Kirby's wonderful and eccentric museum; or, Magazine of remarkable characters. Including all the curiosities of nature and art, from the remotest period to the present time, drawn from every authentic source. Illustrated with one hundred and twenty-four engravings. Chiefly taken from rare and curious prints or original drawings

THE LIBRARY

OF

THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES

KIRBY'S
WONDERFUL

INCLUDING ALL THE

CURIOSITIES OF NATURE AND ART,

FROM THE REMOTEST PERIOD TO THE PRESENT TIME,
Drawn from every authentic Source.

ILLUSTRATED WITH

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOUR ENGRAVINGS.

CHIEFLY TAKEN FROM RARE AND CURIOUS PRINTS
OR ORIGINAL DRAWINGS.

SIX VOLUMES.

VOL. VI.

LONDON:

R. S. KIRBY, LONDON HOUSE YARD, ST. PAUL'S.
1820.

GEOE.GE

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hifili.fhf*! /•// ft.- f.h'iffi'i. i'ntfmf.ftrrHDW.Juiir 14.181$.

KIRBY'S

:'i f>:>: • ; .'.'.•(.-,

WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

'.' • »•,<! ^'.iv.T '
SOME ACCOUNT OF

GEORGE BIDDER,

THE DEVONSHIRE CALCULATING PHENOMENON

WITH A PORTRAIT, TAKEN FROM THE LIFE.

rr»

1 HIS wonderful boy, Mho in early age has already outstrip-

ped all former calculators that appear on record, as the
famous Jedediah Buxton, the apprentice boy at Bridport,
the Negro calculator at Philadelphia, and Zerah Colborne,
the American boy, lately exhibited in this kingdom (see
vol. iv. of our Museum,) was born at Morton Hemp-
stead, abuut twclv*? milco fium ihe city of Exeter, in the
county of Devon, on the 14th of June, 1806. His father,
William Bidder, by trade a stone-mason, was principally
occupied in building those stone fences with which that part
of the county abounds ; his family being large, consisting of
nine children — six boys, and three girls — the elder of the
boys were employed in assisting the father in his handicraft
trade, while the girls, when at proper age, were placed out
at service with the neighbouring farmers. George (our hero,)
the youngest but three of the family, when about the age of
four years, was placed at the village school, kept by an old
wool-comber, at three-halfpence per week, for the purpose
of being initiated in the art of reading, but more particularly
to keep him from mischief, and allow his mother more time
to follow her domestic concerns at home. And it has been
well ascertained, that no calculations were ever made in his
hearing, or had ever come to his knowledge, at the time when
VOL. vi. B

t KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

the first display of his intellectual powers, which was entirely
accidental, made its first effort. Standing at the forge of the
village blacksmith, with seeming unconcern, whilst the pro-
prietor and a butcher were in dispute respecting the value of
a hog, which the smith had sold to the butcher ; the weight
having been previously ascertained, and price fixed per pound
or stone, neither could convince the other of the actual value
of the hog, each reckoning it his own way ; of course, the
weight and price was frequently referred to by the disputants ;
the boy, during a pause in their dispute, suddenly exclaimed,

" The price of the pig is ," mentioning the actual

value to a farthing. The parties were struck with surprise,
as the sum mentioned by the boy was different from either of
their own calculations, and they pettishly asked him how he
came to know ? his answer was that of a child — that he did
know ; and insisted, with great vehemence, that he was right,
and they were wrong. The parties not willing, however, to
trust to the judgment of young George, finally referred the
dispute to a person in the village, more conversant in figures,
when the calculated sum, as given by the boy, was found to
be exact to a fraction. This wonderful effort, in one so
young, soon became known throughout the village district ;
and many a question was proposed by the more learned in.
the science of figures, and as readily answered by the un-
tutored boy. One of these early questions was reckoning
the nails in a horse's four shoes, and by degrees doubling
them from a farthing thirty-two times.

His ready and correct replies to the many questions now
put to him, induced his father to leave his handicraft employ-
ment, and make a tour with the boy to the principal cities
and towns in the kingdom, as Bristol, Liverpool, Birming-
ham, Bath, Cambridge, London, &c. 8tc. At each of these
places he gave universal satisfaction by the quickness and
correctness of his answers to the questions proposed, not
Only by gentlemen well skilled in mathematical acquirements,
but others who endeavoured to frame questions of the most

GEORGE BIDDER. £

abstruse, difficult, and complex form ; but to the capacious
miud of young Bidder, these appeared of no effect; the
most difficult he met and solved apparently with as much
ease as those of a more simple combination; discovering
not only the faculty of memory and powers of calculation
in a most surprising and almost supernatural degree, but also
a quickness of conception and a power of abstract reason-
ing rarely to be met with, if ever it has been surpassed by
persons regularly educated in the habits of scientific investi-
gation. In London he has appeared before the Dukes of
York, Kent, and Sussex, the Master-General of the Ord-
nance, Sir Joseph Banks, Lord Stanhope, and most of the
principal nobility and gentry in the kingdom. Her Majesty
having heard of his wonderful powers, signified her com-
mands, and he appeared before her and three of the Prin-
cesses at Windsor, where he answered the questions pro-
posed to him by the Bishop of Salisbury, without the least
agitation or hesitation, so quickly and correctly, as highly to
please and delight her Majesty, who made him a handsome
present . at thia time, it appears by his card, he was of the
age of eight years and ten months. Lord Stanhope, who
much noticed him, advised his friends to get him in-
structed in writing, but not at present to study the science of-
arithmetic by numerical figures (neither could he at this
time make one single figure,) his Lordship fearing it might
in some measure interfere with that intuitive faculty that he
at present possesses ; and certainly the knowledge of figures
cduld not make him more ready than he now is. At the age
of nine years he was examined before the Philosophical
Society by the late Dr. Lettsom, where he gave universal
satisfaction. At Cambridge, he was minutely examined at
St. John's College, and acquitted himself so much to the
satisfaction of all the gentlemen there assembled, that they
took upon themselves to place him in a school near town
until he was fit for college. Here he made such progress in
the Latin language, that he far outstripped his competitors,

B 2

4 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

without in the least impairing his wonderful powers of cal-
culation. For some private reasons, his parent has thought
proper to withdraw him for the present from this seminary*;
and he still continues to exhibit his astonishing and truly
wonderful talent in this metropolis.

We shall now select for our readers a few of the most
wonderful questions solved by this Devonshire phenomenon,
for the truth of which no doubt can for a moment be en-
tertained.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY MASTER GEORGE BIDDER.

If a newspaper consists of four pages, each page six
columns, each column 191 lines, each line forty-five letters — •
how many letters are there in the whole newspaper f Ans.
£06,280 letters.

In what space of time can a workman compose the whole
of the above newspaper, at the rate of thirty-three letters in
a minute and a quarter? Answer, 5 days, 10 hours, 13 mi-
nutes, 30 seconds.

Suppose a gentleman dying leaves an estate of twelve
houses to nine of his ciiikh~u, cavii houoo valued at 79Ol.
what is each child's share in farthings ? Answer, 934,400
farthings each.

If the ministers have taken of the income tax twelve mil-
lions of money in one pound notes, how many miles'would
they cover a road thirty feet wide, each note being eight
inches by four and a half? He directly answered, 18 miles,
1653 yards, and 1 foot.

Suppose the earth to consist of 97 1 ,000,000 of inhabitants,
and suppose they die in thirty-three years and four months,
how many have returned to dust since the time of Adam,
computing it to be 5,850 years ? Answer, 170,410,500,000.
Multiply it again by 99. Answer, 16,870,639,500,000.

In 6,424 yearsy 365 days 6 hours to a year, how many
minutes ? Answer, S,378,767,O4O.

If 143 letters arrive by the mail daily for 365 days, what,
will they amount to at 7£d. a letter? Aas. 16S5/. 9*. id.

GEORGE BIDDER. £

Suppose a circular reservoir to contain 10,669 hogsheads,
at six feet in depth, what will it contain if made 10$ inches
deeper, and in what time would the whole be full from a
spring producing one hogshead per minute ? Answer : it
•would contain 12,193 hogsheads, and would be full in 8 days,
11 hours, and 13 minutes.

If a coach travels from Exeter to Plymouth, forty-four
miles, every day in a year, how often does a wheel turn round
^hat is two feet nine inches ? Answer, 30,835,200.

If a mouse can draw one ounce and a half, how many
mice can draw 50,000 tons? Answer, 1,194,666,666, and
one ounce over.

If two snails set out together from Dudley to Biraaiag-
ham, one goes through West Bromwich, making the distance
ten miles, at the rate of eight feet in a day, the other through
Oldbury, making the distance eight miles and a half, at the
rate of six feet six inches in a day, how long will one arrive
at its journey's end before the other ? Answer : the one
which goes thro UJlll West RrnmM:i«»l» will airive 3O4 days and
4 feet before the other.

If sound flies at the rate of 1,142 feet in a second, and I
see a flash of lightning, and count eighteen seconds before I
hear the thunder, how far is the thunder-cloud off? Ans.
3| miles, 11 76 feet.

If 64,032 people were sacrificed in four days at the dedi-
cation of an idolatrous temple at Mexico> how many were
murdered every hour ? Ans. 667-

What is the cube of 642? Ans. 264,609,288. Multi-
ply it again by 642 ? Ans. 169,879,162,896.

If there were 48,768 leaves on a tree, and three fall off
every hour for 12 hours, and increase one every 12 hours
afterwards, how long would they be falling off? Answer,
46 days.

If a fan of a windmill goes round fifteen times in a mi-
nute, how many times will it go round in. seven years, four
months, one week, two hours, three minutes — 365 days <5

6 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

hours to the year, and 28 days to the month. Answer,
57,897,245.

He numerated the following figures, after being distinctly
read to him, and an hour after was asked to repeat the same,
which he did correctly :— 2,563,721,987,633,461,598,746,
231,905,607,541,128,975,231.

What number taken from the square of 56 will leave 13
times 42 ? Ans. 2590.

Suppose 152,399,025 soldiers were ordered to form %
solid square, how must they be in rank and file ? Answer,
12,345.

Multiply 54,912 by 63,214? Ans. 3,471,207,168.

What is the cube root of 673,373,097,125. Answer,
8765.

What is the cube root of 13,549,359,104 ? Ans. 2384.

Multiply 974,260 by 287,548 ? Ans. 280, 146,5 14,480.

Multiply 684,525 by the same ? Ans. 468,574,475,625.

What will 7904 yards of cloth, at I3$d. per yard, cost?
Ans. 452/. 10*. od.

How many S7s are there in 68,431 times 45,297 ? Ans.
114,804,407, and 18 over.

If there is 9,999 grains of corn in one half pint, how many
grains in 99 sacks ? Ans. 506,829,3 12.

In 987,32 1,987/. how many times 2*. 8d. ? Answer,
7,404,414,902, and 2s. 4d. over.

If a gill contain 553 grains of corn, how many are there
in 999 quarters ? Ans. 1,131,411,456.

How fur would five hundred million guineas reach placed
in a straight line, each guinea one inch in diameter ? Ans.
7,891 miles, 728 yards, 2 feet, 8 inches.

What two numbers are those whose product is 35 and the
difference of cubes 218 ? Ans. 5 and 7.

If ihe distance from Cheltenham to London be ninety-
seven miles and seven furlongs, and a man steps eight inches
and a half, how many steps would he take to London ? Ans.
729,571.

GEORGE BIDDF.lt. 7

If the distance from Gloucester to London be 95f miles,
and I travel in a carriage, the fore-wheels of which are 4f
feet in diameter each, and the hind-wheels o|, how many times
will the fore-wheels make more than the hind-wheels ? Ans.
8120 times.

If 37 horses cost 1 137/. 12s. Sid. what will one horse cost
at that rate ? Ans. SO/. 14s. 1 1 \d. and ^.

Answered within one minute each at the Assembly Rooms,
Cheltenham, 1817.

True Copy of a Paper written and signed by R. Gwatkin,
M.A. Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge.

Multiply 900,900,900 by the same ? Ans. 811,622,431,
620,8 10,000.

What is the cube root, of 1,178,420,165,015,625 ? Ans.

His memory appears from the following facts: — He was
asked to add three numbers consisting each of eleven figures,
which he did correctly ; and about half o*» hour after, being
requested, he repeated the question and answer with the ut-
most readiness.

In three combs of wheat how many grains, supposing
1761 grains in a pint, 3 pints in a quart, 5 quarts in a gallon,
7 gallons in a peck, 11 pecks in a bushel, and -4 bushels in a
comb ? He answered this question : and three days after,
he was asked to repeat the question and answer, which he
did correctly, and without hesitation.

His powers of abstract reasoning will appear in his an-
swering the following questions.

A vintner sold seven dozen of sherry and twelve of claret
for 50/. ; he sold three dozen more of sherry for 10/. than of
claret for 6/. ; what was the price of each dozen ? Answer,
sherry 3/. claret 2/.

Forty- one persons, men, women, and children, spent
among them 40$. of which each man paid 4s. each woman

g KIRB\'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

paid 3s. and each child 4d. the number of each is required ?
Ans. 5 men, 3 women, and 33 children.

Find three square numbers in arithmetical progression ?

The following questions were proposed by me, SamUel
Cooper, 11, Dartmouth-street, Westminster, and answered
mentally by Master George Bidder, a youth only eleven
years of age, April 22, 1818.

What number must be added to 2, 152, and 1202, to mak«
them three proportionals ? Ans. 23.

If I have 965^. a part of which I vested in the 3 per cents,
and the other in the 4 per cents, at the end of thirteen, years
the amount will be 1460/. 6s. allowing simple interest, what
was the sum laid out in each fund? Ans. 915/. i» the fours,
and 50/, in the threes.

What two numbers are those, that twice the first, with
three times the second, will make 83, and twice the square
of the first, with three times the square of the second, will
make 14Q1 ? Ana. 13 and 19.

There are seven numbers in geometrical progression, the
first is 6, and the seventh 705,894 ; what are all the inter-
mediate terms ? Ans. 7 the ratio, and the intermediate terms
are 42, 294, 2058, 14,406, and 100,842.

If the circumference of the earth is 25,020 miles, and that
of the moon 6736 miles, and the national debt 900,000,000
of money in halfpence, each to measure one inch in diameter,
how many times will they encircle the earth and moon?
Ans. 2 14 times and a fraction.

In a box which I lost was a number of guineas and crown-
pieces, but the only recollection I have of their number is,
that the crown-pieces were seven times the number of gui-
neas, and that the shillings of the whole were 1624; how
many guineas and crowns did I lose ? Ans. 29 guineas, and
203 crowns.

What number is that when divided by 3, 4, and 8, the sum

GEORGE JUDDF.K. Q

of the quotients, when squared, will be 48,841 ? Answer,
312.

I .>},.. i' ..... iXtl'-i1'

A question resolved by George Bidder, at the Old Thatched
House, Red Lion Street, in forty seconds, February 9,
1819.

, Suppose the ball at the top of St. Paul's Cathedral is six
feet in diameter, what did the gilding of it cost at 3|rf. per
square inch ?

Answer, 237/. 10*. Id.

A question proposed by Mr. Straton, schoolmaster, Rip-
ley, Surrey, and answered by George Bidder, in 32 minutes,
Oct. 17, 1818:—

A. and B. made the following bet for 1000 guineas, to be
decided on Ripley Common, in Whitsun week. The pro-
poser has ten choice cricketers in full exercise, who, on this
occasion, are to be distinguished by the ten first letters in the
alphabet. These are to run and gather up, and carry singly
1000 eggs, laid in a righUine^juslJoKo-y**^ ««"«»<Jcr, putting
them gently in a basket, placed just a fathom behind the first.
They are to work, one at a time, in the following order : — A
is to fetch up the first 10 eggs, B the second 10, C the third
10, and so on, to K, whose turn it shall be to fetch up the
hundredth egg ; after which, A sets out again for the next
10, B the second 10, and so alternately, till K shall have
carried up the thousandth egg, at 100 eggs the man. The
men are to have 300/. for their three days' work, if they do
it ; and it is to be distributed in proportion to the ground
each man shall in his course of ground have gone over.

I require, first, how many miles each person shall have
gone over ; secondly, what part of the 300/. will come to
his share; thirdly, whether, if the men had been posted at
proper places, they had not better run from London to
York twice, and back, in the time, taking the distance at
180 miles?

10

KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM,

Answer : —

Shares.

Fractions

Yards.

Miles. Fur. Yds.

A— 27J. 65. O^d.

509

182,100

103 4 40

B— 27 18 Of

14

186,200

105 6 80

C— 28 10 OJ

439

190,200

108 0 120

D— 29 2 0

864

1 194,200

110 2 160

E— 29 14 0

288

198,200

112 4 200

F— 30 5 Hi

713

202,200

114 7 20

G— 30 17 Hf

137

206,200

117 1 60

H— 31 9 llf

562

210,200

1 19 3 100

1—32 1 11|

987

214,200

121 5 140

K— 32 13 11£

411

218,200

123 7 180

£300 0 0

1,137 4

Question proposed to Zerah Col borne, the American cal-
culating boy, November 4, 1818, at the Yorkshire Stingo,
Paddington New Road, before a respectable company of gen-
tlemen : — If the globe is 24,912 miles in circumference, and
a balloon travels 0,070 foot in a minute, how long would it
be travelling round the world ? Colborne continued nine
minutes in study, and gave it up, saying he could not do it.
It was then proposed to George Bidder, who 'answered it in
two minutes : 23 days, 13 hours, 18 minutes.

If eight cows and three calves cost 136/. 105. and two
cows and thirty calves cost the same money, what is the price
of a cow and calf? This Colborne also refused to try.
George Bidder answered the same in half a minute : 15/. 155.
the cow, and 3/. 10s the calf.

The following questions were answered by Master George
Bidder, in one minute and twenty seconds each :

Suppose a city to be illuminated with 9;999 lamps, each
lamp to consume one pint of oil every four hours in succes-
sion, how many gallons would they consume in forty years ?
Ans. 109,489,050 gallons.

GEORGE BIDDER. 11

Suppose Saturn to be 777,000,001 miles from the earth,
how many men, at live feet six inches, one upon another,
will reach that star ? Ans. 745,920,000,000.

If the diameter of the earth is 7,91 1 miles through, how
long would a man be digging through it, at the rate of twelve
feet a day? Ans. 9,536 years, 28 weeks, 4 days.

In a rookery containing 769 nests, built by 1538 rooks,
each nest having 549 sticks, each rook bringing eleven sticks
a day, how long would they be building ? Ans. 24 days, 22
hours, 54 minutes.

If the moon be distant from the earth 123,256 miles, and
sound to travel at the rate of four miles in a minute, how
long before the inhabitants of the moon could hear of the
battle of Waterloo? Ans. 21 days, 9 hours, 34 minutes.

If a flea spring two feet three inches in every hop, how
many hops must it take to go round the world, the circum-
ference is 25,020 miles, and how long would it be in per-
forming the journey, allowing it to take sixty hops every
minute, without intermission? Ana- 59,710,000 hops, and
1 year, 314 days, 13 hours, 20 minutes.

Suppose 70,000 soldiers to be allowed three quarters of a
pound of beef per day, how many pounds will they consume
in a year? Ans. 19,162,500.

In 999,998,354 farthings, how many pounds ? Answer,
1,041,664/. 19*. O^d.

Add together the following sums, viz.

343,554,620,740/. 6s.

450,230,630,220 5 1

120,340,220,150 3 1J

Ans. 914,125,471,110 14 91

A .question resolved by George Bidder in three minutes,
proposed by Mr. Robert Eden, 1, Windsor-court, Strand,
Feb. 17, 1819.

If I have ten millions of pounds in my hands, the greater

12 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

part of which I want to divide between 51 persons, in the
following manner :

1,946,579/. 18s. b{d. between 15 persons,

2,597,428 17 8£ 17 persons,

5,455,991 3 5$ 19 persons,

in equal shares, how much will each 15 persons' share be,

and the 17 persons', and the 19 persons'; and how much wiil

all the fifty-one men share, and what shall I have remaining :

Answered: Each 15— 129,77 1/. 19s. lOicf.

17—152,789 18 8J

19—287,157 8 7|

1, 946,579 J. 185.

S,597,428 17
5,455,991 3

9,999,999 19 7* In hand 4{c/.

An Account of the Tornado or Hurricane, from the sea-side
at Bexhilf, in Sussex, tv ZJc&ingcta*) Level, on the 2O/A
of May, 1729, between nine and ten in the evening ; with
an account of the damage and devastation of buildings,
timber, tyc. that stood in the way of its course. The
whole lime of its duration was twenty minutes, and the
extent of its line was twehe miles, and about seventy roods
in width. The particulars of this extraordinary pherw-
menon are copied from a Pamphlet written by Richard
Bugden, and published by John Senex,atthe Globe, over
against St. Dunslan's Church in Fleet-street, 1730, ac-
companied with a very curious plate of the passage of
this Tornado or Hurricane.

THE first considerable damage was received by Thomas
Hollands, at the lower side of Bcxhill Down, about a mile
from the sea-side. The east end of the roof of his house
was taken off, with the chimney, almost down to the cham-
ber floor ; and the other end of the house was blown down,
and the timber carried three or four hundred yards upon the

TORNADO. U

common ; and a hovel of forty feet long taken off from the
posts, was set upon the ground, with scarce any of the thatch
broke or disordered.

About a furlong to the south-west from Thomas Holland's,
John Nash had some slight damage in the covering of his
house and out-buildings; a hay-stack near the house was
thrown down to the westward ; and a timber tree carried to
the eastward, over a hedge, just by the hay-stack, above
thirty roods.

Woodgate, belonging to Henry Goldsmith, was left upon
the western verge of the hurricane', so that it only slightly,
touched the thatch of some of the out-buildings. ID a val-
ley, upon the same farm, some oaks, &c. were blown down,
shattered, and very much damaged. A birch, whose boughs
were brushed off before, was pretty much singed on the
north-west side.

John Philcock's house, at Sidney Green (between two
ways) was next in its passage, which it nearly uncovered,
and drove by the violence of the shock, to the north (from
an out-building, joined up to the house, on the south side) two
inches. A large barn, within a few yards of the western sid«
of the house, was thrown down to the westward. A cheese-
bail and voler (a cheesebail is a hoop that encompasses and
gives form to the cheese in the press, and the voler is a round
piece of inch board, fitted into the bail, that communicates
the force of the press upon the cheese,) were taken from a
shelf in a chamber, and a duck's wing that lay upon the same
shelf was left : the voler was found some days after, about a
furlong from the house, over a rough high hedge and woody
pit, but the cheesebail was never heard of after.

Across the way, and about twenty roods more to the east-
ward, William Gybson had two rafters taken from the south-
west corner of his house.

Engrim Wood, belonging to George Naylor, Esq. lies
about two furlongs to the north of Sidney Green, in which
the width of the hurricane was considerably increased; for,

14 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

from the sea-side to Sidney Green, it scarcely any where-
exceeds thirty roods, but here it is about sixty in width, and
seventy roods across the wood, in the way of the hurricane,
wherein about one hundred and fitly oaks were torn up by
the roots, broken down, and shook to pieces, or very much
damaged. (The reason of the trees failing in all directions
will readily be understood by a view of the spiral line of the
plan.) The Coal Wood, belonging to the said Mr. Naylor,
was next in its way, but being almost ready to fall, it is very
difficult to give any tolerable estimate of the damage in the
underwood or timber ; but the storm passing over the wood,
nearly a hundred roods in length, it cannot be supposed very
inconsiderable. Adjoining this wood, on the north, one side,
of a hovel, in a fatting pound, was taken off, and the other
left standing.

In the Heniker Wood, but one field further, in the space of
about twenty-five roods wide, and the same space in length,
in the way of the hurricane, about fifty oaks were torn up
by the roots, broken down, and shattered in pieces.

The farm house, iSuckhuU, -woo tKo next considerable ob-
stacle in the way, where a stack of chimneys, on the west
side of the house, was turned down upon the house, with a
direction to the east, and took off most part of the ridg-
ing of the house. A large barn, on the east side of the
house, was blown down, and some of the timber and tiles
carried over a standing wood, above a quarter of a mile. A
hovel, malt-house, and another barn, were very much da-
maged in the covering. A hog-pound and sty, covered with
a roof, and thutched, in a very unaccountable manner, had all
the middle part taken away, from top to bottom, and only
the two gable-heads remained standing, with the thatch
entire. lu another wood, about a furlong over, near the
house, it demolished a considerable number of timber-trees
in the same manner as before, where it left Mr. Naylor's
estate ; and after brushing the boughs from most of the oaks
in the hedges, in passing over about a hundred roods of plain

TORNADO. 15

land belonging to Mr. Ralph Norton, it took off one stack
of chimneys, and the upper floor of one end of the house,
and untiled nearly all the rest ; a large barn, a coach-house
of stone walls two feet thick; a large (but \vhich appeared
to have been a crazy) old building of offices belonging to the
house, and all the trees in a pretty large orchard, except two
or three, were blown down.

Descending about a furlong below Mr. Norton's house,
it swept down the timber in a small coppice, passed over a
rivulet, and drove up a gill (a gill is a small rivulet with a
sharp ascent on both sides) into the Forwood, a large quan-
tity of woodlands, near a mile over, in its way, belonging to
Thomas Pelham, Esq. of Lewes ; but the underwoods being
advanced to such a considerable height, and so large a quan-
tity lying in the way of its course, I dare not venture to give
an estimate of the number of timber trees that now bear the
badge and marks of its fury. Adjoining the Forwood, on
the north side, it ran through some woodlands belonging to
Forsterof Telham, but left his house upon the western verge

of its coureo.

After shattering a gill of fine young timber near Loose,
it turned down a chimney at the west end of the house,
which belongs to Sir Thomas Webster, Bart, and pretty
much damaged the tiling, blowed down a barn near the
house, and a malt-house ; besides most of the apple-trees
were taken out of the ground and scattered about the
orchard ; two were carried together in one hedge, and a
pretty large one carried over one hedge, and into the next.
In a closet on the west side of the house, lay some butcher's
wooden skewers, that were carried from the closet across a
large parlour, and stuck fast in a piece of oak timber in the
parlour wall. In the same closet, a pot was placed in a
pair of scales that hung against a wall on the other side of the
room, in the same position as it stood before. Here, and
likewise at most of the other houses that had the misfortune
to lie in the way of the tempest, they had all the doors and

1(5 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

/
windows thrown open in a moment; and the very instant,

particularly here, the brew-house door opened into the
kitchen with a discharge of fire and ashes from the kiln, which
were soon joined by the tire and ashes in the kitchen ; these,
together with the dirt, dust, stones, boughs, and leaves, from
without, formed and dispersed a horrid mixture all over the
house in a moment. About two furlongs from Loose, it
crossed the road from Battel to Hastings, unpoled a hop-
garden across the way, and took off the hop-garden gate, and
carried it away ; the head was found at one place, and the
slits at another, above a quarter of a mile from the place
where taken off. To this hop-garden joins the Bothurst
Woods, very full of timber, likewise belonging to Sir Thomas
Webster, where it tore up by the roots, twisted asunder, and
broke down most of the timber by the course of a gill in its
way, for about a hundred roods wide, and demolished a very
strong barn at Marlly, near the western verge of its course,
as appears by the farm-house, &c. standing entire, not above
fifty yards more to the westward. After it had slaughtered
down the timDer hi tho JBotkurol- Wnr»rls, nearly a mile in

length, and at some places half a mile in breadth ; it forced
a glade through the Petly Woods, likewise very thick set
with timber, which was either torn up by the roots, twisted
and shook in pieces, or the tops cropt off and demolished.
The whole quantity of timber trees blown up by the roots
and broke down, upon Sir Thomas Webster's Battel estate,
is computed at least to thirteen or fourteen hundred trees.
From these woods it crossed the brooks, and no more wood-
land nor buildings lying in the way till it reaches Sedlescomb-
street, what appears is only the hedges disordered, and drove
out of their places, stems turned up by their roots, and the
earth of some sowed lands drove into the hedges with such
violence and quantities, as entirely to cover1 the wood and
leaves of the hedges. Richard Elliot, ou the south side of
Sedlescomb-street, had two barns blown down ; one of them
was just raised new, and only thatched : hifi house wa«

.S

TORNADO. 17

somewhat damaged in the tiling ; lower down the street the
thatch was a little touched at some places, but the damage
was inconsiderable.

The next house to the westward belonged to John Reed,
who had the coiner of an out-house blown down, and his
house pretty much uncovered.

William Wallis's house stood in a piece of ground, inclosed
by the highway ; the occasion of his house's falling seems
partly owing to a large apple-tree brought out of a neigh-
bour's orchard, over three hedges, with the roots and earth
about it, which fell upon his house : he had the misfortune
to have his thigh broke in the fall. Over against Wallis's
house, Mrs. Tomlin had a house and barn blown down.

Over against the church, Samuel Plummer, gentleman, had
the roof of a large out-building taken off, some rafters out
of his barn, and his house pretty much damaged in the
tiling. fa ,

The parsonage-house had the ridge and corners uncovered,
and a barn by the way-side blown down. The house by
Castleman's oak. belonging tn Mrs. Tomlin aforesaid, had a
st,ack of chimneys turned down upon the house, which, in
their fall, broke two or three rafters. ^ oj

From Sedlescomb-street it bore up a small valley, between
two woods (pretty much damaging the timber of the said
Mrs. Tomlin, on the western side of its passage, and some
woodlm.ds belonging to William Bishop, Esq. on the east,)
to Grest Saunders, the seat of the said Mr. Bishop, where,
out of five, it beat down three stacks of chimneys ; a barn
and lodge by the house, and a malt-house, were very much
shook and damaged in the covering ; and above two hundred
yards in length of brick wall, of which, some was little
more than three feet high, and appeared by the situation,
as well as height, to have been secure from the utmost vio-
lence of the wind.

Mrs. Tomiin had another house and barn blown dow;n,
about two furlongs east-by-south of Great Saunders; the

VOL. VJ. C

18 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

woman, her tenant, with the fright, and some hurt received
by the fall of the house, was taken dangerously ill.

About three furlongs from Great Saunders, in a gill, it
passed through more woodlands of the said Mr. Bishop's,
which was very full of fine timber, where it raged with great
violence, sparing scarcely any thing in its way ; and about a
furlong down the gill, at Horsford, belonging to Henry
Bishop, Esq. demolished one barn and lodge, and took off
the corner of another barn, from thence ascending through
Woodlands of the said Mr. Henry Bishop, where it not only
tore the trees up by the roots, but took the earth that was
rent up in prodigious flitches, with such violence, that it
covered the bodies, boughs, and leaves of the trees. And in
the next field, it blew up a barn, and scattered the timber to
the north and west, at three or fourscore roods distance.
The next building in its way belonged to Thomas Holman,
who had the roofs of his house and barn taken off, and the
chimney down to the middle. A man in bed slept out the
storm, and knew not the conveniency he had for star-gazing,
till awakened by the rest of tko family.

From thence it passed through some woodlands belonging
to Sir Thomas Webster ; but there being but little timber in
its way, the damage was not very considerable.

About a mile from Staple Cross, in the road to Northyham,
Mr. John Collier had a barn blown down, and the ridging of the
house unheeled. The next house towards Staple Cross, be-
longing to William Reed, was pretty much damaged in the
tiling. At Collier's Green, a house belonging to Mr.
Richard Boys, had the chimney taken off in the middle, all
the windows broke, and some of the rafters, and the house
uncovered. Near the house, a barn was blown down, in
which stood a waggon, that was turned bottom upwards ;
and two dung-carts were carried away in the storm, of which
they could find only some broken pieces about the fields.
His tenant, just as the windows were drove in by a violent
impulse, was pushed against his wife, and beat her down in

TORNADO* 19

the chamber ; a child that sat in a chair at the foot of the
bed, was carried in his chair and set in the fire-place ; and
the gravel stones from the highway, and glass from the win>
dows, were brought in with such violence, as to slick in the
chairs, &c. like shot discharged from a fowling-piece.

About ten roods further, Mr. Magick's house had two
chimneys blown off, and a barn beat down. Twenty roods
back to the north, Margaret Russell had a house slightly
damaged in the tiling. To the west of hers, fifteen roods,
Mr. Magick had another house, which lost some of its co-
vering.

From Collier's Green, it hurried through woodlands be-
longing to the Earl of Thanet, and John Lade, Esq. turned
up a barn, and carried a very strong chimney clean over aft
outlet that joined up to the west side of Castleden farm-
house, belonging to Mr. John Blackman ; and spoiled a great
quantity of good timber in the hedge-rows of his farm.
From thence, it broke furiously into more woodlands of Mr.
Lade, belonging to his Sempstead farm, where he had a barn
and lodge rent down, the windows of the house shattered in
pieces, and the covering of the house very much ruffled and
disordered. Mr. Lade had about four hundred trees
damaged ; of which, account was taken of one hundred and
thirty-six that were torn up by the roots, and shattered to
pieces. About half a mile further, at the entrance of New-
ingden Level, the violence of the hurricane began to abate,
insomuch that at the ascent of the uplands, on the north side
of the Level, there was scarce any appearance of its way,
till about three miles further, at Rolveuden church, it slightly
touched some thatched buildings.

About two miles further, in the east part of Benenden
parish, it had pretty well recovered its former violence, driv-
ing down most of the barns, timber-trees, &c. in the way of
its course, and continued through the parish of Bidendeo,
and some parts of Smarden, where, entering a large vale (at
crossing th* eastern branch of the Medway,) under the ridge

c 2

20 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

of Kentish hills, the force visibly abated ; and if the matter
was not exhausted, yet it was so far diminished or chilled, as
to leave no appearance of its passage through the other part
of Kent.

A LIONESS

SEIZING ONE OF THE EXETER MAIL COACH HORSES.

THE Exeter mail coach, on its way to London, was attack-

ed on Sunday night, Oct. 20, 1816, at Winterslow Hut, seven

miles on this side of Salisbury, in a most extraordinary manner.

At the moment when the coachman pulled up to deliver his

bags, one of the leaders was suddenly seized by a ferocious

animal. This produced great confusion and alarm : two

passengers who were inside the mail got out, ran into the

house, and locked themselves up in a room above stairs ; the

horses kicked and plunged violently, and it was with diffi-

culty the coachman could prevent the carriage from being

overturned. It was soon perceived by the coachman and

guard, by the light of the lamps, that the animal which had

seized the horse was a huge lioness. A large mastiff dog

came up, and attacked her fiercely, on which she quitted the

horse, and turned upon him. The dog fled, but was pur-

sued and wounded by the lioness within about forty yards of

the place. It appears that the beast had escaped from a

caravan that was standing on the road side, belonging to the

proprietors of a menagerie, on their way to Salisbury fair.

An alarm being given, the keepers pursued and hunted the

lioness into an hovel under a granary, which served for keep-

ing agricultural implements. About half past eight they had

secured her so effectually, by barricading the place, as to

prevent her escape. The horse, when first attacked, fought

with great spirit, and if at liberty, would probably have

teaten down his antagonist with his fore feet, but in plunging

he embarrassed himself in the harness. The lioness, it ap-

A HORSE SEIZED BY A LIONESS. 21

pears, had attacked him in front, and springing at his throat,
had fastened the talons of her fore feet on each side of his
neck, close to the head, while the talons of her hind feet
were forced into his chest. In this situation she hung, while
the blood was seen flying, as if a vein had been opened by a
lancet. The ferocious animal missed the throat and jugular
vein, but the horse is so dreadfully torn, he is not expected
to survive. He was a capital horse ; the best in the set.
The expression of agony in his tears and moans was most
piteous and affecting. A fresh horse having been procured,
the mail drove on, after having been detained three quarters
of an hour by this extraordinary obstruction. The horse
attacked was the off leader, and as the mail drew up, stood
exactly abreast of the caravan from which the lioness made
the assault. Had the carriage been a little more advanced,
she would probably have darted upon the coachman or guard,
who, in that case, would have been more immediately within
her eye. The coachman at first proposed to alight and stab
the lioness with a knife, but was prevented by the remon-
strance of the guard, who obocrved, that he would expose
himself to certain destruction, as the animal, feeling herself
attacked, would turn upon him, and tear him to pieces. The
prudence of the advice has been clearly proved in the fate of
the poor dog. It was the engagement between him and the
lioness that offered time for die keepers to rally. Had it not
been for that interference the mischief at the mail would
have been more considerable. — We understand that it was by no
means ascertained when the mail-coach drove off from Win-
terslow Hut, after the attack, that the ferocious animal which
made it was actually secured. She seemed, however, not to
be in any immediate hurry to move ; for, whether she had
carried off with her any prey, or from some other cause, she
continued growling and howling in so loud a tone, that they
could hear her for nearly half a mile. Nothing could exceed
the anxiety of all present to have the animal killed, and they
called out loudly to the guard to dispatch it with his blunder-

22 KIBBV'S "WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

buss, which he appeared disposed to do, but the owner cried
out to him, " For God's sake do not kill her— she cost me
500/. and she will be as quiet as a lamb, if not irritated."
This arrested his hand, and he did not fire, notwithstanding
many entreaties from the passengers. The extreme danger
which might occur to the inhabitants of that neighbourhood,
if she was not soon secured, and the negligence of the keepers
in letting her get loose, had such an effect on one of the gen-
tlemen, who was an inside passenger in the mail, that he
felt it bis duty, after his own narrow escape, to do all in his
power to prevent others from being subjected to the same
risk. Finding that the caravan from which this savage ani-
mal issued was going to the fair at Salisbury, he determined,
on his arrival at Andover, to use his efforts to prevent any
further mischance, and, accordingly, while the horses were
putting to, he wrote a short note to the mayor of Salisbury,
informing him of the occurrence that had already taken place,
owing, in his opinion, to the want of pi oper care and cau-
tion in the custody of such a ferocious creature ; and re-
quested that he would give his offirpra special orders to
examine the caravan, and have it clearly ascertained that every
animal contained in it was properly secured.

It appears from the last accounts, that the lioness did
not kill the dog. The Salisbury Gazette says, " The
lioness, on finding herself attacked, quitted her hold, and
turned upon the dog, which, it was expected, would very
soon become the victim of her fury ; but the animal, with
more reproach than viciousness, inflicted a slight punish-
ment on it, and on hearing the voice of the keeper, retired
underneath a steddle granary, where soon after, the keeper
very deliberately got in, put his arms around her neck, and
secured her without any further injury."

Observer, Oct. 27, 1816.

FOUR PEKSON8 FOUND DEAD AT DEANHEAD. 23
ACCOUNT OF

FOUR PERSONS FOUND DEAD
AT DEANHEAD.

ON Friday, the 14th of November, 1817, the constable
and overseers of Stainland were summoned before the magis-
trates at Halifax, in consequence of the death of Tweed and
his family, for the purpose of their conduct being investi-
gated ; but on its being stated that no application had been
made to them for relief, and that they were not even aware
that such a family lived within their township, they were dis-
charged.

" On the following day the overseer of Deanhead was
ordered to attend the same magistrates ; and on his appear-
ance, he produced an account, for the purpose of shewing
that he bad afforded sufficient relief to the deceased, during
their illness ; and this account could only be disproved by
the event; for, alas! Tweed and his wife, and their two chil-
dren were in the grave ! It was further stated, that there was
found in the house sufficient meat and drink, at the time the
four dead bodies were discovered : and that is very possible .;
for I know that several humane persons, under the influence
of their compassionate feelings for this miserable family,
went round the neighbourhood begging for them, before
their death, and representing, at the various places where
they called, that Tweed and his family were in die greatest
distress, at that moment; and where they could not get
money, they said that oatmeal, flour, or potatoes, would be
thankfully received. With the money so raised, some flour
was purchased, and conveyed into the house of quarantine,
and this flour was found untouched on the morning that the
dead bodies were found. Famine and disease, k is supposed,
had bereaved them of their senses ; and there was no friendly
hand to administer the nourishment which charity had pro-
vided. In addition to this food, a large tub of fresh water
was placed at the outside of the door; but neither nurse nor
medical attendant was sent within the dwelling to arrest the

24 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

progress of the fever, or to smooth the rugged passage to the
grave ! After the death of the heads of the family and their
children, a nurse had been provided by the overseer to take
care of the surviving orphan.

" I have been this moment informed that the towns-people
of Deanhead threaten to commence a prosecution against the
person who has transmitted the shocking details for publica-
tion to your paper ; and on this point, I have only to say,
that if any of them make application to you for information,
you have my authority to give them my name and place of
residence." — Leeds Mercury. TIMES, Nov. 25, 1817.

1 ftO '

SIGNORA JOSEPHINE GIRALDELLI.

Account of SIGNORA JOSEPHINE GIRALDELLI, denomi-
nated the ORIGINAL SALAMANDER; with her Portrait
from Life.

THE memoirs of this celebrated lady, by birth an Italian,
as appears by her name, and whose natural and physical
powers seem tu resist the action of fire to a great degree,
must be received with the same degree of scepticism which
delusions of slight of hand, and other tricks, are generally
viewed by the more enlightened part of mankind. That the
whole is a trick, cannot be doubted ; but the vulgar gape and
stare, and are fully prepossessed that the fair heroine is by
nature gifted with this extraordinary repellant. Various
compositions have been noticed by several old authors, ex-
tracted both from the vegetable and mineral kingdom, which
possess the singular property of protecting the human frame
from the action of fire, and extraordinary heat, and we have
no hesitation in saying, that the present performers of this
trick have undoubtedly discovered a secret much more
powerful than any before known : whether of a simple or
compound nature we know not; but the secret ol the art
does not set-in to rest with GIRALDELLI, as, since her per-
formance in this metropolis, about two years ago, several
otheis of this salamander tribe have appeared, and may now

SIGNORA JOSEPHINE G1RALDELLI. 25

be seen travelling from town to town, and from village to
village, throughout the kingdom, \\herevera fair or great
market is held, exhibiting their wonders to the astonished
crowd ; one of which, under the denomination of the
" ENGLISH SALAMANDER," is at this present time peram-
bulating, in a wretched caravan, the various streets of this
metropolis, professing to exhibit the same feats as the heroine
of irm memoir, of whose history, we possess no other docu-
ment than the description of her wonderful performances,
as contain* <l m her bill of exhibition ; in this she professes
to have exhibited I efore most of the crowned heads of Eu-
rope. She commences her performances by passing plates
of red-hot iron over her legs ; she then stands with her feet
naked, on a plate of red-hot iron, and afterwards draws the
same plate ovrr her hair and across her tongue ; she washes
her hands, without auy symptom of pain, in boiling oil, and
takes a portion ot the same into her mouth; she passes a
bunch of burning candles under her arms, and also under her
feet ; she next washes her hands in aqua-foi tis, and puts
some of it into her mouth ; she takes up melted lead with
her fingers, and conveys it into her mouth ; then concludes
her mysterious performance, by putting into her mouth boil-
ing lead, and producing it again to the company with the
impression of her teeth marked thereon : returning thanks to
the company, in four different languages, the exhibition finishes.

That these feats are actually done by her, we cannot
doubt ; but the scepticism to which, in the former part of
this memoir, we allude, is, that no human being has ever
been born possessing this inherent fire-resistance ; and that
the whole is performed by a secondary agent, with which the
part to be produced to the fire and heat is first rubbed or
saturated; of course it then becomes, on the part of the
performer, a mere trick, though, to the general class of visitors
of these exhibitions, a wonderful phenomenon.

Since the performances of this lady in England, another of
these wonderful fire-resisters has amused aud astonished the

16 KIEBY'S WONDEEFUL MUSEUM.

metropolis of France. A Monsieur Chaban, in Paris, ex-
hibited bis astonishing powers of resisting heat, in so won-
derful a manner, that the National Institute, and other learned
societies, appointed delegates to view and inspect the per-
formances, and to report thereon. Among other singular
feats exhibited by this man, and reported to the National
Institute, was his going into a common baker's oven, with a
leg of mutton in his hands, and lemaining, in the usual man-
ner, closed in until the mutton M us completely dressed :
another, that standing in the midst of a tar barrel, he remained
therein till the whole was consumed to ashes around him.
In 1818, he arrived in London, and publicly exhibited him-
self in Piccadilly, where he offered to repeat these last two
exhibitions, before any number of persons, on being properly
remunerated for the same ; at the same time, he generously
offered himself to the fire-offices and the public, iu cases of
calamitous fires, whenever they should be pleased to call on
him, without fee or reward.

Nothing can more clearly prove that this resistance of heat
is from a secondary agent, than that on his appearance in the
tar barrel, which is in flames around him, he is perfectly
clothed, as appears from his portrait, exhibiting this part of
his performances, now before us. Surely we cannot say that
his linen and woollen garments, with bis leather shoes, were
all gifted with this phenomenon ; of course they must have
either been saturated with a liquid, or well rubbed with a
composition (if of a dry nature) that possesses the astonish-
ing property of resistance to fire and extreme heat, and that
it must have been of an harmless nature, is evident, from its
being necessary to wash and prepare the mouth ; and it is
presumed, in the feat of the oven and leg of mutton, that
such composition must have been taken inwardly, in order to
protect the lungs and internal parts of the body from the
actual violence of the great heat and suffocating air which
must necessarily have been produced in an heated and close
shut oven.

MUTINY OF THB BOUNTY. 17

A NARRATIVE OF THB

MUTINY ON BOARD THE BOUNTY,

CAPTAIN BLIGH, COMMANDER,

WITH

A most interesting account of Pitcairn's Island, as describ-
ed by Lieut. John Sillibeer and others, in a Voyage of
Discovery, on board his Majesty's ship, the Briton, of 38
guns, in the year 1814, and their finding John Adams,
one of the mutineers of the ship Bounty, under the com-
mand of Captain Bligh, in the year 1788, after a lapse
of twenty-Jive years.

[Copied from the valuable and interesting narrative of the
Briton's voyage to Pitcairn's island, including a sketch of the
present state of the Brazils and Spanish South America, by
Lieut. S. Shillibeer, R.M. illustrated with sixteen etchings
by himself.]

The Bounty sailed from England in the autumn of 1787, on
a voyage to the Society Islands, for bread-fruit trees, intended
for our West India settlements ; in which climate, it was the
opinion of Sir Joseph Banks, they might be successfully cul-
tivated, and prove a succedaneum for other provisions in
times of scarcity. The Bounty had made good the object
of her voyage, so far as to have received on board a great
number of these trees, in various stages of growth, and there
was every prospect of their being capable of preservation.
The ship, thus laden, quitted Otaheite on the 4th of April,
1789; and continued her course, in a westerly direction,
touching at one more island, and then meditating her progress
through the Pacific Ocean, towards the Moluccas. The
ship lost sight of the Friendly Islands on the 27th of that
month, and every thing like good order was supposed to pre-
vail on board ; even the mid-watch was relieved without the
least apparent disorder ; but at day-break, on the fiSth, the
cabin of Captain BJigh, who commanded the Bounty, was

28 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

forcibly entered by the officer of the watch, assisted by three
others upon the watch, who dragged him instantly on deck,
menacing his life if he attempted to speak. His endeavours
to exhort and bring back the conspirators t» their duty,
proved of no avail. Each of the desperadoes was armed
with a drawn cutlass, or fixed bayonet, and all their muskets
were avowed to be charged. Captain Bligh discovered,
when he came upon deck, several of the crew, and most of
the officers, pinioned ; and while he was thus contemplating
their perilous state, the ship's boat was let over her side, and
all who were not on the part of the conspirators, to the num-
ber of eighteen, besides the captain, were committed to the
boat, and no other nourishment afforded them than about one
hundred and forty pounds of bread, thirty pounds of meat,
one gallon and a half of rum, a like portion of wine, and a
few gallons of water. A compass and quadrant were se-
cured by one of the devoted victims, as he was stepping into
the boat ; and thus abandoned, the mutineers, after giving
them a cheer, stood away, as they said, for Otaheite.

The captain, in this dreadful situation, found his boatswain,
carpenter, gunner, surgeon's mate, two midshipmen, and one
master's mate, with Mr. Nelson, the botanist, and a few in-
ferior officers, among those who were likely to share his fate.
After a short consultation, it was deemed expedient to put
back to the Friendly Islands ; and, accordingly, they landed
on one of these, in hopes they might improve their small
stock of provisions, on the 30th of April, but were driven off
by the natives two days after, and pursued, with such hostility
that one man was killed, and several wounded. It was then
deliberated whether they should return to Otaheite, and throw
themselves on the clemency of the natives ; but the appre-
hension of falling in with the Bounty, determined them,
with one assent, to make the best of their way to Timor ;
and, to effect this enterprise, astonishing to relate, they cal-
culated the distance, near four thousand miles ; and, in order
that their wretched supply of provisions might eudure till

MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY. 29

they reached the place of destination, they agreed to appor-
tion their food to one ounce of bread and one gill of water
a-day for each man. No other nourishment did they receive
till the 5th or 6th of June, when they made the coast of New
Holland, and collected a few shell-fish ; and with this scanty
relief, they held on their course to Timor, which they reached
on the 12th, after having been forty- six days in a crazy open
boat, too confined in dimensions to suffer any of them to lie
down for repose, and without the least awning to protect them
from the rain, which almost incessantly fell for forty days.
A heavy sea and squally weather, for great part of
their course, augmented their misery. The governor of this
settlement, which belonged to the Dutch, afforded them every
succour they required. They remained here to recruit their
strength and spirits, till the 20th of August, when they pro-
cured a vessel to carry them to Batavia. They reached
Batavia on the 2d of October, and from thence Captain
Bligh and two of the crew embarked for the Cape of Good
Hope ; and the rest of the crew were preparing to follow,
as soon as a passage could be obtained. Captain Bligh
reached the Cape about the middle of December ; and soou
after took his passage for England, which he reached on the
evening of the 13th of March, and arrived in London on
the 14th.

The leader of the mutineers was named Fletcher Christian,
a man of respectable family and connexions, and considered
a good seaman ; he was of the rank of master's mate of the
Boupty, and served regularly the watch from the time the
ship sailed from England. The command of the Bounty
thus devolving upon him, there was no possibility of defeat-
ing his purpose, as not the least previous circumstance could
be traced, from the testimonies of the faithful part of the
crew, after they were in the boat, of a mutiny being on foot.
The mutineers were to the number of twenty-five, and those
who remained true to their duty, nineteen ; consequently,
had the slightest suspicion been entertained of the design, it
might have been easily frustrated, as all the principal officers

$0 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

remained faithful to their commander. A conjecture, not
improbable, is, that the plot was projected while Captain
Bligh was engaged on shore at Otaheite and other islands
collecting plants, and making charts. This officer only held
the rank of lieutenant in the navy. His merit pointed him
out to the Admiralty, as highly qualified for this expedition ;
and the distresses he had undergone entitled him to every re-
ward. In navigating his little skiff through so dangerous a
sea, his seamanship appeared as matchless, as the undertak-
ing seems beyond the verge of probability. Mr. Nelson,
the botanist, died soon after the boat reached Timor. This
gentleman went out with his Majesty's particular approval :
and a secondary object of the voyage was to collect curious
plants for the botanic garden at Kew.

PITCATRN'S ISLAND.

WE left the friendly Marquesans on the 2d of September,
and were proceeding; on our voyage, to regain the port of
Valparaiso, steering at course which ought, according to the
charts, and every other authority* to have carried us nearly
three degrees of loiagitude to the eastward of Pitcairn's
Island ; and our surprise was greatly excited by its sudden
and unexpected appearance. It was in the second watch
when we made it. At day-light we proceeded to a more
close examination ; find soon perceived huts, cultivation, and
people ; of the latter,, some were making signs, others launch-
ing their little canoes, through the surf, into which they threw
themselves with gretrt dexterity, and pulled towards us.

At this moment, I believe, neither Captain Bligh (of the
Bounty) nor Christian, had entered any of our thoughts; and
in waiting the approach of the strangers, we prepared to ask
them some questions in the language of those people we
had so recently left. They came ; and for me to picture tlie
wonder which was conspicuous in every countenance, at
being hailed in perfect English, what was the name of the
ship f and who commanded her ? would be impossible ; our
surprise cau alone be conceived. The captain answered;

PITCAIHN'S ISLAND. 31

and now a regular conversation commenced. He requested
them to come alongside ; and the reply was, " We have no
boat-hook to hold on by." " I vf ill throw you a rope." '< If
you do, we have nothing to make it fast to," was the answer.
However, they at length came on board, exemplifying not the
least fear, but their astonishment was unbounded. After the
friendly salutation of good morrow, Sir, from the first man
•who entered, Mackey, for that was his name, " Do you
know," said he, " one William Bligh, in England ?" This
question threw a new light on the subject ; and he was im-
mediately asked if he knew one Christian ; and the reply was
given with so much natural simplicity, that I shall here use
his own words : *' O yes," said he, " very well ; his son is iu
the boat there, coming up — his name is Friday Fletcher Oc-
tober Christian ; his father is dead now — he was shot by a
black fellow." Several of them had now reached the ship,
and the scene was become exceedingly interesting ; every one
betrayed the greatest anxiety to know the ultimate fate of that
misled young man, of whose end so many vague reports had
been in circulation ; and those who HiJ not ask questions,
devoured with avidity every word which led to an elucidation
of the mysterious termination of the unfortunate Bounty.

The questions which were put were numerous, and as
I am inclined to believe their answers, being arranged
accordingly, will convey to the reader, the circumstance
as it really took place, with greater force, than a con-
tinued relation, I shall adopt that plan ; and those occurrences
which did not lead immediately to the end of Christian, and
the establishment of the colony, 1 will relate faithfully as they
transpired. (But in our present narrative, we shall give the
facts without the questions.)

That Christian was shot by a black fellow, as was sup-
posed, by a jealousy which was known to exist between the
people of Otaheite and the English ; he was shot in the
back, while at work in the yam plantation ; the man who shot
Christian was afterwards shot by an Englishman. A further

32 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

dispute arose between the Otaheiteans and English, after the
death of Christian, when the blacks rose and shot two Eng-
lishmen, and wounded John Adams, the only surviving man
of the mutineers, who saved himself from being murdered,
by hiding himself in the wood ; and the same night, the
women, enraged at the murder of the English, to whom they
were more partial than their countrymen, rose and put every
Otaheitean to death in his sleep. This saved Adams : his
wounds were soon healed ; and, although old, he enjoys
good health. Christian brought with him from Otabeite, in
the Bounty, nine white men, and six blacks, and eleven
women; and at that time there were forty-eight persons on
the island. Adams had told them he had been on the island
about twenty-five years ; that the Bounty was run on shore,
and every thing useful taken out of her, and then set fire to
and burnt. Christian >vas shot about two years after he came
to the island; his wife having died, soon after the birth of
his son, and he taking by force the wife of one of the blacks
to supply her place, was the chief cause of his being shot.
And this son, Fletcher October Christian, was the oldest
person on the island, except John Adams. They are allowed
to marry at the age of nineteen or twenty, but not to have
more than one wife, as it is considered to be wicked to have
more. And being asked if they had been taught any reli-
gion ; they answered, " A very good religion ;" and to their
belief, they went through the whole of the belief; and
that John Adams had taught it them, by order of F. Chris-
tian ; and he caused a prayer to be said every day at noon :
" I will arise, and go to my .father, and say unto him, Father,
I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no
more worthy to be called thy son." Which they continued
to 3ay every day, and never neglected it.

They always use the English language. They understand
the Otaheitean language a little; but not so well as the
English. The old women do not pronounce the English
so well as they understand it ; and they consider themselves

PITCAIRN'S ISLAND. 33

; \

half English and half Otaheite, but acknowledge King
George to be their king. They had seen four ships from the
island, but only one stopped ; Mayhew Folgier was the cap-
tain; saying, " 1 suppose you know him;" he staid two
days. One being asked if he would like to go to England,
said, " No — I cannot ; I am married, and have a family."

Before we had finished our interrogatories, the hour of
breakfast had arrived ; and we solicited our half countrymen,
as they styled themselves, to accompany us below, and par-
take of our repast, to which they acquiesced without much
ceremony. The circle in which we had surrounded them
being opened, brought to the notice of Mackey a little black
terrier. He was at first frightened, ran behind one of the
officers, and looked over his shoulder, and said, pointing to
the dog, " I know what it is — it is a dog ; I never saw a
dog before ; will he bite ?" After a short pause, he addressed
himself to Christian, saying, with great admiration, " It is a
pretty thing too to look at — is it not I"

The whole of them were inquisitive; and in their ques-
tions, as well as answers, betrayed a very great share of na-
tural abilities. They asked the names of every thing they
saw, and the purposes to which they were applied. This,
they would say, was pretty — that, they did not like ; and
were greatly surprised, at our having so many things which,
they were not possessed of in the island. The circumstance
of the dog, the things which at each step drew their atten-
tion, or created their wonder, retarded us in our road to the
breakfast table ; but, arriving there, we had a new cause for
surprise. The astonishment which before had been so
strongly demonstrated in them, was now become conspicuous
in us, even to a much greater degree than when they hailed
us in our native language ; and, I must confess, I blushed
when I saw nature in its most simple state, offer that tribute
of respect to the Omnipotent Creator, which, from educa-
tion, I did not perform, nor, from society, had been taught
its necessity. Before they began to eat, on their knees, and

VOL. VI. D

54 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

with hands uplifted, did they implore permission to partuke
in peace what was set before them ; and when they had
eaten heartily, resuming their former attitude, offered a fer-
vent prayer of thanksgiving, for the indulgence they had just
experienced. Our omission of this ceremony did not escape
their notice ; for Christian asked me whether it was not cus-
tomary with us also. Here nature was triumphant ; for I
should do myself irreparable injustice, did I not with can-
dour acknowledge, I was both embarrassed and wholly at a
loss for a sound reply, and evaded the poor fellow's question,
by drawing his attention to the cow, which was then looking
down the hatchway ; and as he had never seen any of the
species before, it was a source of mirth and gratification to
him. btt* t?.trj

The hatred of these people to the blacks is strongly
rooted, and which, doubtless, owes its origin to the early
quarrels which Christian and his followers had with the Ota-
heiteans, after their arrival at Pitcairn's Island ; to illustrate
which, I shall here relate an occurrence which took place at
breakfast : — Soon after young Christian had begun, a West
Indian black, who was one of the servants, entered" the gun-
room, to attend table, as usual. Christian looked at him
sternly, rose, asked for his hat, and said, " I don't like that
black fellow — I must go ;" and it required some little per-
suasion, before he would again resume his seat. The inno-
cent Quash was often reminded of the anecdote by his
fellow-servants. After coming alongside the ship, so eager
were they to get on board, that several of the canoes had
been wholly abandoned, and gone adrift : this was the occa-
sion of an anecdote which will shew, most conspicuously,
the good nature of their dispositions, and the mode resorted
to in deciding a double claim. The canoes being brought
back to the ship, the Captain ordered that one of them should
remain in each; when it became a question, to which that
duty should devolve; however, it was soon adjusted, for
Mackey observed, that he supposed the/ were all equally

P1TCA1BN'* ISLAND. 80

anxious to see the ship, and the fairest way would be for
them to cast lots, as then there would be no ill-will on either
side. This was acceded to ; and those to whom it fell to go
into the boat, departed without a murmur. We all wished to
do \\ hat we could for them ; but being short of provisions,
we were under the necessity of expediting our departure for
South America; and, after ascertaining the longitude to be
130° 25' W. and latitude 25° 4' 5" S. we again set sail, and
proceeded on our voyage.

No one but the captain went on shore, which will be a
source of lasting regret to me, for I would rather have seen
the simplicity of that little village, thaw all the splendour
and magnificence of a city. The remainder of the narrative
comes from one of the gentlemen who landed on the island.

After landing (he says,) and we had ascended a little
eminence, we were imperceptibly led through groupes of
cocoa-nuts and bread-fruit trees, to a beautiful picturesque
little village, formed on an oblong square, with trees of various
kinds irregularly interspersed. The housesare small, but regu-
lar, convenient, and of unequalled cleanlin*™. Tfte daughter of
Adams received us on a bill. She came, doubtlessly, as a
spy ; and had we taken men, or even been armed ourselves,
she would certainly have given her father timely notice to
escape, but as we had neither, she awaited our arrival, and
conducted us to where her father was. She was arrayed in
nature's simple garb, and wholly unadorned; but she was
beauty's self, aud needed not the aid of ornament. She be-
trayed some surprise ; timidity was a prominent feature.

John Adorns is a fine-looking old man, approaching to
sixty years of age. We conversed with him a* long time,
relative to the mutiny of the Bounty, and the ultimate fate
of Christian. He denied being accessary lo, or having the
least knowledge of, the conspiracy, and expressed great
horror at the conduct of Captain liligh, not only towards his
men, but officers also. I asked him if be had a desure to

$6 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

return to England ; and I must confess, his replying in the
affirmative, caused me great surprise.

He told me he was perfectly aware how deeply he was
involved ; that by following the fortune of Christian, he had
not only sacrificed every claim to his country, but that his
life was the necessary forfeiture for such an act, and he sup-
posed would be exacted from him, was he ever to return ;
notwithstanding all these circumstances, nothing would be
able to occasion him so much gratification as that of seeing
once more, prior to his death, that country which gave him
birth, and from which he had been so long estranged. There
was sincerity in his speech ; I can hardly describe it ; but it
was a very powerful influence in persuading me that these
were his real sentiments. My interest was excited to so
great a degree, that I offered him a conveyance for himself
and any of his family who chose to accompany him. He
appeared pleased at the proposal ; and as no one was
then present, he sent for his wife and children. The rest of
the little community surrounded the door. He communi-
cated his desire, and solicited their acquiescence. Appalled
at a request not less sudden, than in opposition to their
wishes, they were all at a loss for a reply. His charming
daughter, although inundated with tears, first broke silence.
" Oh do not, Sir," said she, " take from me my father — do
not take away my best, my dearest friend." Her voice failed
her — she was unable to proceed — leaned her head upon her
hand, and gave full vent to her grief. His wife too (an
Otaheitean) expressed a lively sorrow. The wishes of
Adams soon became known among the others, who joined in
pathetic solicitation for his stay on the island. Not an eye
was dry, the big tear stood in those of the men, the women
shed them in full abundance ; I never witnessed a scene so
fully affecting, or more replete with interest. To have taken
him from a circle of such friends, would have ill become a
feeling heart ; to have forced him away, in opposition to their

PITCAIBN'S ISLAND. 37

joint and earnest entreaties, would have been an outrage to
humanity. With an assurance that it was neither our wish
nor intention to take him from them against his inclination,
their fears were at length dissipated. His daughter too had
gained her usual serenity ; but she was lovely in her tears —
for each seemed to add an additional charm. Forgetting the
unhappy deed which placed Adams in that spot, and seeing
him only in the character he now is, at the head of a little
community, adored by all, instructing all, in religion, industry,
and friendship, his situation might be truly envied, and one is
almost inclined to hope that his unremitting attention to the
government and morals of this extraordinary little colony,
will ultimately prove an equivalent for the part he formerly
took — entitle him to the praise, and should he ever return to
England, ensure him the clemency, of that sovereign he has
so much injured.

The young women have, invariably, beautiful teeth, fine
eyes, an open expression of countenance, and looks of such
simple innocence and sweet sensibility that render their ap-
pearance at once interesting and engaging ; and it is pleasing
to add, their minds and manners were as pure and innocent,
as this impression indicated. No lascivious looks, or any
loose forward manners, which so much distinguish the cha-
racter of the females of the other islands. The island itself
has an exceedingly pretty appearance, and I was informed
by Christian every part was fertile, and capable of being cul-
tivated. The coast is every way bound with rocks, insomuch
that they are at all times obliged to carry their little boats to
the village, and the timber is of so light a nature, that one
man is adequate to the burden of the largest they have.
Each family has a separate allotment of land, and each strive
to rival the other in their agricultural pursuits, which is chiefly
confined to the propagation of the yam, and which they have
certainly brought to the finest perfection I ever saw. The
bread-fruit and cocoa-nut trees have been reared with equal

38 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

success. The pigs also came by the same conveyance, as
well as goats and poultry. They had no pigeons; and I am
lorry to say, no one thought of leaving those few we had on
board with them. The pigs have got into the woods, and
many are now wild. Fish of various sorts are taken here,
and in great abundance ; the tackling is all of their own ma-
nufacturing ; and the hooks, although beat out of old iron
hoops, not only answer the purpose, but are fairly made.
Needles they also make from the same materials. Those
men who came on board, were finely formed, and of manly
features ; their height about five feet ten inches ; their hair
black and long, generally plaited into a tail. They wore a
straw hat, similar to those worn by sailors, with a few feathers
stuck into them by way of ornament. On their shoulders
was a mantle, resembling the chilinan-poncho, which hung
down to the knee ; and round their waist, a girdle, cor-
responding to that of the Indians at the Marquesas ; both of
which are produced from the bark of trees growing on the
island. They told me they had clothes on shore, but never
wore them. I spuko to Christian partirulnrly of Adams,
who assured me he was greatly respected, insomuch that no
one acted in opposition to his wishes ; and when they should
lose him, their regret would be general. The inter-marriages
which had taken place among them, have been the occasion
of relationship throughout the colony. There seldom hap-
pens to be a quarrel, even of the most trivial nature, and
then, (using their own term) it is nothing more than a word-
of-mouth quarrel, which is always referred to Adams for ad-
iustment.

The Bounty having entered the Pacific Ocean by the Cape
of Good Hope, occasioned her to gain sixteen hours time,
on her arrival at Pitcairn's Island : the Briton entering by Cape
Horn lost eight hours, on her arrival there, making a dif-
ference of one day in our calculation. John Adams under-
itood very little of writing ; still he had contrived to mark

PITCAJRN'S ISLAND. S9

the arrival of every day — commencing anew at the expiration
of every year. He had long ago used all the paper, ink, &c.
which he had taken out of the Bounty, but a slate and a stone
pencil supplied his wants; and 1 think Sir Thomas Staines
told me he saw the slate on which the account was kept, and
that it was divided into weeks, months, and years. Accord-
ing to their own calculation, they had gained one day, which
was perfectly correct ; for had he returned by the Cape of
Good Hope, instead of Cape Horn, we should have lost
one. The natives themselves could not write, their names
being insufficient; but Adams was anxious to have some
paper, which, with various articles of culinary utensils, Sir
Thomas generously sent him.

Several books belonging to Captain Bligh, which were
taken out of the Bounty, were then in the possession of
Adams, and the First Voyage of Captain Cook was brought
on board the Briton. In the title page of each volume the
name of Captain Bligh was written, and I suppose in his
own writing. Christian had written his own name immedi-
ately under it, without running his pen tbrougfi, or in any
way defacing that of Captain Bligh. On the margin of
several of the leaves, were written in pencil, numerous re-
marks on the work ; but as I consider them to have been the
private observations of Captain Bligh, and written unsus-
pecting the much-lamented event which subsequently took
place, they shall by me be held sacred.

Mr. Shillibeer concludes his narrative of this interesting
island by saying, if the out-line I have here given has not
been adequate to the reader's expectation, I trust the short
period in which I had to collect the materials, will, in some
degree, plead my apology ; under which impression, I shall
leave Pitcairn's Island, but not without a hope that its in-
teresting inhabitants will receive that support from this
country, the peculiarity of their situation so justly entitle
them to, and proceed to Valparaiso, where we arrived after
a voyage of thirty days, when we had neither bread in our
lockers, nor wine in our casks ; therefore, the reader will not

40 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

be surprised, if, while he rests, 1 should indulge myself with
a few of the luxuries of the port.

"• "

[The following must be read as a continuation of the narra-
tive of the Bounty, page 30.]

The entire annihilation of the object of the voyage, in
consequence of this mutiny, and the ultimate fate of Chris-
tian was uncertain, and the prevailing opinion, was, that after
he had left and destroyed the Bounty, he returned to the
coast of South America, and entered the Spanish service ;
nay, it has even been asserted in the account given of him
by Mayhew Folgier, the master of the first ship which
touched at Pitcairn's Island. There were many who retained
the same opinion, but the matter is at present too clearly de-
monstrated to admit of a doubt.

The following account is given in the Missionary Voyage,
of the conduct of the mutineers at, and their departure
from, Otaheite, since which period, to the time of Captain
Folgier's touching at Pitcairn's Island, every thing relative
to those infatuated men has been but a vague conjecture.

" The wind blew fresh from Toubouai, and the intention
of our captain was not to go near this island, but for the
sake of some who were desirous of seeing it, we tacked to
windward, and towards evening got within a few miles of it ;
he thought it not prudent to land, on account of the natives
being prejudiced against the English, through the mutineers
of the Bounty, who had destroyed near a hundred of them.
This island was discovered by Captain Cook, in the year
1777 ; and upon it the unhappy Fletcher Christian, with his
companions, the mutineers of the Bounty, attempted a settle-
ment in 1789- They had with them some natives of Ota-
heite, and live slock of different sorts. Notwithstanding the
opposition they met with from the natives on their arrival,
they warped the ship through the only opening in the reef,
then landed, chose a spot of ground, built a fort thereon,
and taking their live stock on shore, they intended, had the
natives proved friendly to their stay, to have destroyed the

PITCAIRN'S ISLAND. 41

Bounty, and fixed themselves there ; but their own unruly
conduct alienated the natives from them,* who withheld their
women, which they were ready to seize by violence ; this
excited the jealousy of the chiefs, by a friendship formed
with one in preference to the rest ; they were disunited
amongst themselves, and many longed for Otaheite ; they
resolved to leave Toubouai, and carry with them all the live
stock which they had brought, the benefit of which the Tou-
bouiaus began to understand, and were unwilling to see them
again all collected and removed. This caused the first
brawl between the Otaheitean servants, who were driving
in the hogs, and the natives. Insolence, and want of gen-
tleness and conciliation, led to all the bloody consequences
which ensued. The natives were numerous, and fought
with great courage, forcing the mutineers to avail themselves
of a high ground, where, with their superior skill, and the ad-
vantage of fire-arms, and the aid of the Otaheiteans, who
fought bravely on this occasion, they at last came off victo-
rious, with only two of themselves wounded, whilst the dead
bodies of the Toubouians covered the spot, and were after-
wards thrown up in three or four heaps. Thus finding that
no peaceable settlement was now to be obtained in this place,
they shipped their live stock, abandoned their fort, and taking
their friendly chief on board with them, weighed anchor, and
steered towards Miitaviii Bay, in the island of Otaheite.
On their passage thither, it is said, Christian became very
melancholy, confining himself to his cabin, and would hardly
speak a word to any person, lamenting, most probably, that
the resolution he had formed without deliberation, and
executed with rash haste, had now involved his life, and those
of his adherents, in misery. As soon as they anchored in
Matavai Bay, in Otaheite, those who wished to stay there
went on shore; but nine mutineers, and also some of the
native men and women, remained on board. With these,
Christian cutting his cable in the night, put to sea, and steer-

4£ KIRBY'S "WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

ing to the N.W. had never been heard of since." Several
of the men were fonnd at Otaheite afterwards, brought home
and tried, the particulars of which will be found in the
Annual Register for 1792-1793; also, in the Gentleman's
Magazine.

» !r:i«") l(j't. iriol Y!u:"i ;*•:. • ' i^nil ".^c\t:

ISLE OF PINES.

J > ; ,;

THE following account of the discovery of the Isle of
Pines will, no doubt, be acceptable to our readers. The
pamphlet, consisting of thirty-one pages, having become so
very scarce, we shall copy the whole that will make it in-
teresting, leaving out those passages that are not a part of
the narrative, being so similar to the discovery of Pitcairn's
Island, we cannot do otherwise than print it.

The Isle of Pines; or, a late Disco-eery of a fourth Island
near Terra Australis Incognita, by Henry Cornelius Van,
Sloetten : wherein is contained a true relation of certain
English persons, who, in Queen Elisabeth's time, making
a voyage to the East Indies, were cast artay, and wrecked
near to the coast of Terra Auslralis Incognita, and all
drowned, except one man rind four women. And now
lately, Ann. Dom. 1667, a Dutch ship making a voyage
to the East Indies, driven by foul weather there, by
chance have found their posterity (speaking English,) to
amount (as they suppose} to ten or twelve thousand per-
sons. The whole relation (written and left by the man
himself, a little before his death, and delivered to the Dutch
by his grandchild) is hert annexed vciih the longitude and
latitude of the Island, the situation and felicity thereof,
with other matter observable. (Licensed July 27, 1668J
London : printed for Allen Banks and Charles Harper,

ISLE OF PINES. 43

next door to the Three Sqrterrills, in Fleet Street, over
against St. Dunstan's Church, Io68.

Letters concerning the Isle of Pines, to a credible person
in Co vent Garden.

Amsterdam, June 29, 1668.

It is written by the last post from Rochelle, to a merchant
in this city, that there was a French ship arrived, the master
and company of which report, that about 200 or 300 leagues
north-west from Cape Finis Terre, they fell in with an
island, where they went on shore, and found about 2JOOO
English people, without clothes, only some small coverings
about their middle ; and that they related to them, that at
their coming to this island (which was in Queen Elizabeth's
time,) they were but five in number, men and women, being
cast on shore by distress, or otherwise, and have there re-
mained ever since, without having any correspondence with
any other people, or any ship coming to them. This story
seems very fabulous — yet the letter is come to a known mer-
chant, and from a good hand in France, so I thought fit to
mention it ; it may be, that there may be some mistake in the
number of the leagues, as also of the exact point of the
compass, from Cape Finis Terre ; I shall inquire more parti-
cularly about it. Some English here suppose it may be the
Island of Brasile, which has been so often sought for, south-
west from Ireland ; if true, we shall hear further about it.

