The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-04-07 00:00:00

DIVIDENDS.

April 21. S. Bourne, Leek, Staffordshire, ironmonger—
April 30. J. Holmes, Portsmouth, coin-merchant—April 39.
R.N. Atkins, Portsea, grocer—May 7, J. Butcher, Alpham-
stone, Essex, maltster—April 26, W. T. Sherwin, Pater-
noster.row, bookseller—April2o. 11. J. Powell, Uxbridge,
builder—April 26. B. Troughton, sea. and J. Troughton,
Wood-street, silltmen—May 3.8. Martindale and E. Fitch,
St. James's-street, vine-merchants—April 29. J. Cumber-
lege, George-yard, Lombard-street, merchant—April 26. C.
hlorban, Bishopsgate•street-within, merchant—April 20. 0.
Mills, Warwick, and Leamington, wine-merchant—April
29. J. Enock, Birmingham, brash-maker—April 26. W.
Ramsden, Leeds, victualler—April 29. B. Heseltine, Kings-
ton-upon-Hull, merchant. -
CERTIFICATES, Arum 26.
J. Valles, Upwell, Norfolk, farmer—G. B. Whalley, Ras-
inghall-street. woollec-draper—J. Bury, Pendlehill, calico-
printer—J. Warwick, New Basinghall-street, wine-merchant
—A. Barnaschine, Gravesend. hardwaretnan—J. Bowman,
Salford, Lancashire, dyer—M. Noble, Battersea, engineer.

PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED.
W. Clny and J. Cullingworth, Manchester, merchants—
H. Rogers and J. Castree, Kidderminster, carpet manufac-
turers—W. Hughes and A. Mills, sun. Clapham, builders—
O. Isaac, E. Tenwick, anti J. Millard, Bath, iron founders—
'l'. Croslee and M. Ogden, jun. Bradford, Yorkshire,
worsted stuff-metchants—J. Thompson and W. Walker,
Wolverhampton, drapers-3. Jefferis and W. Spiers, Dove
Cottage, Lisson-n.reen North, and Dean-street, Soho, print-
ing ink-makers—SL Prince nod T. Duthie, Old Boswell-
court, Strand, bookbinders—A. Savage (now A. Perrin) and
E. Woolley, Warrington, milliners—O. Shaw and J. War-
rillow, Birmingham, platers—B. T. Pain and J. B. Pain,
Cleveland-street, Ma ry-le-bonne,butchers—J.Millingtou and
J. Liddell, Foley-place, Portland Chapel, surgeons—J.
Moss and T. B. Cusack, Liverpool—M. and J. D. Lewth-
Waite, Lombard-street, hatters—D. Price and E. Stokes,
Cateaton-street, porter-merchants—J. F. Seaton, J. Plowes,
and W. Pearson, Rio de Janeiro, merchants—A, and J.
Easley, Crown-street. Finshur -square, linen-drapers—M.
Partridge and T. Big:, Sheffield, straw hat-manufacturers
—R. Seaton. Godnlining. S and IL. Seaton, Merthyr-
Tydvill, Glamorganshire, tea-dealers—S. T. Frost and H.
F. Oates, High Holbern, fixture-dealers—T. L. Blundell and
H. J. Gore, Chiswell-street, surgeons—T. J. and E. Litton,
Warrington, millers—J. Welters and,T. Jones,Frown-court,
King-street, St. James's, plumbers—H. Tate and A. Ga-
teabY, Manchester, tea-dealers-1. and J. Wansbrough, and
J. Saunders, Bristol. copper-plate printers (so far as regards
J. Wansbrough)—R. C. Tomkinson. G.Bcott, and J. Tom-
Stinson, Uttoleter, stationers—T. Barlow and J. J. Iselin,
John's Coffee-house, Cornhill, and Jeffry's-square, brokers
—J. Pigot and E. Blagz, Norwich, gro:ers —G. Bernie and
J. Green, Mansfield, bane-merchants—S. and S. Chant, jun.
Stock Exchange, stock-brokers--J. Langhorn and J. Scho-
field, Manchester, calico-pi Liters —L. Sha.w and 11. Rienard-
son, Mark-lane, wine-merchre ts —J. urris and T. C:a:k,
Broadway, Worcestershire. groom.
(Promotions T..-morrow.)

AVRIAGIL PRICKS OF CORN IN ENVLAND AND WALES IN TIIC
WEAK SNOOD )1112C11 29.
s. tl. rse QI. I. d.
Meat . SJ 4 Oats ... 01 3
Rye... • • ....... ..... :40 4 !leans ... 29 8
Sultry ..... .33 I Pees. ..... ........ 33 3
Average Price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, com-
peted from the at-tarns made in the week coding Vas 2J
sley of April, 1623, is 375. Od. per cwt.

