Witch-craft

the crime of sortery, especially in women. Many think there may be some foundation for what we call fascination, and witchcraft. We have innumerable instances and histories to this purpose, which. it would not be fair to set aside, merely because they are not reconcile able to our philosophy: but, as it happens, there seems to be something in philosophy to countenance some of them. Indeed, the ridiculous stories that are generally told, and the many impostures and delusions that have been discovered in all ages, are sufficient to demolish all faith in such a dubious crime; if the contrary evidence were not also extremely strong. Wherefore (says judge Black stone), it seems to be the. most eligible way to conclude, with an ingenious writer of our own (Spectat. N° 117.) that in general there has been such a thing as witchcraft, though one cannot give credit to any particular _ modern instance of it, Some readers will, however, probably di ent from this inference of Mr. Add is on, and the opinion of the learned judge, and incline to consider witchcraft in general as a species of imposture. But this is a subject which we have neither room nor inelination to discu .