Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-20

the sun, generally produces tafal c0hse-
quence; and under the friendly shade Of
an umbrella, the atmosphere is cool,
healthy and refreshing.
T.NutionaI .aduocate.
Charleston, July II.
THE CHASE.
The D. S. schooner Revenge. lieut. NJ
Clunie, and the revenue cchr Gallatin, capt.
Mathewes, having taken on board a detach-
ment of United States artillerists, under the
command Of lieutenant Kirk from Fort Moul-
trie, proceeded to sea about o'cIock es.
terday morning. As soon as they were OBJ.
served coming out, by the Columbian brig
Wilson, Capt. Almeida, and her prize, the
Spanish baTque Santiago, then at anchor in
the ofing, both vessel, got under way, and
stood to the eastward: they were pursued
by the schooners, and all four were soon out
Of sight.
A fishing smack, coming in from the Viii.
son.was taken in the Roads on Sunday night.
by the revenue schr. Gallatin. She had on
board some specie dollars, and a quantity of
cocoa nuts, which it is presumed were in
tended to be struggled. City Goz.
From The Nsw- York Commercial Advertiser,
THE oLpEN TINE.
" In John Mlesius any man may read
Oh devils in Safmatia honored,
as we
Pugs and hobgoblins call their dwellings be
In corners of old houses least frequented,
Or beneath stacks of wood; and these con.
vented
Make fearful noise in butteries and in daires.
Robin Goodiellows some some call them tai.
ries.
In solitaire rooms these uproars keep,
And beat at doors to wake men from their
sleep.
Seeming to force locks, be they ne re so strong
And keeping Chris,masse gamboIs all night
long"
In the dark ages, superstition of the gross
est character was almost co-extensiYe with
the population of the earth and it is not
matter OF surprize that relics of this supersti-
tion shouid have continued for long time
alter the invention Of the art of printing, or
even the night which burst Upon the world at
the Reformation. The religion OF the north
OF Europe was founded entirely in supersti-
ton; and SO was that OF Ancient Briton un-
der the Drulds; and the religion and disci.
pine otthe Roman Catholics which succeed.
ed, was exactly calculated to perpetuate il,
though under forms somewhat different. A
mong many nations OF Europe, these super
stitlouS notions yet prevail 10 very great
extent; ana the lower classes of people in
almost every nation, are more or less super
suuous, acc ding TO the lights they have
had, or the notions instilled into their minds
in tue da7s OF childhood. Even the tower
ing intellect OF the great moralist. DR.. john
son, was not free from superstitious prejudi.
ces ana beliefs.
When our ancestors came to New Eng.
land. alth ough III general eminent tor their
plety and deyoul conduct, it is not to be suG-
posed that they We're entirely free from the
prevailing notions OF the mother country, or
that simply change of residence would
have eradlcated belief imbib ed in their
earliest infancy. Many had no doubt been
taught that at certain times, and in certain
places, scores of witches were whIZzing thrO'
the air upon broomsticks, and that the world
was full of evil genii, who, by their wicked
entertainments, inflicted upon mankind nine
teen-twentieths of the calamities they were
failed to suffer. Like those spirits ironically
mentioned by Johnson, the unenlightened
populace tancied that supernatural beings,
unseen and unheard, were towering about,
trying experiments upon their fortunes and
sensibIity, putting them in agoDies to see
their limbs culver, torturing them TO mad
ness, that they might laugh at their YagarieS;
sometimes ops,ructing The bile, that they
might see how man looks when be is yell
low; sometimes breaking travellers bones
10 try how well he would get home, some
times wasting man away TO skeleton, and
sometimes killing him lat Tor the greater ele-
gance oil his hide
The trials for witchcraft which took place