Your friend and brother,

ABRAHAM KEEK.

Amsterdam, July 6, 1668.

It is said that the ship that discovered the island, of which
I hinted to you in my last, is departed from Rochelle, on her
way to Zeland ; several persons here have writ thither, to"
inquire for the said vessel, to know the truth of this business.
I was promised a copy of the letter that came from France,
advising the discovery of the island above-said, but 'tis not

44 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

yet come to my hand ; when it cometh, or any further news
about this island, I shall acquaint you with it.

Your friend and brother,

A. KEEK.

The Isle of Pines, discovered near to the coast of Terra
Australia Incognita, by Henry Cornelius Van Sloetten, in a
letter to a friend in London, declaring the truth of his voy-
age to the East Indies.

SIR, — I received your letter of this second instant, wherein
you desire me to give you a further account concerning the
Land of Pines, on which we were driven by distress of
weather the last summer ; I also perused the printed book
thereon you sent me, the copy of which was surreptitiously
taken out of my hands, else I should have given you a fuller
account, upon what occasion we came thither, how we were
entertained, with some other circumstances of note, wherein
that relation is defective. To satisfie, therefore, your de-
sires, I shall briefly, yet fully, give you a particular account
thereof, with a true copy of the relation itself; desiring you
to bear with my blunt phrases, as being more a seaman than
a scholar.

April the 26th, l667« We set sail from Amsterdam, in-
tending to sail for the East Indies ; our ship had the name of
the place from whence we came, the Amsterdam, burthen
350 tons; and having a fair gale of wind, on the 2/thof May
following, we had a sight of the high Peak of Teneriffe, be-
longing to the Canaries; we would have touched at the
Island Palma, but having endeavoured it twice, and finding
the winds contrary, we steered on our course, by the Isles
of Cape Verd, or Insular Capitis Viridis, where, at St. James's,
we took in fresh water, with some few goats and hens, where-
with that island doth plentifully abound.

June 14th. We had a sight of Madagascar, or the Island
of St. Lawrence, an island 4000 miles in compass, and
situate under the southern tropick j thither we steered our

ISLE OF PINES. 45

course, and trafficked with the inhabitants for knives, beads,
glasses, and the like, having in exchange thereof cloves and
silver. Departing from thence, we were encountered with a
violent storm ; and the winds holding contrary for the space
of a fortnight, brought us back almost as far as the Isle
Del Principe ; during which time, many of our men fell sick,
and some died ; but at the end of that time, it pleased God
the wind favoured us again, and we steered on our course
merrily, for the space of ten days : when on a sudden we
encountered with such a violent storm, as if all the four
winds together had conspired for our destruction, so that the
stoutest spirit of us all quailed, expecting every hour to be de-
voured by that merciless element of water ; sixteen days to-
gether did this storm continue, though not with such violence
as at the first, the weather being so dark all the while, and
the sea so rough, that we knew not in what place we were.
At length, all on a sudden, the wind ceased, and the air
cleared, the clouds were all dispersed, and a very serene sky
followed, for which we gave hearty thanks to the Almighty,
it being beyond our expectation that we should have escaped
the violence of that storm. At length one of our men
mounting the main-mast, espyed fire, an evident sign of some
countrey near adjoyning, which presently after we apparently
discovered ; and steering our course much nigher, we saw
several persons promiscuously running about the shore, as it
were wondering and admiring at what they saw. Being now
near to the land, we manned out our long-boat with ten per-
sons, who approaching the shore, asked them in our Dutch
tongue, Wat Eylant is dit ? To which they returned this
answer in English, that They knew not what we said. One
of our company, named Jeremiah Hanzen, who understood
English very well, hearing these words, discoursed to them
in their own language ; so that in fine we were very kindly
invited on shore, great numbers of them flocking about us,
admiring at our clothes which we did wear — as we on the
other side did to find, in such a strange place., so many that

46 KIRBY S WONDERFUL MUSEOM.

could speak English, and yet to go naked. Four of our men
returning back in the long-boat to our ship's company, could
hardly make them believe the truth of what they had seen
and heard ; but when we had brought our ship into harbour,
you would have blest yourself to see how the naked islanders
flocked unto us, so wondering at our ship, as if it had been
the greatest miracle of nature. In the whole we were very
courteously entertained by them, presenting us with such
food as that countrey afforded, which indeed was not to b»
dispised ; we eat of the flesh both of beasts and fowls,
which they had cleanly drest, though with no great curiosity,
as wanting materials wherewithal to do it ; and for bread, we
had the inside of a kernel of a great nut, as big as an apple,
which was very wholesome, and sound for the body, and
tasted to the pallat very delicious.

Having refreshed ourselves, they invited us to the palace
of their prince or cheif ruler, some two miles distant off
from the place where we landed, which we found to be about
the bigness of one of our ordinary village houses ; it was
supported with rough unhewn pieces of timber, and covered
very artificially with boughs, so that it would keep out the
greatest showers of rain, the sides thereof were adorned with
several sorts of flowers, which their fragrant fields there do
yield in great variety. The prince himself (whose name was
William Pine, the grandchild of George Pine, that was first
011 short- ia this island,) came to his palace door, and saluted
us very courteously, for though he had nothing of majesty in
him, yet had he a courteous, noble, and deboneyre spirit,
wherewith your English nation (especially those of the gentry)
are very much endued. Scarce had he done saluting us
when his lady or wife came likewise forth of their house or
palace, attended on- by two maid-servants; she was a woman
of an exquisite beauty, and had on her head1 as it were a
chaplet of flowers, which being intermixed with several \ a-
siety of colours, became her admirably. She wore in front
some pieces of old garments, the relicts of those clothes (I

4

suppose) of them which first came hither, and yet being
adorned with Bowers, those very rags seemeth beautiful ; and
indeed modesty so far prevaileth over all the female sex of
that island, that with the grass and flowers interwoven and
made strong by the peelings of young elms (which grovy
there in great plenty,) they do plait together so many of them
as serve to make aprons.

We carried him as a present some few knives, of which
we thought they had great need, an ax or hatchet to fell wood,
which was very acceptable unto him, the old one which was
cast on shore at the fust, and the only one they ever had,
being now so quite blunt and dulled, that it would not cut at
all ; some few other things we also gave him, which he very
thankfully accepted ; inviting us into his house or palace,
and causing us to sit down with him, where we refreshed
ourselves again, with some more country viands, which were
no other than such we tasted before — prince and peasant
here faring alike ; nor is there any difference betwixt their drink,
being only fresh water, which the rivers yield them in great
abundance. After some little pause, our companion (who
could speak English,) by our request, desired to know of him
something concerning their original, and how that people,
speaking the language of such a remote country, should
come to inhabit there, having not, as we could see, any ships
or boats amongst them, the means to bring them thither, and
which was more, altogether ignorant, and mere strangers to
ships or shipping, the main thing conducible to that means,
to which request of ours, the courteous prince thus replyed.

Friends (for so your actions declare you to be, and shall
by ours find no less,) know that we, the inhabitants of this
island, are of no great standing, ray grandfather being the first
that ever set foot on this shore, whose native country was a
place called England, far distant from this our land, as he
let us to understand ; he came from that place upon the
waters, in a thing called a ship, of which no question, but
you may have heard ; several other persons were, in his com-

48 KIRBY'S WONDEKFUL MUSEUM.

pany, not intending to have come hither (as he said,) but to
a place called India, when tempestuous weather brought him
and his companions upon this coast, where falling among the
rocks, his ship split all in pieces, the whole company perish-
ing in the waters, saving only him and four women, which by
means of a broken piece of that ship, by divine assistance,
got on land. What after passed (said he) during my grand-
father's life, I shall show you in a relation thereof written
by his own hand, which he delivered to my father, being his
eldest ispn, charging him to have a special care thereof, and
assuring him, that time would bring some people or other
thither to whom he would have him to impart it, that the truth
of our first planting here might not be quite lost, which, his
commands, my father dutifully obeyed ; but ho one coming,
he, at his death, delivered the same, with the like charge, to
me, and you being the first people, which (besides ourselves)
ever%et footing in this island, I shall, therefore, in obedience
to my grandfather's and father's commands, willingly impart
the same unto you. Then stepping into a kind of inner
room, which, as \ve conceived, was his lodging chamber, he
brought forth two sheets of paper fairly written in English
(being the same relation which you had printed with you at
London,) and very distinctly read the same over unto us,
which we hearkened unto with great delight and admiration,
freely proffering us a copy of the same, which we afterwards
took, and brought away along with us ; which copy hereafter
followeth :

tf A way to the East Indias being lately discovered by sea
to the south of Affrick by certain Portugals, far more safe
and profitable than had been heretofore, certain English
merchants encouraged by the great advantages arising from the
eastern commodities, to settle a factory there for the advantage
of trade. And having to that purpose obtained the Queen's
royal license, Anno Dom. 1569. 11. or 12. of Eliz. furnisht
out for those parts four ships, my master being sent as factor
to deal and negociate for them, and to settle there, took with

ISLE OF PINES. 49

him his whole family, (that is to say) his wife ami one son of
about twelve years of age, and one daughter of about four-
teen years, two maid-servants, one negro female slave, and
myself, who went under him as his book-keeper; with this
company, on Monday the third of April next following, (hav-
ing ail necessaries for house-keeping, when we should come
there), we embarked ourselves in the good ship the India Mer-
chant, of about 450 tons burthen, and having a good wind,
we, on the 14th day of May, had sight of the Canaries, and
not long after of the Isles Cape Vert or Verd, where taking
in such things as were necessary for our voyage, and some
fresh provisions, we steering our course south, and a point
east, about the first of August, came within sight of the Island
of St. Htllen, where we took in some fresh water; we then
eet our faces for the Cape of Good Hope, where, by God's
blessing, after some sickness, whereof some of our company
died, though none of our family ; and hitherto we had met
with none but calm weather, yet so it pleased God, when we
were almost in sight of St. Lawrence, an island so called,
one of the greatest in the world, as mariners say, we were
overtaken and dispersed by a great storm of wind, which
continued with such violence many days, that losing all hope
of safety, being out of our own knowledge, and whether we
shall fall on flats or rocks, uncertain in the nights, not having
the least benefit of the light, we feared mos>t, always wishing
for day, and then for land — but it came too soon for \>ur
good ; for, about the first of October, our fears having made
us forgtt how the time passed to a certainty, we, about the
break of day, discerned land (but what we knew not,) the
land seemed high and rocky, and the sea continued still very
stormy and tempestuous, insomuch as there seemed no hope
of safety, but looked suddenly to perish. As we grew near
land, perceiving no safety in the ship, \\luch we looked would
suddenly be beat in pieces ; the captain, my master, and
some others got into the long-boat, thinking by that means
to save their lives ; and presently after, all the seamen cast
VOL. vi. e,

50 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

themselves overboard, thinking to save their lives by swim-
ming ; only myself, my master's daughter, the two maids, and
the negro, were left on board, for we could not swim ; but
those that left us might as well have tarried with us, for we
saw them, or most of them, perish, ourselves now ready after
to follow their fortune ; but God was pleased to spare our
lives, as it were by a miracle, though to further sorrow ; for
when we came against the rocks, our ship having endured two or
three blows against the rocks (being now broken and quite foun-
dered in the waters,) we having with much ado gotten ourselves
on the bowsprit, which, being broken off, was driven by the
waves into a small creek, wherein fell a little river, which being
encompassed by the rocks, was sheltered from the wind, so that
we had an opportunity to land ourselves (though almost drown-
ed,) in all, four persons, besides the negro. When we were got
upon the rock, we could perceive the miserable wrack to our
great terrour. I had in my pocket a little tinder-box and
steel and flint, to strike fire at any time, upon occasion,
which served now to good purpose, for its being so close,
preserved the tinder dry ; with this, and the help of some
old rotten wood, which we got together, we kindled a fire,
and dryed ourselves ; whic.h done, I left my female company,
and went to see if I could find any of our ship's company,
that were escaped, but could hear of none, though I hooted
and made all the noise I could ; neither could I perceive the
footsteps of any living creature (save a few birds and other
fowls.) At length, it drawing towards the evening, I went
back to my company, who were very much troubled for
want of me — I being now all their stay in this lost condition.
We were at first afraid that the wild people of the country
might find us out, although we saw no footsteps of any, not
so much as a path ; the woods round about being full of
briers and brambles : we also stood in fear of wild beasts—-
of such also we saw none, nor sign of any. But above all,
and that we had greatest reason to fear, was to be starved to
death for want of food; but God had otherwise provided for

ISLE OF PINKS, it

us, as you shall know hereafter : this done, \ve spent our
time in getting some broken pieces of boards and planks,
and some of the sails and rigging on shore for shelter. I set
up two or three poles, and drew two or three of the cords
and lines from tree to tree, over which, throwing some sail-
c loathes, and having gotten wood by us, and three or four
sea-gowns, which we had dryed, we took up our lodgings
for that night altogether, (the black- moor being kss sensible •
than the rest, we made our centry ;) we slept soundly that
night, as having not slept in three or four nights before (our
fears of what happened preventing us,) neither could our
hard lodging, fear, and danger hinder us, we were so over-
watcht.

" On the morrow, being well refresht with sleep, the winde
ceased, and the weather was very warm, we went down the
rocks on the sands at low water, where we found great part
of our lading, either on shore, or floating near it. I, by the
help of my company, dragged most of it on shore; what
was too heavy for us we broke, and unbound the casks and
chests, and taking out the goods, secured alt ; so that we
wanted no clothes, nor any other provision necessary for
house-keeping, to furnish a better house than any we were
likely to have ; but no victuals (the salt water having spoiled
all,) only one cask of bisket, being lighter than the rest, was
dry ; this served for bread a while ; and we found on land a
sort of fowl, about the bigness of a swan, very heavy and
fat, that by reason of their weight could not fly ; of these
we found little difficulty to kill, so that was our present food.
We carried out of England certain hens and cocks, to eat by
the way — some of these, when the ship was broken, by some
means got to land, and bred exceedingly, so that in the future
they were a great help unto us ; we found, also, by a little
river in the flags, store of eggs of a sort of fowl much like our
duck, which were very good meat, so that we wanted nothing
to keep us alive. .

On the morrow, which was on the third day, as soon as it wa$
E 2

5S KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

morning, seeing nothing to disturb us, I lookt out a conve-
nient place to dwell in, that we might build us a hut to shelter
us from the weather, and from any other danger of annoyance
from wild beasts (if any should find us out.) So close by a
large spring, which rose out of a high hill overlooking the
sea, on the side of a wood having a prospect towards the
sea,) by the help of an ax and some other implements (for
we had all necessaries, the working of the sea having cast
up most of our goods,) I cut down all the straitest poles I
could find, and which were enough for my purpose, by the
help of my company (necessity being our master,) I digged
holes in the earth, setting my poles at an equal distance, and
nailing the broken boards of the casks, chests, and cabins,
and such like to them, making my door to the seaward, and
having covered the top with sail cloths strained and nailed,
I, in the space of a week, had made a large cabbin big enough
to hold all our goods and ourselves in it. I also placed our
hamocks for lodging, proposing (if it pleased God to send
any ship that way,) we might be transported home ; but it
never came to pass, the place wherein we were (as I con-
ceived) being much out of the way.

" We having now lived in this manner full four months, and
not so much as seeing or hearing of any wild people, or of
any of our company, more than ourselves, (they being found
now by experience to be all drowned,) and the place, as we after
found, being a large island, and disjointed, and out of sight of
any other land, was wholly uninhabited by any people, neither
was there any hurtful beasts to annoy us ; but, on the con-
trary, the countrey so very plesant, being always clothed with
green, and full of pleasant fruits, and variety of birds, ever
warm, and never colder than in England in September, so
that this place (had it the culture that skilful people might
bestow on it) would prove a paradise. The woods afforded
us a sort of nuts, as big as a large apple, whose kernel being
pleasant and dry, we made use of instead of bread, that
fowl before-mentioned, and a sort of water-fowl like ducks,

ISLE OF PINES. SJ

and their eggs, and a beast about the size of a goat, and
almost such like creature, which brought two young ones at
a time, and that twice a year, of which the low lands and
woods were very full, being a very harmless creature and
tame, so that we could easily take and kill them : fish, also,
especially shell-fish (which we could best come by) we had
great store of, so that in effect as to food, we wanted nothing ;
and thus, and by such like helps, we continued six months,
without any disturbance or want.

" Idleness, and fulness of every thing, and nothing to dc,
I began to think of increasing our family ; therefore, agreeing
amongst ourselves, we soon found our wishes realised — the
first year produced us one boy and three girls, and when out
of their mother's arms, they were laid down on the moss to
sleep, and no further care taken of them. And having now.
no thought of ever returning home, as we. had resolved and
sworn, one to the other, never to part, or leave one another,
or the place ; and in the course of time, having by my
several wives, forty-seven children, boys and girls, but. most
girls, and growing up apace. My negro had twelve children,
my master's daughter had fifteen children, as she was most
fond of me and I of her ; my tallest wife had thirteen chili
dren, and the second, seven children, in all forty-seven.
Thus we lived for twenty-two years, as happy as at first ; theu
my negro died suddenly, but I could not perceive any thing
that ailed her. Most of my children being grown up, and
as fast as we married them, I sent them and placed them over
the river by themselves, because we would not pester one
another.

f* Thus having lived to the sixtieth year of my age, and
the fortieth of my coming thither, at which time I sent for
all of them to bring their children, and there were in numbes
descended from me by these four women, of my children,
grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, five hundred and
sixty-five of both sorts, I took off the males of one family,
and married them to the females of another, not letting any

64 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

to marry their sisters, as we did formerly out of necessity, so
blessing God for his providence and goodness, I dismist
them. I having taught some of my children to read for-
merly, for I had still the Bible left, I charged it should be
read once a moneth, at a general meeting. At last one of
my wives died, being sixty-eight years of age, which I buried
in a place set out on purpose ; and within a year after,
another; so I had none now left but my master's daughter,
and we lived together twelve years longer — at length she died
also ; so I buried her also next ihe place where I proposed
to be buried myself, and the tall maid, my first wife, next me,
on the other side, the negro without her, and the other maid
next my master's daughter. I had now nothing to mind,
but the place whether I was to go, being very old, almost
eighty, I gave my cabbin and furniture that was left to my
eldest son, after my decease, who had married my eldest
daughter by my beloved wife, whom I made king and go*
vemour of all the rest. 1 informed them of the manners of
£urope ; and charged them to remember the Christian reli-
gion, after the manner of them that spake the same language,
and to admit no other, ii hereafter any should come and liud
them out.

" And, now, once for all, I summoned them to come to
me, that I might number them, viinch I du), and found the
estimate to coutain, in or about th, eightieth yeai of my
age. uud the fifty ninth of my coming there, HI ail, of all
sorts, one thousand seven hun>.r>-.ti eighty ami nine. TI.us
pray ng God to mu<tiply t« em, auit st-nd them true light of
the G;»»pel, I last of all dins' tlicm : for, being now very
old, and my ijr dt< «yfcd, 1 couid not expect to live long.
1 o tve this narrative, (w alien with my own hand) to my
elu. > son, who now lived with me, commanding him to keep
it, and if any stranger* should come hither by chance, to let
them >e«.r it, and tuke a cop> of it, if they would, that our
uarm be not lost from off the earth. 1 gave this people
(descended from me) the name of the .English Pines, George

ISLE OP PINES. £5

Pine being my name, and my master's daughter's name Sarah
English; my two other wives were Mary Sparkes, and
Elizabeth Trevor, so their several descendants are called the
English, the Sparkes, and the Trevors, and the Phills, from
the cbristian name of the negro, which was Philippa, she having
no surname, and the general name of the whole of the Eng-
lish Pines ; whom God bless with the dew of heaven and the
fat of the earth. Amen."

Thus, Sir, have I given you a brief but true relation of
bur voyage, which I was more willing todo, to prevent false
copies which might be spread of this nature. As for the
Island of Pines itself, which caused me to write this relation,
I suppose it is a thing so strange as will hardly be credited
by some, although perhaps knowing persons, especially con-
sidering oar last age being full of discoveries, that this place
should lie dormant for so long a space of time ; others, 1
know, are such nullifutians, as will believe nothing but what
they see, applying that proverb unto us, that travellers may
lye by authority. But, Sir, in writing to you, I question not
but to give credence, you knowing my disposition so hateful
to divulge falsities. 1 shall request you to impart this my
relation to Mr. W. W. and Mr. P. L., remembering me very
kindly unto them ; not forgetting my old acquaintance Mr.
J. P. and Mr. J. B. No more at present ; but only my
best respects to you and your second self. I rest,
Your's, in the best of friendship,
HENRY CORNELIUS VAN

July 22, 1668.

AN OX ON THE TOP OF A HOUSE.

THE following extraordinary accident occurred about fite
o'clock on the morning of Friday, the 14th of November,
1817, in Caermarthen : — As a drove of oxen were passing

2

56 KIRBY'S WONDERFUI MUSEUM.

through Spilman-street, one of them strayed to the Castle-
green, whence, in his headlong course, he fell over the pre-
cipice facing the bridge, upon a house, of which the inha-
bitants were asleep in bed. It will naturally be supposed,
that the terror and alarm excited on the occasion were great. -
Fortunately, however, part of the roof fell in, while the ox
vas balancing athwart a beam, exactly over a bed, in which
were two children, fast asleep, and who were awakened by a
rafter falling upon the bed. The parents had hardly removed
these poor children from their perilous situation, when the
beam, giving way, fell with its burden upon the bed. Not-
withstanding all the alarm and bustle created by this occur-
rence, we are happy to add, no personal injury was sustained
on the occasion ; Mid what is remarkable, the ox does not
appear to have suit-red materially from this extraordinary
descent. — From the Gloucester Herald.

TIMES, November Q7th, 1817-

• SS.MJ;' --fa-- t-,

.

THE PERUVIAN GIANT,

BASILIO HUAYLAS.

THE giant Basilio Huaylas, here represented, came in
May, 1792, from the town of Joa, to Lima, in South Ame-
rica, and publicly exhibited himstlf. He is by birth an In-
dian, from the province of Castro Virreyna, and was then
twenty-four years old. He measured upward of seven Cas-
tilian feet two inches m height. The different parts of his
body are not duly proportioned. From the waist, upwards,
they are of prodi^i>,u- dimension!* The head forms nearly
one-third of his stature ; his shoulders are five-sixths of an
ell in breadth ; and his -arms are so long, that when he stands
upright, the t-nds < f his fingers reach to his knees. From
the waist, dowuwarus, his limits are of much smaller dimen-

ACCIDENT AND PRESERVATION. 57

sions. The right leg is an inch shorter than the left, owing,
it is said, to a blow which he received in his youth.

This Engraving is copied from an original painting, iu
which, a musician with a harp, is placed beside Huaylas,
as a standard to judgi- of his extraordinary stature.

ACCIDENT AND PRESERVATION.

RAMSGATE, Nov. 28, 1817. — A distressing occurrence
happened in this neighbourhood, early yesterday morning: —
A sergeant, corporal, and three private marines, stationed at
this place for the prevention of smuggling, were out on duty
during the night, and having proceeded upon the sands to a
place called Dumpton-stair-gateway, between this place and
Bioadstairs, they, for the purpose of shelter, and the more
effectually to secrete themselves, took up a position under a
projection of tl\e cliff, where they remained until day-break,
when the sergeant ordered one of the privates to call in a
party, who were stationed on the opposite side of the gate-
way, nearer to Broadstuirs. The man had gone but a few
paces, when an immense portion of the cliff gave way, and
buried in its lull his four hapless companions. The fall was
so sudden, that it struck his musket from his shoulder, and
he fortunately escaped, though in a very terrified state of
mind, to give an alarm of the fate of his unhappy comrades.
Immediately on iis being known, Mr. D. B. Jarman, an in-
habitant of this town, accompanied by Mr. N. Gott, and a
gang of men from the works at the harbour, proceeded to
the spot, and commenced cutting a trench through the mid-
dle of the chaik ; and after two or three hours' laborious
exertion, they found the sergeant and corporal extended on
their faces, and presenting a most shocking spectacle. In
the course of a few hours more, the two privates were found
as having been in a sitting posture, but with their heads forced
between their legs, and crushed in a most dreadful manner.

58 KlttBV's WONDERFUL MUSfcUM.

The bodies, as taken out, were placed iu a boat, preparatory
to the Coroner's Inquest, the accident having happened
within the limits of the parish of St. Peter.

Sunday Advertiser, and Times, December 1,

SINGULAR ACCOUNTS

OF UNUSUAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN AT A BIRTH.

May 21, 1760. A woman at Rennes, aged thirty-seven,
was delivered of three boys and a girl, much smaller than
new born infants are, and all in good health.

Annual Register, 1760. p. [105.

March 5, 1761. A poor woman at Topsham, in Devon-
shire, was delivered of four children.

Annual Register, 1761. p. [80.

June 4, 1764. A young woman of Netra, in Angerma-
nia, a province in the north of Sweden, was brought to bed
of a boy, on the bth of a girl, the next day another girl, and
died the 10th, in the delivery of a fourth infant.

Annual Register, 1764. p. [91.

December, 1764. The wife of Mr. William Plomer,
clerk to Mr. Willet, in Corn-street, Bristol, was lately deli-
vered of a girl, and in about twelve hours after of two more
girls and a boy. They were baptized by the names of
Hannah, Sarah, Mary, and William ; they were larger than
many turns; and at first seemed very hearty and likely to
live, but died some days after.

Annual Register, 1764. p. [116.

May 31, 1765. Sarah Banks, of Barham, near Thetford,
was lately delivered of three boys and a girl.

Annual Register, 1765. p. [96.

June 1, 1765. The wife of a collier at Sitzeroda, near
Torgtia, in Saxony, was lately delivered of five daughters,
who were all baptized, but died soon after.

Annual Register^ 1765. p. [108.

PROLIFIC K1RTHS. 59

July, 1763. Martha de Orellan, aged 30, wife of Domi-
nic Gouziiles, of Korea in Estremadura, in Spain, was lately
delivered of four children ; three were baptized, the fourth
was still born. Annual Register, 1765. p. [116.

July 3, 1765. Susan, the wife of JohnGuttridge, of Had-
leigh, near Ipswich, pensioner, was delivered of three children;
the two first a boy and a girl, joined together, from the
breast to the umbilical vessels, who died almost as soon as
born. Annual Register, 1765. p. [116.

August 31, 1765. The wife of a porter in Berwick-
street, Soho, was delivered of three girls, and a boy.

Annual Register, 17t>5. p. [134.

April SO, 1765. A woman in the ten-mile Bank between
Ely and Down ham, \vas delivered of a healthy boy, with
fourteen toes, and fourteen fingers.

Annual Register, 1765. p. [69.

May, 1766. At Burrowden, in Rutlandshire, a poor la-
bourer's wife, was safely delivered of three boys and a girl.
The woman did well, but the children all died.

Annual Register, 1766. p. [101.

October, 1766. The wife of a master of a ship at Blyth,
near Newcastle, was safely delivered of five male children,
and likely to do well. Annual Register, 1766. p. [147.

November 29, 1766. The wife of Thomas Coe, of Cam-
bridge, was delivered of two boys and two girls.

Annual Register, 1766. p. [154.

On last Saturday week, the wife of Moses Solomon, a
Jew, in Stoney-lane, Petticoat-lane, was safely delivered of
four children, three girls and a boy, all likely to live.

British Press, January 12, 1803.

A professor of surgery gives an account in the Moniteur
of the two Sicilies, of assisting at a very difficult and extra-
ordinary accouchement, the result of which was, that thirteen
small children were produced, six males and seven females.
He adds, that these children, although of microscopic di-

60 KITIBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

mansions, were as perfectly formed as children born of the
usual size. Observer, June 16, 181 1.

There is now living in a small village near Hornsea, North
Holderness, Yorkshire, a woman who has had three children
at a time, three different times ; twice four children at a
time, and five single births ; and but one girl among them
all. She was married at the age of eighteen, is now thirty-
five, and her-youngest child was on the 2d of April, 1812,
nine years old. She is of the middle size, a neat, dapper,
good-looking woman, and at present in good health. Her
children are all alive, excepting her only daughter, and a boy
who died young ; the girl aged three years, and the boy
eleven months. And what is further remarkable, both these
were single births. The truth of the above is certified by
Mr. John Day, parish clerk of Sigglesthorne ; who has
known the person alluded to from childhood.

Boston Gazette, April 21, 1812.

On the 23d of April, 1812, Mrs. Alexander M'Connell,
of Bangor, was safely delivered of four sons ; and we are
happy to add, that the mother and her four fine little fellows
are doing well. Belfast News Letter.

On Friday se'nnight, the wife of William Satchwell,

button turner, of Walmer-lane, Birmingham, was delivered

of four children (three of them alive). The poor woman

and two of the children have every appearance of doing well.

Cumberland Packet, May 5, 1812.

March 12, 1813. The four boys of Gilbert Crown, and
Rose, his wife, of No. 16, Colchester-street, Whitechapel,
born on Sunday, March 7, 1813, (the same evening they
were all baptized by the Rev. Dr. Mathias, by the names of
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John ; they were rather small ;)
are at present all living, and, with the mother, doing well.
This uncommon occurrence has excited much of public cu-
riosity, and has brought many visitors to the house, who have
not left it without proofs of their benevolence. The father,

PROLIFIC BIRTHS. 61

though poor, promises to give a faithful account of them ;
and the Rev. Dr. Mathias, rector of the parish, and Mr.
Clarance, grocer, No. 26, High-street, Whitechapel, (to
whose management the monies will be intrusted), have made
themselves responsible for thf ri^ht application of them.
Morning Post, March 12, 1813.

August 15, 1817- At Framingham, near Norwich, the
wife of Edward Rigby, M. D. of Norwich, of three sons
and a daughter. Before the birth of these little ones, Dr.
Rigby was the father of eight children, the two eldest of
whom are twins. Remarkable as is the above event, there
are circumstances which render it peculiarly so. Dr. Rigby
is a great grandfather; and probably never before were
born, at one birth, three great uncles, and a great aunt ; such
being the relationship between the above-mentioned parties
and the infant son of Mr. John Bawtree, jun. of Colchester.
The Corporation of Norwich have voted a piece of plate,
value twenty-five guineas, to Dr. Rigby and his lady, as a
memento of the birth at one time of their four children.
The event is to be recorded in the city books, and inscribed
with the names of the children on the plate.

Nov. 3. — Died, aged eleven weeks and three days, John,
the infant son of Dr. Rigby, of Norwich, being the first in
the series of the late quadruple birth; and November 5,
aged eleven weeks and five days, Caroline Susan, the fourth
in the series, and last surviving child ; (Charles Henry, the
second in the series, having died October 12, and the third
in the series some days before him).

Gentleman's Magazine, Nov. 1817, pp. 273, 464, and 478.

The wife of a labouring man, named Joseph Richardson,
of Cooksey, near Broomsgrove, Warwickshire, was deli-
vered, on the 23d of March, of four children at one birth,
all girls. They are likely to live, and the mother is going
on well. He has three children in addition to the above.

Times, April 3, 1819.

0$ KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

SINGULAR PRESERVATION,

AFTEH FALLING DOWN AN OLD SHAFT NINETY-SIX FEET
DEEP, IN CORNWALL.

ON Sunday evening, March 3, 1816, Mr. John Holman,
a farmer of Perran, Cornwall, was returning from a place of
worship, across a common, to his own house. A heavy
mist falling, he mistook his way, and fell into an exposed
shaft of a mine, ninety-six feet deep, besides nine feet of
water in the bottom ; and, almost miraculously, he reached
the water without receiving any serious injury. Being an
expert swimmer, he kept himself afloat during the night, oc-
casionally relieving himself by clinging to the projecting
points of the rock in the sides of the shaft. The return of
daylight, on Monday, enabled him to see a kind of ledge, on
which he contrived to get, and on which he lay the whole of
Monday, calling for assistance ; but no person approached
the place, and Monday night came on whilst he continued
in his perilous situation ; where, overcome by fatigue, he fell
asleep, and again fell into the water. The darkness of the
night prevented his regaining his resting-place, and he had
to support himself as before, until Tuesday morning, when
he regained the spot from which he fell. He had now be-
come quite hoarse from cold, and almost incessant calling
for help ; so that the only resource he had for drawing the
attention of those whom, he supposed, would be sent to
seek for him, was by throwing stones into the water. Tues-
day night came without affording him any relief; but the
terror of again falling into the water effectually prevented
his sleeping. On Wednesday, however, the noise made by
the stones which he continued to throw into the water, at-
tracted the attention of some persons whom his distressed
family had dispatched iu search of his remains, and he was
extricated from the dreadful abyss, without sustaining any
serious contusion. Observer, March 10, 1816.

DEATH FROM FRIGHT. 63

DEATH FROM FRIGHT.

AN inquisition was taken, August £0, 1618, before Hugh
Lewis, Esq. at the Pine Apple, Pimlico, on the body of
Mrs. Mary Banday, of Palace-street, Pimlico. Sarah Gar-
ner deposed, that she was servant to the deceased ; she had
lived with her about nine years. On Tuesday morning,
about one o'clock, she heard a violent knocking at the street-
door : she got up immediately, opened the window, and saw
two watchmen at the door. They called out, that there
were thieves in the house, and they wished to come in, to
search for them. She was going down stairs, to let the
watchmen in, when the deceased called to know what was
the matter ; she told her what the watchmen said, and the
deceased went in, an apparent fright to her chamber. Wit-
ness opened the door, and the watchmen searched about the
premises, and could find no one, though a gentleman said
that he had seen a man get over the railings of the area.
Witness returned up stairs, and the deceased seemed greatly
frightened. She endeavoured to pacify her ; but her terror
was so great, that she fell on the floor, and soon became
senseless ; a surgeon was sent for ; she died in three hours
after. Her death was occasioned, in witness's opinion, from
excessive fright.

Mr. Charles Edward Clarke, surgeon, Pimlico, stated,
that he was called on Tuesday morning to attend the de-
ceased, and found her lying in the drawing-room in a sense-
less state. He endeavoured to stimulate the system, and
restore animation, but failed. She died at five o'clock the
same morning. The death of the deceased might have been
produced by excessive terror.

The jury then took a view of the body, and observed a
blackness round the throat, and on the shoulder. The sur-
geon at their request went and examined the body; and
when he returned, he said, the marks were produced by the
strings of the deceased's cap being tied tight round her
throat, and the blackness on the shoulder was from putre-

64 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUST. DM.

faction. The jury consulted for some time, and agreed to
return the following verdict. " The death of the deceased was
produced by excessive fright." Times, August 21, 1818.

CAVJERNS NEAR LAKE ONTARIO.

WE are informed, says the Northern Whig, by a gentle-
man from Sackett's Harbour, that a very remarkable cavern
has lately been discovered near that place, on the shore of
Lake Ontario. Our informant, in company with five others,
descended about thirty feet, and proceeded more than half a
mile through various apartments, wonderfully wrought by
nature, some of which were ten feet high, and others barely
sufficient to pass with difficulty. Through inattention, the
torches with which they descended, went out, and the com-
pany remained in despair, momently expecting to perish, for
five hours ; when a person left at ihe entrance, alarmed at
their long absence, entered with a few neighbours, and res-
cued them from destruction. The air of the cavern was
very impure, and respiration extremely difficult.

Courier , August 5, 1815.

A REMARKABLE SMALL HORSE

IN INDIA.

LIEUT.-COLONEL FiTZCLARENCE, in his Journal of a
Route across India, through Egypt to England, page 112,
says —

" On the army taking possession of Nagpoor, our princi-
pal inducement for visiting the stable was the fame of a
little horse, four years old, and only thirty-three inches high.
This diminutive creature was, I think, the most beautiful
model of a horse in miniature I ever saw. It was very
playful, perhaps vicious; and when I stood across it on tiptoe,
it attacked my knees on its sides, striving to bite them."

isJifd A?/ R

ABRAHAM THORNTON. 65

EXTRAORDINARY CASE

OF

ABRAHAM THORNTON,

ACCUSED AND TRIED FOR VIOLATION OF THE PERSON,
AND WILFUL MURDliR, OF MARY ASHFORD.

NEVER was a case of more interest brought forward to
public notice, than that of the unfortunate Mary Ashford, a
female of strict virtue, and represented as possessing every
grace of person that could ornament the human frame, who
untimely fell a victim to the brutal lust of some base mur-
derer ! Circumstances, and those too of the strongest
proofs, fixed the crime on Abraham Thornton, who was in
consequence apprehended, and took his trial at the county
hall, Warwick, August 8, 1817, for this. offence. When,
after a minute investigation of evidence, which occupied the
attention of the court upwards of twelve hours and a half,
the prisoner, to the surprise and disappointment of most un-
prejudiced persons, obtained a verdict of acquittal.

The only difficulty that seemed to dwell on the minds of
the jury, was the variation of time that was sworn to, as
when the deceased and Thornton ueio last seen together.
By his own voluntary confession, he admitted he had been
in her company at four o'clock on the fatal v morning; and
her bonnet, shoes, and bundle, were discovered near the pit
where she met her death, by a labouring man soon after the
clock struck five. Thornton evidently was indebted for his
escape, to the variation in the different country time pieces,
one of which was proved by a respectable and competent
witness, to have been forty-one minutes too fast.

Under every circumstance, it was deemed requisite to go
to a new trial, which only could be effected by the appeal
of the next of kin to the murdered party ; and in conse-
quence, William Ashford, the deceased's brother, became
appellant. On Thursday, October 9th, 1817, Abraham
Thornton was again apprehended by virtue of a warrant

VOL. VI. F

66 KIEBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

issued by the high sheriff of the county of Warwick, and
lodged in the county gaol, from whence he was removed,
November 5th following, to London, in order to appear in
the Court of King's Bench the next day, to put in his an-
swer, or to plead the general issue.

The Law of Appeal has several times been acted on
within the last century ; and the appellees took their trial
at the bar, without the thought of the wager by battle. One
case in particular, was that of James Clough, tried and
acquitted for the wilful murder of a pot-girl at a public-
house in 11 ol born. But on an appeal by the next of kin, he
was a second time indicted, tried, found guilty, and executed
at Tyburn.

Every one was led to think Thornton would have been
again remanded by the court, to take a second trial at War-
wick, or that it would have taken place at the bar of the
court of King's Bench. But Thornton having the skilful
aid of Mr. Reader and Mr. Reynolds for counsel, when
called upon to answer, whether guilty or not guilty, of the
felony and murder whereof he stood appealed, — replied,
on Mr. Reader's putting a slip of paper into his hand,
" Not guilty ; and I am ready to defend the same with my
body ;" and receiving likewise from Mr. Reader, a pair of
large gauntlets, or gloves, one of which he put on, and the
other, in pursuance of an old form, he threw down upon
the floor, between the bar and the bench, for the appellant
to take up. This singular mode of defence staggered the
appellant's counsel ; and not being prepared to argue the
law on the case, obtained from the court some days to pre-
pare and put in a counterplea. This, however, when brought
forward, was answered by a replication of the appellor's ;
and as this feudal law was then unrepealed, the court could
not interfere to do away with this ancient custom, as esta-
blished by our ancestors ; and Thornton a second time
escaped, through the ingenuity of his counsel.

ABRAHAM THORNTON.

The leading feature in this most interesting case, is the
opening speech of the counsel for the prosecution, which
was ably detailed by Mr. Clarke, in the following words :

" Gentlemen of the Jury. — I am of counsel for the pro-
secution ; and, by the indictment, which has just now been
read to you by the officer of the court, the prisoner at the
bar is charged with one of the highest offences that human
nature is capable of committing ; — nothing less than shed-
ding the blood of a fellow-creature! 1 need not enlarge
upon this subject; the crime itself is incapable of aggrava-
tion. It is my painful province, however, to lay before you
a statement of that evidence which will be produced in sup-
port of that charge; and, as it is not my duty, so neither is
it my inclination, to exaggerate any thing upon this occasion ;
but public justice requires that the whole proof should be
brought fully and fairly before you.

" Gentlemen, the deceased was a young girl of the most
fascinating manners, of lovely person, in the bloom and
prime of life, and who, up to the very period of this horrid
transaction, had borne the most irreproachable character;
she was of poor but of honest parents, and had been living
for some length of time under the protection of her uncle,
a small farmer, residing at Langley, in this county. The de-
ceased was well known and well respected in the village of
Erdington, and in the very neighbourhood of the spot where
she fell a victim to the lust and murderous grasp of an as-
sassin I For, it will appear, gentlemen, from the evidence of
an eminent surgeon, who examined the body soon after it
was taken out of the pit, that her person had been violated,
and that, immediately previous to that violation, she had
been a pure virgin. J will forbear, gentlemen, commenting
upon the enormity of this barbarous transaction, but shortly
state to you the facts which will be produced in evidence.
The unfortunate young woman went, on the 26th, from her
uncle's, at Langley, where she lived, to Birmingham. On
her way she called upon Hannah Cox, at Erdington, and ar-

F2

68 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

ranged that she should be back early in the evening to go to
a dance at Tyburn. This was an annual feast, ami a dance
always followed. She was not in the habit of attending
dances, but she did attend at this dance. The prisoner was
there, admired the figure and general appearance of Mary
Ashford, and was heard to say, ' I have been intimate (I
won't use the coarse expression he made use of) with her
sister, and I will have connexion with her, though it should
cost me my life.' He accompanied her from the dancing-
room, and was seen with her at a stile, about three in the
morning. At four she called at her friend Cox's, and was
calm, composed, and in good spirits. On her leaving Er-
dington at this time, between four and five in the morning of
the 27 th, the fatal deed was done which now forms the sub-
ject of your inquiry. Gentlemen, it will be shewn td you
that the footsteps of a man and a woman were traced from
the path through a harrowed field by which she was going
towards Langley. These footmarks exhibited proofs of run-
ning, chasing, and struggling. They, at length, led to a
spot where a distinct impression of the human figure was
found, and a large quantity of coagulated blood was also
discovered ; in the same place were seen the marks of a
man's knees and toes. From that spot, the blood was dis-
tinctly traced for a considerable space on the grass by the
dide of the pathway towards the pit where the body was
found; but along with this blood no footstep was traced.
There was dew upon the grass ; consequently, had any foot
gone along there, the dew would have been brushed away.
It appeared plainly as if a man had walked along the foot-
way carrying a body, from the extremity of which the blood
dropped upon the grass. At the edge of the pit, her shoes,
her bonnet, and her bundle, were found, but only one foot-
step could be seen there, and that was a man's. It was
deeply impressed, and seemed to be 'that of a man who
thrust one foot forward, to heave the body he had in his arms
into the pit. When her body was examined, there were

ABRAHAM THORNTON. 09

marks of laceration upon it, and both her arms had the visi-
ble marks of hands, as if they had pressed them with vio-
lence to the ground In her stomach some duckweeds were
found, which proved that she breathed after she had been
thrown into the water; but the small quantity merely shews
that she had not previously been quite dead. The evidence
of a skilful surgeon will shew that, down to this violence,
she had been a virgin. It is, -there fore, natural to suppose,
that the violent agitation and outrageous injury of such an
assault stunned her and deprived her of animation for the
moment ; that, in this state, she was thrown into the water ;
and that the animation restored for a moment, was instantly
cut off by drowning. Hitherto, however, the prisoner is
not connected with the act; but you will not only find him
with her at three o'clock, you will also find, by his own ad-
mission, that he was with her at four. You will find the
marks of the man's shoes in the running and struggling cor-
respond exactly to his. You will find, by his own admis-
sion, that he was intimate with her ; and this admission
made, not before the magistrate, never till the evident proofs
were discovered on his clothes. Her clothes, too, afford
most powerful evidence. At her friend Cox's, at four in
the morning, she put off her dancing dress, and put on the
dress in winch she had gone to Birmingham. The clothes
she put on there, and which she had on at the time of her
death, are all over bloody and dirtied. The surgeon will
tell you, that the coagulated blood could not have proceeded
except from violence. Therefore, the case appears to have
been, that he had paid attention to her during the night ;—
shewn, perhaps, those attentions which she might naturally
have been pleased with, and particularly from one her supe-
rior in life; but that, afterwards, he waited for her on her
return from Erdington, and first, forcibly violated her, and
then threw her apparently lifeless body into the pit. It will
be attempted to shew you, that he returned home, and that
some other person must have met her, and brought her to

7O KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

the dismal end she met with. But, gentlemen, as footsteps
were traced through the harrowed field to a stile leading to
his father's by the very course he took, and he admits an in-
timacy with her, that is a circumstance of the utmost im-
portance, and you will bear in mind, that he did not admit
this till the proofs were adduced against him. [//ere Mr.
Reader expostulated with Mr. Clarke, for making such ob-
servations.] Gentlemen, the evidence will be laid before
you. From it you will form your judgment, and 1 desire
you to lay out of view every thing that I may have said, un-
less it shall be confirmed by the learned judge who presides
at this trial.

THE EVIDENCE.

In support of the charge the follow ing witnesses were called :
HANNAH Cox sworn. Examined by Mr. Sergeant Cop-
let/. 1 lived in the service of Mr. Machell, of Erdington, in
the mouth of May last. I slept at my mother-in-law's, Mrs.
Butler, on the morning of the 2?th ; her house is nearly op-
posite to my master's. I was acquainted with Mary Ash-
ford; she lived with her uncle, at Langley Heath, about
three miles from Erdington. I know her grandfather very
well ; he lives in the same parish, at the top of Bell Lane,
against Mr. Freeman's. I remember Mary Ashford coming
to Erdington on the morning of Monday, the 26th of May.
She called on me at Mr. MachelPs, about ten o'clock, on
her road to Birmingham maiket; she had on a pink cotton
frock, a straw bonnet, with straw-coloured ribbons, a scarlet
spencer, a pair of black stockings, and a pair of half boots.
We agreed to go to a dance at Tyburn. On her return from
market in the evening, she had a bundle with her, which she
left with Mrs. Butler, my mother-in-law ; it contained a
clean cotton frock, a white muslin spencer, and a pair of
white cotton stockings. The deceased returned about six
o'clock in the evening, and called on me at Machell's.
I went with her to Mrs. Butler's, where she put on the
clean dress she had left there in the morning, and a new

ABRAHAM THORNTON. 71

pair of shoes, which I bought for her at a shoemaker's at
Erdiugton in the course of the day. The clothes she pulled
off she made up into a bundle, and left at Butler's. We
set off for Tyburn between seven and eight o'clock. The
dance was at a public-house there, kept by Mr. Daniel
Clarke. Tyburn is about two miles from Erdington, and by
the side of the turnpike-road. I did not pass the whole of
the evening in the dancing-room ; I might be in the room
about a quarter of an hour. Whilst I was there I saw
Mary Ashford dancing, but do not recollect that I saw the
prisoner there. 1 left the public-house alone, between
eleven and twelve o'clock. Mary Ashford was at the room
door when I was going ; she told me she would not be long
before she followed me. I walked to the bridge, which is
but a short distance from Clarke's, and waited for her there
some length of time. Whilst I was standing on the bridge,
Benjamin Carter came to me. I sent him back for Mary
Ashford, who came to me soon after, in company with the
prisoner Thornton. All four of us then proceeded towards
Erdington. The prisoner and Mary Ashford went on first,
Carter remained talking with me a few minutes, and I then
followed them. About ten minutes afterwards Carter over-
took me ; he continued with me a short time, and then said
he would go back to the dance. Upon leaving Carter, I
walked on and joined Mary Ashford and the prisoner, and
parted vxith them between Reeves's and the Old Cuckoo, a
little before you come to the road on the left, which leads to
Erdington. I did not go with them to the place where the
road separates, but very near it. I walked to Erdington
alone, and when I got to Mrs. Butler's, I went to bed.
About twenty minutes before five I was knocked up by the
deceased. I immediately got up and let her into the house.
She was in the same dress as she was the over night. It
was not in the least disordered ; she appeared perfectly calm
and in good spirits. The deceased then changed her dress,
•:;i:d put on the pink frock, scarlet spencer, and black stock-

72 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

ings, which she had left at my mother-in-law's the evening
before. Her new shoes she kept on. She remained in
the house, as near as 1 can guess, a quarter of an hour. My
mother's clock was too fast. After tying her clothes up
into a bundle, in which she had got her market things, she
left the house, and I never saw her again.

BENJAMIN CARTER sworn. Examined by Mr. Per-
kins- I am a farmer's son. I live at Erdiugton. I was at
the dance at Tyburn, on Monday, the 26lh of May. The
prisoner and Mary Ashford were there; they danced toge-
ther. I left between eleven and twelve o'clock, and fol-
lowed Hannah Cox to the bridge, which is about twenty
yards from the house. I stopped w'ith her about a quarter
of an hour. She desired me to go back to Clarke's, and
fetch Mary Ashford, which I did. About a quarter of au
hour afterwards the deceased came to us upon the bridge ; she
was accompanied by Abraham Thornton. We then took
the road towards Erdiiigton. The prisoner and the deceased
walked on first; Hannah Cox and I followed. We overtook
Thornton and Ashford near the road leading to Mr. Free-
man's. I then left Cox, telling her that I would return to
the dance. I returned again, and overtook the prisoner and
the deceased a second time, between Reeves's and Potter's.
I walked with them as far as the turn of the road, and then
went home. 1 never saw any thing more of the deceased
that night.

JOHN HOMPIDGE sworn. Examined by Mr. Clarice.
I live at Witton, near the village of Erdington. A little be-
fore three in the morning of the 27th of May last, I was
sitting in Mr. Reynolds's house, near Penn's Mill, when I
Beard some persons talking out of doors. As they passed by
the house J Heard their voices very distinctly. 1 continued to
hear a conversation, with some little intermission, till within
a few mm. tcs of my leaving the house. I left about three
o'clock. I did not see any body immediately on my going
out ; but, a few minutes after, when I got into the Ford-

ABRAHAM THORNTON. 73

drift, I saw a man and woman sitting on the stile leading into
Bell-lane. On reaching the stile I observed the prisoner,
whom I knew ; I bid him good morning, and he answered
me. I did not discern who the young girl was ; she held
down her head, so that I could not see her face. 1 left them
at the stile, proceeded, and saw no more of them afterwards.

THOMAS ASPREE sworn. Examined by Mr. Sergeant
Copley. I live at Erdington; and knew the deceased per-
fectly well. On the morning of the 2?th, I remember going
down Bell-lane, and passing by Greensall's house, leaving
Erdingtou on my left, and the lane on my right hand. I saw
Mary Ashford in the lane, walking very fast towards Erding-
ton. She was then against the horse pit, which is on the right
hand side. 1 looked up the lane, in the direction in which
she was coming, but saw no other person there, or any
where about. This was about half past three o'clock.

JOHN CHESTERTON sworn. Examined by Mr. Per-
kins. I live at Erdington, with Mr. Thomas Greensall, a
farmer. 1 was up fettling my master's horses, on the morn-
ing of the 2?th of May, soon after two o'clock. The stable
looks towards the road which leads into the village. I put
my horses to the waggon about four o'clock, and then went
to the pit in Bell-lane, to water them. I then drove the
team through the village, on my way to Birmingham. I
knew Mrs. Butler's house. I had passed it a little way,
vvheu I looked back, and saw Mary Ashford coming out of
the entry. I smacked my whip, and she turned and looked
towards me. This was about ten minutes past four o'clock.
The deceased turned up Bell-lane, towards Freeman and
Penn's, and seemed to be in a hurry. I saw no other per-
son in the lane but her ; the road was broad, and a person
might see up it for a great distance.

JOSEPH DAWSON sworn. Examined by Mr. Clarke.
1 am a labourer. I rose on the morning of the 27th of
May, a little before four o'clock. I met Mary Ashford
near to Henry Holmes's ; she was coming towards Erding-
ton, as I was going to the Swan, which is very near Ma-

74 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

chell's house. We asked each other how we did. This
was, as near as I can guess, about a quarter past four. The
deceased had a bundle on her left arm, and was dressed in a
straw bonnet, and a scarlet spencer. Holmes's, the place
where I met her, is between Butler's house and Bell-lane.
When I parted with her, she proceeded up Bell-lane, at a
smartish pace. I saw no person with her, or near the lane,
at that time.

THOMAS BROADHURST sworn. Examinedby Mr. Ser-
geant Copley. — I was, on the morning of the 27lh of May,
on that part of the Chester road which leads from Tyburn
to Stennall. When I was very near to Freeman's house, I
saw Mary Ashford crossing the turnpike road, from Bell-
lane. She was going from Erdington, in the direction of
Penn's Mill. She had a bundle on one of her a.ms, and
was walking very fast. This, as near as I can judge, was
about twenty minutes past four o'clock by the day. When
I got home, it wanted twenty minutes to five by my clock,
which was a quarter of an hour too fast. I was about seven
minutes in walking home.

GEORGE JACKSON sworn. Examined by Mr. Perkins.
I am a labourer. I live in Hurst-sircet, Birmingham. I
was at the top of Moor-street, on the morning of the 2?th
of May, when the clock struck five. I was then on my road
to a place between Newhall-fields and Sutton, where I was
going to work ; and went by the way of Erdington work-
house and Penn's Mill. I turned out of Bell-lane, and took
to the footpath which leads to the mill. On coming near to
a pit, I discovered a bonnet, a pair of shoes, and a bundle,
lying close by the edge of the slope which leads down to the
pit. Observing one of the shoes smeared with blood, I was
alarmed, and I immediately hurried from the spot to get some
assistance. Lavell's house being the nearest, I called there,
and having told Lavell what I had seen, he returned with me
to the pit, where he stopped until I went to Penu's Mill, to
fetch more assistance. On my road there, about thirty yards
distant from the pit, I saw drops of blood on the foot road,

— I

ABRAHAM THORNTON. 75

continued in a zig-zag direction, for nearly two yards. There
was some blood also on some grass more to the left of the
pit, and a much larger quantity by the side of a bush. After
relating what I had seen, at the works at Penn's Mill, I
returned with some assistance to the pit, and then went to
my work.

WILLIAM LAVELL sworn. Examined by Mr. Clarke.
I am a workman belonging to Penn's Mills. I recollect see-
ing George Jackson, on the morning of the 27th of May.
In consequence of what 1 heard from him, I went to the
pit. In going along the ploughed field towards Erdington,
I examined the foot-path, to see if I could see any foot-
steps—and 1 soon discovered several impressions of a man's
foot ; the toe part of which were pointing to the corner of
the field, where there is a dry pit. About eight yards further,
on the foot-path, I saw the impression of a woman's foot,
leading to the right, in the same direction as the man's ; I
traced them for fifteen yards further. [By the plans pro-
duced, it seemed as if the woman, going towards Langley,
had made an attempt to pass the man, by running out of the
path, and making a circuitous race out of liis line : and that
the man, (who had been either waiting for her, or coming on
to meet her,) seeing this, had run out of the path to intercept
her. It was clear, also, that she had been coming from
Erdington, and that he had been moving in a contrary direc-
tion.] They then came together ; and from that spot I
traced the footsteps of both to the corner of the field, within
a dozen yards of the dry pit, near to which appeared a number
of foot-marks in all directions, apparently made by two per-
sons dodging each other, or as if one had been pursued by the
other. The foot-marks up to this spot appeared to have
been made by two persons running. I then traced the foot-
steps upon the grass near to the dry pit, and from thence to
another pit in the harrowed field. These footsteps appeared
to be made by persons walking. The woman's footsteps
were sometimes on the harrowed ground, and sometimes on
the grass at the edge of the field ; the man's were mostly

76 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

on the harrowed part. I then traced them to the water pit,
in the harrowed field ; the woman's I suddenly lost sight of,
but I saw those of the man to the very edge of the path.
On the opposite side of the pit, I saw footsteps on the har-
rowed ground, in a contrary direction to those I have de-
scribed; they extended more than three parts across the field,
they took a turn to the left, crossed the foot-path near (the
middle of the field, and continued up to the gate at the far
corner of the piece. These footsteps appeared to be the
footsteps of a man running. There were no impressions of
a woman's shoe to be seen in this last tracing. The field
into v\ hich the gate leads is a clover field, leading towards
Pipe-hall. A person at the spot where the tracks ceased,
wanting to go to Castle- Bromwich, might, by going through
this piece, and others, upon trespass, go a much nearer way
than by the regular turnpike-road. The nearest regular road
to Castle- Bromwich, from Penn's Mill, is up the foot-path
towards Erdington and through Bell-lane. I afterwards
went to the field with Joseph Bird, with a pair of the pri-
soner's shoes. They were what are called rights and lefts.
We compared them particularly with a dozen of the tracks ;
they fitted exactly ; and I have not the least doubt the other
impressions of a man's foot I had tracked in different parts
of the field were made by the same shoes. We compared
the shoes with the tracks on the foot-path, with the footsteps
which first went off the foot-road, with those where the
doubling was, with those which appeared to be made by a
person running, with those leading to the gate, and with those
near the pit, and they all exactly corresponded. I covered
some of the man's tracks with boards, that they might not
be disturbed, either by the weather, or by persons walking
about. Among those that were covered, there were two that
were very plain ; they evidently \y,ere made by a man's shoe
that had had two square-headed nails in a particular direc-
tion ; on examining the prisoner's shoe, there were two nails
projecting out of the shoe, which corresponded with the
impres&ion on the ground with the greatest exactness. These

A

OF THE SPOT

A The Jpot where, the Rape was committed , and where wa,f seen the
•t'ffi of a human figure extended .

2. Here it appeared that the body -wo*? puf~ down, as there waf a, con-
siderable i/uantily of blood near the placs.Jl track of blood
was discovered from N?l.

3. From thir ,rpot it is supposed the body was thnnvii /////< //tc /n't .

frvm 2??'2. towards ffie edtje of die pit, drops of blood \\-rre .w/i .

4. JuTe leading into the harrowed field, near to whicfi it i.>- i//m*fined

the Murderer lot/ in- wait for the unfortunate Girl .

6. Gate leading to fenns Milt .

ABRAHAM THORNTON. 77

tracks were near the dry pit, where the doubling was. We
then compared the shoes of the deceased with the tracks of
the woman, and they agreed in every situation, I know the
pit, in which the body of the deceased was found. Near the
edge of the slope on the pit side, I saw one footstep, which
appeared to have been made by the left foot of a man stand-
ing sideways, inclining towards the pit. There were no
foot-marks upon the slope. I saw a bundle, a bonnet, and a
pair of shoes on the edge of the slope ; they were the same
•hoes with which I compared the woman's foot-marks. I
discovered some blood below the gate, and about forty yarda
from the pit; and for fourteen yards nearer, there appeared
to be a train of blood. I traced it for fifteen yards across the
foot-path, and on the clover, in the direction of the pit.; I
saw no footsteps in the clover, the dew was on it at that
time. On the foot-path there were the impressions of a
man's shoe ; and the clover which was bloodied was about a
foot from it. The blood, which at first appeared to be a
regular train, terminated in drops.

JOSEPH BIRD sworn. Examined by Mr. Sergeant Cop-
ley. I was called to go to the pit on the morning of the
27th of May last. I found Lavell, the last witness, there,
with some other persons. I accompanied him into the har-
rowed field, for the purpose of tracking the footsteps. We
took the shoes both of the prisoner and the deceased with
us, and went on the foot-path which crosses the harrowed
field, and leads towards Erdington. In going along the field,
I observed the footsteps described by the last witness : those
of the man, turning across the foot-path up to the corner of
the piece — those of the woman, on going a little further to-
wards Erdington, turning to the right ; and those of the man
and woman meeting each other, and continuing in a straight
line towards the dry pit. In the corner of the piece, the
footsteps appeared to have been made by two persons who
had been dodging each other : the footsteps, from the turning
off at the path, appeared to have been made by a man and

78 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

woman running ; this I judge from the length of the stride,
and the depth of the step. From the deep impression at
the top of the shoe, I thought the woman must have ran
upon her toes ; the man's step appeared to be that of a heavy
person running fast; the heel of the shoe had struck very
deep into the soil. From the dry pit at the corner, the tracks
took a direction along the hedge side to the bottom of the
ploughed field ; the tracks appeared here to have been made
by persons walking; the strides were shorter, and the impres-
sions not so deep. I traced these steps very near to the
water pit. It was a dewy morning, and I could discern, in
some places, the print of a woman's shoe, sometimes on the
grass and sometimes on the ploughed land; the man's, I
think, were never off the grass. I tracked the marks of a
man's foot from the pit turning short to the left across
the path to the gate at the farthermost end of the
field ; they were those of a man only ; they seemed to be
made by a person running. At this spot, there were two
tracks, which we covered with a board ; we examined them
thoroughly. I first looked at the impression made by a shoe
of the right foot. I knelt down and blowed the dirt out, and
discovered two nail marks in the toe part of the impression ;
a bit of wood which had come between the person's foot and
the ground, had raised the foot, and inclined it a little on that
side, which made the impression much deeper in that part
than in any other. I got the prisoner's shoes from Tyburn
about one o'clock ; I examined them with the man's foot-
steps, and they precisely agreed ; and the shoe of his right
foot, which had two nails near the toe, precisely correspond-
ed with the impressions on the ground. There were also
about two inches round the toe of the shoe without nails —
there were then nails again — another space occurred — and
then nails again. This position of the nails appeared also in
the foot-marks. I examined the footsteps of the woman
also, with the shoe of Mary Ashford, and they exactly cor-
responded ; this was about ten o'clock. 1 have not the least

ABRAHAM THORNTON. 7Q

doubt on my mind but that the tracks of the man and woman,
which I noticed in the field, were made by the shoes of the
prisoner and the deceased. From the gate to where the
footsteps of the man led there was no road. A person pur-
suing the man's footsteps from the gate would be led into the
Chester road, considerably before he got to Tyburn-house.
A person going to Castle- Biomwich by the regular turnpike
road, must have passed Tyburn-house, and several other
houses. By turning to the right, a person might get to
Castle-Bromwich over the fields, upon trespass, and so avoid
passing Tyburn- house. There is no foot-path that way, ex-
cept a bit of a road that turns off by Samuel Smith's, which
is used by the market people, and leads to Occupation-bridge,
and crosses the Canal by the side of Adams' piece. In pur-
suing that road a person could either get to Mr. Holden's,
by walking upon the towing path, or along the road.

JAMES SIMMON DS sworn. Examined by Mr. Perkins.
1 am a labourer. I was at Penn's Mills on the morning of
the 27th of May last. I accompanied two or three persons
to the pit ; the first thing I observed was a bonnet, a pair of
woman's shoes, and a bundle. I then dragged the pit with
a heel-rake and a pair of long reins, three or four times, and
succeeded in bringing up the body of Mary Ashford. There
were some leaves and mud about her face. This was about
eight o'clock in the morning.

JOHN WEBSTER, Esq. sworn. Examined by Mr.
Clarke. I am the proprietor of a considerable manufactory
at Penn's Mills. I recollect the body of Mary Ashford
being extricated from a pit on the morning of the 2?th of
May; it was just brought to the edge of the pit when I
arrived. As near as I can judge it was about eight o'clock.
I ordered the body to be immediately taken to Lavell's house,
and the bonnet, bundle, and shoes with it. I examined the
ground on all sides of the pit, and, about forty yards from it,
observed a considerable quantity of blood — as much as I
could cover with my extended hand. On examining the spot

2

80 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

more closely, I discovered on the grass the impression of a
human figure ; the legs of the figure were extended, and the
arms stretched out to the full length. In the centre of the
figure was a small quantity of blood, and, at the feet, a con-
'siderable quantity of coagulated blood, the same which first
caught my attention. Between the extension of the legs
were the marks of knees and the toes of a man's large shoes;
I judged them to have been made by the same person. I
traced blood for nearly ten yards up the foot-path, in the di-
rection of the pit. A little further from the pit, and near
the stile, on the other side, in a contrary direction from the
harrowed field, there was the mark of "some person who had
sat down. I could not tell exactly whether it was made by
one or more persons. I then retired from the spot to dress,
but returned in the course of an hour afterwards. I accom-
panied Bird into the harrowed field, and there perceived
traces of a man and woman's foot. J sent for the shoes
which had been taken to Lavell's house with the body.
They were brought; and I examined them with the foot-
marks on the ground, and they perfectly corresponded. I
have not the least doubt in my own mind, that the footsteps
I there saw were made by the shoes of the deceased. One
of the shoes was stained with blood a little on the outside,
and the other, a little in the inside.

[The shoes of the deceased were then produced by a police-
officer, and handed to his Lordship and the Jury for examina-
tion ; they were marked with blood in the manner described
by Mr. Webster, who stated them to be the same which were
found at the edge of the pit, on the 2?th of May.]

By the Court. The black spot observable on the outside
of one of the shoes, Mr. Webster, is, I suppose, one of the
marks you allude to ?

Mr. Webster. It is, my Lord ; the marks of blood were
very plain, when I first saw them ; they are now much
darker.

Examination of Mr. Webster continued, I then went to

ABRAHAM THORNTON. 01

La veil's to examine the body of the deceased. I perceived
marks on each arm, which appeared to me to have been made
by the grasp of a man's hand. I saw the clothes the body
had on ; they consisted of a red spencer, a pink coloured
gown, and a pair of black worsted stockings. The seat of
the gown was in a very dirty state ; and I observed some
blood upon other parts of it. These were the same clothes
which I had sent from the pit with the body, and intrusted to
the care of LavelPs wife. Next day, I had them sent to my
house ; where they were put under lock and key in my pos-
session, until they were given to Dale, the police-officer. I
know Butler's house very well. After the first examination
of the prisoner at Tyburn, I went to examine her clock. I
compared it with my own watch, which I consider to be a
very accurate one, and found it to be forty-one minutes too
fast. My watch was set by Mr. Crompton's, which, I be-
lieve, keeps time very correctly.

FA N N Y L A v E L L s worn . Examined by Mr. Sergeant Cop-
ley. I am the wife of William Lavell. I remember the body of
Mary Ashford being brought to my house, on the morning of
the 27th of May. Mr. Webster gave me a bundle of clothes;
it was undone by him in my presence. He also delivered to
me a pair of shoes and a bonnet. I delivered the whole of
them back to him the next day, in the same condition in which
they were given to me. I undressed the body of the de-
ceased. Her clothes were in a very dirty condition ; they
were very bloody. The pink gown was particularly so in
the seat. The blood had stiffened them so much in some
parts that I was obliged to tear some of them off. The
front of the shift had a rent of about five or six inches in
length.

By the Court. Did you perceive the marks of blood
upon the black stockings? A. I can't say I did, my Lord.

Fanny LavelFs examination continued. I examined the
dresses of the deceased. The gown in which she danced
had a small drop of blood on the seat ; the white stockings

VOL. VI. G

82 KIBBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

too had marks of blood upon them; the back and every
other part of the gown was clean, and the muslin spencer
appeared to be but little soiled. The deceased had made no
preparation for the return of her monthly complaint. She
had no flannel petticoat on.

[Thomas Dale, the police-officer, here produced a bundle,
which he stated to be the same he had received from Mr.
Webster. It was sealed up by Mr. Webster before it was
given to him. The seal was then broke, and the two dresses
of the deceased handed to the jury. The pink gown, as de-
scribed by Mrs. Lavell, appeared to be much bloodied, and
the mark of a drop of blood was observable on one of the
black stockings.]

MABY SMITH sworn. Examined bjy Mr. Perkins. I
live at Penn's Mills. On the 27th of May I assisted in ex-
amining the body of the deceased. It was then lying at the
house of William Lavell, and might be about half past ten
o'clock in the morning. The body ut that time was not cold.
I did not see the clothes of the deceased taken off. On
each arm, just above the elbow, was a black mark, which
appeared to have been made by the grasp of fingers. The
lower parts of her body were very bloody j I could not tell
the cause.

W. BEDFOED, Esq. sworn. Examined by Mr. Clarke.
I am a magistrate for this county. The prisoner was brought
before me, at Tyburn, on the 27 th of May last. The depo-
sition of the prisoner now produced, was taken by me ; it
was read over to him, and signed by him in my presence.

[The deposition was then put in and read. The substance
of it was, that he had been with the deceased very early that
morning, walking about the fields. That, while they were
sitting together on a stile, a man came by, who wished them
good morning. They continued there conversing together
for about a quarter of an hour. He then went part of the
way with the deceased to Mrs. Butler's, and, after stopping
for her at the Green about five minutes, went away, and saw

ABRAHAM THORNTON. 83

/

no more of her. He then proceeded homewards, and met
young Mr. Holden, and a man and woman near his (U.'s)
father's house. After meeting some other persons in and
near Castle- Bromwich, with some of whom he stopped and
conversed, he arrived at his father's house about twenty mi-
nutes to five. He changed his coat and hat, but not his
shoes; although they were wet from walking through the
grass. The deposition further stated, that he had been
drinking a great deal in the course of the night, but that he
was not much intoxicated.]

Mr. Bedford's examination continued. The deposition
just read, was taken by me about one o'clock, on the 27th of
May, at the house of Daniel Clarke, at Tyburn.

THOMAS DALE sworn. Examined by Mr. Sergeant
Copley. I am one of the assistant constables of Birming-
ham. I was applied to on the morning of the 27th of May,
to go to Tyburn-house. I arrived there about ten o'clock,
and took the prisoner into custody. Daniel Clarke, the
landlord, was then in company with him. Mr. Bedford, the
magistrate, arrived there about eleven o'clock. The prisoner
was then in my custody. The prisoner said, when he was
before the magistrate —

Mr. Reynolds. My Lord, I humbly submit to your
Lordship that my learned friend cannot pursue this course of
examination.

Mr. Justice ffolrqyd. Certainly not — if the object is to
make an addition, by oral testimony, to the prisoner's written
examination taken before the magistrate.

Mr. Reader. My Lord, I know the worthy magistrate
before whom this examination was taken, too well to believe
that a fact of any importance transpired which was not put
into the deposition.

Jfr. Sergeant Copley. We submit, my Lord, to your
Lordship's decision*

The examination of Thomas Dale teas then resumed. —
After the examination was taken before the magistrate, I took

o 2

84 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

the prisoner up stairs and examined his person. Two per-
sons of the name of Benson and Saddler were present. I
examined his linen, and questioned him about the state in
which it was in. He then acknowledged to us, that he had
had connexion with the deceased, but that it was with her
own consent ; and declared he knew nothing of the murder.

WILLIAM BENSON sworn. Examined by Mr. Perkins.
I live at Penn's Cottage, near Penn's Mills. I was at Ty-
burn on the 27th of May last, and assisted Dale in examin-
ing the person of the prisoner. What he has stated is per-
fectly true. I was not present when the prisoner's shoes
were taken off. He was sitting in a <:hair, without shoes on,
and a pair of shoes, which seemed to be his, stood by him.
Mr. Bedford asked me to take up the prisoner's shoes, and
bring them to him. I took the pair up by the prisoner, and
the prisoner did not deny their being his.

JOSEPH COOKE sworn. Examined by Mr. Clarke. I
am a farmer's son, and live at Erdington. I was at the dance
at Tyburn, on the night of the 26th of May. The prisoner
Thornton was there. I saw Mary Ashford come into the
room. Thornton inquired who she was, and I heard Cot-
terill say, " it is Ashford's daughter." Prisoner then said,
" I have been connected with her sister, three times, and I
will with her, or I'll die by it."

DANIEL CLARKE sworn. Examined by Mr. Sergeant
Copley. I am the landlord of Tyburn-house. As soon as
I heard of the murder of Mary Ashford, I went to Castle-
Bromwich. I met the prisoner on the turnpike-road, near
the chapel, on a little pony. 1 asked him what had become
of the young woman he had taken away with him the over
night, to which he made no answer. I told him she was
murdered, and thrown into a pit. The prisoner said^ " Mur-
dered!" I said, " Yes! murdered!" He made a pause,
and then said, " I was with her till four o'clock this morning.*'
1 then asked him to come along with me to Sutton, and clear
himself; he said he would, for he could soon do that. Pri-

.ABRAHAM THORNTON. 85

soner then went with me to my house, which was about a
mile from the spot. where 1 met him. Prisoner never men-
tioned a word all the way about the murder. On getting to
my house, he put his pony up, and said he should walk the
nearest way over the grounds to Sutton. He then came into
the house and had something to eat and drink. The con-
stable came in half an hour afterwards, and took him into
custody. He never attempted to go to Sutton, nor to men-
tion a single word about the murder all the time he was in
the house. He talked about farming.

Mr. GEORGE FREER sworn. Examined by Mr. Clarke.
1 am a surgeon. I live at Birmingham. I recollect being,
sent for to attend at Penn's Mills, on the 27th of May last,
to examine the body of the deceased. It was about half
past seven in the evening when I arrived ; Mr. Hortin, a
surgeon, of Sutton Coldfield, was also there. The body
being placed in a small dark room, I desired it to be removed
into a larger room. During the time it was removing, I went
to examine the pit where the body was found ; I there saw
the blood in various directions. When I returned from the
pit, they had undressed the deceased, and washed the upper
surface of the body. Much coagulated blood was found on
the lower part of the body, occasioned by recent laceration,
which must have proceeded from a degree of violence. I
took a cursory survey of the body then, but it being night, I
deferred the examination till the following morning. Next
day I proceeded to open the body. [It would be improper,
and indeed unnecessary, for us to detail the whole of this
gentleman's evidence ; the result was, that in his judgment
the deceased died from drowning, that she had the menses
upon her, that she had been recently violated, and that, up
to the period of that violation, she had been a pure virgin.
The coagulated blood that he saw by the human figure was
not produced by the menses.]

