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PREFACE.

ALTHOUGH the idea of the following Tale owes its origin to a domestic calamity that happened in a family residing in *** *** Square, a material departure from the occurrence has been made to serve a moral purpose. The violent death of a member of this family was foretold by an Astrologer, whose fame was considerably raised by the unhappy fidelity of his prediction.

From this circumstance, it will appear that Superstition is twin born with ourselves, and will ever reign with an undiminished sway over the mind. Education cannot check its attack; and intellect, however great, seems inadequate to the task. It is a wrong supposition to imagine that the influence of this feeling was more predominant in the middle ages than at the present day; for if its effects are not so openly seen, it is because the cunning derived from our education teaches us to dissemble such sentiments for fear of exposing ourselves to the arrows of ridicule and satire. And if a proof were further needed, we have only to refer to the columns of the daily papers, in which may be found stated the cases of innumerable impostors, who have been brought to the bar of justice for examination.

The object of this work is to expose the fallacy of all pretended power in the arts of divination by means of celestial influence; also, to shew the danger resulting from a too foolish confidence

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in such predictions; and although in some respects the character of Sir Andrew Sagittarius may be surcharged for the sake of imparting a greater effect, it has nevertheless its foundation in reality.

THE AUTHOR.

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