pro ELECTRICITY.-Electricity, one of the most stupendous powers of nature-a power performing the most important part in all the alterations of inorganic matter, and all the cesses of vegetable and animal life-a science probably the most interesting, and the most universally admired and studied, from the greater brilliancy possibly of the phenomena with which it makes us acquainted-is, in reality, the youngest of the physical sciences. There was certainly at one time no state of matter more obscure, more completely hidden from the corporeal and intellectual eye of man, than that which we denominate electricity. A thousand years elapsed from the birth of natural philosophy ere the human mind had obtained the slightest notion of the existence of this, the most stupendous power in nature. THE AURORA BOREALIS.-In the northern region of the horizon, but often towards the east or west, a horizontal cloud rises to some degree of altitude; sometimes the blue sky is seen between this cloud and the horizon; it extend along an arc varying from 5 to 100 degrees, sometimes more, it is at times whitish and brilliant, but often black and thick. Its upper edge is luminous and irregular, sometimes nearly parallel to the horizon, sometimes curved towards it. The higher part of the cloud has frequently a bright and shining edge. After shooting a number of streamers, the darker part of the cloud generally changes, and becomes very luminous. The streamers continue to be shot from the upper edge, sometimes at some distance, sometimes very close to each other. Their light is very dazzling, and might leave a spectator to imagine that he saw a shining liquor forced out of a syringe. The light is strongest, and the streamers narrowest, near the main body of the phenomenon. Columns of light issue upwards from openings in the main cloud, with a slow and uniform motion, becoming broader as they proceed. Their dimensions and time of duration are various; they are whitish, reddish, and sometimes blood coloured, and after some time all the colours of the rainbow are seen. When several columns, emerging from different points, meet at the zenith, a small and dense meteor is formed, which appears to burn with more violence than either column by itself. This meteor is green, blue, or purple, and afterwards proceeds towards the south in the form of a small and clear cloud. When the columns disappear, the first mentioned horizontal meteor has little more than the appearance of morning twilight, and gradually fades away. The aurora lasts sometimes the whole night, and has been noticed many nights in succession. The horizontal meteor sometimes keeps its place and its appearance unchanged for several hours, and at times the whole consists of nothing more than a gradual increase of light in the horizontal meteor, and the whole has been known to pass away in a few minutes. In which all Questions from Correspondents are answered gratuitously, in accordance with the true and unerring principles of Astrological Science. TO OUR QUERISTS.-This department of our work involves the solution of "horary questions," so called from a figure of the heavens being erected for the hour in which the question is asked, and from the indications manifest in which the corresponding answers are derived. It will, therefore, be absolutely necessary for all correspondents to specify the exact hour and day on which they commit the question to paper for our judgment, and the replies will then be given accordingly As this important feature of the starry science will necessarily occupy consider able time which he is willing to devote, without reward, to benefit the public, THE ASTROLOGER hopes that the liberality of his offer will protect him from the correspondence of those who desire adjudication upon frivolous subjects, or who are merely actuated thereto by motives of idle and foolish curiosity. All subjects on which they may be really anxious, can be solved with absolute certainty; and the election of favourable periods for marriage, speculation, or commencing any new undertaking with advantage, will be cheerfully and readily pointed out from week to week. All communications addressed to "THE ASTROLOGER" will be considered as strictly confidential, and the initials only given in the oracle. TO CORRESPONDENTS. GALILEO.-Time was when men were alone able to count the progress of the hours by the shadows cast upon the ground by a tree or a triumphal column; when the Egyptians observed the progress of the penumbra cast upon the sands by an obelisk to know how far the day had advanced, or when the vault of heaven was their dial-plate, the sun their minute hand. Little do the denizens of such a world as our own huge metropolis reflect, as they hurry along its streets, upon the glory that resides in the dark turrets of their churches. Little do they consider that the vastness of human intelligence and invention is there sounded forth every quarter with a brazen voice. What would not be the emotions of admiration in the mind of an ancient Hun could he wake up now from his sleep of centuries, to know that there are vast and complicated machines of metal sentinelled in those belfries, abandoned to their own stealthy movements, and yet tracking with an inexorable finger the lapse of every second, and roaring forth with a sonorous tongue, at certain intervals, the gradations of indomitable Time. TYRO.