NAUSCOPIE. 397 



exists in a place when we perceive the smoke ; this is the compa- 

 rison he makes, when speaking to others concerning his art; in 

 keeping his discovery a secret this is the clearest explanation he has 

 afforded, in order to show that he did not make the discovery by the 

 knowledge of any art, or of any science, or by the application of any 

 previous study. 



He asserts, that it is the effect of chance that led him to the dis- 

 covery; he has watched Nature and found out her secret; this 

 science, therefore, has not, it may be said, cost him any trouble : but 

 that which has required much study, and really belongs to him, is 

 the art of judging of distances. 



The signs, he says, indicate clearly enough the presence of vessels, 

 but they only who can read the signs are able to judge of the distances, 

 and this art, he asserts, is an extremely laborious study. On this 

 very account, he had for a long time been the dupe of his science : 

 for these last fifteen years he has foretold the arrival of vessels in this 

 island. 



At first it was merely a play ; he was in the custom of making- 

 bets, and often lost them, because the vessels did not arrive at the 

 appointed time : on this account, he studiously applied himself to find 

 out the cause of his errors, and the perfection of his art is owing to 

 his exertions. 



Since the war has broken out, his announcements have been very 

 numerous, and sufficiently correct to create a sensation in the island. 

 We have conversed with him upon the reality of his science ; and to 

 have dismissed him, like a quack, would have been an injustice. 

 Moreover, we required proofs, and he regularly supplied us during 

 eight months with ANNOUNCEMENTS ; and the result was, that several 

 vessels that had been announced several days beforehand, arrived at 

 the precise time; several others were delayed, and several did not 

 arrive. 



It has since been proved, that the delay in the arrival of some of 

 the vessels, was occasioned by contrary winds, or currents, in the 

 ocean. Those which did not arrive, Mr. Bottineau is fully per- 

 suaded, were foreign vessels, which passed by ; and, indeed, we have 

 since ascertained, that a fleet of English vessels arrived in India 

 which might have been in sight of the island at the time fixed upon 

 by Mr. Bottineau. What we can certify is ; that Mr. Bottineau was 

 almost always right. Whether this be the effect of chance, or other- 

 wise, it would perhaps be imprudent in us to determine : this, how- 

 ever, is certain, that the circumstance is so extraordinary, in which- 

 ever way we consider it, that we endeavoured to prevail upon Mr. 

 Bottineau to make us come to a positive conclusion, either by con- 

 fiding his secret to us, or to any well informed person who could be 

 depended upon ; but he declined to accede to our request ; fearing, 

 no doubt, that he should not obtain a sufficient remuneration for his 

 discovery. 



We have the honour, &c. 



LE VlCOMTE DE SOUILLAC, 



CHEVBAU. 



