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ANNUAL REGISTER For the YEAR 1772.

than common, he determined to try whether a total abstinence from all liquors would not improve his regimen.  He added, that he was encouraged in this experiment by an observation he had made in feeding hogs: he never suffers these animals to drink, and his pork is highly valued for the whiteness and firmness of its flesh. He uses much exercise, particularly riding; but no degree or continuance of labour produces sensible perspiration. His pulse seldom beats forty-seven times in a minute, he makes every day about a pint and a half of urine, and has seldom more than one stool in two days. He never catches cold, though he is thinly clad, and exposes himself to all weathers.

The pudding, which is now, and has many years been, his only food, is made of one pound of the flour of which the best kind of sea-biscuit is made, boiled with a pint and a half of skimmed-milk.

The paper containing the account is dated September, 1771.
 
Instances related of an astonishing Faculty in some Persons, who are said to be able to discover Water under Ground.

Extract of a Letter from Charles de Salis, Esq; at St. Trone, near Marseilles, to his Brother the Rev. Mr. de Salis, in England, dated June 17, 1772.

THERE is a boy here, of twelve years of age, who has the faculty of discovering water under ground.  This gift of his was discovered about a year ago in the following manner: He was standing at work by his father, 
who was digging, and on a sudden called out, "Do not dig too deep, or the water will appear."  The man had the curiosity to dig about three feet deep, and found a considerable spring.  This singular thing being known in the province, several people of distinction, who wanted water on their estates, sent for him.  Among others, Mons. Borelle sent for him to an estate of his, where, according to tradition, there had been three springs.  The boy, without hesitation, carried him to every one of them.  M. de Bompart, commander of the squadron at Toulon, sent for him to a house of his near the town, and was so convinced of the boy's skill, that he immediately fell to work, and has succeeded.  At a house, which the Duke de Villers lived in, some of the water conduits under it were choaked up; and, as the direction of them were not known, they, to save the expence of taking up the floors, sent for the boy, who, on being carried to the spot, pointed to the place, and said, "Here the conduit begins, and goes in such a direction, &c."  So much upon the relation of others: now for what I have seen myself.  There was a neighbour of mine, as curious as myself to find out whether this boy had really such a gift.  We agreed to put water in a large earthern pan, hermetically covered with another, and then place it in a hole two feet under ground, in a vineyard that had been lately tilled. In order that nobody should inform him of it, at night we dug the hole ourselves, then covered it over, and smoothed the ground for twenty feet round. This we did in two places. The boy arrived next morning, and we took him

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him about the country to shew his skill. He went before us alone, with his hands in a short waistcoat, and stopped short whenever he found water, spoke of it, and followed to the spring head. Little by little we brought him to where the water was hid; and I never was so astonished in my life, as to see him go out of the way, stamp upon the spot, and say, "Here is water, but it does not run." The earth was removed, and the pan found directly under. We took him by the second place which he also discovered, but was angry at being deceived. He then found out a large spring near my neighbour's house, which he was greatly in want of for an  oil-mill he had there.

A few days after the publication of the above account, the reality of this extraordinary faculty was asserted by another writer, in the following relation.

 —The purpose of my writing to you is, to confirm the credibility of the letter from Charles de Salis, Esq. relative to discovering water under ground. In Portugal there are many who possess the same power. I cannot aver to have been a witness myself, but have my information from gentlemen of undoubted veracity, and in particular from Mr. Warre, (brother-in-law to the consul) and from Mr. John Olive, of Oporto. I was at Mr. Olive's some few days after he had obtained water for his gardens, by the means of a water-finder, who, Mr. Olive assured me, had not only pointed out the particular spot he should dig, but described the nature and colour of the soil, pointed out the different 
VOL. XV. 
windings the workmen should follow the vein, as where, and at what depth they would meet the rock or stock; how many inches they might penetrate, and the quantity of water, and even cautioned them not to exceed a certain depth, which he described, or they would be overflowed. Mr. Olive had the precaution, before he ventured on the undertaking, to employ a second person, who had the same faculty, who did not differ a palm (nine inches) from the spot the other had acquainted him he would find the water.

I cannot omit mentioning a circumstance, which shews the peculiarity of the disposition, as well as the extraordinary faculty of these people. If you intimate your design, or directly desire them to find out water, they will refuse; but if you walk with them, as by accident, in your garden, and casually ask if there is any water, and what depth, the water-finder strides over it with attention, like a person measuring the ground by steps; and, after a pause of a few minutes, will give you an account. I omit enumerating many particulars, lest you should suspect I have a design to impose on you and the public; but it can be attested by many merchants now in London, and is known to every person of curiosity in Portugal. These water-finders are of the lowest class, ignorant, illiterate, and indigent; and, though a vice not common in Portugal, are drunkards. This extraordinary faculty descends from father to son. It is supposed they acquire their knowledge from strength of sight, for which the Portuguese are remarkable, and an habitual observation of the vapours of 
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Transcription Notes:
Reopened for Editing 2023-05-12 13:10:50 Reopened for Editing 2023-05-12 11:05:48 Reopened for Editing 2023-05-13 17:05:10 Reopened for Editing 2023-05-14 13:29:37 This is not a table - remove pipes columns etc and transcribe as a consecutive text that can be read and searched and transferred from computer to computer ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-14 08:14:08 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-14 11:36:32 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-21 20:05:04 Change what may appear to be an "f" to an "s" where appropriate. This is a different style of print and cursive, not a different way of spelling words. Emily of TC confirmed the use of the "s" when I talked with her during the monthly Zoom meeting on 5-19-23.--Jlch ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-21 23:42:40