If you've ever wondered how magicians are able to perform mind-blowing tricks with a deck of cards, then a master class in card magic is just what you need. Card magic has been a popular form of entertainment for centuries, captivating audiences with its ability to manipulate reality and defy logic. A master class in card magic is an opportunity for aspiring magicians to learn from the best in the field. These classes are typically taught by professional magicians who have spent years perfecting their craft. They are designed to teach students the secrets behind some of the most impressive card tricks and illusions, giving them the skills and knowledge they need to perform their own mesmerizing acts. During a master class in card magic, students can expect to learn a wide range of techniques and principles.

A Witch Trial at Mount Holly

Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , October 22, 1730.

This hoax is included here on the authority of John Bach McMaster,3 though no external evidence that Franklin wrote it has been found; all that can be said is that he could have done so. Smyth printed it without questioning ( Writings , ii, 170–2), as have subsequent editors and biographers. Records of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Burlington County, N.J., for 1730, which might indicate how much fact there was in the Gazette account, no longer exist.

Burlington , Oct. 12. Saturday last at Mount-Holly, about 8 Miles from this Place, near 300 People were gathered together to see an Experiment or two tried on some Persons accused of Witchcraft. It seems the Accused had been charged with making their Neighbours Sheep dance in an uncommon Manner, and with causing Hogs to speak, and sing Psalms, &c. to the great Terror and Amazement of the King’s good and peaceable Subjects in this Province; and the Accusers being very positive that if the Accused were weighed in Scales against a Bible, the Bible would prove too heavy for them; or that, if they were bound and put into the River, they would swim; the said Accused desirous to make their Innocence appear, voluntarily offered to undergo the said Trials, if 2 of the most violent of their Accusers would be tried with them. Accordingly the Time and Place was agreed on, and advertised about the Country; The Accusers were 1 Man and 1 Woman; and the Accused the same. The Parties being met, and the People got together, a grand Consultation was held, before they proceeded to Trial; in which it was agreed to use the Scales first; and a Committee of Men were appointed to search the Men, and a Committee of Women to search the Women, to see if they had any Thing of Weight about them, particularly Pins. After the Scrutiny was over, a huge great Bible belonging to the Justice of the Place was provided, and a Lane through the Populace was made from the Justices House to the Scales, which were fixed on a Gallows erected for that Purpose opposite to the House, that the Justice’s Wife and the rest of the Ladies might see the Trial, without coming amongst the Mob; and after the Manner of Moorfields, a large Ring was also made. Then came out of the House a grave tall Man carrying the Holy Writ before the supposed Wizard, &c. (as solemnly as the Sword-bearer of London before the Lord Mayor) the Wizard was first put in the Scale, and over him was read a Chapter out of the Books of Moses, and then the Bible was put in the other Scale, (which being kept down before) was immediately let go; but to the great Surprize of the Spectators, Flesh and Bones came down plump, and outweighed that great good Book by abundance. After the same Manner, the others were served, and their Lumps of Mortality severally were too heavy for Moses and all the Prophets and Apostles. This being over, the Accusers and the rest of the Mob, not satisfied with this Experiment, would have the Trial by Water; accordingly a most solemn Procession was made to the Mill-pond; where both Accused and Accusers being stripp’d (saving only to the Women their Shifts) were bound Hand and Foot, and severally placed in the Water, lengthways, from the Side of a Barge or Flat, having for Security only a Rope about the Middle of each, which was held by some in the Flat. The Accuser Man being thin and spare, with some Difficulty began to sink at last; but the rest every one of them swam very light upon the Water. A Sailor in the Flat jump’d out upon the Back of the Man accused, thinking to drive him down to the Bottom, but the Person bound, without any Help, came up some time before the other. The Woman Accuser, being told that she did not sink, would be duck’d a second Time; when she swam again as light as before. Upon which she declared, That she believed the Accused had bewitched her to make her so light, and that she would be duck’d again a Hundred Times, but she would duck the Devil out of her. The accused Man, being surpriz’d at his own Swimming, was not so confident of his Innocence as before, but said, If I am a Witch, it is more than I know . The more thinking Part of the Spectators were of Opinion, that any Person so bound and plac’d in the Water (unless they were mere Skin and Bones) would swim till their Breath was gone, and their Lungs fill’d with Water. But it being the general Belief of the Populace, that the Womens Shifts, and the Garters with which they were bound help’d to support them; it is said they are to be tried again the next warm Weather, naked.

