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Solutions Manual
For
Special Relativity
A Heuristic Approach
Sadri Hassani
Contents
List of Symbols 1
1 Qualitative Relativity 5
3 Lorentz Transformation 19
4 Spacetime Geometry 49
5 Spacetime Momentum 75
7 Relativistic Photography 99
anti-particle a particle whose mass and spin are exactly the same as its corresponding
particle, but the sign of all its “charges” are opposite. If a particle is represented
by the letter p, then it is customary to denote its anti-particle by p̄. If a particle is
represented by the letter q − (or q + ), then it is customary to denote its anti-particle
by q + (or q − ).
baryon a hadron whose spin is an odd multiple of ~/2. Baryons are composed of three
quarks. Examples of baryons are protons and neutrons.
~ fractional velocity of one observer relative to another, β~ = ~v /c
β
boson a particle whose spin is an integer multiple of ~. All gauge particles are bosons as
are all mesons, as well as the Higgs particle.
causally connected referring to two two events. If an observer or a light signal can be
present at two events, those events are said to be causally connected.
causally disconnected referring to two two events. If an observer or a light signal cannot
be present at two events, those events are said to be causally disconnected.
CM center of mass
CS coordinate system
êx , êy , êz unit vectors along the three Cartesian axes.
fermion a particle whose spin is an odd multiple of ~/2. Fermions obey Pauli’s exclusion
principle: no two identical fermions can occupy a single quantum state. Electrons,
protons, and neutrons are fermions, so are all leptons and quarks, as well as all
baryons.
p p
γ the Lorentz factor, γ = 1/ 1 − β 2 = 1/ 1 − (v/c)2
gauge bosons According to the modern theory of forces, fundamental particles interact
via the exchange of gauge bosons. Excluding gravity, whose microscopic behavior
is not well understood, there are 12 gauge bosons whose exchange explains all the
interactions: Z 0 , W ± and γ (photon) are responsible for electroweak interaction,
while 8 gluons are responsible for strong interaction.
gluons the particles responsible for strong interactions: two or more quarks participate
in strong interaction by exchanging gluons. There are four gluons, which with their
antiparticles comprise the eight gluons whose exchange binds quarks together.
half life the time interval in which one half of the initial decaying particles survive.
lepton a particle that participates only in electromagnetic and weak nuclear interactions,
but not in strong nuclear interactions. Leptons are elementary particles in the sense
that they are not made up of anything more elementary. There are three electri-
cally charged leptons: electron, muon, and tauon. Each charged lepton has its own
neutrino. So, altogether there are six leptons.
light cone (at an event E) The set of all events that are causally connected to E.
light hour the distance that light travels in one hour, ≈ 1.08 × 1012 m
light minute the distance that light travels in one minute, ≈ 1.8 × 1010 m
light second the distance that light travels in one second, ≈ 3 × 108 m
luminally connected referring to two two events. If a light signal can be present at two
events, those events are said to be luminally connected.
mean time the time interval in which 1/e of the initial decaying particles survive.
List of Symbols 3
meson a hadron whose spin is an integer multiple of ~. Mesons are composed of one quark
and one anti-quark. Examples of mesons are pions.
µm micrometer = 10−6 m
Mpc Megaparsec
muon an elementary particle belonging to the group of particles named “leptons,” to which
electron belongs as well. Muon is called a “fat electron” because it behaves very much
like an electron except that it is heavier.
neutrino a neutral lepton with very small mass. Neutrinos participate only in weak nuclear
force. That’s why they are very weakly interacting.
ns nanosecond or 10−9 s
Parsec A distance of about 3.26 light years. One parsec corresponds to the distance at
which the mean radius of the Earth’s orbit subtends an angle of one second of arc.
quarks elementary particles which make up all hadrons. There are six quarks: up, down,
strange, charm, bottom, top. Quarks participate in all interactions, in particular, the
strong interaction.
RF reference frame
tauon an elementary particle belonging to the group of particles named “leptons,” to which
electron belongs as well. It is the heaviest lepton discovered so far.
Qualitative Relativity
(a) Compare the length L|| of the image on the photographic plate with L when the rod
is along the x-axis: L|| > L, L|| = L, or L|| < L? Give a reason for your answer.
(b) Compare the length L⊥ of the image on the photographic plate with L when the rod
is perpendicular to the x-axis: L⊥ > L, L⊥ = L, or L⊥ < L? Give a reason for your
answer.
Solution:
(a) Length parallel to the direction of motion shrinks regardless of who sees the events
of light emission simultaneously. See the discussion in Section 1.3 for the reason (as
well as how to capture the length of a moving object).
Note the importance of the fact that the distance between the rod and the photographic
plate is zero.
1.2. A rod is placed along the x-axis with its center at the origin. A pinhole camera C1 is
located on the z-axis and takes a picture of the stationary rod. Now the rod starts moving
along the x-axis parallel to itself from −∞. Camera C1 is removed and another pinhole
camera C2 replaces it on the z-axis. As soon as the center of the rod reaches the origin
(call it t = 0), C2 takes a picture.
(a) Is the pinhole of C2 collecting the light rays from the two ends of the rod that were
emitted at t = 0?
6 Qualitative Relativity
(b) Is the pinhole collecting the light rays from the two ends of the rod that were emitted
simultaneously, but not at t = 0?
(c) If the answer to (b) is no, which end emitted its light first, the trailing end or the
leading end?
