This gentleman’s death left her again without a companion, and an uneasiness hung upon her, visible to the people of the house; who guessing the cause to proceed from solitude, recommended to her acquaintance another Physician, of a different cast from the former.  He was denominated by them a conjurer, and was said to be capable of raising the devil.  This circumstance diverted Mrs. Thomas, who imagined, that the man whom they called a conjurer, must have more sense than they understood.  The Dr. was invited to visit her, and appeared in a greasy black Grogram, which he called his Scholar’s Coat, a long beard, and other marks of a philosophical negligence.  He brought all his little mathematical trinkets, and played over his tricks for the diversion of the lady, whom, by a private whisper, he let into the secrets as he performed them, that she might see there was nothing of magic in the case.  The two most remarkable articles of his performance were, first lighting a candle at a glass of cold water (performed by touching the brim before with phosphorus, a chymical fire which is preserved in water and burns there) and next reading the smallest print by a candle of six in the pound, at a hundred yards distance in the open air, and darkest night.  This was performed by a large concave-glass, with a deep pointed focus, quick-silvered on the backside and set in tin, with a socket for a candle, sconce fashion, and hung up against a wall.  While the flame of the candle was diametrically opposite to the centre, the rays equally diverging, gave so powerful a light as is scarce credible; but on the least variation from the focus, the charm ceased.  The lady discerning in this man a genius which might be improved to better purposes than deceiving the country people, desired him not to hide his talents, but to push himself in the world by the abilities of which he seemed possessed.  ’Madam, said he, I am now a fiddle to asses, but I am finishing a great work which will make those asses fiddle to me.’  She then asked what that work might be?  He replied, ’his life was at stake if it took air, but he found her a lady of such uncommon candour, and good sense, that he should make no difficulty in committing his life and hope to her keeping.’  All women are naturally fond of being trusted with secrets; this was Mrs. Thomas’s failing:  the Dr. found it out, and made her pay dear for her curiosity.  ’I have been, continued he, many years in search of the Philosopher’s Stone, and long master of the smaragdine-table of Hermes Trismegistus; the green and red dragons of Raymond Lully have also been obedient to me, and the illustrious sages themselves deign to visit me; yet is it but since I had the honour to be known to your ladyship, that I have been so fortunate as to obtain the grand secret of projection.  I transmuted some lead I pulled off my window last night into this bit of gold.’  Pleased with the sight of this, and having a natural propension to the study, the lady snatched it out of the philosopher’s