The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-12-08
From Le,0iis's History Of Lynn.
MOLL PITCHER.

!, Inc CeieDlated mary PITCHER, a protested
fortuneteller, died on the 9th of April, 1913
at the age of rs years. Her grandfather,
John. Diamond, lived at Marblehead, and
was Tor many years celebrated for the ex-
erclse Of the same pretentions. She was
married to Robert Pitcher of Lynn, in 1850,
and had several children. This person has
been more celebrated than any individual
OF her classin modern times. Not only was
ner name known in most towns throughout
the United States, but probably there is not
! port In Europe, visited by American ships,
that has not heard of the skill of "Moll
Pitcher Many persons came from places
lar remote, 10 consult with her on affairs of
love or / ss of property, or to obtain her sur
misses respecting the vicissitudes of their fu-
ture fortune. Every youth who was not as
sured of the reciprocal affection of his fair
one, and every maid who was DESTROYS of
anticipating the hour other highest felicity,
repaired at evening to the humble dwelling
OF Molly Pitchtr, which stood on what was
then lonely toad, near the foot of High
Rock, with single habitation nearly oppo-
site, at the ga e of which stood two bones
( ofthe great whale, which the waves ofocean
In the Literally of their power, had cast up
on the beach. To that place also were seen
repairing, sailors from the neighboring COM
mercial towns, who were DESTROYS of ascer-
tanning the pobable success of their future
voyages. Many reputable merchant, too,
or whose treasures on the faithless waves,
the courier Of intelligence had not brought
the expected information, and being fearful
OF betraying the nature of his business bv
lnqulring directly for " Moll Pitcher" has
raised asmle by asking in what part of the
town he should find the bones of the great
whale. Her skill was principally exercis-
ed for the discovery of things lost, either
mate rial objects which had been mislaid or
purlolned, or the affections of some dscon.
solate FAR one, which had taken the advan-
Iage OF some favorable opportunity to elope.
Her power OF evil, if she possessed any, was
never exerted, unless TO punish such delin-
quents as refused to pay her for the knowi
edge which she pretended to impart Some
instances have been related, in which she
mas eVlnced an unusual degree of discern
ment; while in others her assertions have
nad no relation to facts, but appear to have
oeen the result of mere guess work and
presumption Her only ostensible means of
obtaining secret knowledge, was the simple
use OF tea grounds poured into cup; and
as the grains were disposed in a peculiar
manner, or assumed a particular form, so she
judged OF the things to which she fancied
a resemblance.
She also availed herself of every ordina-
fy mode of information, particularly by
causing one ofher domestics to talk with her
visitors, to elicit the nature of their bnsi-
ness, while she remained in an adjoining
room, Pretending to be absent. These arts
added to her natural shrewdness, and read
mess to seize the slightest hint which
mlgh' assist her in her sulmises, appear to
nave constituted the whole amount of her
power. ter sagacity bore no proportion to
tne lniatnation OF those who trusted to it.
one seems even to have admitted this, es-
pecla!ly IN one instance, when some gentle
men offered her large sum, if she would
INFORM them what ticket would draw the
hlghest prize In certain lottery. "Do
you Think" said she, "if knew, l should
NOT DGy 1t myself?" Whatever NAV have
been the witchcraft recognised in the He
brew law whether an actual communica-
ton with evil spirits, or the practice of de-
ceptlon by means of false pretensions, an
Impartial investigation of the facts respect
ing 'Moll Pitcher" justify the conclusion.
that her skill had no other foundation, than
the practice of uncommon arts assisted by
an unusual degree of shrewdness and dis
J cernment.
| CURIOSITY. Florida abounds with lakes
or ponds from few yards to a mile in di-
ameter-the banks are sometimes sloping.
but generally abrupt. The water is often
OF great depth. A circumstance occurred
a few days since which shows the manner
IN which they are formed This country is
based on porous she'll rock of the most
recent, or tertiary formation, which is PEN
etrated in every direction by streams OF
various magnitudes, from the Iivulet to the
navigable river. The Waucissa. which
rises in Jefferson county, is supposed to
discharge larger quantity of water than
James River at Richmond. The Wakulla
is also considerable river at its first an
! pearance. 1t is supposed to DISCHARGE the
waters of Lake Jackson and the Iamoma.
Between the fountain of the Wakulla and
these lakes, number of smaller ones occur
at intervals. The water is deep and trans
parent at all seasons, Indicating a constan,
supply and discharge by subterraneous
channels. About four miles southwest 81
Tallahassee, in their vicinity, a lake OF
about an acre in extent was recently form
ed. We are told that a party were there
hunting deer, and had passed the spot but
Anew moments previously. The earth which
was covered with large trees, fell with a
tremendous crash, and the frightened hunts.
! men he'd in CONSERVATION. The spot has
since been visited by some gentlemen from
Tins place-they state that it is from forty
TO nifty feet from the surfaceato the water,
the depth of which was not ascertained
The banks are nearly perpendicular. The
sunk is surrounded by high sand ridges.
Tallahassee Eoridan.
Charles x, liking, was xtravagantly xtolled
ana is xecrated. He Exhibited xtraordna ~
xceience in xigency, xcessive xacerbation n
&aletlon,s Exemplary in xternal, but xtrinsic on
Examination, he was xtatc under xborta,;on -. ~
x'reme IN xcitement, and he xtinguished xtem.
pore xpresson. He was xpatriated for his
xcesses and to xpiate his xtravagance. mus,