(d) Is it possible for the image of the rod in C2 to be longer than its image in C1 ? Hint:
Consider the location of each end as it emits the light ray captured by C2 .
Solution:
(a) No. It takes time for the light to reach the camera once it leaves its source.
(b) No.
(c) The trailing end is farther away from the camera, so it must emit the light sooner
than the leading end.
(d) The trailing end emits its light, the rod moves a little, then the leading end emits its
light. So, the distance between the source of the light from the trailing end and that
of the leading end is indeed larger than the length of the rod.
Note that the image in camera C2 , which is longer than the image in C1 , has nothing to do
with the actual length of the rod!
1.3. A rod is placed along the y-axis with its center at the origin. A pinhole camera C1 is
located on the z-axis and takes a picture of the stationary rod. Now the rod starts moving
along the x-axis parallel to itself from −∞. Camera C1 is removed and another pinhole
camera C2 replaces it on the z-axis. As soon as the center of the rod reaches the origin
(call it t = 0), C2 takes a picture.
(a) Is the pinhole of C2 collecting the light rays from the two ends of the rod that were
emitted at t = 0?
(b) Is the pinhole collecting the light rays from the two ends of the rod that were emitted
simultaneously, but not at t = 0?
(c) If the answer to (b) is no, which end emitted its light first, the top or the bottom?
(d) Is it possible for the image of the rod in C2 to be longer than its image in C1 ? Hint:
Consider the locations of the ends as they emit their light rays captured by C2 , the
distance between those locations and the pinhole, and the angle they subtend at the
pinhole.
Solution:
(a) No. It takes time for the light to reach the camera once it leaves its source.
(b) Yes. The perpendicular distance does not change. So, the top and bottom of the rod
are equidistant from the pinhole, and to reach it at t = 0, the rays must have been
emitted at the same time in the past.
(d) No. Since the locations of the sources of the rays are farther from C2 (they have
negative x-coordinates) than the locations in C1 , they must have a smaller image.
1.4. A circular ring emits light from all of its points simultaneously (in its rest frame) when
a remote switch is turned on. It is moving in a plane parallel to a photographic plate and
infinitesimally close to it. When it reaches the plate, the switch is turned on. What is the
shape of the image of the photograph? Hint: See Problem 1.1.
Solution: The diameter along the direction of motion shrinks; the diameter perpendicular
to the direction of motion stays the same. So, the shape is an ellipse flattened in the
direction of motion.
1.5. A conveyor belt moving at relativistic speed carries cookie dough. A circular stamp
cuts out cookies as the dough rushes by beneath it. What is the shape of these cookies?
Are they flattened in the direction of the belt, stretched in that direction, or circular?
Solution: The answer is identical to that of the previous problem. So, the cookies are
flattened in the direction of the belt.
1.6. A conveyor belt moving at relativistic speed carries cookie dough. A laser gun one
meter above the belt emits a beam in the shape of the surface of a circular cone that
cuts the dough perpendicularly. Are these cookies flattened in the direction of the belt,
stretched in that direction, or circular? Hint: Concentrate on the two ends of the diameter
of the beam along the dough, and note that their light beams arrive simultaneously at the
stationary bed on which the dough is moving. Now consider how the two events appear
in the RF of the moving dough and what implication it has on the length of the diameter.
The discussion surrounding Figure 1.3 may be helpful.
Solution: The image of the laser beam on the stationary bed is circular and the two
events of the arrival of the beams from the two ends of the horizontal diameter occur
simultaneously. Consider two experiments. In the first experiment, there is no dough and
the laser imprints a circle on the stationary bed. In the second experiment, an observer
riding with the dough records the coincidence of the location of the event in front of her
with the front end of the imprint before the coincidence of the event in the back. She
concludes that for her, the distance between the two events is larger than the two marks
on the stationary bed. So, the image is an ellipse elongated along the direction of the belt.
Thus, the cookies are stretched in the direction of the belt.
1.7. A circular ring is centered at the origin in the xy-plane. A pinhole camera C1 is located
on the z-axis and takes a picture of the stationary ring. Now the ring starts moving along
the x-axis from −∞. Camera C1 is removed and another pinhole camera C2 replaces it on
the z-axis. As soon as the center of the rod reaches the origin (at t = 0), C2 takes a picture.
(a) Is the pinhole of C2 collecting the light rays from the two ends of the horizontal
diameter (along the x-axis) of the ring that were emitted at t = 0? Hint: Look at
Problem 1.2.
(b) Is the pinhole of C2 collecting the light rays from the two ends of the horizontal
diameter of the ring that were emitted simultaneously, but not at t = 0?
8 Qualitative Relativity
(c) If the answer to (b) is no, which end emitted its light first, the trailing end or the
leading end?
(d) Is it possible for the image of the horizontal diameter in C2 to be longer than its
image in C1 ?
(e) Is the image of the vertical diameter (along the y-axis) in C2 equal to, longer than,
or shorter than its image in C1 ? Hint: Look at Problem 1.3.
(f) Can you guess what the shape of the image of the ring is in C2 ?
Solution:
(a) No.
(b) No.
Solution: Rigidity is not a well defined concept in relativity. The other end of the rod gets
compressed because of its motion.
2.2. In this problem you’ll learn more about superluminal transverse speeds.
(a) Show that the angle that maximizes Equation (2.6) is given by cos θ = β.
(d) What speed makes (vtr )max ten times faster than light? What is the angle corre-
sponding to this speed?
Solution:
(b) p
sin θ 1 − β2 cβ
(vtr )max = cβ = cβ 2
=p = cβγ.
