Whatever might be Voltaire's antipathy to the visits of strangers at his _château_, he seems to have met with an equal specimen of that temper from an Englishman. When in London, he waited upon Congreve, the poet, and passed him some compliments as to the reputation and merit of his works. Congreve thanked him; but at the same, time told Voltaire _he did not choose to be considered as an author, but only as a private gentleman, and in that light expected to be visited._ Voltaire answered, _that if he had never been any thing but a private gentleman, in all probability he had never been troubled with that visit._ He also observes, in his own account of this affair, he was not a little disgusted with so unseasonable a piece of vanity. The memory of Voltaire and Rousseau is still cherished by the French people with great fondness; their busts or figures in bronze or plaster are frequently met with, and remind one of _Penates_, or household gods. PHILO. * * * * * POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS. WITCHCRAFT. (_For the Mirror_.) --Why should the envious world Throw all their scandalous malice upon me? 'Cause I am poor, deform'd, and ignorant; And like a bow, buckled and bent together, By some more strong in mischiefs than myself: Must I for that be made a common sink For all the filth and rubbish of men's tongues, To fall and run into? some call me witch; And, being ignorant of myself, they go About to teach me how to be one; urging That my bad tongue (by their bad usage made so) Forespeaks their cattle, doth bewitch their corn, Themselves, their servants, and their babes at nurse; This they enforce upon me; and in part Make me to credit it. _Witch of Edmonton._