The Sun.
London, England, 1825-11-30 00:00:00

WITCHCRAFT.

The following is a ludicrous instance of the
prevailing fieliPf in Witchcraft in the middle of
the ldth century:—

" Abciut this time -many witches were taken in Lauthian,
.Kite deposed' concernirig some design of the Earl of Bothwel's
against his blelesty's person. Which, coming to the said
Earl' tars, he entered in ward within the Castle of Edinburgh,
desiring to be. tried ; alledging that the devil, who was a !yet
from the beginning, ought not to be credited, nor yet the witches
his swora servants. Especially 'a renowned midwife called
Amy Simpson affirmed, that she, in company with nine other
witches, being convened in the night beside Preston Pans,' the
devil, their master, being present, standing in the midst of
them, a body of wax, shapen and made by the said Amy Simp-
son, wrapped.within a linen cloth, was first delivered to the
devil, who, after he bad pronounced his verdict, delivered
the said picture to Amy Simpson, and she to her next
neighbour, and so every one round about, saying, this is
King James the Sixth, ordered to be consumed at the in-
stance of a Nobleman—Francis, Earl Bothwel. Afterward
again" at their meeting by night, in the Kirk of North
Berwick, where the devil, clad in a black gown with a black
hat upon his .head, preached unto a great number of them
out of the pulpit, having like light candles round about hint.
The effect of 'his language was to know what hurt they had
done, how many they had gained to their opinion since the
last meeting, what success the melting of the picture had, and
such other vain things. And because an old silly poor plough.
man, called Gray Areilt, chanced to say that nothing ailed the
King yet, "God be thanked, the devil gave him a great blow.
Thus divers among them entred in reasoning, marvellin,, that
all their devilry could do no harm to the King, as it had done
to divers others. The devil answered, // est tin horn, de flea
—Certainly he is a man of God, and does no wrong with wit-
tingly ; but he is inclined to all godliness. justice, and virtue ;
therefore God bath preserved him in the midst of many dangers.'
Now after that the devil had ended his admonitions, be came
down out of the pulpit : his body hard like iron, as they thought
who handled him; his face was terrible, his nose like the beck
of an eagle, great burning eyes, his hands and his legs were
hoary, with claws upon his hands and feet like the gryphon ; he
spoke with a low voice. The tricks and tragedies he played
then among so many men and women in this country, will
hardly get, credit by posterity. The history whereof, with their
whole depositions, was written by Mr. James Carmichael,
minister of Hadingtoun. Among other things, some of them
did show that there was a Westland man, called Richard
Graham, who had a familiar spirit ; the which Richard they said
could both do and tell many things, chiefly against the Earl of
Bothwel. Whereupon the said Richard Graham was apprehend-
ed, and brought to Edinburgh, and being examined before his
Majesty, I being present, he granted that he had a familiar
spirit, which showed him sundry things; but he denied that he
was a witch, or hattany frequentation wan them. But when it
was answered again, how that Amy Siincrlton haul declared that
he • tats tetC the Earl of Bothwel address bins to her, he granted
that to he true, and that titer Earl of Bothwel had knowledge of
him by Effe Machalloun, and Barbary Naper, Edinburghwomen.
Whereupon he was sent for by the Earl Bothwel, who required
his help to cause the King's Majesty, his master, to like well of
him. And to that effect he gave the said Earl some drug or
herb, willing him at.sonse convenient time to touch therewith
his Majesty's face. Which being done by the said Earl ir.ef-
fectually, fie dealt again with the said Richard, to get his Ma-
jesty wracked, as Richard alleged ; who said he could not do
such things himself; bat that a notable midwife, who was a
witch, called Amy Simpson could bring any such purpose to
pass. Thus far the said Richard Graham affirmed divers times
before the council ; nevertheless he was burnt with the said
Simpson, and many other witches. This Richard alleged, that
it was certain what is reported of the fairies, and that spirits
may take a form and be seen, though not felt."

Among the passengers who have arrived at
Bordeaux in the Telegraph, from Peru, are 1 marshal, 2 bri-
gadiers, 4 colonels, 9 lieutenant-colonels, 3 captains, 7 subaltern
officers, 1 paymaster, 1 intendant, 13 serjeants, 12 women, 22
merchants, and 21 soldiers—all Spaniards. The Duc de Bor-
deaux was daily expected, with at least an equal number on
board.--(Paris Paper.)
An Inverness Paper informs us that Mr. PEEL
k to bring in a Bill to alter the service of the
Church of England ! It is rather singular that
this extraordinary piece of information should
first 'transpire in the North of Scotland. The
editor hopes that the alteration will render our
service so general as to suit all Christians !
Very ingenious, truly.

TIIE SUN.

SOLL3 QUIS DICMIE FALSUJI AUDE.4T

LONDON,
WEDNESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 30, 1825.