1 − β cos θ 1−β 1 − β2
(c)
cβγ > c ⇐⇒ β 2 γ 2 > 1 ⇐⇒ β 2 > 1 − β 2 ⇐⇒ β 2 > 1/2.
(d)
βγ = 10 ⇐⇒ β 2 γ 2 = 100 ⇐⇒ β 2 = 100 − 100β 2 ⇐⇒ β 2 = 100/101,
or if β = 0.995. The angle corresponding to this β is θ = cos−1 0.995 = 0.0997 or
θ = 5.71◦ .
2.3. Consider an MM clock moving horizontally with speed β relative to observer O. Denote
its length in motion by L and at rest by L0 . Let ∆t1 be the time it takes light to go from
the emitter to the mirror according to O. Let ∆t2 be the time it takes light to go from the
mirror to the emitter according to O.
(a) Show that
c∆t1 = L + βc∆t1 , c∆t2 = L − βc∆t2 .
(c) Now use the time dilation formula with ∆τ = 2L0 /c to derive the length contraction
formula.
Solution:
(a) By the time the light that is emitted at the emitter reaches the mirror, the MM clock
has moved. So, the distance that the light covers is L plus the distance that the MM
clock moves in the same time interval. So, c∆t1 = L + βc∆t1 , and
L
c∆t1 (1 − β) = L ⇐⇒ ∆t1 = .
c(1 − β)
On reflection, the light and the MM clock move in opposite directions. Therefore,
c∆t2 = L − βc∆t2 , and
L
c∆t2 (1 + β) = L ⇐⇒ ∆t2 = .
c(1 + β)
11
2.4. The spaceship Enterprise goes to a planet in a star system far away with a speed of
0.9c, spends 6 months on the planet, and comes back with a speed of 0.95c. The entire trip
takes 5 years for the crew.
(b) How long did it take the crew to get to the planet?
(c) How long did the entire trip take for the Earth observers?
Solution:
√
(a) On the outbound part, √ the distance for the crew is L0 1 − 0.92 and the time it takes
them to get there is L0 1 − 0.92 /(0.9c), where L0 is the distance√according to Earth
observers. Similarly, the time it takes them to come back is L0 1 − 0.952 /(0.95c).
So, the entire round trip time is
√ √
L0 1 − 0.92 L0 1 − 0.952
+ = 4.5 years.
0.9c 0.95c
This gives L0 = 5.54 light years.
(b) √
L0 1 − 0.92
∆τoutbound = = 0.484 years.
0.9c
(c) The distance according to Earth is 5.54 light years. So, for outbound trip
5.54 light years
∆toutbound = = 6.15 years.
0.9c
Similarly,
5.54 light years
∆tinbound = = 5.83 years.
0.95c
Therefore the entire trip takes 6.15 + 0.5 + 5.83 = 12.48 years.
2.5. A rocket ship leaves the Earth at a speed of 0.8c. When a clock on the rocket says 1
hour has elapsed, the rocket ship sends a light signal back to Earth.
(b) According to Earth clocks, how long after the rocket left did the signal arrive back
on Earth?
(c) According to the rocket clock, how long after the rocket left did the signal arrive back
on Earth?
Solution:
(a) The rocket is measuring the proper time of 1 hour. So, for Earth
1 hour
∆t = γ∆τ = √ = 1.67 hours.
1 − 0.82
12 Relativity of Time and Space
(b) The distance of the rocket from Earth when it sends the signal is
So, it took 1.33 hours for the signal to arrive at Earth after it was sent. Therefore,
between the rocket leaving and the signal arriving, it took 1.33 + 1.67 = 3 hours
according to Earth. Note that this is proper time for Earth.
3 hour
∆trocket = √ = 5 hours.
1 − 0.82
It is a good exercise to find the answer to (c) by calculating in the rocket frame. Note that
the Earth moves at 0.8c away from the rocket. So, when the rocket sends the signal, the
Earth is at a distance of 0.8 light hour from rocket. Now the rocket sends a signal that
chases the Earth. When does the light catch up with Earth according to rocket?
2.6. A bicycle wheel of rest radius R is rotating in such a way that the rim has a linear
speed of 0.866c. What is the circumference of the rim? What is the length of the spokes
in motion? But spokes are perpendicular to the direction of motion! Discuss whether in
relativity anything can be considered “incompressible” or “rigid.” See also Problem 2.1.
Solution: For the same reason as Problem 2.1, the spokes are not “rigid.”
2.7. The spaceship Viking goes to a planet in a star system 30 light years away from Earth
with a speed of 0.99c, spends 1 year on the planet, and then returns home. The entire trip
takes 10 years for the crew.
(b) How long does it take the crew to get to the planet?
(d) What is the speed of the crew on return? Warning! The distance for the crew is not
the same as the distance on their way to the planet.
(e) How far is the Earth from the planet according to crew on their return?
(f) How long did the entire trip take for the Earth observers?
Solution:
√
(a) L = 30 1 − .992 = 4.23 light years.
(b) The distance is 4.23 light years, and they are going at 0.99c, so it takes them 4.23/0.99,
or 4.27 years to get there.
(c) Since the entire trip is 10 years, the return time is 10 − 4.27 − 1 = 4.73 years.
13
p
2
(d) Let β2 be the speed of return.pThen the distance is 30 1 − β2 light years. And the
2
time, in terms of speed, is 30 1 − β2 /cβ2 . So, we have to solve the equation
p
30 1 − β22 light years
= 4.73 years.
cβ2
The answer comes out to be β2 = 0.988.