-A few minutes' attention paid to the nocturnal sky every evening would soon enable you to overcome the difficulty. The constellation of Orion is, next to the Great Bear, the most easily discoverable of any. You will see three stars of the second magnitude situated close to each other in a straight line, the centre of the three being equidistant from the other two, and in the centre of a large quadrilateral figure formed by four stars, two of which are stars of the first magnitude. The three stars, in a straight line before described, are called Orion's belt, and, by their situation, form the best guide to Sirius, the dog star, twenty degrees below, and to the Pleiades, or seven stars, forty degrees above. The row of stars below the belt, which seems to have perplexed you, are fancifully named Orion's sword. THE IMPATIENT ONE.-We again repeat, that very few letters received after Monday morning can be answered in the current number. The calculations requisite for arriving at a just deduction are attended with much time, trouble, and anxiety. Our uneasy subscriber may assure himself that not one querist who consults us from feelings of real anxiety has ever to go unanswered. JUVENIS. Before the winter solstice thy desires will be gratified, if perseverance attend thy endeavours. Propitiate thy predecessor. VERAX WESTONIENSIS.-Those days should always be chosen for giving entertainments that have Venus and Mercury favourably aspected. During the remainder of the present month, choose the 25th (an excellent day), the 30th, and 31st. In August, the best days will be found the 5th, 14th, 18th, 25th, and 29th. Should any exhibition be given in which the farmers are likely to be present or take an interest, the 21st day will be found most propitious. H. J. F. R.-The increase of your funds will not take place until after your marriage, which the autumn of the ensuing year will see solemnised. By availing yourself of the offer and privileges afforded in the manner described on our last page, you would be relieved from all trouble for the future. AMICUS.-You will ultimately; but the numerous delays that we W. OLINTHUS.-We should be most happy to oblige you, but C. W.-Zadkiel has, we believe, a volume in preparation detail- CASIEL. Highly gratified have we been to find that the efforts SWAGBURG. The process of erecting a scheme of the heavens for SARAH C. (Dublin.)-Coquetry, and a foolish wish to wound the heart of one you love, will be your ruin. He has already far compromised himself with another. Do not anticipate marriage at all. G. H. V. (Manchester.)-Your relative is, unhappily, no longer among the regions of bodily existence; your expectations of pecuniary assistance are, consequently, withered in that quarter, though there appears an obscure indication of improved circumstances on the tablet of your destiny. U. T. S.-There is a prospect of such a misfortune, at any rate O. N. E.-A trifling sum will be ultimately gained, but you will A. P.-The future glitters with improvement to your position in GEORGE H. JACKSON.-The former answer must be taken literally, as applying rather to yourself than to the female native. PARAMGAM.--Though now fickle and giddy, her character will materially improve. The year indicated for her marriage is twenty-six; but let her beware of too many acquaintances, otherwise pernicious circumstances will arise and cloud her after life SETHRON.-Happy is the heart of the Astrologer when such M. A. I. K.-She is a victim to nervous debility-will progress R. J. (Liverpool)-You have truly surmised the reason of delay. SIGMA.-We see no benefit ever likely to arise from literary C. M.-Eschew solitude, seek the brighter, not the darker shades THE PROFESSOR OF THE ARTS OF CHIROMANCY AND METOPOSCOPY.-The obliging and talented professor must attribute our apparent neglect to the heavy pressure of business during the last fortnight, and a most anxious desire we have experienced for a private interview. This latter we will speedily arrange when a proposal shall be made for the publication of the papers with illustrative diagrams. We have daily intended a visit to the place from which thy letter was directed, and can only regret the circumstances that have arisen to postpone the pleasure. The FANNY.-Be of good cheer. We have a private friend that will GRACE DARLING.-From the aspect of Venus forming a trine DONOGHUE.-By a rigid economy of diet, by a careful regard to AROJUS. The horary time given in the first instance must have FIDE ET FORTITUDINE.-Your yearning for information on the M. A. B.—We see not the slightest prospect of any alteration. the public. The table of houses for latitude 56° north might be obtained, but there are many difficulties in the way, from the vast labour and attention required to calculate the alteration). -KATE LESLIE (We foresee that, by a persistence in your constant kindness and amenity of disposition to the husband who is so unworthy of you, will, in the end, reclaim him from his devious course).