PRR. QR.

The mai!-coach from Lon,lon fo th's place was o7er-
turned on Tneit,lay nig ht Isst. at Newton-bar, near %Vain.-
Lida. The roachnisn bed his thief, broken, but none of
the passengers [mired any serious injury._-(Lec•ls
Alcrenry)

WITCHCRAFT!!!
1101111118 CT £lllll5ll.
The most intense curiosity was excited by the appear-
ance of the names of three females on the calendar on a
charge, under Lord Ellenborough's Act, of maliciously
cutting and stabbing an old woman, a reputed "
with Intent to murder her. The Grand Jury, however,
after consulting the learned Judge upon the singular
cue, threw out the bill on the capital charge of malici-
ously cutting under Lord Ellenborough's Act, and re-
turned a true bill against the three prisoners for an as.;
vault.
Elizabeth "Bryant, the mother, aged 50, Elizabeth
Bryant, the younger, aged 22, and Jane Bryant, aged
15, the two daughters, were charged with haring mall-
cioosly assaulted Asue Burgess.
• Mr. ERSKIN.I (the son of Lord Erskine), stated the
isle to the Jary. The parties resided at Wivelscombe,
Ili the county, and the prosecutrix was a very aged wo-
raise. The elder prisoner was a married woman, residing
isphe same neighbourhood. She had three daughters,
iris* lived. Stith her, twg of whom were the prisoners at
As (far. One of thew had been afaieted by 6:a..4sel.daw
mother, wish a degree of delusion Mad credulity that ap-
pesred to belong to the spot, firmly believed that these
fits were the workings of some malignant spirit upon her
daughter, and in order to counteract or break the spell,
she applied for advice to a reputed sorcerer, or conjuror, I
named Baker, residing, and exercising absolute sway,
in a remote part of Devonshire. This fellow (over whom
it was to be hoped the laws would cast, before long. a
spell that all hie incantations could not break), advised.
her that her daughters was bewitched by a particular
person in their neighbourhood, and that to get rid of the
charm it wan necessary to make a certain preparation, of
which he gave her the recipe; this preparation ems to be
burnt, with certain ceremonies and prayers. But the ad-
vice went beyond this, and the wretched prisoners were
actually possessed with the horrible notion, that to disci-
pate the .cIiaTIZI effectually, it was necessary to draw blood
from the witch! There was no difficulty in finding the
object, and whether front a staid deportment, reserved-
ness of manrers, or old grudge, did not appear, but the
prosecutrix was inimediately fixed upon as the witch, and
as such published throughout the enlightened town of
Wivelscombe, by the elder prisoner, who positively de-
clared that her daughter had been bewitched by her for
more than twelve months! The•prosecutrix, alarmed at
the general impression which appeared to be raised against
her, went on the night of the 26th of November to the
house of the elder prisoner, whom she met in the dark
passage dime house, and slid, in a very simple mann*,
that she came to know the foundation of these reports
which had been circulated respecting her. The prisoner
viewed the visit as a providential one, for executing her
purpose of drawing blood, and with horrible imprecations
seized the old woman. The two daughter., upon bearing
the noise, rushed out,and instantly fell upon the prosecu-
trix, who was dragged to the floor, and one of them
fetched a nail as the first thing in the way, and began to
lacers e the old woman's arm in the most ferocious man-
ner, whilst the other two held her. It might be said in
defence a the prisoners, that their intention went no far-
ther than to draw blood; but it would he shown that,
from the savage manner and expressions of the elder pri-
soner, if a person who accompanied the old woman hail
not, on hearing her screams, exerted herself vigorously to
rescue her, it would have ended in murder. 'l' hose who
heard this appeared to listen to the statement with macre-
rdulityniiied with astonishments. Ina it would be proved
by indubitable testimoqy, and itwouid to shown that the
most extensive influence was exercised upon the ignorance
of the poor class in these quarters. The prosecutrix
threw herself upon the Court to save herself from the
consequences of ignorant brutality, and his Lordship,
when he heard the whole of the case, would be best able
to see the degree of punishment with which, for her pro-
tection. the prisoners ought to be visited.
The reputed witch, Ann Burgess, was then called. Sbe
is a fine, hale-looking old woman, 68 years of age, of ra-
ther imposing gravity. She deposed—" I know the pri-
soners, the mother and the two daughters. They live
about a quarter of a mile from me. On the 26th of No-
vember l went to her house (Mrs. Bryant's) and met her
in the passage, which is dark. I said Betty Bryant, I
become to ask you a civil question, whether I bewitched
your daughter?'—(Laughter) Sbe said Yes, you have,
you d—tl old witch, yon have bewitched her for the last
12 months ; and she said she Yeas 101. the worse for it,
and she would be totally d—d if she would not kill me.
They all 'came out together and fell upon me. The lit-
tle daughter drew out my arm and held it, whilst one
of the others cut at it. 'the eldest of then said " Bring
me a knife that we may cut the flesh of the old wretch's
arms." They tore my arms all over with an iron nail.
'fife old woman here described the manner in which the
prisoners performed the operation. She was ill from the
wounds on her arm; there was a woman who accompanied
I witness came in and dragged her away from their
fare. It appeared further, that witness and her friend
cried out murder as loud as they could, and a mob as-
sembled in the street round the door, but they did not
choose to interfere, as it was exclaimed that the old wo-
man, on whom the prisoners were exercising their fury,
was a witch. Two of the prisoners, the mother and the
eldest daughter, continued to hold the old woman as
she struggled on the ground for her life (as she ex-
pressed it,) whilst the younger daughter, with the first
instrument which came to her hand, a large nail, lacerat-
ed her arm in a dreadful manner. This was done for
nearly ten minutes, the mob standing by nearly the
whole of the time ; and the old woman was only rescued,
as it appeared, by the vigorous efforts of her companion..
She did not doubt that if a knife had been in the way
when she presented herself at the door, she would have
been murdered.
Cross-examined.—Do not the people of Wicilscombe
(whether truly or falsely, I don't say) account you to Le
a witch?
The old woman (with great agitation) " Oh dear ! oh
dear ! that 1 should live to be three score and eight years
old, and be accoaated a witch at last. Oh dear, what will
conic of me ?"
" Well, it is very hard, certainly, but Jo they not ac-
count you to he a witch ?
It was some time before the old woman could give an
intelligible answer, but she said that she, had never been
accounted a witch in her life (tluo forbid) by-any one,
before the prisoners circulated it about tole to.n that
she was, and had exercised her infernal influence over
one of them. She always tried to live righteously and
reaceably without doing any
.harm to any om. She
was cre.itly a:liicted at the injurious supposition.
The apprentice to Mr. North, a surgeon at Meets-
conohe, deposed, that on the night in question the prose-
cutrix came to him to dress her arm, which he found
dreadfully lacerated. There were fifteen or sixteen inch
sinus upon of about a quarter of an inch deep, and
others an eighth of anima). They were from t.o to
three inelles,and three inches and a half long. She bled
very severely. Wituess dressed her arm, and a: she was
very healthy, it got well fast. She was ill fur more than
a month in consequence of the attack. Her arm was
still hovel up.

