cludes Dr. Garnier, deny the Emanation of Corpufcles, becaufe 'tis not always fenfible; for if we know only the infinite Divisibility of Mattet, we fhould know enough to comprehend this perpetual Efflux of Corpufcles.

To this phyfical Differtation of Dr. Garnier, is annexed a Relation of many Experiments that were made, and feveral Questions which were put to James Aymar, together with his Answers before the Lieutenant General of Lyons, &c. .. Some of thefe Experiments were, ift, Several Hats were difpos'd upon different Tables, under part whereof Money was laid, and none under the rest. James Aymar applying his Wand, it turned in his Hand over fuch Hats as cover'd Money, but remained immoveable over thofe which had none under them... Several Perfons put Money into their Fifts, when the Stick turned over thefe, but continued motionless over fuch

Fifts as were empty. The Lieutenant-General's Lady having ftole the Purfe of a Gentleman in the Company, merely to try the Effect of Aymar's Wand; it could not point out any Perfon but the Conjurer being affur'd that a Theft had actually been committed in the Room, he reply'd, that then it must have been done merely out of joke, and innocently.

AMONG Other Pieces in this third Volume, is a Letter written by Father le Brun to the celebrated Malbranche, concerning the Wand employ'd for the Difcovery of Springs, Metals, Thieves, &c. And the principal Subject of it, is, to enquire of that learned Philofopher, whether he believes this turning round of the Wand on the feveral Occasions above-mention'd

is natural, and can be accounted for phyfically... Father Malbranche in his Anfwer obferves, that he had often heard the Wand was employ'd for the Discovery of Springs and Metals, but never for Thieves and the Boundaries of Lands; and that he could not believe, there were People in the World stupid enough to fwallow down fuch Abfurdities, had not Father le Brun affur'd him fo, in his Letter; and did he not alfo recollect that Perfons of very good Senfe had formerly given into fuch Chimeras: fuch as Julian the Apoftate, for inftance, who pretended to difcover for which fide Victory fhould declare in an Engagement, or fome other Event, by the Entrails of Beafts, and the Flight of Birds. Superftition had infenfibly accuftom'd the Antients to fuch ridiculous Opinions; but, fays Father Malbranche, in cafe the Conjurers you talk of, are fimple Wretches, thofe People muft be exceffively stupid and ignorant, who can perfuade themselves that the Methods they employ are natural or lawful. My own Opinion, fays he, is, that the whole is diabolical, in the feveral Operations And I affert, that nothing can be perform'd after the manner you (Father le Brun) defcribe, without the concurrent Action of an intelligent Caufe; and that this Cause can be only the Devil; unless there is fome Knavery or Hocus-Pocus in that PRETENDED Conjurer.

FATHER Malbranche proceeds to fhow metaphyfically, that 'tis impoffible this Wand fhould have fuch Effects naturally; and afterwards goes on as follows.

THE turning of this Wand may be owing to the Action of an intelligent Caufe; probably, to the Knavery and Slight of those pretended fimple Wretches; and perhaps to the Malice of

the

the Devil, for I can never think that good Angels wou'd make fuch kind of Compacts with Mankind. These don't enact any Laws to themselves, but follow the immutable Order, or the eternal Law; in which they discover, that 'tis not neceffary Men fhould find out Metals and Springs ad libitum. Angels refer all things to God and our Salvation; they even refer the Order of Nature to it; and don't act any thing extraordinary, or which may divert its Course, but as these may contribute to make us know and love God... But the Devils endeavour to win us over to their fide. Their Pride inspires 'em with a Defire of reigning over us; and they would feign have us owe to them fuch temporal Bleffings, as may foment our Lufts. In cafe they execute faithfully what we wifh'd for, at their hands; they are not prompted to this from a Defire of making us raise our Minds to God; but to bind and engage us in their Interefts, in any manner foever: Devils infinuate themselves into the Minds of the Simple, under the appearance of Juftice. The Discovery of Thieves or Things' ftolen, is certainly good in itfelf; Evil Spirits cover their Operations with the unknown Power of Nature, in order to deceive the ignorant by that means; but in fuch a manner, that the Imaginations and Confciences of these are diftracted by Doubt and Uncertainty, &c... And if the Particulars you relate to me, are not the knavish Tricks of a Sett of People who find their account in impofing upon others, (which I should be very apt to believe) 'tis certainly not good Angels, but Devils, muft occafion the turning round of the Wand.

FA

FATHER Malbranche concludes his Letter to our Author with obferving, that all imaginable Endeavours fhould be used, to prevent thefe fham Conjurers from impofing on the Simple; or troubling the Confciences of thofe, who in any doubt that may arife in their Minds, think it a very great Sin to have recourfe to them.

FATHER le Brun fent a fecond Letter to Father Malbranche, in which he proposes several Doubts with regard to the Wand.

THESE were answered by the latter, who lays down the following Principles as juft and certain.

Ift, GOOD and Evil Angels have power over Bodies, as natural or occafional Caufes. 2dly, THE Good fhare in the Government of the World, and are commiffion'd by God for that purpose.

3dly, THE Power of the Good is more extenfive than that of the Bad, who are never fuffer'd to exercise their Power, but when, and as far as good Angels will permit... These Principles, fays Malbranche, appear to me certain and undoubted from the Sacred Writings.

THERE are fome other Letters on the fame Subject, which for that reason, and for brevity fake, we fhall omit.

THEN follow fome Experiments and Obfervations which were made by Dr. Garnier.

THE Lieutenant-General of Lyons had been robb'd about feven or eight Months before, by one of his Footmen, of near twenty-five Crowns, which were ftole out of one of the Closets behind his Library. Aymar was ask'd whether he could find out the Place whence the Money had been ftole. The Thief-catcher having gone

feveral

feveral times round the Clofet with his Wand in his Hand (fetting his Foot on the Chairs, &c. and on two Bureaus which fhood in that Clofet, in each of which were two Drawers :) he went at last to the very Bureau, and even to the Drawer out of which the Money had been taken. Having fucceeded fo far, the Lieutenant-General bid him endeavour to trace the Thief, which Aymar accordingly did. First, his Wand directed him to the new Terrafs, which lies even with the above-mention'd Clofet; from thence into the Closet near the Fire; thence into the Library, and afterwards to the Back-stairs; where the Wand ftill continuing to turn round, led him to a Bed, when it turn'd over one fide of it only; continuing abfolutely without Motion over the other fide. Upon this, the Footmen who were then present declar'd, that the Thief (who was fled) always lay on that fide of the Bed, over which the Stick turn'd round, and had never lain on the other. The Lieutenant-General recollected pofitively; that the Day the Footman robb'd him, he went out of that Closet upon the Terrass to fetch Wood; then returned into the Closet, and made a Fire; and afterwards croffing his Library, went up to the Apartment where the Footmen lay.

AT the time when the Stick turn'd in tracing the absent Thief, Aymar fet his Foot on thofe of the feveral Footmen in the Family, one after another; and prefented the Stick to them, which however continued without motion, becaufe they were all innocent. But Aymar affured the Spectators, that had the Thief been prefent, the Wand would have turned round