Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-09-28
It0l De Philadelphia .luroro.

EFdai Tie Philadelphia SlUTOrd.
We continue extracts from the early numbers
of the Pennsylvania Gazette. The following aives
an amusing view Of manners ami customs q century
Jack
From Tie Pennsy'rd.i1 GazeHe, OCT. %. 1880.
BURLINGTON, Oct. I2.-Saturday last al Mnunt
Holly, about eight miles from this ps ce near three
hundred people gathered together 70 see an OK
pertinent or two tried come persons accused OF
wtchcratt. IL seems the accused had been charosd
with making their neighbours sheep dance in All un-
common manner, and with causing hogs to speak
and sing psalms, &c. to the greatserror and amaze
ment o. the Kings good and peac able subjects in
nus provinces and The accuseTs being very positive
that If the accused were weighed in scales aDains 4
Bible, the Bible would prove heavy for them; or
that, It they bound and put into the river they
would swim, the said accused DESTROYS to make their
innocence appear, voluntarily offered 70 undergo the
said trials. n two ofhe most violent of their accusers
would be tried with them. Accordingly the time
and place was agreed on, and advertised about the
coaltry; the sccnsers were one man and one woman;
and the accused the same. The parties being met
and the people got together, a grand consult aliop
was held before they proceeded to trial in which il
was agreed TO use the scales first and committee
of men were appointed To search the mcn and
committee OF women were appointed to search tile
women, to see they had any thing Of weight about
them, particularly pins. After The scrutiny vac OYER
huge great Bible belonging 10 the Justice Of the
place provided, and n lane through tho nonu,co
was made from the Justices house TO the scales
which were fixed OH gallows erected for that pur-
pose opposite to The nous" that the Justices wife and
the rest Of The ladies' might the tra, without coin.
ing amongst the mob; uEd after the manner Of Moor
fields, large ring also made. Then came out of
the house grave tan man carrying the holy writ bo.
fore the supposed wizard, &c. las soemniy as tL.
sw ord bearer Of London before the lord Mayor The
wizard was first put in tile scale, and over HIN was
read chapter out Of tho book Of Moses and then the
Bible was put in the other scale, (which being kent
down DefOie Immediately lot 90: Dut % he 0rc,t
surprise Of the Spectators, flesh and bones came down
plump, and outweghod that great rood book nv bun
dance. After the s9me manner the others were ser
we'd, and their Jumps of mortality scyc,ally were too
heavy for Noes and oil the Prophets aud Apostles
This being over the accseTs and the rest Of the mob
not satisfied with this experiment would have the
trial By water accOTdnnly most solemn procession
was made to The MIl-pond; There both accused and
occuscrs being stripped, Saving only 10 the women
helr snuts,) bound mind and foot and several
y pinced III the water, lenghways from the side of
barge or Hat, having TOR security only ropo about
Inc niddle u each which was held Dy some i'm tho
Int hc accuser man be ng tim and spare and with
s"Hr dlicuy began 90 suik al last; bat the rest ev-
cry one o. thtn swan very light upon the watcr
sailor ~ TIC Tat JUN pei on up0u the buck of the
man accused, thinking 70 drive him down 10 the hot
tom; but the person found without any helm came ~,
Some tine before the other TIE woman accusor bo
ing told that she did not sink, would be- due ed n So
oond time; when sIe swan again NJ light ~ be!ore
Upon which she declared, that she believed tho oer
Sod had beWitced her 70 mako her go light and that
she would b. ducked again hundred times, but sI,o
would duck the Devil Ogt Of her. The accused man
being surprised at ilis own swimming, was i.jt ~