We have received the Paris Papers of Monday
this morning, but their contents seem unworthy
of particular notice. The decision of the Cour
Royale relative to the Constilutionnel was not
known : but the process was continued against
the Courier Francois on Monday, and adjourned
to that day week. The price of the French 3 per
Cents. on Monday, at three o'clock, was 63r.,
and of the 5 per Cents. 93f. 95c.. The following
are the only extracts these Papers furnished :
" PARIS, Nov. 9.8.—1 t is said that the King
of Spain quitted the Escurial to return to Madrid
the ?.?.d instant.

" M. Le Comte de :Casaflores, Ambassador
front Spain to his Most Faithful Majesty, ha's
arrived at Lisbon. He was recrived with the
usual'ceremonies, but the presentation of his cre-
dentials will be retarded in consequence of the
ill health of the King. M. do Velasco, who has
hitherto filled the office of Spanish Charge d'Af-
fairessince the departure of the Dike of . Villa.
Hermosa has been recalled.; and will be replaced
as First Secretary to' the Embassy by M. -Zea;
brother of the Minister of that. name."

A number of files of American Papers have
arrived this morning to the 9th November. It
will be seen that the City of New York is suffering
a great deal from the failures produced by over
speculation in the Cotton Market : and that the
same kind of commercial embarrassment and con-

sternation prevails there as well as nearer horne.—
The following extracts are in addition to those

given in a preceding column :

(From Me Evening Post of Mn'. r. )

Private Letters from Vera Cruz mention, that
the garrison of the castle were divided among
themselves—a part wishing to surrender, on ac-
count of the scarcity of provisions and want of
medical aid.

(From a Boston Paper of the 4th Nov.)

We have seen several Private Letters from
New York, which mention that extensive
failures, growing out of the late cotton specula-
tions, were daily occurring in that city. The
Bank had positively stopped discounting, and
confidence was impaired, and a general gloom
prevailed in the mercantile community. One
letter from a commercial gentleman says, the
merchants along Front and Pearl-streets are
creaking like parched corn. It is stated that the
debts of five of the mercantile houses which have
recently failed in New York were estimated at
2,500,000 dollars, and that the available funds
would not exceed 75,000 dollars.
(From a TVashingtou Paper.)

An Antigua Paper gives the following from a
private letter from Laguna, of the 3d Sept.:—
An expedition is to sail against Cuba on the. 15th
instant from Carthagena, consisting of the Mexi-
can, 64 guns, two frigates, three brigs, and 32
schooners, and all the Colombian Navy, with
19,000 troops.—This is the news of the day.

We have a number of complaints against the
conduct of various Country Bankers, in re-
fusing to pay their own notes in the cur-
rent coin of the realm, now lying before

to tl
us. This subject is one of some importance .c
Herati
country, and merits very serious cons' iv
IVe are, however, compelled to adjourn Or
tice of it for another opportunity.

~•

A Morning Nper of yesrerday
No VI
to assert, that the Ilookselling Trade. 8- '
known to be in so'depressed a state asst
sent time; that the Bank of England
for the last three weeks, to disconnui'
seller's bill, and the fact of 'the -cleP"SsMft
the trade was confirmed by the circtinistiOsc:e
the two principal Booksellers,' Cotg#,P3!:: vs.
MuuttAy had become number Publishers,- s
read this paragraph with much astonishment
0,111
surprize, and with that degre. Oriuspi6°,;
induced -us to institute an enquiiljntc''e,
Matter in order to be assured cif-the authe°,-,,
'of the statement. The result•of this eliqulrlti
..
that the whole assertion, is untrue, 8'
a;
invention, without even one title of, 66.1,1 i
which an exaggerated superstriCture,. C°l.ll
raised. So little of truth is there
.s • (
we know for certain that the Batik 9 'a'p.
land has within this week past diic°oo'
booksellers bills to many thousand...l/(10
and as to the depression that is ell et
by the fact that one eminent honsese.tbo
end of the town, had bills of some thouiancise.
all due a day or two ago, and receive the •
amount without one single failure. ni
We should have felt no small astAnisi°e
this information had proved correct. .•:8 I
i
know that the demand for books. had me
! rei
least decreased, or the number of genes
his lil'
diminished. We think we can trace in
colt°
falsehood a feeling of malignant
consorts but indifferently
,with that 'Unit
their claims to which all Journal's of oar
ill's
loudly and so vehesnently assert.. jar4,4
stance, however, we see, that even a .I'°
Editor i, not infallible.

A t the opening of the Market I.l",dcoos
there was a good dial of bustle, sn
were -done at various prices. 'Tel °ll-o°l
83;li for the Account, and Goon after *Prieofri‘
84, but lowered again to 83-1-1, and'at,llo,...rl
were to 84, with an apparent ste°"*#
and more firm than for several difiLrio.;
add
then, however, the Market has totenc brt
change, owing to an Express from
in; the French .Three per. Cio",,-vlteno
which is a considerable fall. in 0117, 170.1:;
Consols have fallen to 822 83. -111
Market there is little doing,(' antra,
Market.

