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as much as in their Power lay; of whichI could , produce many Instances, lhould Inot draw this to such a Length, as to makeit exceed the Bounds of a Letter.

They, however, that are in Possession okit, labour under one great Disadvantage, Ishould rather say Impediment, which is,that it is hardly possible to transmit theKnowledge of if in Writing ; as for myPart, I would not take the Task upon me,least I should fail in the Attempt; but ofthis I am certain, for by Experience Iknow it, that I could instruct a curious ra-tional Mine Student, so as to make himMaster of it by the Dins of Practice; forby Practice chiefly must every Man cometo understand its use.

For one Thing I blame our Adversariesof the Divining-rod very much, but par-ticularly those that pretend, and actuallyhave, some Tincture of the Philosopher,and some Sketch of Knowledge of the ab-struse Mysteries of Nature, that they shouldturn their Ridicule, and exercise their sati-rical Wit, ppon the poor Hazel, is to meamazing, as if there was no Connexion oxAffinity between Vegetables and Minerals jwhich, though with an assuming Air ofCertainty, they pronounce there is not, isonly just as right as it is true, that theforked Hazel is used as a Magnet by itself,but both are absolutely false. How much

then