secret-which I will pay merely from a sight of the hand- for with a pension of two thousand writing. Men and women, the court livres-or else-hanging!" The penand the city, crowded to Primi, and all sion having more attractions for the returned astonished at his answers, believing what he foretold of the future, on the strength of what he revealed of the past. The Countess

Italian than the cord, he diverted the
King with the history of his departure
from Bologna, his adventure in the
Lyons coach, the expulsion of his of-

name he is mentioned by the poet J. B. Rousseau. He married the daughter of the celebrated printer Frederic Leonard; and lived at Paris.

fensive fellow traveller, his connection with Duval, those with the Abbé de la Baume, and Messrs. de Vendome, his six weeks seclusion; in short, the whole secret of his preparation, and the various pleasant scenes Having directed the reader's attenwhich his assumed character had tion to the curious history of the opened to him, with whatever else Abbe Primi, I am induced to offer a the King desired to know. After few observations on the business of this interview with the Italian, the fortune-tellers, as it is called in geKing went to the Queen's apartment, neral, and on the avidity with which and there reported before the whole their predictions have sometimes been court, After having long resisted the received and acted upon. Without request that I would see Primi, I have restricting myself to any particular at last yielded, and am just come department of this art, whether effrom this extraordinary man, and I fected by the agency of familiar spimust acknowledge, that he has been rits, by judicial astrology, by visions, telling me things which no being of by sudden and supernatural impres his king has ever before revealed to sions on the mind, by physiognomical any body. All the world perceived indications, by palmistry, by cups, or in this report of his Majesty, addi- by cards, without attempting to elutional proofs of the singular powers cidate or describe these various meof Primi; his reputation increased, thods of augury, I shall endeavour to and with it his expectations of fortune. consider this subject so as to interest The Abbé Primi continued this and amuse others. deception some time: he afterwards What illustrious names appear on attempted to occupy a more serious the list of those who have, in some situation, by writing the history of way or other, imagined it possible for the actions of Louis XIV. Louvois human beings to obtain a knowledge permitted him to accompany the of future events! Saul, the first army in the war against the Dutch. anointed sovereign of Israel, who He composed the history of the first consulted the witch of Endor, alcampaign, which was printed in though he was expressly commanded Italian. This little book is sufficiently by God not to suffer such a character ill-written, but is remarkable for the to live in his dominions: the Princes detailing too minutely not to be under- who sent for Balaam to curse the stood, the private negociations be- Israelites: several of the most emitween Charles II. of England and nent generals and statesmen, if the his sister, concluded by the profoundly history of them is to be credited, of secret treaty of Dover, 1070. This the ancient world; and, in times more transaction had been kept so per- recent, Lord Bacon, Dryden, Dr. fectly, that M. de Croissi, then minis- Johnson. ter for foreign affairs, no sooner saw this book, than, struck with the novelty, he brought it to the Council. The King affected surprise, sent Primi to the Bastille, seized his papers, &c. This was in July 1682; but in December Primi was released, and at quitting his prison received an ample gratification paid down.-Thus did Louis vent his spite against his former intimate, Charles, who was now, by the voice of his people and his parliament, detached from his subjection to the French Monarque.

Primi afterwards changed his name, called himself Visconti, Comte de St. Mayol and Ammonio. Under this

Napoleon of France, amidst the pride of military renown, has declared, even at the present enlightened era, that he acts on the persuasion of bis being predestined to arise and attain supreme power, in order to carry into effect the designs of Heaven. When engaged in the campaigns in Egypt, it was his boast that he had accom plished the predicted overthrow of the papacy; and lately, when at Paris, he avowed himself commissioned to restore the scattered jews to the land of their forefathers.

The writer of the Revolutionary Piutarch has distinctly affirmed that this influential persuasion, on the

March 11, 1907.

part of their founder, pervades the persons are the instruments elected whole of the family of Bonaparte; for the accomplishment of those and inspires them with confidence in events, you have done mach towards their fate, at least to a certain extent. effecting the obiects orignally proHe also reports, that the female posed. Even a Brothers acquired his branches of the new dynasty habitu- converts, and his followers. ally consult certain persons who profess to divine the secrets of futurity! Perhaps I may hereafter resuNAS Such a spirit of prophetic activity is this topic, to which I was stimulated not to be despised. Men may re- by the adventures of Abbe Primi, but ject the source whence it is derived, upon which I have at present forborne but they cannot always ridicule the to expatiate more at length. I have consequences which it produces. If adverted to the influence of Predicyou can once induce a great por- tions on Political Society, though it tion of mankind to believe that Di- remains to consider their effects on vine Providence has ordained certain common Life. events, and that such a description of

LITERARY COMMON-PLACE BOOK.

LEWIS THE 14th. Speaking of the is, the loss of her political indepen

circumstances which introduced dence, and of her national existence. the Reformation in Religion, this mo- SOCIAL SERPENTS! - Mr. Bruce, narch, addressing his son, makes the in a letter written by him from Alfollowing important concession--"As giers, while he was consul there, defar as I could understand," observes tailing the particulars of a most perithe King, "the ignorance of church- lous excursion made by him into the men in former centuries, their lux- interior of Africa, gives the following ury, their debauchery, the bad exam- interesting account of a people who ples they set, and which of course they resided in caves underground." Me. were compelled to tolerate in others; las says of these, that they lived in in short, the abuses of every kind they caves and lived upon serpents: if," connived at, in the conduct of indiví- adds Mr. B., "he had said fed toge duals, contrary to the rules and known ther with serpents, his description decisions of the Church, have contri- would have been just; for there are buted, more than any thing else, to so many in every habitation, and sơ the deep wounds it has received from familiar, that at each meal they come schism and heresy." and pick up what falls from the table, Concerning the popular judgment like dogs. Some of them are seven he justly affirms, that “It is not in feet in length, but to these people so the power of the multitude to dis- harmless that, even trod upon accicover a falsehood skilfully disguised, dentally, they do not sting; and there and when it is concealed among a is not any person of the family who number of undeniable truths." will not with their hands lift them POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE.—“Far out of the way, when sleeping or in be from me the idea," says M. F. any manner troublesome. No perAncillon, in his judicious work enti- suasion, nor reward, could induce tled Tableau des Révolutions du Sys- them to let me carry away one of téme Politique de L'Europe depuis la them; it being universally believed fin de Quinzième Siècle, " of les- that they are a kind of good angels, sening the natural horror which war whom it would be the highest proinspires, and in which I participate priety, and of the worst consequence with all the friends of humanity! I to the community, to remove fro.n desire only to prove that, in the ge- their dwellings."

neral chain of events, good may some- Dr. JOSEPH PRIESTLEY. -Carefully times arise from that destructive avoiding any reference to the opinions, Scourge: peace is, and always will be, whether polemical or political, which, the first of earthly blessings. But a were promulgated by this distinnation ought never to forget that guished writer, I shall glem, from there is an evil greater than war-it the life of him published by his son,