• -
•
Mr. ERSKINE said he thought it unnecessary to call
other witnesses to prove the assault, otherwise he had se-,
venal of the bystanders who could give the clearest ac-
count of it.
The Counsel for the prisoners said, be did sot mean to
deny the fact of the assault, but be wished to show the
iefattiation under which They had acted.
Mr. ERSICINE said be could adduce evidence, which
would show the gross delusion under which the pri-
soners had laboured; and he was perfectly willing
that _they should have any benefit they might derive
from it.
An old woman, Elitabeth Collard, was then called,
who said sbe was an acquaintance of the elder prisoner. .
and met her on the morning of the day on which the a•-
'auk took place, not having seen her before for a long
time. Witness said we were talking about our troubles.
when the hold inc that her troubles were greater than
mine or any body's troubles, far they were not mortal
troubles. She said her daughter had been bewitched
for the last I! months, and that she had been to consult
old 'Baker, the Devonshire wizard, shout her case. Shin
said he had given her a rilipe akaiqal,Pitchcraft, and
• Wood woo Asevityststr4kei thwidreis -to break the
charm. She said that old Sfra. Burgess was the witch,
and that sbe Was going to get blood from her. She was'
in snch a way that I thought she would have gone imm•-•
diately to Mrs. Burgess to have drawn blood, hut I ad-
eisell her not, and to let old B..ker punish her if she wits
really the witch.
Mr. Justice BURROUGR.—Who Is old Baker? .
Witness.—Oh ! my Lord, he is a great conjuror, the.
people say. lie is a good deal looked up to by the poor
people in these parts.
Mr. Justice litatemmit.—l wish we had the fellow
here. Tell him that if be noes not leave oil his conjnring,
he will be caught and charmed in a manner that he will
not like. '
The witness resumed.—l pitied the woman, she was in
such a world of troubles; and, besides that, she has had
a great many afflictions a ill her family, hut she appear-
ed to feel the bewitching of her daughter very deeply. I
asked bow the witchcraft worked upon her, when she told
me, that when her daughter was worked upon, she
would dance and sing, just as if she was dancing and
singing to a fiddle, in a way that there was no stopping(
her before she dropped down, when the fiend left her.—
Whilst the fit was upon her, she would look wished
or frighted) an I point at something, crying, there
she stands I—there she stands (the witch.) I feit
for the daughter very mach. tier a:ate is very pitiable,
my Lord. •
Mr. RODGERS adilressed the Jury, in behalf of the pri-
soners. He said, that to attempt to deny that a verdict
of guilty must be riven against the miserable females at
the bar, would he to insult the understandings of the in-
telligent whom he saw in the box. The oimervat,atis he
was about to mak• to them, would be rather for the rut-
pose of showing the unfortunate delusion un ler which
the prisoners bad been actuated; the infamous fraud
that bad been practised upon them; their miserable af-
flictions,—and to induce them (the Jury) to give
with their verdict a recommendation of mercy to his
Lordship.
Mr. Justice Benito-Jon said, the course which the
learned Counsel was pursuing, was one which could not
be permitted. lie could not b.talloweil, if he did. net
deny the fact, to endeavmr to persuade the Jury :co gird
in a recommendation of mercy to him (his Lardship.)--•:
Any observations, in mitigation, might be addressed to
him after the verdict was gives, and he should be glad ns
hear the learned Counsel.
Mr. RODGERS said, that the coarse which he had .
adopted had been allowed by another learned Judge
on the Circuit,—and he adopted it to save ,his Lord.'
ship the trouble of hearing two speeches instead of one.
Mr. Justice BURROUGH said, he had never before heard
of such a course as that proposed by the learned Coun-
sel, and certainly should not permit it.
The Jury then loanl all the prisoners guilty.
The Judge, after addressing ;hem, sentenced them to
be each further imprisoned iu the county gaol for tl.e
space of four calendar months.