√
(e) L = 30 1 − 0.9882 = 4.67 light years.
(f)
30 light years 30 light years
+1+ = 61.67 years.
0.99c 0.988c
2.8. The spaceship Diracus goes to a planet in a star system with a speed whose Lorentz
factor is γ, spends 1 year on the planet, and then returns home with a speed whose Lorentz
factor is 4γ. The captain of the spaceship is 29 years old and has just had a newborn son.
The entire trip takes 11 years for the crew. The odometer of the spaceship shows that the
“milage” for the round trip is a quarter of the Earth-planet distance as measured by Earth
observers.
(a) What is the outbound speed? The inbound speed?
(b) What is the Earth-planet distance according to the Earth observers?
(c) What is the Earth-planet distance according to the crew on their way to the planet?
On their way back?
(d) How long does it take the crew to go to the planet? To return?
(e) Who is older, the son or the father when the ship lands on Earth? By how many
years?
Solution:
(a) Let L0 be the distance according to Earth. Then
L0 L0 L0
+ = .
γ 4γ 4
This gives γ = 5 and p √
γ2 − 1 24
βout = = = 0.98,
γ 5
and p √
(4γ)2 − 1 399
βin = = = 0.9987,
4γ 20
(b) The round trip time is 10 years. So,
Lout Lin L0 /γ L0 /(4γ)
+ = + = 10
βout βin βout βin
or
L0 L0
+ = 10.
5 × 0.98 20 × 0.9987
This gives L0 = 39.35 light years.
14 Relativity of Time and Space
(c) Lout = L0 /γ = 7.87 light years; Lin = L0 /(4γ) = 1.97 light years.
(d) ∆τout = Lout /cβout = 8.03 years; ∆τin = Lin /cβin = 1.97 years; and these two answers
are consistent with the roundtrip time being 10 years.
(e) ∆tout = L0 /cβout = 40.15 years; ∆tin = L0 /cβin = 39.4. So, the son is 40.15 + 1 +
39.4 = 80.55 years old, while the father is just 29 + 11 = 40 years old.
2.9. A rod of rest length L0 moves with speed v along the positive x0 -direction of observer
O0 . The rod makes an angle θ0 with respect to the x-axis of its rest frame.
(b) Find the angle θ the rod makes with the x0 -axis as measured by O0 .
Solution: The projections along the axes in the rest frame are
∆x = L0 cos θ0 , ∆y = L0 sin θ0 .
Note that the answer is consistent with the special cases θ0 = 0 and θ0 = π/2.
(b) p
∆x0 1 − β 2 cos θ0 cos θ0
cos θ = =p = p
L 2 2
1 − β cos θ0 γ 1 − β 2 cos2 θ0
or
∆y 0 sin θ0
tan θ = 0
=p = γ tan θ0 .
∆x 1 − (v/c)2 cos θ0
2.10. A flasher produces a flash of light every second when at rest. It is moving away from
you at 0.9c.
(b) By how much does the distance between you and the flasher increase between con-
secutive flashes?
(c) How long after the emission of a given flash does it reach you?
(a)
1s
∆t = √ = 2.294 s.
1 − 0.92
(b)
∆x = 0.9c × 2.294 s = 2.065 light second.
(c) From its emission, it takes the flash 2.065 seconds to reach you.
(d) The time intervals between flashes is the sum of the time interval between emissions
and the time it takes the flashes to reach you: 2.294 + 2.065 = 4.35 seconds.
Note that this is related to Doppler effect: Think of a flash as a wavefront.
2.11. Charged pions are produced in many collisions in accelerators. They decay in their
rest frame according to
N (t) = N0 e−t/T ,
where T = 2.6×10−8 s is their mean life. A burst of charged pions is produced at the target
of an accelerator and it is observed that only one percent of them decay at a distance of
1 m from the target. What is the Lorentz factor for pions and how fast are they moving?
Solution: Note that t in the decay formula is proper time. So, we have to calculate things
in the rest frame of the pions. The the distance in the rest frame is L0 /γ. Therefore,
t = L0 /(γcβ), and
L0 p L0
0.99 = e−t/T = e−L0 /(γcβT ) ⇐⇒ ln(0.99) = − ⇐⇒ γβ = γ 2 − 1 = − .
γcβT ln(0.99)cT
This gives γ = 12.795 and β = 0.997.
2.12. Derive Equations (2.8), (2.9), and (2.10).
Solution: Since xc < 0, the negative sign in the previous equation must be chosen. The
expression under square root sign can be written as
β 2 γ 2 (β 2 L2 + b2 + L2 /γ 2 ) = β 2 γ 2 b2 + L2 β 2 + 1 − β 2 = β 2 γ 2 (b2 + L2 )
When taking the square root, the negative sign is chosen because the light from A was
emitted in the past.
16 Relativity of Time and Space
x0c2 2β 2 L 0
x0c2 = β 2 (x0c2 + L2 /γ 2 + 2x0c L/γ + b2 ) ⇐⇒ − xc − β 2 (b2 + L2 /γ 2 ) = 0.
γ2 γ
Solve this quadratic equation for xc to obtain
x0c = β 2 γL ± β 4 γ 2 L2 + β 2 γ 2 (b2 + L2 /γ 2 ).
p
The negative sign must be chosen because x0c < 0. The rest of the solution is identical to
the previous problem. In fact, all the answers are obtained from that problem by changing
the sign of L.
x2c
x2c = β 2 [(b + L)2 + x2c ] = β 2 x2c + β 2 (b + L)2 ⇐⇒ (1 − β 2 )x2c = = β 2 (b + L)2 .