Mr. Fowler, a land-surveyor, of Erdington, produced a
plan of the different places alluded to by the witnesses for

86 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

the prosecution, the admeasurements of which he believed to
be quite correct. [See correct copy of the Plan alluded
to.]

Mr. Henry Jacobs, land-surveyor, of Birmingham, stated
that the plan in the hands of the prisoner's counsel, was per-
fectly correct ; the distance had been measured with a chain.
By these plans, it appeared, that the distance from Mrs.
Butler's, along Bell-lane, to the pit, was one mile, three fur-
longs, one hundred and fifty yards ; and from the pit, by the
towing-path, to Mr. Holden's, two miles and a quarter,
therefore, the distance from Butler's to Holden's would be a
little more than three miles and a half.

PRISONER'S DEFENCE.

Court. Prisoner, this is the proper time for you to make
your defence ; your Counsel cannot address the Jury in your
behalf. The Court and Jury will attend to what you have to
say with great patience.

Prisoner. My Lord, I leave it to my Counsel.

The following witnesses were called, and deposed as fol-
lows, in the defence : —

W. JENNINGS sworn. Examined by Mr. Reader. I
am a milkman, and live at Birmingham. I buy milk of Mr.
Holden, of Erdington ; myself and wife were at his house
on the morning of the 27th of May. I remember seeing the
prisoner coming down the lane which leads from Erdington
to Mr. Holden's. He was going towards the house. It
^as, as near as I can judge, then about half past four. I
had no watch with me. We milked a cow a-piece in the
yard, after we saw him, which might occupy us ten minutes.
My wife then asked Jane Heaton, what o'clock it was. The
prisoner was walking very leisurely. My wife saw him as
•well as I.

MARTHA JENNINGS sworn. Examined by Mr. Rey-
nolds. I saw the prisoner, on the 2?th of May, walking
gently along the lane leading to Mr. Holden's house. I then

ABRAHAM

went to milk the cows, and inquired of Jane Heaton the time
of the day a little while afterwards. Between the tithe of
milking the cows and seeing the prisoner, might be a quarter
of an hour. I was standing near Holden's house when lie
passed me.

JANE HEATON sworn. Examined by Mr. Reader. I
live servant with Mr. Holden. I was getting up at half past
four on the morning of the 27th of May. My bed-room
window looks into the lane which leads from Erdington to
Castle-Bromwich. I saw a man, whom I supposed to be
the prisoner, walking towards Castle-Bromwich. He was
walking quite slow. About a quarter of an hour after, Jen-
nings's wife came and asked me what time of the day it was.
1 looked at the clock, and observed, that it wanted seventeen
minutes of five. The clock was not altered for several days
after that.

JOHN HOLDEN sworn. Examined by Mr. Reynolds.
I was at home On the 28th of May last, when Mr. Twamley
Came to examine my clock. I believe it to be a very good
one. I do not know whether it kept Birmingham time.
The clock had not been altered since the day before.

JOHN HOLDEN, jun. sworn. I am son to the last witness.
1 live with my father. I remember Jennings and his wife
being at our house on the morning of the 2?th of May. My
mother was ill in bed at the time. I had been to the field to
fetch the cows for Jennings, when I met the prisoner about
two hundred yards from my father's house. I knew him
veYy well by sight. He wyas then proceeding very slowly to-
wards Castle-Bromwich. I cannot say what time it was ;
but it was early in the morning.

Mr. WILLIAM TWAMLEY sW6ra. I Kve at Newhall
Mills, near Suttort-Coldtield, anrf within three miles of Castle-
Bromwich. I first caused the prisoner to be apprehended.
i compared my watch and Holden's clock on the 28th of
May ; th6y wete exactly alike, atf to time. From Mr. Hoi-

88 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

den's I immediately went to Birmingham, and my watch
agreed exactly with St. Martin's Church clock there.

JOHN HAYDON sworn. Examined by Mr. Reynolds.
I am gamekeeper to Mr. Rotton, of Castle-Bromwich. I
left my own house about ten minutes before five on the morn-
ing of the 27th of May. As I passed by Mr. Z. Twam-
ley's stables, I heard Mr. Rotton's stable clock strike five.
About five minutes after I saw the prisoner. He was then
coming towards Mr. Tvvamley's Mill, as if from Erdingtou
to Castle-Bromwich. I knew him very well. I asked him
where he had been ; he said, " To take a wench home."
After stopping with me a quarter of an hour, he then went
on in a direction to his own house.

By the Court. What is the distance from Holden's to the
spot where you met the prisoner? A. It is, my Lord, as
near as I can guess, about half a mile.

JOHN WOODCOCK sworn. Examined by Mr. Reader.
I am a miller. I work at Mr. Zachariah Twamley's mill.
I know the prisoner. I saw a man, whom I thought to be
him, talking to Mr. Rotton's gamekeeper, near the flood-
gates ; it was then about ten minutes past five.

Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Copley. I know the
prisoner very well, i was not certain it was him, but I
thought it was at the time. I had heard the clock strike five
just before the prisoner came up to Haydon. I had been
into a field belonging to Mr. Smallwood, and back again to
the mill, after the clock struck. I have walked the distance
over since then, at iny usual pace, and find I can do it in ten

' * * * . * * <*„**

minutes.

W. CROMPTON, Esq. sworn. I saw Mr. Webster on the
morning of the 27th of May, in the field in which were the
footsteps. We rode to Castle-Bromwich together. Mr.
Webster compared his watch with mine ; we perfectly agreed.
Our watches were according to Birmingham time. We
found our watches were fifteen minutes slower than Mr.

AIWIAHAM THORNTOX. 89

Rotton's stable clock; the Birmingham clocks and those at
Castle-Bromvvich differed fifteen minutes.

JAMES WHITE sworn. Examined by Mr. Reader. I
remember seeing the prisoner near to Mr. Wheelwright's, in
Castle-Bromwich, about twenty-five minutes past five on
the morning of the 2?th of May; he was then on his road
to his father's house, which was about half a mile distant.

WILLIAM COLEMAN sworn. Examined by Mr. Rey-
nolds. I live at Erdington. I am the grandfather of the
unfortunate young woman who was found in the pit. She
did not sleep at my house on the night of the dance. She
resided with her uncle, at Langley.

MR. JUSTICE HOLROYD, in summing up, observed to
the Jury, that it was his duty to put them on their guard, that
a just indignation to the heinousness of the crime charged
against the prisoner, might not lead them to condemn, with-
out proper evidence. He intreated them to lay aside all the
prejudices that were so naturally, though so insensibly, im-
bibed without doors, and which especially arise in the mind,
from the unfavourable situation in which a supposed criminal
must necessarily appear. He hoped that they would, in
retiring to consider of their verdict, come to a full deter-
mination to yield only to the force of truth. The counsel
who had so ably and feelingly conducted the case on the part
of the prosecution, pretended not to have produced any di-
rect evidence of the prisoner at the bar being the perpetrator
of this horrid murder; they inferred his guilt only from a
variety of circumstances, which it now belonged to them to
consider.

The Jury deliberated for a few minutes, and then returned
a verdict of — Not Guilty.

The prisoner was then put to the bar a second time, and
charged with committing a rape on the body of the said
Mary Ashford ; but the counsel on the part of the crown
declining to offer any evidence, in support of this charge, the

90 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

Jury, under his Lordship's directions, returned a verdict of —
Not Guilty.

This interesting trial occupied the attention of the Court
upwards of twelve hours and a half. The examination of
witnesses, on the part of the crown, took up nearly eight
hours and a half, and his Lordship's summing up, about two
hours. The prisoner, who seemed not in the least affected
by his situation, is a short, but stout made man, and about
twenty-five years of age. The prisoner is by trade a brick-
layer, and, previous to the murder, resided with his father, a
tery respectable builder and farmer, of Castle-Bromwich.
The Court was crowded to excess, during the whole of the
day.

It is not our duty, nor can we be called on, to investigate
a cade that has already been judged, and decided in favour
of the accused party ; but must leave the evidence, as it
appears on the trial, to the mature consideration of that
public, who will impartially decide, whether Mary Ashford
was a suicide, or ABRAHAM THORNTON a lustful murderer.

The Times of October 26, 1818, extracts from the Liver-
fool Courier j that Thornton, in attempting to go to America,
in the ship Independence, was discovered, and the passengers
unanimously refused to take their passage in the same ship
with him ; in consequence, he was obliged to find another
conveyance— which took place soon afterwards.

UNCOMMON RESOLUTION.

OK Wednesday, Aug. 13, 1817, Robert Grove and John
Johnson, two workmen at the metal-mills in the dock-yard
at Portsea, had an altercation on some subject. After con-
sideiable provocation ou the part of Grove, Johnson seize*!

BONES BECOMING FLEXIBLE. Ql

**

an iron ladle, and gave Grove such a dreadful blow on the
head as to fracture his skull ; but what is most extraordinary,
Grove continued at work until 'his face was so covered with
blood that he could not see ; he then deliberately washed
himself, and walked to the surgery, where it was found ne-
cessary to remove part of the skull, which was forced in on
the brain. His resolution did not even then forsake him
and he submitted quietly to the formidable operation of tre-
panning, without further complaint, than that the man hold-
ing him, occasionally hurt his leg, which, he said, was an un-
necessary pain. After several pieces of bone had been
removed from the brain, and his head dressed, he proposed
walking home. Johnson has been discharged from the yard,
and is in gaol, until the result of the accident is known.

Times, Aug. 20, 18 17.

SUDPEN SINKING OF THE EARTH.

PETERSBURGH, July 30, 1817-— -The ground of a village,
distant twenty-two versts from Abo, has sunk suddenly to the
depth of many fathoms, and twelve peasants' houses have
been buried in a manner that no trace remains of their former
position. A similar event happened at the same place, id
the years 1755 and 1788. Among other unknown causes
of this phenomenon, it is attributed to the situation of the
village upon a swampy soil, and to a river which flows beside
it. It is not stated, whether any lives were lost.

Morning Post, Aug. SO, 1817.

BONES BECOMING FLEXIBLE.

In the Philosophical Transactions, No. 470, and Abridg-
ment of Vol. VIII. p. 682, Mr. Sylvanus Bevan, F.R.S.
communicates the following extraordinary case :

92 KIRB\'s WONDERFUL MU8EUM.

The wife of one B. S. in the year 1738, was taken with a
diabetes, with the usual symptoms ; with a gradual wasting
of the body, a hectic fever, with a quick low pulse, thirst,
great pains in her shoulders, back, and limbs, and loss of
appetite. She continued thus two years, much emaciated,
though using the common medicines; at which time she was
attacked with an intermittent, which soon left her; after
which the diabetes gradually decreased, so that in a few
months she was free from that disorder; but the pains of
her limbs still continued. She recovered her appetite,
breathed freely, and her hectic much lessened, though she
had some appearance of it at times. About eighteen months
since she had such a weakness and pains in her limbs, that it
confined her to her bed altogether ; and in a few months the
bones in her legs and arms felt somewhat soft to the touch,
and were so pliable, that they were bent into a curve; but,
for several months before her death, they were as limber as
a rag, and would bend any way, with less difficulty than the
muscular parts of a healthy person's leg, without the inter-
position of the bones. On April 12, 1742, she died, after
a tedious illness, near the age of forty ; and with the con-
sent of her friends, Mr. B. had the curiosity to examine
more particularly into the several matters before-mentioned.
On raising the cutis, he found the membra adiposa much
thicker than he expected in a person so much emaciated ; the
sternum and ribs, with their cartilages, were very soft ; and
all the cartilaginous parts of the ribs, at their articulations,
from the clavicle downwards, were doubled over each other
on the left side, about an inch. On raising the sternum, he
found the lungs adhered very close to the ribs, for four or
five inches on each side^ but were more loose and flaccid
than usual, and much less in size : her heart was of the com-
mon size. Upon viewing the liver, he found it at least a
third part larger than common ; and the spleen was about
1^ inch in the longest part, and | thick ; the intestines were
very much inflated. She had appearances of several aiichy-

HUMAN BONES BECOME PLIABLE. Q$

loses formed in the small joints, viz. carpal and metacarpal
bones ; but on laying them open, he found them only like a
thin shell : the cartilaginous epiphyses of the bones were
entirely dissolved, and no parts of the heads of the bones
remaining, but an outside, not thicker than an egg-shell.
On making incisions in her legs and arms, five or six inches
long, he found the outer laminae of the bones soft, and be-
come perfectly membranous, about the thickness of the.pe-
ritoneum, containing, instead of a bony substance, a fluid of
the consistence of. honey, when it is thick, of a reddish
colour, and not at all disagreeable to the smell. There was
no appearance of any bones in the legs and arms, except
near the joints, which were in part dissolved, and what re-
mained were very soft, and full of holes, like a honeycomb ;
the bones of the head would also easily give way to the
pressure of the finger.

It is remarkable, that those parts of the bones that are
the most compact and hard, were first dissolved, while their
heads, which are spongy and soft, had not so entirely lost
their substance. When she was in health, she was five feet
high ; but after her death she was three feet seven inches in
length, though all her limbs were stretched out straight,
which is seventeen inches shorter than she was in her health.

A WONDERFUL ACCOUNT OF

HUMAN BONES

BECOMING SO VERY TENDER, AS TO BREAK, UPON ONLY
TURNING IN THE BED, AND AFTERWARDS BECAME
FLEXIBLE.

OF the most extraordinary case, perhaps, ever seen in
this country, I have been an eye-witness to-day. It is of a
poor labouring man's wife, in the parish of Dallinghoe,
near Wickham-marker, in Suffolk, , whose. name is Mary

04 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

Bradcock, and from whom I received the following singular
narrative : that in the severe winter of 1 783, she was seized with
pain in most of her limbs, which she attributed to cold and
die rheumatism ; when one day, walking across the house,
she tripped her foot slightly against a brick, and was sur-
prised to find her leg broken near the ancle. Before she
was perfectly recovered from this accident, she became
pregnant ; and growing weak and infirm, was assisted by her
husband in getting out of bed, when her left thigh-bone
•napped in pieces, without any other force than its own
weight falling against his back. She was safely delivered by
an experienced gentleman of the faculty ; after which her
left arm was fractured near the shoulder, by putting it over
an assistant's neck to get out of bed. This likewise formed
a callus, and grew well. She then found her right thigh-
bone broken, as she lay in bed, very high up near the hip,
as it was also, some time after, lower down towards the
knee. Her collar-bone has likewise separated without acci-
dent or violence. Her fight arm has met with the same
misfortune, by only lifting a pint bason off a table. She
now lies with the third fracture of her right thigh, which
happened last Sunday, from being gently raised in her bed,
at or near the part by her knee before broken and callused.
The bones are permitted to grow together in an irregular
manner, with the assistance of bathing and bandage only, as
an extension of her limbs would endanger breaking them
into twenty pieces. So deplorable is this unhappy woman's
situation, that they dare not move her to make the bed, for
fear of breaking her bones. She is thirty-two years of age,
of a delicate make, lax fibre, fair complexion, and pale
brown hair ; has had eight children, and always lived a sober
temperate life, and never took medicines of the mercurial,
or any kind, but has generally enjoyed a fair state of health.
There does not appear any evident cause of this singular
phenomenon. Before the bones break, she always com*
plains of pain OB the very spot several weeks, which keeps
4

HUMAN BONES BECOME PLIABLE. QJ

increasing till they snap, and then goes oft' in a few days,
and the bones unite in five, six, or seven weeks. She has
now a fresh pain seized one arm, that she expects will ter-
minate in a broken bone. This poor woman has had eight
fractures within a year and a half, seven of which befel her
in the last twelve months; and all without any external
cause to attribute them to. The curious, humane, and cha-
ritable, have a singular opportunity of exercising their phi-
lanthropy, by inquiring of Mr. Samuel Thompson, of
Cliarsfield, who will direct them to this cottage of hopeless
misery and want.

To prevent the disbelief that usually accompanies ano-
nymous singularities, I take the liberty of signing my name
'aid place.

W. GOODWIN, Surgeon,

August 5, 1785. Earl Soham, Suffolk.

Gentleman's Magazine, September, 1785. p. 677.

A letter dated Wickham Market, December 26, 1786,
says, — Mary Bradcock, of Dallinghoe, (\\hose case is re-
lated above) died on the 19th instant. I was sent for the
next day, to examine the state of her bones, which were be-
come soft and flexible, like cartilage ; as I could with the
greatest ease, bend her limbs into any shape. I removed a
portion of the radius from her right arm, in which I in-
cluded a part where a fracture had formerly been. The
bone was become so soft, as to be divisible with ease by
the knife. The part where the callus had formed, was
equally soft and flexible with the other parts. This change
in the bones has been mentioned and accounted for by the
anatomists. The above unhappy sufferer has had several
fractures since the publication of her case ; and at the time
of her decease, was in the sixth month of her pregnancy.
Your's, &c. W. SALMON, Surgeon.

Supplement to Gent. Mag. 1786. p. 1141.

96 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

REMARKABLE TOKENS BEFORE DEATH.

MR. ZACHARIAH PEARCE, aged 21, died at Cranbrook,
Kent, October 17, 1786. The following remarkable occur-
rences are related as matters of fact, which can be attested
by many persons in Cranbrook. Mr. W. Pearce, the father
of the above Zachariah, died of a frenzy fever, November
30, 1785. Some time before he died, a small bird, of the
dish-water kind, came often every day, and pecked hard
against the chamber window where Mr. Pearce lay sick.
The window was set open, to try if the bird would enter
the room, but it did not ; and means were used to catch it,
but in vain. The bird continued to come and do the same,
till Mr. Pearce died, and was buried, and then it ceased to
return. Since the above Zachariah Pearce was taken ill,
the same bird, or one of the like kind, frequented his cham-
ber window, and continued to do so occasionally to the
time of his death. A similar circumstance occurred in the
same parish, about two years and a half before. These are
real facts.

Something not dissimilar to this is related in one of
Howell's letters, dated July 1, 1684. "As I passed by St.
Dunstan's, in Fleet-street, I stepped into a stone-cutter's to
treat with the master for a stone to be put upon my father's
tomb ; and casting my eyes up and down, I espied a huge
marble, with a large inscription upon it, which was thus, to
the best of my remembrance r —

' Here lies John Oxenham, a goodly young man, in whose
chamber, as he was struggling with the pangs of death, a
bird with a white breast was seen fluttering about his bed,
and so vanished.

' Here lies also, Mary Oxenham, sister of the said John,
who died the next day, and the same apparition was seen in
the room.

' Here lies, hard by, James Oxenham, the son of the said
John, who died a child in his cradle, a little after, and such

SUBTERRANEAN FIRE. Q7

a bird was seen fluttering about his head, a little before he
expired, which vanished afterwards.'

" At the bottom of the stone there is —

' Here lies Elizabeth Oxenham, the mother of the said
John, who died sixteen years since, when such a bird with a
white breast was seen fluttering about her bed before her death.*

" To all these were divers witnesses, both squires and
ladies, whose names were engraved on the stone. This stone
was to be sent to a town hard by Exeter, where this hap-
pened." Gentleman's Magazine, 1786. p. 999«

A SUBTERRANEAN FIRE

DISCOVERED ON DIGGING A WELL*

AT Antignac, a village in France, near Besiers, in Lower
Languedoc, some workmen in digging a well, when they had
reached the depth of about twelve yards, were surprised with
a sudden explosion, and a gush of water that immediately
followed. Frightened, they quitted their work till the noise
abated ; but on approaching the pit, and looking into it,
they perceived one of their company lying motionless. His
brother instantly descended in a bucket to bring him up, but
he too came up no more ; a third ventured down, and then a
fourth, with a rope fastened round the waist. Those who
held the rope, perceiving his head droop, instantly drew him
up ; but it was more than two hours before he recovered hi»
senses. They then let down a cock in a bucket, and he
came up with his feathers scorched, on the point of expiring.
A cat was the next subject of experiment, and was almost
instantly drawn up ; she was in the same condition, singed,
and almost lifeless. The three men who unfortunately pe-
rished, were drawn up by means of barbed hooks: their
clothes were consumed, and their skins calcined. It is
added, that a subterraneous noise continued, and that vitrified
matter has been drawn up, which it is supposed had been in a

VOL. VI. H

98 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

state of fusion. Chemists were at a loss to investigate the
cause. Gentleman's Magazine, 1786. p. 899.

A LITTLE HORSE.

August 14, 1765. A little mare, only twenty-seven
inches high, though between four and five years old, was
presented to her Majesty by the Duke of Gloucester. It
was brought from the East Indies, in the Medway, Captain
Tinker, as a present to the Duke of Gloucester. She was
remarkably well formed, of a dun colour, the hair somewhat
resembling that of a young fawn, with a handsome long tail,
mane, and foretop, the legs quite black. It is said this little
animal was deemed so great a curiosity in the East Indies,
that one of the nabobs offered a thousand pounds for her.

In November following, a little black horse, only thirty-
three inches high, was landed at Newcastle from Shetland.

Annual Register t 1765, p. [117.

SMALL CATTLE.

•>;U. !•*'•;'?;>•»•>« v '

January, 1760. A breed of bulls and cows are now in

the neighbourhood of London, brought from the borders of
the Gulph of Persia, whose stature, although at their full
growth, is inferior to a Lincolnshire sheep. They have a
large protuberance of fat upon then- shoulders.

Annual Register, 1761. p. 5Q.

One of the same breed, or of no larger dimensions, was
exhibited in London during the years 1812 and 1813, of a
dark brown colour, and very broad horns.

DREADFUL EXPLOSION AT NOTTINGHAM.

THE following account of this awful visitation, on Mon-
day, the 28th of September, 1818, by the carelessness of an

DREADFUL EXPLOSION. 99

individual, will, we trust, be a warning to every one, not to
joke in a similar way ; for by making a jlash, the grains of
powder being dropped, a train was made unperceived, which
in a single moment precipitately destroyed so many human
lives, and made such havoc and devastation with property.
This will fully appear, being the substance of the evidence
given before the coroner's jury, by Hezekiah Riley, captain
of the boat which contained the powder, and who survived
the explosion : —

" That the end of one of the barrels was out, and had
been matted up ; that all the barrels were matted round, but
the wood-end of one of them had broken and let out the
powder, as this informant was carrying the barrel from the
boat into the warehouse ; that the dowels or peg fastenings,
which bound the piece of the end together, bad broken, and
so loosened the end and let out the gunpowder; that he
never perceived the said end of the barrel to be defective,
till he removed the barrel from the boat to the warehouse;
that on first setting down the barrel from the boat on the
wharf, a considerable quantity of powder, as much as three
or four pounds, fell on the wharf side, between the boat and
the warehouse door. He does not know whether or not
any of the powder fell from the barrel into the boat; the
barrels lay side wise in the boat ; and the barrel in question
was delivered from the boat to him on the wharf by Benja-
min Wheatley ; and this informant never saw any: powder
fall from the barrel until and except upon the landing-place
of the wharf. That this examinant put back into the barrel
the powder which so fell out, or as much of it as he could;
there might be a couple of ounces or so left amongst the
dirt; whether any had fallen into the boat or no, he cannot
tell." Riley having thus seen the powder, as he conceived,
safely deposited, went away towards the counting-house :
and Joseph Mussou went across the wharf, to a boat, in
which was Richard Alcock, William iiish, and Joseph .
Champion, and addressing himself to the former, said —

H 2

100 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

" You've got a fire in your boat, I want a live coke ;" add-
ing, " Lads, I'm going to have a flash !" or words to that
effect. Musson accordingly took an ignited coal, and car-
ried it a great part of the way between two sticks ; but let-
ting it fall, he took it up in his hands, and chucking it from
one hand to the other, proceeded to the spot where the pow-
der had been landed, and in a moment the whole exploded,
and precipitated himself and nine others into eternity.

Numbers of men have been employed in the yard ever
since the calamity happened, but the ruins are not yet all
removed. The amount of damage it is impossible to calcu-
late. The inquest was held on the bodies of the unfortunate
sufferers, at the Navigation Inn, on Tuesday last, before
Henry Enfield and Jonathan Dunn, Gents, coroners for the
town ; and after a very minute inquiry into the circumstances
of the case, the verdict returned was, " That they all did
accidentally, casually, and by misfortune, to wit, by the ex-
plosion of a quantity of gunpowder, come to their several
and respective deaths."

In addition to the above, we find in the Nottingham Re-
view of October 2, that the body of the unfortunate man
who was the cause of the late dreadful accident, was blown
across the canal and the hauling path, into the meadows,
over what is called Tinker's Leen, on the opposite bank of
which, it appears as though his body first touched the
ground : one of his legs was left here, while the other mu-
tilated parts of his body were propelled with great violenct
along the ground, at least a dozen yards further, leaving a
hideous track of blood and brains, pieces of skull and flesh,
upon the grass, where his mangled remains had passed
along. Benjamin Wheatley, aged twenty-eight, a single
man, of Stoke Bardolph, a boatman; George Hayes, of
Trowell, a labourer to the company, aged twenty-five, who
has left a wife and one child ; and Job Barnes, aged thirty-
six, of the Company's House Stone Quarry, half a mile of
this side Trowell, were found dead in Riley's boat, their

DREADFUL EXPLOSION. 101

bodies being dreadfully shattered. The latter has left a
wife and live children in totally destitute circumstances ; his
eldest son lives with Mr. Alderman Wilson. Samuel Hall,
of Bridge-street, in this town, a stonemason, was also in
the boat at the time, and saw the powder fired ; but the
shock did not visit him so fatally, though he is very much
hurt. The singular and remarkable preservation of this
man, who is expected to recover, is attributed to his being
at the moment stooping down for the purpose of removing
some stones in the boat. He now lies in the General Hos-
pital, where he has every assistance which that noble institu-
tion can furnish him. We now pass on to the other victims
of this heart-rending catastrophe; and, perhaps, the first
that claims our notice, is John Howell, a boy aged only
eleven, the son of one of the book-keepers belonging to the
concern, who resided at the house in the yard. This youth,
like the rest of his fellow-sufferers, presented a horrid spec-
tacle ; not a feature could be recognised. Their bodies, or
rather trunks, were so mangled, that it was only by their
clothes that their remains could be identified. About fifty
yards east of the building, in a direct line from it, stood Mr.
J. Pyatt, a respectable wharfinger of this town, who provi-
dentially escaped unhurt. He was at the moment calling to
three of his men, and giving them directions about the loading
of a cart they were drawing into the yard, one at the shafts,
and two pushing behind. Being in a northerly direction,
they fell victims to the blast, and they were driven with the
utmost violence towards the large gates. Their names were

f

John Seales, a single man, aged thirty, who lived at what is
called the barracks, in High-cross-street ; William Norman,
living at the same place, aged sixty, a widower, with no
family dependent on him ; and William Stevenson, or Steem-
son, aged twenty-three, who had represented himself as
coming from Leicester. The two former were killed on
the spot, and the latter was so dreadfully hurt, that he was
Immediately taken to the Infirmary ; he cried out several

102 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

times, " O my heart," and died about six o'clock that even-
ing. This man had only been three days in Mr. Pyatt's em-
ploy. The next subject of fatal misfortune whom we shall
notice, is William Parker, aged only fifteen, the son of a
poor man living at Carlton, in this neighbourhood. This lad
had an ardent desire to engage himself in a boat, and on
Saturday se'nnight rose at an early hour to collect mush-
rooms, which he sold that day in Nottingham market, and
with the produce bought some small articles of clothing,
which he wanted, in order to fit him for his intended new
employment. He came to Nottingham on Monday, to hire
himself to go in Riley's boat, and was standing at the mo-
ment of the accident on the wharf. The blast took him
across the canal and hauling-path, through the hedge into
the meadows, and there his corpse was found most terribly
disfigured. Thomas Baker, aged forty-two, forms the last
of the shocking catalogue of ten, who are known to have
been thus suddenly cut off by this dreadful stroke, and his
case has some peculiar circumstances attending it. He was
Mr. Richard Hooton's maltster; but the regular waggoner
being sick, was employed that day hi attending to the wag-
gon, and was with it standing at his horse's head, when the
building fell and crushed him and the shaft horse to death,
as well as utterly demolishing the waggon. This man has
left a wife and five children ; the eldest of the children is a
girl aged sixteen, and there are four boys, the youngest only
two years old.

Mr. Riley, who was going across the yard to the counting-
house, was blown down ; and Alcock, Champion, and Bish,
three men in Mr. Simpson's boat, where the tire was, were
also blown down, but not materially injured. Mr. Richard
Barrows, the owner of Riley's boat, and the principal acting
partner of the boat company, had been in the warehouse a
few minutes before the explosion, and had sent Mr. Faubert,
a book-keeper, on an errand ; and to a man of the name of
Ashton, he gave orders to go into the wool-shed, across the

DREADFUL EXPLOSION. 103

yard, and the latter was entering the door of the wool-shed
when the building he had quitted blew up. Mr. Barrows
also had just entered the counting-house when the glass flew
out of the windows, and wounded him in the face ; provi-
dentially he sustained no other injury. A principal corn-
merchant in the town (Mr. Stainbank) had been in the ware-
house till one o'clock, superintending the delivery of a large
quantity of corn, and having been home to dinner, was re-
turning again to the warehouse, when he was met in the
street by a gentleman who detained him, and thus, providen-
tially, his life was saved. Indeed, considering the extensive
nature of the business transacted at these warehouses, we
cannot refrain from thinking that the hand of Providence has
been peculiarly manifest, in that the above catalogue of vic-
tims was not considerably enlarged.

A gentleman, crossing the meadows at the time, has ex-
pressed to us the surprise which filled his breast, when, on
looking that way, he saw the whole building lifted up in the
air to the height of several yards, and then burst asunder in
innumerable fragments; the bricks, the beams, the slates,
the packages, the bales, and the hogsheads, flying in all di-
rections, so that, literally, there is not one brick left upon
another that is not thrown down. The stone floor of the
warehouse where the powder stood has been forced into the
ground a considerable depth. Huge pieces of timber and
bricks were propelled several hundred yards, both north,
south, and south-west. The property deposited in the ware-
houses consisted of oil, vitriol, paper, groceries, cotton,
wool, and several thousand quarters of corn, some hundreds
of which had only been deposited there last Saturday ; many
of these articles were entirely destroyed, and the remainder
so injured, as to be comparatively of little value. Some
parts of the mass of ruins were on tire, and two fire-engines
were speedily brought down, and by their powerful agency
extinguished the flames. Mr. Wilkes's and Mr. Howell's
houses, within the walls, suffered most severely ; the roofs

104 KIUBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

were much injured, the casements blown out, and not a pane
of glass is left entire in either house. Mr. Wilkes was for-
tunately from home, on a journey ; Mrs. Wilkes was thrown
with great violence from a table to the other side of the
house, and the furniture has sustained considerable damage ;
the carpets, curtains, &c. were torn to ribands. But the
dreadful effects of this catastrophe are by no means confined
to the premises. Most of the buildings on the wharfs along *
the canal are partially unroofed, and more or less injured.
In the north-west direction, Mr. Thomas Atherstone's dye-
houses and premises have suffered most severely in the win-
dows, roofs, and furniture. Mr. Pyatt's house, in Canal*
street, as well as Miss BarnsdalPs, were much injured, the
doors torn off, the casements blown out, the roofs damaged,
&c. A view of the immediate neighbourhood of the wharf
is truly distressing. There is scarcely a house that has
escaped some trace of the desolating shock ; and the windows,
which are now boarded up instead of being glazed, give the
houses a very peculiar appearance. Canal-street, Naviga-
tion-row, Finkhill-street, Chesterfield-street, Broad-marsh,
Turncalf-alley, and Drury-hill, have suffered more than other
places ; but the devastation reached the castle, where many
panes were broken, as well as Standard-hill, where the man-
sion of Daniel and Samuel Freeth, Esqrs., as well as the
Infirmary, bear evident marks of the violence of the con-
cussion. Many panes of glass were broken in St. Nicholas's
church, at the back and front of the houses in Castle-gate,
and even in the market-place, not only at the Exchange, but
also on the Long-row. The shock was so violent in the shop
of Mr. Bufiin, surgeon, Bridlesmith-gate, as to throw down
and break some of his bottles ; and panes of glass were forced
out both at Wilford and at Sunton.

E BOBI2EKEATT ALIAS LA

tts 0—f& rr> t </<•<• '.

REN£E. BORDEREAU. 105

ACCOUNT OF
REN&E BORDEREAU,

COMMONLY CALLED .

LANGEVIN,

THE MILITARY HEROINE OF VENDEE.

[AS WRITTEN BY HERSELF.]

THIS celebrated heroine was born at the village of Sou-
laine, near Angers, in the month of June, 1770, of poor,
but honest, parents.

The insurrection of the royalists of Vendee, in the year
1793, brought to that country the armies of the republic,
which ravaged and massacred, without mercy, wherever they
came. Forty-two of her relations perished by their hands
successively ; but the murder of her father, before her eyes,
so transported her with rage and despair, that from that mo-
ment, she took the resolution of devoting herself entirely
to the king; and solemnly offering her soul to God, swore
to avenge herself on his and her enemies, and to conquer
or die.

Having formed this resolution, she immediately purchased
a light musket, with double sights ; with this, she privately
practised the art of loading, firing, and taking aim, marching
by single files and in column, and diligently making herself
acquainted with the military step, in all its divisions and di-
rections. Being, as she now presumed, sufficiently taught,
she purchased a suit of men's clothes, and enrolled herself,
together with about five hundred men of the parish, under
the command of M. Coeur-de-Roi, a name which their com-
mander had on this occasion assumed.

On joining this little band, she took the name of Hyacinthe,
being that of her brother ; but soon after, her comrades in
arms designated her by the name of Langevin, which she
ever after retained.

This second Joan of Arc, during a war of six years, was
engaged in above two hundred battles and sanguinary skir-

4

106 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

mishes, the most of which she fought on horseback, but at
times quitted her horse and fought on foot, for the purpose
of being nearer danger, and that, by her example, her com-
rades in arms might be encouraged to revenge and the com-
bat. In battle, she always led the attack, and at all times
solicited to be preferred to the most dangerous posts, which
she never quitted, till compelled by wounds, or the toils and
fatigues of the day. All the soldiers of Vendee were wit-
nesses of her exploits — each of whom strove to emulate,
but not one dared compete with her ; they applauded, at the
finish of the combat, the valour and bravery of the coura-
geous Langevin, without ever suspecting that this example
of loyalty and bravery was a woman. Her manners were
as correct and pure, as her courage was enthusiastic and
ardent. Her only ambition, and her sole passion, was warped
in the triumph of religion and the re-establishment of her
lawful and legitimate king. Even when Bonaparte had sub-
dued the Vendeans, so fearful was he of Langevin being at
liberty amongst them, that, after granting them a general
amnesty, he excepted our heroine from being a partaker
thereof, and fixed the vast sum of forty millionsof francs on her
head; this procured her arrestation ; when Bonaparte loaded
her with irons, and consigned her to end her days in loath-
some dungeons. In the dungeons of Angers she remained
three years, and in that of Mount St. Michael, two years,
where she was fed only with the coarsest of bread, and water
which fell from the clouds, which she contrived to collect by
means of a bason, was her drink. During these unparalleled
hardships, her piety and fortitude never forsook her; her
hopes nobly triumphed over the cruelty of her persecutors ;
and she still lived to regain that liberty, upon the restoration
of the monarch for whose cause, in part, she had so long
lost it.

While serving with her brave comrades in arms, a singular
adventure detected her sex : — The daughter of the Brigadier
D'Argenton was violated — Langevin was suspected, accused,

VALENTINE GREATKAKES. 10?

arrested and thrown into prison, from whence she obtained
her release, only by discovering her sex.

Ren6e Bordereau is at this time (1818), in her forty-
eighth year. About two years since she was presented to
the present king, Louis *XVTI[.; but what remuneration
she received from his hands, her memoirs do not mention.

VALENTINE GREATRAKES,

FAMOUS FOR CURING ALL DISORDERS BY THE TOUCH OR
STROKE OF THE HAND.

THIS extraordinary character was the son of William
Greatrakes, Esq. of Affane, in the county of Waterford,
by a daughter of Sir Edward Harris, Knt. one of the jus-
tices of the King's Bench, in Ireland, in the reign of King
Charles. He was born at Affane, February 14, 1628, and
received a classical education at the free school at Lismore,
where he continued till he was thirteen years of age, when
he returned home, in order to prepare himself for entering
Trinity College, Dublin. At this time the rebellion broke
out; owing to the then distracted state of the nation, he was*
obliged, with his mother, (who had several other small chil-
dren) to fly for refuge into England; where they were re-
lieved by his uncle, Mr. Edward Harris ; after whose death,
young Greatrakes was committed to the care of Mr. John
Daniel Getseus, a German, and then minister of Stoke Ga-
briel, in the county of Devon, who for several years in-
structed him in theology, philosophy, &c. About the year
1644, he returned to his native country, but was so exceed-
ingly affected by the' miserable and reduced state it was in,
that he retired to the castle of Caperquin, where he spent
a year in serious contemplation on the vicissitudes of state
and fortune. In the year 1649, he became lieutenant in the
regiment of Roger Lord Broghill, afterwards Earl of
Orrery, then acting in Munster against the Irish and Papists ;

108 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

, }

but, upon the regiment being disbanded, (1656), he retired
to his estate at Affane ; he was soon after appointed clerk
of the peace for the county of Cork, and register for trans*
plantation, and justice of the peace. About the year 1662,
he began to conceive himself possessed of an extraordinary
virtue, in being enabled to remove the king's evil, or other
diseases, by touching or stroking the parts affected, with his
hand. This imagination he concealed for some time ; but
at last revealed it to his wife, who ridiculed the idea. Re-
solved, however, to make a trial, he began with one William
Maher, who was brought to the house by his father, for the
purpose of receiving some assistance from Mrs. Greatrakes,
who was always ready to relieve the sick and indigent, as far
as lay in her power. This boy was sorely afflicted with the
king's evil, but was, to all appearance, cured, by Mr. Great-
rakes laying his hands on the parts affected. Several other
persons having appeared to be cured in the same manner,
of different disorders, he acquired considerable fame in his
neighbourhood. But being cited into the bishop's court at
Lismore, and not producing a license for practising, he was
prohibited from laying his hands on any person for the fu-
ture; but he still continued to do so, till January 1665-0,
when he came to England at the request of the Earl of
Orrery, in order to cure the lady of the Lord Viscount Con-
way, of Ragley, in Warwickshire, of a continual violent
head-ach. He staid at Ragley about a month, but failed in
his endeavours to relieve this lady, notwithstanding he is
said to have performed several miraculous cures in those
parts, and at Worcester, and was sent for to Whitehall by
his Majesty's orders ; and is likewise said to have wrought
many remarkable cures here in the presence of several emi-
nent skilful persons. A declaration of his cures in War-
wickshire, was published by Mr. Stubbe (who was witness),
at Oxford, in 4to. in which the author maintained " that
Mr. Greatrakes was possessed of a peculiar temperament, as
his body was composed of some particular ferments, the effluvia

MARY TOFT. 10Q

whereof being introduced, sometimes by light, sometimes by
a violent friction, restore the temperament of the debilitated
parts, re-invigorate the blood, and dissipate all the heteroge-
neous ferments out of the bodies of the diseased, by the
eyes, nose, mouth, hands, and feet." This publication was
a " Letter, addressed to the Hon. Robert ttoyle, Esq."
who, in a private letter to the author, expressed ^is displea-
sure at being thus publicly addressed on such a subject,
particularly as Mr. Stubbe endeavoured to shew that Mr.
Greatrakes's gift was miraculous. Mr. Glanville also im-
puted his cures to a sanative quality inherent in his constitu-
tion ; and others (perhaps with greater probability) to the
force of imagination in his patients. Mr. Boyle, having
seen Mr. Greatrakes's performances in April, 1666, acknow-
ledged his remarkable cures. This extraordinary man af-
forded much matter for the press, and various pamphlets
were published pro and con ; particularly one in 4to. and
supposed to have been written by Mr. David Lloyd, reader,
of the Charter-house, under the title of " Wonders no Mi-
racles; or, Mr. Valentine Greatrakes's Gift of Healing exa-
mined, upon occasion of a sad effect of his stroking, March
7, 1665, at one Mr. Cressell's house, in Charter-house-
yard, in a letter to a Rev. Divine, living near that place."
This attack obliged Mr. Greatrakes to vindicate himself;
and accordingly, he published a list of his " Strange Cures."
It is a fact, that this man's reputation rose to a prodigious
height, but latterly declined almost as fast, for the expecta-
tions of the multitude that resorted to him were not always
answered.

MARY TOFT.

A short Narrative of an extraordinary deli-cert/ of seven-
teen Rabbits, from MARY TOFT, of Godalming, in the
county of Surrey, performed by Mr. John Howard,
surgeon, of Guildford, assisted by Mr. St. Andre, sur-

110 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

geon and anatomist to his Majesty. To which is added,
An exact Diary of what was observed during a close at-
tendance upon the RABBIT BREEDER, from Monday,
November 28, to Wednesday^ December 7, 1?26, by
order of his Majesty. With an account of her confession
of the fraud, at Lacey's Hotel, Leicester Square. By
Sir Richard Manningkam, Knt. Fellow of the Royal
Society, and of the College of Physicians, London.

THE following extraordinary narrative of Mary Toft, oc-
cupied the attention of the whole community at the time,
equal to Ann Moore, or Joanna Southcott ; and when the
names of such respectable surgeons are accompanied with
the tale, the public are more easily led astray, and an impo-
sition not so soon detected, thereby numbers of well-mean-
ing and charitable people are duped of their money : —

" Whatever may be the fate of this account, I think myself
indispensably obliged to relate the facts that I saw and
transacted myself, as also the reasons which first induced me
to inquire into the truth of such an extraordinary event ;
but T here declare, that I take on me no other part of this
narration, than that in which I was actually concerned.

" As Mr. Howard himself intends shortly to publish the
whole account, and prove every circumstance of it, by such
evidences as will put this matter out of all possibility of
doubt, I must refer to him for several particulars here
omitted.

" And as it will be impossible to judge impartially of this
fact, till the evidences above mentioned are produced, it can-
not be doubted but all such persons as are not governed by
prejudice, or some worse motive, will suspend their judg-
ment till these facts come to their knowledge by a more cer-
tain way, than by rlymg reports and conjectures.

" The first intelligence which I received 01 this matter, was
on the 5 tli instant, when 1 saw a very particular account,
taken the 4ih instant, at Guiidford, by Mr. Duvenaut, of

MARY TOFT. 11 1

a woman living at Godalming, lately delivered of five rab-
bits, by Mr. John Howard, surgeon, at Guildford, in Sur-
rey, a man of known probity, character, and capacity, in his
profession, who has practised midwifery for above these
thirty years.

" This account was again confirmed by two letters from the
said Mr. Howard, directed to Mr. Davenant, the first dated
November the 6th, four o'clock in the afternoon ; the sub-
stance of which is, that from the 4th instant to the 6th, he
had delivered the woman of three more rabbits ; that the
last of them had leaped within her for the space of
eighteen hours before it died, and that the moment it was
taken away, another was perceived to struggle for birth.
The second is dated November 9, and is here transcribed
verbatim : —

' SIR, — Since I wrote to you, 1 have taken or delivered
the poor woman of three more rabbits, all three half grown,
one of them a dun rabbit; the last leaped twenty-three
hours before it died. As soon as the eleventh rabbit was
taken away, up leaped the twelfth rabbit, which is now
leaping. If you have any curious person that is pleased to
come post, he may observe another leap within her, and shall
take it from her if he please ; which will be a great satis-
faction to the curious. If she had been with child, she has
but ten days more to go ; so I do not know how many rab-
bits may be behind ; I have brought the woman to Guild-
ford for better convenience.

* I am, Sir, your humble servant,

'JOHN HOWARD.

' If you send a person, let him bring a letter from you.'
" These letters, with others to persons of distinction in
town, which all agreed with the above-mentioned, were suffi-
cient to make ihe desirous of being convinced personally of
a fact, of which there was no instance in nature. Accord-
ingly, on the 15th instant, I attended the Hon. Mr. Moly-
neux, secretary to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,
1

112 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

who was inclined to inquire into the truth of this extraordi-
nary case, and desired me to go with him to'-Guildford. We
arrived there about half an hour after two in the afternoon.
We sent to Mr. Howard, who came to us immediately, and
told us that the woman was actually in labour of the fif-
teenth rabbit. We had not been at his house long, before
the nurse, who attends the woman, came to call Mr. Howard
to her, she being then in one of her labour pains.

" She was lodged over against Mr. Howard's house. We
found her dressed in her stays, sitting on the bed-side, with
several women near her. I immediately examined her, and
not finding her prepared for her labour, I waited for the
coming on of fresh pains, which happened in three or four
minutes, at which time I delivered her of the entire trunk,
stripped of its skin, of a rabbit of about four mouths
growth, in which the heart and lungs were contained; with
the diaphragm entire. I instantly cut off a piece of them,
and tried them in water ; they seemed but just specifically
lighter than it, and Mr. Molyneux pressing them to the bot-
tom, they rose again very slowly ; the heart was very large,
and its foramen ovale entirely open; the lungs were remark-
ably small, and of a much darker colour than commonly
the lungs are of such rabbits, who have breathed for some
time. No person but myself touched her, from the first
time that I had examined her, to the time of her being deli-
vered by me. Fler pains were pretty smart, and lasted for some
minutes. They went off the moment she was delivered, and
she seemed cheerful and easy ; walked by herself from the
bedside to the fire, and sat on a chair, where I examined
her : there were some inequalities, but more sensibly felt on
the right side, which made me conjecture that the rabbits
were bred in those tubes, and only came down when they
gave her those agitations, which, according to the account
of Mr. Howard, and of several other persons, were sensibly
felt many hours before their exclusion.

" As there was no blood nor water that issued after I had

MAfcY TOFT. 11$

delivered her, I again examined her, and fonnd her not in
the least inflamed or lacerated.

" Upon examining her breasts, I found milk in one of
them, but only a little yellowish serum in the other.

"Her pulse was regular, but sort)ewhat low ; her tongue
florid. She informed us, that in the intervals of her labour-
pains, she was tolerably easy, and had no inclination for any
sort of food but beef.

" About two hours after we had left her, they came agairi
to call Mr. Howard, she being at that time in violent labour-
pains ; but he and myself were gone to see the mayor, wh6
was then ill. The nurse that attended her had delivered her,
before our return, of the lower part of a male rabbit, which
vre found to tally with the trunk, which I had before ex-
tracted. This was also stript of its skin, arid completely
perfect in all its parts.

" In the rectum of this animal, which remained affixed to
the body, we found five or six pellets, much of the same
colour and consistence as the common dung of a rabbit,
little bodies, like dried fragments, being matted together with
a mucous matter. The like was observed in some other
parts of those rabbits, which had come away before. In
the other bowels there was a dirty coloured mucus, of the
nature of that which is constantly found in the bowels of
all foetus animals, and which in those that void their excre-
ments in pellets, is commonly hard and dry ; but the matter
in the guts of the first animal was of an entire different kind,
colour, and substance, from any of the rest, this being like
little filaments of an animal substance. In the middle of
the gut ilium of this creature, I found a very slender, brittle,
white body, of the length of half an inch, which in shape
was like a very small fish-bone.

" Between six and seven the same evening, we again visited
her; we had not been there long, before she fell into violent
labour-pains, insomuch that four or five persons could hardly
confine her to an arm-chair. As soon as the violence of

VOL. VI. I

114 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSE\JM.

the first pain was somewhat abated, I examined her as be-
fore. 1 constantly stood before her, nor did any person
whatsoever touch her, during that period. After three or
four very strong pains, that lasted several minutes, I deli-
vered her of the skin of the above-said rabbit, rolled and
squeezed up like a ball, without the least moisture or blood
about it ; upon which she recovered of her pain.

" From that time I did not stir from before her, nor did I
withdraw my hand, but to deliver the skin to a stander by.
About ten minutes after, as near as I can judge, she again
fell into labour-pains, though more sudden and short than
the former ; at which time I again delivered her of the head
of the rabbit with the fur on it, part of one of the ears
being torn off, also without any blood or moisture. And as
to these two deliveries, and particularly as to the circum-
stances of the latter, Mr. Molyneux having drawn up an
account of this whole affair, for his own private satisfaction,
immediately upon our return to London, I beg leave to
refer, for the conviction he had of the truth thereof, to that
account, which I have his leave to say, he will communicate
to any gentleman that is desirous to peruse it.

" After this she soon grew easy, and Mr. Howard gave her
a sleeping draught.

" About ten in the evening, we saw the woman for the last
time, she being then in bed. Having examined her, I found
only those lumps, which still were in the same place as
before mentioned.

" Between the times of visiting the woman, we examined
the several rabbits, which were all kept separate in distinct
pots, with spirits of wine, in the order that they were
brought away*

" The first animal did not appear to be a perfect rabbit in
all its parts, three of the feet being like the paws of a cat ;
the stomach and intestines like those parts in the same ani-
mal, as also the shape and figure of the thorax; the lungs
and heart of which were entirely out of tb?ir natural situa-

MARY TOFT. l\$

lion, and squeezed out between the upper ribs and vertebrae
of the neck, to which parts they strongly grew and adhered.
The lungs of this creature, had they been placed in their
natural cavity, would not have filled above a sixth part of
it. The bones of this creature being also so different in
substance and structure, from those of common rabbits, the
head and one paw only excepted.

" All the other thirteen animals were, in every particular,
like well formed, common, natural rabbits, from the size of
two months' growth to four. They were all broken in
pieces, and much in the same manner. I shall describe
these pieces in the order that Mr. Howard told us they had
commonly been brought away. First the fore paws with
the fur on ; then the liver and intestines ; the trunk and
shoulders in another part. In three or four animals the loins
separated from the os sacrum ; and in the rest, the ischium
and thighs in one piece, with the loins : the head with its
fur, and lastly the skin.

"When all these several parts were put together in their
proper order, they manifestly made up, and appeared to be-
long to the above-mentioned animals ; but the viscera were
wanting in four or five of them. One remarkable circum-
stance is, that most of these animals were females, as far as
I could judge.

" The heart and liver of those which we examined, appeared
much larger than usual, when compared with the lungs and
intestines which belonged to them ; which, on the contrary^
were extremely small. The coecum and colon, which are
remarkably large in rabbits, appeared not to exceed in big-
ness the other intestines, and the spiral structure of the coe-
cum was not yet unfolded ; the stomach was in like manner
much contracted, and its pylorus very straight and narrow.
I could not discover, in any of the livers that I examined,
the ductus venosus, nor the implantation of the umbilical
vein in that oran.

il6 KIRBV'S WONDERFUL, MUSEUM.

" I opened three or four of the hearts, and found in every
one of them the foramen ovale, and the ductus arteriosu*
fully open, the two trunks of the descendant cava united
at the right auricle of the heart, agreeable to that structure
which is peculiar to natural rabbits, and some few other
animals.

" The flesh of these creatures, particularly of that which I
extracted, had the smell of rabbits just killed; and the sub-
stance of their bones were, in all respects, like the bones of
foetus rabbits ; in several of them the epiphyses were sepa-
rated from the bones themselves.

" All the heads which I examined had their complete num-
ber of teeth, four cut before, and ten grinders on each side;
but they appeared not in the least worn nor strained, as the
teeth of other rabbits are by mastication.

" The nails of the paws were most of them exceedingly
sharp.

" The skins were all produced, being dressed in alum; they
were of several colours, as to their fur, which was consider-
ably long, and in one particularly (which was the fifth rabbit),
that part which covered the head was curled.

" The rabbit which I extracted, weighed twenty-one ounces
avoirdupois, making an allowance for one of the paws not
yet come away, and part of the viscera that was lost.

" From all these considerations, 1 was fully convinced, that
at the same time that the external appearance of these ani-
mals was exactly like such creatures, as must inevitably un-
dergo the changes that happen to adult animals, by food
and air, they carried within them the strongest marks of
foetuses, even by such parts as cannot exist in an adult,
and without which a foetus cannot possibly be supposed
to live. This, 1 think, proves, in the strongest terms possi-
ble, that these animals were of a particular kind, and not
bred in a natural way ; nor will there be any doubt remain-
ing (even with the least knowing in these matters), when
those parts which are subservient to the circulation of the

MARY TOFT. 117

/ i

blood, and nourishment between an adult creature and its
foetus are brought away ; which I am fully satisfied must
shortly happen, or, if retained, be the cause of this woman's
death.

" All these facts were verified before his Majesty, on Satur-
day, November 26, by the anatomical demonstration of the
first, the third, fifth and ninth of these animals, which were
compared with the parts of two natural rabbits, the one of
the age of four months, the other of five days, Dr. Steiger-
thal and Dr. Tessier being present.

" I shall, with all convenient speed, publish the anatomy of
these preternatural rabbits, with their figures taken from
the life, and compared with the parts of rabbits of the same
growth, that the difference before-mentioned may be fully
understood.

" In the mean while, I shall relate what appeared in the
dissection of two rabbits, which I performed in the presence
of Mr. Molyneux, the very day that he returned from Guild-
ford ; the one was of four months' growth, and much of the
size of that which I had taken from the woman, the other
was barely fifteen days old. The lungs of the larger were,
as nearly as I can judge, twenty times bigger in capacity
than, those of the preternatural one, and the lungs of the
smaller were at least eight times the bigness of the fore-
mentioned ; both these were exceedingly different in colour
and consistence, from those of the preternatural rabbit.

" The foramen ovale of the smaller rabbit was more than
two thirds open, and that in the larger was so far closed, as
Imt just to admit a very small probe.

"As to the stomach and intestines, the difference was so
notoriously great from those we had examined, that even in
the sucking rabbit, the stomach and coacum were at least
three times larger than those parts in the preternatural pnes.

" I shall give no other account of the woman, than what I
think pertinent to this subject. By the several questions
which I put to her, I waa informed that she was born and

H8 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

bred at Godalming. She seemed to be of a healthy, strong
constitution, of a small size, and fair complexion; of a very
stupid and sullen temper ; she can neither write nor read.
She has been married about six years to one Joshua Toft,jun.
a poor journeyman clothier at Godalming, by whom she has
had three children. The account she further gave of her-
self, was, that^on the 23d of April last, as she was weeding
in a field, she saw a rabbit spring up near her; after which
she ran w ith another woman that w as at work just by her ;
this set her a longing for rabbits, being then, as she thought, five
weeks gone with child ; the other woman perceiving she was
uneasy, charged her with longing for the rabbit they could not
catch ; but she denied it. Soon after another rabbit sprung up
near the same place, which she endeavoured likewise to catch.
The same night she dreamed that she was in a field with
those two rabbits in her lap, and awaked with a sick fit,
which lasted till morning ; from that time, for above three
months, she had a constant and strong desire to eat rabbits ;
but being very poor and indigent, could not procure any.
About seventeen weeks after her longing, she was taken with
violent cholic pains, which made her" to miscarry. Three
weeks after this, she was again taken in the same way.
Notwithstanding these accidents, she did not perceive her-
self to grow less, but continued with the symptoms of a
breeding woman ; insomuch, that in the beginning of Sep-
tember, as she was working in the hop-ground, the milk
flowed profusely from her breasts ; and as she had children
before, she thought she felt very differently from what she
used to do. That on the 2?th of September last she was
taken very ill in, the night, and sent for her mother-in-law,
who is a midwife, and a neighbouring woman ; at which time;
she was relieved of somewhat, which she took, to be the in-
side of a pig, which her husband carried to Mr. Howard,
who some days after came to her and delivered her of some
parts of the animal first mentioned. After a fortnight she
was churched, and thought all was over with her. She told

MARY TOFT. 1 |Q

\ o--*^' f

me that her husband had not cohabited with her, from the

time of her first miscarriage. The account Mr. Howard
gave, was, in every material circumstance, the same with
the woman's relation. He said, the inside (as he thought)
of a rabbit were brought to him, but he never knew
or heard of the woman or her friends till then ; and
that at first he took this to be intended as an imposition
upon him ; but was at last with much persuasion prevailed
on to go to assist her at Godalming ; that he did accord-
ingly deliver her of part of the first rabbit : that he attended
her at Godalming till she was delivered of the ninth rabbit :
but that it being very inconvenient to attend her there,
which made him neglect all his other business, he had brought
her to Guild ford for better conveniency.

" Mr. Howard further related, that when she was delivered
of one rabbit, another was immediately felt, struggling
with such violence, that the motion thereof could be sen-
sibly felt and seen. That this motion has sometimes been
so strong as to move the bed-clothes, and that it has lasted
for twenty, and above thirty hours together. This par-
ticular fact was unanimously agreed on, and attested by most
of the people at Guildford, who have had the curiosity to go
to see her, and wag confirmed to Mr. Molyneux and myself
by above ten different persons, who all seemed to be indiffe-
rent in this matter.

" Mr. Howard further told me, that during this motion, she
was always free from pain, and cheerful ; but that imme-
diately upon the ceasing of it, she grew sick, and soon began
to perceive her labour pains drawing near ; that upon her
first pains, the bones of the animal were sensibly heard to
snap, and break, by the violent convulsive motions of her
pains. This last circumstance was likewise related by the
same person that attested the former.

" On Wednesday, the 23d instant, I set out again for Guild-
ford, with Mr. D'Anteny, being resolved to bring the woman
to town, if there was any further prospect of more rabbits.
We arrived there at one in the afternoon, and we found Mr.

120 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

Howard standing at his door, who told us that she had
been delivered of two more rabbits since 1 had seen her, and
that he hoped all was over, as he did not perceive in the
uterus any motion as usual. 1 visited her several times that
day, and proceeded in every respect as before •, her pains,
which, when I saw her the first time were mixed with in-
tervals of quiet and rest, now were constant and fixed on her
right side ; her pulse was more irregular ; she described her
pain as if very coarse brown paper was tearing from within
her. Toward eight o'clock that evening she voided a piece
of one of the membranes of a placenta, rolled up like parch?
ment; when it was extended, it measured about six inches
over. The next morning, as I was packing up some of the
rabbits to bring to town with me, Mr. Howard was sent for
over, and Mr. D'Anteny, Dr. Hampe, and mvself attended
him. We found her in exquisite torture, and after seven or
eight minutes, she was again disburdened of a membrane, in
structure, shape, and size, exactly like the former. This was
the first part that I saw come from her with some effusion.
She did pot seem in the least relieved after this operation,
her pulse continued irregular, and her tongue white.

" Mr. Ahlers having been at Guildford, by his majesty's or-
der, (as Mr. Howard told us) to inquire into the truth of this
fact, was fully convinced of it, as he hinjself declared, having
assisted the greatest part of Sunday, the 20th instant, at the
delivery of some of the 16th rabbit, which he brought to town
with him. But as on this occasion his behaviour has been re-
presented here different from what it was at Guildford,! cannot
better vindicate that gentleman's character, than by subjoining
the following affidavits, which were taken in the presence or*
Mr. D'Anteny, and Doctor Hampe. And that the truth, so
f:ir as it relates to this point, may be known, I think he is
strictly obliged, in justice to the public, forthwith to give an
account of what he saw and transacted there, as I here have
done. N. ST,

f London, Monday, Nov. 28, 1726."

MARY TOFT. 121

* 1 have carefully read the above narrative. Whether the
animals mentioned therein were preternaturally produced in
this woman, or that a fraud is practicable in this case, I do
not take upon me to say : gentlemen, who are sufficient
judges, will determine that matter upon proper evidence ; I
can only certify, that I did draw up a relation, as is above-
mentioned, which, in the most material circumstances of fact,
agrees with this narrative; and 1 can further affirm, that I
did not perceive the least circumstance of fraud in the con-
duct of this affair while I was at Guildford.

' Nov. 29, 1726. S. MOLYNEUX.'

* John Howard, of Guildford, in the county of Surrey,
surgeon, maketh oath, that on Sunday the 20th day of this
instant month of November, at or abo'ut ten o'clock in the
morning, he, this deponent, was called home to a person who
told him his name was Ahlers ; that he was come to see
Mary Toft ; that he was ordered by his majesty to attend her
till all was over ; and that he was surgeon to his majesty's
German household. And this deponent saitli, that at that very
time the nurse of the said Mary Toft came to acquaint this
deponent, that the said Mary Toft was in labour : and there-
upon this deponent carried the said Mr. Alilers over to her
with him, and having touched her in his presence, desired
him to examine her, for that he found all things ready for a
delivery. That Mr. Ahlers did accordingly examine; but
this deponent finding that he did not hasten her delivery, nor
that he proceeded as one who understands midwifery should
do, this deponent directed him how to proceed in the extrac-
tion, which after some time Mr. Ahlers effected, having
brought away the loins and inferior parts of a rabbit, of about
three months growth. That after this Mr. Ahlers told this
deponent, and all the persons present, that he was fully satis-
fied, and convinced of the truth, and that he could have no
doubts after such proofs. That at the same time he gave the
woman a guinea, expressing great satisfaction, and promising

KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

that he would procure her a pension from his majesty : lhat
he repeated the same things to Mr. Thomas Howard in this
deponent's presence, nor did he offer any objections or
doubts to them. That some time after Mr. Ahlers desired
to touch the woman again ; but as at the time before he had
put her to a great deal of unnecessary pain, this deponent
desired him to forbear. That some time after Mr. Ahlers
said he was not well, and that he must hasten back to Lon-
don. That this deponent pressed him to stay, that he might
assist at the bringing away the remainder of the rabbit, but
could not prevail on him ; and soon after he accordingly set
out for London, although it was almost dark.

'JOHN HOWARD.
' Jur. vicesimo quinto die Novembris

Anno Reg. Regis Geo. Sfc. 13, AnnoDom. 1726, coram

' Jos. BURTT, Mayor.

* JAMES CLIFF.TON.'

' Mary Toft, the wife of Joshua Toft, of Godalming, in
the county of Surrey, clothworker, and Mary Costen, nurse
to the said Mary Toft, severally make oath, That Mr. Ahlers
declared it was wonderful, people would not believe a fact
that was so true as this appeared to him, and the said Mary
Toft saith, that Mr. Ahlers examined her breasts, and found
milk in one of them.

' The mark of MARY J TOFT.
'The mark of MARY x COSTEN.
( Jur. Die et Anno supradict. coram
'Jos. BURTT, Mayor.
'JAMES CLIFFTON.'

' Elizabeth Helmes, of Guildford, in the county of Surrey,
widow, maketh oath, That on Sunday, the twentieth day
of this instant November, at about four in the afternoon,
she asked Mr. Ahlers, who dined then at her house, bearing
the sign of the White Hart, whether he believed this ac-
5

MARY TOFJ. J£«J

count; and that his answer was, That be fully did believe it.
To which this deponent replied, Then I hope, Sir, you will
convince a great many unbelievers, when you return to Lon-
don, as some other gentlemen have already done ; to which
he said he should, as this deponent apprehended.

' ELIZ. HELMES.

* Jur. vicesimo quinto die Novembris,

1 An. Reg. Regis Geo. &c. 13, Anno Domini 1726,cora»»
( Jos. BURTT, Mayor.
f JAMES CLIFFTON.'

' Olive Sands, the wife of John Sands, of Guildford, in
the county of Surrey, saddler, maketh oath, That she was
constantly in the room on Sunday, the twentieth instant, with
Mr. Ahlers, from eleven in the morning to three in the after-
noon. That Mrs. Helmes- called him to dinner, that during
the whole time the woman was in violent labour, and that he
did not leave her, in all that time, but to go to dinner. That
this deponent saw Mr. Ahlers examine the woman's breasts,
and found milk in one of them, and that she heard him say
he was ordered by his majesty to attend the said woman,
Mary Toft, till it was all over. And further saith, that the
said Mr. Ahlers said he would endeavour to get the woman
a pension from his majesty, or words to that effect, on his
seeming satisfied of the misery the woman underwent.

' OLIVE SANDS.

* Jur. Die et Anno supradict. coram

* Jos. BUIITT, Mayor.
'JAMES CLIFFTON.'

' Thomas Howard, of Guildford, in the county of Surrey,
surgeon, maketh oath, That on Sunday, the twentieth day o/
this instant month of November, this deponent went to see
the poor miserable woman, Mary Toft, about three of the
clock in the afternoon, where he found in her chamber one
Mr. Ahlers, a surgeon, who told this deponent he was come

124 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

to see her the said woman, and that he was ordered by his
majesty to attend her till 'twas all over. That the said Mr.
Ahlers himself, in the aforesaid chamber, shewed this depo-
nent the loins and inferior parts of a rabbit, which, he told
this deponent, he extracted. That this deponent asked him
what his opinion was in this case; to which he answered, and
told this deponent, he was fully convinced and satisfied.
That after this, deponent was with him at the White Hart
Inn, in Guildford, and there Mr. Ahlers repeated part of what
he had said before. That this deponent there pressed him
very much to stay all night, to take away all the rest of the
parts of the aforesaid rabbit : upon which he said he had a
giddiness, and a turning round in the head, with a pain on his
neck and shoulders, and a soreness of his throat, which made
him very uneasy, and that he was resolved to go back to Lon-
don. That the said Mr. Ahlers gave the woman money, and
told her he would procure her a pension, and so took his
leave of her. And this deponent saith, that the said Mr.
Ahlers went from Guildford about five o'clock in the after-
noon. THO. HOWARD.
* Jur. vicesimo septimo die Novembris,

* Anno Reg. Regis Geo. &c. 13, Anno Domini 1 726, coram

* Jos. BURTT, Mayor.

'JAMES CLIFFTON.'

AN EXACT DIARYj &C.

On Sunday evening, the 27th of November, 1726, Mr. St.
Andre, anatomist to his majesty, having received an express
from Mr. John Howard, surgeon and man-midwife in Guild-
ford, giving him an account that another rabbit was then
leaping in Mary Toft, sent me notice of it by letter, about
eleven o'clock the same night, desiring withal that I would
keep at home, and he would call upon me some time that
night, in order to carry me with him to Guildford.

I sat up till two in the morning waiting for him, and then

MARY TOFT. 125

sent my servant to his house, desiring to be excused, for I was
then going to bed ; my servant returned before I was got into
bed, and told me Mr. St. Andre would be with me presently,
and desired 1 would not go to bed.

Accordingly, between three and four in the morning, he
and Mr. Limborch, a German surgeon and man-midwife,
vame to my house; and Mr. St. Andre told me he had been
at Kensington since he wrote to me, and desired me to go
immediately with him to Guildford ; adding, that it was his
majesty's pleasure that I should go and see this Godalming
woman so much talked of, and after a strict examination, to
make my report concerning her.

Immediately, we set out together for Guildford about four
in the morning, and arrived there a little after twelve at noon :
we stopped at Mr. Howard's house, who being out of town,
we went directly over the way to the house where Mary
Toft (the woman said to be delivered of seventeen rabbits)
then lodged.

I found her in bed, and after asking her several questions
in the presence of Mr. St. Andre, Mr. Limborch, and several
women and midwives, I proceeded to examine her. She
appeared by no means like a woman with child ; her right
side, indeed, was somewhat bigger than the left, with a hard-
ness across it, which, when I pressed, she said it gave her
pain.

I afterwards diligently searched her : and was well assured
at that time all was clear from imposture.

While I was thus examining, I applied my other hand at
different times to the several parts of her body ; but feeling
no motion all this while, I inquired of the women then pre-
sent how long it was since the rabbit leapt (as they termed
it) and whether they were of opinion it was now dead ; to
which they answered, the last time it leapt was about one in
the morning.

I left her for that time, and did not visit her again till about
five in the afternoon, jointly with Mr. John Howard, her sur-

KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUA*.

geon, when I again examined her in like manner as before, and
asking Mr. John Howard, whether he then thought the rabbit
was dead? He answered) he could not exactly tell, but had
lately observed, if hot cloths were applied, the rabbit (if
alive) would leap again ; upon which, I immediately or-
dered cloths to be made very hot, and applied them myself,
being very desirous to , feel that leaping motion they so
much talked of. Upon applying of the first cloth, the motion
began, which they called the leaping up of the rabbit; it was
indeed a motion like a sudden leaping of something within
the right side, where I had before felt that particular hard-
ness.

The motions were various, sometimes with very strong
throes, especially on the right side ; at other times, with
sudden jerks and risings, and tremulous motions and pant-
ings, like the strong pulsations of the heart; and as 1 sat
on the bed, in company with five or six women, it would
sometimes shake us all very strongly : the whole appeared to
me very different from any convulsive or hysteric motion I
had ever met with before.

We then left the woman, and Mr. Howard parted from us,
Mr. St. Andre, Mr. Limborch, and myself went to the
White Hart Inn; but within less than an hour, Mr. John
Howard brought us, wrapt in a paper, a piece of membrane,
which he said he had just taken from the woman, and shewed
it us. I told him he ought to have sent for me, that I might
have taken it away myself, being come down for that pur-
pose ; to which he replied, 'twas true ; but he believed there
was more to come, which I should take away, before I re-
turned to London, or to that effect. Upon examining the
membrane which he brought, it appeared to me like a piece
of bladder; but he insisted it was a part of the chorion, and
that he had more of it at home : upon which, I walked with
him to his house, to see the rabbits and membranes, which
he said he had taken from the woman, and preserved in spirits
of wine.

MARY TOPT. 127

Mr. John Howard asked me to go with him and see one
of his patients who was very ill ; adding, he believed it would
be some time before any more membranes would come ; and
having left orders to be sent for so soon as the woman's
pains came on, we forthwith_went thither, and from thence
to Mr. Castle's, at the Priory, where we met Mr. Thomas
Howard, his brother, and several gentlemen of the neigh-
bourhood.

About eight in the evening, a messenger came to us from
the woman, and told us she was in pain : we went immedi-
ately, and I found her sitting in a great chair by the fire-side ;
I asked her if she was then in pain, she answered — no ; but
that she had some sharp pains just before I came in : I pre-
sently took from her, and upon examining it, confess I was
much supprised, it appearing to me so like a piece of hog's
bladder, that I was not able to form any other judgment of
it, as I then told Mr. Howard, Mr. St. Andre, Mr. Limborch,
and all that were there present.

The woman, Mary Toft, from whom I had taken it,
seemed much concerned at what I said, and cried. I asked
her the reason of her crying, to which she gave me no answer ;
but the women about her said, it was because she supposed I
thought her a cheat.

I asked for a hog's bladder, and they presently brought one
fresh blown up, which, it seems, they had in the house ; this
added to my jealousy. Then I compared the membrane
which I took from the woman with the hog's bladder, and
could perceive no difference but in the thickness, in which
the bladder somewhat exceeded the membrane ; they had
both the same strong urinous smell, peculiar to a hog's blad-
der. I still insisted I should not be satisfied as to that affair.

Mr. John Howard and Mr. St. Andre bid me have a little
patience, and I should soon be fully satisfied. I still urged
the similitude of the membrane to a hog's bladder, requiring
them to tell me what they themselves thought it did most re-
semble ? Both of 'them agreed, nothing looked more like a

128 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

hog's bladder than it did ; and Mr. St. Andre added, that had
he not actually delivered the woman of part of a rabbit —
this circumstance would also induce him to believe the whole
a fraud.

The same evening, Mary Toft had several pains like la-
bour-pains while I sat before her, which I believe was full
three hours, and 1 was all that lime in expectation of receiv-
ing something from her; the pains were sometimes very
pressing, but they went off again suddenly.

When we returned from the woman to the White Hart, I
told them again, that the more I considered the thing, the
more strongly 1 was convinced that the membrane I took
from the woman, was really a piece of hog's bladder, artfully
conveyed there.

Upon this, very warm disputes arose amongst us, and Mr.
St. Andre urged it was not more surprising, than that rabbiti
should come from her, adding, that he was convinced of that
truth by examining the rabbit he had taken from her, which
at the same time had the exact external appearance of ani-
mals, like such creatures as must inevitably undergo the
changes that happen to adult animals by food and air ; and
that they carried within them the strongest marks of foetuses,
even by such parts as cannot exist in an adult, and without
which a foetus cannot possibly be supposed to live, or to
that effect. This he thought proved in the strongest terms
possible, that these animals were of a particular kind, and not
bred in a natural way, saying, Why therefore might not this
membrane, which looks like a hog's bladder, come also
the same way ? from whence he verily believed that it did,
and that it might be part of the chorion ; to which Mr.
Howard and Mr. Limborch assented.

After this dispute, and at their joint desire, I determined
to make no public mention of this affair till I had seen the
event of the whole transaction, or had fresh reason to suspect
a fraud, lest by such an alarm I should rather obstruct than
forward the finding out the truth. ] then marked the mem-

MARY TOFT. 12Q

hrane which I took from her, by cutting a small part of it,
which I brought with me to London.

Tuesday, the 29th, we brought Mary Toft to London with
us, and lodged her at Mr. Lacey's bagnio in Leicester Fields :
I sat up with her all that night; she often had the motion on
the right side, and sometimes very strongly.

