The Sun.
London, England, 1806-02-11 00:00:00

TrITCEIC RA Fr.

That the so long prevalent belielin witches, infer-
nal agency, &c. not yet whollyextind in Scotland,
will be seen froin the following Abstract from a
Scotch Paper, of the trial of Jean Maxwell, alias the
Galloway Sorceress, who is now suifering the pu-
nishment of imprisonment in Kircudbrigin Gaol :.

" Jeanie Davidson was servant to Francis Scott,
in Cocklick of Urr, in Galloway. Hugh Rafferton,
her lellow-servant, had said
_some soft things to Jea-
nie, who fondly wished to briug,the matter to a)ina-
trinlonial consummation. Mother Maxwell, an itine-
rant of witchcraft notoriety„.not only over Urr, but
through Galloway,ca me to Cocklick,and Jeanie avail-
ed herself of the opportunity to State her case and
seek advice. The old sorceress, in order to impress
Jeanie, whom she found to be-a credtilous girl, with
high notion's of her powers of divination, told her
that she had been educated at Oxford ; that she
was possessed of a book which had greatly improved
her skill ; add that she knew how to crake sacrifices
to the devil to render him subservient to her purposes.
Jean was easily convinced of her occult powers, she
unbosomed her mind, and 'solicited information re-
crarding her future forthae. The old hag cast the
cups, and displayed some cantrips, then assuming
the grimace of occult skill, thrilled the heart of
Jeanie by telling her she would have a bastard by
itaffertcn. Jeanie was chaste, and had determined
to preserve herself so ; bqt believing in this prede-
stination, she implored this oracle's magic:aid to
avert the dire disgrace.. Mother MaXwell consented :
she first swore the simpleton to secrecy, then anoint-
ed the fore)and hind part of her, head with a liquid,
which Jeanie said produced a delirium, plucked out
some hairs, placed them in a small box she had with
her, got three shillings, with one of which she lilted
three magic powders into a rag- of tine linen, sewed
them up, stuck them with nine pins, and direCled
the noviciate to wear the parcel in her bosom, for
nine' days, and every day at eleven o'clock before
noon to change them from one end to the other.
A shift was also procured, and Jeanie was di-
re6ted to stuff it with wheat-straw into the shape of
a woman, and at midnight of the next Saturday to
offer it as a burnt ()tiering to the devil, on the lee side
of the farm-house ; that his infernal majesty would
then honour her with a visit in the shape or a sow
or a bull ; and that it she faced him bully the meet
ing would pass over Courteously, but if she fainted
he-would tear her in pieces. this had etieCt,
Jeanie dared not atteiopt it. The sorceress then told
her the devil was now up, and he must be laid ; and
that if she would }'lot act for herself; she should con-

sent to be her priestess, on being supped with the
requisites, and not Duly lay him now, out burn the
sAuited slikt. A guinea-note and a little lint were
to forrn ,the charm, wilier' Jeanie furnished, and
alter a_iittle slight of hand, in roiling 'up th 6 lint, and
pretending to incl,,se the note, she gave the package
to Jeanie, and destrea tier to throw it on the tire
she: was then, ordered to remain alone, and not go to
bed till two*in the worhios, under pant of internal
vengeance. Sae was, however, aitowed to read, and
accordiqriy read her bible, "and took it. to bed with
her. .

"'Thus, having succeeded in making Jean. believe 1
that she possessed great super-naturat Oxford arts,
and brought her mind into a state of terror, she con-
tinued to present Jean with drafts from toe devil till
her stock was gone, her credit exnausted, and she
had been obliged to abstract her master's peoperty.
Jean's anxie.V to quiet the dcvii made the. witch more
exorbitant in her demands, and she required that
Jean should furnish a final burnt uttering, to consist.
of three pieces of flesh meat, other two notes, and
Jean's Dale cloak to enclose the oblation,. and
with the powerful- assistance of John M'George, •
the devil raiser of Urr, Oatan would be sent olf, Itaf- ,
ferton be bee's,-and the de. it would also be made to
refund all he bad got. 4..titue was specified when
the sacrifice was to be ready. The demand WAS be-
yond Jeanie's means, which producing a dawn of
reason, she told her misuess the case. The witch
kept her appointment, and Jeanie's master, who had
been of course informed, ordered matters so, that
when. she was preparing to carry oft her booty, she
was seized in the iron gripe at a constable, 1-rom -
whose ciaws her V.rjota learning could not rescue
her. She was lodged in .ktrkcudurt6ht Gaul, brought
to trial before the 6tewarkt De?ute and a Jury, tound
guilty, and sentenced to oe imprisoned tort months
in the gaol of that burgh, and to stand lot an hour
once every quarter oh the year in the juge or pil-
lory."

Tuesday a' most disgraceful scene was witnessed
at Hull. Yl man named John Gowtherpe exposed.
his wife for sale in the market about une
but owing to the crowd which such an extraordinary
occurrence bad gathered together, be was obliged to
defer the sale, and take her away. About 4 o'clock,
however; he again brought her out., and she was
sold for guineas, and delivered in a halter to a
person named Houseman, who had lodged with
'them four er five years.

On : Wednesday se'nnight Mr. Wells, a coach-
master, of Biggleswade, had three valuable horses
drowned, owing to the carelessness of his servant
washing them in the river during the flood. A fourth
horse, which was blind, with, the man, narrowly
escaped with their lives.
. Most daring robbery was committed near Bea-
Mond Cross, Newark, on Saturday night. A labour-
ing man, having received his wages, called at a pub-
riti-honse, where he was- joined by a mason who had
been but a few days in Newark, and a soldier who
had come in only that day, on his march into the
• North. After drinking about three tankards of ale
• amongst them, the labourer paid his share of the
- reckoning, and finding it about eleven o'clock, he
left the house with intent to go home to Hawton,
about two miles oil: His two -companions itntne-
diately followed, and, before he had got 20 yards,
they struck up his heels, and whilst one held him
clown the other rifled his pockets of twenty-four
shillings and sit-pence. One of the villains was ap-
prehended about an hour afterwards, and the other
the next day. They were taken before the• Mayor
, and Justices of the Borough, and after &stria exa-
mination were committed to the county gaol to take
their trials at the uext assizes.