1797] 
I_proceed chiefly on this foundation, that 
there is nothing new under the fun ; that 
prudence is not much in vogue ; and that 
the progrefs of mankind in wifdom is not 
very perceptible on the general view of 
things. By this recipe, fir, you may 
commence a very decent prophet your- 
felf, and may commiffion others, in your 
name, to foretel events in every quarter 
of the globe where your Magazine 
reaches. 
PROPHECIES FOR THE YEAR 
M.DCC.XCVII. 
IN the courfe of this year, feveral fires 
will happen in fundry parts of the king- 
dom, which will confume a vaft deal of 
property, infured and uninfured’; and no 
water will be obtained, until the fire has 
fo far advanced, as to be unextinguifh- 
able. Some lives will be loft, and many 
very prudent perfons will think it proper 
to look after their fervants’ fires and 
candles, for a month or two. 
Some children, by the negleét of their 
nurfes, will fall out of windows into the 
ftreets, and be killed : their mothers will 
be difconfolate ; and leétures will be given 
to nurfes, which will not lofe their ef- 
feét, perhaps, for a fortnight. 
Sundry houfes will be broke open, and 
robbed of plate, bills, cafh, &c. to a confi- 
derable amount ; notwithftanding which, 
the fame example will be thown to fervants 
as ufual; and they will be allowed little 
card-parties and junketings on Sunday, 
whilft their matters and miftreffés are per- 
forming the fame parts, on a larger fcale, 
elfewhere.—N.B. The watchman’s box 
clofe to the houfe. 
Several young heirs will be pillaged at 
fafhionable gaming houfes, which will 
occafion ferious reflections—in the newf- 
papers; and the police will look on 
with their accuftomed philofophic indif- 
ference. 
Guns laid afide loaded, will be taken 
up by children or fervants, in fport, and 
a few lives loft. Thofe who keep no 
guns will be very grave and fententious 
on this fubjeét, and enjoy a wide field of 
admonition, wifdom, and fagacity. 
Several hundreds of pockets will be 
picked at places of public amufemenr, 
and one or two of the fufferers will have 
the cunning to difcover, if they had left 
their money at home, it would not have 
been in danger abroad. 
Some capital failures will take place in 
the city: and men who liyed at the rate 
of five or fix thowfane“a year, wall be 
obliged to difcover, riat they never were 
worth a moiety of the tum, independent 
Prophecies for 1797: _* 
4 
of fallacious credit. Neverthelefs, tradef- 
men’s ‘‘ equipages will blaze Jike me. 
teors, and their villas rife like exhala- 
tions.” 
Two or three boxing-matches will af- 
ford vaft amufement to the nobility and 
gentry who encourage them, and be very 
feverely cenfured by thofe who do nog 
think ‘‘ breaking ribs {port for ladies’ — 
but no interference on the part of the 
magiftracy. 
There will be feveral long debates in 
Parliament; and, upon the divifion, the 
numbers will be nearly the fame as if 
there had been no debate at all. 
A man will be hanged at the Old- 
Bailey for murdering his companion, in 
a fit of intoxication and paffion ; and an- 
other will be rewarded with honours, fer 
having contributed to the murder of 
thoufands, for no earthly object, and with 
whom he had no difpute. 
Three or four perfons will be gored 
to death by over-driven oxen, and the 
amufement of bullock-hunting will go 
on much as ufual. 
Boats will be overfet in the Thames, 
and the paflengers drowned, becaufe it 
was neceflary they fhould crowd toge- - 
ther, to fee a fhow that was not worth 
looking at. This will afford an awful 
leffon to thofe who — never go upon the 
water. E 
A few duels will be fought, and one 
or two perfons killed. ‘The caufe of the 
difpute, a wh—e, a horfe, or a clumfy 
jet. The furvivors, if tried, will be ac- 
guitted by a happy mixture of the laws 
ot honour, with the laws of the land. 
The watering-places will fuffer no 
abatement of vifitors, notwithftanding 
the diftreffes of the times 5: but they will 
be avoided and feverely cenfured by thofe 
who — never vifit them. 
Some great men will do very abfurd 
things in the courfe of the fummer, and 
will receive as much commendation and 
applaute as they can pay for. 
Two common-council men will die 
fuddenly after eating a hearty dinner. 
Some thoufand fermons will be preach- 
ed in the feveral churches and chapels of 
the kingdom, moft of which have been 
preached beforé, and few of them will 
be remembered after. 7 
Certain cafes of matrimonial infidelity 
in high life will aftonifh the world, 
z. €. every body who did not know the 
parties ; juries will give large damages, 
and lord Kenyon will throw away much 
good advice, and many falutary cay. 
tions. 
’ 
AL perloa 