Wednesday, the 30th, the motion was more faint, and she
passed the night tolerably well. Some time that day, I told
Mr. Douglass what I had observed at Guildford, and took out
of my pocket-book the piece of membrane, which I called a
piece of hog's bladder, and shewed it him, and asked his
opinion ; he said it looked like a piece of hog's bladder, and
added, Surely this must be a cheat, or to that effect. The
same day I told the story of the hog's bladder to his Grace
the Duke of Richmond, Duke of Montague, Lord Baltimore,
and Mr. Molyneux, but did not declare it publicly, for the
reasons I have given.

Thursday, the 1st instant, about ten in the morning, the
motion was very languid, and having intermitted for a while,
she was seized with pains like those of labour : I then pre-
pared, as before at Guildford, to deliver her ; and having
diligently searched her, I found all clear, and received a
pain or two, which were strong, and exactly like labour pains.
Upon this I desired Dr. Douglass, who was then present,
that he would please likewise to examine her, and openly
declare his opinion, which he did, and in the hearing of
several persons of distinction, confessed that he found all
clear, and was of opinion that the pains were of the same
nature with labour pains. I then took my place again, and
received more pains of the like nature.

After some time, the motion on the right side of her, which
they called the leaping up of the Rabbit, began again, and
those pains like labour pains went suddenly off; her pulse
soon became calm as before, and the flushing of her face
disappeared ; she passed the remainder of the day indifferently
well, having for the most part the motion on the right side,
VOL. vi. c

130 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

which I never observed had any influence on her pulse ;
her diet was beef, rabbit, red-herring, and such like : that
night she slept very well.

Friday, the 2d instant, she had the motion the greatest part
of the day ; towards evening it increased extremely, insomuch
that she fell into violent convulsions, which I never before
observed in her, with frequent contractions of her fingers,
rolling of her eyes, and great risings in her stomach, &c.

During the tit she would often make a whining noise, and
at intervals be more than ordinary faint. She continued in
her fit near two hours ; for some minutes I could scarcely
perceive she had any pulse ; when she came out of her fit,
she perceived herself very weak for some time, and when I
asked if she remembered she had been in a fit, she answered,
No ; she rested well that night.

On Saturday, the 3d, in the morning she was brisk, and all
that day had the motion by intervals ; towards evening she
had another convulsion fit, though not so violent as the
former ; this night she was very restless, and sometimes con-
vulsed.

On Sunday, the 4th instant, about eleven o'clock in the
morning, Dr. Douglass and myself did carefully examine her.

About three in the afternoon, the pains, like labour pains,
came on again ; I touched her as before, and Dr. Douglass,
Dr. Mowbray, Mr. Limborch, the German surgeon and
roan-midwife, who was then present, did the same; and we
agreed, that the nature of the pains were such, and so violent,
as we apprehended something would soon issue, and this
we declared in the hearing of many persons of distinction,
who were then present: and I well remember, the room
being very full, I desired if there was any person present
willing to examine her, that they would do it then while her
pains were upon her. Accordingly, several persons did
examine her, and declared to the same purpose : after having
received several pains, they, together with the other symptoms
of approaching labour, vanished on the sudden, as formerly.

MARY TOFT. 131

In the evening, Thomas Howard, porter to Mr. Lacey's
bagnio, made an information against Mary Toft, before Sir
Thomas Clarges, bart. one of his Majesty's justices of peace,
concerning a rabbit she had clandestinely procured by his
assistance ; upon which she was taken into custody, and
strictly examined by Sir Thomas ; she very obstinately denied
all the porter had sworn ; but her sister, who nursed her,
being examined on the said fact upon oath, acknowledged
the procuring the rabbit in a clandestine manner ; but that
it was not designed for the use we suspected, but for eating
only.

Soon after, Mary Toft confessed she had procured the
rabbit, according to the porter's deposition, but that it was
her intention to eat it, she having longed for it, and most
obstinately persisted that she was still big with a rabbit.

The same evening I examined her again, whereupon I
earnestly pressed Sir Thomas Clarges that she might not be
sent to prison that night, being still apprehensive there might
something come from her in a little time; and as the fraud
was not fully detected, I judged it might prove of very ill
consequences to remove her till the whole was found out.

On Monday, the 5th, I gave my opinion to Sir Thomas,
concerning Mary Toft; and, lest he should commit her to
prison, I spoke to several persons of distinction, and that day
wrote to the honourable Mr. Molyneux to assist me in that
affair, well knowing how industrious they had always been,
in endeavouring to find out this supposed fraud ; for I be-
lieved a sudden commitment of her to prison, before the
cheat did manifestly appear, would be a means of preventing

a discovery. The copy of my said letter is as follows :

/

* TO THE HON. MR. MOLYNECX.

' Dear Sir,

* I have, since I left you, very maturely considered what
you said this morning, and the contents of the letter franked
by Lord Onslow, which you also shewed us, importing a

K 2

132 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

discovery of a fraud in the affair iu the country ; and adding,
that, to what happened to myself at Guildford, in relation to
my taking away from Mary Toft, the Godalmiug woman,
what I call the piece of hog's bladder, and the deposition
about the rabbit last Sunday night, which I heard Thomas
Howard, the porter of Lacey's bagnio, make before Sir
Thomas Clarges, in the presence of several persons of quality,
and the unnaturalness of the production, supposed to have
been ; all this, I say, laid together, is to me such evidence of
roguery, as makes me strongly believe the xvhole to be a
fraud. Therefore, that our endeavours fully to detect the
cheat may prove most effectual, and the unnatural impdsture
may most clearly appear to the public, I think Mary Toft
should by no means be sent to prison, till the truth comes
out ; but that she should rather be kept, and most strictly
watched in some private house, where all persons, those of
the faculty especially, may have free and convenient access
to her, which a prison will not well afford, till the matter be
as plainly and fully detected as possible ; for which purpose
I will wait upon Sir Thomas Clarges to take measures ac-
cordingly ; and, if you will give leave, will call on you as I
come from him, to acquaint you with our resolution.
* I am, Sir,

' Your most humble servant,
« Dec. 26, 1726. R. MANNINGHAM.'

After some difficulty, I prevailed with Sir Thomas Clarges
to let her remain in the custody of the high constable of
Westminster, at Mr. Lacey's bagnio, till the cheat should
be found out, or at least for a few days longer; to which he
agreed.

On Tuesday, the 6th, Sir Thomas threatened her severely,
and began to appear the most proper physician in her case,
and his remedies took place, and seemed to promise a perfect
cure ; for we heard no more of her former labour-like pains.

I urged her much to confess the truth ; and told her, I
believed her to be an impostor, and that she was differently

MARY TOFT. J33

formed from other women, of imposing upon the world by
her motions and pains, and therefore I resolved to try a very
painful experiment upon her, and was accordingly prepared
for that purpose ; whereas if she would ingenuously confess
the whole truth, I would speak to several of the nobility in
her behalf, some of whom then present, promised her their
good offices on the like condition.

I assured her also there was no time left for delay ; and if
she would not confess, I should immediately proceed to the
operation.

These threats made great impressions upon her, and being
withal in a most particular manner exhorted by his Grace
the Duke of Montague, Lord Baltimore, Dr. Douglass, and
myself, to make a free and open confession, before it should
be done by any other person in the country, and to avoid so
terrible an operation ; she at last begged very heartily to be
let alone till the next morning, and if she did not then confess,
I might proceed as I pleased.

Accordingly, on Wednesday, December 7, in the morning,
in the presence of the two noblemen before mentioned, Dr.
Douglass, and myself, she began her confession of the fraud ;
and in her confession she owned, that upon her miscarrying
she was seized with violent faintings, and she thought as if
she had been just delivered of a full grown child; she did
verily believe one of her wicked accomplices did then pro-
duce the monster (as she calls it) being the claws and body
of a cat, and the head of a rabbit ; this put her to much
pain : after that time she believed nothing was done only by
the advice of a woman accomplice, whom she has not yet
named, and who told her she had now no occasion to work
for her living as formerly, for she could put her into a way
of getting a very good livelihood, and promised continually
to supply her with rabbits, and should therefore expect part
of the gain, or to that effect. Mary Toft asked what way
that was. The woman told her she must have so many
pieces of rabbits as would make up the number of rabbits
1

134 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

which a doe rabbit usually kindles at one time, otherwise
she would be suspected. Mary Toft asked how many that
was; the woman told her, sometimes thirteen.

From that time Mary Toft did often, by the assistance of
that woman, convey parts of rabbits to her, till at last she
could do it by herself, as she had an opportunity, and that
she did continue so to do.

Now, by the constant irritation of those extraneous bodies,
thus artfully conveyed to her, she suffered much, and fancied
herself larger in bulk than she ought to be in her natural
state ; and the bones, and other parts of those rabbits, so
conveyed, which, together with artful management of
herself, did occasion those violent pains, which came on
by intervals, and very exactly counterfeited the true labour-
pains. The motions of her inside were partly artifice, and
partly real convulsions ; for i have often observed some of
the motions in her soundest sleep, and even since she has
confessed the fraud, part of her motions being involuntary.

Mary Toft owned there was nothing when I examined
her, only that time when I took the piece of bladder
which she had put there, a little before I came to her,
on Monday the 28th of November, 1726, about eight in the
evening; and ever since that time she was afraid to procure
any thing else, because I had often told her, if I found twenty
rabbits at a time, it would go for nothing with me ; for I
should never be convinced, unless 1 did take some parts of
the rabbits away myself, which I was very well assured could
never get there by art.

Dr. Douglass, who was so kind as to write down her
confession from her own mouth, will, I hope, shortly oblige
the world with it at large, when she has discovered the
whole.

Thus have I given a full and faithful account of every
material thing which occurred to me ^during my constant
attendance upon Mary Toft, from Monday the 28th of
November, 1726, to December the 7th following, which J

CAVES OF ELLORA. 133

thought myself obliged to communicate to the world, as well

for their satisfaction, as the justification of my own conduct.

*~Dec.8, 1726. H. MANNINGHAM.'

CAVES OF ELLORA,

CALLED KEYLAS, OR PARADISE.

A Description of the wonderful Caves of Ellora, in the
East Indies, taken from the very entertaining Journal of
Lieut. Col. Fitzclarence, extracted from a Letter written
by him the 28th of January, 1818,/row Rowash.

11 HAVING returned, though dreadfully fatigued, I will not
permit my feelings to pass away, without recording them on
a more secure tablet than that of my memory. My eyes and
mind are absolutely satiated with the wonders I have seen :
the first are weary with objects so gigantic and extraordinary,
to which they were totally unaccustomed : from the admira-
tion which I experienced of these early and stupendous
works of human genius, of unremitting toil and perseve-
rance, of the religion which had effected a labour so immense
and remarkable, and so prodigious an undertaking, a work
which has successively withstood the barbarous attempts of
the Mahometans, and outlived the name or era of its founder,
which is hidden in the most remote antiquity. The Bramins
and the Hindoo nations, in their original purity, long before
our era, had the power, and made the various changes
which have taken place throughout India within the last
2000 years. I was struck with astonishment as I stood in
Keylas, casting a rapid glance over the stupendous monu-
ments of art before me had arisen, I sought in vain for an in-
cident in the lapse of time, which could convey an equal con-
ception of the power of man over matter. A period of time
has elapsed since the first excavation of the Caves of Ellora,
so immense, that even their sanctity has been effaced; for,
though containing in a perfect state the deities at this mo-

136 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

ment worshipped in the Hindoo Mythology, yet no pilgrims
now visit them, nor are they in any manner, or to any one
(except ^ cursory traveller) an object of veneration. What-
ever may have been the cause of the erection of the stupen-
dous buildings in Egypt, or the religious feeling which
prompted their construction, I am not surprised that a satis-
factory account of their founder and era has been lost in ages
so remote, as to leave in existence no remains of that wor-
ship, except themselves and tradition, although the same re-
ligion still maintains its ground ; that these surprising monu-
ments should be held in such a degree of disrespect, cannot
well be explained, unless upon supposition, that the excesses
of the Mahometans, who entered the most sacred places,
may have rendered them impure, and thus have deprived
them of their former holiness.

" We descended the face of the hill, which is of red granite
and very steep, and enjoyed a fine view of the extensive
plain beneath us, with the village of Ellora, about a mile
from the foot, embosomed with trees. About two-thirds
down the hill, which Captain Sydenham informed me, was
hollowed for near two miles, into vast halis and chambers, we
came in front of the great excavation called in the Sanscrit,
Keylas, or Paradise. The first object which strikes the tra-
veller is a gateway, having apartments over it, connected
with the sides of the hill by two walls with coarse battle-
ments, and apparently built across an old stone quarry ; and
above, and on each side within the gateway are seen a con-
fused crowd of pagodas and obelisks, so that should a stranger
view it from the outside, not being aware of the peculiarity
of the work, he would wonder at the taste of thus burying so
many buildings in so obscure a situation. But on approach-
ing the wall and gate, you search in vain for the usual separa-
tion of stones in building, and the whole is found to be one
mass of rock, and all worked out by manual labour, and
without great exertion, for by entering the gateway, and pass-
ing into the immense area, 240 feet long, 150 broad, and

GATES OF ELLORA. 137

200 feet high, and viewing the principal temple supported by
stone elephants, and bearing in mind that this stupendous,
yet elaborately worked mass, is formed of kindred material,
with the coarse perpendicular wall stone which shuts you in
on three sides, that the astonishment and the admiration is
felt, far from wearing off, I think increases on reflection.

" On entering the gate, which has several rooms over it, the
first object which presents itself, immediately opposite, is a
colossal figure about ten feet high, surrounded with sculp-
ture, and two small elephants joining their trunks above his
head. This important personage is in a sitting posture, and
by being daubed with red paint, is rendered, if possible,
more hideous than when he started from his mother rock.
The openings into the area are to the right and left. Facing
these openings, in the bottom of the area, stand two stone
elephants, of the size of life, both more or less mutilated,
and with no other decoration than two coarse ropes carved
round their bodies. It is from the vicinity of these elephants
that the eye and mind first explore and comprehend the
whole of the exterior of the great pyramidical temple, QO feet
high in the centre of the excavation. The minute and beau-
tiful carving on the outside is very happily contrasted with
the cliff around. Above the elephants, above SO feet higher,
are two beautiful obelisks, stated to be 38 feet high, covered
with carvings, and not only light in appearance, but much
relieved by each compartment or story being variously and
beautifully sculptured. These are very perfect. The main
temple stands rather towards the further end, and the middle
of the area, and is connected with the apartment over the
gate, by a small temple, in which stands the Bull Nundee,
and beyond it, by a sort of bridge, directly over the figure
seen on entering, and over the openings, into the area oppo-
site to the elephants, all similarly cut out of the solid rock*
The Bull is not large, and rather disfigured. The centre
temple has several smaller, and not so high, beyond it, which,
from the neighbourhood of the elephants, appear attached to
it, but are not so in reality, except by the floor of rock,

138 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

which leaves the whole, as if supported by the statues of ani-
mals, projecting more or less from the solid mass, some with
half their bodies protruded from it, others with only
their hind and fore-quarters. The principal of theSe are
elephants of the size of life, and hops larger than life, and
some imaginary animals. For the sake of diversity, these
statues are all in different attitudes ; several in fierce conflict
with their neighbours, and all looking as if executed at the
whim of the workmen. The feet, talons, ears, trunks, tusks,
&c. have suffered much ; it is supposed from the intempe-
rate zeal of the Mahometans.

" The distance from the sides of the temple, to the face of
the scraped rock, is not more than forty feet on each side,
and it is painful to look up for any length of time. The
flights of steps, of which there are two, according to the
floor, supported by the animals on which the temple is
formed, are on each side, and rather beyond the smaller
temple which contains the Bull Nundee. Between the prin-
cipal temple and the gateway, on the outside walls, there is
much sculpture in nine rows of figures, about a foot long, of
men fighting ; some armed with bows, others with clubs and
long strait swords. On the right side, among others, are
some figures in cars, with two and four wheels, drawn by
horses, and monkeys seem in every part to be very active, and
by no means second rate performers. This is supposed to
allude to the conquest of Ceylon by Rama ; the image of
Hunomaun is represented in heaving rocks to form the
bridge between the continent and Ceylon. The steps turn
inwards about half their rise, and meet on an uncovered
landing-place, between the small temple containing the bull,
and the great temple, about three or four feet below the
level of the latter. The door facing the west 12 feet high by
6 broad, ornamented with colossal statues on each side, is
now before you, and on ascending, I believe, four steps, and
passing between the gigantic porters, you arrive at the great
chamber of the principal temple ; though, for the first mo-
ments after you enter, the gloomy light does not permit you

CAVES OP ELLORA. 1SQ

to see distinctly, which, added perhaps to the dead silence,
the massy pillars, and the Goliah-like figures at the other
end, but partially discerned, together with the feeling in-
spired in the area, tends to absorb the faculties. The inte-
rior, from the door to the recess at the other end, is 103 feet
Jong, 65 feet wide, and the height but 17 ; the lovvness of the
roof adds materially to its effect. The size of the pillars,
being in thickness out of proportion with their height, be-
speak the weight above, and excite the peculiar sensation of a
desire to crouch when inside : I then felt the real circum-
stances of the mighty work around me. Here, had the
perseverance of man ornamented a mass coeval with the
world, and which differing from all other temples on the face
of the earth, had grown like a statue from an uncouth block,
under the hands of an artist. It is sustained by four rows of
pillars, not above four being of the same workmanship, the
shafts minutely carved, but the capitals quite plain ; and the
roof between these supports, appears resting on an imitation
of great beams. The roof is plain, excepting the centre,
which has a round medallion, in basso-relievo, representing a
man between two female figures ; though that on the left is
almost destroyed, and appears, by accident or design, to have
been detached from the roof and to have fallen, leaving a
mark of what is the original colour of the stone, nearly the
whole of the interior having been blackened by Aurungzebe,
who, to shew his contempt for the opinions of the Hindoos,
filled it with fuel, which he caused to be set on fire. It
•would, however, almost have bid defiance to his cannon;
and, with the other caves in its vicinity, exists to this day, a
wonder of the world, only equalled by the pyramids, and
likely to stand to the end of time, as firmly as the neighbour-
ing hills. Opposite the entrance is a recess, the sanctum
sanctorum, with a group of colossal figures on each side,
whose heads touch the roof. This recess runs back about
thirty or forty feet on the outside, beyond the back wall of the
temple, and contains the liogam, on each side of the great

140 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

chamber, protruding by pillars resting, like the other parts,
on elephants. The four centre pillars of the interior of the
temple are wanting, thus leaving an open passage from the
door of one portico to the other. These are rather below
the level of the floor of the temple, and are richly sculptured
throughout, and instead of the pilasters to uphold the roof, on
each side of the doors from the main temple are two female
figures, twelve feet high, whose heads, touching the cornice,
appear to bend, yet in a graceful attitude, under the weight
they sustain. It will be recollected and observed how strong
a similarity these figures have to the Caryatides of the
Greeks, and I believe it would be a difficult question to solve,
whether the Indians borrowed them from that people, or
vice versa. The porticos have seats, on one of which I at-
tempted to cut my name, at the ex pence of my knife. From
that which is to the south of the temple, there is supposed to
have been, and appearances countenance the idea, a bridge
thrown across the area to the excavated halls of the cliff,
from which there is no communication from below, as there
is with them on the northern side. Behind the recess, or
sanctum sanctorum, (opposite the principal entrance), which
runs backwards outside the temple near forty feet, is a bal-
cony or open gallery, which passes from two doors, one on
each side of the colossal groups, out of the great chamber,
round its side, and the end of it, and has five smaller temples
of a similar shape to the principal one, two on the sides and
three on the eastern termination, which complete the whole
structure. They are all sculptured in the same manner, and
supported by the animals beneath, of which I fancy there
must be in all from eighty to one hundred. The roofs of the
great and smaller temples gradually rise to points, and the
outside walls of all are carved in pannels of grotesque and
obscene figures. The whole has, at some late period, re-
ceived a coating of sand-coloured plaster, which has been
painted over in different colours, and even now, though more
than half destroyed, takes much, from the sculpture. . The

CAVES OF BLLORA. 141

architect wns not content with performing this gigantic work
in the centre, but has excavated the face of the cliff on each
side three or four stories, each twenty feet in height, and of
considerable depth ; these last I had not time to enter, as the
other caves I had to visit extended to the north and south,
about three quarters of a mile each way. When one considers
the immense labour expended on Keylas, where nothing but
the chisel and hammer could be used, which differs from
nearly all other temples, in not being built, but formed by
the superfluous rock torn from it, and the construction of
which is so contrary to the usual principles (as blocks of
stone were carried from, not to it, for its contemplation),
one hardly knows which to admire most, the projector, or the
person who carried the design into execution. Yet I feel
almost a partiality for the former ; for, in what an original
and expanded mind must the idea first have been conceived
of hollowing out, and decorating, by the hand of man, a very
" rib of the world," spurning the detail of piecemeal building,
and thus taking advantage of the primeval materials placed
by nature on the spot, and wresting from her very bowels a~
place of worship. Some of the sculptured decorations, and
the taste in the ornaments, would do credit to the best pe-
riod of the Grecian school, though in general an evidently
uncultivated style of architecture predominates ; and the ir-
regular shapes and devices on the shafts of the pillars, with
their plain capitals, in the principal temple, are, in my opi-
nion, more rich than the plain Grecian pillar with its orna-
mental capital, though not so chaste. The fluting of the
Corinthian order is but a poor attempt of this description.
Some of the minute ornaments are even classical. I observed,
in several instances, the bust of a man from the head to the
middle, ending in a scroll or flourish, &c., and the wings of
birds having similar terminations. Nearly the entire bodies
of the largest figures project from the wall, and there is not,
throughout the whole, a single arch. Immediately on the
outside the gateway is a cistern of very fine water, which

142 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

being also cut out of the granite rock, would in any other
spot be a curiosity in itself; but here, for an extent of nearly
two miles, man has gone beyond himself, and Captain Syden-
ham heard one of the Sepoys lecturing another before the
rest, for expressing doubts of its being the work of the gods.
The plan and some of the important measurements of this
extraordinary place, which Capt. Sydenham assured me were
perfectly correct, I have taken from the Asiatic Researches.

" The dimensions of Keylas are as follows : height of the
gateway 14 feet; length of the passage of the gateway, having oil
each side rooms 15 feet by 9, 42 feet ; length of the inner court
or area, from the gate to the opposite scarp, 247 feet. The
breadth 150 feet. Greatest height of the rock, out of which the
court is excavated, 100 feet. The centre balcony over the
gateway, 14 feet by 8, and 8 high. A room within it, 9 feet
square and 9 feet high. Another within it, the same dimen-
sions. One on each side from the centre, 22 feet by 15 each.
Bridge, 22 feet by 18, with a parapet 3 feet 6 inches high.
Ascent by nine steps from the bridge into a distinct room, in
which is the Bull of Nundee, 16 feet 3 inches square.
Another bridge, 21 feet by 23 feet broad, leading to the up-
per portico of the temple. This portico, with the parapet
wall, is 18 feet by 15 feet 2 inches, and 17 feet high ; within,
a bench that is rounded off, 4 feet high by 3 feet 7 inches
broad. You can enter this portico from the gateway by a
passage that the filling up of the rubbish has afforded ; but
the proper passage is by flights of steps of 36 steps each,
leading up on each side the body of the temple.

" The grand temple; door of the portico, 12 feet high by 6
feet broad ; length of the portico entering the temple to the
back wall of the temple, 103 feet 6 inches ; length of the
same place, to the end of the raised platform behind the
temple, 142 feet 6 inches. Greatest breadth of the inner
part of the temple, 6l feet. Height of the ceiling, 17 feet
10 inches. Two porches on each side, measured without,
34 feet 10 inches by 15 feet 4 inches. Height of the

AN* MARTIN. 143

grand temple steeple or pyramid, computed about 90 feet
from the floor of the court, and the smaller ones about 50
Height of the obelisks about 38 feet ; base, 1 1 feet square,
being 1 1 feet distant from each side of the room in which is
the Bull of Nundec. The shaft above the pedestal is seven
feet square. The two elephants on each side of the court or
entry are larger than life. After gratifying our curiosity with
these wonders, we proceeded to the southward, along a bad,
dangerous path, to visit the other caves; but I saw none at all
like Keylas, though the three we examined paid us well for
our trouble.

PRESERVATION OF ANN MARTIN,

OF LEWES,

Found in a Wood, on the road to Maidstone, after remaining
eleven days and nights without food, and nearly eaten up
by maggots.

ON Sunday, the 22d of September, 1816, as some young

men were nutting in the woods, near the Old Upper Blue

Bell, on the old road to Maidstone, they observed a female

lying under a tree, apparently asleep, and passed on without

disturbing her. On the succeeding Friday the young men

again went nutting to the same place, when to their extreme

surprise, they saw the female lying in the precise place and

attitude in which they had seen her before. One of them

went to her, and took her by the hand ; she was alive, but in

such a situation as excited the most shuddering sensations

of horror and disgust, mixed with surprise, that a human

being could retain any portion of animation under such com-

plicated sufferings of want and wretchedness. She was

almost in a state of putrefaction, large maggots were feed-

ing on every part of her frame. Exposed to the attacks of

flies, her nostrils, and even her mouth, were infested by

them ; behind her ears, between her fingers, and between

her toes, they were crawling in sickening quantities ; and her

clothes were literally rotten from long exposure to the vary-

144 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

ing and humid atmosphere. With a laudable alacrity they ap-
plied for assistance at the Blue Bell, and with the assistance
of two men, the unfortunate sufferer was placed upon a
hurdle, and conveyed to an outhouse, where such necessa-
ries and comforts as could be procured, were immediately
prepared for her. Mr. Browne, surgeon, of Rochester, was
sent for, and immediately came to visit her; and through his
humane, kind, and constant attention, this unfortunate woman
was rescued from the jaws of death, and is now in a fair
way of recovery. The account she gives of herself is, that
her name was Ann Martin; she came from Lewes some
time back, with an artillery soldier to Chatham Barracks ;
but that she had left him, and had determined on returning
home to Lewes ; that being destitute of money, aiid op-
pressed by fatigue, she, in a fit of despair, laid herself down
to die ; that she had lain where she was discovered ever
since the Sunday preceding that on which she was first seen,
and consequently had been eleven days and nights without
any kind of food! Observer, October 13, 1816.

SINGULAR WATER-SPOUT

SEEN IN TORKSHIRE.
i, • /

ON Tuesday, August 8, 1815, the very singular phenome-
non of a water-spout was observed at Marsden, near Hudders-
field. It appeared to be formed of a dense black cloud, and
resembled a very long inverted cone, the lowest part of which
seemed nearly to touch the ground; above it the clouds were
white and fleecy, forming a striking contrast with it, but
they appeared strongly agitated ; our correspondent con-
cludes his description with stating, " that the spout, when
completely formed, appeared to be round and smooth, and
hollow within, and there appeared a stream of water running
down the inside, part of which in its descent passed to the
outside, and was carried up again very rapidly by a spiral
motion. The whole duration of this phenomenon was
about twenty minutes." Courier, August 16, 1815.

ENGLISH GIANT AND DUTCH DWARF. 145

ACCOUNT OF

MR. JAMES TOLLER, THE ENGLISH G[ANT,

AND

MR. SIMON PAAP,

The celebrated Dutch Dwarf, now exhibiting in and around
the Metropolis. With their Portraits from Life.

AMONGST the various exhibitions which are daily to be
seen in this metropolis, not any for some rime have attracted
so much notice as these two celebrated personages ;' Toller,
it is presumed, being the tallest man, and Mr. Simon Paap
the shortest, at present in this kingdom. For the sake of
contrast, we have engraved their portraits at whole length,
on the same plate, where the wonderful disparity in their re-
spective heights will be immediately recognised, and the
mind is struck with astonishment and awe, at these occa-
sional sports of Nature. At the same moment it fully
proves the great wisdom of the Almighty in the works of
his hand ; and by permitting these occasional prodigies at
times to appear, leads to astonish and instruct the world by
the amazing variety he is enabled to display in. the works of
his creation, proving that capacity of mind and intellectual
powers are not confined to any particular given standard.

Mr. James Toller, who is designated by the title of the
Young English Giant, was born on the 28th of August,
1795, at St. Neot's, in Huntingdonshire ; at the age of ten
years he had attained the surprising height of five feet and
upwards ; his growth has always been regular from his
birth, and at the age of eighteen years he had attained the
height of upwards of eight feet, one inch and a half, and was
then considered to be still in progress of growth. At this
time he measured from his foot to the knee twenty-six inches,
and each of his feet measured fifteen inches in length. His
tsvo sisters appear to partake of the gigantic growth of their
brother ; the one at the age of thirteen years having ad-
vanced in height to five feet eight inches and a half, and the

VOL. vi. l

146 KIRBY'B WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

younger sister, at the early age of seven years, was nearly
five feet in height. The parents of this gigantic family are
of the ordinary stature, as is also his brother. His appetite
is moderate, eating but little more than the generality of
youths at his age.

Toller's first public exhibition was in London, in the au-
tumn of 1815, where he had the honour of being presented
to the Emperor of Russia, and King of Prussia, who ap-
peared highly gratified at his exhibition.

On taking a survey of the most remarkable tall men that
have appeared in modern days, we find Toller to surpass in
height most of them, and not to have been exceeded, but by
one, that appears on record. This giant, if we may be al-
lowed the term, was exhibited in the year 1664; and was
denominated the GERMAN GIANT. He stood about nine
feet and a half high.

The porter of Oliver Cromwell, DANIEL, was only seven
feet six inches high.

MAXIMILIAN CHRISTOPHER MILLER, a native of
Saxony, was near eight feet high. He died A. D. 1734, at
the age of sixty years.

EDWARD BAMFORD, a native of Staffordshire, and a
hatter in Shoe-lane, London, was seven feet ten inches in
^height. He died in the year 1768, at the early age of thir-
ty-six years.

BERNARDO GIGLI, an Italian, attained the height of
eight feet, when only eighteen years of age.

HENRY BLACKLER, denominated "The British Giant,"
was seven feet, ten inches in height, and exhibited himself in
the year 1 743.

SAM, the Prince of Wales's porter, stood very near eight
feet high ; and he was frequently to be seen amusing him-
self looking over the gate of Carlton House, by which means
he saved himself much trouble in opening the gates to in-
quirers, whose principal business was for the purpose of
contemplating Sam. He was unfortunately drowned by the

ENGLISH GIANT AND DUTCH DWAtlP. 147

shipwreck of the packet in which he had taken a passage to
his native land (Wales) on a visit to his friends.

We have now to record a solitary instance of a female of
extraordinary stature, who exhibited herself in the metropo-
lis during the year 1818, under the title of

THE CELEBRATED GIANTESS, MRS. COOKE.

This lady was born at Merriott, in the county of Somerset,
and completed her seventeenth year on the 1st of October,
1817; she stands near seven feet high, is remarkably stout
and well-proportioned, with a pleasing and interesting counte-
nance, and as her exhibition bill states, " is allowed by all visitors
to be the tallest, largest, and strongest woman in the world."

On the 15th of April, 1818, she had the honour of being
exhibited at the Earl of Yarmouth's, Seymour-place, May
Fair, London, when the Prince Regent, the Duke and
Duchess of York, the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland,
and other branches of the royal family, together with 100 of
the principal nobility, attended on the occasion, who ap-
peared to have been highly gratified with her exhibition.

We shall now proceed to give a brief memoir of the com-
panion of Toller. ( Vide Plate.}

MR. SIMON PAAP

Is a native of Holland, born at Landvoort, in the year 1789.
His father was a fisherman, and besides our little hero, has
four children, two sons and two daughters, who are ajl of
the ordinary height. Simon in early infancy was a fine
thriving infant until he attained the age of three years; when
to the astonishment and dismay of his parents, he ceased to
grow, and from that period he became stationary, even to
the present time, 1818, when we last saw him exhibiting
himself at Bartholomew Fair, Smithfield. His appetite is
moderate, and seldom exceeds more than what a child of
three or four years would consume. His height is twenty-
eight inches, and he weighs only twenty- seven pounds. He

148 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

is handsome and well proportioned in his limbs and body,
but his head is disproporttoned, being rather large. He
takes his wine freely, but without excess; and like his
countrymen, is fond of his pipe, in which he finds solace
and enjoyment, when not otherwise occupied. He is ex-
tremely affable and communicative, and speaks the Dutch,
French, and English languages, with fluency and correct-
ness. Previous to his arrival in England, in 1815, he pub-
licly exhibited himself in Holland, where he received very
flattering encouragement, and some considerable presents.
At the time when we first saw him in Bond-street, soon after
his arrival, he wore a jacket of blue silk, large loose breeches
of blue figured satin, of the Dutch costume, white silk
waistcoat, and white silk stockings, with buckles in his shoes.
On his left side he wore a miniature portrait of the late
Prince of Orange, set in gold, being a present to him from
the present princess. The front of his dress is also orna-
mented by two large gold buttons, and on his fingers are
several rings ; the whole of this paraphernalia he gave the
company to understand, were presents made to him when in
Holland. Soon after his arrival in England, he had the ho-
nour of being presented to the Queen and Royal Family at
Carlton House ; on which occasion his Royal Highness
made him a very handsome present. He has also twice
appeared at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, where he
went through his usual exhibition of the manual and platoon
exercise with the greatest precision, in which he fires off his
small gun, marching and counter-marching, and performing
the various evolutions of the soldier. We have lately seen
him in various parts at the west end of the town, and in St.
James's Park, dressed as a boy of about four years old, ge-
nerally with a small whip in his hand. A servant or compa-
nion is always with him, probably for the purpose of not
attracting notice, the female acting the assumed part of. a
nursery-maid.

In addition to Mr. Paap, several other dwarfish person-

ENGLISH GIANT AND DUTCH DWARF. 14Q

ages Lave exhibited themselves in the metropolis, during the
years 18J6, 181 7, and 1818. Two of which we shall record.

MISS SMITH,

Denominated " A Wonderful Female," seventeen years
of ngc, only thirty-three inches high, weighing upwards of a
hundred pounds, perfectly straight and well formed ; her skin
was described of the most beautiful texture, and announced
as the greatest curiosity of the female sex ever exhibited.

MR. LEACH,

Called « The Wonderful Youth," when exhibited,
was said to have been about the age of eighteen years,
of a pleasing countenance, possessed of great accom-
plishments, and was of his age " THE SHORTEST PERSON
IN THE WORLD." This wonderful youth had the honour
of walking under the arm of the famous dwarf, Lady Mor-
gan, without touching it, by nearly four inches ; and by the
numerous feats of agility with which he amused his com-
pany, he was deemed one of the greatest curiosities in exist-
ence. Standing upright on his feet, he could touch the floor
with his fingers ; he could sit on the floor in a way no other
person was able to do ; he walked down a flight of stairs on
his hands, with his feet in the air, faster than any other per-
son could on their feet. He took a pin out of the wall with
his mouth, standing on one hand and his feet -upwards,
higher by twenty inches than any other person that could be
produced. He balanced himself on his hands on the top of
a chair back, from which he throws himself, and alights on
the ground on his hands, walking off on the same, with the
greatest ease. He places a pin on the floor, takes it up
with one hand, and supports his balance on the other, while
he puts it into his mouth. He lays himself on the floor
by the strength of his arms, then raises himself up feet fore-
most, and walks off on his hands. He also walked in a
horizontal position on his hands under a common table,
without touching the table with his feet. Standing on a

150 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

chair, he threw it backwards from him, alighting on his
hands; and in that posture walks round the room. He
possessed a peculiar and surprising way of running, totally
different from any other person ; and in his exhibition bill,
he challenges the whole world for 1000 guineas, to produce
any other person capable of competing with him.

ACCOUNT OF THE StDDEN DISAPPEARANCE OF THE

LAKE OF CANTERNO.

Leghorn, August 9, 1817. On the 24th of July, about
mid- day, after a very loud detonation, the Lake of Canterno,
also called Porciano, totally disappeared. A large opening
was discovered in the bottom, through which the waters have
probably escaped into sinuosities of the neighbouring moun-
tains. Morning Post, August 30, 1817.

ASTONISHING NATURAL PHENOMENON,

OBSERVED AT SEA. A REFLECTION OF A MAN IN THE
ATMOSPHERE.

ON the 27th of August, 1814, while the Majestic, Capt.
Hayes, was cruising off Boston, a strange figure was per-
ceived in the eastern horizon, about two o'clock in the
morning; which, as the sun arose, gradually became more
distinguishable, and, at length, assumed the perfect appear-
ance of a man, dressed in a short jacket and half boots, with
a staff in his hand, at the top of which was a colour hang-
ing over his head, marked with two lines, perpendicularly
drawn at equal distances, and strongly resembling the
French flag. The figure continued visible as long as the
rays of the sun would permit it to be looked at. On the
28th the figure displayed itself in the same posture, but
rather broken. On the following morning, it seemed entirely
disjointed, and faded into shadow, until, at last, nothing

NICHOLAS HART. 151

more could be seen than three marks on the sun's disk.—-
Captain Hayes, his officers, and about 200 of the crew,
witnessed the spectacle, both wilh the naked eye and
through glasses. In superstitious times, such a phenomenon
would have been construed into a providential warning or
ominous token of some unexpected event; in this enlightened
age, however, it may be easily accounted for by the reflec-
tive power of the atmosphere, which is well known to be
wonderful. Most probably the figure represented was some
one ashore, or on the deck of the Majestic.

Courier f June 13, 1815.

NICHOLAS HART,

THE GREAT SLEEPER.

IT is probable, this lethargic gentleman, and prince of im-
postors, had in the first instance been afflicted with a natural
fit of somnolency ; for it is recorded of him, that on the 5th
of August, 1711, he was first seized with a sleeping fit,
from whence his friends could not by any means which they
then tried, awake him. Under this impression, he was re-
moved to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where various me-
thods were made use of to relieve him, but to no purpose,
and he continued sleeping until the llth of the same month.
During this time he received no nourishment whatever ;
numerous persons from curiosity visited him, at the hospi-
tal, and pitying his situation, uniformly left him some pecu-
niary aid to assist him when he should awake. At the expi-
ration of this fit, finding he had gained a very considerable
sum, even in a great degree more than he could have earned
by his labour, if he had been awake, he soon afterwards
contrived, by the means of narcotic drugs, and other arts, to
drop into a similar slumber, in which he continued for some
days ; at the end of which time, on awaking, he found him-
self again possessed of a considerable sum. Feeling the
great and beneficial advantage of sleeping over waking, he

152 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

was now frequently heard of, as being in a trance or sound
sleep ; and his case being more generally known, his visitors
became more numerous, and their credulity filled his pockets
in such a manner, that it is said, that he not only sup-
ported himself in a degree of affluence, but even several
others, who it was probable, were necessary to him in carry-
ing on his nefarious deceptions thus practised on the public.
Mr. Addison, who wrote and noticed the periodical ac-
count of this sleeper, says, " Nicholas Hart, who slept last
year in St. Bartholomew's Hospital, intends to sleep this
year at the Cock and Bottle, in Little Britain ;" probably
hinting at some other imposition intended to be practised by
him in that neighbourhood at that period. One gentleman
who attended him, put down his observations in the follow-
ing manner : — " On the first of the month he grew dull, on
the second he appeared drowsy, on the third fell a yawn-
ing, on the fourth began to nod, on the fifth dropped to
sleep, on the sixth was heard to snore, on the seventh turned
himself in his bed, on the eighth recovered his former pos-
ture, on the ninth fell a stretching, on the tenth about mid-
night, awaked, on the eleventh in the morning, called for a
little small beer."

SLEEP-WALKERS.

CAPTAIN CRABB, of Abchurch-lane, on the 14th of
March, 1762, getting out of bed in his sleep, opened the
sash, and fell out of the window. He was hurt, but not
dangerously. Annual Register, \ 762. p. [80.

A curious circumstance occurred at the Bush Tavern,
Bristol, on Monday night, May the 4lh, about eleven
o'clock. A young man, who has since been discovered to
be a sailor, belonging to the Union ship of war, lying at
Plymouth, went to bed apparently composed ; but before
the servant hnd left the room five minutes, the house was

FATAL EFFECTS Ol> FEAR. 153

alarmed by his cries of " Help me out," and by the break-
ing of glass, occasioned by his bursting through the sash.
Though asleep, he continued walking from one roof to the
other, and along the narrowest ridges, and at length jumped
from the surprising height of thirty feet, without receiving
any material injury. He was conveyed to bed, and left the
inn the following morning on his journey for Plymouth.

Oxford Herald, May 9, 1812.

THE FATAL EFFECTS OF FEAR,

EXEMPLIFIED IN THE CASE OF A SOLDIER FANCYING
AN OLD WOMAN TO HAVE BEEN A SPECTRE.

ONE of the officers of Haslar Hospital being dangerously
ill, a medical gentleman who was attending him, had occa-
sion, about two o'clock on Saturday morning, the 25th of
December, 1814, to send the nurse from the officer's house
to the dispensary; the weather being bad, the nurse wrapped
herself round with a piece of red baize, with which she
covered, in part, a candle and lantern, to prevent the light
from being blown out, as the wind was very high. The rays
of light issuing from the red covering, to the imagination
of a sentry at a distance, she appeared a terrific spectre ; an,d
as she approached him his fear so increased, that he ran
from his post with haste to the guard-house, where, in about
half an hour, he expired !

Courier, Dec. 28, 1814.

SINGULAR CASE OF LAW

CONCERNING A BARBER'S HONOUR. - PALACE COURT,
SEPTEMBER 5, 1817.

Cox versus MERRY. — Mr. Hart stated this case to the
jury on the part of the plaintiff, whom he represented as an
unmarried female, about thirty-eight years of age, of respect-

154 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

able character, who resided with her father, and possessed
some property. It was an action brought by her to recover
a compensation in damages for an outrageous and unmanly
assault, that was equally injurious to her feelings and her
character. The defendant exercised the trade of a barber
and hair-dresser, and had been in the habit of attending the
father of the plaintiff. One morning the defendant came,
as usual, to shave and dress the old gentleman, who had not
then come down stairs. The plaintiff called out to her
father to come down, and at the same time used these words,
" Here is the barber waiting for you." Mr. Hart continued
to observe, that, strange as it might appear, the word barber
gave great offence to this kuight of the razor, who conceived
that he ought to have been designated with the more ho-
nourable title of hair-dresser. He immediately addressed
the plaintiff in the most insolent and abusive language. Her
father in the mean time came down, and while he was un-
dergoing the operation of being shaved, his daughter com-
plained to him of the defendant's behaviour. The defend-
ant denied the charge, told Miss Cox that she was a liar,
and repeated the expression two or three times. The other,
incensed at this language, told the insolent barber, that, if
it was not for the law, she would pull him by the nose. He
however, did not wait for her to become the first assailant ;
he immediately came up to her before her father was half
shaved, and struck her a violent blow on the cheek. The
father got up in a rage, with an intention of inflicting a sum-
mary vengeance upon this rude assailant. But reason and
reflection instantly arrested his progress ; his anger cooled,
and he very deliberately sat down again under the defend-
ant's razor, and allowed him to complete the work he had
begun. The learned counsel, after commending the for-
bearance of the old gentleman, and dwelling on the disgrace-
ful manner in which his client had been treated, hoped the
jury would give her an ample compensation for the suffering
she had undergone.

The father of the plaintiff was then called j and corrobo-

SINGULAR CASE OF LAW. 155,

rated the statement of the counsel. He said, on a question
being put to that effect, that the defendant did not strike his
daughter with the hand in which he held the razor.

Mr. Agar, on behalf of the defendant, reprobated the
action, as unworthy the attention of a court of justice ; and
considered the whole case as one of those trumped up stories
which it should be the duty of juries to discountenance.
The fact was, that a great animosity existed in the mind of
this woman against the defendant, because she conceived
that he had done some injury to a friend of her's.

Mr. Agar called no witnesses.

The judge said, that in this action a justification had beeu
put upon the record ; and that, as the defendant had not
attempted to justify by calling any witnesses, a verdict must
be found for the plaintiff. It would be for the jury to de-
termine what injury she had sustained, and what damages
she was entitled to ; and in doing so, they must bear in mind
that her character had not been injured, and that the assault
was not attended by any disgraceful circumstances, as would
have been the case, had the defendant spit in her face. In-
deed, a considerable degree of coolness and circumspection
seemed to prevail among all the parties during their anger.
The lady very coolly contemplated the law, which restrained
her from pulling the barber's nose ; the defendant was cool
enough not to strike her with the hand which held the razor ;
and the father, still more cool than either, suppressed his
wrath, and sat down quietly to have the remainder of his face
shaved by the very man, whom, but a moment before, he
threatened to chastise. Had he at that time kicked the
barber out of his house, and had the latter brought an action
for the assault, he would be entitled to no more than a far-
thing damages. Indeed, he considered this altogether as a
frivolous action ; and he would leave it to the jury to say
what should be the amount of the damages.

The jury found for the plaintiff — Damages, One Farthing.
Observer, September 14, 1817.

156 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

MIRACULOUS PRESERVATION OF
MR. BAINBRIDGE, OF BOLTON;

JANUARY 29, 1766. — As Mr. Bainbridge, of Bolton, near
Lancaster, was attempting to cross the Seven Mile Sands,
in a thick fog, he lost his road, and wandered about till the
flood-tide came in and surrounded him ; he killed his horse
by galloping backwards and forwards to escape the tide ; and
he was fortunately taken up (after floating on the surface of
the water about rive hours) seated on the dead horse, mo-
tionless, and benumbed with cold, by two youths belonging
to the sloop Providence, from Milnthorp, then riding at an-
chor (since arrived,) who lowed him with their boat to the
side of the vessel, hoisted with a tackle on board, rolled and
rubbed his body, and by continued exertion, he recovered in
a few hours. Annual Register, 1766, p. [55.

ACCOUNT OF A SWARM OF BEES

RESTING THEMSELVES ON THE INSIDE OF A LADY's
PARASOL.

A SWARM of bees last week made their appearance in the
market-place at Nottingham, during the throng of the mar-
ket, and after moving in several directions, they chose for
their resting-place the inside of a lady's parasol, which she
bore in her hand. This, as might be supposed, gave a tem-
porary shock to the feelings of the fair one, who was, how-
ever, soon freed from her fears, by a hive being procured,
into which they were safely deposited.

Observer, July 25, 1813.

DREADFUL INUNDATION. 1J7

DREADFUL INUNDATION.

Marienburg (Eastern Prussia,) April 3, 1816.

" Ouit unhappy country had just begun to recover from
the miseries inflicted by the late war, when a calamity as
terrible as it was unexpected, has plunged our citizens and
farmers into the greatest distress. The winter here, com-
pared with preceding ones, was of moderate severity ; and
the signal of its departure, which is the breaking up of
the ice of the Vistula, was looked to with pleasure, as renew-
ing the busy scenes incident to an inland port. Marienburg,
you are aware, possesses considerable trade, on account of
its being situated upon the right bank of the Vistula, which
is navigable to a great extent.

" On the 18th of March last, the frost broke, and the
weather became extremely mild, and continued so till the
morning of the 20th, when the ice on the Vistula broke up.
This event was unattended by any circumstance to excite
immediate alarm ; but next day, the wind rose, and impelled
the floating ice in the direction of the dykes. These were
thought sufficiently strong to resist any danger ; and possibly
they might, had not the wind continued so long and so
violent, that an immense quantity of these masses became
accumulated, and defied all attempts to remove them. The
consequences proved terrible. A few minutes after seven,
the first dyke was cut, and the breach being seventy rods
broad, and twenty rods deep (English measure,) an immense
body of water, rushed like a torrent over the adjoining
country. Horses, barns, cattle, in short, every thing was
swept before the flood. The screams of human beings, and
the bleating of cattle were intermingled, and heard for many
miles. Darkness added to the horror of the scene. Of the
families and individuals who, quitting their residence, at-
tempted to escape the danger, the greater part perished in
the inundation. The bodies of many of these have been
picked up. Those who remained within doors, and escaped

158 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

immediate suffocation, gained the upper story, and even the
roofs of the houses. Here a more lingering death from
hunger and cold awaited them. Immediate assistance was
impossible, as whole districts were insulated, and cut off
from giving or receiving succour.

" This was the situation of the country people on the
night of the 2 1st instant, occasioned by the first breach.
Marienburg had, to that period, been exempted from injury.
The inhabitants laboured under great alarm, however, from
reports which were spread. The Governor and Council
were making preparations to give every assistance to the
country people at break of day ; and were dispatching mes-
sengers to procure horses, boats, and ladders. In the midst
of these preparations, and while the alarm was at its height,
the ice made a breach in another dyke, which adjoins the
southern suburb. The water flowed in with great rapidity ;
and all the passages in that quarter became inundated.
Judge the consternation that now spread through the town.
The inhabitants, not immediately aware that the calamity
was so limited in its extent, and was in fact confined to that
suburb, where the walls of the warehouses and other build-
ings pent it in, prepared to abandon their homes and fly.
Some well-minded, but ill-judging persons, at this juncture
extended the alarm, by causing the church bells to be rung.
There needed no more to convince many of the inhabitants
that it was the signal of departure ; and that to remain, was
to incur, with loss of property, inevitable destruction. The
streets, in consequence, became thronged, and several per-
sons were trampled to death in attempting to pass through
the gates.

" At break of day, I went, with others, to the suburbs, to
view the inundation. In passing along, we met persons car-
rying the dead bodies of those who had been trampled to
death ; and in every street was scattered wearing apparel,
household furniture, and domestic utensils, which had been
brought out during the night to convey away, but were after-

DREADFUL INUNDATION. 159

wards abandoned by their owners as too cumbrous. In the
suburb the spectacle was extremely distressing; the water
was in many places fourteen English feet deep — in none less
than ten or twelve. Of many buildings, which were low-
built, only the roofs were discernible. The inmates of many
of these were drowned. The more lofty buildings withstood
the flood. We counted thirty-two bodies which were float-
ing, but were not within reach. Many of these must have
been relatives. In the last moments of existence, they ap-
peared to have embraced and clung to each other — and even
in death they were united, being still fast locked in each
othei's arms. In the whole, seventy-three souls perished in
the suburb.

" Turning from this mournful scene, I returned home ;
but in the course of the day, I received orders to join a
party which was to proceed to Holtzum, to afford assistance
to the unfortunate people who had survived the inundation.
We went out through the Eckzburg gate, and passed over
some elevated ground, which afforded an extended view of
the country. I had frequently admired the scene from the
same spot: but how much was the prospect now changed! A?
vast lake extended as far as the eye could reach, out of which *
rose houses and trees. At the windows, and on the roofs of
the former, might be discerned human beings, waving some-
thing fixed at the top of poles, to denote their distress, and
supplicate assistance. We noticed several houses on fire.
The inmates, as we afterwards learned, benumbed with cold,
had kindled them even on the roof, and had in consequence
perished in the conflagration. Approaching the edge of the
water, we launched two boats. With these, and by means
of ropes and ladders, we had rescued before dark, sixteen
men, thirty-two women, and twenty-three children. In these
humane exertions, however, four of our party were killed,
and several others sustained severe bruises. Next day our
labours were renewed, and have continued up to the present
time. Upwards of seven hundred people have been saved

160 K.IRB\'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

in this manner, but with the loss of all their property.
Many were taken from the watery waste in a state of insen-
sibility — others had existed by killing and eating their do-
mestic animals. The inundation extends over districts
comprising four hundred and thirty English square miles :
the land was extremely fertile, and was in a state of high
cultivation. It is impossible at present to ascertain the ex-
tent of the pecuniary loss : it must amount to many millions
of rix-dollars.

" The loss of human lives cannot be less than between
three and four hundred. The loss of cattle may perhaps
amount to six thousand head, exclusive of sheep. Several
churches and other buildings which withstood the first shock,
have had their foundations sapped by the water, and have fell
in ruins. Such is a brief description of the calamity, of
which you may possibly have heard, has befallen us. My
own loss, compared with that of others, is very trifling."

Observer, April 28, 1816.

WONDERFUL ESCAPE OF

CHARLES STURT, ESQ. M. P.

FOR BRIDPORT, OFF THE COAST OF DORSETSHIRE.

ON the 23d of October, 1800, Charles Sturt, Esq. of
Brownsea-castle, near Poole, Member for Bridport, and who
is owner of a fast-sailing cutter stationed in the bay, went
out early in the morning, and after dinner, being about two
leagues from shore, made a match for his cutter to sail
against that of Mr. Weld, of Lud worth-castle. When, in
the outset, Mr. Sturt's cutter having the boat fastened to her
stern, he ordered a boy to go into the boat, and put off to
the shore. The sea running high, the boy was afraid, when
Mr. Sturt requested any man on board, but they declined the
task; on which, he jumped into the boat, when just at that

3

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE OF MR. WHITE. iQl

instant, the rope by which it was fastened parted from the
vessel, and he was, by the force of the tide, drifted to a con-
siderable distance, when the boat overset. In this perilous
situation, left to the mercy of the waves, Mr. Sturt had the
presence of mind to pull off all his clothes, except his
trowsers and stockings, keeping his station as well as he
could, sometimes on the keel of the boat, and then dashed
off by a tremendous wave, compelled to swim, and regain
his station. But here may be seen the all-protecting care of
Divine Providence. Some transports which were intended
to carry the troops to Guernsey and Jersey, by contrary
winds were obliged to put back ; all had passed him but the
last vessel, when one of the mates exclaimed, " Good God!
there is a man in distress!" Four resolute fellows embarked
in a boat, and after two hours came up with him. Wheu
they lifted him into the boat he was almost exhausted; a few
minutes would have fatally closed the scene, it being nearly
dark, with a heavy sea, when the sailors took him up.

On the 31st of January, 1798, Mr. Sturt, at the imminent
hazard of his life, was the means of rescuing several fellow-
beings from a situation somewhat similar, who were ship-
wrecked near Poole. Seldom it is that a noble action goes
unrewarded.

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE OF

MR. WHITE, OF ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL,

ON FALLING DOWN THE GEOMETRICAL STAIRS.

JUNE 30, 1766.— Mr. White, belonging to St. Paul's Ca-
thedral, shewing the Geometrical Stairs, by some accident
fell down the well, near ninety feet, and pitched on the en-
gine at the bottom, which broke his fall, and to the surprise
of every body, he walked home seemingly unhurt.

Annual Register,' 17 66, p. [11 3.

VOL. VI. M

162 KIEBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

AFFECTING ANECDOTE OF A EWE AND
LAMB.

ON Saturday, July 6, 1806, while John Gardner, fisher-
man, was going up Loch Long, he perceived something
floating on the water, and a lamb standing upon it. When
he came up he found it was the mother of the lamb. She
had been grazing on the side of a rock, when, by accident,
she fell into the water. The little lamb observing the mother
in the water, leaped from the rock, and descending upon the
body of the mother, about three feet from the shore, in that
posture went round bleating and licking the sides of the
mother. Tyne Mercury, July 15, 1806.

SINGULARANDMIRACULOUS PRESERVATION

OF A YOUNG LADY AND HER HORSE.

As Miss Nicholas was riding a few days ago, on the bank
of the Rhymay, in Wales, her horse took fright, and gallopped
furiously along the road overhanging the river ; her servant
endeavoured to come up with her, but in vain : perceiving
that her own horse exerted himself to keep the lead when he
heard the other coming up, she made a signal to the servant
to check his pace : her own horse, however, continued his
course with desperate speed till she arrived at a place
where a rock fallen from the cliff occupied half the road ;
here the animal had scarcely room to pass between the rock
and the precipice ; in the attempt to pass, his hind legs and
body dipped down the precipice, while his fore legs only re-
tained hold of the road: in this awful situation, without as-
sistance, or any prospect but destruction, the young lady did
not delay a moment to attempt her deliverance from the
dangers that surrounded her ; she sprang from her seat to a
twig that overhung, and regained the road in safety. The

PRESERVATION OP PERSONS BUHIED ALIVE, &.C. l6$

horse fell (a depth of 200 feet) into the waters below, and
.- \v:un to the opposite shore without material injury.

Public Advertiser, Oct. 28, 1814.

PRESERVATION OF VARIOUS PERSONS

WHO HAD NEARLY BEEN CONSIGNED TO THE GRAVE

ALIVE.

ON Sunday last, after the performance of the funeral ser-
vice over the remains of a woman in Shoreditch church-
yard, and when the coffin had been nearly covered with earth,
a moan was heard from the grave, which arrested the hand
of the grave-digger ; it was followed by another, which con-
vinced him that the sound came from the coffin. No time
was lost by the persons still remaining around the grave to
open it, when the woman was found struggling for breath. —
She was immediately carried into the vestry-room, where
she revived, and was shortly afterwards carried home.

Courier, Jan. 4, 1815.

Cork, June 7, 1815. — It has been repeatedly insisted upon,
that the custom of too hastily interring human bodies has
frequently proved the cause of death to persons whose lives
might have been preserved for some time longer. A most strik-
ing instance in support of this assertion occurred yesterday
evening in this city. A soldier of the 93d regiment, quar-
tered in the barracks, was looked upon to be dead, and after
having been laid out in the usual way during two days, was
conveyed to the place of interment (St. Nicholas's church-
yard) on yesterday evening, when, on lowering the body into
the grave, the soldiers assisting heard the noise of struggling
fttfae coffin, and on examination found the man whom they
lUre in the act of burying, endeavouring with his hands and
knees to force up the lid. To their great surprise they
found their comrade still alive, and conveyed him home in
the open coffin. This should prove an additional warning
against premature interment. Courier, June IS, 1815.

M 2

164 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

May 20, 1766. Mrs. Bradford, a lady of Wallingford,
in Berkshire, was found, to appearance, dead, in a field near
that town, and put into a coffin, where she remained three
days ; when, to the astonishment of all her friends, she re-
vived just as the coffin was going to be screwed up, and
continued in good health. Annual Register, }?66. p. [99-

ACCOUNT OF PERSONS WHO HAVE

HAD HORNS GROW OUT OF THEIR HEADS,

AND WHO HAVE BEEN PUBLICLY EXHIBITED.

MEMOIRS OF MARY DAVIES.

A brief Narrative of a strange and wonderful old Woman,
who hath a pair of Horns growing upon her head, giving
a true account how they have, several times after thejr be-
ing shed, grown again. Declaring the place of her birth,
her education and conversation ; with the Jirst occasion of
their growth, the time of their continuance, and where she
is now to be seen, viz. at the sign of the Swan, neat-
Char ing Cross.

Ye who love wonders to behold,

Here you may of a wonder read :
The strangest that was ever seen or told ;
A woman bearing Horns upon her head.

London, printed by T. J. 1679.

The above is the exact copy of the title of a pamphlet pub-
lished at the time of the exhibition of this phenomenon, giving
a full account of her. We shall content ourselves by sayi»,
it appears, she was exhibited at the sign of the Swan, in the
Strand, near Charing-Cross.

She was seventy-six years of age, and had horns growing
upon the hinder part of her head, was born and bred in the
parish of Shotwick, in Cheshire, within four miles of Chester.

ACCOUNT OF PERSONS HAVING HORNS. 165

tenant to his sacred Majesty, upon a farm of sixteen pounds
a year, and married to one Henry Davies, who died thirty-five
years before the period of her exhibition. The strange ap-
pearance first began from a soreness in that place where now
the horns grow, which (as it was thought), was occasioned
by wearing a straight hat. This soreness continued twenty-
five years, iti which it miserably affected her, and gradually
ripened into a wen, near the bigness of a large hen-egg,
which continued for the space of five years, after which
time it was, by a strange operation of nature, changed into
horns, which were in shew and substance, much like a ram's
horns, solid and wrinkled ; but sadly grieving the old woman,
especially upon the change of weather. She hath cast her
horns three times already ; the first time was but a single
horn, which grew long, but as slender as an oaten straw.
The second was thicker than the former. The two first, Mr.
Hewson, minister of Shotwick, (to whose wife this rarity
was first discovered) obtained from this old woman, his
parishioner. They did not fall off at equal periods of time,
but three, four, and four years and a half each time. The
third time grew two horns, both of which were beat off by a
fall backward. One of them was obtained by an English
lord, and it is reported he presented it to the French king, for
the greatest rarity in nature, and was received by him with no
less admiration. The other (which was the largest) was nine
inches long, and two inches about. It was much valued for
its novelty : Sir Willoughby Aston had another, which dropped
from her head. When she was shown she had a pair upon
her head of six months growth ; which bid fair to be larger
than those described above.

le original picture of Mrs. Davies was in the possession
the learned Sir Richard Mead, M. D. And a Mr. Ward,
then a peruke-maker, in tlie Strand, had a horn several inches
in length, which, he affirmed, was from the head of another
woman, and which he used as a snuff-box.

166 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

ELIZABETU LOVE.

In the university library at Edinburgh is preserved a horn,
which was cut from the head of Elizabeth Love, in the fif-
tieth year of her age ; it grew three inches above her ear,
and was growing seven years.

• !< «j '•».• ** , . ) •<• >>/ 3';.'

MRS. ALLEN.

There is an engraved portrait of a Mrs. Allen, who was to
be seen in Coventry-street, near the Haymarket, in the year
1790, who had a horn of some years growth, cut from above
her ear ; after which there appeared in different parts of her
head, several hard^ubstances, one of which ripened into the
crooked horn the print represents ; and it was the opinion
of an eminent surgeon, that the rest might grow into horns
in a few years. She settled in Leicestershire soon afterwards,
and no further account was ever known of her.

MARGARET VERGH GRYIF1TH.

The account of this woman appeared also in a pamphlet, like
Mary Davies, but of which we could only procure a copy of
the title-page. It was entitled, (A myraculous and monstrous,
bttt yet most true and certayne discourse of a woman (now
to be seen in London), of the age of threescore years or
thereabouts, in the middle of whose forehead, by the won-
derful worke of God, there growethout a crooked home of
four ynches long. Imprinted at London, by Thomas
Onpin, and are to be sold by Edward While, dwelling at
the little north dore of Paul's Church, at the signe of the
Gun, 1588.'

She was the wife of David Owyn, of the parish of Llahan
Gaduain, in the county of Montgomery, but like several
married women in Scotland at the present day, went by her
father's sirname in preference to that of her husband : it is
probable she came to London to be exhibited as a wonderful
phenomenon.

CURIOUS ACCOUNT OF A BAT. 1C7

MRS. BUMBY.

IN the year 1812, a Mrs. Bumby died, April the 7th of that
year, at Ekring, in Hampshire, in the eightieth year of her
age. An account of her was given in the Hampshire Tele-
graph of Monday, April 13, 1812. That in the former part
of her life she acted as school-mistress till the age of fifty, at
which time she married, and on the day of her marriage, im-
mediately after coming from church, a mental derangement
took place, from which she never wholly recovered. What is
very remarkable, a horn sprung within the last few years
from one side of her forehead, and grew in a crooked form to
the length of nearly six inches: another also made its appear-
ance; but owing, as it is supposed, to her frequently rubbing
it, its growth was stopped.

It is said Mr. Ashley Cooper, the celebrated surgeon, had
a horn in his possession, which came from the head of a man.

Caulfield.

ACCOUNT OF

A SINGULAR VEGETABLE PRODUCTION,

AT WORKING, IN SURRY.

IN the church-yard at Working, Surry, as long as any thing
is left of a corpse interred there besides the bones, a kind of
plant grows up from it, about the thickness of a bulrush,
with a top like the head of an asparagus, which conies near
the surface, but never above it. The outside is black, the in-
side red, and when the corpse is consumed, the plant withers
away. Observer, April 11, 1811.

CURIOUS ACCOUNT OF A BAT.

ON opening the vault belonging to the family of J. Norris,
Esq. in the chwch of St. Peter's Maucroft, Norwich, on

168 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

Monday, February the third, 1806, a live bat was found
therein, of a greyish colour, where it had probably laid in a
torpid state, a solitary companion for the dead, more than
thirty-two years, the distance of time since the vault was
before opened. Bell's Messtngtr, Feb. 16, 1806.

ACCOUNT OP PERSONS

WHOSE HAIR SUDDENLY FELL OFF.
MARCH 20, 1759, Mr. Haynes,a carpenter, in St. John's-
street, was seized with a giddiness. While his wife was
employed in rubbing the part affected, his hair came off
from his head and his eye-brows. The same accident hap-
pened some years before to Mr. Stanley, of St. Andrew's,
Holborn. Annual Register, 1759, P- 58.

A WONDERFUL POTATOE.

1759, February 17, Thomas Siddal, gardener, at Chester,
took up a potatoe, weighing seventeen pounds four ounces,
measuring, in circumference, thirty-eight inches, and, in
length, forty-seven inches and a half.

Annual Register, 1759, p. 72.

MARRIOT,

THE GREAT EATER.

THIS extraordinary man was a lawyer of Gray's Inn, who
piqued himself upon his brutal qualifications of a voracious
appetite, and a powerful digestive faculty, and deserves to be
placed no higher in the scale of beings than a cormorant or
an ostrich. HJB increased his" capacity for food by art and
application ; and had as much vanity in eating to excess, as
any monk ever had in starving himself. In the works of
Charles Cotton, Esq. there are two copies of verses upon

EXTRAORDINARY LARGE GUNS. 16Q

him ; the only print of him appears to be a wood cut, and he
is represented in carrying several sheeps' heads, hearts, &c.
followed by boys hooting after him, under which are the
following lines.

< Here to your view's presented the great eater,
Marriot, the lawyer, Gray's-Innes cormorant;
Who for his gutt is become a meer cheater ;

Those that will feed him, couacell shall not want.'

EXTRAORDINARY LARGE GUNS.

An Account of the great Gun at Agra, in the East Indies,
described by Lieut. Col. Fitz-Clarence, in his Journal of
a Route across India, through Egypt to England, in the
year 1817, p. 243.

"THE natives of India, and indeed, of every eastern nation,
seem to have been anxious, at all periods, to render this de-
structive engine, from its size, more powerful than those of
the western world. At Agra I have seen a gun, more like an
immense howitzer, above fourteen feet long and twenty-two
and a half inches in the bore, into which persons can get. The
following is a table of its dimensions ; The weight, 1049 cwt.
1 quarter and 4lbs. ; diameter of the calibre, 22 inches ;
chamber, 10 inches ; muzzle, 46 inches ; trunnions, 1 1 inches ;
base ring, 48 inches; length of the chamber, 51 inches;
chase, including the chamber, 159 inches; the piece, l69£
inches. Weight of the shot, if iron, 1494. 89lb. if marble,
56?lb. ; weight in maunds, 1469. Value of the gun, as old
brass, in Soraut rupees, 53,400 ; but, if serviceable, it may
bees timated at one lac and 60,000.

This gun was once supposed to contain much gold ;
and, even as old brass, it is valued at 70001. ; but, if
serviceable, it may be estimated at about 18,000/. It at
present lies near the banks of the Jumna, outside the wall of
the fort. An attempt was made to transport it down to Cal-
cutta, but its embarkation failed. I wished exceedingly,

170 KIRB\'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

when I saw it on my first arrival in India, that it should find
its way to England, to be placed in Saint James's Park, near
the trophies of Africa and Europe, represented by the Egyp-
tian gun, and the Spanish mortar from Cadiz, and thus com-
plete the military tribute to the British arms from three quar-,
ters of the globe. At Delhi, opposite the Lahor gate, is a
gun of a very large bore ; .and the reader will doubtless re-
collect the two guns at Nagpoor, called Gog and Magog,
about twenty-five feet long each, which were, I think, finer
pieces and better proportioned than this at Ahmednuggur,
which has drawn from me these observations.

" The same place was taken possession of by the Duke of
Wellington, August the 12th, 1803, and has ever since re-
mained in our hands. There is also here a famous gun,
about twenty-five feet long, which is stated to have carried
shot into the camp of the Duke, though out of range of all
reasonable weapons."

(The Egyptian gun,, in St. James's Park, is described in
vol. I. page 173 of our work), and the description of the
Spanish mortar, from Cadiz, is as follows.

REGENT'S BOMB.

In 1812, the city of Cadiz having endured a long siege by
the French, it was raised on the 24th and 25th of August,
when, amongst the artillery abandoned by the French to the
Spaniards, was this enormous Bomb or Mortar, which, being
left spiked, was, with one of smaller dimensions, presented
by the Cortes to the Prince Regent. It had been employed
in throwing shells the immense distance of three miles ; and
it has actually thrown to the distance of three miles and a
half. Soon after its arrival at Woolwich, orders were issued
for constructing an appropriate carriage. Its station being
fixed on the Parade in St. James's Park, a few yards from
the iron-railing enclosing the canal, and immediately opposite
the centre of the Horse-Guards, the work proceeded within a
canvas enclosure. On August 2 the mortar was lifted on a

EXTRAORDINARY LARGE GUNS. 17J

carriage, cast iu gun-metal, under the directions of General
Cuppage. It was four years in completing. It was uncovered
for public inspection on Monday, August 12, 18 16.

On the breech of the gun is the founder's inscription :
" No. 7,39O— -Seville, 1 de Marzo, 1811."

The length of the mortar is eight feet; the diameter of its
bore at the mouth is twelve inches ; its weight five tons.
The pedestal is nine feet long, four feet wide, two feet eight
inches high, and weighs five tons and a half: it was cast all
in one piece. The total weight of the mortar, its carriage,
and pedestal, is about fifteen tons. The height of the whole,
from the ground, is about nine feet and a half. The mouth
of the mortar points at an elevation of forty-three degrees
over the Horse- Guards. The front of the pedestal bears
the prince's plume of feathers in alto-relief.

The following are in raised brass letters : —
Inscription on the back of the pedestal. — " Constructed in
the carriage department, royal arsenal, Earl of Mulgrave,
Master- General, 1814."

The inscription on the south side, next Westminster Ab-
bey : — " Devictis, a, Wellington, Duce prope Salamancani,
Gallis, solutaque exinde Gadium obsidione, hanc quam as-
picitis, basi super impositam bombardam, vi przeditam adhuc
in audita. Ad urbem portumque gaditanum destruendum,
conflatam — Et a copiis turbatis relictam, Cortes Hispanici
prislinoium haudquaquam — Beneficiorum obliti, summae ve-
nerationis testimonio donaverunt

Georgio. illus. Brit. Princ.

Qui in perpetuam rei uiemoiiam hoc loco ponendam, et or-
namentis decorandam jussit."

Inscription on the north side, next Carlton-house. — " To
commemorate the raising of the siege of Cadiz, in conse-
quence of the glorious victory gained by the Duke of Wel-
lington over the French, uear Salamanca, on the xxii of
July, MDCCCXII. This mortar, cast for the destruction of
that great port, with powers surpassing all others, and,

172 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

abandoned by the besiegers on their retreat, was presented,
as a token of respect and gratitude, by the Spanish nation, to
his Royal Highness the Prince Regent."

The largest piece of ordnance that has been made in
Britain was a carronade cast at the Carron- works, Scotland,
during the late war. It is of cast iron, and carries a ball of
124lbs. weight, and was placed at the entrance of the Artil-
lery-fort, Leith, for the purpose of commanding the road-
stead of that harbour. Another, but of something smaller
dimensions, was cast at the same manufactory, and placed on
the other side of the gate of the fort, for the same purpose.

A NEW ELECTRICAL FISH.

In a Letter from Lieut. Paterson, to Sir Joseph Banks,

Bart. F. R. S. and inserted in the Philosophical Trans-

actions.

MR. PATERSON, while at the island of Johanna, in the
way to the East Indies, met with the fish, here delineated
and described, in the cavity of a rock hollowed by the sea, the
water in which was about 56° or 60° of heat of Fahrenheit's
thermometer. He caught two of them, in a linen bag,
closed up at one end and open at the other ; but in attempt-
ing to take one of them in his hand, it gave him a severe
electrical shock, which obliged him to quit his hold; he
however secured them both in the bag, and carried them to
the camp at two miles distance : where, on opening the bag,
one of them was found dead, and the other with only so much
life as to convince the Surgeon and Adjutant of its electrical
powers.

The fish is seven inches long, two inches and a half broadt
has a long projecting mouth, and seems to be of the genus
Tetrodon. The back of the fish is of a dark brown colour ; the,
belly part sea green ; the sides yellow, and the fins and tail a
sandy green. The body is interspersed with red, green and

BLUE MOUNTAINS IN NEW HOLLAND. 173

white spots, the white ones particularly bright ; the eyes
large, the iris red, its outer edge tinged with yellow.

Gent. Mag. Dec. 1786, p. 1007.

BURNING SPRING AT FINCASTLE,

IN AMERICA.

A LETTER from New York, mentions the discovery of a
spring in the county of Fincastle, in Virginia, the waters of
which have a singular quality unparalleled in any country in
the world ; for, by flashing a little gunpowder over it, the
water will take fire, and burn like spirits.

Gent. Mag. Sept. 1786. p. 801.

This phenomenon, which the letter writer thinks so singu-
lar, is net unparalleled, for it will be found, a similar spring
or well is particularly described in our first volume, page 210,
near Colebrooke Dale : also described in the Philosophical
Transactions, 1748.

THE BLUE MOUNTAINS IN NEW HOLLAND.

The extraordinary exertions made to reach the summit of
these mountains, have at last been successful. The
following Narrative of an Expedition to explore the Ter-
ritory beyond the Blue Mountains, by an Officer of the
10 1st regiment, we copy from the Gent. Mag. for Jan.
181o, p. 25.

