to encourage the witnesses in such an unlimited course as had hitherto been granted to them. Influenced by these reflections, the settlers awoke as from a dream, and the voice of the public, which had so lately demanded vengeance on all who were suspected of sorcery, began now, on the other hand, to lament the effusion of blood, under the strong suspicion that part of it, at least, had been innocently and unjustly sacrificed. In Mather's own language, which we use as that of a man deeply convinced of the reality of the crime, "experience showed that the more were apprehended, the more were still afflicted by Satan, and the number of confessions increasing did but increase the number of the accused, and the execution of some made way to the apprehension of others. For still the afflicted complained of being tormented by new objects as the former were removed, so that some of those that were concerned grew amazed at the number and condition of those that were accused, and feared that Satan, by his wiles, had enwrapped innocent persons under the imputation of that crime; and at last, as was evidently seen, there must be a stop put, or the generation of the kingdom of God would fall under condemnation."

The prosecutions were, therefore, suddenly stopped, the prisoners dismissed, the condemned pardoned, and even those who had confessed, the number of whom was very extraordinary, were par

doned amongst others; and the author we have just quoted thus records the result:-" When this prosecution ceased, the Lord so chained up Satan, that the afflicted grew presently well. The accused were generally quiet, and for five years there was no such molestation among us."

To this it must be added, that the congregation of Salem compelled Mr. Parvis, in whose family the disturbance had begun, and who, they alleged, was the person by whom it was most fiercely driven on in the commencement, to leave his settlement amongst them. Such of the accused as had confessed the acts of witchcraft imputed to them, generally denied and retracted their confessions, asserting them to have been made under fear of torture, influence of persuasion, or other circumstances exclusive of their free will. Several of the judges and jurors concerned in the sentence of those who were executed, published their penitence for their rashness in convicting these unfortunate persons, and one of the judges, a man of the most importance in the colony, observed, during the rest of his life, the anniversary of the first execution as a day of solemn fast and humiliation for his own share in the transaction. Even the barbarous Indians were struck with wonder at the infatuation of the English colonists on this occasion, and drew disadvantageous comparisons between them and the French, among whom, as they remarked, "the Great Spirit sends no witches."

gaiety and dress; but from that time he was never clad otherwise than a common soldier. He was supposed to have entertained a passion for a lady of his court; whether there was any foundation for this supposition does not appear; certain it is, he ever after renounced all commerce with women, not only for fear of being governed by them, but likewise to set an example to his soldiers, whom he resolved to confine within the strictest discipline; perhaps too from the vanity of being known as the only king that could conquer a passion so difficult to be overcome. He also determined to abstain from wine during the rest of his life. Some people have told me that his only reason for taking this resolution was to subdue his vicious inclinations in everything, and to add one virtue more to his heroism; but the greater number have assured me, that it was to punish himself for a riot he had committed, and an affront he had offered to a lady at table, even in presence of the queen-mother. If that be true, this condemnation of his own conduct, and this abstinence which he imposed upon himself during the remainder of his life, is a species of heroism no less worthy of admiration.

He began by promising help to the Duke of Holstein, his brotherin-law. Eight thousand men were immediately sent into Pomerania, a province bordering upon Holstein, in order to enable the Duke

The Duke indeed had need of them. His dominions were already laid waste, the castle of Gottorp taken, and the city of Tonningen pressed by an obstinate siege, to which the King of Denmark was come in person, in order to enjoy a conquest which he held to be certain. This spark began to throw the empire into a flame. On the one side, the Saxon troops of the King of Poland, those of Brandenburg, Wolfenbuttel, and Hesse Cassel, advanced to join the Danes. On the other, the King of Sweden's eight thousand men, the troops of Hanover and Zell, and three, Dutch regiments, came to the assistance of the duke. While the little country of Holstein was thus the theatre of war, two squadrons, the one from England, and the other from Holland, appeared in the Baltic. These two states were guarantees of the treaty of Altena, which the Danes had broken, and were eager to assist the Duke of Holstein, because it was for the interest of their trade to check the growing power of the King of Denmark. They knew, that should the Danes once become masters of the Sound, they would impose the most rigorous laws upon the commercial nations, as soon as they should be able to do it with impunity. This consideration has long induced the English and the Dutch to maintain, as much as they can, a balance of power between the princes of the North. They joined the young King of Sweden,

He was taking the diversion of boar-hunting when he received the news of the Saxons having invaded Livonia. This pastime he enjoyed in a manner equally new and dangerous. No other weapons were used but sharp-pointed sticks, with which the hunters defended themselves behind a cord stretched between two trees. A boar of a huge size came straight against the king, who, after a long struggle, by the help of the cord and stick, levelled him with the ground. It

must be acknowledged, that in reading of such adventures as these, in considering the surprising strength of King Augustus, and reviewing the travels of the Czar, we are almost tempted to think that we live in the times of Hercules and Theseus.

