"While they were enquiring and deliberating, they were summoned into the girl's chamber by some ladies, who were near her bed, and who had heard knocks and scratches. When the gentlemen entered, the girl declared that she felt the Spirit like a mouse upon her back, and was required to hold her hands out of bed. From that time, though the Spirit was very solemnly required to manifest its existence, by appearance, by impression on the hand or body of any present, by scratches, knocks, or any other agency, _no evidence of any preter-natural power was exhibited_. "_The Spirit was then very seriously advertised_, that the person to whom the promise was made, of striking the coffin, was then about to visit the vault, and that the performance of the promise was then claimed. The company, at one, went into the Church; and the gentleman to whom the promise was made went with one more into the vault. _The Spirit was solemnly required_ to perform its promise; _but nothing more than silence ensued_. The person supposed to be accused by the Spirit then went down with several others, _but no effect was perceived_. Upon their return, they examined the girl, but _could draw no confession from her_. Between two and three she desired, and was permitted to go home with her father. "It is therefore the opinion of the whole assembly, that the child has some art of making or counterfeiting particular noises[185:A], _and that there is no agency of any higher cause_." Completely exasperated at the base methods adopted by his enemies to ruin his character, if not to affect his life, the injured party at length had recourse to the justice of his Country; and exactly one year after the exposure of this ridiculous as well as wicked imposture, the principals made him pecuniary satisfaction, to avoid worse consequences; but Parsons received sentence of imprisonment for two years, and to be pilloried three times; his wife imprisonment one year, and their servant six months. Thus ended the serio-comedy of _Fanny the phantom_, which afforded fine sport for the wits of the day; nay, Parsons shared in the joke, for the populace pitied his _unmerited_ sufferings, and, instead of pelting, cherished him when on the pillory, and even gathered money for him. The Mayoralty of William Beckford, Esq. was distinguished by the trial of a greater number of felons than had occurred for many preceding years: 508 were placed at the bar of the Old Bailey; 58 received sentence of death; 187 were ordered to be transported; 15 to be branded in the hand, and five to be whipped.