THE expense of keeping a prophet having increased with the diminution of
the species, towards which those mundane authorities, termed police, are
in deadly opposition, my prognostics have lately fallen in arrear. But
the prize prophecy, which was thrown open to competition last year, has
come to hand; and, fully convinced that everything put down in it will
happen, sooner or later—or, if it does not, that it ought to have done
so; and would, but for some unforeseen zodiacal altercation which threw
the signs into confusion—I now offer it to you. And I beg to inform you
that if you want cabalistic information upon any subject: to know the
railway likeliest to pay, the definite intentions of the Prime Minister,
the duration of the Income-tax, the fortune or expectations of any young
lady you may meet at a party, or the winner of the next Derby—the fee of
five sovereigns, enclosed to our Prophet at the publisher's, will ensure
an answer by the return of post; containing, in addition to all he knows
upon the subject, a great deal more that he does not. My limits forbid
further observations; but keep these remarks in mind, and look out for
the fulfilment of what is to happen in