FROM the observations I have had an opportunity of making, the public seem now convinced of their folly and credulity, in having run after a stranger, whose broken English has been for some time a cover of his ignorance and imposition; and I hope the examples of distress and misery, from injurious treatment that have been faithfully laid before them, will prove a lasting lesson to thoughtless people to avoid fortune-tellers, witches, water-conjurors, and such-like pests of the community, who live by the weakness of their fellow-creatures, and acquire independence by their credulity.
In the metropolis, this mad rage of the people is subsided, reason has regained her empire, and we have no more havock[sic] to expect from the German medicines; but the effects of them will not be eradicated for years. Scarely a day passes without presenting to my knowledge and my pity, one or more of these deluded victims, some of whose cases I shall beg leave to lay before the public, by means of your paper. I do not mean to recur to any I have already printed, but exhibit only those of such persons as shall hereafter permit me to make use of their delusions to undeceive the credulous, if any still remain, who are friends to the water-conjuror. Previous, however, to this design, I must request the insertion of the following letter, with which, and the subsequent case, I shall conclude this paper.
Great Eastcheap, J. C. LETTSOM.
Sept. 15.
| Source: |
British Library Newspaper Collection Colindale - Burney Collection
26 September 1776 (14,851) Page 1 Column 4 and Page 2 Column 1 |