Jaspers was a simple cottager, a respectable and religious man, thoughtful, as are many of his calling, and not given to unconsidered speech, or, indeed, any-if he could help it-nevertheless, a short time before his death, which occurred in the same year, 1830, he publicly announced as follows:

"A great road will be carried through our country, from west to east, through the forests of Bodelschwing. On this, carriages will run without horses, and cause a dreadful noise."

It need hardly be mentioned that, at this period, no railway had been laid down, even in England. The prophet was right, however, the rail from Cologne to Minden running right through the very district indicated.

Invited to foretell his country's political future, Jaspers, for a long time, maintained an obstinate silence. At last he opened his lips; only, however, to declare that Frederick William the Fourth would be the last King of Prussia.

May it not be said that the events of the past year have confirmed this prophecy, the kingly title being merged in the imperial?

Jaspers' third and last prophecy was: "The German Empire shall choose a peasant for ruler. He shall govern Germany for a year and a day."

If this have reference to events already past, a coincidence may be found in the regency of the Archduke John. He had married a Styrian peasant, and adopted the costume and manners of the class, but, notwithstanding, exercised the functions of regent during the period specified.

In regard to the assumption of the imperial title, perhaps foreshadowed in Jaspers' second prophecy, it is a singular fact that one Pottgiesser, who died, long since, in Dortmund-having enjoyed some repute as a seer-drew up a genealogical tree of the royal house, and, on arriving at the present monarch, simply wrote, "Er verschwindt." (He disappears.)

A certain gentleman, affectionately known as the "Youth of Elsen," uttered many prognostications touching the fate of nations and communities, many of which, corroborated in substance by a subsequent seer, Hermann Kappelmann, justified the prophet's assertions.

But of the seers of the Fatherland, none stood forth so prominently as Margaretta Stoffell, or Stoffler, whose declarations, reduced to writing, obtained at once a wide publicity.

Vaticination appears to have been traditional in Margaretta's family, an ancestor of hers, who flourished as far back as 1452, having united with the study of mathematics, of which he was professor at Tuberingen, that of astrology. To that fanciful source must be ascribed his many and intrepid predictions, as also their almost invariable collapse! Monsieur Stoffler certainly caused the great sensation of his day by announcing, in set terms, a most fearful deluge, to come off in 1524.

All Germany began to tremble as the time drew near. Ships were building in all directions. Towns, far in the interior, began to bristle with unfamiliar masts. Rafts, of tremendous size and improved sea-going qualities, were hastily put together. The maritime service became singularly popular, and received an impulse which was sensibly felt, long after the necessity had passed away. For nothing of the sort occurred. pas affligé," wrote a grateful historian. Monsieur Stoffler admitted that he had overlooked a little point in his calculation, which vitiated the whole.

"On n'en fût

His last prophecy was destined to come true, or nearly so. He had predicted his own death by a "fall." Being one day, in February, 1531, engaged in a warm philosophical dispute, he started up to take down a volume that supported his views. Unfortunately the shelf came with it, and striking Stoffler on the head inflicted an injury that resulted in his death.

The predictions of Margaretta Stoffell were of a different character. The work in which they were embodied, exactly as delivered, at Christmas, 1847, was prepared by Doctor Edward Brann, physician of the Royal Imperial Austrian Court of Justice. It was entitled Nine Years of the Future, the whole being destined to fulfilment between 1847 and 1856. It was translated by M. Elias Schneider.

The publication was suppressed in Austria, but the book had a brisk sale in Switzerland, and an American gentleman of note informs us that many copies were in circulation at Pottsville and other cities, previous to the breaking out of the French Revolution of 1848.

It was subsequently published in Philadelphia, by L. A. Wollenweber, who, on being applied to for information as to dates, replied that he received a copy of the pamphlet from Germany in February, 1848.

There is, consequently, evidence enough to show that the prediction was, without

question, uttered at a period when the thrones of Europe appeared most stable, and when not the most distant growl of revolution had made itself heard.

No importance was, however, attached to it at the time. The pamphlet shortly died out of sight, as unworthy of notice, until the events that rapidly followed revived the recollection.

PROPHECY OF MARGARETTA STOFFELL.

"The year (1847) is past, a year which produced many a tear, and in which many a tear was also wiped away, and many an unbelieving heart directed to Him who turneth the heart as the rivers of earth. "But repent, for the night cometh. Soon the cholera will rage throughout Europe with fury unexampled as yet.