On Monday last7Pi."—t Expresses
. „
- ' 1
arroft.von,g:
i.
at
tra I.,ll:l,onlieltei,.,ll.l:uti.linugi
itriii;l tilfctiliti,:ivlnciailills,dacska.al,tuosurerdettit:tnilbtfeiytit- gegbni etrcoitt:lcits::2oo:llht:
ill'
inediately fell.. -` .01
curnn, has arrived, bringing a great 4°-
bullionrl'lte aftitilursePeocrie.the highly re:sPe'ctll. b'itiiitt!.'lirlsPl
Messrs. DAvisoN and DowsnAND ws: lige. '''
yesterday at the Foreign Stock Elc".18 gel'
circumstance caused much regret, thst If!:
men having established, by their gene Fur se,
(ions, a character for the greatest h°ll° joie
tegrity, and by having, in a tecentith °Co
voluntarily discharged large debts, Ir-dpialc",
cumulated interest, for which no ler :. their'
be made on them. 'We understand la` .nriPi
no 0
sent difficulties, which have, beet' 01
brought on by the rapid depreciation a lady
securities, are likely to he adjusteidi.nine ) a
tory manner to all concerned.---(11`"- s.
JP-
( g id °it
of It
i,:iiisglsaanidd thatilnte as largewc.reamounto
fvf• ,:y,, iligete.!;
dal .
coaches, both yesterday and on mom the,ei
to the different country bankers, for 004
of
egtui a“rddoipntge(tihienminuagntylinst the conseque 110
run upon them. This prudent Pr°1111;11191tir
be -
bing obvious tihnastiaa"lcletsl:trititis:c:bsieci:ll
frequentlyn follows a sudden run ur noff c
bank might take place before omit°
dill
be obtained from London.
i. ,on °PP,
o'clock yesterday morning, the inhabitants,of N"Aes or' is
Between the hours o' too
:otfllsdlilcral.toeuCdrotsxio'itlokng.e.
vast number of en
which had just then broken out with uneolo%)entlisb,
ittilooloouttliths:ieeeplrint Holborn, and Gray's Inn-lane, were aroused by
cl; flid'eit
fare, and the passac itself very narrow, not
"(teethetOrdao
could be brought into play. Prom this circogi'
_:,4 d 1
with there being a vast deal of timber (as l,' genre:4soli
all the old-fashioned houses) on the prennse'' el' Or
there u.-- cot' 00
touch-wood, from theconstant fire in the bakeboOetkort toad
tamed so commanding an as,•entlancy that evert oen 4°4101'
them proved fruitless. Th'edevouriti'g elernen.•,ooo.oo
tins
erer,:le Nttshp.Oere.
;I:lll2,lh),cteiely: tiilins;soodnat
te.....is'oss.ngoefoptt:7,so4l
the floors, and the roof falling in with a trenTilbecooro
flames shot up in a close compact column, itiorruc,tr,,,,
of the surrounding buildin<vs threaterdl,g, inl)Ace.l4
whole neighbourhood. 'TITe' alarm of ta,e„ tone
proportionably great ; anti what tended wsittle "ileo
very considerabl.2 degree was, that at tile nder,..,o
was accompanied by a 'heavy storm of (hand vial J,e,'. ,li
rain, and wind. The attention a the firel,no, hooop
directed to the reversation of the iteti°inlotrieo tenths( Oijej
vbeerloeiT.illl,,Trioo tstaleveSutnileCloaulsteett
were several times, partially on- _fire, bUt 36 stete t"-sfergt
by their exertions, in which we regret to hoe
0111 S
0rne),.,0 ttflo
wareh"d'eitbeit 10: i
Requests, now occupied as a tea-
fellows, with uncommon intrepidity, 1,11 smoke, Ogg 1
third story, in despite .of flame t3/411" tii•nherleif, ate
view of pulling down some burningn etartelr.o
rnunicated to No. 13 ; and while sh-ur'e 0104
chimney tumbled upon hem an" "" . relief'l
'''' IP' I'
ruin ; their companions flew to their tio, ,t 4.44
delay must necessarily have sniothereci t *lit +, ti'l
sensible of the injury he had received; but oloole' t °jot
13art 'rola $1
appearance dead :he was conveyed o the i •
where he was professionally attended 011—aer Oil
ortdbell
t. rc"" bteP ttil•
rival; but it is feared that he. Will no . havO o_oo '
also badly wounded. The 1;40,6 find jAce.,7,,,ed? • '
large quantity of shavings having beeq ;stfilpir
The extent of the loss is not yet eAaP"/.
left,setsti:oo:4o