town, at seeing something like what you have placed as a terror to evil doers, at the beginning of the story of the Beacon in your first number, and which I believe is commonly denominated a Gallows! Fearful that some unhappy fellow-creature had forfeited his life to the laws of his country, and was about to expiate his crimes under the hands of the executioner, I did not fail as soon as I entered the town to make the most anxious inquiry into the meaning of what I had seen. You may guess my surprise, when told, that on the preceding day had been the Carter's race, and that what had created so much uneasiness in my mind, was nothing but a part of the apparatus necessary for carrying on the amusements of the day; of a part of which I had the following description: From that beam, from which I was afraid some unfortunate criminal was about to be suspended between heaven and earth, as unworthy of neither, a living goose was hung up by the feet, and all who could procure horses had an opportunity, as they trotted through between the upright posts, of shewing their dexterity, by catching hold of the goose's head, and giving it a pull. This diversion was continued to the no small gratification of the company, till one, more fortunate than his neighbours, had the happiness of pulling the head from the body, and of being hailed for this heroic action with reiterated applauses by the surrounding multitude. The goose being now no longer able to afford any more sport, was taken down, and a cat, inclosed in a barrel, hung up in its room. Every horseman being provided with a mall, struck the end of the barrel as he rode through below it; by the frequent repetition of this, the head of the barrel was at length stove in, when the cat, mad with the cruel usage, darted out, all covered over with soot, to the great amusement of the crowd; and, from a principle of self preservation, was dispatched as quickly as possible, by the happy swains who had collected to witness the diversions of the day. Such is an outline of the "Carter's Play;"-and well might WILL CANDID wonder how Scots carters could practise such things as shocked even the feelings of English soldiers. What an outrage on all the finer feelings of our nature, that men, calling themselves Christians, should should, in violation of the precepts of that religion they profess, and contrary to the established laws of their country, be allowed to have regular periods set apart, for making merry with the convulsive throes and agonizing cries of expiring nature. The great parent of the universe has kindly made the lower animals subservient to the comfort and convenience of man; but man has no more right on that account to exercise his cruelty over them, and sport with their feelings, than BONAPARTE, or any other tyrant who may possess power, and have inclination, has to tyrannize over and afflict his fellow men. Would men of this savage disposition carefully read the Book of NATURE, which you are opening for inspection; would they consider the amazing powers, and wonderful mechanism of those creatures they have such pleasure in tormenting, they might then indeed derive from them a rich source of amusement, and that of a more refined and exalted nature. Then might they, instead of exulting in the torments of those creatures which the goodness of God has put under their protection, exclaim: "How marvellous are thy works, Ở Lord God Almighty! in wisdom hast thou made them all." The danger attending such amusements is not unworthy the consideration of those who delight in them.-Were we to see a number of people collected round a mad dog shut up in a barrel, and labouring with all their might to set it at liberty, merely for the pleasure of afterwards killing it, would we not conclude that they were deprived of the use of their reason; and what shall we say of those who amuse themselves with a cat raised to as great a pitch of madness as any dog ever was, and whose bite is no less alarming? Instances of such accidents are happily rare, but they can be produced: A circumstance which happened several years ago in a neighbouring town, is still fresh in the recollection of many in this place: man, by chasing and teazing a cat with a fork, in a hay loft, either for amusement, like the carters, or to get it out, rendered it so mad, that it darted at him, bit his thumb, and occasioned his death, accompanied with all the attendant horrors of hydrophobia. A As "it is better to prevent crimes than to punish them," and and as scenes of cruelty, by steeling the heart against all those tender sympathies which ennoble and endear social life, have a tendency, like petty thefts, to lead on to greater and greater crimes, it becomes not only the duty, but also the interest of all who possess power or influence, to exert themselves in putting a stop to such disgraceful and diabolical pastimes. Yours &c. A FRIEND TO YOUTH. North Banks of the Tyne, 16th June, 1814. ANECDOTES OF INQUISITORS AND OF THE INQUISITION. IT is reported of CERVANTES, that when complimented by the French Ambassador one day, on the great reputa tion he had acquired by his Don Quixote, he whispered in his ear: "Had