The Merrimack River: its source and its tributaries. Embracing a history of manufactures, and of the towns along its course; their geography, topography, and products, with a description of the magnificent natural scenery about its upper waters./ By J. W. Meader.

ITS SOUPRCE AND ITS TRIBUTARIES.
of evidence which intimated much, though it proved nothing, and
feeling assured that certain conviction awaited him, whatever the
charge might be, pleaded guilty; and, however strong the evidence and proof of witchcraft against the unfortunate prisoner, contrary to the rule founded on antiquity and common sense of convicting
the prisoner on his own free and voluntary admission of guilt in open
court, was invariably acquitted. Detectives were employed, whose
business it was to ferret out among the obscure, lowly, and unprotected
of the community cases of malignant and incipient witchcraft, whose
emoluments depended wholly or partially on conviction. That these
individuals would not be overscrupulous the experience acquired in
the employment of similar agents in the enforcement of obnoxious
modern legislation sufficiently demonstrates. There was no such
offence known as perjury; malice could do its worst with impunity;
no allowance was made for mistaken identity, in seeing, hearing, or
memory; the prisoner was considered guilty until proved innocent,
and all else failing to convict, the judges often sought to entrap
him into damaging admissions.
The community furnished victims, and the officers of the law,
instead of seeing that "equal and exact justice " was done, conspired
with them in the horrid sacrifice, and in Salem alone upwards of a
score of persons suffered execution for offences which reason declares
they never had the power to commit. So it went on, without any
perce tible abatement of the disease or diminution of the number of
its victims, until accusations were made against persons of wealth,
standing, and influence; doubtless by some person who had the sagacity
to discover that this was the only feasible method of checking the
delirium. This had the desired effect,- the spell was broken, the
disease abated, and was finally cured.
Such is a faint outline of witchcraft. Ignorance and superstition
were probably its corner-stone; mental and nervous affections were
undoubtedly superinduced, which inflamed and intensified the malady.
removing the bounds to its contagion and the limits to its fatality.
Wlitchcraft may, perhaps, be regarded as an appropriate interlude
between the great moral drama of "Puritanism rampant " and the
tragic after-piece of desolating Indian wars.
That it would be desirable to cover this period in the history of
our country and race with the pall of oblivion, no one will question;
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