Moll Pitcher, the queen of the race.--Her place of abode.--Company that visited her.--Member of a church sent to consult her.--Casting out evil spirits in Syria.--Account of Lady Hester Stanhope.--The astrologer of Hopkinton, Massachusetts.--Chief characteristic of fortune seekers.--Effects produced upon them. 58 CHAPTER IX. FAIRIES, OR WANDERING SPIRITS, AND GYPSIES. Description of fairies, habits, localities, &c.--Subterranean spirits in Wales, called _Knockers_.--The _Brownies_ in Scotland.--A farmer in Ireland who was tormented by fairies.--Method taken to appease their anger.--Spenser's poem of the Fairy Queen.--Gypsies and their employments.--Casting the evil eye.--Safeguard against it.--Charm of the Bible and key.--Superstition called the _elf-shot_.--Practice of poisoning animals, and the cure.--Superstitions concerning the loadstone.--Translation of St. Luke into the Gypsy tongue.-- Singular notions of the Gypsies concerning it.--Condemned by the royal edict at Madrid.--The Gypsy choirs at Moscow.--Anecdote of Madame Catalini. 61 CHAPTER X. OMENS, CHARMS, AND DIVINATION. Books published upon these things.--Their injurious tendency.--A sample of their contents.--Practice of boxers.--Whistling in a storm at sea.--Setting hens on an _odd_ number of eggs.--Salutes of an _odd_ number of guns.--Omen concerning the number _thirteen_. --Methods of ascertaining who will be a future husband.--Crossing of knives.--Click of insects.--Advent of comets. 76 CHAPTER XI. MODERN MIRACLES. They partake of superstition.--Instructions of the Savior concerning them.--Object of Scripture miracles.--Modern miracles not satisfactory. --Judge Howe's opinion concerning Christianity.--Times of miracles ceased. 79 CHAPTER XII. FALSE PROPHETS AND CHRISTS. History of the prophet Matthias.--His career in Albany and New York. --His deceptions upon conspicuous individuals.--His arrest for alleged crimes.--Account of John of Leyden.--Sketch of Cochrane, and his impositions. 81 CHAPTER XIII. MORMON SUPERSTITION. Account of the golden plates found by Joseph Smith.--Their translation and publication in a volume.--Peculiar style of the writings.--Attempt at imitation.--Mormon preachers speaking with new tongues.--Increase of the doctrine, and why.--Mormon cities not to be identified.--Strong indications of fabrication.-- Fluency and earnestness of their preachers.--Traits of the Cochranites.--Effects produced upon their hearers.--An account of the _real_ origin of the Mormon Bible, and its author.--Of Joseph Smith, Jr., the Mormon prophet.--His early characteristics. --Exposure of the indecent ceremonies at Nauvoo; as established by Smith and others. 96 CHAPTER XIV. MILLER DELUSION.