-A. C. (The heavenly book informs us, in its inaudible but truthful language, that she will change her position in society before long, and that her repugnance for the duties of a wife will be removed by the interposition of the master passion).-E. F. (We do not perceive any probability of the change taking place to which our correspondent alludes).--JANE EVANS (Remember, there are are amongst thorns, poisons in the beautiful laurel plants, adders under flowers-beware!)-Others in our next. roses To OUR QUERISTS AND SUBSCRIBERS.-Many letters having been received from persons resident in remote places, complaining that, in consequence of the difficulty and expense incurred in procuring the work, they have been unable to avail themselves of the gratuitous astrological advice we proffer, the following arrangements have been made to meet the wishes of our readers and the public generally :-All subscribers to "THE ASTROLOGER," by payment of six months' subscription in advance (8s. 6d.), or a quarter's subscription (4s. 3d.), will be entitled to a copy, sent every Friday evening, post free, to any part of the United Kingdom, and, in addition, have priority of attention in the solution of such questions as they may feel desirous of having calculated. All who may, therefore, wish to enjoy these privileges, are recommended to send their real name and address with the post-office order for the above sum, drawn in favour of our publisher, to OUR OFFICE ONLY, and, at the same time, state the initials under which they should be answered in the "ORACLE." Strict honour and confidence will be observed, and the utmost attention may be relied upon, GENERAL NOTICE. All the back numbers of this unique and original publication have been reprinted, and can now, without extra charge, be obtained through any bookseller in town or country. For a small sum like eighteen-pence, the purchaser would be thus in possession of a complete volume on the OCCULT SCIENCES, and the mitted by all who have had the opportunity of perusal. For those gratifying and encouraging letters which he has received from men of high intellect and lofty station, the Astrologer here begs to offer his sincere, though comprehensive, acknowledg RECEIVED.-J. WRIGHT (More anxiety must be felt).-C. H. (At present you have no reason to fear).-E. M. WARNER (You will have both your wishes gratified sooner than you expect).-A. A. A. (It will not be this year).-A. B. G. (Your relative will be of great benefit to you, and your circumstances will soon improve). PERO (Within two years; a hatter).-S. E. W. (It will not be distant; already answered). -G. F. G. (Alas! unhappy mortal, no).-MARY ANNE M. (The union will take place).-G. E. D. (To the first inquiry, "yes;" to the second, "no ")-FERDINAND (You will wed a dark woman of moderate stature and a little property, but many rivals will be encountered).—M. O. M. (A change for the better is in store; it will occur within a year).-E. D. (Married; before three years have elapsed; to the last question, no).-ALICE HAWTHORN (The inquiries are too frivolous).-SYNTAX (Hope for the future rather than fear).-general tendency of its pages to elevate and refine will be adEMILY E. (You must disabuse your mind of all expectations in that quarter; wishes are futile).-EDITH DALTON (Your fate is irrevocable, but do not despair, for Time will at length metamorphose all your views).-C. W. (Not for the present; patience for sixteen months, you will then perceive some singular changes in perspective).-DEATH (Act with proper deci-ments, and urges his friends and subscribers generally to recomsion, but propitiate all with whom you have intercourse, and within three mouths your enemies will display more suavity; a strict application to a certain manual labour, requiring very sedentary habits, will improve your condition in a pecuniary manner, though you must not anticipate too rapid success).LUCY L. (Not before your thirtieth year; the party will be of a sanguine temperament).-D. YOUNG (Send in the hour of your nativity, when we will decide).—W. G. [Norwich] (The future marked out in the scheme of your birth is propitious; two things, however, may mar all your undertakings-despondency at those occasional misfortunes which will inevitably befal you, and a consequent lack of energy in your avocations. The fruit that loiters behind the leaf is long in ripening).— D. L. E. (A month before you conjecture).-S. N. P. [Leeds] (Chrononhotonthologos will administer flaggellation).-I. D. H. (A very curious circumstance will shortly occur in connection with this engagement).-SARAH H. (As the hour is not mentioned in which the question was written, we cannot pronounce any opinion).-CATHARINE EVANS (You must explain the circumstances more intelligible, as the present inquiry is unanswerable).-E. WILLIAMS (No) -A. A. [Woolwich] (See answer to Sarah H. above).—THE WEEPING WILLOW (It falls not within the scope of horary investigation).