Charles set out for his first campaign on the 8th day of May, new style, in the year 1700, and left Stockholm, whither he never returned. An innumerable company of people attended him to the port of Carelscroon, offering up their prayers for his safety, shedding tears for his danger, and expressing their admiration of his virtue. Before he left Sweden, he established at Stockholm a council of defence, composed of several senators, who were to take care of whatever concerned the

tions of the country. The body of the senate were provisionally to regulate everything besides, in the interior government of the kingdom. Having thus settled the administration of public affairs, and freed his mind from every other care, he devoted himself entirely to war. His fleet consisted of three-and-forty vessels; that in which he sailed, named the King Charles, and the largest that had ever been seen, was a ship of a hundred and twenty guns. Count Piper, his first minister, General Renschild, and the Count de Guiscard, the French ambassador in Sweden, embarked along with him. He joined the squadrons of the allies. The Danish fleet declined the combat, and gave the three combined fleets an opportunity of approaching so near to Copenhagen as to throw some bombs into it.

It is certain that the king himself first proposed to General Renschild to make a descent, and to besiege Copenhagen by land, while it should be blocked up by sea. Renschild was surprised by a proposal that discovered as much prudence as courage, from such a young and inexperienced prince. Everything was soon got ready for the descent. Orders were given for the embarkation of five thousand men, who lay upon the coast of Sweden, and who were joined to the troops they had on board. The king quitted his large ship and went into a frigate, and they then began to despatch towards

the shore three hundred grenadiers in small shallops. Among the shallops were some flat-bottomed boats that carried the fascines, the chevaux de frize, and the tools of the pioneers. Five hundred chosen men followed in other shallops. Last of all came the king's men-of-war, with two Eng- | lish and two Dutch frigates, which were to cover the landing of the troops with their cannon.

Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, is situated in the Isle of Zealand, in the midst of a beautiful plain, having the Sound on the north-east, and on the east the Baltic, where the King of Sweden then lay. At the unexpected movement of the vessels, which threatened a descent, the inhabitants were struck with consternation. Alarmed at the inactivity of their own fleet, and the motion of the Swedish ships, they looked round with terror, to observe where the storm would fall. Charles's fleet stopped over against Humblebeck, within seven miles of Copenhagen. In that place the Danes immediately drew up their cavalry. Their foot were posted behind thick entrenchments; and what artillery they could bring thither was pointed against the Swedes.

The king then quitted his frigate, to put himself into the first shallop, at the head of his guards. The French ambassador being at his side, "Sir," said the king to him, in Latin (for he would never speak French), "you have no quarrel with the Danes,

you need go no farther, if you please." "Sire," answered the Count de Guiscard, in French, "the king my master has ordered me to attend your majesty. I hope you will not this day banish me from your court, which never before appeared so splendid." So saying, he gave his hand to the king, who leaped into the shallop, whither he was followed by Count Piper and the ambassador. They advanced under shelter of the cannon of the ships that covered the landing. The small boats were still about three hundred paces from the shore. Charles, impatient to land, jumped into the sea, sword in hand, the water reaching above his waist. His ministers, the French ambassador, the officers and soldiers, immediately followed his example, and marched up to the shore, amidst a shower of musket-shot from the enemy. The king, who had never in his life before heard a discharge of muskets loaded with ball, asked Major Stuart, who stood next him, what meant that whistling which he heard. "It is the noise of the musket-balls, which they are firing at you," replied the major. "Very well," says the king, "henceforward that shall be my music." At that instant the major who was explaining the sound of musketry, received a shot in his shoulder, and a lieutenant on the other side of him fell dead.

It is usual for troops that are attacked in their trenches to be beaten; because the assailants have