γ2
Take the square root and chose the negative sign to get the answer. For x0c , just change L
to −L.
x2
x2 = β 2 [(b − z)2 + x2 ] = β 2 x2 + β 2 (b − z)2 ⇐⇒ = β 2 (b − z)2 .
γ2
Take the square root to get x = ±γβ|b − z|. Choosing the negative sign and noting that
|b − z| = b − z, you obtain the answer.
2.16. Find tA and tB , the times at which A and B emit their light rays when the rod is
oriented along the z-axis as in Example 2.2.4.
Solution: A and B have coordinates (xc , 0, −L) and (x0c , 0, L), respectively. So, their
distances, |ctA | and |ctB | from the camera are given by
I’ll find the first one, leaving the second for you. From (2.14), we have
Therefore, ctA = −γ(b + L). Similarly, ctB = −γ(b − L). Note that b > L.
x2 x2
x2 = β 2 (x2 + y 2 + b2 ) ⇐⇒ = β 2 2
(y + b2
) ⇐⇒ − y 2 = b2 ,
γ2 γ2β2
and the final form follows immediately.
2.18. In Example 2.2.5, find tA and tB , the times at which A and B emit their light rays
when the rod is oriented along the y-axis.
Solution: Let tP be the time that the light from an arbitrary point P of the rod with
coordinates (x, y, 0) was emitted. Then using the results of the example, you have
p x2
c2 t2P =
x2 + y 2 + b2 = 2 = γ 2 (y 2 + b2 ).
β
p √
Therefore, ctP = −γ y 2 + b2 . Thus, ctA = ctB = −γ L2 + b2 .
or
x2c (1 + β 2 γ 2 ) − 2xβ 2 γ 2 xc − β 2 a2 + b2 − β 2 γ 2 x2 = 0
or
γ 2 x2c − 2xβ 2 γ 2 xc − β 2 a2 + b2 − β 2 γ 2 x2 = 0.
The solution is
p
xβ 2 γ 2 ±x2 β 4 γ 4 + β 2 γ 2 (a2 + b2 − β 2 γ 2 x2 )
xc =
γ2
p √
xβ 2 γ 2 ± γβ x2 β 2 γ 2 + a2 + b2 − β 2 γ 2 x2 xβ 2 γ 2 ± γβ a2 + b2
= = .
γ2 γ2
About sixty years ago[4] there departed this life an old man, who,
for sixty years previous to that, was known only by the name of Wat
the Prophet. I am even uncertain what his real surname was, though
he was familiarly known to the most of my relatives of that day, and I
was intimately acquainted with his nephew and heir, whose name
was Paterson,—yet I hardly think that was the prophet’s surname,
but that the man I knew was a maternal nephew. So far, I am
shortcoming at the very outset of my tale, for in truth I never heard
him distinguished by any other name than Wat the Prophet.[5]
4. This interesting account of a very extraordinary character was contributed
to the Edinburgh Literary Journal in 1829.
5. The old prophet’s surname was Laidlaw, being of a race that has produced
more singular characters than any of our country.
He must have been a very singular person in every respect. In his
youth he was so much more clever and acute than his fellows, that he
was viewed as a sort of phenomenon, or rather “a kind of being that
had mair airt than his ain.” It was no matter what Wat tried, for
either at mental or manual exertion he excelled; and his gifts were so
miscellaneous, that it was no wonder his most intimate
acquaintances rather stood in awe of him. At the sports of the field,
at the exposition of any part of Scripture, at prayer, and at
mathematics, he was altogether unequalled. By this, I mean in the
sphere of his acquaintance in the circle in which he moved, for he
was the son of a respectable farmer who had a small property. In the
last-mentioned art his comprehension is said to have been truly
wonderful. He seemed to have an intuitive knowledge of the science
of figures from beginning to end, and needed but a glance at the rules
to outgo his masters.
But this was not all. In all the labours of the field his progress was
equally unaccountable. He could with perfect ease have mown as
much hay as two of the best men, sown as much, reaped as much,
shorn as many sheep, and smeared as many, and with a little extra
exertion could have equalled the efforts of three ordinary men at any
time. As for ploughing, or any work with horses, he would never put
a hand to it, for he then said he had not the power of the labour
himself. However unaccountable all this may be, it is no fabrication;
I have myself heard several men tell, who were wont to shear and
smear sheep with him, when he was a much older man than they,
that even though he would have been engaged in some fervent
demonstration, in spite of all they could do, “he was aye popping off
twa sheep, or maybe three, for their ane.”
I could multiply anecdotes of this kind without number, but these
were mere atoms of the prophet’s character—a sort of excrescences,
which were nevertheless in keeping with the rest, being matchless of
their kind. He was intended by his parents for the Church—that is
the Church of the Covenant, to which they belonged. I know not if
Wat had consented thereto, but his education tended that way.
However, as he said himself, he was born for a higher destiny, which
was to reveal the future will of God to mankind for ever and ever. I
have been told that he committed many of his prophecies to writing;
and I believe it, for he was a scholar, and a man of rather
supernatural abilities; but I have never been able to find any of them.
I have often heard fragments of them, but they were recited by
ignorant country people, who, never having understood them
themselves, could not make them comprehensible to others. But the
history of his call to the prophecy I have so often heard, that I think I
can state the particulars, although a little confused in my recollection
of them.