- A (Astrologically, the commencement of any speculation of a merchant would be the day upon which he opened his establishment to mend a work which aims at disseminating a creed of TRUTH and BEAUTY, inculcating the highest doctrine which the human mind is capable of receiving, and endeavouring to sow the secd of hope and concord, that may ripen into a future harvest of "peace and good will to all men." ESTO PERPETUA! Parts I., II., and III. of "The Astrologer" are now ready, in a handsomely embellished Wrapper, with numerous Illustrations, price Sixpence; and may be obtained through every Bookseller in town and country.-Part IV. can also be obtained, price One Shilling. All letters and communications are requested to be addressed to "The Astrologer," 11, Wellington-street North, Strand, London. London: Printed by S. TAYLOR, George-yard, Drury-court, Strand. Published by RICHARD RADCLIFFE POND, at 11, Wellington street North, Strand; and sold by Vickers, Strange, Cleave, Berger, Parkess, Clements, Barth, and all Booksellers. NIGHT PHANTOMS. HERE is a very interesting and pleasing narrative somewhere recorded, which relates how two lovers, unavoidably separated from each other by distance, softened the pangs of absence and maintained the intensity of their passion for years, by having recourse to the following expedient: They agreed, before their departure, to select "one bright particular star" in the heavens as the object of their mutual attention at a certain hour every night, so that when one was gazing on its glowing effulgence, the other might feel the same rays were being transmitted to the eyes of both, thus linking, as it were, the blended vision in a starry point. Now this, one of the most intensely poetical phases of modern romance, can, we believe, be much more frequently reduced into the practice of ordinary life than people in general-lovers excepted-appear to think possible. To prove the reality of this apparently wild phantasy, we would propose, as an experiment, that two [PRICE TWOPENCE. persons, truly attached to each other, and having the requisite poetic temperament, should mutually agree, during separation to devote a certain period, in the filmy closing of a summer's twilight, to the dwelling intently upon the loved forms they would wish to evoke and notice the feelings by which such an effort will be accompanied. They will feel a sudden indescribable glow pervading the frame, and a thrilling vibration of the nerves, such as we we might imagine would be experienced by the chords of an Eolian harp, when the fitful breeze sweeps over the instrument, and dissolves its emotions in melody-a pleasurable throbbing of the system which manifests the occult influence exercised over it by a sympathetic soul afar off. The popular superstition that, when the ear tingles and burns, some one is speaking of us at a distance, may have its origin in a consciousness of the existence of an influence like this. We all feel, at certain times, the sudden thrilling to which we have referred, as if the nervous system had received an accession of energy, and as if the vital currents were flowing with greater rapidity than their usual wont-a sensation which, though seldom traced to its right source, is invariably and justly attributed to an extraneous power, apart from the mere dross of animal matter that composes the grosser body STENFELD. The house inhabited by Mrs. H-'s father formed part of the old cathedral. It had long been observed, by the various tenants who lodged in it, that many strange noises were heard -as, knockings on the walls and barrels in the cellars, throwsound like that of a triangle-none of which could be accounted for; and at length Mrs. H-, and other members of her family, occasionally perceived a spectral female figure. Sounds, which her father worked; and he was actually obliged to as of persons passing to and fro, were common in the room in change his apartment because an unknown animal frequently sat on his shoulder or his foot. A noise like the ringing of glasses was also frequently heard, but no investigation threw any light on the cause. It was on New Year's night, 1825, that as Mrs. H-w was the fall of a heavy weight. An immediate search was made to playing and singing a hymn, a noise was heard in the hall as of discover the cause, but without success; and the subject being forgotten. Mrs. H-retired, with her sister and maid servant, to bed. They had been in bed about a quarter of an hour, and were still awake, when they observed the night-candlestick, which was burning ou a table in the middle of the room, begin it, although the table and everything else stood fast. Whilst to move about, so that they not only saw the motion, but heard Mrs. H- was observing this, there appeared by her bedside a cloudy form, habited like a knight, so thin, that she fancied she could see through it; and said to her, "Go with me; thou can'st loosen my bonds." We know, from the daily realities of Mesmerism, that one A FACT THAT OCCURRED AT OBERsoul may have influence over another-that the sympathetic fluid that pervades all creation