"A great revolution will break out in France. The king" (Louis Philippe) "and his family will be compelled to leave their country, and a war will commence against the noble and the wealthy. Many capitalists will leave France, where an attempt will be made to destroy the power of money by abolishing usury. The Jews shall also suffer much at this time, and the wealthiest among them will become a victim of the enraged multitude. There will arise a governing power of the working class, but, after a short continuance, will disappear in the midst of war with foreign powers.

"Then a conservative party will reach the summit of power, in France, under whose direction she will again slowly recover, but only after bloody confusion.

"From thenceforth there shall be no kings in France. But a certain prince shall attempt to erect for himself a throne. He shall, however, atone for his foolish undertaking, and will lose his life thereby.

Spain and Portugal will be rent with bloody civil wars. Then a man gifted with intellectual powers, rarely united in one person, shall come upon the arena of life and give to these distracted people the boon of peace. Spain and Portugal shall lose their names, and, united as the Pyrenean Republic, become great and powerful by land and sea.

(It is not without some patriotic qualms that we attend Mademoiselle Stoffell in her investigations as to the future of our own cherished land. But, courage! Forewarned, forearmed!)

"In Great Britain the distress of the working classes will increase continually. Great Britain, the world mistress of

commerce, will receive an irresistible shock. Her great possessions in America and Asia will declare independence. Her fleets will be annihilated in a great sea-fight. After many vicissitudes she will again become tranquil, but will not any longer be more powerful than other nations. Royalty will be abolished, but" (this is satisfactory, as evincing the firm hold maintained by the descendants of our gracious sovereign on the loyalty of England) "much later than in the other states of Europe."

(The next prediction is distinct enough, and well worth remembrance.)

"A great revolution will occur in Italy. A storm will pass over the land, before which the Austrians will disappear like chaff. The different states of Italy will unite in one great nation, and Rome will again become its capital.

"The Christian religion will have to strive with atheism. Men will pronounce it a worn-out thing, and faith in a divine Saviour will decay. But a new defender shall appear, and the worldly power of the Pope be destroyed for ever.'

(The consolidation of the new German Empire is scarcely so complete as Prince von Bismarck no doubt believes. It is true there is no precise date mentioned, but————)

66

'Germany will be the scene of the most fearful events. A destructive war will rage from one end of the land to the other. Remote eastern nations shall be invited by a German monarch to assist him, but west and south shall rise against these barbarous allies, and, on the banks of a great river, the eastern hordes shall be put to the sword. A great German city-mighty as Babylon -shall be burned to the ground, and sown with salt. None shall live there more.

"Poland shall rise, and the Vistula leave upon its blood-stained banks corpses enough to fatten all the ravens of the world for one hundred years!

"The kings of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway will resign their crowns voluntarily, and these lands, forming a Scandinavian republic, will materially promote the overthrow of the Russian Empire, against which west and south once more combine. Thousands upon thousands shall advance towards the assembly of the eastern hordes. Upon a plain, from whose centre the eye sees no limit, there shall be a battle of eight days, wherein the eastern armies shall at length be defeated and destroyed.

"It will be the greatest battle ever fought by man, and also the last. For now will

commence the kingdom of God upon earth, the kingdom of love and justice, in which names all nations will thenceforth unite in brotherhood."

Lactantius, sometimes styled the "Christian Cicero," delivers a prophecy (De vitâ Beatâ, lib. 7), so singularly applicable to the First Napoleon as to be worth disinterring.

After foretelling civil discords, ruinous wars, vast standing armies, &c., he proceeds:

"But then shall there rise up a most puissant military chieftain, of obscure birth, who will have acceded to him a fellowship with the other sovereigns of the earth.

"This man shall harass the world with an insupportable despotism. He will confound and commix all things spiritual and temporal. He will be for ever restlessly revolving new schemes, in order to affix the imperial crown over all, in his own name and possession. He will change former laws, and sanction a code of his own. He will pillage and lay waste, will change names and titles, and establish the seat of empire."

That very singular work, the Previsions of Orval, revealed by God to a Solitary, made its appearance in 1544, and was supposed to have been penned by Philip Olivarius, a monk of Orval-Trèves. We will select from the predictions those which may be supposed to apply to more recent times in France, especially the First Empire.

THE ORVAL PREVISIONS.

"At that time a young man shall come from beyond sea into Celtic Gaul, and show himself great in counsel. But the mighty, to whom he causes fear, will send him to the land of captivity. Victory will attend him back. He will overpower the sons of Brutus, and take the name of emperor. Many mighty kings will fear, for the eagle will carry off many crowns and sceptres.

"Men on foot and horse, bearing bloodstained eagles, will run with him throughout Europe, which will be filled with consternation and carnage.

