This melting box is another artificial slight, which is shewn as above, made in the fashion of a screw, that so the lips may hang without discovery; as thus, F is the out-part of the box; G the first in-part. H the second in-part; I a round case made of plush or leather, with a button on the top, and wide enough to slip on and off, half in the bottom of the box, F put a small quantity of quick-silver killed, which may be done with the shavings of pewter, or fasting spittle; in the second part, which is H, let there be six single pence, put these in the first or out-most part, then put G to H, and the box is perfect.
When you go to shew this trick, desire any in the company to lend you a sixpence, and you will return it safe again; but requesting withal, that none will meddle with any thing they see, unless you desire them, lest they prejudice you and themselves; then take the cup off the box, and bid any one see it and feel it, that there may be no mistrust, so likewise take the box entire, holding your fore-finger on the bottom, and your thumb on the upper part, turning it upside down, say, You see here is nothing; then putting in the sixpence, put the cup over the box again; as the box stands covered upon the table, put your hand under the table, using some canting words, then take off the cup with your fore-finger and thumb, so as you pinch the innermost box with it, and set it gently on the table; then put the killed quicksilver out of lower part into your hand, turning the box with the bottom upward and stirring it about with your finger, ‘Here you see it melted, now I will put it in again and turn it into six single pence;’ suddenly take the cap as you took it off, returning it again, bid them blow on it; then take off the cap as you did before, only pinching the uppermost lid in it, and setting it upon the table, hold the box at the top and bottom with your fore-finger and thumb, then put the six single pence, after they are viewed and seem to be so, in again, and return the cap as before, saying, Blow on it if you would have it in the same form you gave it me, then taking the cup by the button, holding the box as before, put out the six-pence and return the box into your pocket. This is a very good slight, if well performed, which is done by often use.
How to light a candle by a glass of cold water, or other liquor, without the help of fire.
You must take a little piece of phosphorus, about the bigness of a pin’s head, and with a piece of tallow, stick it on the edge of the drinking-glass, and then take the candle lighted and blow it out; and apply it to the glass, it will immediately light. This is the preparation that Cromwell used to fire off his cannon withal, very amazing to behold; you may write with it on a paper, some horrible words or other, and it will appear frightful to the beholders: also, you may take a piece as big as a pin’s head, and rub it on a piece of paper, and it will be soon all on a flame.
A trick upon the globe-box.
This is a trick not inferior to the best that is shewn with boxes; it is a box made of four pieces, and a ball so big as is imagined to be contained therein: the ball serves in the same nature, as the egg does in the egg box, only to deceive the hand and eye of the spectators. This ball, made of wood or ivory, is thrown out of the box upon the table, for everyone to see that it is substantial, then putting the ball into the box, and letting the standers-by blow on the box, taking off the upper shell with your fore-finger and thumb, there appears another, and of another colour, as red, blue, yellow, or any variety of colours upon each ball that is so imagined to be, which indeed is no more than the shell of wood ingeniously turned and fitted for the box, as you may see in the figures above.
L, the out-shell of the globe taken off the figures; M, N, an inner shell; O, the cover of the same; P, the other inner shell; Q, the cover of the same; R, the third shell; S, that which covers it. These globes may be made with more or less varieties, according to the desire of the practitioner.
To tell the names of all cards in the pack, before you see them.
Take a pack of cards, and after you have shuffled them, or let another shuffle them, lay them down upon the table before you, with their backs uppermost, then say, ‘Now I will tell you the names of all the rest of the cards in the pack, except one, before I see them;’ having said so draw off the uppermost cards, and say, ‘This is my Hocus Pocus. This is he by whose assistance I shall discover all the rest of the cards in the pack; I care not what he is, for I can make any of them serve for the same purpose.’ Then put him to your mouth, as tho’ you charmed him, and repeat some cramp words; and taking off the next card from the pack, say, Here is the —— naming your Hocus Pocus, and having seen him, lay him down.