"THE territory beyond the Blue Mountains has long been
an object of considerable anxiety and conjecture, not only
among the inhabitants of New Holland itself, but even among
the learned men of almost every civilized country in the
world — an anxiety not springing from idle curiosity, but de-
riving its origin from that laudable thirst of knowledge to
which may be attributed almost every great and useful dis-

174 KIRBTf's WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

covery, of which the modern world so justly boasts. The
investigation of this hitherto unknown country presents an
object in all respects worthy the'speculation and research of
the philosopher and the merchant. With this impression, a
party of spirited individuals, residing at Sydney-Town, hav-
ing obtained the sanction of the Governor, undertook to pass
the mountain-boundary which had so often baffled the labours
of previous adventurers; and the result of this last effort of
perseverance, has not only justified the undertaking, but
realized the calculations of those who have accomplished the
extraordinary task.

" On the 9th of April, 18 14, the party, consisting of twenty-
seven persons, (of whom nineteen were workmen, the rest be-
ing gentlemen well acquainted with geology, botany, &c.) set
out from Sydney, and having by the 13th reached the cele-
brated cataract (which supplies the river emptying itself into
Shark's Bay) where all prior attempts had ceased, they imme-
diately commenced active operations. The cataract issues
from a large circular opening in the immense ridge of rocks
composing the front line of the Blue Mountains, the terrific
barrier which runs from one end of the country to the other,
preserving almost the whole way the regular perpendicular
height of about 300 feet. The aperture through which this
awful cataract falls in one column to its basin, is about 120
feet from the ground, being rather more than SO feet less
than the celebrated Falls of Niagara. The first idea which
suggested itself to the travellers, was to explore a passage
through the fissure from whence the cataract issued ; but on
more accurate observation, it was ascertained that the column
of water completely filled the whole diameter of the open-
ing ; so that no alternative remained but to scale the awful
w all of rocks.

" After innumerable attempts, they at length adopted a plan
used many years since in repairing the great tower of the
monastery at Raucoux in Westphalia — by making a hole in
the rock at about two feet from the ground, aud driving the

BLUE MOUNTAINS IN NEW HOLLAND. 175

end of a strong stake into the opening, and so continuing to
make fresh holes (each two feet above the former, not in a
straight, but in a slanting (direction of ascent), and to intro-
duce as many stakes, they were enabled to construct a firm
flight of steps, connected by coarse basket-work, about the
texture of common hurdles, the materials being furnished in
abundance from the neighbouring woods. This was a task
requiring of necessity much labour and considerable time, so
that it was not until the 27th the workmen attained an eleva-
tion parallel with the upper par t of the opening throughwhich
the cataract rushed ; they were, however, most agreeably ,
surprised to find that here the rock ended, the immense con-
tinuation of the precipice consisting of a kind of bituminous
Coblon earth, firm, but very yielding to the spade. By the
following day was hollowed out a space sufficient for the
workmen to move at will with their wheelbarrows, &<r. and
the noble undertaking was now determined on, of excavating
a flight of steps to the summit ! Within about thirty feet of
the top, the labourers discovered the petrified skeleton of an
unknown animal, the head and body resembling those of a
bear, with a tail similar to that of a crocodile, only not so
long. It is a remarkable fact, that when about 140 feet from
the ground, the thermometer (Fahrenheit) fell to 37, and con-
tinued so till the party had ascended within fifty feet of the
surface, when the mercury as suddenly rose to 72 !

" On the £8th of May, the adventurers had the inex-
pressible satisfaction of landing on the surface of the terrific
elevation over which their indefatigable exertions had triumph-
ed ; exertions (independently of that sweet gratification which
always accompanies successful, and not dishonourable perse-
verance) amply repaid by the scene which presented itself to
their view. At the distance of about three miles a second
ridge of rocks bounded their view ; but, the intermediate
country on either side, displayed a level and beautiful track
of land, at once exhibiting the boldest figures and the softest
'beauties of nature : stupendous columns of basalt, studded

176 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

with a silvery copper ore, shooting out from the soil in all
directions, afforded a wonderful and most pleasing contrast
to trees and shrubs of the finest growth and most luxuriant
richness, boasting a variety of species and an extent of beauty
hitherto unwitnessed even in that country, so celebrated in
the annals of botany. Nature must have been in her most
sportive humour when this spot was formed, the basalt and
ore being thrown into such fantastic shapes, that on a cur-
sory view they had the appearance of a herd of gigantic
copper-coloured cattle, attended by colossal shepherds of
variegated silver.

" On inspecting the smaller ridge of rocks, which formed
the next barrier opposed to them, it was discovered that the
river supplying the cataract before alluded to, found a rapid
descent through a tolerably wide opening in the rocks, and by
its own force at once excavated a passage in the soft soil on
which it fell, to the depth of about 1 70 feet, when meeting
the solid rock, it continues its course for three miles under
ground, and finally issues from the immense aperture de-
scribed at the commencement of the undertaking. This fully
explained the mystery of the cataract issuipg more than half
way down the Blue Mountains, instead of flowing over their
top.

" The travellers having sent a report of their progress to
Sydney-Town, received a considerable supply of necessaries,
particularly of the famous New Holland ponies, which with
very little difficulty they were enabled to lead up the wicker
steps : these animals were of the greatest use in conveying
the provisions and tents from day to day, as the party ad-
vanced ; for the second ridge of mountains was passed in
two days, with comparatively very little labour in excavation.
Several most extraordinary trees, of species before totally
unknown, presented themselves. Of one kind there were
some that measured the wonderful extent of forty-five feet
round the trunk ; another very curious genus exhibited an
immense number of spikes or thorns, nearly a foot long and

BLUE MOUNTAINS IN NEW HOLLAND. 177

as hard as iron, dispersed all over the trunk. It was remnrk-
able that at the feet of these last-mentioned trees were inva-
riably seen considerable quantities of bones, which, there was
little doubt, were the remains of unfortunate animals, that,
either in the ardour of pursuit, or the darkness of night, had been
at different times transfixed by the terrific spikes in question."
Mr. Wentworth, in his description of the colony of New
South Wales, says : " The country to the west of these
mountains ranks next in contiguity to Sydney, and claims
pre-eminence, not so much from any superiority of soil
in those parts of it which have been explored, as from its
amazing extent and great diversity of climate. These moun-
tains, where the road has been made over them, are fifty-
eight miles in breadth ; and as the distance from Sydney to
Emu Ford, at which place this road may be said to com-
mence, is about forty miles, the beginning of the vast tract of
country to the westward of them, it will be seen, is ninety-
eight miles from the capital.

" The road which thus traverses these mountains is by no
means difficult for waggons, until you arrive at the pass
which forms the descent into the low country. There it is
excessively steep and dangerous ; yet carts and waggons go
up and down it continually, nor do I believe any serious acci-
dent has yet occurred in performing this very formidable un-
dertaking. Still the discovery of a safer and more practi-
cable pass would certainly be attended with a very bene-
ficial influence on the future progress of colonization in this
great western wilderness. Every attempt, however, to find
such a one has hitherto proved abortive, and should the future
efforts which may be made with this view prove equally so,
there can be little donbt that the communication. between the
eastern and western country will be principally maintained by
means of horses and mules with packs and panniers. The
elevation of these mountains above the level of the sea, has not
yet been determined, but I should imagine that it cannot ex-
. ceed four thousand feet."

VOL. YI. N

178 URBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

A GREAT EATER.

EXTRACT of a letter from Dr. James Burrough to Mr.
Houghton, F.R.S.(1700.) — About a month ago, at Stanton,
a labouring man of a middle age, had for some time so inordi-
nate an appetite, that I hud it attested by an eye-witness,
that he eat up an ordinary leg of veal roasted at a meal, and
fed at such an extravagant rate for many days together. He
would eat sow-thistles and other herbs, as greedily during the
time his bulimia lasted, as beasts which use such food. I am
told he voided divers worms, as long as an ordinary tobacco-pipe,
and some of them thicker than its shank. After which, his ap-
petite declined, by degrees, till it came to be of a common
rate with that of others. He cannot do so good a day's work
now as he was wont, but has almost recovered his wonted
strength again. — Philosophical Transactions, No. 264, p.
598; or, Abridgment of ditto, vol. 4, p. 503.

DESCRIPTION OF A

SINGULAR AND WONDERFUL BULLOCK'S
KIDNEY.

ON Saturday, January 25, 1818, a bullock's kidney was
exhibited for public inspection at Wisbeach, of the extraor-
dinary weight of six stones, three pounds — fourteen pounds
to the stone. It measured six feet, one way, and four feet,
four inches, the other.

Morning Advertiser, Monday, February 3, 1818.

SINGULAR BILL FOR A NIGHT'S LODGING.

MARLBOROUOH-STREET. — Yesterday, Mrs. Hickinbot-
tom, the wife of Mr. Hickinbottom, the keeper of the St.
Petersburgh Hotel, in Dover-street, Piccadilly, appeared to

SINGULAR BILL FOR A NIGHT'S LODGING. 179

u summons to answer the complaint of a gentleman, for un-
lawfully detaining his luggage under the following circum-
stances : —

The complainant stated, that on Thursday evening last, on
his arrival in town from Aberdeen, he went to the White
Horse Cellar, Piccadilly ; but the house being full, he was
recommended to the St. Petersburgh Hotel, in Dover-street
— where, having taken some refreshment, and wrote a letter,
he went to bed, and on the following morning, after break-
fast, he desired the waiter to bring him his bill, which he
did, and the first item that presented itself was the moderate
charge of one pound ten shillings for his bed ; and then fol-
lowed, amongst many others, sixpence for a pen, a shilling
for wax, a shilling for the light, and two and sixpence for
other ligiits — so that the bill amounted in the whole to the
sum of two pounds one shilling, for his night's lodging. To
this very exorbitant charge he had refused to submit, in con-
sequence of which, he had been put to great inconvenience,
by the detention of his luggage.

The magistrate animadverted with much severity on such
extravagant charges on the part of the tavern-keeper, and
advised, that upon the gentleman paying 1 5s. the things might
be immediately delivered up. To these terms, however,
Mrs. H. refused to accede; adding, at the same time, that
the gentleman had only been charged the regular prices of
the house, and that she should insist upon the whole amount
of the bill being paid, for that the persons who were in the
habit of coming to their house never objected to such, the
regular price of their lodgings being ten guineas per week.

The magistrate lamented that he had no power to enforce
the things being given up, but he recommended the com-
plainant to bring au action against the tavern-keeper for th»
detention. Observer, Oct. 13, 1817.

x <2

180 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

MIRACULOUS PRESERVATION OF
MR. SCHMITT, MISSIONARY, & A HOTTENTOT,

FROM THE JAWS OF A TIGER, AT THE CAPE OF GOOD
HOPE, AS RELATED BY MR. LATROBE,. IN HIS TRA-
VELS INTO AFRICA.

IN the year 1811, the wolves having done much mischief
at Groene Kloof, an attempt was made to destroy them.
For that purpose, the missionaries, Bonaty and Schmitt, with
thirty Hottentots, set out early in the morning towards the
Lanweskloof hill. One of these animals was seen, and
lamed by a shot, but escaped and entered the bushes. The
Hottentots followed, and called tp the missionaries, that the
wolf was in the thicket. Brother Schmilt rode back, and
alighting, entered with a Hottentot of the name of Philip
Moses. The dog started some animal, which those within
the thicket could not see ; but the Hottentots on the outside
perceiving it to be a tiger, called aloud to the missionary to
return. He, therefore, with Philip, began the retreat back-
wards, pointing his gun, and ready to fire, in case the animal
made its appearance. Suddenly a tiger sprang forwards, but
from a quarter not expected, and, by a flying leap over the
bushes, fastened upon the Hottentot, seizing his nose and
face with claws and teeth. I measured the distance from
whence the tiger made his spring, to that on which the Hot-
tentot stood, and found it full twenty feet, over bushes from
six to eight feet high. Brother Schmitt observed, that had
it not been for the horror of the scene, it would have been
an amusing sight, to behold the enraged creature fly, like a
bird, over that length of ground and bushes, with open jaw
and lashing tail, screaming with violence. Poor Philip was
thrown down, and in the conflict, lay now upon, now
under the tiger. The missionary might easily have effected
his escape, but his own safety never entered his thoughts-
duty and pity made him instantly run forwards to the assist-

PRE8EHVATION OF MR. SCHMITT, &c. 181

ance of the sufferer. He pointed his gun, but the motions
bolli of the Hottentot and ti;j;er, in rolling about and strug-
gling, were so swift, that he durst not venture to pull the
trigger, lest he .should injure Philip. The tiger perceiving
him- take aim, instantly quitted his hold, worked himself from
under the Hottentot, and flew like lightning upon Brother
Schuiitt. As the gun was of no use in such close quarters,
he let it fall, and presented his left arm to shield bis face ;
the tiger seized it with his jaw ; brother Schmitt, with the
same arm, catching one of his paws, to prevent his out-
stretched claws from reaching his body. With the other
paw, however, the tiger continued striking towards his breast,
and tearing his clothes. Both fell in the scuffle, and provi-
dentially, in such a position, that the missionary's knee came
to rest ou the pit of the tiger's stomach. At the same time,
he grasped the annual's throat with his right hand, keeping
him down with aU his might. The seizure of his throat
made the tiger instantly quit his hold, but not before brother
Schmitt had received another bite, nearer the elbow. His
face lay right over that "of the tiger's, whose open mouth,
from the pressure of the windpipe, sent forth the most
hideous, hoarse, and convulsive groans, while his starting
eyes, like live coals, seemed to flash with fire. In this situa-
tion, brother Schmitt called aloud to the Hottentots to come
to his rescue, for his strength was fast failing— rage and agony
supplying to the animal extraordinary force in his attempts to
disengage himself. The Hottentots at last ventured to enter
the thicket; and one of them, snatching the loaded gun,
presented it, and shot the tiger, under the missionary's hand,
-right through the heart. Brother Schmitt and Philip were
materially injured in the conflict.

KIUBY'fi WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

ACCOUNT OF A SINGULAR SHRUB,

TUB GIZANTEUM, DESCRIBED BY MR. THUNBERG, IN
HIS TRAVELS IN AFRICA.

MR, THUNBERG, the celebrated Swedish naturalist, was
informed, when at the Cape of Good Hope, that there grew
in one of the distant cantons of that country a certain shrub
which produced several articles of wearing apparel naturally,
ready made, and fit for use, such as gloves, very soft and fine,
fur caps, stockings of fine wool, &c. This account being
confirmed by the unanimous concurrence of all the inhabit-
ants of that district, determined our philosopher to go in
quest of the plant, though not with the expectation of finding
what the inhabitants asserted, but from a desire to account
for the phenomenon which had given risen to this fable.

After a considerable search, he at length obtained some
branches of this marvellous shrub ; its leaves were covered
with a fine, soft, thick, whitish down (which, on drying,
changes to a dirty, yellowish brown,) which gave them a good
deal the appearance of some kinds of velvet ; the leaves were
of different forms, oblong, oval, or rounded, according to
their age, and the greater or less maturity they had attained ;
the women split them — separating the two surfaces from
each other with great address, without dividing them at the
edges, and turning them carefully inside out. They thus
formed different kinds of gloves, bonnets, &c. of a rude
fashion, according to the size and form of the leaf, which
answered the purpose of defending the natives from the cold
v«ry effectually : thus was explained this astonishing wonder,
as all others of a similar nature may be explained, by a little
attention to facts.

Mr. Thunberg found that this singular plant belonged to
the genus Bupleurum ; and as its species was unknown iu
Europe, he gave it the name of B. Gizanteum.

As doubts still exist in the minds of many persons, that
the above is an exaggerated and fabulous account, we, for the

DOMESTICATION OP HARES.

credit of Mr. Thunberg, beg to state, tliat some years since
\re purchased at a sale of curiosities, imported from Holland,
a glove formed from this very plant ; and that we have in
our cabinet the nest of a bird, which is formed by dividing
the plant, and fitting it to its own proportions, forming a very
secure and warm hybernaculum. J. LASKEY.

CURIOUS EXPERIMENTS IN THE

DOMESTICATION OF HARES.

[By the late W. Cowper, Esq.~]

IN the year 1774, being much indisposed both in mind and
body, incapable of diverting myself either with company 01
books, and yet in a condition that made some diversion ne-
cessary, I was glad of any thing that would engage my
attention without fatiguing it. The children of a neighbour
of mine had a leveret given them for a plaything ; it was at
that time about three months old. Understanding better how
to tease the poor creature than to feed it, and soon becoming
weary of their charge, they readily consented that their
father, who saw it pining and growing leaner every day,
should offer it to my acceptance. I was willing enough
to take the prisoner under my protection, perceiving that, in
the management of such an animal, and in the attempt to
tame it, I should find just that sort of employment which
my case required. It was soon known among the neigh-
bours that I was pleased with the present ; and the conse-
quence was, that in a short time I had as many leverets
offered to me as would have stocked a paddock. 1 under-
took the care of three, which it is necessary that I should
here distinguish by the names I gave them — Puss, Tiney,
and Bess. Notwithstanding the two feminine appellatives,
I must inform you that they were all males. Immediately
commencing carpenter, 1 built them houses to sleep in ;
each had a separate apartment, so contrived that their ordure

KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

would pass through the bottom of it ; an earthen pan placed
under each received whatsoever fell, which being duly emptied
and washed, they were thus kept perfectly sweet and clean,
la the day time they had the range of a hall, and at night
retired each to his own bed, never intruding into that of
another.

Puss grew presently familiar, would leap into my lap, raise
himself upon his hinder feet, and bite the hair from my tem-
ples. He \vould suffer me to take him up, and to carry him
about in my arms, and has more than once fallen fast asleep
upon my knee. He was ill three days, during which time I
nursed him, kept him apart from his fellows, that they might
not molest him — for, like many other wild animals, they per-
secute one of their own species that is sick — and by constant
care, and trying him with a variety of herbs, restored him
to perfect health. No creature could be more grateful than
my patient after his recovery; a sentiment which he most
significantly expressed by licking n>y hand, first the back of
it, then the palm, then every finger separately, then between
all the fingers, as if anxious to leave no part of it unsaluted ;
a ceremony \\hich he never performed but once again upon a
similar occasion. Finding him extremely tractable, I made
it my custom to carry him always alter breakfast into the
garden, where he hid himself generally under the leaves of a
cucumber vine, sleeping or chewing the cud till evening ; in
the leaves also of that vine he found a favourite repast. I
had not long habituated him to this, taste of liberty, before he
began to be impatient for the return of the time when he
might enjoy it. He would invite me to the garden by drum-
ming upon my knee, and by a look of such expiessiou as it
was not possible to misinterpret. If this rhetoric did not im-
mediately succeed, lie would take the skirt of my coat be-
tween his teeth, and pull at it with all his force. Thus Fuss
might be said to be perfectly tamed : the shyness of his na-
ture was done a>vay ; and, on the whole, it was visible, by
many symptoms, which 1 have not room to enumerate, that

DOMESTICATION OF HAKES. 185

be was happier in human society than when shut up with his
natural companions.

Not so Tine; ; upon him the kindest treatment had not
the least effect. He too was sick, and in his sickness had an
equal share of my attention ; but if, after his recovery, I took
the liberty to stroke him he would grunt, strike with his fore
feet, spring forward, and bite. He was, however, very en-
tertaining in his way; even his surliness was matter of mirth,
and in his play he preserved such an air of gravity, and per-
formed his feats with such a solemnity of manner, that in him
too I had an agreeable companion.

Bess, who died soon after he was full grown, and whose
death was occasioned by his being turned into his box, which
had been washed, while it was yet damp, was a hare of great
humour and drollery. Puss was tamed by gentle usage;
Tiney was not to be tamed at all ; and Bess had a courage
and confidence that made him tame from the beginning. I
alwuys admitted them into the parlour after supper, when
the carpet affording their feet a firm hold, they would frisk,
and bound, and play a thousand gambols, ui which Bess,
being remarkably strong and fearless, was always superior to
the rest, and proved himself the Vestris of the party. One
evening the cat being in the room, had ihe hardiness to pat
Bess upon the cheek, an indignity which he resented by
drumming upon her back wiih such violence, that the cat
was happy to escape from under his paws and hide herself.

I describe these animals as having each a character of his
own. iMich they were in fact, and their countenances were
so expressive of lhat character, that, when I looked only on
the face of either, 1 immediately knew which it v\as. it is
said, tnat a shepherd, however numerous his tiork, soon be-
comes so familiar with their features, that he can, by that
indication only, distinguish each from all the icst; and yet,
to a common observer, the difference is hardly perceptible.
I doubt not that the same disci iinination in ihe cast of coun-
tenances would be discoverable in hares, and am persuaded,

KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

that among a thousand of them no two could be found ex-
actly similar ; a circumstance little suspected by those who
have not had an opportunity to observe it. These creatures
have a singular sagacity in discovering the minutest alteration
that is made in the place to which they are accustomed, and
instantly apply their nose to the examination of a new object.
A small hole being burned in the carpet, it was mended with
a patch, and that patch in a moment underwent the strictest
scrutiny. They seem, too, to be very much directed by the
smell in the choice of their favourites : to some persons,
though they saw them daily, they could never be reconciled,
and would even scream when they attempted to touch them ;
but a miller coming in, engaged their affections at once ; his
powdered coat had charms that were irresistible. It is no
vender that my intimate acquaintance with these specimens
of the kind has taught me to hold the sportsman's amusement
in abhorrence; he little knows what amiable creatures he
persecutes, of what gratitude they are capable, how cheerful
they are in their spirits, what enjoyment they have of life,
and that impressed as they seem with a peculiar dread of
man, it is only because man gives them peculiar cause for it.

That I may not be tedious, I will just give a short sum-
mary of those articles of diet that suit them best.

I take it to be a general opinion that they graze ; but it is
an erroneous one ; at least grass is not their staple ; they
seem rather to use it medicinally, soon quitting it for leaves
of almost any kind. Sow-thistle, dent-de-lion, and lettuce,
are their favourite vegetables, especially the last. I disco-
vered, by accident, that fine white sand is in great estimation
with them, 1 suppose as a digestive. It happened that I
was cleaning a birdcage while the hares were with me. I
placed a pot tilled with such sand upon the floor, which
being at once directed to by a strong instinct, they devoured
voraciously ; since that time I have generally taken care to
see them well supplied with it. They account green corn a
delicacy, both blade and stalk, but the ear they seldom eat.

DOMESTICATION OF HARES. 187

Straw of any kind, especially wheat straw, is another of
their dainties; they will feed greedily upon oats, but if fur-
nished with clean straw, never want them ; it serves them
also for a bed, and, if shaken up daily, will be kept sweet
and dry for a considerable time. They do not indeed require
aromatic herbs, but will eat a small quantity of them with
great relish, and are particularly fond of the plant called
musk ; they seem to resemble sheep in this, that, if their
pasture be too succulent, they are very subject to the rot;
to prevent which, I always made bread their principal nou-
rishment, and rilling a pan with it cut into small squares,
placed it every evening in their chambers, for they feed only
at evening and in the night ; during the winter, when vege-
tables were not to be got, I mingled this mess of bread with
shreds of carrot, adding to it the rind of apples cut ex-
tremely thin ; for, though they are fond of the paring, the
apple itself disgusts them: These, however, not being a
sufficient substitute for the juice of summer herbs, they must
at this time be supplied with water — but so placed, that they
cannot overset it into their beds. 1 must not omit that occa-
sionally they are much pleased with twigs of hawthorn, and
of the common briar, eating even the very wood when it is
of considerable thickness.

Bess, I have said, died young ; Tiney lived to be nine
years old, and died at last, I have reason to think, of some
hurt in his loins by a fall ; Puss is still living, and has just
completed his tenth year, discovering no signs of decay, nor
even of age, except that he is grown more discreet, and less
frolicsome than he was. I cannot conclude without ob-
serving, that I have lately introduced a dog to his acquaint-
ance— a spaniel that had never seen a hare, to a hare that had
never seen a spaniel. I did it with great caution ; but there
was no real need of it. Puss discovered no token of fear,
nor Marquis the least symptom of hostility. There is,
therefore, it should seem, no natural antipathy between dog
and hare, but the pursuit of the oue occasions the Sight of

188 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

the oilier, and the dog pursues because he is trained to it :
they eat bread at the same time out of the same hand, and
are in all respects sociable and friendly.

I should not do complete justice to my subject, did I not
add, that they have no ill scent belonging to them ; that they
are indefatigably nice in keeping themselves clean, for which
purpose nature has furnished them with a brush under each
foot ; and that they are never infested by any vermin.
MayZQ, 1784.

n

In addition to the account of Mr. Cowper, many instances
of the tractability of hares are recorded ; and it is well known
to many persons now livi.;g, that at Sadler's Wei's, its
greatest attraction was the exhibition of hares, at that place
of amusement, in beating the drums, and a variety of tricks,
that occupied a length of time. And so lately as the years
181? and 1818, a Frenchman went about the streets of .Lon-
don, and its vicinity, with two hares, who, at the word of
command, would beat a drum, load a pistol, and ram it
down, by taking the end of the ram-rod in its month, and
striking it several blows, afterwards put its foot to the trigger,
and tire it off.

LOSS OF THE SYLVAN.

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.

From the Cork Mercantile Chronicle, of Nov. 18, 1818.

" IN our paper of Friday, we stated the loss of the
Sjlvan, of Cork, Captain Pugh, from Liverpool for Cork,
on the Sovereign's Islands, near the harbour of Kinsale, and
some circumstances connected therewith ; amongst others,
the loss of three passengers, two of uhom, a man and his
wife, were believed to be natives or inhabitants of Youghal,
and the third a young person, whose name was unknown.

LOSS OF THE SYLVAN. 19§

*' Towards the close of Wednesday evening, when a fog
which had arisen, was in some measure dissipated, and
v hen the sea had somewhat abated, the mast of the vessel
could be descried from the shore of Oysterhaven, with
something of the appearance of a man clinging to the rig-
ging. Night, however, and the tempestuous sea which still
prevailed, rendered it impossible to make any effort to afford
assistance ; and those who witnessed the perilous situation
of the unfortunate being, did not doubt but a few hours, nay
minutes, would terminate their suspense and his life. The
night closed : it was one of great horror ; there was a high
wind and heavy rains ; it was generally dark, save when now
and again a gleam of moonshine made the scene more vi-
sibly tenific. The morning broke without any abatement
having taken place in the violence of the elements ; but the
boats from Oysterhaven, which had witnessed the scene of
the preceding night, were early in motion, and rowed in a
tremendously heavy sea, towards the islands. As they pro-
ceeded, they encountered several pieces of wreck, and did
not doubt that the unfortunate person, who had been seen
clinging to the rigging, had met that fate which appeared
to be inevitable ; upon nearing the islands, however, they
could discern, upon one of them, something with the ap-
pearance of a human being, moving backwards and for-
wards ; and upon approaching as close as the heavy surge
would admit them, they distinctly saw that it was a man or a
boy. To relieve him at the moment was impossible. The
destruction of the boat and crew would have been the cer-
tain consequence of any attempt of the kind ; for the sea
still continued dreadfully agitated, and the wind extremely
high. These circumstances being communicated to Mr.
Cramer, living near Oysterhaven Bay, he immediately had
them made known to Mr. Newman, the sovereign of Kin-
sale; and about ten o'clock" on Thursday morning, the king's
boat, stationed at Oysterhaven, with Mr. Maunseli, a gentle-
man of the revenue from Kinsale, young Mr. Holmes, and

190 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

the crew, proceeded towards the island, with a small punt
in tow. On coming as close within its range as the surf
allowed them, the former gentleman and two of the crew
took to the punt, and were almost immediately lifted upon
the very rocks of the island, at the very spot where the mi-
serable inhabitant was watching them with the most intense
anxiety. The wave which thus threw them in, receded, and
left the punt for a few minutes on the rock, during which
time they threw out a rope, which the person caught, and
almost at the same moment another wave bore off the punt
filled with water, and nearly capsized. They were then with
difficulty taken on board the pinnace, from whence signs
were made to the boy (for they had been able to discover
that he was quite a young lad) to tie the rope round his
body and trust himself to the waves. Afraid, however, or
ignorant of the meaning of their gestures, he wound the
rope round his hand, but in a moment hastened to take it
off, threw it away, and again mounted the cliffs.

" Night was now fast closing in, and the sea and wind
continued unabated. The boats were reluctantly obliged to
retire, and to leave the unfortunate boy for the second night
upon the rock, without food or shelter, and with all the fear-
ful anticipations that before morning cold and hunger
would terminate his existence. As they retreated, he was
seen collecting in a particular spot (a kind of cavern), a
quantity of weeds, with the intention of making a bed, and
picking from the earth some wild vegetables with which the
rock abounds, and which he was observed to eat. A fog
suddenly concealed him from further observation while thus
employed.

" Reluctant to suffer such an interval as between night
and morning to pass without making a new effort in behalf
of the boy, at eleven o'clock at night Mr. Gibbon's whale*
boat was again maimed, and attempted to get out, but could
not succeed. In the morning, long before day, she again
started with Lieuts. Be.vau and Nason, of the royal navy,

LOSS OF THE SYLVAN. 101

and John Heard Isaac, Esq. and rowed towards the island ;
but with no hope of reaching it, as the sea and wind were
still higher than on either of the two preceding mornings,
and the scene altogether more terrific. The worst appre-
hensions were entertained for the boy, who had been then
two days and two nights on the rock, without any other food
than the wild vegetables which it yielded. Those fears,
however, were in some degree relieved, when he was again
seen from the boat, moving about; but hope derived no
support from the aspect of the morning, which promised as
bad as the former day. After renewed but fruitless efforts
to gain any point of the island, the whale-boat was again
obliged to return to Kinsale, which it reached about twelve
o'clock, after having been several times in danger of swamp-

••ing. Here a most interesting scene took place : the crew
of an American vessel, the Dryad, which was undergoing
some repairs in the dock-yard of Messrs. Gibbons and Co.,
volunteered to go out in the whale-boat, and make an effort
to rescue the boy. Their services were gratefully accepted,
and they swore they never would return, if they did not suc-

' ceed. They then proceeded to make an experiment, by
firing a musket-ball with a rope attached to it, which was
found to convey it with ease as far as they considered would
be necessary ; and thus provided, they proceeded to sea.

" In the mean time the boats from Oysterhaven had got
into activity, and they could be seen for three hours in sue-?
cession, contending with, but scarcely living in, the breakers
at the base of the rock. As the situation of the boy be-
came more hopeless, their exertions increased, and their
desperate daring was more visible. It was impossible that
he could have survived another night ; and the knowledge of
this circumstance seemed to infuse new resolution in the
hearts of the men. Two boats were for a long time seen
supporting each other in their perilous undertaking ; yet they
were frequently concealed for minutes together, in the dip
of the sea, or in the surge of the breakers. The day was
3

KIRBY'g WONDERFUL MtJSEUM.

then far advanced; and to those who were on the coast pro-
vided with glasses, and who could see what was going for-
ward, there appeared as little hope of rescuing the boy as
on the preceding day, and his fate seemed inevitable. They
did not know the resolution whic)i the crews formed, either
to succeed or perish ; and the interest of the scene was ex-
cited into intense and feverish agitation, when one of the
men, a brave and dauntless fellow, named Jack Carty, the
owner of one of the Oysterhaven boats, was observed to be
tying a rope round his body, and in a few minutes to throw
himself, with the most fearless devotion, into the surge, in
which his boat could not live. We need not describe the
sensation which prevailed : all the attention was now turned
towards this heroic fellow : and the suspense was unutter-
able, until he was seen clinging to, and occasionally climb-
ing, the cliffs, where an immense sea had left him.

" He succeeded in mounting beyond the reach of the
sprays, and was soon most actively employed in assisting
the poor boy,- who was in a completely exhausted state of
mind and body, and who could with difficulty descend to
where his preserver beckoned him. At length he reached
him, and Jack Carty proceeded to invest his body with the
rope which he had taken from his own, and then performed
the duty of ushering him to the spot where he had himself
been thrown, where he consigned him to the waves. Doubt
and anxiety were again painfully excited, while the men in
the boat were drawing him through the breakers and seas,
through which he must pass before his safety could be said
to be ensured ; but both were despatched, when he was
seen taking in over the gunnel, which was announced by
three cheers in the boats. During these few moments of
agitation, the intrepid Jack Carty, who remained on the
island, was forgotten ; but the boy's safety being known, all
eyes were turned to the former, and we could distinctly see
him sitting down with the utmost composure on a point of
rock, waiting for his own. chance of being released. This,

LOSS OF THE SYLVAN.

happily, was not long accomplishing ; a rope was flung on
the dirt's, and Jack, more adroit than his predecessor on the
island, soon seized, and tied it round his waist and shoulders.
Notwithstanding the perils of the scene, it was almost whim-
sical to see this tine fellow collecting the boy's and his own
clothes, which he deliberately tied up in a bundle, and put
under his arm ; und then, descending to the most favourable
spot, he watched his opportunity, and threw himself into the
sea ; from which, in the course of about rive minutes, he
was released by his companions, who signified his safety by
loud cheers, which were returned from those parts of the
land where they could be heard. It was then exactly half
past two o'clock. The whale-boat, with the American
crew, arrived almost at the moment Carty had got into his
boat; but they were in sight some time before, and were
also seen rowing in the most undaunted manner in the heavy
sea, and almost iu the surge, advancing towards the most
accessible point of the island. Upon learning the safety of
the boy, they gave three cheers, and returned to Kinsale,
scarcely less entitled to public gratitude, than if they had
been the instruments of preservation. Other boats also
arrived at the moment, ignorant of what had occurred, but
all determined to make a simultaneous effort. Lieutenant
Desprang, of the royal navy, and Lieutenant Blackyer, had
proceeded in one boat, with geese and turkeys, to which
were attached such pieces of bread as they could be sup-
posed to carry, and which were to be fled in the direction
of the island, when the boat got sufficiently near for that
purpose. These preparations were happily rendered unne-
cessary ; but those who provided them, and undertook their
superintendence, are entitled to the greatest praise.

" The king's boat from Oysterhaven, with the Messrs.
Holmes, also arrived at the moment, and into this the boy
was transferred, and conveyed to Mr. Holmes's,'*vnere every
attention that his forlorn situation required, was bestowed
upon him by that gentleman and his family.

VOL. vi. o

194 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

/

ft Having now brought the narrative to a conclusion, we
have only further to state, that the name of the young boy
thus providentially rescued by the heroic interposition of
Carty and his associates, is Austen; that he is a native of
Limerick, and has a brother residing there, who is a chan-
dler. Such is the account the lad gives of himself, and
there is no reason to doubt it. At eleven o'clock on Satur-
day, at which hour the accounts from Oysterhaven came
away, he was better than could have been expected, and
was very voracious for food, which, with the exception of
warm wine, was very sparingly, but sufficiently, given to him,
for his situation."

A subscription, we find, has been properly set on foot, to
reward the heroism thus conspicuously displayed ; and the
Cork Chronicle concludes in the following manner : —

" We shall be very happy to receive and acknowledge at
this office, any sum given by way of donation, to assist in
purchasing a boat for the humane and intrepid fellow, Jack
Carty ; and we do not know of a better mode of completely
putting an end to the savage custom of pillage, and fre-
quently of murder, after a shipwreck, than to give very
ample compensation to the men who on such occasions
risk their own safety, to save the lives or property of their
fellow men/' Times, Nov. 26, 1818.

SINGULAR CASE OF OBSTINACY.

THE extraordinary case of obstinacy and obduracy, as re-
lated in the narrative of Phineas Adams, see Vol. IV. p. 173,
can scarcely find a parallel. We now present our readers
with another extraordinary individual, whose self-determina-
tion was such, that even at the bar of life and death, he reso-
lutely withstood all attempts made to induce him to plead,
affecting to be mute by the visitation of God, and actually

CASE OF OBSTINACY. ]Qp

suffered sentence of death to be passed on him, without
pleading to his indictment.

This man was arraigned in the preceding Assizes, and put-
ting on the appearance of insanity, was then declared by a
Jury — Mute by the visitation of God. His brother, who
was tried at the same time, and for the same crime, was fouud
guilty, and executed.

" Michael M'Dounell, aged 27, a labourer, from Glasgow,
was indicted for having, on the llth of June, 18 1 6, broken
into the parish church of Church Lawton, and stolen there-
out a silver tiaggon, a silver cup, and a silver salver, the pro-
perty of the churchwardens of Church Lawton. On the
prisoner being put to the bar, he was seized with a real or
affected fit of trembling, and an apparently convulsive motion
of the muscles of the face. The indictment was then read,
but he appeared not to notice it in the slightest way.

" The Chief Justice then addressed him to the following
effect : — ' Prisoner at the bar, you are charged with a capital
offence, and are called upon to plead guilty or not guilty to
an indictment for sacrilege. I do hope that you are a \\are
of the situation in which you stand ; for if a Jury be eni-
pannelled, and on the evidence adduced before them, they
give in a verdict that you are mute through fraud and obsti-
nacy, and not by the visitation of God, the only course which
the Court will have to adopt, will be immediately to pass
upon you the sentence of death.' Mr. Humphreys, the
prothonotary, then read the indictment, and he was calkd
upon to plead. After some little time had elapsed, in
the course of which, the trepidation in his left arm had
evidently ceased, he was again asked the usual question—
' Guilty or not guilty ?' when he said, with great rapidity of
utterance, ' Yes, yes.'

" The Chief Justice told him such a pleadiug could not
be taken, as the Court could not say whether he meant to
acknowledge his guilt, or put himself upon ius trial by his

o 2

196 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

country. His lordship, for the first time, theii asked him
to plead.

" The prisoner uttered the same words as before, when a
Jury was about to be ernpannelled, to inquire whether he was
inute through fraud and obstinacy, or by the visitation of
God. In this stage of the proceedings, Dr. Llewellyn Jones,
who had seen the prisoner professionally, suggested to the
bench the propriety of more strenuously urging the prisoner
to plead to the indictment, expressing an opinion (formed
from a close observation of his conduct) that he would
eventually plead. The Chief Justice humanely declared
himself ready to adopt any suggestions offered, and to wait
any length of time that might be necessary to put them in
practice. Being again urged to plead, and the nature of the
indictment, together with the danger of his situation/, being
explained to him in a loud voice by Mr. Hurst, he now dis-
tinctly said, ' Guilty, guilty.'

" The Chief Justice declared himself at a loss what
course to follow, as the most satisfactory in a case so en-
tirely new, but thought, under the circumstances it would be
better for the prisoner, that the Court should proceed on the
inquiry, as if no plea had been uttered. Dr. L. Jones then
deposed : ' I saw the prisoner a few days before the last
assizes, and then declared myself unable to decide on the
true nature of his case. I visited him last night, and re-
mained with him about an hour; and formed an opinion that
lie is capable of understanding the situation in which he now
stands, and that he is able to plead to the indictment. Find-
ing, however, that the man's life might be affected by the
opinion now given, I determined to call a consultation. I
saw him again this morning, in company with three other
physicians. We are unanimously of opinion that he can
both hear and speak.' Other evidence was produced to the
same effect. Samuel Needham (a prisoner, charged with
stealing silk, but not then tried :) ' I have known the prisoner

CASE OF OBSTINACY.

six months, and sometimes have had a conversation with him.,
I think him, however, not altogether in his senses! 1 have
helped him sometimes to dress and undress.'

" The evidence being closed, the learned Judge proceeded
to address the Jury. He observed, a case like that of the
prisoner at the bar very seldom occurred ; for himself he
did not recollect a single instance. The ancient law of the
land, in instances of this description, had its barbarous pecu-
liarities. If a prisoner remained mute, whilst possessed of
his understanding, the Court would then order him back to
his piition, where he must be stripped, thrown on the ground
on his back, tied down, and a weight placed on his breast;
for sustenance, he was allowed a small portion of bread, and
his drink was water, obtained from the nearest place to his
cell. This inhuman mode haH, however, long been abolished,
and a very different system had been adopted. In the course
of the examination of this case, the Jury had heard the evi-
dence of two eminent physicians; they had examined the
prisoner, and upon their oaths had declared him to be in a fit
state of bodily and mental health to be put upon his trial.
This opinion was corroborated by the testimony of Mr.
Hurst, who had observed him at various periods, and re-
marked, that under the supposition of not being seen, lie
conducted himself as any other person would. The medical
gentlemen had said, that in their judgment, he could plead to
the indictment ; and with respect to the conduct of the
prisoner in continement, he could dress and undress himself,
and superintend the cooking of his own victuals. The only
question for the consideration of the Jury was, whether they
considered the prisoner's demeanour as mere artifice ; and in
favour of this were the whole of the physicians, who had
sworn that it was wholly put on. Upon the whole, and he
hoped the most mature consideration would be given to the
evidence, if the Jury thought that the prisoner's standing
mute was not by the visitation of God, they must say so ; if,
on the contrary, they were of opinion that he was not capable

]Q8 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

of answering, they must bring in their verdict, that he did
not stand mute by fraud and obstinacy, but by the visitation
of God. After about ten minutes consideration, the Jury
brought in a verdict, that the prisoner stood mute by fraud
and obstinacy, and not by the visitation of God.

" His lordship immediately proceeded to pass sentence on
the prisoner. ' A Grand Jury of the county/ said the
learned Jud<re, ' has returned into this court a true bill

C1 /

against you for burglary and sacrilege. To that bill of in-
dictment you have refused to plead, and by so doing, have
thrown an impediment in the way of the progress of public
justice. The law, notwithstanding, has a provision in this
caw, and the Jury have found, that it is not by the visitation
of God that you have so stood mute, but by fraud, obstinacy,
and contumacy. The Court, therefore, has only one course
to follow, and that is to proceed against you, as though you
had been tried and found guilty. The sentence which this
Court awards is, that you, Michael M'Donnell, be taken
from hence to the place from whence you came,' &c. Judg-
ment of death was passed upon the prisoner in the usual
form. Before he left the bar, the movement of the hands
had much abated; but the prisoners bead continued to move •
rapidly till he was taken below the bar."

Observer, May 11, 1817.

GLUTTONY.

NICHOLAS WOOD, of Harrisom, in the county of Kent,
yeoman, did with ease eat a whole sheep of sixteen shillings
price, and that raw, at one meal ; at another time he eat
thirty dozen of pigeons. At Sir Wm. St dley's, he eat as
much as would suffice thirty men ; at the Lord Wottou\ in
Kent, he eat, at one meal, fourscore and four rabbits, which
number would have sufficed a hundred threescore and eight
men, allowing to each, half a rabbit. He suddenly devoured

GMJTTONY. " 1Q9

eighteen yards of black pudding, London measure -, and
when at once he had eaten threescore pounds weight of cher-
ries, he said they were but wash- meat. He made an end of
a whole hog at once ; and after it (for fruit,) swallowed
three pecks of damsons, after he had broken his fast, having
(as he said) eaten one pottle of^nilk, one pottle of pottage,
with bread, butter, and cheese. " He eat in niy presence,"
s-utli Taylor, the water poet, " six penny wheaten loaves,
three sixpenny veal pies, one pound of sweet butter, one
good dish of thohiback, and a shiver of a peck loaf, of an
inch thick — and all in the space of an hour; the house
yielded no more, and so he departed unsatisfied." One
John Dale was too hard for him at a place called Lenham;
he laid a wager that he would till Wood's belly with good
wholesome victuals for two shillings ; and a gentleman that
laid the contrary, wagered, that when he had eaten out
Dale's two shillings, he should then forthwith eat up a good
sirloin of beef. Dale bought six pots of good mighty ale,
and twelve new penny white loaves, which he sopped in the
ale ; the powerful fumes whereof conquered this conqueror,
and laid him in a sleep, to the preservation of the roast
beef, and unexpected winning of the wager. He spent all
"his estate, to provide food for his belly ; and though a landed
man, and a true labourer, died very poor, about the year
1630. Fuller's Worthies, p. 86.

November, 1765. Walter Willey, a brewer's servant,
devoured at a public-house in Aldersgate- street, a roasted
goose, that weighed six pounds, and a quartern loaf, and
drank three quarts of porter, in an hour and eight minutes,
for a wager of two guineas. He was allowed an hour and a
half. Annual Register, 1765. p. [147-

May 1Q, 1766. A young man, about nineteen, an ap-
prentice to Mr. Turner, watchmaker, in Aldersgate-street,
eat a leg of pork, of six pounds weight, and a pease-pud-
ding weighing in proportion, at a public-house in Islington,
for a trifling wager, in leas than three quarters of an hour :

20O KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

after which, he drank a pint of brandy off, at two draught?,
and went away, seemingly in perfect health.

Annual Register, 1766. p. [96.

On Monday last, at the Bull Inn, near Tunbndge
Wells, a farmer's servant drank, for a trifling wager, a <juart
of Hollands in the space of three minutes and a half; the
limited time was fifteen minutes. He immediately left the
inn, and was found in an adjoining field, about an hour
after, in a state of insensibility ; and, notwithstanding every
assistance, he expired within a few hours.

Times t March 4, 1804.

At the same time and place other feats of gormandizing
took place, though not attended with such fatal conse-
quences. The performers were two sons of Crispin ; one
of whom undertook to eat the length of himself in pork
sausages, which was 5 feet 9| inches, weighing 3|lb. in-
cluding 2lb. of new bread, a quart of porter, and two
glasses of brandy, which he performed with ease in twenty-
two minutes. The other eat a pound of salt butter with a
spoon, without bread or vegetables, in ten minutes; and
afterwards a dumpling, weighing lylb. made of flour and
water, by way of keeping down the grease.

London Packet, March 2, 1804.

A blacksmith at Strood eat, on Tuesday, for a trifling
wager, a pint of perriwinkles, with the shells, in the space
of teu irinutes. Being desired to repeat this disgusting
feat, he readily did it; but is now so dangerously ill, that he
is uot expected to recover.

A man at Misson, near Bawtry, eat, last week, for a
trifling wager, sixty-five raw eggs in eight minutes.

Observer, March 24, 1811.

On Tuesday evening, a journeyman weaver, of the name
of Cunningham, about fifty >ears of age, engaged to eat,
at a public-house in the neighbourhood of Chinch-street,
BeMmal gieen, four pounds of fat bacon, raw, four pounds
of boiled potatoes, aud half a quartern loaf, and to drink

HEN WITH A HUMAN FACE. 201

two pots of beer and a pint of gin, within the space of an
hour, which task he performed six minutes within the time,
to the astonishment of every person present. The glutton,
however, was almost immediately taken ill, and sent home to
his lodgings : and such is his situation, that he is not ex-
pected to survive. Observer, December 29, 1811.
On Wednesday last, two gentlemen in the neighbourhood
of Ratcliff Highway, laid a wager of 5/. upon a man named
Leurnen, a coal-heaver, that he should devour, in the space
of three quarters of an hour, nine pounds of bullock's
heart roasted, three pounds of potatoes, a half quartern louf,
and a pot of porter. The parties met at the Queen's
Head public-house, Broad-street, Ratcliffe Highway ; and
the spectators, of which there was a considerable number,
paid sixpence each to be admitted. He completed his task,
and drank three or four glasses of rum besides, within the
time allowed him, without producing the smallest apparent
inconvenience to himself.

Times, November 4, 181€.

HEN WITH A HUMAN FACE.

Curious Description of a Hen, having the Profile of the
Human Face. With' some Observations by Professor
Fischer. Translated from the Russ, by Dr. Lyall,
Physicim to Count Or/of, at Moscow, 1816.

[WITH A PLATE.]

NEVER was there a hen attracted so much attention;
never has any animal, even the most rare, so greatly excited
the curiosity of the public, as the hen with the human pro-
file, which was found in the district of Belef, in the go-
vernment of Tula, and sent to the Imperial University of
Moscow, by his Excellency the civil governor, Mr. Bogda-
noff.

For the satisfaction of such individuals as have not had

202 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

an opportunity of seeing this animal, I here present them
with a faithful sketch, accompanied with some observations.
The hen is of the middle size, that is eight inches high, and
fourteen long ; her feathers are of a pearlish grey colour,
and brown in some places, particularly at the points. The
form of her body, as well as her manner of living, is the
same as that of other hens ; but her head presents an ex-
traordinary, phenomenon ; for, at the place where the beak
ought to be, she exhibits a human profile, resembling that
of an old woman. The beak is entirely wanting, and the
jaw-bones are shortened in such a manner, that they termi-
nate where, in other hens, the nostrils are found. They are
covered with flesh, and resemble lips. The comb, in a
front view, in this hen, forms a kind of nose; which ap-
pears the more astonishing, as the nostrils are found be-
tween the termination of the nose and the jaw; but we are
most liable to be deceived, when we see, as sometimes hap*
pens, some drops of liquid in them, or when the dust is ac-
cumulated there. To the inferior jaw is attached a fleshy
excrescence, not to be found in other hens, and which
forms a kind of chin. This chin is bare, or naked, with
the exception of some hairs of beard, and is prolonged with
naked skin, even to the ears, as in other hens. The eyes
are round and black, and surrounded with an iris of a cin-
nabar-red colour. The parts of the head under the eyes
are of a flesh colour, mixed with blue, and almost naked,
or covered like the chin, with a kind of stiff hairs, which
form towards the ears, a sort of whiskers, and conceal the
aperture of the ear. These peculiarities of the head, united,
present a great resemblance between the profile of this hen
and that of an old woman, particularly if one does not at-
tend to the tuft of feathers on the head of this animal ;
and the longer and more attentively we look at this profile,
especially when the hen feeds, the more striking does the
resemblance become. In consequence of this conforma-
tion, the animal cannot take the kind of food which suits it.

HEN WITH A HUMAN FACE. 203

As the beak is wanting, and has for substitute a kind of
mouth, it is very difficult for her to eat, and still more so
to collect grains. The too great advancement of the nos-
trils prevents her altogether from drinking ; it is, therefore,
necessary to feed her with bread soaked in water, or in
milk. She prefers eating white bread with cream ; and
when hemp-seeds are presented to her in the hand, she ap-
pears to swallow them with great avidity ; yet she likes, as
well as iill other hens, hashed meat, corn, &c. I have
heard that she has also been seen to eat cheese with much
eagerness. She is very tame, as is the case with all birds
which have the beak maimed, whether done by the hand of
man, or by chance. She prefers eating from the hand, as
the soft parts about the mouth (the comb under the chin), are
soon injured when she is obliged to peck her nourishment
on hard bodies. Since I have had her in my chamber, and
nourished her from my hand, she knows me very well, and
approaches the place where I sit, whether while dining or
drinking tea, and calls for something to eat by a particular
cry. Her voice, although feeble, resembles that of other
hens ; and often when alone, she cackles like a hen about
to lay. Notwithstanding the loss of the beak, after having
eaten, she makes the ordinary motions of ihe head, to wipe
and clean the two sides of the jaw upon hard bodies, as
on the table or the ground. This hen appears better
pleased to be in human society than among other fowls.
When another hen is carried into the chamber, and placed
near her, she begins to be angry, lets her wings fall, swells
and raises herself, and makes a noise like that of a cock
which is pit-paring for combat, in the kitchen she is at
continual warfare with the other hens, which she chases;
but she herself takes to flight as soon as she perceives the
cock. The cock appears now, however, to inspire more
confidence. In the oj>en air she appears to be timid; and
she conceals herself among the grass on the approach of
crows or birds of prey, or on the least noise. If she hap-

204 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

pens to be at the chamber window, and to observe crows
passing, she sinks at every one of their movements, and
gapes with fear. This hen was changing her feathers
when I received her, (four months ago) and the change is
not yet finished ; which proves that it is more slowly
effected than in other hens; because her nourishment being
insufficient, renders her unhealthy, yet the feathers become
more thick and lucid, and the plume on the head and neck,
is become much more bushy. The feet are strong, and the
scales which cover them are almost the same as those of a
hen of two years of age. She is without the spurs; and I
am unable to determine whether she was hatched without
them, or has lost them in battle, or by cold. On the right
foot one nail is deficient, and on the left two. This is a
true description of the hen, and of the facts which I have
observed.

Explanation of the Plate — Fig. 1 . is a true profile of
the hen's face, like to that of an old woman. Fig. £. is a
front view of the head. Fig. 3. is a profile view of the
head, with the mouth open, to shew the tongue, which is
short and fleshy, and has the form of a triangular and arched
spade.

*/av JOAN D'ARC,

THE MAID OF ORLEANS.

THIS heroine, whose exploits we are about to recite, was
the daughter of James d'Arc, a peasant in the village of
Dompre, or Damremy, near the borders of Lorrain. In
her younger years she assisted in attending her father's little
farm ; but her disposition even then appeared of such a mi-
litary turn, that the old man was under perpetual apprehen-
sion lest Joan should follow the camp. When she attained
the age of eighteen, she was no despicable figure. Her
mien was graceful, her figure comely, and her agility and

JOAN D'ARC. 205

vigour very uncommon in her sex. Soon flfter she eloped
from her father, and hired herself to a female innkeeper, who
let out horses, at Neufchastel in Lorrain. Here she fol-
lowed, in the quality of a servant, the business she thought
most suitable to her disposition, as it gave her an opportu-
nity of taking journies, riding the horses to water, and know-
ing how to manage them. In this station she continued five
years, and then returned to her father. The old man being
fond of his daughter, did not perhaps choose to hazard a
second elopement, and therefore indulged her in a more
quiet life than she had hitherto known. As Joan \vas re-
markable both for wit and genius, this new life of inactivity
caused her to indulge reflection ; and though distant from
the scenes of the misery of her country, she heard of its
distress, and was deeply impressed with its calamities.

Great part of France had been subdued by the victorious
arms of our fifth Henry, who had been crowned at Paris,
from which the French monarch was now an exile. Though
Henry, the terror of France, was by this time dead, yet his
armies, under the conduct of his brother and other experi-
enced officers, was still proceeding in the career of victory,
and had laid siege to Orleans. These things, which would
scarcely have excited emotion in any ordinary mind, parti-
cularly of a female, filled the heart of Joan with deep re-
gret. She figured to herself the unfortunate king Charles,
as the most deserving prince ever formed by the hand of
Nature ; his followers as so many heroes, undeservedly mi-
serable for preserving their loyalty. She thought there was
no toil too painful for her to endure, no danger too great
for her to undertake, to serve men so highly revered ; and
she had doubtless, already, within the walls of a cottage,
triumphed over the English battalions, and humbled the
pride of the ambitious regent.

Filled with sentiments like these, her impatience for action
ao inflamed her mind, that she mistook the impulses of her
passion for heavenly inspirations. She fancied she saw vi-»

206 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

sions, and heard voices, exhorting her to establish her fa-
vourite prince on the throne of his ancestors, and repel the
foreign invaders of her country. Thinking herself, therefore,
destined by heaven to perform this service, she threw off
that bashfulness and timidity which would otherwise have
naturally adhered to her sex, her. years, and her mean sta-
tion. She repaired to Vaucouleurs, procured admission to
Baudricourt the governor, informed him of her inspirations,
her visions, and her intentions, and conjured him not to ne-
glect the voice of Heaven, who spoke by her mouth, but to
second those celestial revelations which irresistibly impelled
her to undertake this glorious work. Buudricourt, who con-
sidered her as a mere visionary, treated her application at
first with some neglect ; but on her frequent and importu-
nate solicitations, he began to remark something extraordi-
nary in the maid, and was inclined at all hazards, to try so
easy an experiment.

It is uncertain, whether this general had discernment suffi-
cient to perceive, that great use might be made of so un-
common an instrument ; or whether, as is still more likely in
that credulous age, he became himself a convert to this en-
thusiast. Be this as it may, he at length adopted the scheme
of Joan, and gave her a few attendants, who conducted he^
to the French court then residing at Chinon.

Every historian should endeavour to distinguish between
the miraculous and the marvellous ; to reject the former in
all transactions merely human, to scruple the latter, and '
when obliged by the concurrent testimony of all cotempo-
rary writers, as in the present case, to admit of something
extraordinary, but at the same time to receive as little of it
as is consistent with known facts and circumstances. It is
pretended by some visionary writers of these times, that she
immediately knew the king, though she had never seen his
face before, and though he purposely mingled in the crowd
of courtiers, and had even laid aside every thing HI his dies*
and apparel that might distinguish him. It is added, that

3

JOAN D'ABC. 207

she offered that prince, in the name of the Supreme Creator,
to raise the siege of Orleans, and conduct him to Rheims,
to be there crowned and anointed ; and on his expressing
some doubts of her mission, revealed to him, before some
sworn confidants, a secret unknown to all the world except
himself, and which it was impossible for her to know, but by
a heavenly inspiration ; demanding, at the same time, as the
instrument of her future victories, a particular sword, care-
fully kept in the church of St. Catherine de Fierbois, and
which, though she had never seen, she described with all
its marks, mentioning the place in which it had long laid
neglected and forgotten. It is very certain that all these mi-
raculous stories were circulated in order to engage the at-
tention of the vulgar.

The more the king and his ministers were determined to
make use of this religious visionary, the more scruples they
pretended to raise against her mission. An assembly of
grave doctors and divines cautiously examined Joan's pre-
tensions, and pronounced them undoubted and supernatural.
She was therefore sent to the parliament then assembled at
Poictiers, where she was closely interrogated. The president
and council, who came thither fully persuaded of her im-
posture, returned convinced of her inspiration. A ray of
hope now began to break through the clouds of despair,
which had for some time surrounded the court of Charles.
Heaven, they said, had now declared in favour of France,
and had Jaid bare its almighty arm to take vengeance on her
invaders. Few were able to distinguish between the im-
pulse of inclination, and the force of conviction ; and still
fewer were willing to undertake the trouble of making a
scrutiny so disagreeable to their wishes.

In the mean time the siege of Orleans was pushed by
the English with the utmost vigour, and the besieged still
continued to make a noble resistance ; but the want of pro-
visions increasing everyday, it became absolutely necessary to
send the garrison a supply ; and Charles determined that

208 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

this service should be Joan's first essay in war, and a proof
of the truth or falsity of her mission. He accordingly or-
dered her to be dressed in a complete suit of armour, and
conducted into the council. She was well acquainted with
the situation of the English camp, and all the passes lead-
ing to the city of Orleans, so that she spoke with great per-
spicuity on the measures necessary to be adopted for intro-
ducing the convoy. Having satisfied the council, she was
carried to Blois, the place intended for the general rendez-
vous of the troops designed for the convoy. She imme-
diately, on her arrival, ordered a white standard, in the centre
of which was embroidered a picture of the Divine Being,
surrounded by fleur-de-lis, to be consecrated, and displayed
upon the ramparts.

The English officers meanwhile looked upon Charles's
affairs as truly desperate, since he was obliged to have re-
course to a visionary for relief. But the expedient had
already, in some measure, answered that prince's intentions.
Instead of a convoy, an army of 12,000 men assembled at
Blois, and Joan marched immediately at the head of these
forces, for the relief of Orleans. Her first design was to
enter the city on the side of the Beausse, but she was met
by a messenger from Dunois, who commanded in Orleans
during the absence of the governor, advising the attempt to
be made on the Salogue side, the English having strongly
fortified that of the Beausse ; adding, that he had already
made the necessary dispositions for a sally on the English, on
the side of the latter.

In the mean time Florentine d'llliers had been detached
by Joan's particular directions, at the head of 400 horse.
This gallant officer passed the river in boats, and threw him-
self with his detachment into the city. The garrison and
inhabitants were greatly rejoiced at the dispositions made for
their relief, and expressed the highest confidence in the su-
pernatural abilities of the mtiepid leader.

-As soon as the convoy reached the bank of the river

JOAN D ARC. 209

below the first intrenchment of the English, they found
boats ready to receive the ammunition and provisions.
While these were embarking, Joan drew up her troops with
such a shew of resolution, that the English did not think it
prudent to attack her. They even abandoned one of their
towers, called St. John le Blanc ; of which she immediately
took possession, and the convoy got safe into Orleans.

This success fully answered all the ideas the French had
conceived of their heroine's mission and virtues. The next
morning the Count de Dunois himself passed over to the
tower of St. John, where Joan still continued. He was at-
tended by some of the principal inhabitants, and all joined
to invite her to cross the river, and take upon herself the de-
fence of the city. Joan received their offers with as much
state and dignity, as if she had been always used to com-
mand the most powerful armies. She, however, yielded to
their intreaties, though her first resolution was to have at-
tacked the English quarters, and brought on a general engage-
ment. When she entered Orleans, the people gazed at her
as a divinity, and from that moment considered themselves in-
vincible. She lodged in the house of one Bouchier, the trea-
surer to the Duke of Orleans, whose wife and daughter she
kept constantly about her person, to prevent any suspicion
of her chastity.

The garrison and citizens of Orleans thinking they had
an army in the person of their female commander, suffered
the troops who had guarded the convoy, to return to Blois,
under the conduct of St. Severe, who engaged in two or
three days to introduce another convoy on the side of
Beausse, by which they would be free from the inconveni-
ency of embarking the provisions in boats. As they ex-
pected a very strong opposition in this quarter, the detach-
ment that guarded the convoy was strengthened by forces
from all the neighbouring garrisons belonging to Charles.
When the French first presented themselves before the
English lines, which happened early in the morning, Joan,

VOL. VI. P

210 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

assisted by the Count de Dunois, made so vigorous a sally
from the city, that the Knglish tumed their whole force to
oppose them, and suffered the convoy to pass unmolested
into Orleans.

This success astonished the English ; they appeared like
men disconcerted and infatuated ; the common soldiers be-
gan to believe all the stories propagated by the French,
concerning the supernatural power of Joan ; while their
officers were struck with the masterly manner in which
every thing was disposed and executed on the side of the
besieged. The latter had now even the boldness to think of
investing the works of the besiegers. Accordingly, a body
of volunteers, more hardy than wise, agreed to sally out of
the city, the same day the convoy entered, and attack the
tower of St. Loupe, on the side of the Beausse.

Joan, fatigued with the service of the morning, had retired
to rest; but when she awoke, she received the disagreeable
news that the volunteers had been repulsed, and were then
making a precipitate retreat back into the city. Alarmed at
this defeat, she instantly sallied out to stop their shameful
flight, while the Count de Dunois. posted himself at the
head of another party, to cut off all communication between
the fort that had been attacked, and Lord Talbot's quarters.
Joan no sooner appeared, than the fugitives recovered their
strength, their spirits, and their courage. The fortune of
the day was changed ; the English were driven back to their
tower, which Joan, with her party, entered almost at the
same time. Scarcely a man of them escaped being put to
the sword, and the tower was immediately razed to the
foundation, while Lord Talbot was obliged to remain an idle
spectator.

This amazing success roused Joan's enthusiastic partisans
to the highest point of fury. Nothing was now considered
as impossible. She even urged the generals to attack the
main body of the English in their intrenchments ; but Du-
»ois, unwilling to hazard the fate of France by too great

JOAM D'ARC. 211

temerity, and sensible that the least reverse of fortune would
be sufficient to dispel all the mists of enthusiasm, and re-
store every thing to its former condition, checked her vehe-
mence, and proposed an attempt to expel the enemy from
their forts on the other side of the river, and open a commu-
nication with the country, before she attempted the more
dangerous enterprise. It was with some difficulty that Joan
could be persuaded to agree with this disposition ; and the
next day Sir William Gladdesdale, who commanded an im-
portant post of the besiegers, drew all his men into the
tower of St. Augustine, strengthened the garrison which
had been left in the tower of Tourelles, and the bulwark
erected at the head of the bridge. By these means the be-
sieged had a free communication with the river, and great
part of the garrison immediately passed over in boats to the
other side, in order to attack the bulwark erected upon the
Portereau.

Joan, who commanded the attack in person, advanced
with her consecrated standard before her at the head of her
men. But the English being supplied with fresh troops
from the next tower, made so brave a defence, that Joan
soon found herself abandoned by her soldiers, and almost
surrounded by the enemy. Brave as she was, she had no
other resource than that of a retreat ; but it was only to re-
animate her troops, whom she instantly rallied, and led back
with so much fury to the assault, that the bulwark was car-
ried by storm, and all the English that defended it were put
to the sword. On this occasion Joan shewed at once her
prudence and her bravery. The place she had just taken
was filled with provisions, and the baggage of the English
officers. She was afraid lest her soldiers, by employing
themselves in securing the booty, should give the enemy an
opportunity of retaking the bulwark ; she therefore ordered
the whole to be set on fire, and commanded all her men to
take their several posts, as if she expected every moment to
be attacked by the English. She had herself been wounded

P2

212 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

in the foot, and was therefore obliged to return that night to
Orleans.

She, however, continued no longer in the city than was
absolutely necessary. She rose early in the morning, and
crossed the river to her troops. On her arrival, she found
that the English had not only declined all attempts to regain
what they had lost, but had also abandoned several other
considerable posts, and drawn all their troops on that side
of the city within the Tourelles, and the bulwark that de-
fended it. Joan, after reconnoitring the works, proposed
immediately to attack both places, but was opposed by the
joint voice of all the French generals. They remembered
at how dear a rate the English had purchased these works ;
they represented, that the English could never have carried
these fortresses, had not their attempts been favoured by the
lowness of the river when they made the attack ; that there
were but two ways of approaching it, one by the bridge, the
arches of which were broken down ; the other by the river,
which was now too high to be forded. Joan, however,
slighted all these reasons and remonstrances with an air of
authority ; and the soldiers, who thought themselves invin-
cible under her standard, calling aloud to be led on by their
brave deliverer, the council was obliged to submit, and it
was accordingly agreed to make the attack immediately.

On a nearer and more accurate survey, Joan thought the
attempt both difficult and dangerous, though far from being
impracticable, and ordered the cannon to be placed on that
part of the bridge which had not been broken down. Some
of the archers were so desirous of beginning the attack,
that they swam across the river, and climbed to the top of
the ruined arch, in order to discharge their arrows with
greater effect. These precautions being taken, Joan or-
dered a violent cannonade to be made on both sides of the
river, under which she attacked the bulwark at the head of
her troops. The English made a noble defence. Joan was
wounded in the neck with an arrow at the beginning of the

JOAN D'ARC.

action ; she retreated for a moment behind the assailants,
pulled out the arrow with her own hands, exclaiming, " It
is glory, not blood, that flows from the wound !" and re-
turned in a few moments to the attack. The English still
made a gallant defence, and the Count de Dunois proposed
to give over the assault. But Joan was determined to carry
the place ; she flew again to the attack, mounted the bul-
wark sword in hand, and planted her victorious banner on
the ramparts of the enemy.

The walls of Tourelle were by this time totally ruined
by the artillery on the bridge, so that the place was imme-
diately stormed, and the greatest part of the garrison put to
the sword. The English had now lost above 6000 men in
these different actions; and, what was of still greater im-
portance to the enemy, their wonted courage and confidence
had forsaken them, and been succeeded by astonishment aud
despair.

Joan returned triumphant over the bridge, and was again
received as the guardian angel of the cky. She had now
convinced the most obdurate incredulity of her divine mis-
sion. Persons felt themselves animated as by a superior
energy, and thought nothing impossible to that divine hand
which so visibly conducted all their undertakings. It was
in vain even for the English generals to oppose the prevail-
ing opinion of supernatural influence ; they themselves were
probably infected with the same superstitious sentiments.
The utmost they dared to advance was, that Joan was not
an instrument of God, but a tool of the devil. The Eng-
lish, however, having felt by sad experience, that the devil
had sometimes power to prevail, derived very little consola-
tion from this opinion.

The Earl of Suffolk saw the danger that must attend his
army, if he suffered his intimidated troops to remain any
longer before Orleans, in the presence of such a courageous
and victorious enemy, and therefore raised the siege, and
retreated with all the precaution necessary in so critical a

KIRBY'S WONDEHFUL MUSEUM.

conjuncture. In the mean lime the French wisely deter-
mined to push their advantages, without giving the English
time to recover from their consternation. A body of 6000
men were detached to attack Jergeau, whither the Earl of
Suffolk had retired with a great part of his army. But the
spiritless condition of his soldiers rendered all attempts to
defend it vain and useless. Joan, who served as a volunteer
in this detachment, displayed her usual intrepidity. She de-
scended into the ditch in leading the attack, and there re-
ceived a blow with a stone upon the head, by which she was
felled to the ground. She soon recovered herself, and suc-
cess crowned the enterprise. Suffolk was obliged to surren-
der to a Frenchman, named Renaud ; but before he sub-
mitted, he asked his adversary whether he was a gentleman.
On receiving a satisfactory answer, he demanded whether he
was a knight. Renaud replied, he had not* yet obtained that
honour. " Then I make you one," replied Suffolk, and im-
mediately gave him the blow with his sword, and surren-
dered himself his prisoner. John Pole, the earl's brother,
was also taken prisoner, together with five hundred of the
garrison.

Lord Talbot now succeeded to the command of the
army. He retired, on raising the siege of Orleans, to
Meun, which he fortified, took possession of the town of
.Laval, and threw a reinforcement into Beaugenci. The
French, who now considered the overtaking of the English
equivalent to a victory, immediately determined to fall down
the Loire in boats, and attack those places, particularly
Meun and Beaugenci. This resolution was no sooner
adopted, than every loyal Frenchman seemed to be in arms;
even- the constable of France, who had long continued at
Parthenay, came to the camp, attended with a great train
of noblemen, and twelve hundred soldiers, in express dis-
obedience to the orders of Charles, who had dismissed him
from his service. The maid of Orleans was for arresting
him as a traitor ; but the other officers soon made her sen-

JOAN D AttC.

sible, tliat the present conjuncture was improper for taking
any step of that nature ; they even engaged to procure
Charles's consent that the constable should serve. Orleans
was appointed for the general rendezvous; and the con-
stable,,who still retained great authority in the army, pro-
mised Joan, that he \voulcl merit his master's forgiveness by
liis future conduct.

Every thing being now ready for the intended expedition,
the army fell down the Loire, and after taking Meun by as-
sault, invested the important town of Beaugenci. The
English, who had foreseen this, were extremely solicitous to
defend the place, and had therefore strengthened it with
the garrison of Ferre Hubert. But the siege was no sooner
formed, than they abandoned the town, and prepared to
defend the castle, together with the bridge. The French
soon assaulted both with great fury, and the bailiff Deve-
reux, who commanded in the castle, hung out a flag of
truce, and demanded a capitulation. The French readily
agreed to the offer, having learned that the Lords Talbot
and Scales, with Sir John Fastolf, had taken the field, with
a view of raising the siege of Beaugenci ; but finding that
to be impracticable, they marched to surprise the French
troops left at Meun. The capitulation of Beaugenci was
therefore no sooner signed, than the French troops inarched
back towards Meun, the bridge of which the English had
already attempted ; but being repulsed, were again returning
to the assault, when the van of the French appeared in
sight. Upon this the English drew off towards Jenville,
where they joined a body of five or six thousand of their
countrymen, sent by the Duke of Bedford to reinforce
them. The French, desirous of improving the panic of the
English, sent out a detachment to observe their motions,
and to harass them in their retreat ; while the main body of
the army followed by forced marches, and at last overtook
them at the village of Patay.

The French army greatly exceeded that of the English

216 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

in number ; but this was a consideration of so very little
moment, that it had never before affected the success of the
latter. On this occasion, however, their native courage
yielded to their fears. The prepossessions of the maid's
infernal alliance, now damped their spirits, unbraced their
nerves, and gave wings to their terror. Even the brave Sir
John Fastolf himself was affected with the epidemical panic ;
for, being placed in the first division, he fled as soon as at-
tacked; and the order of the garter was afterwards taken
from him for this instance of cowardice. The flight of Sir
John left the Lords Talbot, Scales, and Hungerford, toge-
ther with Sir Thomas Rampston, to sustain the whole fury
of the French attack. These, indeed, made a noble de-
fence, because they were above the weaknesses of their
countrymen ; but all their efforts could only suspend for a
few minutes, the total rout of their army, which was soon
completed with great slaughter. Nearly two thousand of
the English were killed upon the spot ; and among the pri-
soners were the Lords Talbot, Scales, and Hungerford, with
all the general officers who behaved like Englishmen. The
French immediately after the battle, made themselves mas-
ters of the strong fortress of Jenville, where the English
magazines, both of provisions and ammunition, were depo-
sited.

The loss of the battle of Patay struck the English with
such consternation, that they abandoned all the strong places
and passes they possessed near Orleans, and retired towards
Paris ; and Charles took the field in person, after ordering
a general rendezvous of his troops at Giac.

