the certainty of the performance, considerable betts would
take place, as soon as the project would be mentioned in company.
The Sporting Kalendar was immediately looked into, and the name
of Blake soon occurred; that gentleman was fixed upon as the
person to whom Mr. Day ought to address himself. Accordingly, Mr.
Blake, in the month of November last, received the following
letter:

"SIR,

"I found out an affair by which many thousands may be won; it is
of a paradoxical nature, but can be performed with ease;
therefore, sir, if you chuse to be informed of it, and give me
one hundred pounds of every thousand you shall win by it, I will
very readily wait upon you and inform you of it. I am myself
but a poor mechanic and not able to make anything by it without
your assistance.

"Your's, etc.

"J. DAY."

Mr. Blake had no conception of Mr. Day's design, nor was he sure
that the letter was serious. To clear the matter up, he returned
for answer, that, if Mr. Day would come to town, and explain
himself, Mr. Blake would consider of the proposal. If he approved
of it, Mr. Day should have the recompence he desired; if, on the
other hand, the plan should be rejected, Mr. Blake would make him
a present to defray the expences of his journey. In a short time
after Mr. Day came to town; Mr. Blake saw him and desired to know
what secret he was possessed of. The man replied, "that he could
sink a ship 100 feet deep in the sea with himself in it, and
remain therein for the space of 24 hours, without communication
with anything above; and at the expiration of the time, rise up
again in the vessel." The proposal, in all its parts, was new to
Mr. Blake. He took down the particulars, and, after considering
the matter, desired some kind of proof of the practicability. The
man added that if Mr. Blake would furnish him with the materials
necessary, he would give him an occular demonstration. A model of
the vessel, with which he was to perform the experiment, was then
required, and in three or four weeks accomplished, so as to give
a perfect idea of the principle upon which the scheme was to be
executed, and, in time, a very plausible promise of success, not
to Mr. Blake only, but