The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-10-23
From the National Iatellsgencsr.


admitted the original article headed Sc
cond Sight aud Charms We ourselves
profess entire disbelief 10 either of tnese
attributes. But we equally dlsbelieye IN
many other things which W. allow TO be
advocated and recommended by our cor
respondents and upon reflections do moi
regard that consideration as sufficient 10
Justify the exclusion from our columns Ut
aa article which will interest at least "A per
ton OF our readers. The article is moreo-
yer from n Minister of thr Gospel, Who
pledges his character for its yrraclty. He
says that he himself once doubted the re-
Atty of these things, but 10 now fully con-
ylncrd,' seeing what these men can do.~-
For ourselves, we should not believe our
ayes or ears in such a case.
SECOND SIGHT AND. CHARMS.
Hampshire County, "a. 1926.
These have generally bee classed among
antiquated superstitions, notwithstanding
the well atteated cases which Come under
the purview of history. The north of Scot
land has been famous for its seers. The
jewish nation once possessed them, as we
learn from sacred writ they are still COM
mon among the Northern Indians, and e.
ven in our own country, know instances
of them, though very rare. ~.
No doubt but that a great part of VIVA
is attributed TO these seers is exaggerated
for instance, their foretetlng future events,
and sometimes their discovering stolen
goods, which, IN all probability, they were
priVy to the taking of. Bpi that some lew
beings possess the natural gift of mentally
seeing objects out of the reach of optical
vision seems too well authenticated to add
nit of scepticism. 1t is not unnatural TO
account, that III countries where they are
most believed IN, they are most numerous,
considering, that the impression aade on
the mind of the mother, during pregnancy,
will frequently Impress the child win quail
tiles II might not otherwise possess and
as TINS IS an innate sense, or insiiect,
somewhat similar 10 what we find in few
animals, It may originate from sympathy
and faith, with something else we cannot
account for.
We are not surprised to see the bee ira
vel Tor miles In quest OF its sweet be, erage,
aud return with unerring certainty to is
cell. The goose lles for hundreds Of mites
out compass OF quadrant, s. finds its former
nest; and the fish of passage come periodi-
cdliy 10 our bays 4 creeks. All we say to
this is, that they possess instinct, and pry
no deeper into the subject. But when ne
hear of a human being having distinct
view of objects, naturally out of sight, add
impossible to be seen by natural VISION, We
immediately cry out superstition super
sation Yet one IS as reasonable as the
other. The wild goose will lose its instinct
by domestication SO will nation lose It's
conjurors by civilization. Second sight is
only found among the most gnoranl of the
human, and instinct among the most saw
age OF the brute creation. The light of
science expeis it 10 tae one. and dIme5ti-
cation renders it in the other unnecessary
In this county, on North River, there are
two remarkable instances of men possess
ing the gift of second sight, together with
a faculty of charming. The one is a white
mau by the name of George ShurE, the o.
Their negro called Pint Pdyion, both re-
markably stupid and ignorant. SharI,
who acts as a laqney or servant to a She
riff who lives on the opposite side of the
of what Is passing in the county, and where
goods are hid on which he has levied ; and
what IS more strange, gives tolerdDle ac
count of conversations which pass al Il
distance. merely by the motion of the spea-
ker's lips.
He is well rewarded for the services
he renders Mr.. II. the Sheriff, nd this has
made him of late careless about accommo.
dating others. Phil. Payton, the negro,
possesses the same faculty, in IA similar de
gree, u IS more accommodating, the is the
most Intelligent OF the two) frequently grs-
tifying strangers with specimens of his oc-
cult skill, which Sharff will seldom now
do, unless ordered by Mr.. II. who takes
care Of him, for he is too much of an ideot
to take care of hImsef)
There IS a wonderful faculty possessed
by both these gentlemen as it respects
charms. Sharh can remove warts, aud o.
Their excrescences, merely by moving his
hand with circular motion round them
and have known Phil to cure the most
dangerous ophihamly, merely by bloning
his breath IN the patients eye. This is
strange but true, and nothing more won.
derful than the fascination of serpents or
the submei sion of swallows.
THESE men canuot be impostors; for
they are too ignorant TO carry on decep-
ton. The neighbors for miles round can
attest to their ignorance, as well as their
skill IN their hidden mysteries and conjura-
ton.
When Mr.. II. loses, or cannot find a
Morse he immediately applies to Sharf,
who Immediately puts his r;ghtha before