3 . Benjamin Franklin as a Man of Letters (Boston, 1887), p. 71. The Gentleman’s Magazine , I (1731), 29, printed a brief account of the trial, based on the Gazette publication, which it accepted as fact.

Index Entries

Note: The annotations to this document, and any other modern editorial content, are copyright © the American Philosophical Society and Yale University. All rights reserved.

You Are Looking At

Source Project Franklin Papers Title A Witch Trial at Mount Holly, 22 October 1730 Author Franklin, Benjamin Date 22 October 1730

Reference

Cite as “A Witch Trial at Mount Holly, 22 October 1730,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-01-02-0056. [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 1, January 6, 1706 through December 31, 1734, ed. Leonard W. Labaree. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1959, pp. 182–183.]

The National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) is part of the National Archives. Through its grants program, the NHPRC supports a wide range of activities to preserve, publish, and encourage the use of documentary sources, relating to the history of the United States, and research and development projects to bring historical records to the public.

Founders Online is an official website
of the U.S. government, administered by the
National Archives and Records Administration
through the NHPRC, in partnership with the
University of Virginia Press, which is hosting
this website.

Benjamin Franklin’s Satire of Witch Hunting

Advisor: Robert A. Ferguson, George Edward Woodberry Professor of Law, Literature and Criticism, Columbia University Law School, National Humanities Center Fellow.
Copyright National Humanities Center, 2014

Lesson Contents

• Teacher’s Note
• Background
• Text Analysis & Close Reading Questions
• Student Version PDF

During a master class in card magic, students can expect to learn a wide range of techniques and principles. These can include everything from basic sleight of hand moves like the double lift and the pass, to more advanced techniques like false shuffles and cuts. Students will also learn about misdirection, psychology, and timing – all essential components of a successful card magic performance.

How does Benjamin Franklin’s satire of a witch trial argue that human affairs should be guided, above all, by reason?

The main focus of a master class in card magic is to give students hands-on experience. Instead of just watching someone perform tricks, students will be given the opportunity to practice the moves themselves. They will receive guidance and feedback from the instructor, helping them to improve their technique and build confidence in their abilities. By the end of a master class in card magic, students should have a solid foundation in card magic and be able to perform a variety of impressive tricks. However, it's important to note that mastering card magic takes time and practice. Attending a master class is just the beginning of a magician's journey – they must continue to hone their skills and develop their own unique style. In conclusion, a master class in card magic is an excellent opportunity for aspiring magicians to learn the secrets of the trade from professionals. These classes provide a comprehensive education in card magic techniques and principles, allowing students to develop the skills and confidence they need to perform mind-boggling tricks. With dedication and practice, students can take their card magic to new heights and create their own unforgettable performances..

Reviews for "Mastering False Shuffles and Cuts: Essential Techniques for Card Magicians"

- Samantha - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Master class in card magic". I was expecting to learn some advanced card tricks, but instead, it was just a bunch of basic tricks that I already knew. The explanations were confusing and hard to follow, and the production quality of the DVD was also quite poor. Overall, I didn't find this master class helpful or informative at all.

- John - 1 star - I found "Master class in card magic" to be a complete waste of time and money. The tricks taught were extremely basic and could easily be found for free on YouTube tutorials. The instructor lacked charisma and didn't engage the viewers. I regretted purchasing this DVD and would not recommend it to anyone looking to learn advanced card magic.

- Emily - 2 stars - As someone who has been practicing card magic for years, I didn't find "Master class in card magic" to be anything special. The tricks taught were ones I had already seen and learned elsewhere, and there were no groundbreaking techniques or concepts presented. Furthermore, the production quality of the DVD was poor, with low-resolution video and muffled audio. I was disappointed and expected more from this master class.

Perfecting Your Card Control: A Master Class in Sleight of Hand