This event occurred about this time one hundred years ago, on an
evening in spring, as Wat was going down a wild glen, which I know
full well. “I was in a contemplative mood,” he said (for he told it to
any that asked him), “and was meditating on the mysteries of
redemption, and doubting, grievously doubting, the merits of an
atonement by blood; when, to my astonishment in such a place, there
was one spoke to me close behind, saying, in the Greek language, ‘Is
it indeed so? Is thy faith no better rooted?’
“I looked behind me, but, perceiving no one, my hair stood all on
end, for I thought it was a voice from heaven; and, after gazing into
the firmament, and all around me, I said fearfully, in the same
language, ‘Who art thou that speakest?’ And the voice answered me
again, ‘I am one who laid down my life, witnessing for the glorious
salvation which thou art about to deny; turn, and behold me!’
“And I turned about, for the voice seemed still behind me, turn as I
would, and at length I perceived dimly the figure of an old man, of
singular aspect and dimensions, close by me. His form was
exceedingly large and broad, and his face shone with benignity; his
beard hung down to his girdle, and he had sandals on his feet, which
covered his ankles. His right arm and his breast were bare, but he
had a crimson mantle over his right shoulder, part of which covered
his head, and came round his waist. Having never seen such a figure
or dress, or countenance before, I took him for an angel, sent from
above to rebuke me; so I fell at his feet to worship him, or rather to
entreat forgiveness for a sin which I had not power to withstand. But
he answered me in these words: ‘Rise up, and bow not to me, for I
am thy fellow-servant, and a messenger from Him whom thou hast
in thy heart denied. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him
only shalt thou serve. Come, I am commissioned to take thee into the
presence of thy Maker and Redeemer.’
“And I said, ‘Sir, how speakest thou in this wise? God is in heaven,
and we are upon the earth; and it is not given to mortal man to scale
the heavenly regions, or come into the presence of the Almighty.’
And he said, ‘Have thy learning and thy knowledge carried thee no
higher than this? Knowest thou not that God is present in this wild
glen, the same as in the palaces of light and glory—that His presence
surrounds us at this moment—and that He sees all our actions, hears
our words, and knows the inmost thoughts of our hearts?’
“And I said, ‘Yes, I know it.’
“‘Then, are you ready and willing at this moment,’ said he, ‘to step
into His presence, and avow the sentiments which you have of late
been cherishing?’
“And I said, ‘I would rather have time to think the matter over
again.’
“‘Alack! poor man!’ said he, ‘so you have never been considering
that you have all this while been in His immediate presence, and
have even been uttering thy blasphemous sentiments aloud to His
face, when there was none to hear but He and thyself.’
“And I said, ‘Sir, a man cannot force his belief.’
“And he said, ‘Thou sayest truly; but I will endeavour to convince
thee.’”
Here a long colloquy ensued about the external and internal
evidences of the Christian religion, which took Wat nearly half a day
to relate; but he still maintained his point. He asked his visitant twice
who he was, but he declined telling him, saying he wanted his reason
convinced, and not to take his word for anything.
Their conversation ended by this mysterious sage leading Wat
away by a path which he did not know, which was all covered with a
cloud of exceeding brightness. At length they came to a house like a
common pavilion, which they entered, but all was solemn silence,
and they heard nobody moving in it, and Wat asked his guide where
they were now.
“This is the place where heavenly gifts are distributed to
humanity,” said the reverend apostle; “but they are now no more
required, being of no repute. No one asks for them, nor will they
accept of them when offered, for worldly wisdom is all in all with the
men of this age. Their preaching is a mere farce—an ostentatious
parade, to show off great and shining qualifications, one-third of the
professors not believing one word of what they assert. The gift of
prophecy is denied and laughed at; and all revelation made to man
by dreams or visions utterly disclaimed, as if the Almighty’s power of
communicating with his creatures were not only shortened, but cut
off for ever. This fountain of inspiration, once so crowded, is now,
you see, a dreary solitude.”
“It was, in truth, a dismal-looking place, for in every chamber, as
we passed along, there were benches and seats of judgment, but none
to occupy them; the green grass was peeping through the seams of
the flooring and chinks of the wall, and never was there a more
appalling picture of desolation.
“At length, in the very innermost chamber, we came to three men
sitting in a row, the middle one elevated above the others; but they
were all sleeping at their posts, and looked as if they had slept there
for a thousand years, for their garments were mouldy, and their faces
ghastly and withered.
“I did not know what to do or say, for I looked at my guide, and he
seemed overcome with sorrow; but thinking it was ill-manners for an
intruder not to speak, I said, ‘Sirs, I think you are drowsily inclined?’
but none of them moved. At length my guide said, in a loud voice,
‘Awake, ye servants of the Most High! Or is your sleep to be
everlasting?’
“On that they all opened their eyes at once, and stared at me, but
their eyes were like the eyes of dead men, and no one of them moved
a muscle, save the middlemost, who pointed with pale haggard hand
to three small books, or scrolls, that lay on the bench before them.
