The Massachusetts Spy, Or, Thomas's Boston Journal

Extrait of a letter from Charles de Salis, Esq; at St. Trone, near Marseilles, to his brother the Rev. Mr de Salis, in England, dated June 17, 1772.

"A boy here of twelve years of age, has the faculty of discovering water under ground: This gift of his was discovered about a year ago in the following manner: He was standing at work by his father, who was digging, and on a sudden called out, 'Do not dig too deep or the water will appear.' The man had the curiosity to dig about three feet and found a considerable spring. This singular thing being known in the province, several people of distinction, who wanted water on their estates, sent for him: Amongst others, Mons. Boreile sent for him to an estate of his, where according to tradition, there had been three springs. The boy, without hesitation, carried him to every one of them. Mons. de Bompart, commander of the squadron at Toulon, sent for him to a house of his near the town; Monsieur de Bompart was so convinced of the boy's skill, that he immediately fell to work, and has succeeded. At a house which the Duke de Villars lived in, some of the water-conduits under it were choaked up; and as the direction of them was not known, they, to save expence of taking up the floors, sent for the boy, who, on being carried to the spot, pointed to the place, and said, 'Here the conduit begins and goes in such a direction, &c.' So much upon the relation of others; now for what I have seen myself. There was a neighbour of mine, as curious as myself to find out whether this boy had really such a gift. We agreed to put water in a large earthen pan, hermetically covered with another, and then place it in a hole two feet under ground in a vineyard that had been lately tilled. In order that nobody should inform him of it, at night we dug the hole ourselves, and covered it over, and smoothed the ground for 20 feet round. This we did in two places. The boy arrived next morning, and we took him about the country to shew his skill. He went before us alone, with his hands in a short waistcoat, and stopped short when he found water, spoke of it, and followed to the spring head. Little by little, we brought him to where the water was hid: and I never was so astonished in my life as to see him go out of the way, stamp upon the spot, and say, 'here is water here, but it does not run.' The earth was removed, and the pan found directly under. We took him by the second place, which he also discovered, but was angry at being deceived. He then found out a large spring in my neighbour's house, which he was greatly in want of for an oil-mill he has there."