The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-19 00:00:00

WIITCHCRAFT IN STOCKPORT.

A short time ago two glass bottles, filled with
a purple fluid, and also containing a hard sub-
stance, were discovered by some workmen who
were lowering the read at Holy-wood, Stockport.
That they had been deposited there for some
time was evident from the circumstance that long
grass was growing over the spot, although there was
only a depth of six inches of soil. On analysis the
liquid was discovered to consist of dragon's blood
and urine, the hard substance being a number of
brass pins. It appears that mixtures of this de-
scription are furnished by fortune-tellers to their
dupes for the purpose of " bewitching" their un-
faithful lovers. Some distance from the place
where these bottles were found a canvass bag, filled
with brass pins, was also dug up. The pins are
presumed to penetrate the heart of the person be-
witched. These discoveries have caused consider-
able excitement in Edgley, and the Stockport Ad-
pv earrttiisceurl, a frrso, mg i
vwehs ovsaer
oe
up
so ri
nt
swtaenhceasveofgltehaenesudpethrsetsie.
tious belief in witchcraft which prevails in the neigh-
bourhood. One man imagines himself to have been
bewitched by his mother, and fancies that the bottle
might be the spell by which he was bound, and that
he would be r„ leased by its discovery. One being
asked how he knew that he was bewitched, he re-
plied that his mother had told him so. and he con-
stantly felt in a state of nervous prostration and de-
pression of spirits, together with a sensation of fail-
ing respiration and approaching death. He had,
however, consulted a fortune-teller and obtained
from her a charm, whereby he could at any time
break the spell. On being pressed as to
the nature
of this charm, and questioned why he had not
adopted it, he stated that, he had commenced with
it, but had not persevered, and hence its failure.
It was as follows :—He must stand over the fire,
sprinkling salt upcn it, and say, "Salt, salt, I put
thee into the fire. May the person who bewitched
me neither eat, drink, nor sleep until this spell is
broken." This must be done nine mornings in suc-
cession, and be repeated three times on each occa-
sion, Another instance is that of a professional for•
tune-teller and planet-ruler. This woman declares
that could the parties bo detected who deposited
the bottles in the earth, the evil influences devolv-
ing upon the bewitched parties would recoil upon
themselves. She, however, protested against the
immediate destruction of the bottle by throwing
away the liquid into the cesspool, on tlie ground of
the injury that would be sustained by the land oa
which the manure might ultimately be spread ; nor
must it be shed iu the garden, or vegetation would
be impaired ; and the only way was to break the
phial over a running stream, whereby the pernicious
fluid would mingle with the purer current, and b,:
imperceptibly, but irrevocably wasted ; the bottle
being also cast into the water. A third instance of
the existing belief in witchcraft is that of a woman
who asserts that her sister was once bewitched. The
spell, she asserts, could not be broken by ordinary
means, as the agency was buried in the bed of the
river Mersey, underneath the Wellington-bridge
arch. Under the auspices of a " wise woman, '
however, the young woman was called upon to
stand in a particular spot, at a given time, while RA
incantation was pronounced. "Several spirits passed
befol e her, one of which remained in front of her
for some time." To this the planet-ruler addressed
herself, and it soon disappeared, together with the
young woman's ailments and forebodings.—.3l-an-.
chester Guardian.

LIEUT. SALKIILD, THE HERO Off Tin!

CASHMERE GATE.

Lieut. Philip Salkeld, of the Bowel Engineers, whore
gallantry in attempting to fire the powder bags at the
Cashmere Gate of Delhi has been so recently recorded in
our colurnne, though young in years, is an officer of COn.
siderable experience as well as high promise. Our reader°
will remember that in the recent telegraphic dispatches
he is mentioned as having been very dangerouslf
wounded, and though he has received the distinction of
the Victoria cross for his daring conduct, there are fearl
that he may not live to eoj ,y the distinction. He is a
son of the Rev. Richard Salkeld, formerly resident at
Servan, Ile-et-Vilaine, and was horn Oct. 13, 1830, con.
sequently he is only just 27 years of age. He received
his nomination to the Indian service from the late Wire
Astell, Esq., M.P., father of the present director of the
East India Company, and received his early education
at the Military Ccllege of Addiscombe. There he was
selected by competition for an engineer appointments
and obtained the highest prizes in mathematics and
modern languages. On quitting Addiscombe he went t
the Royal Engineer establishmeent at Chatham, where be
spent nearly two years in the theoretic and practical
study of fortification and other kindred subjects. 1!
quitted that institution in January, 1850, and arrived nA.
Calcutta in the following June, when, having actlnir:
a perfect knowledge of the Hindostanee lauguar,
joined the corps of Sappers and Miners. In Jane, 185 as
be was appointed to officiate as executive engineer officer
at Meerut, frurn whence again in the following year W.
01!
find him transferred to the charge of a division of
Grand Trunk-road, in which operation he was conll'
nualle employed down to December, 1856, when he Fllei
b
ceeded to the office of executive engineer of the Pe!,
division. In July last he joined the force before Del"
and for the perilous duty which devolved upon him. "6"%4
that of blowing open the Cashmere gate, Ger s al Ware:
his already expressed his warmest thanks, together
his "admiration of all who were engaged in that diw "
cult operation." His commissions bear date as follotrc,
Second lieutenant, June 9, 1848; first lieutenant, Aug.
„1,
1854. We can only trust that _Lieut. Selkeld's life
yet be spared, and we are sure that his fellow-countrj;
men here Kill be as proud of him when he returns "t
England, as Ireland justly was of her own Lieutel3ol3
Massey, the " hero of the Redan."