it not been for the Inquisition, I should have made my book much more entertaining!" If it be, however, true, that one of the first acts of FERDINAND has been to re-establish that odious tribunal, se disgraceful to an enlightened age, and the abolishing of which (as I observed before) did so much honour to the Cortes in Spain, one cannot help regretting that during the short time of its temporary suppression, another CER VANTES had not arisen, and in some popular and entertaining work have treated the Inquisition in the way it deserved. The medium of satire, and the shafts of ridicule, would certainly have been rendered sacred on such an occasion, as being the only weapons that could have been resorted to with any prospect of success; for what person in his senses would have attempted to reason the matter with a prejudiced populace, who had given such evidence of a determination to hug their chains, as to have considered the abolition of the Inquisition as an infringement of their liberties! The following, together with a number of anecdotes which it would not be difficult to collect, might furnish materials * See p. 498, vol. I. Cheap Magazine. for for a work on the Inquisition, evincing a degree of preposterous folly and fanatical absurdity, not to be surpassed by the mad ravings and ridiculous exploits of the renowned hero of La Mancha. In the cathedral at Saragossa, is the tomb of a famous Inquisitor; six pillars surround his tomb; to each is chained a Moor, as preparatory to his being burnt*. Отно, the bishop, at the Norman invasion, in the tapestry worked by MATILDA, the queen of WILLIAM the Conqueror, is represented with a mace in his hand, for the purpose, that when he dispatched his antagonist, be might not spill blood, but only break his bones! One of the most interesting anecdotes relating to the terrible Inquisition, and which strikingly proves that by the use of the diabolical engines of torture men have confessed crimes they have not been guilty of, is one related by a Portugeuse gentleman. A nobleman in Lisbon having heard that his physician and friend was imprisoned by the Inquisition, under the stale pretence of Judaism, addressed a letter to one of them to request his freedom, assuring the Inquisitor that he was as orthodox a Christian as himself. The physician, notwithstanding this high recommendation, was put to the torture, and, as was usually the case, at the height of his sufferings confessed every thing they wished. This enraged the nobleman, and feigning a dangerous illness, be begged the Inquisitor would come to give him his last spiritual aid. As soon as the Dominican arrived, the lord who had prepared his confidential servants, commanded the Inquisi tor in their presence to acknowledge himself a Jew, to write his confession, and to sign it. On the refusal of the Inquisitor, he ordered his people to put on his head a burning helmet, which to his astonishment, in drawning aside a screen, he beheld glowing in a small furnace. At the sight of this new instrument of torture, "LUKE's iron crown," the monk wrote and subscribed the abhorred confession. The nobleman then observed, "See now the enormity On this St. Forx ingeniously remarks, "if ever the Jack Ketch of any country should be rich enough to have a splendid tomb, this might serve as an excellent model." normity of the manner of your proceeding with unkappy men! My poor physician, like you, has confessed Judaism; but with this difference, torments alone have forced that from him, which fear alone has drawn from you! Dr GRANGER assures us that in his remembrance & horse that had been taught to tell the spots upon cards, the hour of the day, &c. by significant tokens, was together with his owner, put into the Inquisition, for both of them dealing with the Devil!" OBSERVATOR. June, 1814. ON SLANDER. GOOD NAME in man or woman, dear, my Lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls. Who steals my purse steals trash, 'tis something, nothing; Robs me of that, which not enriches him, SHAKESPEARE. THERE is nothing, perhaps, more unpleasant, or disgusting to a rational and intelligent mind, than to hear people crying down the reputation of their neighbours: yet we meet with people every day, and in almost every company, who push into conversation some infamous report, whether we are willing to hear them or not. The best way to put a stop to this, is, to pay no attention to their story, and to treat it with disdain; then shall it return to the owner (if he has any feeling,) with such force, as to make him sensible of the evil. Slander seems to be a general and favorite amusement at the TEA TABLE. There are some tea parties, however, it must be allowed, in which no slander is to be heard; but to speak the truth, and with sorrow be it said, the reverse too generally prevails. When we happen to hear any evil report of another, we ought not to let our hearts be turned against him, but rather pity his misfortunes, and remember, that perfection is not in man. The person who is the subject of the story, perhaps may be to blame, and there may be a little reason for our speaking ill of him; yet, let us not be too severe, but |