To appear and give evidence at the next assizes ag[=nt] Ma.
Sheapheard.

* * * * *

_The Ex[=am] of Ann Trew, single woman, of Wareham, taken upon
Oath as afors'd._

Who sayth, y't on ye 16th of March last past she saw Mary
Shep. come into ye house of Joh. Gillingame, and likewise saw
Ed. Gillingame come down bare-footed very well, without any
lamnesse or sickness at all, and p'esently after ye sayd
Mary Shep. had pulled on the legginge upon the legge of ye
s'd Ed. Gill., he fell instantly both lame and sick. Further,
the Ex[=nt] asked the s'd Ed. Gill. (in the time of his
sickness) what Ma. Shep. did unto him, who answered, she did
put her hand upon his thigh.

ANN TREW.

Anne Trew de Warh[=a], spinster Lxx,

To appear and give evidence at next assizes ag[=nt] M.
Shepheard.

I should like to know if the effect of her supposed sorcery could be
attributed to mesmerism. The document in my possession appears to be
original, as Jone Coward's signature is in a different hand to that of
the examination.

J. C. M.

Spetisbury.

* * * * *

ST. AUGUSTIN AND BAXTER.

I am not aware that any author has pointed out a remarkable coincidence
in the Confessions of St. Augustin and of Baxter:

"Divers sins I was addicted to, and oft committed against my
conscience, which, for the warning of others, I will here
confess to my shame. I was much addicted to the excessive and
gluttonous eating of apples and pears, which, I think, laid
the foundation of the imbecility and flatulency of my
stomach.... To this end, and to concur with naughty boys that
gloried in evil, I have oft gone into other men's orchards and
stolen the fruit, when I had enough at home.... These were my
sins in my childhood, as to which conscience troubled me for a
great while before they were overcome."

Sir W. Scott cites the above passages in his _Life of Dryden_, with
sharp comments on the rigid scruples of the Puritans:

"How is it possible," he says, "to forgive Baxter for the
affectation with which he records the enormities of his
childhood?... Can any one read this confession without
thinking of Tartuffe, who subjected himself to penance for
killing a flea with too much anger?..."

It probably did not occur to the biographe