t to

DEATH OT COLONEL HIGGINS, K.H.—We regret.
announce the death of Colonel Warner Westenra Wig
gins, ICU., which took place recently at Rodney-Or;
race, Choltenlnirn, in the 77th year of his age.
Higgins served in Inland during the rebellion in 1793'
In 1806 he was at the landing and taking of Moldoca,
in South America ; at the affair of San Carlos, in wive!
he was sauly wounded, and had his horse shot ; also
the siege and taking of Monte Video. Colonel.

) .g,!x

A Lr.

AND

QOMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE,

CITY, Two o'CLocK.

The Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday closed
quietly, and prices declined fully id. per lb. on
all descriptious. The sales veto estimated at
2,000 bales, 400 of which were taken for specula-
tion and export.

The distress among the commercial community
is daily teconaing more painfully demonstra.ted.
Numerots failures are taking place, which, besides
impairing credit and awakening suspicions respect-
ing even solvent houses, necessarily bring down
many otter firms who may be counected with them.
When sash houses as Dennistoun, Sandiman, Hoare
and Buxton; fail, who is safe ? This is the question
naturally asked, and thusthe general inconvenience
is increased, because the Bank, private bankers,
and bill discounters, are more shy than ever in
granting accommodation. The existing state of
things has not been equalled since 1847,
and the results will probably be far more serious
than coult have been contemplated even by
any of the most extreme Bears in the neighbour-
hood of Capel Court. Throughout the United
Kingdom the " pinch" is being severely felt ; every
branch of business has been prejudiced more or less,
and the banking interest has received severe injury.
Happily the effects of the alarm among Bank de-
positora are abating. Confidence is nearly restored
in Scotland, :ad the sovereigns which were hurriedly
obtained frau London—and in some instances by
special traits--as a protection, are returning, about
100,0001. homing arrived at the Bank yesterday. In
Ireland, too, where the farmers and others have taken
fright, theme is now less alarm. The run upon the Cork
and Tipperary Banks has almost ceased. Some of the
gold sent there is also likely to flow back in the course
of a few days. While this abatement of panic-feeling
may be i source of congratulation, however, the
mercantie world is being disturbed by the frequent
failures bat occur. Although, in many instances,
there is prospect of good dividends, the effect of
these disasters is most injurious. Yesterday no
less thanfive firms of importance sought the indul-
gence of ;heir creditors. These were briefly as fol-
lows ;—Nessrs. E. Sieveking and Co., in the
Swedish irade, with liabilities estimated at 400,000/.
to 600,0 W/. ; Messrs. Allen, Smith, and Co., con-
nected with Denmark, engagements large ; both
these fins were effected by Messrs. Hoare
and Bu:ton's failure ; Messrs. Gorrisea and
terough the absence of Australian remit-
tances ; and Messrs. Brocklesby and Wessels,
liabilities 40,0001., in the corn trade. Three or
four others are supposed to be imminent, the con-
nection between these firms and others being inti-
mate. More the end of the year, the list will be
Probably swelled to much larger dimensions, and
there is an impression that a recovery will not take
Place until the Spring. In the meantime, the In-
dian mutiny will most likely be quelled, and the
situation of affairs in America may improve, so
that, although monetary and commercial prospects
are lowering at present, a general amelioration
may, it is hoped, take place in the space of a few
months.

Besides the 100,0001. in sovereigns above referred
1°) 92,0001. Australian, and 62,0001. Russian gold
Were taken into the Bank yesterday.
Subjoined are the particulars of the specie on
uoard the Nemesis which leaves Southampton to-
korrovr for India and China. _

Alexandria (gold)
Aden (gold)
Bombay (silver)
Ceylon (gold)
Madras (gold)
Calcutta (gold)
Calcutta (silver)
Penang (silver)
Singapore (silver)
11" g Kong (silver)
Sha.nghai (silver)

41,00
500
118,195
2,200
1,135
900
172,874
3,885
2,600
13,229
2,270

Total £318,783
The A.Lu. stralasian has arrived with 526,0001. in.
gold, Wuleb
Bank.' it is hoped, will be sent into the

In Lombard-street and at the Bank the pres-
sure continues.
Several rumours are circulated relative to com-
mercial embarrassments, but no positive failures
can yet be announced.
A further quantity of sovereigns has been taken
into the Bank.

