This prejudiced the world so much at first, that several
of my friends had the assurance to ask me whether I were in jest?
To which I only answered coldly, that the event would shew. But
it is the talent of our age and nation, to turn things of the
greatest importance into ridicule. When the end of the year had
verified all my predictions, out comes Mr. Partridge's almanack,
disputing the point of his death; so that I am employed, like the
general who was forced to kill his enemies twice over, whom a
necromancer had raised to life. If Mr. Partridge has practised
the same experiment upon himself, and be again alive, long may he
continue so; that does not in the least contradict my veracity:
But I think I have clearly proved, by invincible demonstration,
that he died at farthest within half an hour of the time I
foretold, and not four hours sooner, as the above-mentioned
author, in his letter to a lord, hath maliciously suggested, with
design to blast my credit, by charging me with so gross a
mistake.
_______________________________________
A famous prediction of Merlin, the British wizard.
Written above a thousand years ago, and relating to the year
1709, with explanatory notes.
Last year was publish'd a paper of predictions, pretended to be
written by one Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq; but the true design of it
was to ridicule the art of astrology, and expose its professors
as ignorant or impostors.
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