The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-02-27
European Correspondence OF the Min.
nesOtian ...NO. 8.
DENBURY, DEvoNsHIRE, ENGLAND.

European Correspondence Of the Min.
nesOtian .--NO. 8.
DENBURY, DEv0NSHIRE, ENGLAND.
MEssRs EDITORS :-Denbury, the village
date this letter from, is supposed to take its
name as far back as the Danish invasion of
England, great many of whom, tradition
states, were encamped OH hill near this vii.
lage, but were conquered by stratagem Of
the Brttons, who put them to death, and
buried them in trenches within their own for
tifcations and thence its name, which was
originally Danes bury, but now Denbury. sig
nifying the burying place Of the Danes. The
hill that is said to have been the theatre Of
these exploits, is shaped like the mounds on
the Prairies of Illinois. only this is rather
larger and higher; on the top of it, one Of
the most magnificent views in the County is
obtained. On clear day, the church stee-
pies of between twenty and thirty different
towns and villages are seen by the naked eye.
| believe the most beautiful scenery of any in
England, is in this county, and Devonshire is
quite proverbial for the prettiest ladies' in
England, and think justly so.
You would scarcely believe how supersti-
tiocs most of the lower class of people are in
this part of England have no doubt but il
there was law for punlshIng witchcraft as in
olden times, juries would be found to convict
for that offence as readily as they ever did,
The following case occurred in this village a
few years ago; will give it, as it was told
me by an eyewitness of part of the opera
tions !:
A young lady by the name of Miss Rhoda
Rowe was taken sick rather strangely and
suddenly. 1t was then remembered that
few days before she had quarrclled with one
of her neighbors who used some threat
against her like this, that she would be sor-
ry for it before long" This threat was in
the mind of her parents and others, sufficient
to warrant the belief, that she was under the
effects of witchcraft; and in order to satisfy
themselves beyond a doubt, sent to a town
ten miles distant, for 4 man that had the
power to tell cases of witchcraft and to coun-
teract the effect, or drive the witch out. (the
appellation these men bear, is White Witch;
there are many of such now in England who
follow this business and make it profitable
This mans fee being paid, he came, and pro-
nounced the young lady to be under the ma
gic spell, and ordered her to be taken from
her bed in a Sheet to field, and there well
shaken in all of the four corners. This was
done, and suppose the effect of being re-
moved from warm bed to the open air and
her life almost shaken out, was too much for
her constitution; at any rate, she died the
day after.
A short time after, the woman who was
supposed to be the cause Of all this trouble.
had to apply to magistrate for protection
on hearing the circumstances, a warrant was
issued for, and the White Witch arrested;
but Tor some reasons or other, the parents OF
the victim refused to give evidence against
him; he was therefore discharged.
This case l know to be true ; saw and
conversed with the young lady's father, bro
therS sister and / believe that all of them,
as well as most of the villagers, think that
she died under the effects OF wtchery There
are many pretty well informed that believe
in this superstition ; one old gentleman tha,
| conversed with, believed himself to be un-
der some witches spell he says he knows il
to be true.
1t is also astonishing what an amount of
ignorance exist among the masses Of the Eng
lish people regarding the United States, and
and the manners a, d customs of our people.
In four or five instances, | have had persons
ask me if | was not from America, would
say l was. They would then ask me if
ever saw their son, or brother or some other
! acquaintance out there. l would tell them
1 it was not very likely at the same time ask
ing them what part Of the country they were
IN, would generally get all answer like this:
!" the last heard from them they were in
Canada, or place called Ohio, or Illinois, or
some other State, speaking as if the States
were villages. They seem to have no idea OF
the country, or the extent of it. A few Sun
days ago was in a town nine miles from
this, and went to church with a friend. AT.
ter the services we're over, and on the way
home, we were joined by one of the towns
people, who asked me if | was not from Ame-
RIGA. | told him | was from the United
States. After some conversation, he asked
me if Australia was near America, but before
| had time TO answer him, my friend says,
why, Australia is in America; and this was
said in earnest to inform the man. They
were both astonished, when told them how
far it was distant: and each of these men was
doing business for himself; one of them had
stores in three or four towns
One day went into farm house near this
village. The lady, whom never saw before.
says, "you are Mr.. G., from America" l
said 1 was. After short talk, she SAYS,
"You are not married yet. are you, Mr.. G. ?"
l told her was not. She said she was glad
to hear that, and that she hoped l would re-
turn with an English wife, / asked her rea
sons for wishing so. She says, IL have heard
of the American ladies before to-day" l
asked her what she bad heard about them.
| Sbp Infnrno1 mo cho hoJ boo told L,,,
that they were lazy, slovenly, passionate, and
would just as soon kill person as look at
them l had q hearty laugh, and believe
she has better impression regarding them
now tina" she ever had before.
l will now speak little about the Church.
es in this part of the country. The term
Church, in England is only applied to tie es-
tabished or Episcopal religion all other re-
ligious sects are called D,ssenters, and their
places OF worship, Chapels, or Meeting Hous.
es. Nearly all the Episco pal Churches are
built in the shape of cross, and most of
them are very old, having been erected be-
fore the Reforma' ion. The ministers resi-
dences are generally the prettiest located
places in the village. The choir in these
churches generally use stringed Instruments
with sometimes flute or claronet. The
choir in the Church here consists of three
fiddles, one bass viol and one flute and this
has been the choir for time immemoral and
| assure you this, with vocal music, is almost
enchanting. 1t is now, and always had been
the custom 10 bury the bodies of Ministers
and other distinguished persons. in vaults,
under the Church floor. In the village of
Kingstengton, situated about three miles
from this village, is the following epitaph, on
stone near the altar:
RICIIARDUS ADIAM