The maid had now performed one part of her promise to
Charles ; the siege of Orleans was raised ; but the other,
which related to his coronation at Rheims, was not yet ac-
complished. She appeared very uneasy at this, and ur-
gently requested, that he would immediately set out on that
enterprise. A few months before, a proposal of this kind
would have appeared the height of madness. The city

JOAN D'ARC. 217

where the ceremony was to be performed, lay in a very dis-
tant quarter of the kingdom, and was then in the hands of a
powerful, and, till very lately, a victorious enemy. Be-
sides, the roads leading to Rheims were occupied by the
English troops, so that no imagination, not filled with the
extravagant notions of supernatural assistance, could think
of such an attempt in the present conjuncture It was,
however, the interest of Charles to maintain the belief, so
happily propagated, of something extraordinary and divine
in those events, and to avail himself of the present conster-
nation of the English. He therefore resolved to follow
the dictates of this enthusiast, and to lead his army on this
romantic adventure. He accordingly set out at the head of
twelve thousand of his best troops, towards Auxerre, in his
way to Rheims. He proceeded to Troyes, where there
was a garrison of six hundred English and Burgundian
soldiers. The place was strongly fortified, the garrison
resolute, and Charles's army but ill furnished with provi-
sions, and still worse with artillery. These circumstances
had such weight in the council of war, that the greater part
were for abandoning the enterprise. They represented that
the distance to Rheims was yet thirty leagues, through a
country in possession of the enemy ; that Giac was the only
place whence they could draw any support, and that it
would be plunging into inevitable destruction to pursue
their march any farther. But the maid with invincible
spirit maintained the contrary, requesting they would leave
the whole management to her ; adding, that if she did not
reduce Troyes in three or four days, she would very readily
abandon the undertaking. This being agreed to, detach-
ments were sent out to all the neighbouring places to pro-
cure provisions for the army. These necessary precautions
being taken, Joan flew from corps to corps, to animate the
troops ; and at the same time ordered a large quantity of
fascines to be immediately procured for filling up the
ditches. The soldiers, animated by her presence, flew to

218 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

the charge, filled up the ditches, and mounted the walls,
under the discharge of a few field-pieces. The garrison
and inhabitants were amazed at this alacrity. Some consi-
dered the maid as divinely commissioned ; others as aided
by infernal spirits ; both equally contributing to increase the
first panic which had seized them when the French first
mounted the walls. Reduced to this extremity, the go-
vernor demanded a capitulation, which was readily granted
on his own terms. The inhabitants were pardoned for the
defection from their lawful prince, and they willingly re-
turned to their obedience.

This decisive advantage removed every difficulty that at-
tended the march of the French army. Chalons, the next
place of importance, made no resistance; and the city of
Rheims sent a deputation to the king with the keys of the
town, before the French approached the walls ; so that
Charles scarcely perceived, as he passed along, that he was
marching through an enemy's country.

Soon after his arrival in this city, the ceremony of his
coronation was performed with the holy oil, which a pigeon
had brought to king Clovis from heaven, on the first esta-
blishment of the French monarchy. The maid of Orleans
stood by the king's side dressed in complete armour, and
displaying her sacred banner, which had so often con-
founded and dispersed her fiercest enemies ; while the
people shouted with unfeigned joy on beholding such a
complication of wonders. As soon as the ceremony was
completed, the maid threw herself at the king's feet, em-
braced his knees, and with a flood of tears, extorted by ten-
derness and pleasure, congratulated him on the singular and
wonderful event, which she had foretold. This ceremony
had such a prodigious effect on the common people, that
they joined his standard in crowds ; while Laon, Soissons,
Chateau Thierri, Provins, and several other towns and for-
tresses in that neighbourhood, opened their gates, and re-
ceived him as their king.

JOAN D'AKC, * 219

The war was carried on with various success. Many
places were taken, and several skirmishes happened between
the detachments of the two armies. About this time the
Maid of Orleans declared to the Count de Dunois, that
having relieved Orleans, and seen the coronation of Charles
at Rheims, her wishes were satisfied : and she was now de-
sirous of returning to her former domestic tranquillity, and
spending the remainder of her days with her aged father, in
employments more suited to her sex and condition. But
the count, sensible of the great advantages that might yet be
derived from her presence in the army, exhorted her still to
persevere, and not abandon the cause she had undertaken,
till the English were entirely driven out of the kingdom.

These expostulations had the desired effect. The Maid
of Orleans agreed to continue in the army ; and immediately
threw herself into the town of Compeigne, then invested by
the Duke of Burgundy, assisted by the Earls of Arundel
and Suffolk. At her appearance the garrison thought them-
selves invincible, and determined to make a desperate sally
on the enemy, in order to open a communication with the
adjacent country. Accordingly, Joan put herself at the
head of five or six hundred men, and made so furious a
sally on the quarters of Luxemburg, the Burgundian gene-
ral, that she drove him from his post ; but pursuing her
advantage too far, a large party of the enemy advanced, and
cut off her retreat. Reduced to this extremity, she did
every thing in her power to favour the escape of her men,
many of whom retreated to the city. Had the officers of
the garrison made a brisk sally, this imprudent step might
perhaps have been rectified. But the French commanders,
finding every advantage they gained over the enemy, ascribed
wholly to her, remained within the walls, and suffered her
to be taken prisoner by Lionel de Vendosme, a Burgundian
officer.

This acquisition was considered by the English as a deci-
sive advantage. Te Deum was sung publicly at Paris.

220 KIHBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

The Duke of Bedford was persuaded, that by the captivity
of this extraordinary person, who had blasted all his hopes,
and laid his conquests in the dust, he should again recover
his former ascendancy over France. He therefore pur-
chased the prisoner from Lionel, in order to carry on a pro-
secution against her. In the mean time the Duke of Bur-
gundy, being obliged to repel an invasion in Brabant, left the
siege of Compeigne, with the greater part of his forces, and
the English not being sufficiently numerous to invest the
place, were forced to raise the siege with considerable loss.

While Joan continued a prisoner under Luxemburg, she
considered herself as in a place of safety, and might be either
ransomed or exchanged : but she no sooner heard of his
having treated with the English for the delivery of her person,
than she gave herself over for lost, and therefore endeavoured
to make her escape from the tower where she was confined,
by jumping from the very top to the ground. But the effect
of the fall was so great, that she was unable to walk, and
therefore easily retaken. Soon after this attempt she was
delivered up to the English, who sent her to Rouen, where she
was loaded with chains, and confined in the castle.

The English council thought it absolutely necessary that
the very idea of her virtue, and divine commission should, as
much as possible, be erased from the minds of the people,
and that the most proper method of doing this was to have
recourse to some religious prosecution. Accordingly the
bishop of Beauvais, in whose diocese she was taken, pre-
sented a petition against Joan, desiring she might be tried
before an ecclesiastical tribunal for sorcery, impiety, idolatry,
and magic. The university of Paris were also mean enough
to join in the same request. Joan was accordingly brought
in her military habit before the ecclesiastical court at Rouen ;
but though the trial lasted two months, and she was examin-
ed twice every week, they were not able to fix upon her any
crime that merited either imprisonment or death.

Historians have stated with great inaccuracy the proceed*

JOAN D'ARC. 221

ings of this extraordinary trial ; we shall therefore give a
circumstantial account of the result of Joan's various ex-
aminations. It is extracted from a manuscript in the French
national library, and is as follows : —

" At the age of thirteen," said she, " I heard a voice in
iny father's garden at Domremy, proceeding from the right
on the side of the church, accompanied with a great light.
At first I was afraid, but presently found that it was the voice
of an angel, who has protected me ever since, who has
taught me to conduct myself properly, and to frequent the
church. It was Saint Michael. I have also seen Saint
Gabriel, but never Saint Denys. I have also seen Saint
Catherine and Saint Margaret, who spoke to me, exhorted
me to go frequently to confession, and directed me in almost
all my actions. These two Saints appeared to me almost
daily, and often more than once in the same day. I have
seen them as distinctly as I see my Judges. I wept when
they left me, because I wished that my spirit might accom-
pany them. I spoke of these occurrences to no one except
to the Captain de Baudricourt and the king : not because I
was forbidden to do so ; but I feared, if it were known, that
my father, or the Burgundians of the neighbourhood, would
create obstacles to my departure.

" The angels were sometimes accompanied by many other
angels, for they come often among Christians. I have seen
them many times amongst them, although the others did not
see them. They have never written me any letters. I can
easily distinguish whether it is the voice of an angel or a
saint that speaks to me. They are generally accompanied
by a light, but not always. Their voices are soft and kind.
They spoke to me in French and not in English, because they
are on the side of the former. I have never failed to see the
two saints, even during my trial. The angels appeared to
me with heads in their natural shape. I see them and have
seen them with my own eyes. I am convinced of it as

KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

strongly as I believe that God exists. Both the saints were
always richly crowned.

" It is God who hath given them the form under which
they shewed themselves to me. I bent the knee to them,
and made reverences, joining my hands together; but I
never made offerings of flowers or of my hair, or burnt wax-
tapers to their honour, but in the church and before the
images of the holy saints who are in heaven, and never before
the tree of the fairies.

" Saint Michael hath appeared unto me under the shape of
a true and honest man. He certified that it was God who
sent the two saints to me, and that they only spoke to me by
his orders. I am sure that it was Saint Michael, from the
expressions he used, for it was the language of angels. I
cannot explain myself more particularly as to their appear-
ances. They had hair, and their faces were perfect. I
have often embraced the two female saints by the middle of
the body ; and when they left me, I kissed the earth where
they passed. I have been asked how I could prevent being
deceived, if a demon had presented itself to me under the re-
semblance of Saint Michael ? I answer, that after the proofs
I had, I could easily distinguish that saint from any other.
He hath never said any thing to me but what was good : he
hath instructed me rightly, and I believe in his words and
deeds as firmly as I believe that Jesus Christ suffered for
our redemption.

" It is true that there is at Domremy, as has been said, a
beech tree, which they call le beau Mai ou Varbrc des ftes,
and a spring in the neighbourhood where sick persons come
to drink to be cured of a fever ; but I do not know whether
they are relieved by it. Old people in the neighbourhood
say, that faihes formerly came to this tree. A woman said
that she had seen them. For myself I do not know whether
it be true or not, for 1 have never seen them. They also say
at Domremy that a mandrake is concealed in the earth near
1

JOAN D'ARC. 223

to this tree, who could discover hidden treasures; but I know
nothing more about it. The young girls are wont to amuse
themselves near this tree ; I have been there with others, but
I have neither sung nor danced, but have made nosegays for
the holy virgin of Domremy. However, since the age of dis-
cretion, and since I have seen the angels, and the holy saints,
I no more amused myself with these childish games. I
have neither had visions nor revelations- near this tree ; but
the two saints have appeared to me near the fountain, but I
do not recollect what they said to me at that time. There
is in the neighbourhood a wood, called the oak-wood, which
may be seen from my father's house ; and when I went to
find the king, they asked me if that were true, because they
told me that the prophetesses had foretold that there would
come from near the oak-wood a girl who would perform
wonders: but I have no other knowledge in this respect.

" Saint Michael informed me long ago of the calamities
which France would experience. He told me that I was a
good young girl, and that I should go to the king's assistance.
The two saints have also told me that I must go into France,
and cause the siege of Orleans to be raised, and render
great services to the king. I asked them how that could be,
as I was but a poor girl, and could neither ride nor fight.
They told me to go and find out the Captain de Baudricourt,
who commanded for the king at Vaucouleurs. I had only
quitted once my father's and mother's house, excepting as I
am going to inform you. My mother instructed me in religion.
She taught me the Pater Noster, which I repeat freely, and
which I never refused to do but once, in order to prevail
upon the Bishop de Beauvais to confess me. She also taught
me the salutation of the angels and the creed, which I re-
peated to my confessor. I was only employed in my father's
house in domestic affairs, and not out of doors, and but sel-
dom to take care of the flocks.

" 1 was obliged to go to Toul, on acount of a man's hav-
ing cited me before the magistrates, in order to oblige me to

224 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

marry him ; but I gained my trial, on affirming, as the truth
was, that I never promised him ; on the contrary, from the
first day that I had seen the two saints, I made a vow of vir-
ginity both as to body and soul between their hands, although
they did not demand it ; and they assured me that, if I kept
my vow, they would conduct me into Paradise,, for which
cause I do not believe myself to be in deadly sin, because if
I had that misfortune they would not have come and shewn
themselves to me. Therefore, if I observe my vow, I believe
as confidently in my salvation as if I were now in heaven.
Why do you ask me for what reason I confess having this be-
lief; I answer that I believe no person can purify his con-
science too much. In short, if I had committed a deadly
sin, it would be to my confessor that I would reveal it.

" About two years before I went to .seek the king, my
father dreamt that IT should one day join the army, which
made him watch me with extreme care, and keep me in the
greatest subjection during my youth. My father was so
much afraid of this, that he said he would hurt me sooner
than permit it, and he desired my brothers to do it if he failed.
I have always obeyed my father and mother in every thing.
I have only disobeyed them in this instance, and they have
never forgiven me since, notwithstanding the grief which
they felt on my departure, with which they were extremely af-
fected.

u It was one of my uncles who carried me to Vaucouleurs
to see the Captain de Baudricourt, for I was so resolved to
obey what was commanded to me on the subject from God,
that I would have preferred being torn in pieces by horses
sooner than not have obeyed ; and although I had had a
hundred kings for my father, I should nevertheless have gone,
seeing that the voices of the saints came from God, and as
they assured me that the king would receive and employ me
in his service, and because I was also as sure that they spoke
to me by the order of God himself, as I am of the truth of
the Christian religion, and that God has redeemed us from

JOAN D'ARC,

ihe torments of hell. I was yet more resolved to act in this
manner, because the two saints had assured me that the king
would recover his kingdom entirely, either by will or force.

" On entering the house of the Captain de Baudricourt, I
recognised him immediately from among those who were with
him, although I had never seen him before ; for the two
saints pointed him out to me. Notwithstanding what I told
him of the revelation which had been made to me, he twice
refused, at different times, to pay any regard to it ; but at
length, on the third visit, he made me set out, dressed iri the
habit of a man, as the voices of the saints had commanded
me, with a sword which he gave me, and caused me to be
carried to the king, attended by a knight, a squire and four
servants ; saying, as we parted, Farewell: go, come on it
what may.

" I add, that I have never wished to quit the dress of a
man, and I have refused many times to do it, before, as well
as since, my confinement ; because I did right in obeying my
sovereign master. If I have been confessed, or received the
communion in this dress in many large towns, T was never in
armour at the time. I have always had a woman to sleep
with me, and when I could not have one, I always lay down
entirely clothed and armed. On my arrival before the king,
I was examined and interrogated for three weeks at Chinon
and Poitiers. They wrote down all that I said. I wish that
my judges had it now before them.

" It was revealed to me that I should cause the siege of
Orleans to be raised. I assured the king of it, whom I re-
cognised at first, among those who surrounded him, although
I had never seen him before, by means of a vision which I
had that moment, accompanied with a great light. They
found at St. Catherine de Fierbois, in the place which I had
described after a revelation which the saints had made to me,
a sword concealed in the earth. It was entirely rusty, but
this disappeared all at once, without any superstitious cere-
VOL. vi. 9

226 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

mony being employed. This I wore a long time, and left it
at Lagni.

" I wished to prevail upon the Duke of Burgundy to make
peace with the king ; and I told the king that he would one
day compel him to do it, if the duke would not then consent ;
but it is true that I said at the same time that no peace was to
be made with the English, but that they must be compelled
to return to their own country.

" From this time I have done nothing but under the guid-
ance of the revelations which were made to me, and even
now upon my trial, I only speak, after it has been revealed to
me, what I may be permitted to say. You reproach me
with having commanded in battle, at the head of 6000 men,
of princes, of barons, and of nobles, as if I were their cap-
tain ; but if I have been a leader in the war, it was in obe-
dience to the saints and angels, and for that my reliance is in
God, as it is for all that I have done. For the rest I have
never practised any sorcery, or enchantment, or any thing
which has the least relation to either.

" If my standard, or the particular banners of my troops,
represented two angels supporting God, who held the world
in his hands, with the words Jesus Maria, the voices of the
saints pointed them out to me, and many persons advised me to
it. Nothing particular was done with respect to these colours,
and the angels were painted upon them in the same manner as
they are painted in churches. If I have often said that these
colours and banners were fortunate, it was not because I
pretended to attribute to them any particular virtue, but be-
cause I wished that they might be so, and to encourage the
soldiers : but without that, the two saints had assured me of
success. If I had been wounded in the neck at the siege of
Orleans, the two saints would have previously informed me
of it, and I should have told it to the king; but I was not
quite sure of being able to raise the siege, because they had
told me so.

JOAN D'ARC. '227

" If I have always borne my own standard myself I have
never had any other object in doing so but to avoid shedding
human blood. 1 have never, in fact, killed one man in
battle. If I have hung up my arms in the chilrch of St. Denys,
it was that I might thank God for not having been killed at
the attack of the city of Paris, where I was wounded, and
without having any other motive, much less that of exposing
them for public veneration. If many persons have kissed my
hands and my rings, they have done it in spite of me. I did
all that was in my power to prevent them1, and I only re-
ceived with pleasure poor persons who came to me, and
whom I consoled in the best manner that I could. As to my
rings, I never had but two, otic given me by my father, and the
ether by my brother, and I have never attributed dtly charm
or power to them.

" If there were any who did not approach me until they had
made the sign of the cross with holy vt'ater, I have said MJ
them, Approach without fear, I shall tootjly away. If one
Friar Richard has pressed me to adopt the revelations 6f a
woman whom he caused rtre to see, I have not believed in
them after having made the examination which I judged
necessary. If they have painted portraits of me, I have only
seen one, which represented me kneeling and presenting a
letter to the king. If they have made images or other repre-
sentations of me on paper, in lead, or any other metal; if they
have been worn suspended at the neck, if they have called me
a saint, if they have taken me for the first saint in Paradise
after the Holy Virgin, if they have taken me for an angel
father than a woman, if they named me ih church in theif
prayers, or if they have raised statues to my honour, as you
pretend, I know nothing at all about it. I am even ignorant
whether those who are on the king's side believe me sent by
God for the purpose of doing what I have ; but whether
they believe it or not, it is not the less tf he, since I have only
acted by Virtue of the revelations which have been made to
me.

228 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

" You ask me if I think that he, whom I call my king,
hath done right in putting the Duke of Burgundy to death.
I will tell you upon that point, that his death hath been a
great misfortune to France; but, whatever might exist be-
tween those two princes, God hath not the less sent me to the
assistance of the king of France.1 If^tny letters bear the
words Jesus t Maria, with a cross between them, it is what
the ecclesiastics advised me to ; and I will own to you, that
when I added another cross it was to indicate, for some secret
reason, that the contents of the letter should not be obeyed.

" If it be alleged, as the truth is, that the Count d'Armag-
nac wrote to me, desiring to know which of the three pre-
tenders to the papal chair he should obey, I made no other
answer to him than what is contained in the letter produced
to me, and which says, that I would inform him on my ar-
rival in Paris, to which of the three he should give credit, and
that by the counsel of my rightful and sovereign Lord, the
king of all the universe. I was upon the point of mounting
my horse. I had only time to write that I could not answer
him then, but would do it at Paris, which made it important,
because his messenger run the risk, if he did not immediately
return, of being thrown into the river. But I never wrote to
him on the subject of the three popes, other than that I al-
ways had been, and was now, subject to the Pope who was
at Rome.

" If it be alleged that I brought to life an infant at Lagni, I
will tell you how that happened. It gave no signs of life
for three days after it was born, and had not been baptized :
the girls at Lagni prayed for it before the image of the Holy
Virgin. The voices of the two saints said to me that, if I
went, life would be restored to it. I accordingly repaired to
the church, and saw the infant,, black as my tunic, and without
any motion. I joined the girls of the village, and prayed with
them. The infant revived — it appeared at first less black,
cried three times, was baptized immediately, and, dying, pre-
sently afterwards, was buried in holy ground ; but I have no

JOAN D'ARC. 229

other information on the subject, nor do I know whether they
attribute its being brought to life to me.

" If I called upon the people of Paris to surrender the city,
it was not to me that I called upon them to do so, as you al-
kge, but to the king. If 1 gave out that God loved the
French, but did not love the English, I never intended to
speak of the salvation of the latter, for I am totally ignorant
on the subject; but I said that God loved the King, the
Duke ol Orleans, and some others ; that is, I meant that he
would protect them, and I have said no more than what I
knew. I said, what I know well, that the will of God is that
the English should be driven out of France, and that God
would give victory over them to the French, because if the
English had success at the first, God only permitted it in
order to punish the sins of the French. It is certain, that a
day hath not yet elapsed, since the two saints told me that,
before the expiration of seven years, the English would be
in a still worse situation than they were at the siege of Or-
leans, and that they would lose more than they have yet lost,
for they would lose all that they have in France. I neither
know the day nor the hour, nor do they know any more than
I, but I am afflicted that it is so distant, yet, before the next
feast of St. Martin, the English will see many things. I
know, from the two saints, that before that time many of
them will be prostrate on the ground — I mean either wound-
ed or killed." (It is worth while to observe here, that Paris
submitted to Charles the Vllthin 1436, before six years had
elapsed after this prediction, and that the affairs of the Eng-
lish continued more and more to fall into disorder after the
death of Joan.)

" I also apprized M. the Bishop of Beauvais, that in un-
dertaking my affair he put himself in great danger, and as
you wish to know what the danger is, I will inform you. You
say that you are my judges. I do not know by what right
you are so; but take care that you judge not wrong ; for by
doing so, you will put yourselves in great danger, and I warn

230 KIRBY'S WONDE^FUI, MUSEUM.

you of it to the end, that if God will punish you for it, I have
done my duty in cautioning you. The saints never called me
the daughter of God but before the raising of the siege of
Orleans, and I never asked of them but three things : the
first was, to go into France ; the second, that God might aid
the French ; and the third, the salvation of my soul. They
promised me a fourth, which you cannot know for three
months yet." (Joan never told what this fourth was.) " I
have not been influenced by any motive of interest. What
roy brother may have received from the liberality of the king,
J did not ask from him. As tQ myself, I hud nothing more
than the state which, he provided for me, and the money
necessary to pay the soldiers. If I was engaged in military
business on certain holy days, as the nativity of the Holy Vir-
gin, it was because the service of the king required it. 1 was
informed by the two saints in the last Easter week (1430),
that I should be taken prisoner before the feast of St. John,
and not to frighten myself, but to submit, and that God would
aid me. This they repeated to me many times. I entreated
them to solicit for me death rather than confinement. They
ordered me to submit myself in all things, and that it must
be as they had said. From that moment I gave no more or-
ders, but obeyed the officers in all things, and if I had known
the day on which I should have been taken, I would not
Lave joined the sortie from Compeigne, where I was made
prisoner. Further, I have never prophesied events, nor
poured ointment upon infants toforetel their good or bad for-
tune ; and if I have held children at the baptismal font, I
have done nothing more than to give to the boys the name of
the king, and to the girls sometimes the name of Joan, as the
mothers desired.

" It is true that, after remaining for four months a prisoner
in the tower of Beaurevoir, I was in despair at learning that
I was about to be delivered up to the English, and that they
were coming to seize upon me. The fear which 1 had of
them, induced me, notwithstanding I was forbidden by the

3

JOAN I) ARC. 231

two saints, and iu spite of the height of the tower, to leap
down from the top, in order to save myself, by which I re-
ceived a severe wound. I was induced to it, because I pre-
ferred death to falling into their hands, but I still hope that 1
shall not perish. I recommended my soul to God, and crossed
myself before 1 took the leap. I did not think 1 should kill
myself in doing it, but I hoped to escape falling into the
hands of the English. When my senses returned, after the
fall, I did not, as you pretend, blaspheme God and the saints,
for I have never been in the habit of swearing. Saint Ca-
therine told me that Compeigne would be relieved" (this
was actually the case), " and that 1 ought to put on a good
countenance. She added, that I had committed a great sin
in thus precipitating myself from the tower, after she had
forbidden me ; but I confessed for it, and she assured me
that my sin would be forgiven. I know not what to answer
to your question, whether I believe myself capable to com-
mit mortal sin, except that I know nothing about it, and that
I refer myself entirely to God.

" There is not a single day that 1 do not hear the saints
speaking to me in my prison, and I follow their advice in every
thing, because they come to me from God, and I have never
said or done any tiling, up to this day, but by their direction.
They revealed to me, on the second day of my examination,
many things concerning the king, of which I much wish he
were informed. I deprived myself of drinking in wine the
king's health, according to what was said to me by the two
saints. I do not know whether they would, as you suggest to
me, charge themselves with informing the king of those
things. 1 am ignorant whether he has any revelations, but if
he has not, it is no doubt the will of God, and I have nothing
more to do with it.

" I will refuse always to answer upon any thing which re-
gards the king and queen of France. I have sworn to apeak
the truth, only with respect to what regards this trial, and

232 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

what relates to them forms no part of it, but* I am very cer-
tain that the king will recover the whole kingdom of France.

" You ask me if I believe myself in a state of grace in al-
leging that the just sin seven times a day? I answer, that if I
am not, I pray God to put me in it; and if I am, that he will
keep me so : for 1 would cboose death rather than not be in the
love of God ; but I believe that if I were not, the two saints
would not come to visit me, and I would desire that many per-
sons should hear them when they come to visit me. When I
have need of them, 1 pray to God that he will send them, ad-
dressing to him a prayer of this nature : — ' Most merciful God,
in honour of thy holy passion, 1 intreat, if thou lovest me,
that thou wilt reveal to me how I should answer these men
of the church. I know well how 1 came to take the habit I
wear, but am ignorant in what manner I should leave it off.
In this please to instruct me.' The saints then presently
appeared to me. They have always told me to answer you
boldly, arid that God would aid me. They told me also that
I should see the king of England, but I prayed that that
might be dispensed with.

" Saint Catherine has told me that I should be succoured.
I do not know whether this will be by delivering me from
prison now, or whether it will be done in case I should be
condemned ; but I presume that it will be one or the other.
The two saints have assured me, many times, that I shall be
delivered by a great victory ; they have commanded me to
take all that happens with submission, and not to disturb my-
self at my martyrdom, for that 1 should come at last into the
kingdom of Paradise ; and this they have told me absolutely
and plainly. For myself, I understand by my martyrdom,
the pains and adversities which I suffer by confinement. I
am ignorant whether I shall sutler greater punishments, but
I lely on God, and I believe as strongly that I shall be saved,
as if it were already doue, provided that 1 retain my vow of
virginity.

JOAN D'ARC. 033

w Why do you ask me if I have been promised that I
should escape from prison ? Would you wish me to speak
against myself? It has been told me, that 1 should be de-
livered, and to put on a joyful countenance : but I neither
know the day nor the hour.

" To conclude, I have never had any intercourse with evil
spirits ; I am a good Christian. I love God with all my heart,
obey him in every thing, and hate the devil so sincerely, that
although the saints have led me to hope for my deliverance,
yet, were it to be effected by means of the devil, I would not
leave my prison. To this I affirm and swear."

Hence it appears that her breast was still filled with her
enthusiastic notions. She persisted in the story of her heavenly
visitations, and was even extravagant enough to believe that
it was unlawful for her to reassume the habit of her sex, be-
cause she had been commanded by her saints to lay it aside.
She was therefore condemned as guilty of all the crimes of
which she had been accused, aggravated by that of heresy ;
her revelations were declared to be the inventions of the
devil to deceive the people ; and she was accordingly sen-
tenced to be delivered over to the secular power, in order to
be punished.

This sentence pronounced by men invested with the en-
signs of a sacred character, which Joan had been long ac-
customed to revere, banished all those ideal inspirations which
had so long supported her spirits, and her visionary dreams
of celestial intercourse gave way to the terrors of that pu-
nishment she was sentenced to endure. She therefore de-
clared herself willing to make a public recantation, to ac-
knowledge the illusion of those revelations which the church
had rejected, and never more to pretend to be inspired by
heaven. This recantation changed her sentence into per-
petual imprisonment.

The people w ere now no longer deceived, they saw that all
the pretended revelations and intercourses with the spirits of
departed saints were nothing more than the extravagant ima-

234 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

ginations of an enthusiastic brain. But the inveterate malice
of Joan's enemies was- not yet satisfied; nothing less than
her death could atone for her faults ; but this could not be
accomplished, unless she relapsed into some, at least, of her
former errors. There was great reason to suspect, that she
still thought it a crime to lay aside the habit she had worn
pursuant to her revelations. Her enemies therefore artfully
conveyed a suit of men's clothes into her room, and she was
found dressed in them the next morning. The court there-
fore declared her a relapsed heretic, and delivered her over
to the secular power, by which she was condemned to the
flames. Joan, who had fearlessly braved death in the field,
could not support the thought of meeting it at the stake. This
idea shook her whole frame, and banished that enthusiasm
•which had hitherto possessed her brain. She sent for her
confessor ; she prepared herself for death with a becoming
piety, and suffered her infamous sentence in the old market-
place at Rouen, in the year 143].

" Blessed be God!" were the last words that she uttered ;
her ashes were scattered to the winds, and thus ignominiously
perished in the thirtieth year of her age, a female, to whom
statues and altars ought to have been erected.

EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCE OF

A RAT BEING CAUGHT BY AN OYSTER.

A RAT, lately visiting a tub of oysters at the post office
in Falmouth, and whisking his tail between the open shells
of one of them, it closed upon him, and held him so firmly,
that he was prevented from escaping through his hole, and
was found in the morning with the oyster still holding fast of
his tail at the entrance of it.

La Belle Asscmbke, January, 1SOCX

SELF-TORTURE IN THE EAST INDIES. 235

Account of the singular Modes of Self -Torture, as practised
in different parts of the EAST INDIES, by the Devotees,
described by 'carious Travellers ; some having travelled in
one direction, others in a contrary one, a variation will
be found in their different Accounts, but in the whole of
them, there is enough to satisfy us, that such severities are
most surprising, when it is considered that thousands are in
the habit of devoting themselves to them during the whole
of their lives.

AN ACCOUNT OF

TWO FAKEERS, WITH A PORTRAIT.

BY JONATHAN DUNCAN, ESQ.

Extracted from the Supplement to Sir W. Jonetfs Works,
vol. II. page 834. , < •*• *

"I BEG leave to lay before the Society, the accom-
panying pictures of two Fakeers, now living at Benares,
which I had drawn there from life. The first is named Pu-
rana Poori, or (as usually pronounced in Hinduee) Praun
Poory, a Sunyassy, distinguished by the epithet Oordh-
bahu, from his arms and his hands beiug in a fixed position
above his head ; aud as he is a very intelligent man, and
has been a great traveller, he consented, in the month of
May, 1 792, to gratify my curiosity, by allowing to be com-
mitted to writing, by a servant of mine, from his verbal de-
livery in the Hindustan language, a relation. Praun Poory is a
native of Canouge, of the Khetry or Raujepoot tribe. At nine
years of age he secretly withdrew from his father's house, and
proceeded to the city of Bethour,on the banks of the Ganges,
where he became a Fakeer, about the time (for he cannot
otherwise fix the year), of Munsoor Ali Khan's retreat from
Delhi to Lucknow, and two or three years before the sack of
Maihura by Akoned Shah Abdalli, which two events are in
Scott's 'History of the Dekkan,' related under the years
1751-2 and I?o6; within which period he came to Allaha-
bad to the great annual meeting of pilgrims, where hearing of

S36 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

the merits attached to what he describes as the eighteen dif-
ferent kinds of tupisya, or modes of devotional discipline, he
made choice of that of Oordhbahu, above noticed ; the first
operation of which he represents to be very painful, and to re-
quire preparation by a previous course of abstinence.

" The name of the other Hindu Fakeer, or Brahinechary,
(whose picture reclining, in his ordinary position, on his bed
of iron-spikes, accompanies this), is PERKASANUJ*D ; and
he assumes the title or epithet of PURRUM SOATUNTRE,
which implies self-possession, or independence, and as his
own relation of this mode of life is not very long, 1 deliver an
English translation of it, as received from him in August,
1792, only observing that the Jo walla Mookhi, which he men-
tions to have visited, is not the one on the Caspian, but
another ; for there are at the least three famous places known
to the Hindus under this general denomination ; one near to
Naugercote, another (whither Praun Poory went) in the
vicinity of Bakee, arid the third (as I have been informed by
Lieut. Wil ford) at Corcoor,tothe eastward of the Tigris ; but
whether it be the first or last of these Jo walla Mookhisthat
Perkasanund visited, his narrative is not sufficiently clear to
enable me to distinguish ; neither are his general knowledge
and intelligence at all equal to Praun Poory's, which may ac-
count for his observation as to the difficulty of reaching the
Maun Surwur lake, whither not only Praun Poory, but
other fakeers that 1 have seen at Benares, profess to have
nevertheless penetrated, so that my present notice of Perkasa-
nund to the society, is principally, on account of the strange
penance he has thought fit to devote himself to, in fixing
himself on his ser-seja, or bed of spikes, where he constantly
day and night remains ; and, to add to what he considers as
the merit of his state of mortification, in the hot weather he
has often burning around him logs of wood ; and in the cold
season, water falling on his head from a perforated pot,
placed in a frame at some height above him ; and yet he
seems contented, and to enjoy good health and spirits.

SELF-TORTURE IN THE EAST INDIES. 23?

Neither do the spikes appear to be in any material degree
distressing to him, although he uses not the defence of even
ordinary cloathing to cover his body as a protection against
them ; but as the drawing exhibits an exact likeness as well
of his person as of this bed of seeming torture, I shall not
here trouble the society with any further description of either,
and conclude by mentioning, that he is now living at Benares
on a small provision that he enjoys from government."

STRABO, in his account of India, gives us two remarkable
instances of the voluntary severities which two of these gymno-
sophists inflicted upon themselves : the first, far advanced in
years, hoped to obtain heaven by lying constantly extended
upon the hard ground, without any covering, exposed to all
the fervours of a tropical sun, and without any shelter from
the drenching rains, which at particular seasons, descended
in torrents. The second, who was more in the vigour of
life, laboured to obtain the same immortal boon, by standing
on one leg for a whole day, and at the same time bearing
aloft, with both his erected arms, an immense piece of wood.

BALDJEUS, an excellent and authentic writer, who resided
many years in India, says, that beside their usual purifica-
tions, some of the Yogees carry huge iron collars about their
necks ; others travel about constantly encumbered with heavy
fetters and chains of the same metal, while sharp nails, with
their points terminating inwards, line their wooden slippers or
sandals. Others, he adds, have caused themselves to be
bound immoveably with strong ropes or chains to a tree, and
in that posture expired, after lingering for many months, in
the greatest torture ; and that, in 1657, he himself saw a
Yogee at Columbo, whose arms were grown together over
his head from being kept long erect in that posture.

Sancass Pooja, or Hindoo Lent, which lasts from the first
to the thirtieth of March, oil which last day the penance of

SS8 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

* /

the cherec, or wheel, is submitted to by the Yogee ; a
penance not the least painful and eccentric of those endured
in India, and which is thus described by Captain Hamilton,
who has given an engraving of the swing-machine on which
the penance is performed. *' On the coast of Canara," say*
our humorous Captain, whom the severe pains of the peni-
tents do not seem very sensibly to have touched, "several thou-
sands of people assemble in the middle of a grove, around a
shapeless black stone of 300 or 400 weight (it is the phallus
of Seeva,and the performers are rigid Saivites), besmeared with
red lead mixed with oil, to serve for a mouth, eyes and ears,
with a vase of incense burning before it, and a young virgin,
ten years old," (an Indian vestal, we must suppose, for few
are virgins in that warm climate after that aj.0, '* to attend
?.nd cherish the flame. Some priests, all naked, except a cloth
of decency, run and dance round the stone and fire for half
an hour like madmen, making strange distortions in their
faces, and now and then bellowing like calves. This was the
first scene. Those priests had previously erected a scaffold
about fifteen feet long, and as many broad, in the middle of
which was elevated a piece of wood about 20 feet high. In
the upper end of this beam was cut a notch, on which rested
a lever about forty feet long, and two cross beams at the end,
each four feet iu length, with a ropfe fastened to the ends, on
which the actors are to hang, and perform their parts. The
penitents were four in number; and presenting themselves
to the priests, the latter took two tenter hooks, exactly
such as the butchers in Britain use to hang their meat on,
And ilxed those hooks in the muscles of the back. The
hooks being fastened to the ropes at each end of the cross-
beams, the penitents were then drawn up into the air. They
are kept hanging by their backs in this manner at the distance
of ten yards from the ground, while hundreds of other de-
votees diagged the scaffold, which went upon wheels, about
a mile over ploughed gioui.d ; the suspended penitents all
the while swinging round in a circle, vi hence the name of

SELF-TORTURE IN THE EAST INDIES. 23Q

cherec, a circle, or wheel. They were then let down in a
bleeding condition, but both exulting themselves and amidst
the exulting acclamations of the spectators."

Mr. CRAUFORD, in his Sketches of Indian Mythology, men-
tions an Indian penitent, who, not long ago, finished mea-
suring the distance between Benares and Juggernaut with his
body, by alternately stretching himself upon the ground
and rising ; which he observes, if faithfully executed, must
have taken up some years to have accomplished.

One of the mahommedan travellers, who visited India iu
the ninth century, informs us that tl there are in India cer-
tain men who profess to live in the woods and mountains,
and despise whatever is considered valuable by the rest of
mankind. They go all their life-time stark naked, and suffer
the hair of their head and beard to grow till it nearly covers
their whole body. They religiously forbear to pare their
nails, so that they become pointed and sharp as swords ; and
around the neck of each is suspended an earthen porringer,
intended to contain the rice and other food which charity
may supply. They, for the most part, stand motionless as
statues, with their faces always turned to the sun."

Du HALDE, in his History of China, vol. I. describes
some of them considering all nature as contaminated, and the
earth itself labouring under some dreadful defilement, have
embraced the resolution of never touching the earth, and
cause themselves to be suspended aloft in cages upon boughs
of trees, to which elevation the admiring multitude raise the
scanty provision necessary to the support of the small portion
of life that animates their emaciated carcases. One among
the rest enclosed the trunk of his body in an iron case, while
his bead and feet alone were at liberty. In this situation be
could neither sit nor lie down at any time, and round the
cage were suspended a hundred lamps, which four other

240 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

Yogees, his Companions, lighted at certain times. Thus
walked he in his perpetual prison, as a light unto the world,
in his vain-glorious opinion.

Others bury themselves in pits hollowed in the ground,
with only a small hole left open at the top to breathe
through.

; ••n-,,.. it huirV.

These authentic accounts of the indifference which the de-
vout Indians feel at the severest inflictions of corporeal pain,
may strike Europeans with astonishment ; but they will not
those who have resided in India, and seen the Yogees assembled
under their sacred trees in acts of penance. For what will
not frantic superstition perform? In India, even women
themselves reject the natural softness and timidity of their
sex, with determined resolution brave the dreadful ordeal of
boiling oil, walk over plates of burning iron, and mount with
serenity the funeral pile : while the men, by nature more
daring and intrepid, perform such acts as can scarcely be
admitted for true, even by credulity itself. An instance or
two of this more desperate kind now lies before me in RE-
NAUDOT'S Arabian Travellers, which for resolution and
horror cannot possibly be paralleled among any nation of the
earth, except among the sanguinary savages who sing the
DEATH-SONG on the plains of America.

A certain person, determined, like Celauus, to sacrifice
himself alive in the flames, when he approached the altar,
drew out his sabre, and, with his right hand, gave himself a
wide and dreadful gash that reached from his breast far down
the abdomen, and laid bare his entrails to the view of the
spectators. He then, with his left, tore out a lobe of the
liver, which he cut off with the same sabre, and gave it to
one of his brothers who stood by, conversing all the time
with the utmost indifference, and #vhh apparent insensibility
to the torments that racked him. He then, with undaunted
countenance, leapt into the flames, and, without any visible
emotion, was burnt to cinders.

SELF-TORTURE IN THE EAST INDIES. 241

In the early periods, when these travellers visited India, it
was the custom of the Yogees of the mountains to dare
to acts of singular austerity those who lived in the plains.
Among others, there once came down a Yogee who called
upon the penitents of the plain either to follow the example
he was about to set them, or else to own their zeal and forti-
tude inferior. He sat himself down in a plantation of canes
which grew in the neighbourhood. These canes, say our
travellers, resemble our sugar canes, are supple, and bend
like them, have a large stem, and often grow to a vast height.
When bowed down by force, they obey the pressure without
breaking, but, as soon as the pressure is removed, they vio-
lently fly back, and regain their first rectitude. One of the
loftiest and largest of these canes, he ordered to be bent down
to his height, and fastened his long and bushy hair strongly to
the end of it ; then, taking his sabre, which from its keen-
ness, sparkled like fire, he severed it from his body, and it
mounted into the air. None of the spectators had resolution
to follow his example, and the mountaineers triumphed over
their brethren of the valley.

Dr. FRYER, an eminent physician, and Fellow of the
Royal Society, who was at Surat, about the time of Baldceus,
has also given a very ample and particular account of Indian
penitents, whom he visited under the great banyan-tree in its
neighbourhood. One of these penitents, he remarked, whose
iiails, by neglect, were grown as long as a man's fingers,
absolutely pierced into the flesh ; and another, whose bushy,
plaited, sun-burnt hair trailed upon the ground, being above
four yards in length. Some he saw with their arms so dislo-
cated, that, as the Doctor expresses himself, the joints were
inverted, and the head of the bone lay in the pit or valley of
the arm. In that situation they must necessarily be defraud-
ed of their nourishment, and hang down useless appendages to
the body ; so that unless relieved by charitable attendants,
which are numerous at these holy retreats, the sufferers must

VOL. VI. R

'243 tIRBY's WONDERFUL MUSEUMT.

perish, being totally unable to help themselves. Others),
lie observed, who kept their eyes immutably fixed on heaven,
like Pliny's gymnosophists, their heads hanging over their
shoulders, and incapable of being moved from that posture,
from (he stiffness contracted during a long uninterrupted
rest, by the tendons of the muscles and the ligaments of the
neck, so that no aliment nor liquid can possibly pass, and even
that, that is swallowed with much difficulty. Others by conti-
nued abstinence, were so emaciated, that they appeared like
walking skeletons. All were bedaubed with ashes, and
slept upon the lyare ground.

He gives two other remarkable instances of penitentiary
suffering ; the former of which will corroborate what was
before inserted concerning the penance between four fires,
under a meridian sun, and which must have appeared, to one
who has not been an eye-witness of these horrible exhibitions,
absolutely incredible.

" A Yogee had resolved," says our traveller, " for forty
days, to endure the purgatory of five fires-, the blazing sun-
above his head making the fifth. The solemn act was to
take place during a public festivity, and before an innumer-
able crowd of spectators. Early in the morning, the penitent
•was seated on a quadrangular stage, with three ascents to it.
He now fell prostrate, and continued fervent at his devotions
till the sun began to have considerable power. He then
rose, and assumed the position of the Yogee, as in his print
described, looking steadfastly at the sun, and standing on one
of his legs, while the other was kept in a bent posture drawn
up under him. In the interim," says our traveller, *' four
fires being kindled (either of them large enough to roast an
ox) at each corner of the stage, the penitent, counting over
his beads, and occasionally using his pot of incense, like
Scasvola, with his own hands increased the flames, adding to
ihem combustible matter by way of incense ; he then bowed
himself down, in the centre of the four fires, with his eye
still fixed upon the sun, and stood upon his head, his feet

IN THE EAST INblEj. 343

being bolt upright in the air for three hours ; after which, he
Seated himself cross-legged, and remained so all the rest of
the day, roasting between those fires, and bathed in the pro-
fuse exudation of his own grease."

" Three others of these devotees," according to Fryer,

¥< had made a vow not to lie down for sixteen years, but to

remain standing on their feet during that time. The elder of

them had completed the full period of his painful discipline;

of the two others, the first had passed five, the second three,

in that position. The legs of all three were swollen in a

dreadfui manner, and deeply ulcerated; but being unable to

support the weight of their bodies, they leaned upon pillows

Suspended on a string, which hung from one of the branches

of the banyan-tree.' He who had completed his penanfcpj

was afterwards entombed, in the same standing position, for

nine days, without taking any sustenance ; and, to prove that

he actually continued in his earthy bed, during all the nine

days, he caused," says our author, -£ « bank of earth to be

thrown up before the mouth of his cave, on which was sown

a certain grain, which ears exactly in nine days, and which,

in fact, did actually ear, before his removal thence." Fryer

saw the squalid figure of this penitent immediately after his

resurrection from his subterraneous prison."

M. SON NERAT was the eye-witness of many of these extra-
vagant penances on the coast of Coromandel. The follow-
ing particulars are the result of his observations and inquiries.
After having described some of their penances of inferior
note, he proceeds to remark —

" The Indians have, besides these, other mote rigid peni-
tents, whom fanaticism induces to quit friends, relatives, pos»
sessions, every thing in order to live a miserable life. The
majority are of the sect of Seeva. The only goods they
can possess are a lingatn, to which they continually offer their
adorations, and a tiger's skin, on which they sleep. They
exercise on their bodies all that a fanatic fury can convey to

244 KIBBY'g WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

their imagination : some tear their flesh with the strokes of a
whip, or fasten themselves to the foot of a tree by a chain,
which death only can break ; others make a vow to remain
all their lives in an uneasy posture, such as keeping the
hands shut, while their nails, which they never cut, in the
course of time pierce through them. Some are seen who
have their hands always crossed on their breasts, or lifted
above their licads in such a manner that they can no more
bend them, ^hese unfortunate people can neither eat nor
drink, without the assistance of some disciples who follow
them ; and it may be easily judged what they must suffer
during several years, to reduce their arms to this state of
inaction. Many bury themselves, and breathe only through
a little hole ; and it is wonderful, considering the time they
remain under ground, that they are not suffocated. Others,
who are less enthusiastic, are contented with burying them-
selves only up to the neck. Some are found, who have made
a , vow always to stand upright, without ever lying down ;
they sleep leaning against a wall or a tree ; and to deprive
themselves of all means of sleeping comfortable, they put
their necks into certain machines, that resemble a kind of
grate, which, when once they have riveted on, can no more
be taken off. Others stand whole hours upon one foot, with
their eyes fixed on the sun, contemplating that planet with the
most earnest application of mind. Others, again, observe
the same position, with one foot in the air, the other resting
only on tiptoe, and with both arms elevated ; they are placed
in the midst of four vases full of fire, and keep their eyes
intensely fixed on the solar orb.

" The number of these more rigid penitents is much
lessened since the Indians have been oppressed, and reduced
to a state of slavery. The only person of this kind I ever
saw, pierced his cheeks with an iron, which went through his
tongue, and was riveted on the other side of the cheek with
another piece of iron, which formed a circle underneath the
chin.

SELF-TORTURE IN THE EAST INDIES. 245

" The characteristic of these penitents is great pride, self-
love, and a belief that they are saints.

" The Indians have a feast of fire, during which the zea-
lous devotees amongst them walk on that element. It was
instituted in honour of DARMAH-RAJA, arid should be
more properly called a fast than a feast, for those devotees
are to refrain from food during all the eighteen days which
it lasts, sleep on the bare ground, and walk on a brisk fire.
On the last, or eighteenth day, they assemble to the sound
of instruments, their heads crowned with flowers, and their
bodies besmeared with saffron, and follow the image of
Darma-raja and Drobedehis wife, which are carried in pro-
cession three times round a fire, kindled to the honour of
those deities." After this, the devotees actually pass through
the fire, which M. Sonnerat asserts, is extended to about
forty feet in length, walking through the flames, slowly or
quickly, according to their zeal, and often, like the supersti-
tious votaries of Moloch, carrying their children in their
arms.

On those most holy festivals, on which their greater gods
are carried about on vast machines, drawn by several thou-
sand devotees, our author has seen fathers and mothers of
families, bearing also their children in their arms, throw
themselves headlong under the broad and ponderous wheels,
in hopes of gaining immediate admission into heaven, by so
exalted a fate as that of being crushed to death by the
chariot of the god. By these suicidal executions, he in-
forms us, the procession is never impeded, nor the people
shocked. The machine is drawn over the bodies of these
unfortunate wretches without emotion, and its weight, in
passing, pounds them unlamented to atoms.

The Account M. Sonnerat gives, in his " Voyage aux
Jndes Orientals," Tom. I. p. 244, of this practice, as pre-
vailing under the name of " Q^EDIL" on the Coast of

246 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

Corotttandel, at the Festival of the Goddess Mariatale.
He has given a large Engraving of a Scene of this
•nature — an exact copy of which we have also given.

" Those persons," he says, " who consider themselves ta
have obtained some distinguished benefits from Mariatale,
or wish to obtain such, make a vow to suspend themselves in
the air. This ceremony consists in fastening to the skin of
the devotee's back two iron hooks, attached to the end of
a long lever. This lever plays on the top of a mast twenty
feet from the ground. As soon as the devotee is fastened,
the opposite end of the lever is weighed down, and he is
hoisted aloft ; in this state, he is whirled round the circle as
many times as he directs. He is commonly armed with a
sabre and buckler, and gesticulates like a man in the act of
righting. Whatever he may suft'er, he must not betray hi*
feelyigs. If a tear escape him, he is driven from his caste;
this, however, very seldom happens.* He drinks a sufficient
quantity of some inebriating liquor, to render him almost
insensible to pain, and to lead him to regard this dangerous
adventure as a sport. After many circuits, he is let down ;
and is soon hea.led of his wounds. A speedy cure passes
fop a miracle among zealous worshippers of the goddess.
Brahmins never assist on these occasions, but hold the cere-
mony in contempt, — the worship of this goddess being con-
fined to, the lowest castes."

Dr. Carey in a letter dated from Mudnabatty, April 5lh,
1799, and inserted in the Baptist Magazine, Vol. J. page
593, says,-r\j

" The Hindoo worship lasts the three last days of the
old year and the first of tbe new year, and is performed in
honour of SEEB, Some reckon the preparation for it,
which begins seven or eight days earlier, to be part of the
worship it$elf\: it is, Ijpwever, distinct, and consists chiefly
in the healing of drums and other instruments, attended by
n number of people cailetj Bhoktars, or believers, who pa»

•f.

=

2.

SELF-TORTURE IN THE EAST INDIES. 247

the neighbourhood with dancing, odd dresses, and
gesticulations, begging money for the ceremonies that are to
follow, preparing articles, &c. But the four days first men-
tioned are the time that is employed in various forms of wor-
ship and self-torment. The first of the last three days of
their year, or of the month Chytre, is the day called Joi
Suuyas, on which dead bodies of men, if they can be pro-
cured, which is seldom a difficult matter, or if they are not
to be had, dead men's skulls, and pieces of the wood whicli
was employed in burning the dead, are brought near to a
house of Seeb and Kallee, where they are placed in the form
of an offering. After a little time, a number of the Bhok-
tars appear, dressed some as women, others with a kind of
horrid vizors, like digitated crowns, put over their faces;
others disfigured with paint ; some with artificial hair, or
hemp, or a bunch of ropes, like a mop, on their heads.
Some have artificial tongues, made of sackcloth, reaching to
their feet; and others go with their tongues put out of their
mouths as far as possible. Some of these men have swords;
others khorgos, a kind of crooked weapon of war ; others
take up a piece of wood before-mentioned ; others a skull ;
and others have earthen pots iu their bare hands, containing
a small quantity of wood, which is oiled and kindled. Tak-
ing oil into their mouths, they spirt it at intervals into these
pots of fire, which makes a horrid blaze, and is thus kept up
for some hours. It is accounted to be a wonderful interpo-
sition of Seeb, that their hands are not burnt, nor even the
wood in the pot ; but the oil preserves the wood and hands
too, I suppose, as they are well oiled all the time. After thus
dancing and parading about with these bones, &c. the dead
bodies, bones, wood, &c« are carried to a river, or other
water, where they are thrown in. The people bathe, and
all go home ; but towards the close of the night, they meet
again, make a large fire, and dance upon the coals.

" The second day is called Neel, on which day they fast
more severely than on any of the other days ; for on all these

248 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

days they eat nothing boiled, but on this day they eat nothing
but meal of wheat or barley, and drink nothing. In the
evening, a burnt-offering is presented to Seeb, of Sesanuni
seed and Ghee, or leaves of the Beal tree, Caeteva Mar-
melos, mixed with Ghee, which concludes the worship of
the day.

'< The third day is employed in various kinds of torture — *
as falling from a stage on iron spikes, dancing with threads
of bamboos drawn through their sides, or spits through their
tongues. The first of these is called Pat Bhanga, the second
Parso Ban, and the third Zoobha Ban. But as none of
these modes are practised in this neighbourhood, the people
here end the worship by swinging, which is not performed
till the second day in the southern parts.

" The trees are first erected in an open place, and the
bamboo, which turns horizontally, is fixed on them, so as to
turn freely, and a rope is suspended from each end. After
this, an offering is made to Seeb, at the bottom of the tree,
by a man who, though not a Brahman, yet acts as a priest on
this occasion. He begins by laying the different articles in
order at the foot of the tree, or upright post. This consists
of rice, beaten from the husk, but boiled, a wild edible herb
called sanchee — though I suppose other herbs may be used
— a bunch of plantain, some water, and two young pigeons.
A coal of fire is then procured, and a small quantity of
dhoona, or Indian pitch, thrown on it ; on this, some small
quantity of the rice and herb; after this, the man who
officiated as priest, seemed as if in prayer, quite silent, and
then put a sprig of the plant upon his own head, where he
let it remain about a minute. The person who is to swing
is all this time apparently engaged in prayer, with the hooks
placed under his feet. The heads of the pigeons are then
pulled off, one after ^the other, by the priest, and the blood
made to run down the bottom of the tree, which concludes
the consecrative offering.

" The man who is to swing then prostrates himself before

SELF-TORTURE IN THE EAST INDIES.

the tree, and a person makes a mark with his dusty fingers,
where the books are to be put. Another person immedi-
ately gives him a smart clap on one side of the back, and
pinches up the skin hard with his thumb and fingers, while
another passes the hook through, taking hold of about an
inch of the skin — the other hook is then in like manner put
through the skin of the other side of the back, and the man
gets up on his feet. As he is rising, some water is thrown in
his face. He then mounts on a man's back, or on some
other eminence, and the strings which are attached to the
hooks in his back, are tied to the rope at one end of the hori-
zontal bamboo, and the rope at the other end is held by
several men, who, drawing it down, raise up the end on
which the man swings, and by their running round with
that rope, the machine is turned. In swinging, the man
describes a circle of about thirty feet in diameter ; and he
carries a basket containing the herbs before offered to Seeb,
which are thrown down by handfuls; but I saw nobody
pick them up.

" Only two men swung this year, at this place, and one of
them only five minutes ; the other swung a quarter of an
hour, and smoked his hooka as he was whirled round. In less
than two days, I examined his back, which was quite well,
and scarcely a mark of the hooks left. I saw a man, when
he descended, chew some piper betel, the juice of which he
injected from his mouth into the wounds ; he then applied
two leaves of the same plant, and tied on a cloth ; no other
application was used, except a squeezing up of the wounds
with the hand, and setting the knee of another man against
his breast, which he pushed hard, holding his shoulders
by his hands. I asked the man if the pain was not great :
He said no — it was much like the bite of an ant."

In page 28, Mr. Thomas says — " The two iron flesh-
hooks pass through the integuments on each side the back-
bone, and they are suspended above forty feet in the air, and

350 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

are twirled round for a considerable time, which he bears
without any expression of pain or impatience. Whatever he
throws down of fruit, or the like, is caught up with great
avidity, and counted sacred. Sometimes the skin has given
way, and the person has been dashed to pieces : so now, in
all that I have seen, cloth has been passed round the middle,
for the hooks to hold by with the skin. The ceremony may
be seen in almost every town once a year.

WIDOWS BURNING WITH THEIR HUSBANDS.

.

This inhuman practice at present prevails most in the
Mahratta dominions, and in the countries of the ancient
Rajahs, where instances of the kind are frequently to be met
with. Their law says, " It is proper for a woman to bum
herself with her husband's corpse;" and the Bramins teach,
that those who burn themselves with their husbands, shall be
exalted to the Suttee, or high sphere, where the god Brhima>
and bis particular favourites reside.

A number of instances have been given to the public by
Europeans who have been witnesses to the miserable scene.
Two cases may give the reader of these sheets some idea of
the barbarous rite: the first is thus described by Mr. 1 lodges.

" The first person whom I saw was of the bhyse (or mer-
chant) cast ; upon my repairing to the spot on the banks of
the river, where the ceremony "was to take place, 1 found the
body of a man on the bier, and covered with linen, already
brought down, and laid at the edge of the river. At this
time (about ten in the morning) only a few people were
assembled, who displayed the most perfect apathy and indif-
ference at the catastrophe that was to take place. After
waiting a considerable time, the wife appeared, attended by
the Bramins, and masie, will* some few relations. The pro-
cession was slow and solemn ; the victim moved with a
steady and firm step, and, apparently, with a perfect com-
posure of countenance, approached close to the body of her
hustaiid, where, for some time, they halted. She then ad-

SELF-TORTURE IN THE EAST INDIES.

dressed those who were near her with composure, ami with-
out the least trepidation of voice or change of countenance.
She held in her left hand a cocoa-nut, in which was a red
colour mixed up, and dipping in her fore-finger of her right
hand, she marked those near her to whom she wished to shew
the last act of attention. As at this time I stood close to
her, she observed me attentively, and with the colour she
marked me on the forehead. She might be about twenty-
four or five years of age, a time of life when the bloom of
beauty has generally fled the cheek in India; but she still
preserved a sufficient share to prove she must have been,
handsome : her figure was small, but elegantly turned ; and
the form of her hands and arms was particularly beautiful.
Her dress was a loose robe of white flowing drapery, that
extended from her head to her feet. The place of the
sacrifice was higher up on the bank of the river, one hundred
yards or more from the spot where we now stood. The
pile was composed of dried branches, leaves, and rushes,
with a door on one side, and arched and covered on the top;
by the side of the door stood a man with a lighted brand.
From the time the woman appeared, to the taking up of the
body to convey it to the pile, might occupy a space of half
an hour, which was employed in prayer with the Brainios,
in attention to those who stood near her, and conversation
with her relations. When the body was taken, up she fol-
lowed close to it, attended by the chief 13 ram in ; and when
it was deposited in the pile, she bowed to all around her,
and catered without speaking. The moment she entered,
the door was closed, the lire was put to the combustibles,
which, uistautly inflamed, and immense quantities of dried
wood and tuhtr matters were thrown upon it. This last
part of the ceremony was accompanied with the shouts of
the multitude, which now became numerous, and the whole
seemed a mass of confused rejoicing."

Hodges' Travels in India, p. 81—83.

254 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEJJM.

A second instance, more dreadful than the former, is con-
tained in a letter from Father Martin, a Jesuit missionary
in Madua : —

" The prince of Marava dying in 1710, his wives, to the'
number of FORTY-SEVEN, were burned with his corpse in the
following manner : — They digged a deep ditch without the
town, and in it erected a pile of wood, on the top of which
the deceased was laid, richly clothed and adorned ; when
they had set this on fire, with a world of ceremonies per-
formed by the Bramins, that company of unfortunate women
appeared, covered with jewels, and adorned with flowers,
like so many victims designed for the sacrifice. They walked
several times about the pile, the heat of which was perceived
at a great distance. The chief of them having addressed
the successor of the late prince, resigned the dagger of the
deceased into his hands, who took it without shewing the
least sign of grief or compassion. Alas ! said she, what
farther comes of all human happiness ! I am sensible I am
throwing myself headlong into hell ! These words struck
all the spectators with horror. She had a Christian woman
in her service, who frequently discoursed with her concerning
the truths of revealed religion, in order to persuade her to
embrace Christianity, but without success. She having
spoke thus, boldly turned her face to the pile, and calling up
her gods, flung herself into the midst of the flames. The
second of these women was the sister of Raya, a prince of
the blood, who assisted at that detestable ceremony : when
he received the jewels from his sister, with which she was
adorned, he broke out into tears, and embraced her most
tenderly: she seemed moved at it; and with a resolute
countenance, looked some time at the pile, sometimes at the
assistants, cried with a loud voice Sheeva, Sheeva, which is
the name of one of her idols, and threw herself in the midst
of the flames, as the first had done. The other women
followed her soon after ; some of them appeared composed,

SELF-TORTURE IN THE EAST INDIES.

and others cast down and bewildered. One of them, frighted
above the rest, ran to a Christian soldier, who was present,
and begged of him to save her ; but he, stunned with sur-
prise, pushed the unfortunate creature from him into the
glowing pit) and retired immediately, but so terrified, that he
soon fell ill of a fever and frenzy, of which he died the night
following. Whatever intrepidity some of these women dis-
covered at first, yet, as soon as they felt the flames, they
roared out in a most dreadful manner, and tumbling over
each other, strove to gain the brim of the pit ; but in vain,
for the assistants prevented it, by throwing upon them large
pieces of wood. The next day the Bramins gathered their
bones, which they threw into the sea. The pit was levelled,
a temple built on the spot, and the deceased prince, with his
wives, reckoned among the deities."

Propagation of Christianity, Vol. II. p. 156.

Mr. Carey describes another burning of a widow, that
he was witness to, page 26, Vol. II. of the Baptist Mis-
sionary Society, he says —

" As I was returning from Calcutta, I saw the Saha-
moran, or a woman burning herself with the corpse of her
husband, for the first time in my life. We were near the
village of Noya Serai. [Rennel, in his Chart of the Hoogly
river, spells it Nieserai.] As it was evening, we got out of
the boat to walk, when we saw a number of people assem-
bled on the river side. I asked them for what they were
met? and they told me, to burn the body of a dead man.-
I inquired, whether his wife would die with him ? They
answered, yes ; and pointed to the woman. She was
standing by the pile, which was made of large billets
of wood, about two feet and a half high, four feet long,
and two wide, on the top of which lay the dead body of
her husband. Her nearest relation stood by her, and near
her a small basket of sweetmeats, called kivy ; I asked them, ,
whether this were the woman's choice, or whether she was
1

254 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL

brought to it by any improper influence. They answered,
that it Mas perfectly voluntary. I talked till reasoning was
of no use, and then began to exclaim with all my might
against \vhat they were doing, telling them it was a shocking
murder. They told me it was a great act of holiness, and
added in a very surly manner, that if I did not like to see it,
1 might go further off, and desired me to go. I told them
that I would not go ; that I was determined to stay and see
the murder, and that I should certainly bear witness to it at
the tribunal of God. I exhorted the woman not to throw
' away her life ; to fear nothing, for no evil would follow her
refusing to burn. But she in the calmest manner mounted
the pile, and danced on it, with her hands extended, as if in
the utmost tranquillity of spirit. Previous to her mounting
the pile, the relation whose office it was to set fire to it, led
her six times round it, at two intervals ; that is, thrice at each
circumambulation. As she went round, she scattered the
sweetmeats above-mentioned among the people, who picked
them up, and eat them as very holy things. This being
ended, and she having mounted the pile and danced as
above mentioned, (which appeared only designed to shew
us her contempt of death, and to prove to us her dying was
voluntary), she then bid down by the corpse, and put one
arm under his neck, and the other over it; when a quantity
of dry cocoa leaves, and other substances, were heaped over
them to a considerable height ; and then ghee, or melted
preserved butter, poured on the top. Two bamboos were
then put over them, and held fast down, and lire put to the
pile, which immediately blazed very fiercely, owing to the
dry and combustible materials of which it was composed;
No sooner was the fire kindled, than all the people set up a
great shout, " Hurree Bol, Hurree BoH" which is a com-
mon shout of joy, and an invocation of Hurree, the wife of
Hur, or Seeb. It was impossible to have heard the woman,
'bad she groaned, or even cried aloud, on account of the mad
noiae of the people ; and it was impossible for her to stir

MfeLANCHOLV SHIPWRECK.

or struggle, on account of the bamboos which were held
down upon them, like the levers of a press. We made
much objection to their using these bamboos, and insisted
that it was using force to prevent the, woman getting up
when the fire burnt her. But they declared it was only
done to keep the pile from falling down. We could not
bear to see more, but left them, exclaiming loudly against
the murder, and full of horror at what we had seen."

At page 241 of the same volume, Mr. Ward in his jour-
nal, says, " Some suppose that 30,000 widows are burnt
annually, with the bodies of their husbands."

MELANCHOLY SHIPWRECK

OF THE HARPOONER,

* f
WITH THE WONDERFUL PRESERVATION OF MANY OF

THE CREW AND PASSENGERS, BY MEANS OF A DOG
CARRYING A ROPE TO THE ROCKS.

THE following affecting narrative of the melancholy dis*
aster, has been sent by one of the survivors : —

" On the 26th of October, 18 16, detachments of the 4th
Royal Veteran Battalion, and their families, with a few be-
longing to other corps in Canada, in all 380, embarked on
board the ship Harpooner, Joseph Bryant, master, and sailed
from Quebec on the afternoon of the 2?th, bound to Dept-
ford, in charge of Capt. Prime. On the passage to the
Gulph of St. Lawrence, moderate weather and favourable
winds prevailed ; but on arriving in the Gulph, the weather
proved boisterous, and the wind contrary ; not a sight of
land, nor an observation of the sun, could be depended
upon for several days. On Sunday evening, Nov. 10J a few
minutes after nine o'clock, the second mate, on watcb,
called out " The ship's aground ;" at which time she lightly
struck on the outermost rock of St. Shotts, in the Island of
Newfoundland. She beat over, a«d proceeded a short dis-
tance, when she struck again, and filled. Encircled among

256 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

rocks, and the wind blowing strong, the night dark, and si
very heavy sea, she soon fell over on her larboard beam-
ends ; and, to heighten the terror and alarm, it was perceived
a lighted candle had communicated fire to some spirits in the
master's cabin, which, in the confusion, was with difficulty
extinguished. The ship still driving over the rocks, her
masts were cut away, by which some men were carried over-
board. The vessel drifted over near the high rocks towards
the main. In this situation every one became terrified, the
suddenness of the sea rushing in, carried away the births and
staunchions between decks, when men, women, and chil-
dren were drowned, and many were killed by the force with
which they were driven against the loose baggage, casks,
and staves, which floated below. All that possibly could,
got upon deck ; but, from the crowd and confusion that
prevailed, the orders of the officers and master to the soldiers
and seamen were unavailing ; death staring every one in the
face — the ship striking on the rocks as though she would
instantly upset ! The screeching and pressing of the people
to the starboard side was so violent, that several were much
hurt. About eleven o'clock the boats on the deck were
washed overboard by a heavy sea ; but even from the com-
mencement of the disaster, the hopes of any individual
being saved were but very slight ; and from this circum-
stance, combined with it appearing that the bottom of the
ship was separating from the upper deck, while the surf
beat over her most violently, it was considered as impossible.
From this time until four o'clock the next morning, all on the
wreck were anxiously praying for the light of day to break
upon them ; the boat from the stern was lowered down,
when the first mate and four seamen, at the risk of their
lives, pushed off to the shore ; they with difficulty effected
a landing upon the mam land, behind a high rock, nearest
to where the stern of the vessel had been driven. They
were soon out of sight, and it was feared they were lost ;
but it was so ordained by Providence, these deserving men,

MELANCHOLY SHIPWRECK. 257

HI scrambling up the rocks, made their appearance. They
hailed us from the top, and reported their situation; saying
to return was impossible, as the boat was staved. The log-
line was thrown from the wreck, with a hope that they might
lay hold of it; but darkness, and the tremendous surf that
beat, rendered it impracticable. During this awful time of
suspense, it occurred to the master the possibility of sending
a line to them by a dog. The animal was brought aft, add
thrown into the sea with a line tied round his middle, and
with it he swam towards the rock upon which the mate and
seamen were standing. It is impossible to describe ilie
sensations which were excited at seeing this faithful dog
struggling with the waves, and, reaching ihe summit of the
rock, dashed back again by the surf into the sea, until, at
length, by his exertions, he arrived with the line ; one end
of which being on board, a stronger rope was hauled and
fastened to the rock, and by this rope the seamen were ena-
bled to drag on shore from the wreck a number of souls.
At about six o'clock in the morning of the 1 1 th, the first
person was landed by this means; and afterwards, by an im-
provement in rigging the rope, and placing each individual
in slings, they were with great facility extricated from the
wreck; but during the passage thither, it was with the ut-
most difficulty that the unfortunate persons could maintain,
their hold, as the sea beat over them ; some were dragged
to the shore in a state of insensibility. Lieut. Wilson was.
lost, being unable to hold on the rope with his hands ; he
was twice struck by the sea, fell backwards out of the slings,
and after swimming for a considerable time amongst the
floating wreck, by which he was struck on the head, he pe-
rished. ^M any who threw themselves overboard, trusting tcr
their safety" by swimming, were lost; they were dashed to
pieces by the surf on the rocks, or by the floating of the
wreck. About half past one o'clock, on the afternoon of
the llth, about thirty lives were saved by the rope, several
of whom were hurt and maimed. At this period the sea
VOL. vi, s

KIBW'S WONDEBFUL MUSEUM.

beat incessantly over the wreck, and it being evident the
deck was separating, the only means of saving the distressed
sufferers failed. For the rope, by constant work, and by
swinging across the sharp rock, was cut in two. From that
hour, there being no means of replacing the rope, the spec-
tacle became more terrific than ever ; the sea beating over
the wreck with greater violence, washed numbers overboard ;
their heart-rending cries and lamentations were such as can-
not be expressed, — families, fathers, mothers, and children,
clinging together ! The wreck breaking up, stern from mid-
ships and forecastle, precipitated all on it into one common
destruction. Under these melancholy circumstances, 206
souls perished, and the survivors have to lament the loss of
dear relatives and friends. The officers and men of the
Hoyal Veteran Battalion, who were returning home after a
long and arduous service in Canada, and other remote cli-
mates, have now lost their all — the savings of many years,
which they had looked upon with a pleasing hope of making
themselves and their families comfortable with, on retiring
from the service of their king and country. By this unfor-
tunate event the orphan daughter of Surgeon Armstrong
lost her father, mother, brother, and two sisters: and the
wife and surviving daughter of Lieut. Wilson are left wholly
destitute. The disaster was so sudden and unlooked for,
that not an article of baggage was saved ; not even money,
of which some had considerable sums, the produce of their
effects sold at Quebec, which were paid for in guineas, on
account of bills of exchange being attended with a loss of
seven and a half per cent. : for immediately after the ship
struck, she bilged and filled, drowning some who, from mo-
tives of humanity, attempted to secure articles of dress for
the distressed females, who were hurried on deck in an un-
dressed state. The rock which the survivors were landed
upon, was about 100 feet above the water, surrounded at
the flowing of the tide. It being high water soon after the
latter of them was saved, it was found impossible for these

MELANCHOLY SHIPWRECK.

distressed objects to be got over to the main land until the
next morning ; on the top of this rock they were obliged to
remain during the whole of the night, without shelter, food,
or nourishment, exposed to wind and rain, and many with*
out shoes. The only comfort that presented itself was a
fire, which was made from pieces of the wreck that had
been washed ashore. At daylight on the morning of the
12th, at low water, their removal to the opposite land was
effected, some being let down by * rope, others slipping
down a ladder to the bottom. After they crossed over, they
directed their course to a house or fisherman's shed, distant
about a mile and a half from the Wreck, where they remained
until the next day; the proprietor of this miserable shed
not having the means of supplying relief to so considerable
a number as took refuge, a party went overland to Trepassy,
about fourteen miles distant, through a marshy country, not
inhabited by any human creature, and the footpath through
a morass. This party arrived at Trepassy, and reported the
event to Messrs. Jackson, Burke, Sims, and the llev. Mr.
Brown, who immediately took measures for assisting the dis-
tressed, by dispatching men in their employ with provisions
and spirits, to assist in bringing all those forward to Tre-
passy who could walk. Necessity prompted many to under-
take this journey barefooted ; the hardships and privations
which they were enduring were so excessively great. On
the iSth, in the evening, the major part of the survivors
(assisted by the inhabitants, who during the journey carried
the weak and feeble upon their backs), arrived at Trepassy,
where they were billeted by order of the magistrate, proper-
tionably upon each house. There still remained at St.
Shotts, the wife of a secjeant of the Veteran Battalion, who
was delivered on the top of the rocks shortly after she was
saved ; the child and herself are doing well. A private
whose leg was broke, and a woman severely bruised by the
wreck, were also necessarily left there. Immediately after
the arrival at Trepassy, measures were adopted for tlitf com-

260 KI«BY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

fort and refreshment of the detachment, boats were provided
for their removal to St. John's. This being effected, his
Excellency Admiral Pickmore, the governor, Major King,
commanding the troops, the merchants and gentlemen of
St. John's, most promptly and generously came forward in
the most handsome manner to the relief of the surviving
sufferers. After remaining ten days at St. John's, refitting
the distressed with clothing and necessaries, his Excellency
the Admiral chartered the Mercury, of Poole, to bring them
to Portsmouth. On this melancholy circumstance, it is but
justice to mention, that Mr. Joseph Bryant, master, Mr.
Atkinson, mate, and the seamen of the Harpooner, deserve
great credit for their unceasing exertions ; to their labour,
those that came on shore by the rope, in a great measure
owe their safety." Observer, Dec. 22, 1816.

BEES FOUND IN A STONE.

AN extraordinary discovery in Natural History was made
at Liverpool about a fortnight ago. As one of the stone-
masons in the employ of the Dock Trustees, was dressing,
on the sea wall of the Regent's Dock, a huge stone, brought
from the Western Point Quarry, and after he had broken a
considerable thickness from its outside, he discovered, in a
hole of small diameter, which was partially filled with clay,
and a loamy sand, three bees, in a state of animation, to the
inexpressible astonishment of himself and fellow-workmen,
many of whom were witnesses of this strange phenomenon.
The foreman of the works put them into his handkerchief,
where they remained for several hours afterwards ; but,
while exhibiting his newly resuscitated strangers, two of
them flew away, and he voluntarily gave the third its liberty.
These bees are described to us as having been of the drone
species. We have questioned the person as to the truth of
«o singular a statement, and he affirms, that they were found

BEES FOUNT) IN A STONE.
in the interior of the solid stone, as we have described above

'" i t * f

without any perceptible communication from without.
Toads, and other similar animals, have been found, in a
living state, in situations equally extraordinary ; but we
never heard before of any of the winged tribe being incased
in -the he-art of a solid stone. The discovery is singular,
aud will furnish matter of curious speculation to the natu-
ralist and the philosopher.