“Then my guide said, ‘Put forth thine hand and choose one from
these. They are all divine gifts, and in these latter days rarely granted
to any of the human race.’ One was red as blood, the other pale, and
the third green; the latter was farthest from me, and my guide said,
‘Ponder well before you make your choice. It is a sacred mystery, and
from the choice you make, your destiny is fixed through time and
eternity.’ I then stretched out my hand, and took the one farthest
from me, and he said, ‘It is the will of the Lord; so let it be! That
which you have chosen is the gift of the spirit of prophecy. From
henceforth you must live a life of sufferance and tribulation, but your
life shall be given you for a proof, in order that you may reveal to
mankind all that is to befall them in the latter days.’ And I opened
the book, and it was all written in mystic characters, which I could
not decipher nor comprehend; and he said, ‘Put up the book in thy
bosom, and preserve it as thou wouldst do the heart within thy
breast; for as long as thou keepest that book, shall thy natural life
remain, and the spirit of God remain with thee, and whatsoever thou
sayest in the spirit, shall come to pass. But beware that thou deceive
not thyself; for, if thou endeavour to pass off studied speeches, and
words of the flesh for those of the spirit, woe be unto thee! It had
been better for thee that thou never hadst been born. Put up the
book; thou canst not understand it now, but it shall be given thee to
understand it, for it is an oracle of the most high God, and its words
and signs fail not. Go thy ways, and return to the house of thy fathers
and thy kinsfolk.’
“And I said, ‘Sir, I know not where to go, for I cannot tell by what
path you brought me hither.’ And he took me by the hand, and led
me out by a back-door of the pavilion; and we entered a great valley,
which was all in utter darkness, and I could perceive through the
gloom that many people were passing the same way with ourselves;
and I said, ‘Sir, this is dreadful! What place is this?’ And he said,
‘This is the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Many of those you see will
grope on here for ever, and never get over, for they know not whether
they go, or what is before them. But seest thou nothing beside?’
“And I said, ‘I see a bright and shining light beyond, whose rays
reach even to this place.’—‘That,’ said he, ‘is the light of the
everlasting Gospel; and to those to whom it is given to perceive that
beacon of divine love, the passage over this valley is easy. I have
shown it to you; but if you keep that intrusted to your care, you shall
never enter this valley again, but live and reveal the will of God to
man till mortality shall no more remain. You shall renew your age
like the eagles, and be refreshed with the dews of renovation from
the presence of the Lord. Sleep on now, and take your rest, for I must
leave you again in this world of sin and sorrow. Be you strong, and
overcome it, for men will hold you up to reproach and ridicule, and
speak all manner of evil of you; but see that you join them not in
their voluptuousness and iniquity, and the Lord be with you!’”
There is no doubt that this is a confused account of the prophet’s
sublime vision, it being from second hands that I had it; and, for one
thing, I know that one-half of his relation is not contained in it. For
the consequences I can avouch. From that time forth he announced
his mission, and began prophesying to such families as he was sent
to. But I forgot to mention a very extraordinary fact, that this vision
of his actually lasted nine days and nine nights, and at the end of that
time he found himself on the very individual spot in the glen where
the voice first spoke to him, and so much were his looks changed,
that, when he went in, none of the family knew him.
He mixed no more with the men of the world, but wandered about
in wilds and solitudes, and when in the spirit, he prophesied with a
sublimity and grandeur never equalled. He had plenty of money, and
some property to boot, which his father left him; but these he never
regarded, but held on his course of severe abstemiousness, often
subsisting on bread and water, and sometimes for days on water
alone, from some motive known only to himself. He had a small
black pony on which he rode many years, and which he kept always
plump and fat. This little animal waited upon him in all his fastings
and prayings with unwearied patience and affection. There is a well,
situated on the south side of a burn, called the Earny Cleuch, on the
very boundary between the shires of Dumfries and Selkirk. It is
situated in a most sequestered and lonely place, and is called to this
day the Prophet’s Well, from the many pilgrimages that he made to
it; for it had been revealed to him in one of his visions that this water
had some divine virtue, partaking of the nature of the Water of Life.
At one time he lay beside this well for nine days and nights, the pony
feeding beside him all that time, and though there is little doubt that
he had some food with him, no body knew of any that he had; and it
was believed that he fasted all that time, or at least subsisted, on the
water of that divine well.
Some men with whom he was familiar—for indeed he was
respected and liked by everybody, the whole tenor of his life having
been so inoffensive;—some of his friends, I say, tried to reason him
into a belief of his mortality, and that he would taste of death like
other men; but that he treated as altogether chimerical, and not
worth answering; when he did answer, it was by assuring them, that
as long as he kept his mystic scroll, and could drink of his well, his
body was proof against all the thousand shafts of death. His
unearthly monitor appeared to him very frequently, and revealed
many secrets to him, and at length disclosed to him that he was
Stephen, the first martyr for the Gospel of Christ. Our prophet, in
the course of time, grew so familiar with him, that he called him by
the friendly name of Auld Steenie, and told his friends when he had
seen him, and part of what he had told him, but never the whole.
When not in his visionary and prophetic moods, he sometimes
indulged in a little relaxation, such as draught-playing and fishing;
but in these, like other things, he quite excelled all compeers. He was
particularly noted for killing salmon, by throwing the spear at a great
distance. He gave all his fish away to poor people, or such as he
favoured that were nearest to him at the time; so that, either for his
prophetic gifts, or natural bounty, the prophet was always a welcome
guest, whether to poor or rich.
