Litchfield enquirer., 1844-02-22

twenty eight were sentenced to death, of whom sA& men and thirteen women were executed.
 All prossecutionr ceased before the close of 1872 and jurors signed prayer to be forgiven for what they had done through 'sa strong and grievous de- luson" Chief Justice Sewell, sixteen years after wards stood up in the church in Boston. while paper was read stating that he had greatly erred in these trials.
 The lecturer then came to our own State, and showed from the sad truth of our own RecoFds, hat even here, in nineteen instances, wltchcraft was either made the subject of legislative action' ar brought before courts of justce, ,n Ce of which cases the punishment of death was lnfilcted He cited the opinion of Professor Kingsley, that two executions had taken place in the county of Falr- field and as being probably the only two that had occurred in the State Also the opinion of the late Secretary of this State, who, in work lately Puo- lshed by him, stated that but two adjudicated ca ses are found on the records of court where Jury returned a.verdict of Guilty, and these were par" doned by the court, ard that no sentence had been executed and no person hung for witchcraft in the State.
 The remarks of Dr. Trumbul, the Hstoriograph- CT of Connecticut, were also cited, who says that " "after the most careful researches no indictment of any person for that crime any process rela- tive to that affair."" witchcraft (" can be found."
 The first execution, and the last conviction of witch in New England, were in the State of Con- necticut. We regret that we have not room for many of these details,as, with all their saddenng truth, they are of interest to us,-to know how strong and deep lodgement, the most strange an6 wayward delusions will make, even in strong and cultivated minds. But we must omit them. The lecturer proceeded to some interesting re-
 factions upon the value and satisfaction, there is in searching out these traces in theearer history of our fathers,-in looking after the epopular belief of the many, and the influence exerted upon their lives, by this bclief-instead of being satisied %bo If looking after the progress of the in intelligence and happiness. And to show what character it was upon which these strange delusions prevailedS he passed to a contrast between our condition and that of our fathers, two centuries since.-to the startling events in their history, the themes of con- versation, at their firesides,-the tales of Indian War, and suflering,-the anxieties and consulta- tons and counselings of those, whom rested the responsibilities of our feeble governments, and' drew from their pecuaiarities of circumstance, defence of conduct, which has at times been top- l ic ofreproach.
 l He gave detailed account of the case of Good wife Knapp, who was executed at Fairfield, about the year 1653-a case full of thrilling and dramatic interest-from which he passed to a sketch of the l hard fate of one who Is condemned to die under ! such circumstances as was this supposed witch how those who die surrounded by friends and kin- dred-in the discharge of duty, as the Christian I martyr and missionary, and the soldier-those whON pipe and languish and die with the intellect enfee bled--al these have supports which are denied to' | poor deluded woman, condemned to death with none of these strengthening cancellations or bright hopes.
 ! We should he pleased to give r"rr" extended. account ofthis Lecture presenting as Il did an able and condensed view of a subject in which the pco- pie can but feel deep interest.
 l BALL AND SUPPER ON BOARD THE ERANrY-. wlNE.-On Wednesday evening the ConmGdere and officers of the Brandywine gave splendid cntertain- ment on board their splendid Frigate to about &O of the fashionables of Bombay. The guests began to assemble shortly after half past o'clock, and from the preparations made to convey tEeFn to and from the vessel, not the slightest difficulty or in- 1 convenience Was experienced by even tic m' st timid of the fair sex The evening WIS particular
 y calm and favorable for boating, and the row of a mile from the Bunder to the Brandywine, was eal--
 oyed as no small part of the evenings amnsementss The Frigate was brilliantly illuminated ftr the oc- l casion, and presented very imposing spectacle to the approaching visitors. Dancing wds begun early and continued late; and if the guests did no1 enjoy themselves, the blame rested with theh- selves alone, for the officers of the s.p hitting in their attentions to al and indefatigable
 in prolonging the festivities of the evening. Our Post not having been included in the list cf invita- tions we are precluded from depicting the decora-- tions and devices Gberay dispersed throughout the Frigate in such liberal terms as he could andwould 1 have described them-we are therefore compelled 1 to content ourselves with plain prose, which we hope will suffice to assure our up country readers, that on no occasion, within memory, has so brill4 iant an affair been witnessed in Bombay We are 1 not among the number of those who think 1t expe- l dient to reiterate hopes that the amity between l Great Britian and America, may last unmpaired for ages, and that the friendships which we now cement with gallant visiteHs may be ;sdsssefs 1 ble such alusions appear to us to suggest doubts of the sincerity of our present brotherly relations We have no fear whilst we live, of the ofd and new country making trial of their respective prowesss l by sea or land-only one species of rivalry do we | look for or will we allow, namely which shall surpass the other in the entertainment and practi- cal exhibition of the kndliest feeling. So far as we have yet gone, the Americans at the head ot the Poll-it is true the Indian Navy did their duty. and on Terra Frma gave undeniable proof of their hospitality and good fellowship-but although the British Hotel. is unquestionably well adapted for say that dinner whence Ladies were excluded. could be compared with balf and supper, where the beauty of Bombay assembled in more than won't | ed force. The Dinner was gOOd--the Ball and sup per was better-now it remains for the general so- cety of Bombay, of the Reunions, to prove which shall be best.
 The arrival of the Hon. Mir. Gushing, the Ann bassador to China, was most opportnne--ths Suez steamer, in which that gentleman was passenger anchored near the Brandywine just as the Ball commenced--and MT. Cushing, lost no time in joining the brilliant party on the Frigateb deck. Bombay cossieF, sN0U l7.
 DEATH or JUDGE CowEN=-The Hon. Esek Cowen, Judge of the Supreme Court of New York, died at his lodgings in Albany. on Sunday evening,
 llth inst, in the 3Sth year of his age: He was an able, learned and assiduous Judge, and was re- | spected on the Bench and off the Bench for the | simplicity and purity of his Character Both