"But all is over. The mighty one is blinded for his crimes. He leaves his great city with an army so vast that none ever was comparable to it. But no warrior can withstand the power of the Almighty, and lo! the third part, and again the third part, of his army has perished by the cold of God! The mighty that have been humbled take courage, and combine against the man

of power. He returns, humbled, whence he came. Gaul is covered with men and with machines of war. All is finished with the Man of the Sea."

(The following is said to designate the Bourbon line and rule, including the reign of Louis Philippe.)

"Behold, again returns the ancient blood of the Cap! Great peace throughout Celtic Gaul. The white flower is greatly in honour, but the sons of Brutus view it angrily, and God is offended because the holy day is much profaned. Nevertheless, He will await a return to Him during eighteen times twelve moons."

(The period we have mentioned lasted eighteen years.)

"A great conspiracy against the white flower moves in the dark, and the old blood of the Caps abandons the great city."

(The following was, long before the fall of the Second Empire, imagined to apply to Louis Napoleon and his times.)

"Woe to Celtic Gaul! The cock will efface the white flower, and a powerful one will call himself the monarch of the people. But the opinions of the men of Celtic Gaul are in collision, and confusion is in all minds. The king of the people will be found very weak. Many of the wicked will be against him. But he was ill-seated, and lo! God hurls him down. Great God! What a noise of arms! A year is not completed, and, behold! many warriors are coming!

"It is done! The mountain of the Lord hath cried in its affliction unto God. He is no longer deaf. What fire accompanies his arrows! Ten times six moons, and yet again six times ten moons, have fed his wrath. Woe to the great city! Behold the kings armed by the Lord! Already has fire levelled thee with the earth. the faithful shall not perish. The place of crime is purified by fire. Gaul, dismembered as it were, is about to reunite. God loves peace. Come, young prince, quit the isle of exile. Listen! from the lion to the white flower."

Yet

will be thought to be with him. Three kings and princes abandon heresy, and open their eyes to the true faith of the Lord. At that time, two-thirds of a great people of the sea shall return to the true faith. "The white flower becomes obscured, during" (a period equal to fifteen years), "then it shall disappear, to be seen no more. Many cities perish by fire. Israel returns entirely to Christ the Lord. The third part of Gaul will be without faith. The same among other nations. There is a general falling off, and the end of time has begun. After a number, not complete, of moons, God will combat by His two just ones. But all is over. The mighty God has placed before my comprehension a wall of fire. I can see no more.

"May He be evermore blessed. Amen." Towards the close of the last century some attention was called to a series of predictions, the precise authorship of which was never disclosed. It was generally believed, however, to have proceeded from a priest of the Jesuists, resident at Bordeaux, who died there between 1780 and 1790, and was consequently known under the designation of

THE JESUIT PRIEST'S PROPHECY.

"Then shall come disturbances in France. A name hateful to the country shall be placed upon the throne. It will be done by strangers. But two parties will first be formed in France, and there will be a war of extermination. The weaker shall prevail. Blood will flow in the great towns, but the wicked will not prevail, and there shall perish of them a vast multitude. They will have thought utterly to destroy the Church, but for this they will not have time, for the fearful crisis shall be of short duration. During this convulsion, which shall not affect France alone, Paris shall be so utterly destroyed, that when fathers shall walk with their children, and the children shall ask, 'Why is that desolate spot?' they shall answer, 'My children, there once stood a great city, which God destroyed for its crimes.'

After this fearful convulsion, all will return to order, and the counter-revolution shall be made. Then shall the triumph of the Church be such that nothing like it shall be ever seen again, for it will be the last triumph of the Church on earth."

Let us conclude with the previsions of two gentlemen, who, though not "among the prophets,' are entitled to respectful attention, Moreau and Montesquieu.

A gentleman, well known in New York, mentioned to the writer that he chanced, in 1812, to find himself the travelling companion of the celebrated general, then on a tour of the States. Much interesting dis course had naturally passed from Mr. D.'s memory, but one remark of Morean, as taking the form of a prophecy, made a more than usually profound impression. "Will the States flourish as a republic?" asked the younger politician.

"Not permanently," replied Moreau, emphatically. "As a growing country, yes; but when it has reached a population of from fifty to one hundred millions, a change becomes inevitable. This vast increase must comprise that which we, with scant politeness, term canaille. This canaille is the rude but only material of which standing armies are formed. The material on hand, the need of using it is not so long a step as it may appear. Questions arise among yourselves. Foreign relations be come complicated. Your augmented im portance justifies a change of attitude to wards powerful neighbours. A standing army is decreed. This, in turn, creates ambitious leaders. Death, thenceforth, to the true republican principle! Monarchy, the mere embodiment of a power to which the national will already inclines, is the inevitable result."

