NAUSC'OPIE. 401 



of the sea can be discovered, the observer can announce the arrival 

 of* vessels. 



The cloudy mass does not present itself suddenly, and with all its 

 character. The first appearance is equivocal, and only puts the ob- 

 server upon his guard, who then can commence his study, without 

 being in haste, to certify that the vessel is arriving ? but, by degrees, 

 the forms are developed, the colours assume a certain tone, the vo- 

 lume acquires consistence, so that the Nauscopie can no longer doubt 

 that a vessel is behind ; because these forms and these developements 

 are such, that they can only belong to this kind of vapours. 



As the vessel advances, the meteor extends, and becomes consis- 

 tent. From the moment I became familiar with this singular ana- 

 logy, I never failed seeing my announces followed with complete 

 success ; and this punctuality caused the great astonishment men- 

 tioned in my certificates, c. from the governor, officers, and inha- 

 bitants. Convinced of the effect, but not understanding the cause, 

 they could not conceive that a science existed which could give to 

 man a fore-knowledge of events so distant, with respect to time and 

 place. The people attributed these operations to the power of 

 magic; the better informed ascribed them to chance. Nothing, 

 however, is more natural than this principle, which has astonished 

 every one, and concerning which, so much incredulity will be mani- 

 fested throughout Europe. 



BOTTINEAU. 



NOTE BY THE TRANSLATOR. 



The Gazette de France mentions this discovery; and Abbe Des 

 Fontaines wrote several articles upon the subject ; but the public 

 mind was at that period so absorbed in matters of political import- 

 ance, that the unfortunate Mr. Bottineau was neglected ; and a letter 

 from Marat, at the dawn of the French Revolution, merely states 

 that Bottineau had died. The different biographical dictionaries we 

 have consulted, make no mention of him. 



W. J. 



THE MORAL WANT. 



BY AN OLD WOMAN. 



NAY, tell me not that knowledge dowers 



Our sons from hut to hall, 

 That science like a giant towers, 



AnJ superstitions fall ; 

 That pomp and pageantry are made 



Their nothingness to know, 

 And the fanatic's dull parade 



Is prov'd an empty show ; 

 That at refinement's magic wand, 



Barbaric rudeness flies ; 

 That, even LAW abates the bond 



'Neath which its martyr sighs. 

 M. M. No. 88. 2 X 



