The appearance of a Comet, determined the intrepid and ferocious Timour, in the midst of his quarrels with Bayezed L to decide for war. He was at first impelled by terror, to prepare the means of avoiding a rupture with the Othomans, when he consulted Abdullah Lissan, at that time the most skilful Astrologer of the east, and desired his opinion respecting the tendency of the comet. The Astrologer declared that this phenomenon having appeared to the west of his dominions, and of the constellation Aries, could only have an evil influence in regard to his enemies, and that it presaged the utmost disasters to the Othoman empire. Relying on this prediction, Timour determined immediately upon war, refused every kind of accommodation, and entered at the head of a powerful army the dominions of the empire. The consequences of this war between the two heroes of the east, are well known; as also the disasters which befel the Othoman monarchy, after the fatal battle of Angora.

The death of Mourad II. justified a strange prediction. This sultan was hunting in the vicinity of Adrinople; at the close of day, as he entered the city, a Derwisch placed himself on the bridge over which Mourad was obliged to pass; as soon as he perceived him, he fixed his eyes upon the sultan, and as he approached, exclaimed in an inspired tone, " You have no time, august monarch, to spare, to impede the progress of that abyss, which is the effect of our sins and prevarications against the divine law; you are just approaching the limit of your reign, and the last moment of your life ! The angel of death is already at your door; open your arms, and receive with entire resignation, this messenger from heaven". These words made a strong impression upon the monarch and his retinue; he immediately expressed his profession of the faith, and performed several acts of contrition. Convinced that this prediction was the decrees of heaven, from hearing that this Derwisch was the disciple of a profound Astrologer, he prepared for death, made his will, settled the succession to the throne, and died on the third day; notwithstanding (says the annals,) all the aid of medicine, and every exertion of his ministers, officers, and courtiers, to prevent the catastrophe.

The most favourable prognostics accompanied the accession of Mohammed 11. The Astrologers foretold that his reign should become illustrious by the glories of conquest: he depended also on the circumstance of his proclamation, which happened on a Thursday, the 5th day of the week; and on his being the seventh sultan of his family. The following words of the Cour'ann were quoted: " God hath blessed the fifth and the seventh". These predictions had a powerful effect on the projects of this monarch, who became the conqueror of Constantinople, the destroyer of the Greek empire; and one of the most illustrious princes of his family for genius, talents, and taste for learning.

Selim I. previous to his turning his arms against Egypt, consulted a celebrated Astrologer, who resided at Damas, and living like a hermit, had the reputation almost of a saint. He assured the sultan that victory should attend his steps ,• and that the kingdom of Egypt should be subject to his power. In the transports of his joy, Selim loaded him with kindness and honor; he would not however depart from him, till he had learned the fate and duration of his reign. The sage refused for some time to comply with his request, but at length obliged to yield to his earnest solicitation, he informed him " his reign would conclude before the expiration of nine years; but that from its glorious events, he would hold a distinguished rank in the history of nations/' At these words, Selim observed a melancholy silence, which was only interrupted by deep sighs and accents of grief. After a gloomy pause, he desired to know the horoscope of prince SuleymaN, his son. " He shall be happy", replied the hermit. " He shall reign near half a century, and be equally distinguished by bis splendid actions and warlike virtues". The above observation determined the sultan to march against his enemies, and the event having corresponded with the prediction, he from that moment became a prey to fatal.melancholy, and died in the ninth year of his reign.

As the hermit had foretold, his son, Suleyman I. ascended the throne, attended by a thousand presages respecting the future splendor of his reign, and the prosperity of his empire. These favourable predictions were chiefly founded on the good fortune which the Arabians attribute to whole numbers, since this sultan was born in the 900th year of the Hegira, and was the tenth monarch of his family. Prompted by these circumstances, Suleyman undertook those enterprises which rendered his reign so illustrious. He extended the limits of his empire on our continent in three directions, and his reign was indeed the most prosperous period of the monarchy.

In the reign of Selim II. (1572) there appeared a Comet, which had the brightness and magnitude of Venus. This excited his apprehensions, which were augmented by the predictions of his Astrologers, who declared that this phenomenon announced the calamities which' excessive rain would inflict upon the empire. Forty days afterwards, says the historian -" they imagined themselves threatened with an universal deluge : incessant rains overflowed his dominions in Europe and Asia; laid waste three of his chief cities; swept away on all sides, men, cattle, houses, and rendered impassable, during several weeks, the bridges and public roads ! This prediction, which is well authenticated by historians, affords a striking instance of the singular skill possessed by the Arabian Astrologers, and how astonishingly correct those rules must have been on which their presages were founded.

The death of Mohammed. III. was likewise extremely singular and remarkable. On entering the seraglio, he met one day a Derwisch, who exclaimed in the following terms: " O august monarch! do not slumber over your situation. I announce to you a melancholy event, which will happen in fifty-six days from the present time. The sultan was agitated by this address. He soon after sickened, and really died on the fifty-sixth day.