joining figures of any other, a re-entering scheme of four knights' moves, thus:

Form in this manner the sixteen schemes into

eight, each of eight figures:

Each of these Eight schemes is marked with the letters of

the two schemes, of the first figure which enters into its con-
struction.

In each of these four schemes, instead of taking all the letters of the two of the last figure, which compose it, I have, for want of room, inserted only the initial ones.

Of this Figure the squares marked

AO 9 and AO 10 let into CN 10 and CN 9.

Proceed similarly with these four schemes, interlacing them into two, each of thirty-two figures, which re-enter or circulate:

Again, for want of room, I take only the Initial Letters of

the former Schemes.

Of this Figure the Squares marked,

AC 9 and AC 10, let into BD 13 and BD 12.

And, lastly, in the same manner blend them into

As there is no farther distinction necessary, I drop the Letters

altogether in this last Diagram.

This, as it covers the sixty-four squares in as many moves, and is so arranged that the first and sixty-fourth numbers are precisely a knight's move distant from each other,-fulfils the conditions and solves the problem.

Yours, &c.

PHILO-PHILLIDOR.

ON VARIOUS MODES OF DIVINATION.

MEN, ever since the creation, have endeavoured to pry into the secrets of futurity :-this desire is inherent in us, and has been by many philosophers adduced as one of the strongest proofs of the immortality of the soul, that, indignant at its confinement, is ever attempting to release itself, and soar beyond present time and circumstances.

Finding, however, all their efforts to discover them, by the force of reason, vain, they have naturally resorted to the aid of the blind god Chance,— and hence, omens from the flight of birds-from the entrails of sacrifices-in short, from every thing around,-oracles and divination by lots have arisen.

Of this last alone I propose now to write to you. When a choice between two equal things was to be made, the referring it to chance, by the casting of lots, would obviously present itself as a fair mode of deciding, where the judgment was unequal to do so: and we find, therefore, this among the most ancient of usages recorded in the Bible; thus Aaron cast lots for the scape-goat. The direction of these lots would, of course, be soon imputed to the divine pleasure of the Almighty observer and guider of all things, and it would then occur to the inquisitive, that this mode might be adopted for looking into futurity. Accordingly, we see that this superstitious practice was very quickly applied to such purposes, an instance of which is given in Esther, c. iii. v. 7, where, when Haman desired to find out the most proper time in which to slay all the Jews, he ordered the " pur" to be cast-that is, the lots, from day to day, and from month to month, and discovered that the thirteenth day of the twelfth month was most favourable for his designs; but he was deceived, and the event proved the vanity of relying on such divination. This mode, however, was too simple for the generality of men, and the custom next adopted was the mixing together a number of letters in an urn, throwing them out, and examining the arrangement into which they might fall; but, as frequently, no sense could be discovered from these, in lieu of