The inhabitants of St. Paul, Covent Garden, have ob-
tained another victory over the select vestry of that pa .
fish in the election of a churchwarden. entil the year
before last the vestry had usurped the right of electing
this officer ; bat" the parishioners, finding they passessel
the right, resolved upon exercising it, wuich they did. iit
direct opposition to all the influence of the aristocracy of
the parish. Last year the vestry resisted the exertinns
of the independent inhabitants, and were defeated. On
Tuesday Mr. Machin was proposed, on the part of the
parish, by Mr. Corder, and Mr. Wood, by Mr. Cribb, hit
the part of the vestry. On the show of hands, there as-
peered a very large majority for the independent candi-
date; and a poll being declined by the vestry, the Caai -
man, Mr. Yockney, declared him duly ele, te.l.
iiIONSTROUS OUTRAGC.—During the last voyage of
the St. George steam packet from Liverpool to lauliii-,.
a gentleman of rank, accompanied by his wife and ft-
inny, occupied ore of the cabins, where less a sofa.
which his daaghter, a young lady of abott 12 years' of
age, used as a birth. In the course of the night she per-
ceived a man approach her on the sofa, whom she at first
thought washer father; but, on his suety-Iring to take in-
decent liberties with her person, she cal:cd out, and the
passengers being alarmed, hurried to the cabie, front
which the Coptain, whose name is Jones, was seen ran•
ning. Oa the vessel coming into harbour, Mr. Have',
agent to the St. George Steam Parket Company, contriC.
ed to bring the Captain to the -office in Abbey-sreet,
where he de'ained him while he went to the Megistratra
of College-street Police-office, and required him to be
taken into custody; bet the Magistrates conceived. as
the offence was committedoo the high seas, and not within
their jurisdiction, they had no authority to issue a
warrant or apprehend him, and that it was an Admiralty
affair. Mr. liayes, however, did not hesitate to inflict
on the ruffian al! the punishment in his power, and he
accordingly discharged him from the packet, as also
every verso.: belonging to the vessel to whom the least
blame could attach. erom the difficulty in prevailaigo a
the young lady to come forward in a public court, we
fear that justice will be defeated, and the irons er escape
that punishment be so well merits, and the packet pr on , i-
*fors are so anxious he should receive.—(Babau Free-
utaa's Journal.)
Fine —A fire broke out at Mr. Ormsby e, a plumber
and glazier, No. 163, 01,1 Gravel-lane, Neill& highs ay,
st‘iont half-past eleven o'clock yesterday morning, which
spread to air. Wer,lle's adjoining. and considerably in-
jured the house. . The Angel public-house very narrowly
escaped. A lady in the house where the fire lar.oke out,
in jumping out of a chamber window into . the am e , re-
ceived consider able injnry:
Y•II3Int:TR, APRIL 3.—Our Market on Saturday was
pretty welt suptiiied with Grain. Wheats were a do:1
sale, and from Is. to 2s. per quarter cheaper... The sap-
' ply of Barley, alC:ough small. was more than equal to
the demand, in conseqnence of several of our Titaltsze7s
lea, ing off malting f ,r the season—prices were extrem-'y
dull, and full 2s. per quarter cheaper. In other G..ttl:t
no alteration.

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