There has been rather more firmness in the mar- 18
ket for English Stocks, and a moderate amount of 20
business has been done at an improvement 102
of about per cent. The return of gold from iv°
Scotland, and the Australian remittance, have too
Caused a better tone. The market, however, is 20
rather uncertain, and, owing to a few money sales, 2(
the prices are now flatter. Consols for money
have
been 89i and 894 ; for account they
Rave been 89 90. The present prices are 891 20.
axid 891 4 respectively. The New Three per Cents. st.
are 88g ; the Reduced, 88i ; and Long An- 120
Unities, 1 15-16. Exchequer Bills are 17s. to 12s. 99
4hicount ; ditto 80nd,.., 981 ; and India Bonds, 100
40s, discount. India Stock is 214 ; and Bank 20
Steck, 213. St.
Foreign Securities generally remain steady, and .00
in few a cases the quotations are firmer. Turkish 6 20
per Cents. are 874 ditto 4 per Cent,. 97 ;
201
Jsrchazilian 5 per Cents., 1829 and 1839, 971 8 ; )*i
Chelan 6 per Cents. 101 ; Russian 5 per Cents. no
1°„,ll; 4i • and Spanish 3 per Cents. 404. 100
Stocks
following ate the Ron:Anal prices of Foreign 100
:-Grenada, Deferred Bonds, 5 to 6 ; Mexi 100
-
18g g • Peruvian 4i per Cents., 74 75 ; ditto 20
42 per
Cents-, 50 52 ; Portuguese 3 per Cents., 20
; Russian 5 per Cents., 104 106 ; ditto 4i 20
per Cents 94 06 ; Spanish 3 per Cents., 404 41 ; 20
ditto•,
New 20 Deferred, 24Z-
-20 The last week's railway receipts, ascertained up
20
to this day, are in round figures as under :-
1857. 1856.
Great Western £26,910 £26,525
North-Western
ISOn th-Wes,'ern
.b
Llghton 13,861 13,448
skiland
South-Eastern 16,510 18,340
Great Northern - 21,453 24,182
Lancashire and Yorkshire 19.929 21,759
Bristol and Exeter 6,770 6,037
Cheater and Holyhead
East Lancashire ........
297 6,228
Lancaster and Carlisle ****************
6,429 6,017
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln 10,233 9,878
North-Eastern ....... ......... 34,607 32,501
Oxford, Worcester, and Wolver 4,335 4,084
Edinburgh and Glasgow ....... ...... 5,737 5,416
Glasgow and South-Western
Scottish North-Eastern 3,362 3,232
Grand Trunk of Canada
Great Western of Canada 9,778 15,268
Royal Danish 691 954
The Railway Share market this morning has
been flat, a decline of fully per cent. having
taken place on most of the principal lines. Great
Western, South-Western, North-Eastern, Barwick,
and South-Eastern declined 10s. ; Caledonian,
Lancashire and Yorkshire, and Midland, 15s. •
n
and Brighton and North-Veste 1/ The foreig
lines were inactive but firm. Parris'eandLyons have
improved ss. In the Colonial Paris
akngs prices
i
were steady. Great Western of Canada
declined
about 55., and Grand Trunk and East Indian rea-
lised about former rates.
Mining Shares are flat, and at quite nominal
ra, es.
For Joint Stock Banks and Miscellaneous Shares
there was some enquiry. Bank of Australasia im-
proved ss. ; English, Sco tish, and Australian
declined ss. ; Canada Land receded, 2/. ; and
National Discount Company ss.

4RITISEI FUNDS THIS -DAY AT ONE O'CLOC K.
(from ihe Ltst:l
rus!nersdene.
India Stock. 212
‘;
ne,.• 88i
Keduced Annuitks
414.1.,(!r eonaole Annaittee 83:3
L 0,",, nPenr Cent. Annuities g Hlndia, Stook-441°8' expire
Jau. 1 15-16
(n Boads ***** ''''''''' 214
Uorsols ?or '''''''' • '''' •
Ex ,h.cinar I°4°lllllBn 2;•• ''''''''
•••
'''''''''''
891
EICOO . '''''
vro,
''''''''
Fichequer ticZikA: ... . ;14 pe•-r•
d
,1
Ditto, 1959 .........
............
PRICES OF FOREIGN FUND """"•117
—DS AT ONE O'CLOCK,
reziliau ner Cent. ................
Ditto, 1829 and 1839, 5 per Cent ......... 973 8
Bonds, 6 per Cent. ......... •' •• jor
itussian Bonds, 1622, St., •5
per Co. ...... ..
100, an miEll 80,a1.,;, 3 per Cent. .................. 40-•-
Tarltlth Ponds, f; p.r.cent .................... 871
Ditto Guaranteed, 4 per Cont. ...........
Ditto Account . !)7
Dividends; on the above payable in London.
TWO O'C Li,
Consols, money ... .
Consols account....