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_. * * * * * Printed for W. BOREHAM, at the _Angel_ in _Pater-Noster-Row_, where Advertisements and Letters from Correspondents are taken in. Numb. XXVI. THE THEATRE. By Sir _JOHN FALSTAFFE_. _To be Continued every_ Tuesday _and_ Saturday. Price Two-pence. _--Jam nunc debentia dici Pleraq; differat, & præsens in tempus omittat._ Hor. Saturday, _May 14. 1720._