The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-03-28 00:00:00

DRIVING OUT TIIE DEVIL.

The inhabitants of !Immingham, Yorkshire, were much
annoyed tit the evening of last Saturday fortnight le.. the
most hideous screams and 'torpid yells. These discordant
sounds were found to proceed' Auto a room, where a party of
religious fanatics had assembled, fir the purpose of Melodic-
lug his Satanic Majesty, who bad Roost unwarrantably taken
possession of one of their seer. The farts are simply mese:—
A pauper,,who had formerly been connected irstili these ma-
rtinis, but what heal of late absented himself from their meet-
ings, determined to join them again. lie accordingly made
application to be re-admitird; and, at the same time-, cc-
counto d for hie •Ineace by declaring himself to be under the
influence of the devil This confession was aso Ifi7ient !nut
—die elders were immediately sum 000000 /ed. and the poor -
negade was doomed to undergo she most sera re penance. The
heads of the society obliged the willing violin to kernel ripen
the Sour. Is this position lie was firmly held, while :hair
chief priest, with his clenched fist, at rock him three rather
weighty blues tut the perioraniiimott thesame ittior etre! timing,
"This i.God's hammer—Deevil come out!" The pour il.ll-rov
was then assailed on 'insides hy. those memos' to who, with
savage yells mid frightful gestures, made a determined munch
erns the carcass, nbich tiny believed to Clllll4llll 'Mir in.
rental fee. After dealing their blows with great liberality for
a etturderable time, a truce took place; but the pour foul,
not satisfied with the purnmellitog he had received, com-
plained that 11w devil had uoi yet lett bins, and that he still
felt hint at his right sub. On this being announced, the
sharp elbow of a female made a elleadfal Wong, su his smell
ribs, mid another general mimic ensued. Smug at length
beaten to his heart's content, be deelarril his deltvernare.
One of the tact urns torn appointed to watch him for three
playa, that the devil might noi re-enter, anal the meetiug
broke up. The most blasphemous expressions were uttered
during the performance of this Impious ceremony and a de-
liberate debate took place as to what they aliould make of
ewe arch-fiend when seemed. It watt at length agreed, that
he should be east toter a *tone gamey. We understand,
however, be eluded the vigilance of his aasailaills, although a
wourau gravely declared, that she had had him by the tail;
but that he slipped front her! If there people believe•iii the
doctrines they peach, and iu their power to perform Ullll4.
Cie*, it it tinia they were all lodged in a lunatic as) I .
on the contrary, they. wilfully practice delusion upon
the ignorant, they should be whipped and sent to. the cont-
inua gaol.

The inhabitants of I be Si rand have exerted them-
selves with laudable zeal to !prevent dor depredations
of which foot-passengers have frequently c
Srreet•keeperr and special constables a►e slow ex-
prritsly appointed in that district, for the detection
of luminous pickpockets, and the search or seizure
of suspicious characters, as welt as for the removal
of nuisances of every description. We trust this
excellent example will be followed by the appi.int-
form( of street-keepers for all the other public
streets in the metropolis.