Lnerpool Advertiser. Times, Nov. 24, 1817.
The following statement will probably elucidate this
strange phenomenon : — As soon as we heard of the above
circumstance, which occurred on Saturday, the 1st ult. we
went on the Tuesday morning following, to inspect the
stone in which the bees, as they are called, had been lodged ;
but it had, about an hour before, been put into the .barge,
for the purpose of being taken to another part of the dock.*
In our inquiries of -Mr. Dowell, the master mason, the per-
son who had the bees in his possession, whether any crevice
had been observed outside of the stone, by which they could
have gained access to the abode in which they were found ;
he could give us no certain information on this point, nei-
ther negatively nor affirmatively. But he shewed us a stone
of the exact description of the one in question, in which
there was what he called " a sand-hole," filled with loamy
sand, which extended from the surface to the depth of tea
inches into the stone. This loamy road, it is conjectured,
would, after being exposed to the air, become sufficiently
dry to be capable of removing itself on the least change of
situation in the stone, and thereby excavating a hole, such
as had been found in the stone where the bees were disco-
vered. As soon as we had ascertained this fact, our wonder
in the preceding statement ceased, as we think that our
reader's will also, after they have read this article. This
will also account for our not having before noticed the cir-
cumstance. The stone from which the bees were taken,
had, we understand, been some weeks lying at the quarry

268

for transmission to this place. In the early part of Septem-
ber we had some sharp frosts ; and it is not improbable
the bees had sheltered themselves in the cavern in which the
masons found them, from the inclemency of the weather at
that time. When they were first discovered, we understand
they were in a state of torpor 5 but the warmth of Mr.
Do well's pocket, in which they had been placed, completely
re-animated them.

Liverpool Advertiser. Times, Dec. 5, 1817 •

OF THE DISCOVEBY OF

HUMAN SKELETONS.

TEK humaa skeletons have been discovered at Futtey
Llyn, near Llandebie, at a depth of thirty feet from the sur-
face of a limestone roek. The skulls are of a very uncom-
mon size and thickness, and all the bones are of a larger
calibre than those of the present race of men.

Edinburgh Star, August 27, 1813.

During the winter of 1818 19, some labourers were dig-
ging gravel near the town of Aylesbury, on the road leading
to Buckingham, they discovered about 258 human skeletons,
and twenty skulls only ; they appeared to be all males, and
full grown. No historical, or even traditional account exists
as to when they were deposited there. Lord Nugent has
directed the bones to be collected together, and intends
erecting over them a tablet.

Morning Advertiser, Feb. 20, 18 1£.

T«E HORNEt> HEIFER.

THIS extraordinary animal was bred by a Mr. Sharp, neap
JMtlton-Mowbray, Leicestershire, and was, in the month of

), 1809, in the posStSiiuii of Mr. Ma tun, of Coiup-

ION!* FATUtJl.

ton-street, Clerkenwell ; it was about three years old, per-
fectly healthy, and in good condition. It had been viewed!
by many gentlemen, members of the Royal Society, and who
appeared to consider it a great natural curiosity. From the
head to the shoulders, and the neck, it was covered with in-
numerable horns, from the size of a large pin, to the length
of eight inches : and the horns were as perfect as those pro-
jecting from its head. The dew-lap, which hangs down
very low, had also a great number of small projections, re-
sembling those of a hedge-hog. The body had a small
quantity/ as well as the legs and the tail. The eye-lids,
nostrils, and ears, had several projecting horns; the two
former were nearly covered with them. On the rump there
was a complete excrescence, resembling a fowl's claw in-
verted (as in the annexed wood-cut,) but was at that time
nearly rubbed off. The roots of these horny substances
were only skin deep, and the animal did not seem affected by
their being handled. They came out in various parts of the
body and limbs, first, with a scrophulous protuberance,
which, by degrees, became a hard horny substance, and pro*
duced at first an irritation, which caused the beast to rub
them till they bled ; but hi every other respect, except as to
those wonderful excrescences, the beast was well shaped,
and enjoyed a good appetite and health. The print of this
beast we shall give at some future time.

'

IGNIS FATUUS.

ACCOUNT OP THE SINGULAR PHENOMENON COMMONtt
CALLED IGNIS FATUUS, WILL-OF-THE-WISP, OR JACK-
O'-LANTERN.

THESE meteors are in fact nothing more than a real exha-
lation from the earth, as vaporous gas, or some other weaker
substance, combined with the matter of light and heat, or
«vea with both mixed, which has been elicited either from.

264 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

animal, vegetable, or mineral substances. They are at all
times of a rare and subtle matter, and are mostly generated
in low marshy plains, though, at times, but rarely, vthey may
Le seen on the tops of lofty mountainous tracts, where boggy
springs are situated. The Editor has often seen them on
Dartmoor and Exmoor, in Devon, and twice on the side of
a mountain in the Highlands of Scotland. To the weak-
minded and the supersiitious, they are a source of real
terror; and, it is probable, that they have frequently seduced
a timid and benighted traveller into the dangerous bogs and
quagmires where themselves have been generated. Gold-
smith, in his beautiful poem of the Hermit, alludes to this
fact in the following couplet :

" Forbear, my son, the hermit cries.

•.*fli 'tl'tii ' : . J ' -

To tempt the dang'rous gloom,
For yonder faithless phantom flieSj

To lure thee to thy doom."

These luminous exhalations are designated by the learned,
J,gnes Fatui, or Mock Fires — and by the vulgar, Will o'-the-
\\isps, and Jack-o'-Lanlerns; and when seen at sea, or
near the coast, Mariners' Lights, or St. Heine's Fires.

To account for the true cause of these singular appear-
ances, has occupied much of the time and labour of the
most skilful naturalists and philosophers in former times,
but their explanations have not been attended with success.
F»om tl.e present state of knowledge of natural philosophy,
we find it not difficult to be either given or comprehended,
and we are not a Lttle astonished to find our early philoso-
phers travelling to Italy, and other parts, for documents which
they might have found even near their own fire-side. *
;:. For the amusement of our readers, we shall extract some
of their vugue opinions ftom the Philosophical Transactions
of their duy : — The, Rev. Mr. Dereham, and Sir Thomas
Derehum, see a to have been the most successful in de-
scribing it. Mr. F. Wt.loughby and Mr. Ray, with
others, think tie lgu*b Faluus are ouly the shining of a great

IGNIS FATUWS. 265

number of the male glow-worms in England. Others con-
tend, lhat it must in Italy be the pyraustai (a species of fly,)
which are numerous in June and July, flying about at night-
fall. Sir T. Dereham says, these pyraustae are called
lucciole, i. e. small lights, and that they are not the farfalls,
as Mr. Ray thought, which are butterflies. The Rev. Mr.
Dereham has reason to think, that insects are not concerned
in the ignes fatui, from the following observations, the first
made by himself, and the others received from Italy, by the
favour of Sir Thomas Dereham.

Dr. Dereham relates, that in a valley between rocky hills,'
which he suspected might contain minerals, in some boggy
ground, near the bottom of those hills, he saw an ignis
fatuus in a calm dark night ; he got up to it within two or
three yards, and viewed it with all possible care. He found
it frisking about a dead thistle growing in the field, till a small
motion of the air made it skip from place to place.

It appeared like a complete body of light without any di-
vision, so that he was sure it could not be occasioned by
insects, but a fire-vapour.

He admits, the male glow-worms emit their shining light
as they fly, by which means they discover the females ; but
never observed them fly together in such great numbers, as to
make a light equal to an ignis fatuus.

As to the communications from Italy, it is observed :: —
These lights are very common in the plains in the territory
of Bologna, and are called cularsi, perhaps from some
fancied similitude to those birds; the belly and other parts of
which are resplendent, like our shining flies. They are most
frequent in watery and morassy ground, and there are some
such places, where they might be seen almost every night ;
some of them giving as much light as a lighted torch ; and
some of them no larger than the flame of a common candle.
All of them have the same property in resembling, both in
colour and light, a flame strong enough to reflect a lustre on
the objects around. They are continually in motion, but

KIRBY'S WONDERFCI, MUSEUM.

this motion is various and uncertain. Sometimes they ristf
up, at others they sink. Sometimes they disappear of »
sudden, and appear again in an instant, in some other place.
Commonly they keep hovering about six feet from the
ground. As they differ in size, so also in figure, spreading
Sometimes pretty wideband then again contracting them-
selves ; sometimes breaking to all appearance into two, then
meeting again, and appearing as one ; then floating like
waves, and dropping sparks as if out of a fire. And that
they are observed more frequent in the depth of winter,
when the ground is covered with snow, than in the hottest
summer ; that it has been observed, that they throw a stronger
light in wet weather than in dry ; the wet having no effect on
it ; and yet nothing was ever observed to be set on fire by it ;
and he was assured, that there was not a dark night through-
out the whole year, in which they were not to be seen.

M. Beccari observes, he found these lights very frequent
about rivers and brooks, and says — " An intelligent gentle-
man, travelling sometime in March, between eight and nine
in the evening, in a mountainous road, about ten miles south
of Bologna, perceived a light which shone very strongly, by
a river called Rioverde, on some stones which lay on its
banks. It seemed to be about two feet above the stones,
and not far from the watev of the river. In figure and size
it had the appearance of a parallelepiped, somewhat more
than a foot in length, and half a foot high, the longest side
lying parallel to the horizon. Its light was so strong, that
he could plainly discern by it part of a neighbouring hedge,
and the water of the river — oivfy i» the east corner of it the
light was rather faint, and the square figure less perfect, us if
it -waa cut off or darkened by the segment of a circle. On
examining it: a little nearer, he was- surprised to find that it
changed gradually from a bright red' to a yellowish, and then
to- a pale colour, in proportion as he drew nearer ; and whenr
he came to the place itself, it quite vanished. Upon this, h<-
stepped back, and not only saw it again, but found that the
4

IGNIS FATUCI. 267

farther he went from it, the stronger and brighter it grew.
When he examined the place of this luminous appearance,
he could perceive no smell nor any other mark of actual lire."
This same observation was confirmed by another gentleman
who frequently travels that way, and who asserted, that he
had seen the very same fire five or six times in the spring and
autumn ; and that it always appeared in the shape, and in the
very same place. One night, in particular, he observed it
come out of a neighbouring field, and settle in the same
place.

Dr. St. Clair speaks of the same flame, and says corn
grows within a few yards of it, and he conjectures the flame
arises from a vein of bitumen or naphtha.

The opinion of the learned of the present day, respecting
these singular exhalations, is, that the principal source of
these meteors is to be sought for in the light exhaled by the
decomposition of animal and vegetable matter, magnified
and deepened in hue by the vapoury haze of the atmosphere
of the moist and swampy low lands, iu which they are chiefly
met with, and which, in consequence of their moisture and
swampiness, are particularly favourable to the process of
decomposition.

Thus, they say, may be accounted for those meteors that
evince no sensible heat during their illumination, for the
light exhaled or thrown off from these substances possesses
no sensible heat whatever.

It, however, is acknowledged, that a greater or less de-
gree of heat, a strong proof of actual, though slow combus-
tion, has been evinced, during the existence of these pheno-
mena.; as, also, that they have extended more widely than
any local decomposition would induce us to expect, and that
they have even appeared to change their situation, and, to
dauce from place to place.

A modern philosopher says, a To ex plain, meteor* of this
kind, it is only necessary to observe, that the earth is pcrpe-

468 _ KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

ttially exhaling a variety of inflammable gases, and other ma-
terials, as hydrogen gas, or inflammable air, phosphorus, car-
bonic acid gas, and, occasionally, sulphureous vapours ; at
times, separately, at others, in a state of union ; and that the
most active of these are particularly evaporating in the low
stagnant marsh grounds, where these luminous meteors chiefly
make their appearance, and may at any time be collected with
the greatest ease, by placing over the surface of the soil an
inverted glass tumbler. Now, although these gases will not
spontaneously inflame in the ordinary temperature of the atmo-
sphere, yet they readily inflame from a great variety of natural
causes to which they are perpetually exposed. Electricity
may be a common cause of such inflammation. The heat
generated during the decomposition of the animal or vege-
table materials that may be locally decomposing, may be far
more than sufficient, for that purpose, for we know it to be
sufficient to ignite hay-stacks, when the grass has been put
together too damp, and it is not improbable that some of
these materials may catch the illumination as from a candle,
from a body in the immediate vicinity that is in the act of
spontaneous illumination.

Now the ball, or general mass of inflammable vapour,
being once lighted or inflamed from whatever cause, will
continue to burn so long as its inflammable principle remains,
and its combustible power may be more or less, in propor-
tion to its purity ; whence, in some instances, it may pour
forth light, with little or no sensible heat; in others, the heat
combined with it may be sufficient to produce slow combus-
tion like that of a dunghill ; and in others, palpable and rapid
flame. From the levity of the illumined or burning vapour,
it must necessarily change its place in various instances, ac-
cording to the current of air which it either finds, or by
burning, makes for itself; hence it must appear to move in
various directions, upwards and downwards, to the right and
to the left ; it will seem to advance and then to recede, from
object to object, in a- constant motion or dance before the

CHILD SWALLOWING A TWO-BLADED KNIFE. 209

spectator, according to the motion of the current of air that
operates upon it, while its dimensions and colours must vary
according to the varying density of the fog or haze through
which, in different places or situations, it is seen, or according

to its actual increasing or diminishing and decaying bulk.

'

EXTRAORDINARY CASE

OP A CHILD HAVING SWALLOWED A TWO-BLADED KNIFE.

IN March, 1802, a child of Jonathan White's, South-
gate, Chichester, about six months old, had a small double-
Waded knife, nearly two inches and a half in length, given it
to play with in the cradle. The infant swallowed it, and, as
may be supposed, soon became uneasy in its stomach, though /
otherwise healthy. On the 24th of May, the shortest blade
was discharged by the bowels ; the back of it was very much
corroded, its edges ragged, uneven, and saw-like ; the rivet
was entirely dissolved. On the 1 6th of June, after more
than usual uneasiness, and the rejection of food, the child
vomited one side of the horn handle, very much softened, '
and bent double; a small bit of iron passed a few days
after ; and on the 24th of July, another bit of a wedge-like
shape, much corroded, and full of holes, and, apparently,
the large blade. The child was now much emaciated, the
faeces blackish, and the abdomen inflamed externally. On
the llth of August, the back of the knife, and soon after,
the other side of the horn handle, were vomited ; and the
infant, thereafter, recovered, entirely. This case, fully
authenticated, has been published.

Literary Gazette, Saturday, July 11, 1818.

£70 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

WHIMSICAL ACCOUNT

Of THE PROPERTIES OF A GOOD WIFE, COMPARED WITH
WHAT SHE SHOULD, AND SHOULD NOT, BE LIKE.

A GOOD wife should be like three things — which three
-things she should not be like : —

First. She should be like a town-clock, keep time and
regularity : she should not be like a town- clock, speak so
loud that all the town may hear her.

Second. She should be like an echo, speak when she is
spoken to : she should not be like an echo, always to have
the last word.

Third. She should be like a snail, keep within her own
house : she should not be like a snail, carry all she has on
her back.

LONGEVITY.

[Continued from p. 253 of Vol. V. of our Work.]

FRANCIS NARODSKY, aged 125, a Polish gentleman.
He married his second wife at the age of ninety-two. A
daughter, now alive, was the fruit of this marriage. In
18O6, the Polish government granted him a pension of 3000
florins, which the Emperor Alexander continued till his death.
He died January the 6th, 1816, at Warsaw. Further par-
ticulars of this extraordinary person will be found in Vol. V.
of our work, p. 251.

DAVID FERGUSON, aged 124 years. Ferguson was a
Scotchman; but had resided in the ville of Dunkirk between
fifty and sixty years ; he was, until a few years back, a very
industrious, active, and hard-working labourer. The follow-
ing account, which he gave of himself, is extracted from a
memoir of this remarkable old man, lately published : — " He
was born at Netherud, in the 'parish of Kirkurd, about ten
miles north of Drumeiguir, the youngest of fifteen children ;
his father's name was James, his mother's maiden name was

LONGEVITY.

Somerville. He was at school at Dunsgrc, in Lanarkshire,
about nine miles from Lanark. His mother's friends came
from Niebikin, in the parish of Carnwaith. He was bred a
shoemaker at Liuton, on the Dumfries road, about three
miles from Cair Muir ; he first entered into the army in a
regiment of dragoons, called the Glasgow Grays (not the
present Scotch Grays;) after this, he served in the 70th
regiment ; he was about twelve or thirteen years old at the
battle of Malplaquet ; had seen the Duke of Marlborough
in England ; he recollected Lord Stair calling upon his fa-
ther, who was a farmer, and left the estate of Cair Muir, in
^consequence of Lawson, of Cair Muir, throwing three farms
into one, for sheep." The remains of the old man were in-
terred in Boughton church yard, on Sunday, attended by a
numerous assemblage of both old and young persons ; and
one common sentiment of regret seemed to pervade all
classes, at the last farewell of their old friend, who was uni-
versally beloved. He died August the 6th, 1818, at the ville
of Dunkirk, near Boughton under the Blean.

MARGUERITE REINAUD, — 117, at Toulouse. She was
born in the year 1701, married in 1721, and became a widow
in 1735. She lived free from infirmities, and preserved to
the last moment the full use of her faculties ; her principal
occupation was spinning at a distaff, which she continued till
the day before her death; she died, December, 1818.

ALICE, — 116, a female slave, born in Philadelphia, of
parents who came from Barbadoes. At ten years old she
was removed to Dunk's Ferry, in which neighbourhood she
continued to the end of her days. At the age of 100 she
was quite blind; at 102 she gradually regained her sight;
before she died her hair became perfectly white. She died
at Bristol, in Pennsylvania, 1803.

MAURICE BINGHAM, — 116, of St. Just, Cornwall,
fisherman; died 1780.

VALENTINE CATEBY, — 1 16, of Preston, near Hull. He
went to sea in his eighteenth year, and continued ft sailor

272 KIRBY'S TTONDERFUL MUSEUM.

• it -t • -^

thirty-six years ; he then commenced farmer, which occupa-
tion he followed thirty-six years; his diet for the last twenty
years, was milk and biscuit ; his intellects were perfect, till
within two days of his death ; he died 1782.

JUDITH COWLEY, — 116, of the county of Dublin; she1
died 1765.

ROBERT GUMMING, — 116, of the Royal Hospital, Chel-
sea; was a dragoon in King William's army; died 1767-

Mr. COWARD, — 11(3, of Arnside-castle, Westmorland;
he was able to read without spectacles to the time of his
death; he lived in seven reigns: Charles II. James II. Wil-
liam, Anne, and the three Georges ; and died 1789-

ELIZABETH FREER, — 1 16, at Wigston poor-house, near
Leicester; she retained her faculties, and could work in the
house, till within a few days of her death ; she was a Kentish
woman, and died, July, 1813.

RICHARD GRIFFIN, — 116, of Southwark; died 1736.

Mr. GUNDY, — 116, of Hyde Park Corner, a gentleman
of very large fortune; he died 1753.

Mrs. HEWETSON, — 116, of Houghton-le-Spring, North-
umberland ; she died 1 766.

JOHN HUSSEY, — 116, of Sydenham, Kent, formerly a
farmer at Crawford ; his breakfast was balm-tea, sweetened
with honey, and pudding for dinner, above fifty years, by
which he acquired long and regular health ; he died 1748.

ALEXANDER KILPATRICK, Esq — 116, of Longford, in
Ireland ; was formerly colonel of an Irish regiment of foot,
and served under John, Duke of Marlborough ; he died 1783.

JOHN LYON, — 1 16, of Brandon, county of Cork, in Ire-
land ; he was born at Londonderry, and was present at all
King William's wars in Ireland ; he died 1761.

WILLIAM RIDDELL, — 116, of Selkirk, in Scotland. This
man, who, in the early part of his life, was a considerable
smuggler, and remarkable for his love of brandy, which he
drank in very large quantities ; was always so fond of good
ale, that he never drank a draught of pure water. He was

LONGEVITY. $73

not a drunkard, but had frequent paroxysms of drinking,
which continued several successive days. After his nine-
tieth year, he at one time drank for a fortnight together,
with only a few intervals of sleep in his chair. He was
three times married : when he married his third wife, he was
ninety-five years of age. He retained his memory, and other
faculties, to his death. For the last two years of his life, his
chief subsistence was a little bread infused in spirits and ale ;
he died 1788.

CHARLES ROBERTS, — 116, of Berkeley county, in Vir-
ginia. He was a native of Oxfordshire, in England, but had
resided in America nearly eighty years. Two years before
his death, he rode to church alone : during his long life he
knew not sickness, and his death was not preceded by indis-
position, being sudden, as he was eating his supper ; he died
1796.

ANN SMALLWOOD, widow, — 116; she was born in 1702,
the year Queen Anne came to the throne; she was the
mother of fifteen children, the eldest of whom, now living,
is eighty years old ; she had been nearly blind a few years,
but all her other faculties she retained to the last ; she died
the 13th of October, 1818, at Handsworth, Staffordshire.

JOHN URSULAK, — 116, of Lemburg, in Prussia, a silk
weaver. He had six wives ; the last, who survived him,
brought him a son twelve months before his death. He was
extremely healthy and active, and walked six miles the day
before his death, in 1812.

JOHN WiLsW, — 116, of Worlingworth, Suffolk; his
suppers, for forty years, were roasted turnips ; he died 1782.

Mr. BRETT, — 115, of Mallow, in Ireland; he died
1764.

EDMUND BRANAGH, — 115, of Wicklow, in Ireland; he
died 1766.

ANDREW BUCHOLS,— 115, of Tucheim, in the duchy of
Magdeburgh ; had been a soldier from his youth, and seived
at the battle of Malplaquet; he died 1783.

VOL. vi. T

KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

Mr. CLAYTON, — 115, a wealthy farmer of Berkshire;
he rented one farm ninety years, and retained all his fa-
culties to the last; he died 1775.

BELINDA CRAUFORD, — 115. She was 18 years old the
22d of April, 1715, the day of the great and total eclipse of
the sun, and had her match made the same year with her lirst
husband, James Smyth, Esq. of the county of Leitrim.
She retained all her faculties to the last hour ; could read and
sew without spectacles, and what is remarkable, looked as
youthful as a girl of eighteen years; had a ^blooming com-
plexion, her eyes animated and lively, and walked occasionally
the distance of two miles to prayers. About seventeen years
ago, she was asked in marriage by two gentlemen of consi-
derable property, whom she refused, contrary to the wishes
of her friends. She died the beginning of June, 1812, at
Richmond, county of Galway, the seat of James Burke,
Esq.

Mr. DIVES, — 115, of Queen-square, Westminster; he
was descended from Sir Lewis Dives, who was a cavalier in
the reign of King Charles I.; he died 1769-

JOHN DWYER, — 115, of Ballinderry, in Ireland ; he died
April, 1763.

PETER LE GRAND, — 115, of Caen, in Normandy; he
died 1766.

HENRY GROSVENOR, — 115, a gentleman of French ex-
traction, of Inch, county of Wexford, in Ireland, surveyor
of the coast at Blackwater. He was very sparing of his
diet, and used much exercise ; no one preserved more of
what the French call the youth of old age, being an agree-
able, cheerful companion, at the age of one hundred, when
he married his last wife ; he died 1 780.

RALPH HART, — 115, of Newcastle: he died 1764.

Mrs. HERRIMAN, — 115, of St. Martin's-le- Grand ; she
died 1732. V

ANTHONY HOPPER, — 1 15, of Cork ; was a soldier in the
service of Queen Anne ; he died 1779.

LONGEVITY.

ELIZABETH VAN HUYSTER, — 115, of the Hague; she
died 1760.

THOMAS HUME, Esq. of York ; he died 1780.

HUGH ROWLAND HUGHES, — 115, of Aluwick, North-
umberland ; he married four wives, by whom he had twenty-
three children ; he died 1784.

Mrs. HUNTER, — 115, of Liverpool ; she died 1/95.

MARY JEFFRIES,— 115, of Pye-street, Westminster; she
died November 27, 1796.

WILLIAM IVEN, — 115, of Wednesfield, near Wolver-
hampton, Staffordshire ; he married his fourth and last wife
at the age of one hundred and rive, because, as lie. said, he
was resolved to die virtuous; he died 1778.

ANDREW LARSSON, — 115, of Lanni, in Sweden; he left
no issue, though married to three wives; he died 1772.

HUGH LLEWELLYN, — 115, of Lean Cadwaller, in North
Wales. He was well known in the neighbouring counties
for his musical skill ; and was much celebrated by his per-
formance on the Welsh harp — on which instrument few. Uavc
excelled him, and on which he performed till within a fort-
night of his death, in 1790.

ROBERT MAGRATH, — 115, of Kilburrow, county of
Clare, in Ireland. At the time of the restoration, he was a
student at the Temple : had a daughter born in 1664, and
another in 1737; he died 17o2.

PATRICK M'€ABE, — 115, of Rathmoony, in Ireland ; he
died 1778.

JACOB MEYER, — 11 5, of Berne, in Switzerland; died 1764.

JEAN MOURTIE, — 115, of Monheurt, in the department
of Lot and Garonne. He was born in January, 1698, and
married in 1720. By this marriage he had seven children,
one daughter and six sons, the eldest of whom woidd now
have been eighty-five years old, had not a fatal accident ter-
minated his life ; the youngest, aged fifty-seven, carries on
his father's business as a tile-maker. Jean Mourtie was for
some time in the army, during the minority of Louis X\r. ;

T 2

£76 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

but having returned to his trade, he worked at it without in-
terruption to the age of 109 years ; and was never confined
to his bed by illness, except for about twenty-four hours be-
fore his death. Every Sunday, in all weathers, this venerable
man went to Monheurt, where, seated beneath the aged elm,
which overshadows the public place, amidst generations
whose birth he remembered, he beheld with delight the
amusements of youth, and emptied at leisure the little flask
with which he had taken care to provide himself. At sun-
set he returned to his family, in which he knew how to keep
up invariable happiness and mirth. A sober, active, and
laborious life, an upright mind and sound judgment, rendered
Jean Mourtie a pattern of honour and integrity ; his gaiety
made the young fond of his society ; his mild and even tem-
per and kind disposition gained him the love of all who knew
him. His memory is venerated in the country where he
lived; he died January 1, 1813.

PETER NIELSON,— -115, of Copenhagen; he died April,
1764.

ANTHONY NOBLE, — 115, of Miltown, near Dublin, gar-
dener to Henry Bevan, Esq. ; this old man worked in his
garden till within a few days of his death ; he died 1790.

ROBERT OGLEBIE, — 115, of Rippon, Yorkshire, a travel-
ling tinker, born Nov. 6, 1647, as appears by the register of
Rippon ; was married seventy-three years, and had twelve
sons and thirteen daughters ; had all his senses perfect, and
could see to work a short time before his death. His wife
lived to be 106 years old. He died 1762.

Mr. OSBALDESTON, — 115, near Whaly, Lancashire; he
died Aug. 1?63.

JOHN RIMMONI, — 115, of Friesland, in Holland; he
died 1766.

Mr. RICE, — 115, of Southwark, a cooper ; he died 1772.
THOMAS SPRATT, — 115, of Haltwhistle, Northumber-
land. His faculties were so strong, that he could sing a
song a little before his death. He died 1763.

LONGEVITY. 277

MARIANNE STANZY, — 115, of Rottemburgh, a widow.
She died 180C.

Mrs. TOUCHIT, — 115, of Barbadoes; unfortunately
killed by the hurricane, in 1780.

Mrs. ELSPET WATSON, — 115, of Perth. She was born
in 1685, and was the last living subject born in the reign of
James II. She died 1800.

Mr. WHIP, — 115, of Bishop Wilton, near York, farmer,
died 1784.

REBECCAWIDMEAR, — 1 15, of Deptford,Wilts; died 1773.

DANIEL AMMYER, — 114, of Grosdeteen, belonging to
the French colony. He served in France, Sweden, and for
the Emperor; enjoyed perfect health, until within a fort-
night of his death, 1761.

PATRICK BENWELL, — 114, of Killegrew Court, White-
hall; died 1750.

JANE BLAKE, — 1 1 4, of North Leeds, Yorkshire ; died 1 763.

ROBERT BLAKENEY, Esq. — 114, of Armagh, in Ire-
land ; was an officer in the army, 1782.

MARGARET BONEFAUT, — 114, of Wear-Gifford, near
Barnstaple, Devon, could see to read to the last; died 1774.

JOSEPH BULLER, — 114, of Paris, a native of Savoy;
died 1786. p

WILLIAM BILLINGS, — 114, of Fairfield Head, near
Longnor, Staffordshire, formerly a soldier. He travelled
through this extensive length of time free from sickness, and
at last expired without a groan. He was the only surviving
private in England, who had served under the great Duke
of Marlborough. His life and death were equally extraor-
dinary ; he was born under a hedge, in the year 1679> not a
hundred yards from the cottage where he died, in 1793.

TIMOTHY COWAED, — 114, of Kendal, Lancashire ; died
1731.

SAMSON COLLINS, — 114, of the Lizard, Cornwall. He
possessed all his faculties perfect to the time of his dissolu-
tion; died 1754.

278 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

ANTONINE CAMBDLAS, — 11.4, minister of the parish of
Barbarouge, in the diocese of Castries ; died 1773.

HUGH CRUMMY, — 114, of Rath fry land, Ireland; died
1773.

PATRICK CONNOLLY, Esq. — 114, of Gallow; died 1788.

Mr. ELTOFF, — 114, of Ladstone, Yorkshire; died 1756.

DAVID EVANS, — 114, a pensioner of Greenwich Hos-
pital; died 1764.

MOSES GONZARA, — 114, of Amsterdam, a Popish priest;
sold toys in. that city ; died 1766.

JOHN GILL,— 114, of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick-
shire; died 1796.

EADY HADDUM, — 114, of St. Christopher's work-
house, near the Bank, London. She had been an inhabitant
there for fifty years; died 176'2.

Mr. HOPLKY, — 1 14, of Newnham, Gloucestershire, hop-
merchant ; died 1773.

Mis. HOLMES, — 114, of Liverpool. She was married at
forty-eight years of age, and had six children; died 1783.

ANTONY LOYDI, — 1 14, of Amezquet, in the province of
Guipuscoa, husbandman; never had any sickness but the
oppression of his lungs, with which he was seized a few days
before his death, lie always had an aversion to physic,
and lefused to take what was ordered him during his illness.
Jit; retained his senses, and ;.ll his teeth and hair, to the day
of Ins death. He ate nothing but bread made of Turkey
vheat, and constantly abstained from wine and tobacco.
Died, 1783.

»£, CHRIST IAI* MODESTY, — 114, a poor woman of Park-
gate; died 1802.

Joiipi NOBLE,— J 14, of Corncy, Cumberland; died 1772.
PATRICK Q'lJRiAN, — 114; of Meath, in Ireland, car-
penter; which avocation he was able to pursue till within
.two years of his death, 17J8.

Mrs. OTHEHLEY, — 1 14,of Naples; died September 1761.
J AMLS O'iiKJ AN, — J 14, of Canickftrgus, Ireland. He

was paymaster-sergeant in the wars in Ireland, in vtbe reign
of King James IL; died 1780..

FRANCIS PURDIGO, — 114, of Jamaica. He was at the
conquest of the island, and must have seen twelve genera-
tions there ; for it is computed that they bury every seven
years a number equal to the whole. Died 1743.

JANE PETITT, — 114, of St. Martin's Workhouse, Lon-
don; died 1780.

MAGNUS REID, — 114, of Dunbar. When about eighty
years of age he commenced travelling chapman, which h«
followed till within eight weeks of his death, 1786.

RACUAEL STREET, — 114, of Crowcombe, Somerset.
About three years before her death, she lost her sight ; but
her other senses remained perfect. Died 1782.

MAURICE SUPPLE, — 114, of Kerry, Ireland; died 1790.

FRANCIS TATTON, — 114, of Causton, Derbyshire; JL
minstrel of the ancient description. Died 1780.

JOHN WEEKS, — 114, of New London, Connecticut.
He married his tenth wife, when 106 years of age, she being
only sixteen ! His grey hairs had fallen off, which were r;-
newed by a dark head of hair ; and several new teeth had
made their appearance. A few hours previous to his de-
cease, he ate three pounds of pork, two or three pounds of
bread, and drank nearly a pint of wine. Died 1798.

MARGARET BR.IDER, — 1 13, of Willy, Shropshire. She
danced with the morice-dancers the year before her death,

GABPARD BALCKE, — 113. Of Teifenau, near Grog-
senhayn ; had his first child at eighty-five years of age.
Died, 1762.

PIERRE LA BORIE, — 113, of Puisailli, in France, hus-
bandman; died 1771.

JAMES BELL, — 113, of Eamont Bridge, near Penrtib.
He was a Dutchman, and came to England with King Wil-
liam. Died 1773.

FRANCIS BROUSSEAU,— 113, of Beynac, in France;
flied 1778.

280 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

JANE DAVIS, — 113, of Hackney, Middlesex, a maiden
lady. She enjoyed some post under Queen Anne. Died
1777-

MARY FINLATER, — 113, of Wigtown, in Scotland; died
1767.

Mrs. GILLMAN, — 113, of Aldersgate-street, London;
died 1761.

NICHOLAS GALLAGHER, — 113, of Castle-knock, in
Ireland ; ditd September 1763.

SIMON GILLIWRAY, — 113, of the Island of St. Kilda ;
from which he was never absent; died 1767.

WILLIAM HUNT, — 1 13, of Maryland, the oldest inha-
bitant there ; died 1772.

JOHN JACKSON, — 113, of Exeter, gardener; died 1764.

FOCKJE JOANNES, — 113, of Oldham, Friesland ; had
been a widow from the year 1710; died 1773.

LEWIS JONES, — 113, of Llanowedyn, Montgomeryshire;
died 1784.

PETER MARTIN, — 113, of Auvergne, in France; died
1764.

HUGH MORAN, — 113, a soldier of the Royal Hospital,
Dublin; died 1773.

ALEXANDER MAC DONALD, — 113, of North Keyme,
Lincolnshire. He enjoyed a good state of heath, smoked
two pipes, and drank some ale, on the day of his death, in
1783.

REBECCA MILLS, — 113, of the parish of Elizabeth,
island of Jamaica; died 1805.

TARQUJL M'LEOD, — 113, near Stonaway, in the island
of Lewis, in Scotland. He had fought at the battles of
Kiilicrankie, Shtriffmuir, and Culloden, under the banners of
the S'uarts. He sent, in the year 17o5, six sons to fight for
king George, in a regiment then raised by Colonel Montgo-
mery Dud 1787.

JAMES PRATT, — 113, of Winchcomb, Berks, labourer;
died 1780. >a»«

LONOETITY. £81

JANE PETRIB, — 113, of Peterhead, in Scotland; died
1798. *

Mr. PRICE, — 113, of Ledbury, Hertfordshire. His wife
was 109. They lived together in great harmony, upwards
of 80 years. Died 1770.

JAMES ROBERTS, — 113, of Penny Bridge, Lancashire;
died 1764.

PETER SCHURMAN, — 113, of Groningen, in Holland;
died 1763.

ELIZABETH STOXEHAM, — 113, of the village of Chick-
ley, Berks ; died 1768.

ANN SIMMS,— 113, of Studley Green, Wilts. Till within
a few days of her death, she was able to walk to and from
the seat of the Marquis of Lansdown, near three miles from
Studley. She had been, and continued, till upwards of 100
years of age, the most noted poacher in that part of the
country ; and frequently boasted of selling to gentlemen, the
fish taken out of their own ponds. Her coffin and shroud
she had purchased, and kept in her apartment more than
twenty years. Died 1785.

JONATHAN SIMPSON, Esq. — 113. He died at his son's
house in Buckinghamshire, 1788.

JOHN TUCKER, — 113, fisherman, Itching Ferry, South-
ampton; died 1806.

ANNE WELLING, — 113, of Northall, in the parish of
Eddlesborough, Bucks; died 1747.

MARGARET WYLIE, — 113, of Lidsdale, in Scotland;
died 1753.

THOMAS J\ZBEY, — 112, of Chelsea College ; died 1737.

JANET BLAIR, — 112, of Monimusk, Aberdeenshire; died

1759.

CAPTAIN BROMFISH, — 112, of Koningsberg, in Prussia.
He had been in that service ninety-three years. Died Ja-
nuary, 1761.

SARAH BROWN,— 112, of South Waltham, Norfolk;
died 1761.

282 KIRBY'S WONDKHFUL MUSEUM.

L JOHN BOURKE, — 112, of the Isle of Man; died 1764.

JJQNAS BERRY, — rt 2, of the Grange, Southwark ; for-
merly saddler to Queen Anne ; died 1770.

Dr. WILLIAM BROUGHBRIDGE, — 112, of Charles-
street, Westminster; formerly one of the masters of the
Charter-House School ; died 1772.

JOHN COUSE, — 112, of Calvinstown, county of Kildare,
in Ireland. He was born in France, and bred a Protest-
ant ; but forced into the army of Louis XIV. and served
three campaigns in Flanders ; then entered the Dutch ser-
vice, and came to .Ireland under the Duke of Schomberg ;
enlisted under King William, and distinguished himself in
most of the battles against King James II. for which he was
well rewarded; then quitted the army, and took a farm.
He left three sons, the eldest near sixty years old, and the
youngest but twenty-two. Died 1752.

PHILIP COLI.ETT, — 112, of Whitechapel, London,
cobbler ; was a soldier in the service of King James II.
Died 1773.

Mr. CLARKSON, — 112, of Birmingham; died 1773.

MARY COEN, — 112, of Websborough, in Ireland; died
1776.

DOROTHY CLARK, — 112, of Westrope, 'near Southwell,
Nottinghamshire. At the age of 102, she reaped wheat
against a man the whole day. Died 1776.

JOHN DAVIS, — 112, of Ludlow, Shropshire. He was a
light dragoon in the Duke of Monmouth's rebellion. Died
1758.

ALLEN DUNCAN, — 112, of Nairn, in Scotland. Was
in the rebellion in 1715, and also in 1745. Died 1774.

JOHN DYER, — 112, of Burton-upon-Tyne, Lancashire;
was a soldier in the service of. King William, and afterwards
in that of Queen Anne, under the Duke of Marlborough.
Died 1777.

Mr. EARLY, — 112, of Dublin, an old soldier; died 1768.

M. ESPAGNO, — 112, surgeon in a village of France;

LONGEVITY. OQ3

was ninety years of age when he had his first child by his
second wife. Died 1759-

Mrs. FAIRGURN, — 112. Hi timekeeper in the Bishop of
Winchester's family upwards of seventy years. Died 1758.

Mrs. GANNET, — 112, of WelJs, Somersetshire, widow;
died 17.31.

JOSEPH GREEN, — 112, of Windsor, Berks. He was in
full possession of his intellects till within two days of his
death, 1758.-

JOHN MARTIN GARDY, — 112, of Brussels ; died 1769.

Mrs. GOLDEN, — 112, of Hilton, in Cleveland; died 1802.

MARY GOLD, — 112, of Ryegate, Surrey; died 1770.

WILLIAM HASELING, — 112, of Chelsea College, in
which he was the oldest pensioner. He served in the par-
liament army at Edgehill ; under King William in Ireland ;
and the Duke of Mailborough in Fianders. He married
and buried two wives, after he was 100 : and the third, who
survived him, he married at the age of 1 10. Besides his
pension from the College, he was allowed a crown a week
from the Duke of Richmond and Sir Robert Walpole. He
died 1733.

MARY How, — 112, of Mapleton, Derbyshire, widow.
Her death was occasioned by pulling apples from a tree, a
limb of which breaking, fell on her arm, and broke it.
About two years before her death, she cut several new teeth,
and her hair changed its colour. Died 1751.

MONGO HUMPHRIES, — 112, of Folkstone, fisherman;
died 1773.

THOMAS HUGHES, Esq. — 112, of Holloway; formerly
of the Oxford Blues. Died 1780.

JAMES HAYLEY, — 112, of Middlewich, Cheshire, farmer
and grazier; died 1781.

JAMES JOBSON, — 112, of Waldershare, Kent, farmer.
He had been married to seven wives, by whom he had
nineteen sons and nineteen daughters. Died 1743.

SUSAN JUETT, — 112, of Greenwich; died 1749-

4

284 KIRBV'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

JOHN LORKAN,— 112, of Meelick, near Galway, Ire-
land ; died 1755.

Mrs. LINDSAY, — 112, of Kirwen-street, Dublin ; died
1803.

DAVID LACEY, — 112, of Limerick, in Ireland; never
lost a tooth. Died 1760.

SINGULAR ACCOUNT OF

THOMAS LAUGHER,

WHO LIVED TO THE EXTREME OLD AGE OF 112 YEARS.

THOMAS LAUGHER, more commonly known by the name
of Old Tommy, is one of the instances of the good effects
of habitual temperance from early life, on the Human* con-
stitution ; for to this cause the patriarchal years to which lie
lived must in a great degree be ascribed. The exact date
of his birth We are not acquainted with ; but we tind that
on the 6th day of January, 1700, (Old Style), he was bap-
tized at the village church of Markley in Worcestershire.
His parents were natives of Shropshire, and were themselves
examples of unusual longevity ; his father having lived to
the age of Q7, and his mother died at the advanced age of
108. In the year 1701 his parents removed to London,
where Tommy afterwards resided to the time of his death.
His education he received at Christ Church College, Ox-
ford ; where he remained eleven years and a half, from
•which he made a tour oil the continent, visiting many parts
of Turkey, &c. and was absent nearly seven years. In the
early part of his life he commenced business in Tower-
street, which appears ' by his own account to have been a
wholesale wine and liquor-merchant; and if we are to be-
lieve this account, his trade must have been of the first mag-
nitude;, for it relates, that he lost by the bankruptcy of the
house of Neele, Fordyce, and James, no less a sum than
£ 198,000. This great defalcation in his affairs took such
an effect upon him, that upon hearing of his loss, he imme-
diately became blind and speechless ; and his skin peeled

THOMAS LAUtfME^Agedlll Years,

™T

LONGEVITY. 285

off the whole of his body. He was now reduced from a
state of affluence to that of want and beggary; in conse-
quence of which he was obliged to relinquish his business.

In the early part of his life Laugher followed a regime of
abstinence, living principally on milk, tea, coffee, bread, and
spring water, and until he was about the age of .53 years,
never knew the taste of wine, spirits, or even strong beer.
Laugher remembered most of the principal occurrences of
the last century, and used to relate with much pleasure to
his customers, and to those whose curiosity led them to visit
him, the story of his seeing Queen Anne going to the House
of Peers on horseback, in the year 1705, seated on a pillion
behind the Lord Chancellor ; and particularly remembers,
when a little boy, the death of King William and Queen
Mary. He used also to relate, that during his time, the
quartern loaf was sold for twopence farthing, and fresh butter
twopence halfpenny per lb., and that the best butcher's meat
was sold at only one penny per lb. At ail times Laugher ap-
pears extremely willing, as far as his memory reaches, to answer
any questions put to him, without that austerity and peevish-
ness, which so frequently accompany extreme age. He
always seems highly delighted to hear spoken of Old Jen-
kins, and Old Parr ; and at all times closes the account by
saying, " The latter came from the same county as his fa-
mily : and that his grandmother died at the age of 141 years,
and that she lived most of her time on dry bread and cold
pump water." To all appearance he has been a remarkably
well made man, and rather above the middle stature, though
now he appears bent with age, and the weight of years. In
1808, when the memorandums of this account were taken,
he appeared to falter much in his speech, having lost his
teeth ; but his lungs appeared to be then very strong and
sound ; his memory had begun to fail him ; but all other of
his faculties he enjoyed in a surprising degree. His resi-
dence was in Kent-street, in the Borough ; from which,
when the weather permitted, he constantly walked every

286 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM,

Sunday morning, to tlie chapel of the Rev. Mr. Coxhead, h»
Little Wild-street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, and a short time
since he even walked as far as Hackney and back agaia the
same day.

At the age of eighty years, after a severe fit of illness, he
renewed his hair and nails, both on his fingers and toes; by
this • illness, a contraction of a finger on each hand took
place, which' continued to the time of his death in 1812.
His hair at that time was thick and flowing : not thoroughly
white, but grey on the outside, and brown underneath, as
were also his eye-brows.

Laugher had a son, who died either in the year 1804 or
1805, at the age of eighty years. This son he always de-
signated by the name cf his " Poor Tommy." In fact, he
bad the appearance of being considerably older than him-
self, which at several times occasioned curious mistakes }
among others, the following anecdote is well known. Walk-
ing some years since in Holborn with his son, the difficulty
which the latter found to keep up with him, attracted the
attention of a humane gentleman, who stopped old Laugher,
and expostulated with him, for not assisting his venerable
father, as he supposed him to have been. When informed
of his mistake, he could scarcely credit the assertion, till
convinced by a person passing, who knew them both, of the
truth of his testimony. This inversion of the order of Na-
ture was attributed by the old man to his son's not taking
his advice in his early days, and living too freely. His ob-
servation constantly was, " If the young fool had taken as
much care of his health as I have, he might nou have been
alive and hearty."

This venerable old man in his latter days, was supported
by the donations of charitable and humane persons ; but
possessing a spirit of independence, he for several years
used to sell paper, pens, laces, thread, needles, and other
small articles of that kind, for which he found customers
among his friends, who always liberally encouraged his in-

LONGEVITY.

dustry ; and there was scarcely a street or house in South-
wark, but he visited in his daily peregrinations. He was an
early riser, and set off as soon as the inhabitants began to
open their shops and houses ; as if fearful of being fore-
stalled by some other itinerant dealer in his wares.

JOHN LEARY, — 112, an honest faithful domestic, in the
family of Currah, county of Limerick, Ireland, for upwards
of eighty years. He commenced his servitude with the late
Vere Hunt, Esq. as groom, in the year' 1730; and remained
with him until his death ; since which period he continued
his services with Sir Vere Hunt, Bart, until within the last
ten years, when he retired to a cottage built for him within
the demesne. He was married to eight wives ; by seven of
whom he had children ; his last he married in his 103d year.
He lived in the reign of six monarchs, and saw from five to
six generations of most of the families in the country, of
the vicissitudes of which honest John Leary was the spec-
tator for above a century ; and before his death, he declared
that he never suffered a day's illness, or an hour's pain, un-
less for the death of a friend, or occasionally, for the loss
of a wife! Died, May 1812.

Mrs. LENT,—! 12, of Downham Market, Norfolk ; died
1766.

ANNE MAYNARD, — 112, of Finchley. She lived with
moderation, and took much exercise. Died 1756.

TOUSSAINT MORATRAI, — 112, of Dijon, in France.
At the age of seventy-five, he married his second wife, by
whom he had children. He was a labouring man, and always
enjoyed a good state of health. Died 1762.

JAMES MARTIN, Esq. — 112, of Ballynainch, in Ireland;
died 1763.

JOHN MORSE, — 112, of Hackney work-house; died 1772.

COLONEL M'DoNALD, — 112, of Glasgow; died 1772.

TIMOTHY MACNAMARA, Esq. — 1 12, near Londonderry,
in Ireland.

ALEXANDER MACKINTOSH, — 112, of Marseilles. For the
last ten years he lived entirely on vegetables, and enjoyed a

KTRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

good state of health, till within two days of his death. H«
was born at Dunkeld, in Scotland ; but being in the rebel'
lion, in 1715, was obliged to leave his country; from which
time he resided at Marseilles on a small pension allowed
him by some of the Pretender's family. Died 1 783.

JOHN MINNIKIN, — 112, of Maryport, Cumberland.
Towards the latter part of his long life, he became rather
feeble. He, however, retained his sight and memory to the
last, though his hearing became very defective. He often
related the following curious anecdote of himself, at which
he seldom failed to laugh heartily, as well as his friends :
About thirty years preceding his death, he sold his head of
hair to a person in a neighbouring town, for a penny loaf per
day during the remainder of his life. The hair was cut off,
and a note given for the performance of the covenant on the
part of the purchaser, who failed soon after. It is further
worthy of remark, that more than twenty wigs were made^pf
the hair of this singular personage ; and that he possessed, but
a short time before his death, such an abundance, as few peo-
ple can boast of, even in the vigour of youth. Died 1793.

JOHN PHELAN, — 11£, of Kilkenny, in Ireland, tinker;
at which employ he was able to work, and subsist by his
labour, till he was 106 years of age. Died 1756.

THOMAS PEARCE,— 112, of Hawley Hill Farm, Wilts,
labourer; died 1772.

JOHN SEGAR,— 112, of Burnley, Lancashire; died 1668.
GRACE SUNDRY, — 112, of Bewdley, Staffordshire. She
never was ill, and therefore never took any physic. Died
1751.

MARGARET STEPHENSON, — 112, of Chapleburn, near
Brampton, Cumberland. She enjoyed all her senses per-
fect to the time of her decease, and walked to bed the night
before. Her two sons, being together 170 years of age,
attended her funeral. Died 1756.

J. SIMPSON, — 112, near Knaresborough, Yorkshire;
died 1766.
JOHN SALGADO, — 112, of Quimbres, near Coimbra, in

LONGEVITY.

C89

Portugal. He was never sick, till within a few days of hit
death; never lost a tooth; and his intellectual faculties
never suffered decay, till within eight days of his death.
Died 178Q.

Mr. TRUSS,— 112, of Clayhill, near Eufield, Middlesex.
He was a soldier in the army of Oliver Cromwell. Died
1733.

ADAM TURNBULL, — 112, of Newcastle. He was able
to walk twelve miles a day, till within three years of his
death. Died 1744.

WILLIAM VANDELEUR,— 1 12, of Amsterdam, shoe-
maker; died 1765.

Mr. WALLACE,— 112, of Paris ; died 176^.

JOHN WOODWORTH, — 112, of Ballynakill, Queen's
County, in Ireland; died 1780.

Mrs. WARREN, — 112, of Tollagh, county of Dublin.
She had a grandson and a grand-daughter, who were grand-
father and grandmother to children upwards of twenty years
of age. Her brother died two years before, at the age of
120. He ploughed the east side of Gnfton-stieet, and
sowed wheat in it. This land he held for two shillings and
sixpence per acre, and had six or seven hundred acres at the
same rent. He was, on the day of the battle of the Boyne,
conducting some farm carts of his father's, which were im-
pressed by the army of King William, to carry luggage into
the camp. Died 1794.

Rev. PETER ALLEY, — 111, of Dunamoni, in Ireland, of
which place he was vicar seventy-three years ; he did the
duty of his church until within a few days of his death ; be
was twice married, and had thirty-three children ; and died
1763.

ELIZABETH BEAL, — 111, near Castle Howard, Cumber-
land; died 1760.

The SIEOR CASTBA, — 111, of Bourdeaux, a celebrated
advocate; died 1710.

VOL. vi. u

290 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

MARIE DE CHAPELET, — 111, of Cronstadt, in Russia;
she was sister to M. de Resen, brigadier in the Russian ser-
vice, into which he entered in the reign of Peter the Great,
and died a few years before, at the age of one hundred and
one years. The case of these persons is the more singular,
as, notwithstanding their age, they preserved their faculties
even to the last moment of their lives. She died 1789-

JOHN CRAIG,- — 111, of Kilmarnock. He served as a
soldier in the North British dragoons, and was at the battle of
Sheriffmuir, in 1715. He was never married, nor ever had
any sickness, but worked as a day-labourer, till within a few
days of his death, and retained his memory and senses to the
last. There were found in his possession, secreted in an old
chest, a number of crown aud half-crown pieces, and other
smaller coins. Died 1793.

MATTHEW CHAMPION, — 111, of Great Yarmouth, a
very industrious man. At the decline of his life he was sup-
ported by a weekly payment from some of his benefactors,
and the casual gifts of others. He was born in French
Flanders, in 1682, and came over to England with King
William in 1688 ; his father was a farrier in the king's army ;
died 1793.

ISABEL DARLING, — 111, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne ;
she left a daughter eighty-eight years old ; died 1757»

Mrs. EDWARDS, — 111, of Kendal, Westmoreland; died
1772.

MARY FIRTH, — 111, of Marsden, in the parish of Al-
mondbury; died 1784.

ANNE FROSTE, — 111, of West-Raisin, Lincolnshire; she
•was the wife of a labourer, had been married three times, and
left a daughter ninety years of age ; she was married to her
last husband in her ninety-third year ; for many years past
she had lived on milk and tea; died 1792.

Mrs. FITZGERALD, — 1 1 1, of West Horriey, Surrey ; died
1795.

J-ONGEVITV.

291

THOMAS GRANiy-T-m,of Norfolk; died J765.
RICHARD GowER,-»-ll 1, of Angel-alley, Dublin, attor-
ney; died 1779-

Mrs. GOLDEE, — 111, of Storehouse, in Scotland; died
1786.

JOHN HousEMAN,-T-l!l, of SESSATS, near Tbirsk,
Yorkshire, labourer ; died 1777.

.^GEORGE HARDING,-^!! l, of Manchester; he served
0s a private soldier in the reigns of Queen Anne, George I.
and II.; died 1784.

JOHN JENKINS, — 111, of Westerham, Kent, labourer;
died 1784.

WILLIAM KELLOCK, — 111, of Sanquhar, in Scotland;
he served the town as one of their common officers ninety-
five years, enjoyed all his senses, and never used spectacles ;
died 1743.

LAWRENCE KINNENMONT, — 111, near Perth, in Scot-
land ; he was able to walk till within a few days of his death,
in 1751.

Mrs. KERR, — 111, of Akeld, Northumberland; she rer
tained her mental faculties to the last ; died 1766.

GEORGE LEHMAN, — 111, of Camentz, in Upper Lusatia;
was never sick till the time of his death, in 1761.

DANIEL BULL M'CARTHY, — 111, of the county .of
Kerry, in Ireland. At the age of eighty-four he married a
fifth wife, aged fourteen, and had by her tuenty children, one
every year; he was always very' healthy, and never observed
to spit ; no cold affected him ; he could not bear the warnjlh
of a shirt at night, but put it under his pillow ; for the last
seventy years, when in company, he drank plentifully of rujn
and brandy, uhich he called naked truth ; and if, in com-
pliauce with solicitations, he drank claret or punch, lie al \\ays
drank an equal glass of rum or brandy, which he catfed a
wedge; died 1758.

WILLIAM MARSH,'— 111, of Liverpool, pavior;
1761.

u 2

192 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

JOHN NICHOLLS, — 111, of Darlington, Durham; died
1773.

FLORENCE O'SULMVAN, Esq. — 111, of Beerhaven, in
Ireland; died 1807.

Mr. PRICE, — 111, of Ledbury, Herts; died 1767-

MATTHEW RICHARDSON, — 111, of Ogle, Northumber-
land; died 1766.

JOHN ROBERTS, — 111, of Chelsea Hospital ; died 1772.

ALEXANDER RAWLINSON, — 111, of Diss, near Norfolk,
farmer; died 1781.

JOHN ROBERTS, — 111, of Llantrithyd, Glamorganshire,
blacksmith; died 1782.

ELIZABETH SMITH, — 111, of Hipley, Derbyshire; died
1762.

JOHN STEWART,— 111, a tinker at Aberfeldie, in Perth-
shire: died 1804.

ELIZABETH SWANBROOK, — 111, of Bright's-alley,
Gray's-inn-lane, London, a poor woman; died 1780.

Mrs. ANNE STRAUNGE, — 111, of Eltham, Kent; died
1806.

PASCHAL SERIA, — 111, of Valentia; he subsisted, to-
wards the latter part of his life, principally on vegetables, and
frequently smoked tobacco ; died 179 1« "•

ALICE WILSON, — 111, of Newburgh, Northumberland;
died 1763.

WILLIAM WOOTTEN, — 111, of Virginia, a soldier; died
1773.

ELIZABETH WILLIAMS, — 111 ; she died at Brentor, near
Tavistock, in June, 1812 : within the last four years, she cut
all new teeth.

Mrs. ARMSTRONG, — 110, of Stepney; died 1780.

Major BARN WELL, — 110, of Killegrew- court, Scotland-
yard, London; died 1750.

Rev. Mr. BRAITHWAITE,— 110, of Carlisle; he had been
one hundred years iu the cathedral, having commenced sing-
ing-boy in the year 1G52; died 1754.

LONGEVITY. 393

ANN BARTHELEMS, — 110, of Lorraine; she was wet-
nurse to the Marquis of Bassompierre, in 1765; died 1782.

STEPHEN BRIGO, — 110, of Hoober Hill, near Craven,
Yorkshire ; died 1782.

JOHN BROWN, — 110, of Foulis Castle, Ross-shire; died
1782.

RICHARD BRENT, — 110, of Bristol, commonly called
Tom Thumb, which appellation he acquired from selling
histories of that little hero's life and adventures; died 1793.

JAMES CHARLEWHITE, — 110, of Sea Town, in Scot-
land; died 17G1.

ROBERT CREED, Esq. — 1 10, captain of a man of war in
the service of King George I.; died 1772.

Captain CESPEDES, — 110, of the Caraccas ; he belonged
to the militia of Pardo, and was esteemed a prodigy of that
climate, where the life of the human race seldom exceeds
sixty years ; died 1 789-

Mrs. COOBA, — 110, of St. Elizabeth's Island, a negro;
died 1791.

Mr. DAVIS, — 110, of Harry's Coffee-house, Fleet-street,
London ; he retained all his faculties to the time of bis death,
and could see to read well; died 1740.

JOHN DARTNELL, — 110, of Bourdeaux, in France, gar-
dener ; at the age of eighty-six he became blind, at one hun-
dred and six recovered his sight by couching; died 1758.

MARGARET DOYLE, — 110, of Kilkenny, in Ireland;
died 1779.

MARTIN FOUNTAIN, — 110, of the Island of Jersey,
from which he was never absent ; died 1767.

JEAN GEORGE, — 110, of Wallauton, Ayr; died 1804.

JOAN GODFREY, — 110, of Benham, Sussex; she carried
a bucket of water a great distance within a week of her death,
in 1773.

ELIZABETH HODGSON, — 1 10, of Scampston, near York ;
died 1760.

Mrs. WIPTASH, — 110, of Warwickshire j died 1763.

KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

Mrs. HERON, — 110, of Felton, Northumberland; died
1763.

ELIZABETH HAYES, — 110, of Park-lane, Liverpool;
died 17P4.

MARY JENKINS, — 1 10, of Cloth Workers' Alms-houses,
London ; she was never afflicted with illness, and died sud-
denly, in 1753.

REBECCA JENKINE, — 110, of the parish of Cadoxton,
near Neath, Glamorgan, widow ; died in 1787.

EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES

OF TOADS AND OTHER EXTRANEOUS SUBSTANCES EM-
BEDDED IN TREES, STONES, &C.

TOAD EMBEDDED IN A TREE.

A FEW days ago, as two sawyers were employed in cutting
up An oak tree about thirteen inches in diameter, for the use
of the Earl of Derby's colliery, at Rainsford, in Lancashire,
the man in the pit perceived something to move in the part
they were then tuning, which, on examination, proved to be
a full-grown toad. The animal was quite alive, when taken
up, notwithstanding one of the legs had been cut off by the
saw ; the cavity in which it w as found was exactly in the
centre of the tree, just large enough to contain the body, and
measuied three and a half yards from the root or bottom.
The tree was perfectly sound in every part, and not the least
crack or aperture could be discovered that bad a communi-
cation with the atmotpheie.

L<i Belle dssemblte, January y 181O.

HOUSE-SHOE EMBEDDED IN A TREE.
As some \\orknun v.ere cutting down an elm-tree belong-
ing to Mr. Jepsun, of CouisbrcUgb, they discovered in the

FACTS IN NATURAL HISTORY.

heart of the tree a horse-shoe with a nail in it, in excellent
preservation ; it is supposed, it must have been lying there
for fifty years and upwards : the .tree measures rive feet in
circumference. Mr. Green, of Sheffield, has the shoe now
in his possession; where it may be seen by the curious.

Idem, January, 1810.

TOAD EMBEDDED IX A BLOCK OF STONE.

Lately some workmen employed in a quarry at Byker Hill,
on splitting a huge block of free stone, nearly three tons
weight, found a living toao^ in the middle of it ; the cavity
that contained the animal, to which there was no apparent
passage from the outside, was the exact model of its figure,
and was lined with a black substance suffused with moisture.

Monthly Magazine, April, 1812.

LIZARD EMBEDDED IN A BLOCK OF COAL.

Lately, in a coal-pit situated upon the outwood, near
Wakefield, and belonging to VVm. Fenton, Esq. out of the
lower bed or seam, at a distance of 150 yards from the sur-
face of the earth, a block of coal was dug up, which, when
broken, contained a lizard, of the species vulgarly called askers;
the animal was alive, but upon being exposed to the air, it
soon died. The cavity in which it was found, being the
exact mould of its own form, no chasm, hole, or external
crack appeared on the surface of the block.

Monthly Magazine,

EXTRAORDINARY FACTS

IN NATURAL HISTORY.

LARGE OX.

I A LARGE fat ox (bred by R. Grimstone, Esq. of Kilne-

wick) was lately killed at Hull, which weighed two hundred

296 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

stone, stood six feet in height, was six yards in length, and
nearly eight yards in girth ; he was six years old.

Monthly Magazine, April, 1796.

LARGE EEL.

Lately, near Maiden, in Essex, was taken an eel, measur-
ing five feet six inches in length, seventeen in girth, and
weighing twenty-six pounds ; it is supposed to have been the
largest of the species (Muroena Anguilla, Lin. Syst. or fresh
Mater eel) ever caught, or described in Natural History.

•-Man. Mag. 1811.

The largest eel recorded by Pennant, in his British Zoo-
logy, weighed about twenty pounds. Editor.

EXTRAORDINARY GROWTH OF SALMON.

The rapid growth of this fish is astonishing ; which appears
from the testimony of a gentleman at Warrington. A salmon
taken on the 7th of February, 1818, then weighed seven
pounds and three quarters ; being marked with scissars on
the back fins and tail, and turned into the river, was again
taken on the 17th of the following March, and was then
found to weigh seventeen pounds and a half.

Nero Monthly Magazine, Nov. 1818.

FECUNDITY OF RABBITS.

The fecundity of the rabbit is truly astonishing ; it breeds
seven times in the year, and generally produces eight young
at a time ; from \\ liicli it is calculated, that one pair may in-
crease in the course of four years, to the amazing number of
1,274,840. In Spain, they once increased to such a degree
as to become so noxious, that the inhabitants were obliged to
piocure ferrets from Africa to destroy them. . Editor.

LONGEVITY OF FROG8.

In digging a well at Judge Lane's, near the river Onion,
at the depth of twenty- four feet, wood was found ; at about

TENAClOrSNESS OF LIPfi OP THE fcLATTA. 297

thirty, frogs were discovered, but so apparently petrified,
that it was difficult to distinguish them from so many small
stoned ; when brought oat of the well, disengaged from the
earth, and exposed to the air, they gradually felt the vivifying
beams of the sun, and to the surprise of all present, leaped
away with as much animation as if they had never l.iin in
their subterraneous prison. The place where this well was
sunk was on high grounds, often surrounded by the river in
flood times. Large pines, and the ancient fragments of
them, are found on this land. Fiom the appearance of the
growth of this timber, we may v ell suppose these frogs to
have remained under ground six hundred years. To account
for this phenomenon, we must suppose some convulsion of
nature to have buried these animals thus deep whilst in a tor-
pid state, and thus being excluded from the air, continued in
the state in which they were found. — Allen's Natural and
Political History of Vermont in America.

LARGE TROUT.

A trout of the astonishing weight of thirty-six pounds was
taken in the river Colne, near Watford, in Hertfordshire, by
a gentleman who resides at Stanmore, who has preserved the
head of it, on account of its uncommon size.

Courier, 1816.

THE TENACIOUSNESS OP LIFE OF THE BLATTA OR COCK
ROACH OF THE WEST INDIES.

On the SQth of December, 1811, being at Greenock,
Scotland, a West India ship was unloading her cargo: on
shitting the coffee on the quay, I found that it was greatly
infested with the blatta or cock roach, 1 procured six, and
enclosed them in a small oval chip box. A few days after,
en inspecting them, I found (as I presumed) that a fierce
battle had taken place amongst them ; two of the smallest
lay dead, two others had lost their legs and thighs and part
of their antenna;, but the two largest remained to appearance

J98 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

unhurt. These I placed in two separate small round chip
boxes, and often inspected them; they continued healthy and
lively until about the latter end of July following, when one
of them appeared weakly, and died on the 5th of August;
the other preserved his health and liveliness until the lOth of
August, and died on the 22d following. No holes were
pricked in the, chip boxes for the admission of air, neither
was any kind of food given them, neither had either of
them gnawed -the wood of their domicile. Editor.

A LARGE LOBSTER.

September 4, 1819, an enormous large lobster was exhi-
bited during Bartholomew fair, Smithtield, London ; its
length was three feet three inches, and weighed thirty pounds.

EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE OF A SWAN.

At Pensey, in Buckinghamshire, a swan sitting on her
eggs, on one side of the river, observed a fox swimming to-
wards her from the opposite side ; rightly judging she could
best grapple with the fox in her own element, she plunged
into the water, and after beating him off for some time with
her wings, at length succeeded in drowning him.

Monthly Mag. April, 1796.
,'olhi ,•'•»»«

EXTRAORDINARY EGGS.

A duck belonging to Mr. J. Clemenshaw, of Winmoor,
near Leeds, laid an egg rather above the ordinary size, which
was broken for the purpose of being cooked for dinner ; but,
90 examination, the contents were found to consist of a dark
muddy slime, neither resembling the white nor the yolk of an
egg ; in the middle of which was deposited a young snake of
the length of ten inches. When the egg was broken, the
reptile unfolded itself, and remained apparently in a healthy
state for about twenty hours, when having coiled itself up
again, it soon after died, and is now preserved in spirits by
Mr. Clemenshaw. La Belle Assemblce, July, 1810.

EXTRAORDINARY VEGETABLES^

DOUBLE EGG.

It was formerly esteemed a very rare circumstance to find
one egg included in another ; of late, however, more than one
instance has been noticed. Mr. Sherwin, of Alerdon, near
Whitehaven, has a dunghill hen which lately deposited an egg
of unusual size ; on examination, a complete and propor-
tionate egg was found in the place where the yolk was ex-
pected. La Belle Assemblee, Aug. 1810.

In the possession of Mr. George Murray, confectioner,
Edinburgh, there is now a turkey's egg, which contains, be-
sides a complete yolk and white, a perfectly-formed egg as
large as a pigeon's. — 1816. Editor.

WONDERFUL LARGE RAT.

A gigantic female rat was caught, December 1817, by two
labourers, while cleansing the sewer that runs under Somer-
set House, in the Strand, London. It made a stout resistance
to the attempts they made to take it ; but at last it was over-
come and killed with their spades ; its length was three feet
three inches, its weight ten pounds three quarters, and mea-
sured twenty-four inches in circumference around the body ;
the tail was sixteen inches long, and three inches round ; at
the end was a short tuft of white hair ; its teeth appeared
very strong, and stood out like those of a beaver. The co-
lour of the hair was the same as the common Norway rat.
The skin was stuffed, and exhibited as a curiosity by Mr.
Wyeth, No. 5, Sweeting's-altey, May 5, 1818.

ACCOUNT OF THE

EXTRAORDINARY LARGE GROWTH, &c. OF

SEVERAL VEGETABLES.

IK Mr. Stobbs's orchard at Wiserly Hall, near Walsing-
ham, Durham, was gathered an apple of the Yorkshire Green

4

300 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

species, measuring thirteen inches in circumference, and
weighing thirteen and a half ounces.

New Monthly Mag. Nov. 1818.
•

In the garden of J. Fillbridge, Esq. of Woodford, Dur-
ham, was gathered an apple measuring twenty-two inches in
circumference. Idem.

A single tree in the garden of John Forster, Esq. of New-
town, Cumberland, produced in the year 1818, upwards of
ten thousand apples. Idem.

In a field belonging to Colonel Burnet, of Gudgirth, Scot-
land, was pulled a turnip of the globe kind, which weighed
twenty- four pounds eight ounces, and measured four feet
eleven inches round both ways. — 1813.

The Editor has seen in the district of East Lothian,, tur-
nips frequently of, and near, this size ; and on an estate near
Dunbar, in 1812, he saw a turnip weighing 32 pounds, and
another of 28 pounds was in the same field. — Editor.

In the garden of James Cunningham, Esq. of Kelso,
Scotland, a cabbage was gathered, of so enormous a size,
that when growing, it covered with its external leaves a space
or circuit of eighteen feet, and measured in the solid body
of the plant thirty-nine inches in circumference.

Edinburgh Couranl, 1811.

EXTRAORDINARY FUNGUS.

A phenomenon, which tends much to elucidate the origin
and nature of vegetable funguses, particularly of that species
termed mushroom, lately occurred to the observation of Sir
Joseph Banks. Having a cask of wine, rather too sweet for
immediate use, he directed that it should be placed in a
cellar, that the sacchaiine matter it contained might be more
decomposed by age. At the end of three years, he directed

LARGE CUES NUT AND OAK TREK. SQ1

hw butler to ascertain the state of the wine, when, on at-
tempting to open the cellar door, he could not effect it, in
consequence of some powerful obstacle. The door was
consequently cut down, when the cellar was found to be
completely filled with a fungous vegetable production, so firm,
that it was necessary to use an axe for its removal ! This
appeared to have grown from, or have been nourished by, the
decomposed particles of the wine, the cask being empty, and
carried up to the ceiling, where it was supported by the sur-
face of the fungus. The Age, March 21, 1819.

EXTRAORDINARY LARGE MELONS.

In the garden of Sir William Rowley, at Tendering Hall,
there are now growing three melons of the extraordinary size
of thirteen feet in circumference, two of them measuring
four feet each, and the third full five feet.

Statesman, Sept. 16, 1811.

EXTRAORDINARY LARGE CHE8NUT TREE.

In Lord Ducie's park, at Toitworth, in Gloucestershire,
there is a chesnut tree of most extraordinary age and dimen-
sions : at five feet from the ground, its circumference is fifty
feet, and at three feet, fifty two feet. The body is only ten
feet from the base to the fork, yet that part alone measures
one thousand solid feet. In the reign of King Stephen, this
tree was so remarkable for its magnitude, that it was called
the Great Chesnut Tree of Tamworth (now Tortworth) :
from this circumstance, it is calculated, that the tree must
have been planted in the reign of Egbert, A. D. 800, and this
calculation is founded on the supposition, that a chesnut tree
is three hundred years before it is in prime, so that allowing
this conjecture, the tree, at this time, is no less than one
thousand years old. La Belle Assemble, Jan. 1810.

LARGE OAK.

The following are the dimensions of one of the largest
oaks ever cut down in this kingdom ; it grew in the parish

302 BIBBY'P WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

of Bassaleg, Monmouthshire, about four mjles from New-
port, near the canal, and \vas cut down last year, and pur-
chased by Mr. T. Harrison. The tiunk, ten feet in length,
measured 47O solid fvet; twelve limbs, respectively 60, 106,
355, 452, 233, 113, 28, Io6, 84, 70, 98, and 75 feet;
making altogether 2>02 feet of sound timber. Dead limbs,
126 feet of timber, making a total of £428 feet of timber.
It required the labour of four men for twenty days, to fell
it and strip the bark. General Chronicle, 1811.

BEMARKABLE GREAT YEW TREE.

The great )ew tree at Fortingall, in Perthshire, was mea-
sured by the Hon. Judge Barrington, previous to the year
1770, and was found in girth to measure fifty-two feet.

• Editor,

REMARKABLE GREAT ASH TREE.

The great ash tree in the churchyard of Kilmalie, in
Lochaber, burnt down during the troubles in 1746, was long
considered as the largest and most remarkable tree in Scot-
land. Its remains were measured in October, 1764, at the
ground, and the circumference was found to be no Less than
fifty-eight feet.— Editor.

GREAT ELM TREE IN ROXBURGH.

The great Elm Tree growing in Roxburgh, in Tiviot
Dale, Scotland, called the Trysting Tree, measured in the
year 1796, iu girth, four feet from the ground, thirty feet.—
Editor.

TWO REMARKABLE LARGE BEECH TREES.

The large Beech Tree growing at Ormiston Hall, in East
Lothian, measured in May, 1762, in circumference, eighteen
feet, ten inches.

Another large Beech Tree growing near the house of
Oxenford, Mid Lothian, was measured in June, 17(53, at
three feet high from the ground, and found to haye been
nineteen ieet, six inches in circumference.— Editor*

JOHN VALE HI US. 305

JOHN VALERIUS.

WITH A PORTRAIT.

