The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-01-05

ASuNSA anu Clearer LOT q Dfle1
space out at last they were heard no more,
save in his frantic wifes fancy. who cont;n'
ued to start as if she still heard them. and
to wander about and to listen. when ali hut
herself were satisfied that she could never
hear them again.
The body was found next day lavinp in n
haugh, some four or FIVE miles down the
river.
TIE LAST OF THE WITCHES. The last
hlndvldual put 10 death for witchcraft in
Great Britain, was burnt little more than a
century ago. In the year 1922. fsays Sir
Walter Scott,) a sheriff-depute of Sutber-
land, Captain David Ross of Littledean
took 1T upon him, in fragrant violation of the
then established rules of jurisdiction, TO
pronounce the last sentence of death for
witchcraft which was ever passed in Scot
land. The victim was an insane old vo-
man belonging TO the parish of 10th, who
/ had so little idea of her situation as TO re-
Joice at the sight of the fire which was des-
tined to consume her. She had daughter
lame, both of hands and feet, circumstance
attributed to the witch's having been used
( to transform her into pony, and get her
shod by the devil. 1t does not appear that
any punishment was inflicted for this cruel
| abuse of the law on the person of creature
! so helpless; but the son of the lame dauph-
ter, he himself distinguished by the same
misfortune, was living SO lately as to receive
the charity OF the present Marchioness of
Stafford. Since this deplorable action,
there has been no judicial interference in
Scotland on account of witchcraft, unless
to prevent explosions of popular enmitv
uaInSf pe0nla cusnocfo6 of e,aL -
which some instances could be adduce6.
The remains of the superstition sometimes
occur there can be no doubt that the
vulgar are still addicted to the custom of
scoring above the breath, as it is termed
THAT is, drawing blood, by two cuts in the
form of cross on the witch's foreheadl.
and other counter-spells, evincing that the
belief in witchcraft is only asleep, and
might in remote corners be again awaken
ed TO deeds of blood. An instance or two
may he quoted chiefly as facts known to
the author himself. In remote part Of the
highlands. an ignorant and malignant
woman seems really to have meditated the
destruction of her neighbours property, by
placing in a cowhouse, or byre, as we call
it, pot of baked clay. containing locks of
hair, palrings of nails, and other trumpery.
This precious spell was discovered, the de-
sign conlectured, and the witch would have
been torn to pieces, had not high spirited
and excellent lady in the neighborhood
gathered some of her people Though these
were not very fond of the serviee1 and bv
main force taken the unfortunate creature
out OF the hands of the populace. The for
mIdable spell is now in my possession
About two years since, as they were taking
down the walls of a building formerly used
as feeding house for cattle, in the town
of Dalkeith, there was found below the
threshold stone, the withered heart of some
animal stuck full of many scores of pins =
counter-charm, according to tradition,
against the operations of witchcraft on the
cattle which are kept within. Among the
almost innumerab,e droves of bullocks
which come down every year from the
Highlands for the south, there is scarce one
but has a curious knot upon his tail, which
is also precaution, lest an evil eye, or an
evil spell, may do the animal harm.
We notice in a Plymouth, Mass, paper, a
record of the death of Mr.. Isaac Jackson.
who had kept tavern in that place for
more than 65 years. Now if Mr.. Jackson
had limited his sales of liquors to ten small
glasses per day, he would in that time have
sold about two hundred and thirty seven
thousand two hundred and forty glasses;
and if, as Shakespeare says, the ingredients
Of the inordinate cup is devil, what dia-
5olicnl trade Mr.. Jackson must have carried
on.-U. S, Gazette.
"TEe night before Plus the seventh died ha
sent for Cul M, who had been EXTREMELY
kind to him while he was a prisoner at Valence.
and presented him with a superb silver-gilt Gun.
| rescued from the papnl treasury, which he beg.
ged him to accept as a mark of his gratitude
and esteem. Col. M, felt some conscien.
tious scruples about taking so magnificent a
present. Perhaps your Holiness is not aware
said he, that you are making this valuable,
and almost consecrated present to hereto. I
am of the church of Geneva What has that
TO do with it = said the Pope, with a flash of
animation. Then, closing his heavy eyes, he
added, in an exhausted tone, but with great So
emnity, Are we not all children of the same
Father ?'-Lady .MOTgan'S France.
IRIsH PUeNAcITy. At the trial of butcher
of Downham in Lancashire on Saturday last.
Tor stealing COW, there was some difficulty in
/ Identifying the skin but the owner swore bold
ly to it, from some hurts that were in it. Gle
was sure it was his cow for she was an Irish
co'o, and had been fighting the day before she
was stolen"
! II can hardly be expected runaway matches
will end happily-as female will seldom pre-
serve gentleness and obedience to her husband
when she has exhibited such want of them TO
the authors Of her being.
A SHoRT-HoRNEp BULL Yesterday, says
the Brabant Courier, ''yesterday teW add
) bright page to history The reader has seen
Joe Mlllar's dialogue between a German Jew
and Dutch one
German-'' Doesh it rain thomorragh!"
Dutch" Ish it vazh."
He that is good, will infallibly become bet
ter and he that is bad, will as certainly be-
come worse for vice, virtue, and time, are
three things that never stand still.
} AS ihrashing separates corn fsom the chat,
5 so does affection purify virtue-Bartoa