"And within what period can one predict so vast a population to be assembled in these States ?"

"Within fifty years," said Moreau.

Ten years have passed since the period named. But then the speaker omitted from his prophetic scheme the "annexation," which supplies better employment for a profuse population than war.

As for Montesquieu, his terse prediction, "La France se perdra par ses gens de guerre," may, during the past year, have recurred with some significance to the reader's mind.

LOST EXPLORERS.
THE LONG-LOST.

MANY as are the points of interest presented by the journeys noticed in the former article, where the truth concerning the tra vellers soon became known, much more impressive, so far as concerns the effect of narratives upon the reader (though not necessarily so in regard to the trials and sufferings under which the explorers sank), are those eventful journeys in which the fate of the travellers remains unknown

throughout a long series of years. The painful curiosity felt during the interval is an addition to the pain felt when the truth is really known. One prolonged anxiety, neither removed nor intensified by any receipt of authentic information, is that which is associated with really lost explorers, those whose fate remains for ever unknown. But of this last class the instances are very few; the missing, if they do not reach us alive, can at any rate be generally traced to some one place and some one date where and when death ensued. It is this, above any other thing, that gives Englishmen hopes of Livingstone; until they know that he is dead they will believe that he still lives.

Among the most famous of our travellers was Mungo Park, on account of the novelty and importance of the journeys which he made, and of the personal characteristics of the traveller himself. One of the geographical mysteries of past times was the existence of a great city, Timbuctoo, on the banks of a great river, the Niger. The English thought the known river Gambia might possibly be the outlet of the Niger, while the French selected the known river Senegal; and traders belonging to both countries made many voyages up these two rivers, to test the rival theories, but they met with no Timbuctoo, no Niger. Whether the Niger is the upper part of the Nile, or flows to some outlet on the west coast of Africa, or loses itself in some great marsh or lake in the centre of the continent, remained an unsolved problem. Mungo Park was employed to solve it. He had been an assist ant-surgeon on board an East Indiaman, and was now fitted out for his new enterprise at the cost of the African Association. He started in 1795, remained a few months near the mouth of the Gambia, and penetrated into the interior in 1796. Robbed of most of the commodities he had taken with him, imprisoned by a chieftain on the borders of the great Desert of Sahara, and treated with much cruelty, he at length reached Sego, the capital of Bambarra, where he saw the Joliba, a river as broad as the Thames at Westminster Bridge. He at once concluded it to be the Niger, of which he was in search; he hit on the truth, but did not know at what part of the African coast its waters reached the What he underwent in his venturesome journey, on and by the side of this river, can only be appreciated by a perusal of his narrative, one of the best books of travel in the English language; stripped

sea.

of almost everything, he made his way as best he could, found reason to believe that the great river has its mouth at a part of the west coast, far south of the Gambia and Senegal, and returned safely in 1797. One fact impressed on his mind was, that the negro tribes were much less cruel to him than such of the natives as were of Moorish descent.

He

Strengthened by a few years of quiet life at home, Mungo Park started off again in the spring of 1805, with the hope of tracing the great river down to its outlet, wherever that might be. With about fifty companions he sailed up the Gambia, as far as a town called Kayee, along a route not till then known to him or to any European. The hot season and the insalubrity of the climate told so severely on the explorers, that by the end of August threefourths of them had either died or had abandoned the enterprise. Park reached the great river, however, and succeeded in obtaining leave from the King of Bambarra to fit up a canoe as a vessel suitable for sailing down the river; this vessel he named His Majesty's ship Joliba. A narrative from his pen, brought to Europe by one of his companions, described all the proceedings down to November the 17th; the fatal sequel of the story came to light by degrees, and from other quarters. had only five Europeans now with him; but the last words ever received from him betokened his undaunted resolution : "Though I were myself half dead, I would still persevere; and if I could not succeed in the object of my journey, I would at last die on the Niger." His words were fulfilled. It was not until five years afterwards, in 1810, that the truth was known in England. The little party reached Timbuctoo, and sailed in safety some way beyond it, down the river. Here, however, a present, which was sent to propitiate a king or powerful chief in Housa, or Houssa, was appropriated by an inferior leader; and the enraged king sent an army to destroy the vessel and its hapless navigators. One Isaaco, a Mandingo priest and merchant, who had accompanied Park in his former journey, and who was now the means of collecting facts relating to the final tragedy, reported that "there is, before Houssa, a rock, extending across the river, with only one opening in it, in the form of a door, for the water to pass through. The king's men took possession of the top of this rock, until Park came up to it and attempted to pass. The natives