close of his valuable career. For more than twenty years his name has been everyday before the public, engaged as it were in a kind of routine employment of utility and devotion, and for twenty more years it might have been reasonably expected that he would continue in the same path of exalted usefulness. But it was otherwise decreed; and to this decree he himself bowed with humble submission. Philosopher, as he was, he seems to have been aware of his approaching end and “the only man” to quote the words of the Times – who had within him the presentiment of what was to happen. The last preceding sentence, however, appears to be true only in a modified sense; for, as our last week’s article on the same theme exhibited incontestible(sic) evidence, the melancholy event had, more than a year previously been foretold. But even then, we did not repeat all that had been predicted of the “nation’s woe”, and if we again allude to it, it is not merely with the desire to promulgate astrological doctrines, but rather to give our readers an opportunity of judging whether or not there is truth in a science which many persons treat with ridicule, but which, nevertheless, is daily gaining an accession of adherents. For ourselves, we are not ashamed to confess that although at one time ranking among its greatest opponents, the many truths we have been permitted to record during twenty years investigation of the science, has given us a strong bias in its favour. Zadkiel’s speculations touching the demise of the Prince Consort were dilated upon in our last week’s impression; but, to show further how coming events cast their shadows before, we now extract the following predictions from Orion’s Almanack for 1861. At page 51 we read – “Passing to a more melancholy theme, we notice, with regret, the approaching transit to the place the sun occupied in the zodiac on the day the Prince Consort was born.... These positions will cause troubles and national losses; and, I fear, domestic affliction will be experienced.” The moon in opposition to Uranus brings us a noted funeral.” Future generations will read with affright, the history of the events of this year.” We earnestly pray that the All-wise Ruler of the universe may, in his goodness avert the evils impending over us.”
There is a time for all things says the Preacher – a time to laugh and a time to weep. Surely and sorely has the weeping time come upon England. A sad new year awaits us (says the Times); the reign of trouble (says Zakiel(sic)). We behold (says Simmonite, “the orb of day just issuing from an eclipse, as though he had mourned for the most awful event of the year he was just closing.” Yea! even the sky would appear to have put itself into mourning; for, from the death of the Prince to the hour of his interment there was an atmospheric gloom as impenetrable and all-pervading as that which reigned paramount in every human breast. It is-
