Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Astrology, Government, Politics, Mesmerism

    Responding to news that a 'learned doctor' (Augustus B Granville) claims to have foretold the death of Emperor Nicholas I of Russia, discusses rival claimants to this prediction, including the astrological almanac writers Richard J Morrison and Francis Moore. Notes that Henry J Temple (3rd Viscount Palmerston) failed to act upon Granville's advice concerning the czar, but thinks Palmerston's actions are justified because this would lead to the undesirable result of 'the nation being steered according to the second sight of anyone professing the gift', and 'prophets' whose advice is too vague to indicate appropriate action.