He prophesied for the space of forty years, foretelling many things
that came to pass in his lifetime, and many which have come to pass
since his death. I have heard of a parable of his, to which I can do no
justice, of a certain woman who had four sons, three of whom were
legitimate, and the other not. The latter being rather uncultivated in
his manners, and not so well educated as his brethren, his mother
took for him ample possessions at a great distance from the rest of
the family. The young blade succeeded in his farming speculations
amazingly, and was grateful to his parent, and friendly with his
brethren in all their interchanges of visits. But when the mother
perceived his success, she sent and demanded a tenth from him of all
he possessed. This rather astounded the young man, and he
hesitated about compliance in parting with so much, at any rate. But
the parent insisted on her right to demand that or any sum which she
chose, and the teind she would have. The lad, not wishing to break
with his parent and benefactor, bade her say no more about it, and
he would give her the full value of that she demanded as of his own
accord; but she would have it in no other way than as her own proper
right. On this the headstrong and powerful knave took the law on his
mother; won, and ruined her; so that she and her three remaining
sons were reduced to beggary. Wat then continued—“And now it is to
yourselves I speak this, ye children of my people, for this evil is nigh
you, even at your doors. There are some here who will not see it, but
there are seven here who will see the end of it, and then they shall
know that there has been a prophet among them.”
It having been in a private family where this prophecy was
delivered, they looked always forward with fear for some contention
breaking out among them. But after the American war and its
consequences, the whole of Wat’s parable was attributed thereto, and
the good people relieved from the horrors of their impending and
ruinous lawsuit.
One day he was prophesying about the judgment, when a young
gentleman said to him, “O, sir, I wish you could tell us when the
judgment will be.” “Alas! my man,” returned he, “that is what I
cannot do; for of that day and of that hour knoweth no man; no, not
the angels which are in heaven, but the Almighty Father alone. But
there will be many judgments before the great and general one. In
seven years there will be a judgment on Scotland. In seven times
seven there will be a great and heavy judgment on all the nations of
Europe; and in other seven times seven there will be a greater one on
all the nations of the world; but whether or not that is to be the last
judgment, God only knoweth.”
These are dangerous and difficult sayings of our prophet. I wonder
what the Rev. Edward Irving would say about them, or if they
approach in any degree to his calculations. Not knowing the year
when this prophecy was delivered, it is impossible to reason on its
fulfilment, but it is evident that both the first eras must be overpast.
He always predicted ruin on the cause of Prince Charles Stuart, even
when the whole country was ringing with applauses of his bravery
and conquests. Our prophet detested the politics of that house, and
announced ruin and desolation not only on the whole house, but on
all who supported it. The only prophecy which I have yet seen in
writing relates to that brave but unfortunate adventurer, and is
contained in a letter to a Mrs Johnston, Moffat, dated October 1st,
1745, which must have been very shortly after the battle of
Prestonpans. After some religious consolation, he says, “As for that
man, Charles Stuart, let no spirit be cast down because of him, for he
is only a meteor predicting a sudden storm, which is destined to
quench his baleful light for ever. He is a broken pot; a vessel wherein
God hath no pleasure. His boasting shall be turned into dread, and
his pride of heart into astonishment. Terror shall make him afraid on
every side; he shall look on his right hand, and there shall be none to
know him; and on his left hand, and lo! destruction shall be ready at
his side—even the first-born of death shall open his jaws to devour
him. His confidence shall pass away for ever, even until the king of
terrors arrive and scatter brimstone upon his habitation. His roots
shall be dried up beneath, and the foliage of his boughs stripped off
above, until his remembrance shall perish from the face of the earth.
He shall be thrown into the deep waters, and the billows of God’s
wrath shall pass over him. He shall fly to the mountains, but they
shall not hide him; and to the islands, but they shall cast him out.
Then shall he be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of
the land.
“Knowest thou not this of old time, that the triumph of the wicked
is of short duration, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?
Though his excellency mount up into the heavens, and his pride
reach the stars, yet shall he perish for ever, like a shadow that
passeth away and is no more. They who have seen him in the pride of
his might shall say, Where is he? Where now is the man that made
the nations to tremble? Is he indeed passed away as a dream, and
chased away as a vision of the night? Yea, the Lord, who sent him as
a scourge on the wicked of the land, shall ordain the hand of the
wicked to scourge him till his flesh and his soul shall depart, and his
name be blotted out of the world. Therefore, my friend in the Lord,
let none despond because of this man, but lay these things up in thy
heart, and ponder on them, and when they are fulfilled, then shalt
thou believe that the Lord sent me.”
From the tenor of this prophecy, it would appear that he has
borrowed largely from some of the most sublime passages of
Scripture, which could not fail of giving a tincture of sublimity to
many of his sayings, so much admired by the country people. It
strikes me there are some of these expressions literally from the
Book of Job; but, notwithstanding, it must be acknowledged that
some parts of it are peculiarly applicable to the after-fate of Charles
Edward.
When old age began to steal on him, and his beloved friends to
drop out of the world, one after another, he became extremely heavy-
hearted at being obliged to continue for ever in the flesh. He never
had any trouble; but he felt a great change take place in his
constitution, which he did not expect, and it was then he became
greatly concerned at being obliged to bear a body of fading flesh
about until the end of time, often saying, that the flesh of man was
never made to be immortal. In this dejected state he continued about
two years, often entreating the Lord to resume that which He had
given him, and leave him to the mercy of his Redeemer, like other
men. Accordingly, his heavenly monitor appeared to him once more,
and demanded the scroll of the spirit of prophecy, which was
delivered up to him at the well in the wilderness; and then, with a
holy admonition, he left him for ever on earth. Wat lived three years
after this, cheerful and happy, and died in peace, old, and full of
days, leaving a good worldly substance behind him.