6s 



billty, no good qualities were a proteftion ; all ranks and conditions ac 

 cufed their neighbours, and, in turn, became themfelves the accufed. 

 At laft, after a multitude of facrifices to this epidemic fury, the deadly 

 aCcufation faftened on a clergyman, a perfon univerfally beloved, of ex- 

 emplary piety, and diftinguifhed probity. The people fuddenly recovered 

 from their frenzy, like one that awakes from an horrid dream; they 

 were fenfible and afhamed, too late, of their folly ; they bewailed the 

 judicial murders, of their infanity. The dreadful cataftrophe of the- 

 Calas family above-mentioned is an inftance, of blind credulity prompt- 

 ing ftupid fanguinary rage, which one would fcarcely have expefted to 

 find in an enlightened age, and civilized country, and ferves to fliew, 

 that the intrinfic abfurdity and improbability of a tale, do not always 

 form an obftacle to popular belief. But indeed the ftrongeft proof of 

 this obfervation is afforded by the Englifi ftatute-book, in the defcrip- 

 tions of witchcraft, which it has promulgated, and the penalties which 

 it has enafted, againft this imaginary crime.* Thefe obfervations-ad-e 

 fufficient to fliew that the probability of circumftances and plaufibility 

 of a ftory may fometimes fail of fecuring for it, a favourable reception 

 among the populace ; and, on the other hand, that the very abfurdity 

 and improbability of a tale may fometimes be the true caufe of its ob- 

 taining an extenfive circulation, and a ready and eager credence among 

 the populace. Confequently, we plainly fee that popular credulity is 

 Vol. IX. ( I ) fomething 



* 33d Hen. 8th. Cap. 8, makes all witchcraft and forcery, " felony, without benefit 

 " of clergy. And again, ift Jac. ift. Cap. 12, all perfons invoking any evil fpirit, or 

 " confulting, covenanting with, entertaining, employing, feeding, or reiuarJing any evil fpirit, 

 " or taking up dead bodies from their graves, to be employed in any witdicraft, for- 

 " eery, charm, or enchantment, or killing or otherwife hurting any perfon, by fuch 

 " infernal arts ; (hould be guilty of felony, without benefit of clergy. And if any perfoii 

 " fhould attempt by forcery, to difcover hidden treafure, or to reftore ftolen goods, or 

 " to provoke unlawful love ; or to hurt any man or beaft, though the fame were not 

 " effefted, he or flie ftould fufFer imprifonment and pillory for the firft offence, and 

 " death for the fecond." And what is, indeed, moft furprifing, the liberal and en- 

 lightened Blackjione expreffes his belief of the pofiibility, nay, of the probability of fuch 

 a crime being committed ! See Blackftoce's Commentaries, Vol. 4. Page 60. 



