The National Register.
London, England, 1811-08-25 00:00:00

THE NATION

on several of these tickets, and thought it was the shortest way
to appear and answer to the names of those to whom he had ad-
vanced the money.
The witnesses from the Hospital stated, that by the regula-
tions of the office nobody was paid but the pensioners them-
selves in their own person, and If they did not produce their
ticket they were obliged to produce an affidavit that they had
lost it, and had not sold or pawned it.
Boyle the seaman was also called, who stated that he had
pawned his ticket with the prisoner for .255. and that before
the time when his payment became due be wished to have it
back from the prisoner, who refused to part with it. saying,
he would receive the money hims:lf. Boyle told him be
could not, but •he added he would try, he knew how to
manage it.
Several most respectable witnesses gave the prisonei an ex-
tra rdinary good character, not only for honesty, but for ex-
treme benevolence.
The Learned Junoe told the Jury the facts of the case were
very clear. The law made it a felony to personate a seaman,
and receive his allowance. It was clear the prisoner had done
so; but it was also clear that it- was not with a fraudulent inten-
tion. They must find him guilty, but he would take care to
represent the case to the proper quarter, that the severity of the
letter of the law might not be inflicted.—Verdict.eGuilty.

TILE TAUNTON WITCH:

The last remains of Satan's visible kingdom on earth was
destroyed at Taunton by the secular arm of a Magistrate last
Monday.
An old woman, named Betty Townsend, had lived up to the
age of 77, in the habit and repute of familiar agercy with the
great adversary of mankind. Front many people she had ex-
acted large sums of money, as compounds fur allowing their
4ocks to thrive and their corn-fields to prosper...." Far keti'd
and "Noted was her name."—She increased in fame, and laid the
whole country under contribution. Her name had entered into
the calendar of the images of terror, and this illustrious emissary
of Satan's was about to be canonized for her unwearied exer-
tions for her-terrible employer, like the couple Nanny of Burns's
inimitable Tale of Tam o'6l:anter,
For movie a cow to dead she shot
And perished mottle a bonnie boat;
And snook baith mieckle corn and bear,
And kept that country side in fear.
-

This rag-weed Hag had perfomed as many notable exploits, yet
living in the retentive memory of tradition. She, however, had
threatened a young girl with the pains and penalties of her dis.
*mire, which were no less than that of dying by inches did
she not bring her money. Under such a terrible decree, the
child bad borrowed sums of money as she went to mat. et to
avoid being clutched by the Cur/in. The father of the child
discovered the sink which drained his purse, and, along with
his wife, a woman in no way in fear of the devil, being a sound
scolding christian, ventured to somewhat rough expostulation
with this venerable Priestess to Appallyon. Shc threatened
them death by. iiiol-es also., but the resolute woman displayed
a large pin, and scratched with two dexterous strokes the bloody
sign of the Cross on the Witch's arm : destroyed in her greatest
bower she had not vigour to resist, and was hauled away
efore the inflexible Tribunal of Justice. The reverend figure of
of this old caterer for Satan so softened the Judge, that he, in
cmsideration of her age, ordered her to durance in the I louse of
Correction for six months. We congratulate this county that
She fogs of intellectual dullness are Melting from around it ; and
we hope that its ghosts as well as its witches will be brought to
quake at the conjuring hammer of Justice. .