cannot be agitated in one part without causing what may be termed a responsive ripple in another; and as this power is independent of space, we can see at once the nature of the communicative principle that may link two beings together, though separated by a thousanding of gravel, rolling of balls, and even sometimes a musical leagues. Clothe this spiritual IDEA in the strong semblance of the palpable, invest the ethereal image with the form to which it belongs, and we have a clue to the origin of those Night Phantoms which have so puzzled the learned in all ages. As the glassy lake mirrors the tremulous effulgence of the stars more vividly when not a ruffling breath of air skims over the surface, so may we conceive how, in the quietude of night, undisturbed by the feverish excitements of the busy day, the soul is more free to act and to receive the imagined influence which is being simultaneously exerted elsewhere, and thus, under favourable auspices, the vision of the body may come coexistent with the evocation of the mind. Petrarch, in the solitude and silence of Vaucluse, seems to have felt this power with the warmth and earnestness of a true poet. As a corroborative proof that he possessed this faculty of what-to employ a Highland phrase-may be termed "second sight,” we need only recal to the reader's remembrance the well-authenticated fact that he saw, one evening, at Parma, his intimate friend the Bishop of Colonna, at the very same instant that amiable prelate died at Avignon, and the news of whose decease did not reach him till one month afterwards. His first meeting with Laura occurred on the 6th of April, 1327, and on the same day of the same month, and at the same hour and minute, twenty-one years afterwards, Laura breathed her last. From this time, as expressed in all the elegant imagery of pure poesy, her image never left him. In the rustling of the autumn foliage, in the hoarse clamour of the wintry winds, in the whispered melody of spring flowers, and the murmurous sounds of summer streamlets, he hears her voice, directing his mind to the happiness which she has won and he may hope to obtain, thus soothing his sorrow alike with her counsel and her presence. Sometimes, it is said, the phantom affected him with delight and sometimes terror, but to the last her features were nightly before him; and we can imagine the poet recalling the loved tones to his remembrance, fashioning a garland for her grave On this occasion, as on all others, the voice of the spirit was not like the voice of a man, but the words seemed to be breathed forth. She answered: "I will not go with thee;" and overcome with terror, she sprang into the bed where her sister and the maid lay, crying. "Do you not see something?" alarming them. She sent the maid to lie in her bed, which was They said they did not; and she said no more, for fear of in front of her sister's; and the maid taking some of the bedcovering with her, it was forcibly pulled from her by an unseen hand. After that they slept quietly the rest of the night. On the following night, at the desire of his parents, her brother, a courageous man, slept in the room with her on a couple of chairs, lest the apparition should return. Exactly at twelve all, the spectre appeared. She cried, " o'clock, after the light had been moved, audibly and visibly to There it is again." But though her brother and all saw the light moving, they saw distinctly perceived it was the form of a knight. He appeared no spectre. It, nevertheless, stood by her bedside, and she about fifty years of age, and the countenance was angry. Then, of her sister began to shake; and the spirit breathed forth to even visibly to the eyes of her brother, her bedstead, and that her, "If thou goest not with me, I will fling thee out of the window." She said, " In the name of Jesus, do it ;" whereon the form disappeared, but presently returned, saying, "I will cast thee into the deep cell." She made the same answer; whereon it again vanished, but returned a third time, threatening to stab her; but on her saying, "Thou hast not the power to do it, it disappeared, and returned no more for three nights. On the third night it appeared again by her bedside, and said, "You must go with me. I have concealed something under the sand-box; there is some writing and a few coins. This I must give you, and then I shall have rest." She said: "I will not go with you; this thing cannot make you happy." The figure then disappeared. This event affected her much, and she became so ill that she could not leave her bed. parents hereupon removed her to an upper room, where they had slept themselves, in hopes she might be no further molested; but, on the contrary, the spectre appeared to her for seven days, at all hours of the day and night-both when she was in the soinnambulic state, and when she was awake. He told her that he had murdered his brother; hence his unhappy state. that he was of the family of the Weilers of Lichtenberg, and He frequently told her that there was something of importance in a certain vault under the church; but she always answered Her |