t _wilful murder_, should any of the
objects of persecution lose their lives. The popular belief, however, in
witchcraft still continued, and it was not till the ninth year of George
II., that the statutes against it were repealed. We believe there is
still an Irish statute unrepealed, which inflicts capital punishment on
witches.

All is now of the _past_. The "schoolmaster is abroad," and not only is
the belief in witches, but all the tribe of ghosts and spirits is fast
melting away. The latter have also added in no inconsiderable degree to
the sum of human suffering. The number of the good was small compared to
the evil, and though it was in their power to come in what shape or
guise they chose, "dilated or condensed, bright or obscure," yet it must
be confessed they generally chose to assume "forms forbidden," and their
visitations were much oftener accompanied with "blasts from hell" than
"airs from heaven." It has been justly remarked that "they were potent
agents in the hands of the priest and the tyrant to delude and to
enslave; for this business they were most admirably fitted, and most
faithfully did they perform it." Those inevitable evils which man is
destined to endure in this present state, are enough without the
addition of the almost unmingled bitterness of the infusion, which
superstition would pour into his cup.

_(To be continued.)_

* * * * *

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

* * * * *

LONDON LYRICS.--THE IMAGE BOY.

Whoe'er has trudged, on frequent feet,
From Charing Cross to Ludgate-street,
That haunt of noise and wrangle,
Has seen, on journeying through the Strand,
A foreign image-vender stand
Near Somerset's quadrangle.

His coal-black eye, his balanced walk,
His sable apron, white with chalk,
His listless meditation,
His curly locks, his sallow cheeks,
His board of celebrated Greeks,
Proclaim his trade and nation.

Not on that board as erst, are seen
A tawdry troop; our gracious Queen
With tresses like a carrot,
A milk-maid with a pea-green pail,
A poodle with a golden tail,
John Wesley, and a parrot;--

No; far more classic is his stock;
With ducal Arthur, Milton, Locke,
He bears, unconscious roamer,
Alemena's Jove-begotten Son,
Cold Abelard's too tepid Nun,
And pass-supported Homer.

See yonder bust adorned with curls;
'Tis her's,