THIS extraordinary man was born in the Upper Palati-
nate, in the year 1667, without arms, or even the remains
of any ; the shoulders being perfectly smooth and rounded,
with the exception of the right, from the centre of which
a thumb only projected. From this singular mutilation by
Nature, he, being bereaved of parents and friends by death,
was under the necessity of exhibiting himself, and his various
performances, in order to gain a livelihood ; and about the
year 1705, he arrived in London, where he attracted much
attention by the various feats of dexterity, he was by neces-
sity and habitual practice obliged to perform with his feet
and toes. In fact, all that other persons, in the full pos-
session of their limbs could execute, was executed by Va-
lerius, with these only.

In the absence of all other documents relating to this
wonderful man, we are necessitated to draw up this slight
sketch from a set of prints, consisting of sixteen, the first
being his portrait, from which our plate is taken ; these are
extremely rare, and it is presumed this book of prints was,
engraved for, and sold by himself to such persons who by
curiosity were induced to visit him. They are descriptive
of the following feats : —

Beating a drum, — Shaving himself, and combing his wig, —
Elevating his leg to his head, and with his great and adjoining
toe, he was enabled to take his hat off, and make an obeisance,
standing in an erect posture. He writes with his right foot,
keeping the paper steady on the ground with his left. He
plays at cards, holding the cards between his toes, and throws
dice with great dexterity. Standing erect, he grasps with his
toes a stool (on which he usually sits) by the lower rail, and
holds it out in a horizontal position. He places his stool on
a table, M-ith one of the legs overhanging, on which, at the
top of the overhanging leg he places a die ; then resting his
left foot on the centre of the stool, his right leg and foot

VOL. VI. X

306 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

- ' »

being stretched out as an equilibrium for the other part of
the body, he stoops down and takes the die off the spot
where it was placed, with his mouth. He stands with his
left foot oti the edge of a table, at the second joint of his
great toe he places a die, and stooping down, takes the
die in bis mouth ; his right foot being off the ground, forms a
balance to his body. He stands erect on the tips of his
great toes alone. He stands erect, and balances a glass of
liquor on his forehead,' walking backwards and forwards, with-
out spilling the liquor. He stands on the edge of a table on
his left foot, and bending backwards, brings his body in a pa-
rallel line with the table, the right foot being placed under
the front edge of the table, by the strength of his great toe
he forms the point of resistance to his body. Standing on
ins four-legged stool, his feet being placed close together,
and bending forwards between his knees, he takes up a glass
of liquor that is placed on the ground at the foot of the stool,
in his teeth. Sitting on his stool, he places a glass of liquor
on his head; at the same time elevating his legs in a perpen-
dicular line to his head, his two feet being on each side
of his head behind. Standing in an erect position, with a
foil held by his toes, and supported by the bottom of his
right foot, which is rendered ns pliable as a hand, he elevates
his leg to a horizontal position, and parries any thrust that
might be made against him by the most expert fencer. The
last of his extraordinary feats with which he usually closed his
exhibition, was firing a musket ; this feat he performed sit-
ting on his stool, the musket being supported between the
great and fore toe of the left foot, his right foot is turned
inwards towards the butt end of the musket, the great and
fore toe being much extended for the purpose of support,
he pulled the trigger with his little toe, at the same time
looking intently along the barrel, as if taking good aim.

The great flexibility of his legs and feet was such, that
he could use them for every office in which persons bora
with arms and hands were accustomed to do, his toes

w

MARTHA BAOSHAW.

supplying every deficiency of tlie want of fingers; and from
constant habit and use, they had attained such flexibility and
prodigious strength, that few with their hands could cope
with him.

MISS BEFFIN.

THIS extraordinary female was exhibited as a great curio-
sity in London and its vicinity, during the years 1815, 18 10,
and 1817- She was generally called the miniature painter.
Some of her performances we have seen her execute in a
very neat manner. She at last became very lusty. Her ex-
ploits were usually described at the time of her exhibition,
by the following handbill : —

" This young lady was born deficient of arms, hands, and
legs ; she is of a comely appearance, twenty-four years of
age, and only thirty-seven inches high. She displays a
great genius, and is an admirer of the tine arts. But what
renders her so worthy of public notice, is the industrious and
astonishing means she has invented and practised, in obtain-
ing the use of the needle, scissors, pen, pencil, &c. wherein
she is extremely adroit. She can cut out and make any
part of her own clothes, sews extremely neat, and in a most
wonderful manner, writes well, draws landscapes, paints mi-
niatures, and many more wonderful things, all of which she
performs principally with HER MOUTH.

" The reader may easily think it impossible she should b«r
capable of doing what is stated in the bill, all of which she
performs principally with her mouth."

MARTHA BAGSHAW.

THIS lady is a native of New York> in America, born
without arms, was exhibited1 in the years 1816, 1&17, and
1818, in London. At first she went under the oam» of

x 2

308 K1RBY 8 WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

Miss Honeywell, the American Wonder. Her attainments
are thus explained by those attending upon her : — " She
works embroidery, and nets very fine silk purses; cuts
watch-papers, with initials, or pieces for framing, according
to any design that may be given, writes, draws, threads the
needle, ties the knot, and is capable of doing any kind of
needlework ever attempted by any other lady ; the whole of
which she performs with her mouth and toes, in the pre-
sence of the company. As a proof of her countenance
being perfectly agreeable, her portrait, a perfect likeness, was
exhibited at the door of her exhibition ; likewise a specimen
of her work. This lady rose superior to every, obstacle
which Nature has placed in her way. Possessed of un-
common talents, her industry has not suffered them to lie
dormant. Those acquirements she now possesses, have
been attained by her own natural vigour of mind, without
any scholastic education ; and whilst contemplating these
united qualifications, all must acknowledge her a phenome-
non.

" Her countenance is a living lesson of the greatest phi-
losophy that can possibly be attained ; namely, possessing
feeling, and yet being happy under the heaviest calamities
and deprivations, perfectly resigned to her most peculiar
lot, and thankful to the Supreme Being, for the blessings
she possesses ; and in the formation of her mind, Nature
has amply made amends for the deficiency of arms. In
short, this lady's performances astonish every beholder."

MASTER VINE.

THIS juvenile artist was born in the year 1809, at Bury
St. Edmunds, where his father was in the employ of a
farmer. He is not in the same situation as any one of the
foregoing prodigies. He was born with remarkable short
arms, and only a thumb and little finger on each ; at the

THOMAS JOHN. 309

early age of two years, he began to practise drawing, without
any instructions, and proceeded progressively till the age of
four, when he was exhibited publicly, to shew the masterly
manner in which he executed landscapes, and for several
years since has visited all the principal fairs in the kingdom.
He possesses a handsome well-proportioned person, except
his arms, which Nature has amply compensated for, by
bestowing on him the means to display his extraordinary
genius. He was in London, September 18 19.

THOMAS JOHN,

2. REMARKABLE CALCULATOR, AT TEN YEARS OF AGE.

THOMAS, the son of David John, a poor labourer of
Merihir Tidvil, in the mountainous part of Glamorgan-
shire, was ten years of age in November 1786. He first
discovered an extraordinary talent for enumeration by the
power of the mind. At six years of age, when b'stening to
the story of a young man who had been in the army, and
who was telling the father of the child that he had been
absent four years ; the boy in a few minutes said, then you
have been absent so many months, weeks, and days ; men-
tioning ihe specific number. The soldier then took a pen,
and found the child's calculation was perfectly correct.

Mr. Miles, a schoolmaster in the neighbourhood, who
taught him to read, put a variety of questions to him ; such
as, the number of minutes that had elapsed since the birth
of our Saviour, calculated to a given period; which he pre-
sently answered, both by the solar and Julian year. The
amount of the national debt, laid out in guineas in a
straight line, each measuring an inch ; this he answered im-
mediately; when he was allowed each guinea to be only
three quarters of an inch, he answered also correctly.
Many other trials, and proofs of his calculating powers were
given, and attested by the Rev. John Davis, curate of Mer*

31O KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

thir Tidvil, Isaac Jones, attorney-at-law, and Thomas Rees,
gentleman.

Gentleman's Magazine, December 1786. p. 1035.

NARRATIVE OF THE

SUFFERINGS OF MATTHEW COX, ESQ.
OF ENFIELD;

The original Projector of an Attempt to raise the Royal
George, sunk at Spit head. Taken from his own Journal
of a Voyage from St. Christopher's to Jamaica, in the
West Indies, commenced on the 1 5th of January, 1757,
and presumed to have never before been made public.

AT four P. M. on board the Duke packet, Capt. Owen

Phillips, mounting eight four-pounders, six swivels, sixteen

men, ten boys, and three passengers, viz. myself, Lieut. M.

Leord, and a young lady. At five P. M. weighed with a

pleasant gale, which continued till the 2 1 st inst. when it fell

almost calm, and at daybreak saw two sail, as we were run-

ning down on the south side of Hispaniola ; one was a bri-

gantine, the other a large sloop, both to the southward.

The latter gave us chase ; at 6 A. M. made Cape Tiberoon,

bearing N. W. distant about eight leagues, the wind failing,

she came up with us fast, by the assistance of her oars : at

nine A. M. she fired a gun to leeward, and hoisted a St.

George's pendant, which we answered, and hoisted an

English ensign. We then stood in for the land; at ten

A. M. she gave us a bow chaser ; when we hoisted our pen-

dant, and got ready for engagement, as she now rowed fast up

with us, it still being a dead calm. At eleven A. M. we

had a small breeze, when we put about and stood for her ;

she then hoisted a French pendant. At meridian we were

alongside of her, when we gave her two broadsides, and re*

ceived one ; she stood after us, but we dropped her last, she

keeping up a constant fire with her bow chasers ; on which

MATTHEW COX, ESQ. $\\

\ve got one of our aftermost larboard guns on our quarter
deck, and discharged it a few times, when to our great joy
we found we were out of her reach. But in about hair an
hour afterwards it fell calm, and she soon again, with the
assistance of her oars, rowed upon our starboard side, when
a warm engagement commenced. Her first broadside shot
our foresail from the yard, which created great confusion :
about t\vo P. M. she attempted to board us, and manned
her bowsprit with fifteen or sixteen men. She laid us on
board afore the foremast shrouds ; we received their fire
from their pistols, and returned it with our small arms,
which brought every man down upon our ship's gunwale, or
into the sea; they then backed astern, and we raked them
with round and grape shot, and were in hopes that she in-
tended leaving us ; but after a short consultation, she rowed
alongside of us, at about thirty yards distance, when they kept
a constant fire with their cannon and small arms, and throw-
ing hand grenades, &c. in showers on our decks, which blew
our compasses out of the binnacle, which was soon after
carried off the deck by a shot. Between three and four
o'clock she attempted laying us on board the second time,
between our main and fore shrouds. They rigged out a
large stinkpot from their bowsprit end, and manned the
same, which we received on our deck with a volley of pis-
tols ; but we soon drove them all on board but five, which
we killed. About five P. M. she got under our quarter; we
could not now bring a gun but the one on our quarter-deck
to bear on them, which was loaded with grape-shot, and
kept up also a fire with our small arras. At last, we were
informed that our cartridges were all expended, but what
were in our guns ; we then called for quarter, thinking our
behaviour deserved it, and hauled down our ensign ; two or
three lads attempted to fetch down the pendant, but when
in the shrouds, the enemy fired at them, which prevented
their going aloft. We now discovered that she was striking
to us, and her colours were half down ; the smoke clearing

312 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

off, they found we had struck to them. One round of pow-
der more had saved the following misfortunes : three men
came on board about a minute before any other of the crew,
one of which we found afterwards to be a volunteer of the
name of St. Sander. He ran up to the captain as he was
stepping on the quarter deck, (he had been in the cabin to
see the mail thrown overboard), and took off his nose at one
cut ; another deprived him for ever of the use of his right
arm, and he received also sixty-one other wounds. The
other villain went to the quarter deck, and cut the hands of
two boys almost off, who were stowing away the colours;
the third came up to me, and with his cutlass struck at my
head, but happily missed me. I called for quarter, when
he told me in English, they would kill every Englishman
on board, at the same time St. Sander called out a tuer a
tout. My antagonist's cutlass striking in the bulk head,
gave me time to pick up one of our own cutlasses, which,
with our small arms, pistols, &c. were thrown on the quar-
ter deck ; the second stroke I put by, and with my cutlass
laid him dead at my feet. The privateer's crew was then
coming over our quarter-deck in great numbers, when I went
between decks, where I found most of our people stowed
away in different places. I concealed myself under part of
our stream cable, from whence I saw my shipmates cut and
hacked in a most cruel manner, and then drove on deck.
What happened the next hour I was not an eye-witness of;
concealing myself till I thought they were pretty quiet, I
ventured to pull a scuttle back, that went through into the
steerage, where Mr. Salmon, our master, was lying on my
chest, with a large clasp knife in his hand, which he had
just pulled out of his belly, that was stuck there by a
Frenchman, whom he had asked for a drink of water. He
had also his skin torn off from his waist to his shoulders by
the bursting of a stinkpot. Going into the cabin, I per-
ceived the young woman almost naked, who, after they had
stripped her, pinched her breasts till they were as black as

MATTHEW COX, ESQ. 313

a coal, then gave her only two petticoats to go on shore in.
I being soon perceived by the plundering crew, they called
out " kill him ! kill him !" on which I ran on the quarter-
deck, where 1 instantly had a brace of pistols fired at my
head, which missing me, I was knocked down by the French
boatswain, who attempted to stab me ; but putting up my
left arm, received the cutlass in at my elbow, which went in
almost to my shoulder. On getting up, I had the same arm.
broken in two places, when i was thrown overboard, and
fell amongst our rigging, which was hanging over our sides ;
and by fortunately laying hold of a fast rope, I shifted it
from my hand to my mouth, and with my feet against the
ship's side, I lifted myself up. Getting my feet on the gun-
wale, and my hand on the quarter-rail, I received a cut
across my fingers, which obliged me to let go my hold, and
as the privateer was dropping astern, I fell on board her,
the grapplings being still fast on our vessel's deck ; those
who were received on board with myself, were now put into
the hold, where we lay for near twenty-four hours without
our wounds being dressed. I received nine wounds, two
with a cutlass on my head, and with a blow nearly the loss
of my sight for several weeks. Afterwards, when we were
brought on deck, we saw our mate floating by the side, and
was informed he had his legs and arms almost cut off, and
thrown into the sea alive.

Lieut. M. Leord never came on deck during the engage-
ment, which he informed the first Frenchman that accosted
him : he called him a coward, and taking up a handspike,
broke his arm, and then knocked him down. They then
rowed the sloop into La Cotto Bay, being to leeward,
having the packet in tow. Coming to an anchor, they buried
their captain, and then put us on shore, confining us in a
small room, with eleven more Englishmen they had on
board. We were marched to Aux Cayes, which is about
fifteen leagues across the mountains, many of us almost
naked ; I had nothing but a pair of trousers to cover me,

314 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

the sun burning my brains, and the skin peeling from my
back. They allowed us no provisions during our march ;
our captain and a few men were left at the place of our
landing, being unable to travel, as were, many of our compa-
nions, who dropped on the road, where they were left, and
of whom we never more heard.

By the English we found on board the privateer, we were
informed, that the French captain, two lieutenants, the mas-
ter's mate, and thirty men, were killed, and thirty wounded.
Some of our people, who were allowed to walk the deck
after they came to an anchor, saw them sent on shore.

While I was in the hospital, several of them were brought
there, and fifteen of them suffered amputation of their legs
and arms. We dismounted six of their guns, drove her
three after-ports into one, and her two foremost ports also
into one. She was called the America, Capt. Blankics,
mounting fourteen guns, six-pounders, sixteen swivels, and
110 men.

On our arrival at Aux Cayes, we were put in gaol, and the
commandant; with some gentlemen, came to see us ; from
whom we received uncommon marks of civility, giving the
seamen money for their gallant behaviour. The engagement
being about four miles from the shore, they saw it all, and
expected we should have taken the privateer. I was ordered
into the gaoler's house, and put into his bed, after having
my wounds dressed, and a charge given by the commandant
for me not to be disturbed till he sent. Here I remained
till next day, when I was sent to the hospital, with two
other miserable objects. The commandant kindly sent me,
three days after I was in the hospital, two shirts, two suits
of clothes, stockings, caps, &c. and more care could not be
taken in an hospital, than was taken of me there. Here I
remained till the 22d of March, when I was removed to the
prison, to make room for Mr. George M onslow, master of
the ship Swan, belonging to Bristol, who was ill of a fever.
Though I had not as yet recovered the use of my arm, during

MATTHEW COX, ESQ. 315

my stay in the prison, £ had liberty to walk in the fields till
evening, when thoughts of making my escape from so dismal
a situation, often made great impressions on my mind ; but
several companies of sailors having attempted it before in
vain, met with the most cruel treatment after being retaken ;
some of them had been put on an iron bar, three feet from
the ground, and eighteen inches from the wall, in a close
place, with a shackle on one leg, the other on the bar, till
they were cramped, and then fell to the ground. Others
they put into the cashoot, which is like an oven with double
doors, filling it with as many as they could cram in, some of
which were dragged out, nearly suffocated.

At last I came to the resolution of attempting an escape
by the assistance of an English negro, who was cook of our
vessel, and who was now taken into the French service
against his will. He procured a barge, with six oars, masts,
and sails, but no compass. I had mentioned my scheme to
my fellow sufferers, a surgeon and a mate of a Guineaman,
who were also prisoners ; we had bread, cheese, raisins, and
water, sufficient for fourteen days, at short allowance. On
the Kith of May, we set off at about eight o'clock at night;
my boy had our provisions on his head, and went first,
the negro carried the water, and we followed at some dis*
tance from each other. We had agreed to go off at the
fort, thinking it most secure. Passing the guard-house, the
boy was stopped by the centinel, and confined, with all our
stock of provisions. We got safe down to the shore, and
by the darkness of the night concealed ourselves while the
negro went to buy a pound of bread, which cost three shil-
lings, being all the silver we had, and we could not trust
him with gold ; for if a negro has gold, he is taken up for
examination. We dared not venture ourselves into the town
at this time of the night ; we then took a small boat, and
put off with one oar to our own barge; but when we
came alongside of her, how great was our consternation,
when we found the masts, sails, and oars, taken out : we
2

316 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

then were convinced that we were deceived. To go back
would be to a lingering death, under the greatest cruelties ;
to proceed had no other prospect than the ocean for our
grave, as the boat we left the shore in was but eight feet
nine inches keel. We had no time to dispute ; so taking the
back- boards out of the barge, of which we afterwards made
paddles, put off, and instead of going directly out of the
harbour, went to the leeward of the ships, and got under
the stern of a large Dutchman, by which means our pur-
suers went ahead of us ; and the dashing of their oars was
our guide out of the harbour. By four o'clock next morn-
ing, with one oar and the two boards, we got past the Isle
of Ayche, being eighteen or twenty miles ; there was a great
swell of the sea near shore, so that we dared not venture
into the bay till daylight. About six A. M. we ventured in,
and hauled our boat ashore, but the musquitoes and sand-
flies were so numerous, we could hardly live. We tied our
handkerchiefs over our faces, to guard them from the in-
sects. The wood on the shore where we landed, was so
thick, that we could not get fifty yards up ; we cut a small
tree, made a mast, &c. stripped the bark of a maple tree,
and made ropes and twine. While we lay here, we saw our
pursuers pass the mouth of the bay ; but our boat being
covered with boughs, they passed by us to our great joy.
As soon as we had completed a stout rope, we launched our
boat, and of our shirts we made two sails ; fortunately I had
two sail-needles in my pocket, which assisted us much :
with the bodies we made a mainsail, and the sleeves made a
good foresail ; got up our mast, rigged out a bumkin, and
put in throats ; we having each of us a good knife, made our
work the easier.

At meridian the 18th day of May we left the island, and
stood out to sea, the skin of all our heads by the musqui-
toes and sandflies peeled off. We had only one pound of
bread, and sixty- four raisins I had in my pocket, with about
•ix gallons of water. Running between the west end of

MATTHEW COX, ESQ. 317

the Isle of Ayche and Hispaniola, we saw a boat in chase
of us. We then stood for the offing, but found iu an hour's
run she came up with us fast. We perceived she had eight
hands in her; we then determined to stand towards her,
though we had no weapons but sticks and knives, but were
resolved to sell our lives dearly. We stood on, and they
did not alter their course till we were within musket shot ;
they then put about, and stood in for the land, with their
oars, and all the sail they could make, to our great joy; we
then kept our course about five leagues from the shore, that
we might not be seen from thence, and in hopes of meeting
some vessel in the offing. We had a fine breeze till about
nine o'clock P. M. when it began to blow very hard, and our
compass, which was the land, we could no longer see. We
were now obliged to strike our mast, and drove at the mercy
of the waves, keeping our boat before the sea. About
twelve it rained very hard, and continued with the wind till
about six A. M. when the wind abated, and the weather
clearing up, we found ourselves about eight leagues to the
westward of Hispaniola, Cape Tiberoon bearing about
E. by N. We then stuck up a knife, the sheath of which
we steered by, as we do by the stars at night. We had very
little sun this day, and the waves running so very high, could
not keep our intended course. We this day arranged our
watch, two atid two; one steered, and the other kept con-
stantly bailing, the sea breaking over us ; the other two were
obliged to lie at the bottom, instead of ballast. The doctor
desired us to tie our handkerchiefs round our bellies, to
keep what we had within us ; which answered the end, ex-
cept to himself, who was very laxative and very sick. At
sunset this day we could descry the cape bearing E. N. E.
the sea began to moderate, with a geutle breeze all night.
At daybreak on the 19th we lost sight of land: we had
at this time only about half of our bread left, but on
examining our water, found to our great grief that it was
above half lost by the rolling of the boat, and the leaking of
the cask. The weather continuing fine, we judged that by

318 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

midnight we should make the Island of Jamaica. We kept
on our course \^. by S. as near as we could judge, though 1
am certain we often varied many points, by the clouds over-
casting in the night, and for want of the sun by day. Hji(j

About two o'clock A. M. of the 20th, we thought we saw
the land; at least one and all agreed we did. It being
quite calm, we got to our paddles with a good will. About
four A. M. being heartily fatigued, and no wind, we agreed
to lie down to rest, being certain of the land, which now
seemed not more than two miles distant. We ate the last
of our bread, which was grown green with the sea water,
and made each of us a hearty dinner; but it is impossible
for pen to write, or tongue to express our grief, when at
daybreak we perceived that we had been labouring after a
fog-cloud, which now began to leave us to the southward
about three leagues. The sea breeze now began to set in so
violent, that we were obliged to strike our mast, and drive at
the mercy of the winds and waves. About nine A. M. of
the 21st the wind shifted to the southward, and began to rain
in torrents, which lasted twenty-four hours, when the wind
began to fall, but the rain rather increased ; we got up our
mast, and made sail ; our sails were now become very bad,
having often mended them with our handkerchiefs. We had
constant thunder, with a deal of lightning. We continued
in this situation three days, twenty- four hours of which we
were without water or bread. The doctor was very ill, and
we expected he would have lost his senses; he had very
nearly twice overset our little bark. Starving was what we
now expected, and I believe not one of us thought of the
danger we were in by the smallness of our boat in so great
a sea. Thirst at last obliged us to drink our own urine ;
when we came to the resolution to kill the negro for suste-
nance ; but he being a stout man, and living when on shore
better than ourselves, we could not accomplish it ; our boat
being small, we found we could but one attack him at a time,
and he being suspicious of our actions, watched an oppor-

MATTHEW COX, ESQ.

tunity of throwing three of our knives overboard, which
proved the means of saving his life. I had two musket
balls in my pocket; put one of them into my mouth, and
by rolling and chewing them, kept it cool and moist ; the
first I undesignedly swallowed when asleep; the other lasted
me three days, by taking it out of my mouth when I slept ;
and to this I have always attributed the preservation of my
life and senses. In the evening we saw a great quantity of
gulph- weed floating, which we caught and ate ; one after-
noon the negro came up to . steer, but we never after per-
mitted him to be in the stern. The next day being the 26th,
it became more moderate weather, but so thick we could not
see a mile from us; and as we had steered N. from the 21st,
began to be afraid of running between the islands of Cuba
and Hispaniola, and getting into the northern seas. We
now began to despair, and wished foj death, to relieve us
from the pangs of hunger and thirst, having nothing to sa-
tisfy either but the floating gulph-weed. About two A. M.
as I was steering, a bird called a noddy, -flew several times
round me, and^ at last settled on my breast, where it re-
mained till I shifted my our, with which I steered under my
left arm, which was then in a sling. I took it from my
breast, with hardly patience to kill it, before I put its head
into my mouth, and kept picking it, while I sucked its blood.
I then waked my companions, it being almost daylight, and
gave it to the doctor to divide, which he performed very
justly, each man's share being about three quarters of an
ounce. The head of this bird I sucked for near four hours.
Surely such a sudden alteration was never known in four
human creatures ; as we considered ourselves now as strong
as we were on the day we set out.

On the 22d the weather began to clear, but we could
see no land. We then agreed that the negro must die, if
we did not make the land soon ; having one knife only left,
we intended getting him between us, and attacking him all
together. But in the midst of our consultations, he jumped

320 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

overboard, and endeavoured to overset the boat, saying, we
should all die together: but we prevented this desperate act,
by beating him off with our paddles. At last he prayed to
be taken on board, which we did at the stern, and the next
morning it pleased God to prevent our design being carried
into execution ; for on the 23d, about four P. M. we saw
the land bearing N. about eight leagues; at six A. M. on
the 24th, we were within four leagues ; we now found there
was a strong current against us. At ten A. M. we ap-
peared to be no nearer; at eleven A. M. we saw a sloop to
the westward plying to windward : we immediately stood for
her, and hoisted a handkerchief on a pole as a signal of dis-
tress. She soon after hove to, but finding we made no way,
she stood towards us, and thanks to God, about four P. M.
was alongside. They threw us a rope, which we caught;
but had not strength sufficient left to hold the boat. One of
the sailors jumped into our boat, and assisted us : we now
found ourselves so weak, that we could not stand, and were
obliged to be lifted on deck, where we lay suffering the
greatest pains, the skin being all peeled from off our shoul-
ders, hips, &c. The ship was a Spaniard, belonging to
Cuba ; they took all the care of us in their power, and we
began soon to recover our strength. Their strongest liquor
was water, and their food jerked beef and plantains ; and
though we ate sparingly of their green food, it had nearly
cost us our lives. They had no boat on board, and fancy-
ing ours, hoisted it on deck. About ten P. M. it began to
blow a gale, with heavy rain, and continued so all night.
In the morning of the 25th we found that we had lost one
of our purses, with about five pounds in gold dust and coin,
which but the day before was considered of no value ; but
we now found the want of it. The gale continued, and our
new bark became little better than a wreck. On the 29th,
about six A. M. we were obliged to bear away, and at the
same time shipped a heavy sea ; and our mainsail being but
half hoisted, and not reefed, fell in it, and set us on our

MATTHEW COX, ESO,.

beam ends. The Spaniards began counting their beads,
and falling on their knees, prayed to their Santa Maria. The
doctor and myself ventured on the boom, and cut away the
sail, by which means she righted. We then stood before the
wind, until we made a small bay, and not being able to keep
her free, she having but one pump, run in, and came to anchor
with two rotten cables, from which in about half an hour she
parted, and \ve all went ashore together, which was what we had
many days before wished for. But in a few hours, on the
gale moderating, we would have been glad to have ventured
to sea again in our own small boat, in order to have reached
Jamaica, if they would have sold us provisions; but our suf-
ferings were not so soon to be at an end, for they kept our
boat, and would not part with it for any consideration.
They all got into it, except two, and went round to some
port unknown to us. We remained on this desolate part
of Cuba three days, when the two Spaniards agreed to shew
us over the mountains to a port called M'Kacaw, about
ninety miles distant. Accordingly, we set out on the 2d of
June, and soon discovered that the Spaniards were all well
acquainted with the mountains, though at first we had some
suspicion of them, that they intended unfair play. We sel-
dom travelled in a path, except where the mountains were
very steep ; we often saw the track and dung of mules, and
they informed us they travelled that way to prevent their
being seized, when their cargoes were designed for the
English islands, it being death to export mules. We found
the loadstone in plenty on these mountains. The third day
we arrived at M'Kacaw, very much fatigued for want of
water, when we were instantly seized by the chief magistrate,
under a pretence of smuggling; M'Kacaw being a small
port, much frequented by smugglers. We were here de-
tained until the ?th of June, when we were sent on foot
under a strong guard to the city of Byam, about 120 miles
inland from M'Kacaw. We met with nothing material on
our journey, but bad roads, oftentimes up to our waist* iu

VOL. VI, Y

322 KIRBV'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

mud and water, and expected at every step to fall into some
deep pit, and be sinpthered. Our guards having horses,
escaped the fatigues of the swamps, which were now
overflowed by the rainy season having set in. We had
only two Spaniards with us as guards, but it was impos-
sible now to escape; therefore we submitted ptrtiently,
hoping to pass a sea port in our journey. After five days ex-
cessive fatigue, we arrived at Byam without shoes, hats, and
almost naked. We should have appeared as objects of pity
and compassion to Englishmen, though we were not so to
the Spaniards ; for we were immediately ordered to prison,
after a short examination, and were given to understand, that
we were to maintain ourselves while in confinement, as the
crown of Spain was not at war, there was no allowance for
Englishmen that should be taken trading with the inhabit-
ants, or should be unfortunately cast ashore upon their islands.
On our representing the impossibility of our subsisting in a
prison without any allowance, there was given to us half a
bit each daily (the value of three-pence sterling), to buy
provisions ; and this was all we received for ten days, being
the time we were detained here. We had upwards in value
of fifty pieces of eight in coin and gold dust, which we se-
creted, for fear of their plundering us. We had leave to go
about the town in the day-time to beg, but our spirits were
too great for that mean employ.

On the 22d of June, we received orders to get ready for
removal ; and we set out for the city of St. Eauger, under a
guard <bf soldiers. The road we found to be very good ; and
arrived there on the third day (June 25th,) being ninety-five
miles, about four o'clock in the afternoon. We were imme-
diately, as usual, put into the condemned hole, as prisoners,
without any examination. The miserable inhabitants of this
place were all confined with irons on their legs, and placed in
the stocks : this place might very properly be called a dun-
geon, there being but one hole that admitted light, and that
at the top of the wall, with no place for the necessary relief

3

•,l-:,; MATTHEW COX, ESQ.

of nature, but the floor, aiui that was already covered with above
an inch thick in human ordure ; and had it not been for the
generosity of one of the sailors that belonged to the vessel that
took us up, we must have starved : this poor generous fellow,
as soon as he heard we were arrived, pretended to have sold
his sleeve-buttons and his only jacket to purchase provisions
for us, which he brought with him the first visit he made us.
This was the man who we suspected had robbed us of our
gold dust ; and indeed we were now convinced of it — when
we got on shore, he was almost naked, but immediately he
bought silver buttons, new clothes, &.c. ; however, he was
now friendly inclined towards us ; and by his advice, we had
a petition presented to the governor, setting forth the usage
we had met with in the island, die distress we were then in,
and that we wanted no other favour but our liberty, as we
might then be enabled to procure the means of returning
home.

The only bed we had iu this wretched place was sitting
astride the stocks, and lying on our backs, from which we
were often awakened by falling 'on the ground, where we
were almost smothered in the filth that lay thereon.

On the fourth day (the 29th of June), the governor com-
plied with our petition ; and we agreed with the governor
for a boat for forty pieces of eig4it ; finding we raised the
money readily, he insisted on fifty pieces of eight, which
obliged us to sell every thing we had, and which they would
purchase. After paying for our boat, he obliged us to take
eight Englishmen (which had been put on shore by a French
privateer) over to Jamaica with us. We represented the
difficulty we were under to provide provisions for ourselves,
having no more than about four shillings sterling left ; our
petitions were iu vain. Accordingly, we set sail on the 1st
of July, at six P. M. Our main-sail was made of a blanket,
belonging to one of the prisoners; we had no compass to
direct us in our voyage ; and our provisions only two cassada
cakes, 24 plantains, and about 20 gallons of water. It howeve i

Y 2

324 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

pleased God, and we had fine calm weather ; and on the 3d
of July, about six A. M. went ashore at Howard's Bay, on
the N. E. end of Jamaica, where we got some little refresh-
ment, and again made sail. Soon after, it began to blow
very hard from the southward, with a very heavy sea, which
made it impossible for our little bark to get round Morant
Point, and we stood in for Manchonel harbour, where we
got safe ashore once more, about five P. M. We then sepa-
rated— being determined to hazard our lives no more on the
turbulent ocean, in so small a boat ; accordingly, six of our
party set out for Kingston, being eighty-five miles distant ;
our route lay over a high and rugged mountainous country,
and the whole of us in the most deplorable state, being
literally almost naked ; I had only a pair of ragged trowsers,
a flannel waistcoat, and a handkerchief about my head ; but
the thoughts of soon seeing our friends, made our difficulties
seem easy. On the 6th of July, about four P. M. we
reached Rock Fort, where the commanding officer pressed
the whole of us for his Majesty's service, and sent us under
a strong guard to Kingston. Here (on making myself
known) I soon found friends who obtained my release ; and
after five months and fifteen days of severe hardships, it
pleased God to return me to my surprised friends in King-
ston, in Jamaica, the 6th of July, 1757, saving only out of
350O/. which I carried out with me, the small sum of 5l. 6s.
in the foot of my stocking.

On the 14th of July, I purchased at vendue (a sale) a
vessel called The Rover, late Captain Stoddart, from Liver-
pool, which had been drove on shore in a hurricane, at Sa-
vanna la Mar; she now lay in three feet water and sand. On
the 16th, we hired four seamen, and took our passage in a
sugar dogger; on the 18th, arrived at Savanna ; and on the
2Sd, I got her afloat, (N. B. This vessel had been pur-
chased twice before, but given up by reason of its being
supposed impossible to get her afloat.)

On the 28th I got a slight repair made on her, and sailed

MATTHEW COX, ESQ. 3fi5

for Black river, to load for Kingston. On going round the
Point, in company with many small vessels, we were taken
by a French ^privateer, who put four men on board, and
chased the remainder of the small fleet ; we had only one
puncheon of rum on board, which the Frenchmen made very
free with ; and at nine o'clock A. M. we clapped the hatches
over them, and came safe to an anchor in Black river. Here
we completed the necessary repairs of the vessel, and took
in a loading of building-timber for Kingston. On the l6lh
of August, we were ready to sail ; but were informed a pri-
vateer lay round the Point, on which we remained until the
26th, when we set sail, in company with fourteen other sail
of sloops, schooners, &c. On the 28th, about five P. M.
stood in for Withy Wood ; saw a strange sail, at six A. M. ;
she came up, fired a gun, and hoisted French colours, and I
•was again made prisoner. The crew informed us, that
Admiral Knowles, the governor, had sailed for England, and
that all the guns in the fort had been dismounted the day
before, and that they had eaten their dinners on shore. On
going on board the French privateer, I was known to the
captain, who offered to let me ransom, which I refused ; he
then told me, in hopes to make me comply, that if he carried
me to Aux Cayes, I should be hanged for carrying off the
negro. I informed him that he was originally my property,
and that I had as great right to take him from them as his
countrymen had to take him from me. Finding I would not
comply to ransom, he gave me leave to go on board my
vessel for my chest, quadrant, and liquors ; the latter, them-
selves were in great want of. They sent me on board in a
canoe with two seamen, and the first lieutenant, an Irishman.
When I came on board the lieutenant took a fancy to my
swinging-compass which hung in my state room, my spy
glass, quadrant, &c. which he converted to his own use. I
then ordered my boy to make some hot weather punch
(which is very strong,) set a cold fowl before him, drew a
cork of Madeira, gave him a large tumbler of Bristol beer,

KfRBY's WONDEUFUL MUSEUM.

Sec. ; his people were at the same time enjoying themselves
on deck. The privateer was at this time about one mile
ahead, with a light. The lieutenant having got all the plun-
der he could, ordered the canoe alongside, and went into
her. I then desired he would order his two men over the
side to ease my chest down into the canoe, which he did ;
they, at the same time, laid down their pistols and cutlasses
on deck, which we immediately took possession of; and pre-
vented them from coming on board, passing the painter of
the canoe to the stern, we made it fast ; at the same time
put about, and stood in for the shore : we then hoisted out
our boat, put into her four oars, a bag of bread, some pieces
of beef, wine, beer, &c. in order to escape in her, if pursued
by the privateer.

On the 28th, about eleven, P. M. we discovered the boat
had cast off her chain, and got off with the lieutenant and
his men. In the meantime we carried all the sail we could
set, in hopes of getting into Port Royal, before the boat
could get on board the privateer ; but in the morning of the
29th, about two, A. M. we perceived the privateer's signal-
lights out, by which we concluded they had got safe on board,
and at four, A. M. a shot was fired, which went through our
main-sail. They continued chasing and firing at us till day-
break, when a ship bound to Bristol, lying without the har-
bour, seeing us chased, sent their boat to acquaint Admiral
Coats, who, with promptitude, ordered a frigate to sea for
our protection ; on which, the privateer gave us a broadside,
and bore away, at the instant we were going to run our vessel
on shore : we received twenty-six shot through our main-sail,
but fortunately none of our rigging was cut, and we thus
providentially got into Port Royal harbour, about nine, A. M.
I immediately waited on the admiral, to thank him ; he in-
formed me that he was entitled to one-eighth of the vessel
and cargo ; but as I had twice retaken my vessel, with so
few men, and no guns, he would, for my courage, appoint me
his agent. The vessel and cargo being valued, I waited on

WONDERFUL LEAP ON HORSEBACK. 82?

him with the eighth part of live net produce, as demanded,
which he very politely presented to me again, attended with
many compliments. M. C.

A DOG LOST IN A COAL-PIT EIGHT WEEKS.

EIGHT weeks ago, a terrier dog, in pursuit, it is supposed,
of a hare, was seen to fall into the shaft of an un wrought
coal-pit, in Elswick-fields, near this town. Its howling was
frequently heard, and many persons threw stones down, with
the view of putting it out of its misery, but without effect.
On Wednesday last, a mason of this town, prompted by hu-
manity, sent down his boy, who brought up the poor sufferer,
a mere skeleton ; but by care it is recovering. When first
brought up, it could not eat, but lapped water; which, dur-
ing the whole of the dismal period of its confinement (except
the hare which probably fell in with it) must have been its
only sustenance. Ti/ne Mercury, July 17, 1806.

MR. HOWE FAILED IN THE BARCLAY MATCH.

MR. HOWE, who had undertaken the Barclay match, in
Somersetshire, resigned the task yesterday se'nnight, the
fifteenth day's performance only having been completed ; and
he thereby lost a stake of two hundred guineas, and threw
himself into a state which will require some months to re-
cover. Observer, July 30, 1 809.

WONDERFUL LEAP,

STANDING ON HORSEBACK WITHOUT A SADDLE.

APRIL 13, 1761. — Captain Maney, of the Norfolk mi-
litia, standing on a horse's back, without a saddle, in full

328 . KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

speed, leaped over a live-barred gate ; and performed several
other amazing feats of horsemanship, in Hyde Park, before
the Duke of York and Prince William Henry, and many
others. Annual Register, 1761, p. 98.

MR. DOWLEN'S PEDESTRIAN FEAT.

MR. DOWLEN, a publican at Towcester, Somerset, on
Wednesday, Nov. 8, 1808, completed perhaps the most
wonderful performance ever heard of. For a wager of one
hundred guineas, he engaged to go five hundred miles in
seven days, on chosen ground, and to take his rest as he
thought proper. He started on Thursday se'nnight, and
finished the distance in Hampshire, at three o'clock on Wed-
nesday afternoon, having taken his course through Berks,
Wilts, Somerset, Herefordshire, and a part of Devonshire.
The pedestrian is a stout made man, not more than five feet
in height, and a native of Merionethshire, in Wales.

Courier, Nov. 12, 1808.

EQUESTRI-AN RIDE DOWN A STEEP HILL,

BY T. POOLE, ES.Q.

j

ON Tuesday morning last, October 17, 1815, T. Poole,
Esq. of Hodshrove, undertook, for a wager of fifty guineas,
to ride down the steepest part of the Devil's Dyke, near
Brighton, on horseback — a descent of at least three hundred
yards, and, in many places, almost vertical ! Mr. Poole is
not only one of the most daring, but of the best riders in
this country ; and the frightful and rash task above-named he
performed with the greatest ease, in the presence of a field
of nearly one hundred sportsmen ! In the descent he was

MOWS? IL'ABBE

M. BARPETRI.

329

allowed to diverge ten yards only to the right or left of the
starting point, but so nearly straight was his progress, that he
did not deviate more than three yards from the line. He
rode an aged mare of his own, who rapidly executed, her task
with her fore feet, and sliding upon her hocks, to the astonish-
ment of all present.

Observer, October 22, 1815

JCCOUNT OF

M. BARPETRI,

All ECCENTRIC TEACHER OP LANGUAGES IN LONDON.

\With a Portrait.']

M. L'ABBE BARPETRI, whose eccentricities have excited"
much notice in this metropolis, is a native of France. He
emigrated to this country, during the revolution of his own ;
where, being noticed by many respectable families at the west
end of the town, for his mild and inoffensive manners, he
commenced a teacher of languages at their request, and also
for the purpose of enabling himself to obtain a livelihood,
without the assistance of his friends. He now took a house
in Denmark-court, Denmark-street, reserving to himself the
attic story, and letting off the remainder to various tenants.
His business increasing, he purchased a very small pony,
which immediately became his only inmate and companion ; he
taught him to mount and dismount the stairs : and a small
dark room adjoining his own, was allotted to him for his
stable, where the Abbe always fed him himself, on wash,
potatoes, cabbage leaves, or, in fact, any thing he could get,
whereby a great degree of attachment between the Abbe and
his little horse was soon mutually commenced. His mo-
ments of leisure from business were now spent with his
pony in cleaning and dressing him, and this operation occu-

330 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

pied much of his time. In the morning, preparatory to
his setting out, he washes and rubs his legs and feet with
chamber-ley, at the same time using the most soothing and
affectionate language, the pony neighing to him in return ;
and it is presumed that he never once struck him. So great
is the attachment between these two eccentric beings, that
when the Abbe remains longer than ordinary at the house
where he is giving his lessons, the animal neighs with frequent
and great vehemence, as it calling on him to proceed ; and if
able to loosen his reins, and the door of the house should be
open, he immediately enters, and proceeds to mid his master,
whether above stairs or below, these being no bar or impedi-
ment to his progress, entering the room, if open, to the great
terror of his young pupils, and the amusement of the elder.
The Abbe, Vhen mounted, forms altogether a most gro-
tesque and eccentric appearance — a shabby black coat, small
round hat, face at all times very dirty, and a real French
postilion's whip in his hand. From the stirrup leathers
having been so frequently broke and tied in knots, his knees
are nearly on a level with the pummel of the saddle. The
girths are also in the same predicament, as well as the bridle
and crupper, a knot with the two ends sticking out, being the
most ready mode the Abbe has recourse to on these occasions :
on the pummel is fastened by pieces of cord, this being pre-
sumed to have been obtained from the streets during his
perambulations, also full of knots, an old and ragged great-
coat, clumsily made up into a roll ; the tail and mane of the
horse are rugged in the extreme, being cut in notches, as if
done with a bad knife, so that even two hairs seem not of a
length. On horseback he appears in great haste, his motions
in the saddle being much faster than the pace of his horse,
which never proceeds beyond a shuffling trot, in this man-
ner, he daily proceeds to the various quarters of the town,
where Iris avocation calls him, and at all times with the
greatest punctuality, may be met with going his rounds. His
usual hour of going out, is about nine o'clock in the morning ;

M. BARPETRI. 331

when, frequently, a number of boys and others, attracted
from curiosity to see this harmless eccentric being, give
him three huzzas at starting, which, on him, has no effect,
and he deigns not even to notice it. The labour of the
day being over, he retires to his room, which, it is re-
ported, is full of good furniture, piled one on another, and
so covered with dust and dirt that scarcely the colour of the
wood is discernible. For his safety, he places a deep trough
the size of the stairs, on one of them, which he tills full of
water, so that a casual visitor is endangered by stepping into it,
and thereby falling, together with the trough, &c. to the bottom;
should he providentially escape without any bones being
broken, he is certain of obtaining a good ducking for his
temerity. The luxury of a clean shirt, or even any at all, is
to him of no consequence, except on very particular days
(probably some religious festival which, as a Catholic, he
attends to), when he will appear full dressed, as if going to
Court. : (. ,

The late Duke of Queensberry, some years since, made
him a present of an old one horse chaise ; in this he used to
drive his little horse ; and, though parsimonious to a degree,
his vanity made him pay the duty for it ; but time, the de-
stroyer of all things, even laid his grasp on this poor vehicle
of the Abbe's, and it became at last so crazed and broken,
that at the end of his diurnal journey, it scarcely ever re-
turned without one piece having fallen from the other ; pieces
of knotted cords, and old straps of leather, supplied the
place of nails, which kept it together for a time : this failing,
his ingenuity contrived to build another body to the wheels
and shafts ; this was accomplished in the manner of a plat-
form, with a seat raised on it, executed in the most rude
manner ; this he contrived to fasten firm on the springs with
his usual succedanenm, knotted cords ; the wheels also, as
well as the shafts and springs, were mended, and strongly
bound with the same materials. In this vehicle, he has fre-
quently been seen driving a well-dressed female, but who or

332 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

what she was we cannot procure any account ; it could not
have been his wife, as celibacy is enjoined to all the Catholic
clergy J neither could it have been his servant, as he performs
all his domestic concerns himself.

A finishing blow, however, was given to this eccentric
machine, by the following accident: — Passing down Crown-
street, he came in contact with a waggon, which nearly
blocked up the passage ; on endeavouring to pass, he drew
up his little horse on the foot pavement, which proving too
smooth for his feet, he fell, and overturned the vehicle with
the Abbe, among a quantity of earthen ware, placed, as was
the custom, before Mr. Michael Angelo Taylor's Act, in
front of the shop of the vendor ; by the concussion, a large
quantity of the fragile ware was broken and destroyed ; and
the man of pots and pipkins loudly demanded remuneration,
which was as obstinately refused by the Abbe, who alleged
it was by accident, and that even his own chaise was destroy-
ed by means of the pots and pans being placed on the foot
pavement, on which it fell. No remuneration having for
some time taken place, the Abbe was summoned into one of
the minor Courts for the damage sustained, where he ap-
peared in person — but was cast with costs. The Abbe
shook his head, and shrewdly asked the Court, whether, if he
paid the damages, he was not entitled to the broken pieces ?
he was answered in the affirmative ; turning to the plaintiff, he
bid him bring home the broken earthen ware, and he would then
pay him the damages ; he then walked with great sang froid
out of the Court. The unfortunate plaintiff not being able
to comply with this demand, the whole having been con-
signed to the dust-carts, was obliged to rest satisfied with
the loss, and the Abbe proved the victor.

It has been asserted, that the Abbe frequently had rob-
beries and dilapidations committed on his property, by letting
ready furnished lodgings, the parties presuming on his eccen-
tric and parsimonious habits, that they should be permitted
to escape with impunity. However, we find the milk ol

WILLIAMS, THE STRONG MAN. 333

human kindness soured in the breast of the Abbe, from the
frequency of the act, and he became determined to follow
up the law on the next aggressor ; consequently, on the 20th
of March, 1819, we find him charging Edmund Kelly, at the
Marlborough-street police office, with robbing his ready fur-
nished lodgings of a bed and other articles, for which act he
was committed for trial at the following Sessions, and the
Abbe bound over to prosecute.

WILLIAMS, THE STRONG MAN.

WILLIAMS, the famous English deserter, who for two
years had found refuge with the Sieur Barbazan, in the Isle
Jourdain, has, according to accounts from Auch, at length
been arrested. The prodigious strength and violent character
of this man had rendered him the terror of all the peasants
and servants in the canton. M. Barbazan was the only per-
son who could controul him. His terrible strength was par-
ticularly displayed when he was intoxicated. Nothing could
resist his efforts. He then twisted bars of iron as if they
were frail twigs ; with a blow of his fist he broke through
partitions ; and with no other help than his fingers, tore out
the largest nails. In one of his fits, he one day took up a
servant by the middle of the body, run with him to the dis-
tance of fifty paces, and threw him over a wall twenty feet
high, on the other side of which a small rivulet flowed.
Happily some trees broke the fall of the new Lycas, who
got off with no other harm than a good fright. The prefect
has, on the application of the mayor, ordered him to be con-
ducted from brigade to brigade, until he be lodged in Toulon,

Observer, May 5, 1816.

334 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

WONDERFUL PRESERVATION

OF A BOY FALLING INTO A WELL.

ON Sunday, the 29th of August, at Carnglas, near Cole-
rain, a boy, servant to James Taggart, was engaged in raising
water from a draw-well ; the bucket falling in, he was let
down to bring it up, and when in the act of hauling him up,
the sides of the well fell in, and filled it entirely to the top.
A crowd instantly collected, who used every exertion to get
out the body (thinking it impossible he could remain alive.)
They, however, cleared out sixteen feet that day, and next
morning resumed their labour ; but it soon became so deep,
and the sides, which were a light sandy substance, con-
stantly tumbling in, rendering the descent so dangerous, that
all present refused working any longer, and advised that the
well should be rilled up again. But Mr. Taggart could not
be persuaded to leave off the search ; and two men (Archi-
bald M'Mullin and Alexander Anderson) were procured,
who, much to their credit, went down and wrought till three
o'clock in the afternoon, when they heard a cry, which at first
a good deal disconcerted them ; but at length being satisfied
it came from the boy, they redoubled their exertion. En-
couraged by the boy speaking to them several times, as they
got nearer him, until six o'clock, when they discovered him
twenty-six feet deep from the surface (the well was thirty-five
feet deep,) surrounded by earth, with a large stone over his
heat!, that had supported the weight above him, until, with
some difficulty, they extricated him, without sustaining any
other damage than his body being so much swollen that his
clothes had to be cut off him. The surgeons, however, have
proclaimed him out of danger, and he is now doing well.

Times, September 15, 1819-

DREADFUL EXPLOSION PREVENTED. 333

DREADFUL EXPLOSION PREVENTED.

FIRE AT THE ROYAL ARSENAL, WOOLWICH.

ON Sunday night, June SO, 1805, a dreadful fire took
place in the Warren, Woolwich, which, from its situation
(being only 100 yards from the magazine), excited the great-
est consternation and alarm, There is reason to fear that it
was intentionally set on lire. The long range of wood-built
storehouses, full of ordnance stores, is totally destroyed.
The greatest praise is due to the officers, cadets, 8cc. of the
Royal Artillery, for their prompt exertions to stop the
flames, and for the means adopted to prevent the magazine
from taking fire. They covered all the roof and walls of
the magazine with waggon tilts, and by keeping all the en-
gines playing on them, and keeping the cloths constantly
wet, farther mischief was prevented. Had the magazine
taken fire, the consequences must have been dreadful, as it
contained 8000 barrels of gunpowder.

On Tuesday, Sir Richard Ford went down to Woolwich,
to investigate, and endeavour to discover how the fire hap-
pened, which took place on Sunday, whether from accident
or design ; and to examine some persons who were in cus-
tody, on suspicion of being concerned in effecting this dread-
ful calamity. The examinations commenced about one
o'clock, and continued until six, before Sir Richard Ford,
assisted by his clerk. The Earl of Chatham, Master Ge-
neral of the Ordnance, was present, as were Generals
Lloyd and Rochfort, and many officers of distinction, and
Mr. Harrington, a magistrate, residing near Woolwich.

After the examinations of several persons, it clearly ap-
peared that the fire could not have been the effect of acci-
dent, as no fire or candle were ever allowed to be made use
of in the building where the fire burst out, which the cen-
tinel who first discovered it, described to appear like a
lighted candle burning through the roof; and in a moment
afterwards, a sudden burst took place, and the flames for
several yards round rushed forth with the greatest violence.

336 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

It appeared in the course of the investigation, that a la-
bourer of the name of Samuel Margatroyd, who worked in
a part of the buildings that were consumed, called the
Lobby, had, on the Sunday morning preceding the fire,
made use of very violent expressions to a brother workman,
of the name "of Norton, who generally worked in a loft over
the room where Margatroyd was stationed, and which loft
Norton and his companions asceilded by a ladder, purporting
that he, Margatroyd, would take care that Norton and his
shopmates should not go up that ladder again ; adding, with
tin oath, that he would take care so many of them should
not go up there any more. Norton also stated, that he saw
Margatroyd on the Monday morning, and recollecting the
conversation on the Sunday, he asked him if he would say
what he had said to him the day before ; which Margatroyd
said he would do, as he meant no harm by it. Several
other circumstances came out on examination, which it
would be imprudent to disclose, as they involved other per-
sons in a suspicion of being concerned in this horrid transac-
tion.

Margatroyd was committed by Sir R. Ford for further
examination.

Government took every possible measure, in order to dis-
cover the persons who were concerned in this business.
The Board of Ordnance offered a reward of 500/. A pro-
clamation from his Majesty was likewise issued, offering a
free pardon to any one concerned in this horrid transaction,
who would give information of him who actually set the
place on fire. We understand great hopes were entertained
of the villains being speedily brought to condign punishment.

The dreadful act must have been premeditated for some
time, and planned for the execution and prevention of ex-
tinguishing the flames; as when the engines belonging to
the yard were brought out, they were rendered nearly useless
by four of the brass screws belonging to the leather pipes,
being injured so much, that they would not screw together.

INDIAN JUGGLERS. 337

A number of the fire buckets were likewise rendered useless
by being cut, and holes made in them.

Mr. Harrington, a magistrate for the county of Kent, who
resides near the place, attended constantly to receive inform-
ation, and will communicate the same to Sir Richard Ford.

Nothing more was said to have transpired about the fire ;
but every exertion is still followed up to make discoveries.
Bell's Messenger, July 7, 1805.

THE INDIAN JUGGLERS.

WITH A PORTRAIT.

THE astonishing tricks of legerdemain, and also the more
astonishing feats of activity and agility, as performed by that
cast of the natives of the East, denominated from their pro-
fession, jugglers, or conjurors, has been deemed generally in
Europe, by those who never witnessed their exhibitions, the
romances of the traveller, or in more modern language, a
Munchausen. We have heard related, the account of men
swallowing swords, others suspending themselves at a great
height in the air on a tightened rope, by the slight projection
of the heel only, and performing various and astonishing
teats while thus suspended, and many others equally sur-
prising are enumerated, and though well authenticated, an
European will scarcely give credit or belief to the tale.
However, some of these very extraordinary exertions of the
jugglers of the eastern clime have been within these few
years past exhibited in our metropblis ; about the year 1814
or 1815, Captain Campbell on his return from India, im-
ported on a speculation, three of these extraordinary per-
sonages, who exhibited their wonderful feats, for nearly two
years, in Pall Mall; one of which, the swallowing of a
sword, was not the least attractive. The portrait of this
person, in the act of engulphing the sword, forms the sub-
ject of our plate accompanying this memoir. Perhaps it
is not generally known, that the immense population of
VOL. vi. z

338 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

India are graded into classes, or, as there denominated, casts,
and from that cast they never deviate, it forming a part of
their religious tenets, to which they are most scrupulously
attached. These various casts practise and follow gene-
rally, the same kind of trade or occupation ; and the son of
a travelling tinker or juggler becomes of the same occupa-
tion as his father, and so on ad infinitum. Of course the
son of the juggler becomes early initiated in the secrets and
mysteries of his father's profession, and from infancy is re-
gularly trained to feats of agility, activity, and deception ;
and from these early exertions we may account for the very
many extraordinary and almost seeming impossibilities which
they with the greatest ease are enabled to perform for the
amusement of their respective audiences. It is a trade in
which they must endeavour to excel or starve; and with this
stimulus strongly marked on their minds, they leave nothing
unattempted that is possible to be attained, and the more
dextrous in the science, the greater the eclat and profit that
necessarily accrue to themselves. Having thus endeavoured
to account for the general activity of this class of wonderful
performers of the eastern clime, we shall briefly proceed to
describe the exhibition of the Indian Jugglers, as exhibited
in this metropolis. Having been a spectator, and minutely
examined the sword, stone, and other articles, we are ena-
bled positively to state, no deception was here used, to which
fact we pledge ourselves.

Having obtained a portrait of the Indian Juggler (See
the Plate) who performed the wonderful feat of swallow-
ing the sword, we shall proceed to describe the manner in
which it was done, with as much accuracy as in our power ;
premising, that though we commence our description with
this, to us appalling exhibition, it was always used by the
jugglers as the grand finishing part of their performance,
and considered by themselves as one of their greatest efforts.

The operator having taken the sword from the carpet, on
which it lay, seemed to survey it with apparent satisfaction

2

{'I INDIAN JUGGLERS. 33Q

/

to himself, his countenance became animated, and he sur-
veyed his audience with a look of pleasure ; at the same
time holding the sword, as it was denominated, by the small
eud, presented it to the audience for their inspection, evi-
dently to shew that no deception was about to be used. This
sword or spit of iron was exactly 20£ inches in length, from
the point to the cross-bar forming the guard, which was
about three inches ; the handle was about four inches in
length beyond the cross-bar ; consequently the whole length
of the iron was 24J inches. The blade was strong and stiff,
not unaptly to be compared to the strength and consistence
of an iron trussing skewer, and of a similar form. It gra-
dually tapered from the guard, where it was on the flat side
about half an inch, to the point, which was blunt. Having
received back the instrument, he wiped it carefully with his
hand, and drew it several times through his mouth, moisten-
ing the surface with his saliva, kneeling on one knee, he
commenced the operation, by throwing back his head, so
that his open mouth appeared in a direct line with the pas-
sage of the throat ; balancing the sword, with his left arm
stretched up, the hilt nearly to the guard, he inserted it into
his mouth, guiding it carefully with his right hand ; and thus
in a very slow manner, and keeping himself perfectly still, it
by degrees and almost imperceptibly was engulphed up to
the guard within his throat and stomach ; which, when done,
he with great care withdrew his hands from the instrument,
and the audience then saw nothing but the handle and
guard remaining beyond his mouth. We observed he used
nearly the same precaution in withdrawing the sword from
his stomach, as he took in swallowing it ; when withdrawn,
he again presented it to the audience, and making a salaam,
withdrew with his two companions.

We have since heard, that daring one of his exhibitions in
Ireland, he wounded the coat of the stomach with the point
of the iron, which caused an effusion of blood, from which

accident it is said lie dietL some time m the year

*

z 2

340 KIRB\'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

We shall now describe the other parts of the performance
of these two wonderful jugglers, the third person being a
young lad, whose only employment was beating two small
cymbals of brass, about the size of a moderate tea-
cup, at the same time emitting a sound resembling the
clucking of a hen, during the exhibition of the brass balls ;
in which the operator also joins, modelling the quickness of
his song with the slow or rapid evolutions of the balls.

This exhibition of Indian talent takes place upon a raised
platform, on which, having performed his salaam^ or Eastern
obeisance, the chief performer takes his seat, and behind him
sits the second juggler, or sword-swallower. All the preli-
minaries settled, the legerdemain begins. The first tricks
are performed with cups and balls. These are similar in
their mode to the deceptions of our own conjurors, and only
remarkable for the superiority of their execution under the
hands of this black juggler. The cups seem enchanted :
the balls fly: they increase in number : they diminish : now
one, now two, now none under the cup : and now the ser-
pent, the cobra de capelia, usurps the place of a small glo-
bule of cork, and winds its snaky folds as if from under the
puny vessel. The facility with which this dextrous feat is
accomplished, gives life and animation to the sable counte-
nance of the artist. He seems as if he could laugh in his
sleeve ; but his dark arm is bared to the elbow, to shew that
the whole is done by slight of hand. During his perform-
ances, the juggler keeps up an unremitting noise, striking his
tongue against his teeth, like the clack of machinery, and
uttering sounds, as if he were repeating, with inconceivable
rapidity, the words, " Crickery-tick, crickery-tick, crickery-
tick, atow, geret, tow, crickery-tick, atow, geret, tow, 8fc"

The next feat is that of breaking a cotton thread into the
consistency of scraped lint, as used by surgeons, and presto,
crickery-tick, reproducing it continued and entire.

The third trick was performed by each of the three In-
dians holding the corners of a large white muslin handker-

INDIAN JUGGLERS. 341

chief; the principal juggler then produces a handful of rice,
and throws it into the centre of the handkerchief, and they
begin to shake it together, singing in unison all the time.
After about two minutes' amusement in this manner, the prin-
cipal looks into the handkerchief, and appears in extacy at
finding the rice now apparently nicely boiled, which" he
takes out, and presents to his audience.

The trick next in order of succession is a curious one*
ajid new to this country. The Indian juggler lays upon the
palm of his hand a small quantity of common white sand,
and, taking a pinch between his finger and thumb, he drew
it across a half sheet of writing paper, leaving a yellow line
of sand, then a black, red, and green, and lastly a white line
of the original sand. This is an extraordinary deception,
and not the less so from the wonderful change, and the ap-
parent simplicity of the means.

The next feat of the jugglers is, to perform a series of
evolutions with four hollow brass balls, about the bigness of
oranges. His power over these is almost miraculous. He
causes them to describe every possible circle almost horizon-
tally, perpendicularly, obliquely, transversely, round his legs,
under his arms, about his head, in small and in large circum-
ferences, and in serpentine forms, crossing each other. At
times, they are all thrown into the air, one above the other;
and on their return to the hand of the master, they instantly
follow their former evolutions, and keeping the whole num-
ber in motion at the same time, with such wondrous rapidity,
that the separate distinction of the balls are lost, and they
form to the eye of the observer a zone of brass. This
being the sole fruit of effort, activity, quickness of eye, and
rapidity of action, no one who has not witnessed it, can form
an idea of its excellence.

ATTAPOLO (or whatever is his name) then exhibits his
astonishing power of balancing. He places on his two
major toes (over which he seems to have the same com-
mand that less favoured whites enjoy over their fingers only).

342 KIRBY'g WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

a couple of thin rings of about four inches in diameter, a
pair of similar rings he places on his thumbs, and then sets
the whole into rotation, and round they all whirl, and con-
tinue describing their orbits without cessation, as if set to
work by machinery endowed with the principle of perpetual
motion. Throwing himself back, the performer then ba-
lances a sword upon his forehead, and with his mouth strings
a number of very small beads upon a hog's bristle, which
he holds between his lips. All the wheels kept in regular
movement, the sword nicely poised, and arts and manufac-
tures (under the emblem of bead-stringing), carried on in
peacefulness ; for, during this part of the show, even crickery-
tick, atow, geret, tow, is compelled to be still and quiet.

Having concluded this, the juggler executes the follow-
ing admirable exploit. Upon the tip of his nose he balances
a small wooden parasol, from the circumference of which
about a dozen of cork tassels are pendant. With his tongue
and lips he inserts into each of these tassels a quill of about
the length of nine or ten inches, and the thickness of that
of the porcupine. The bases of these he places with his
tongue between his upper lip and nose ; the rings on his
toes and thumbs all the while performing their circuits. —
Having succeeded in putting a quill into every tassel, he
takes out the centre stick on which the parasol was origi-
nally supported from the top of his nose, and it then re-
mains balanced on the quills. Thus far the work is difficult
enough : but this is nothing to its conclusion. He under-
mines his structure by a quill at a time, till only three re-
main. Of these he takes one away; and the top, which re-
sembles the roof of a pagoda, swings down and hangs by
two, the Indian preserving the astonishing balance even
throughout this motion, which might be deemed sufficient to
disconcert any human ingenuity. But even here he does
not stop; the last prop but one is removed, and on that one
the erect balance of the machine rests.

After a variety of other feateous displays, the Indian

FEMALE INTREPIDITY. 343

places a stone of fourteen pounds weight (about the size
and shape of a Dutch cheese), between his heels. With an
apparent slight exertion, he kicks up his heels, and the stone,
performing a parabola over his head from behind, alights
upon the bend of his arm, where it rests. He then tosses it
to the same part of the other arm, where it also rests, as if
held by the hand, or caught by magic ; thence he throws it
to various parts of his frame, to his wrist, and the back of his
neck. At this latter point it might be supposed it would be
stationary, as one feels very little capacity of twisting any
weighty body from the neck, in a direction different from
what it would take on being shaken off. But even here our
juggler commands its obedience. He again tosses it to his
arm, over his head, and back again to his neck, repeatedly ;
and after a few gambols of this sort, he finally, but by a mas-
terly jerk, throws this stone of fourteen pounds weight round
his head!

FEMALE INTREPIDITY,

IN. THE PERSON OF MRS. HOWES.

ON Monday, October 17, 1814, between four and five
o'clock in the afternoon, as Mrs. Howies, wife of Mr. Howes,
solicitor, of Northampton, was returning to Bugbrook, in
company with a Miss Pirkins, they were stopped by a villain
near the side of the canal, who, with imprecations, de-
manded their money. Mrs. H. positively refused to give
him any ; on which he gave her a slap on the face, which
she very spiritedly returned. The villain then seized Miss
Pirkins, threw her into the hedge, and tore her clothes;
Mrs. H. immediately on his back being towards her, caught
him by the throat, and griped him so tightly, that he begged
she would release him, promising that they should then pro-
ceed without further interruption. The villain, however, on
finding himself disengaged, immediately turned to Mrs. H.

344 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

and said, " Now, my lady, I will be revenged of you ; I
have a knife in my pocket, and I will have both your lives
and your money." Mrs. H. replied, he should not have her
money but with her life. A violent scuffle ensued, when
Mrs. H. was again fortunate enough to get such hold of
him as to enable her to prevent him from carrying his threats
into execution, and to secure him till a person came to her
assistance. They immediately took the fellow before a ma-
gistrate, who committed him to the county gaol.

Courier y October 21, 1814.

JOHANNA SOUTHCOTT'S FOLLOWERS.

WE gave a full account of Johanna Southcott in Vol. V.
of our Work, page 337, with an account of her death, a sin-
gular will, and a list of persons who had presented her with a
great variety of articles, for what they foolishly expected, a
Shiloh. Having so exposed them, every one thought their
folly would have died with her. Instead of that, the follow-
ing will shew, that she is not yet quite forgotten : —

Notwithstanding the ridicule and contempt to which the
followers of Johanna Southcott were exposed some years
back, when that unfortunate creature paid the debt of Na-
ture without bringing forth the promised Shiloh, of whom
her disciples publicly declared she was pregnant, a scion
of the old stock has again sprung into something like cele-
brity, and has contrived to draw round him a few credu-
lous fools, whom he has taught to believe that Shiloh was
actually born, although invisible to the eyes of the disbe-
lievers, and will shortly come forward, and, as he says,
" Shame the devil/' and put an end to all doubts of his
divine mission. This wretched fanatic made his appearance
at Caiiiden Town, on Wednesday last, October 14, 1818,
attended by about a dozen of his followers. He took up
his station near the pound, and delivered a long discourse on

JOHANNA SOUTHCOTT S FOLLOWERS. 345

' :

the virtues and heavenly attributes of Johanna ; after which
he launched out into a wild and incomprehensible rant, in
which he prophesied the immediate coming of Slriloh, the
real Saviour of mankind. Those %vho appeared to be his
disciples, listened to this jargon with the most ardent atten-
tion, and b> their sighs and groans proved how deeply they
were affected. Those, however, who were attracted by
curiosity, soon evinced their disgust at the scene which was
presented, and bursting into groans of a different character,
drove the prophet from his post. He retired with a devout
humility, and with expressions of pity for the deluded rabble,
on whose impious heads, he said, the vengeance of God
would, ere long, fall with a heavy hand. He then proceeded
with his chosen few to the Chalk Farm Tavern, in which they
took refuge, calling for and drinking several pots of ale, and
smoking several pipes. The prophet carried in his hand
the fragment of a bush, from the branches of which were
suspended pieces of coloured ribbon, and at the conclusion
of the repast, he led the way to the top of Primrose Hill,
where he again held forth, and contrived to get about him
sixty or seventy people, who listened with great forbearance
to his sermon " on the Mount," as he figuratively called it,
no doubt pitying the insanity which could have led to such
an exhibition. It is not a little remarkable, that there was
among the followers of this maniac, one man of a most re-
spectable appearance, who resides near to Hampstead, and
is known to have been a most liberal contributor to the fund
raised for purchasing a silver cradle, and other necessary
furniture, shortly previous to the expected accouchement of
poor Johanna Southcott. We find a grand step to delu-
sion in the following account : —

A lamentable instance of the effects of infatuation was
exhibited at Guildhall on Wednesday, January 13, 1819.
Samuel Sibley, and Maria Catherine Sibley his wife;
Samuel Jones and his son, a boy about ten years old ; Tho-
mas Jones, John Angel, James Dodd, Thomas Smith, and
Edward Slater, a boy twelve years of age, were brought up

346 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

from the Compter by Beaton and Gibbons, two officers of
Cordwainer's Ward, who had with great difficulty, and at
the hazard of their own lives, rescued the prisoners from
the fury of an immense mob in Budge-row, Cannon-street,
about ten o'clock on Wednesday morning. These deluded
people, it appeared, were disciples of the lately famous
Johanna SouthcotVand conceived themselves commanded by
God to proclaim the coming of Shiloh on earth. For this
purpose they assembled at the west end of the town, in
order to enter the city at the only remaining gate, Temple
Bar, through which they marched in procession about nine
o'clock on Wednesday' morning. They were each decorated
with a white cockade, and wore a small star of yellow ri-
band on their left breasts. Sibley led the procession, bear-
ing a brazen trumpet adorned with light blue ribands, and
the two boys carried each a small flag of light blue silk.
In this manner they proceeded through Fleet-street, up Lud-
gate-hill, and along St. Paul's Churchyard to Budge-row, a
great crowd following them, which was continually increasing
as they proceeded. Having arrived, as they conjectured, in
the middle of the great city, they halted, and began their ce-
remonies. Sibley sounded the trumpet, and proclaimed the
second coming of the Shiloh, the Prince of Peace on earth ;
and his wife cried out, aloud, " Woe ! woe to the inhabitants
of the earth, because of the coming of Shiloh !" This was
repeated several times, and joined in, with a loud voice, by
others of the company. By this time the crowd was terri-
fic ; every avenue was stopped up, and the passage of
coaches and carts rendered impossible. The mob, who
began with shouting and laughing at these miserably de-
luded people, at length proceeded to pelt them with mud
and every missile they could procure ; they, on their part,
being mostly stout young men, resisted. The fight became
general and tremendous ; the flags were torn down, the mob
was triumphant, and Sibley and his associates were with
great difficulty preserved by the exertions of the officers,
from falling victims to their infuriated rage, and conveyed to

JOHANNA SOUTHOOTT'S FOLLOWERS. 347

the Compter. Their appearance, when placed at the bar,
bespoke the dangers they had gone through ; the men had
all been rolled in the mud, and the high priest, Sibley, bore
evident marks of violence on his face. On being called
upon by the magistrate, Mr. Alderman Bridges, to give an
account of their conduct in thus disturbing the public peace,
Sibley, with an air of authority, directed the others to be
silent ; and addressing the Alderman, said, he regretted there
was not time for him to enter into the particulars of the
mission of God to him. He had been commanded by a
voice through that boy (pointing towards Slater), to an-
nounce that the Prince of Peace was come upon earth.
He was commanded to proclaim this second coming of
Shiloh in the same manner, and with the same authority, as
John the Baptist proclaimed his first coming. This procla-
mation he was to make three times in the midst of the great
city by the sound of the brazen trumpet. He and bis com-
panions were obeying the commands of God, and in so--
doing had conducted themselves peaceably, and interfered
with no one till they were attacked by the mob. He was pro-
ceeding to explain the nature of the visions with which the
boy had been favoured, who, he said, had seen no less than
50O visions within the last fourteen months ; and his wife
was raising her voice to bear testimony to the fact of the
Shiloh being come, whom she declared she had held in her
arms four times, when the magistrate interrupted them,
observing, that it was evident, if they were not insane,
they were acting under a strong delusion. He pointed out
to them, how much better they would • have been employed
in pursuing their regular avocations, than in being the cause
of disturbing the public peace, and endangering their own
lives; and recommended them to desist from any repetition
of these gross absurdities and delusions. The m en in reply
said, it was right they should obey God; but they would
do whatever the magistrate directed, and abstain from
making any further proclamation; assuring him, however,

348 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

that the fact was unquestionable that Shiloh was come upon
earth. The Alderman said he could not rely upon their pro-
mises, and should detain them in custody till they could pro-
cure him better assurance than their own words for their
good behaviour in future. They were accordingly conveyed
back in coaches to the Compter, in order to protect them
from the mob assembled round the office ; one of the men,
on stepping into the coach, unbuttoned his coat, displayed
his yellow star, and proclaimed aloud that it was God's
colour. The one who bore a brazen trumpet, fulfilled his
voluntary duty, by sounding a loud blast. The male disci-
ples are journeymen mechanics, and appeared simple, de-
luded, but peaceable men. Sibley, the leader, is a watch-
man in Coleman-street Ward.

On Thursday, Sibley, his wife, and the other poor de-
luded men and children were again brought up before the
sitting magistrate, Mr. Alderman Christopher Smith. Sib-
ley was again the spokesman : and, in reply to the magis-
trate, who asked him if he had ever been in Bedlam ? said,
the gentleman might laugh, but he was not mad ; he had
nestigated the matter thoroughly, before he was convinced
of its truth. He believed the Bible from cover to cover,
and could point out the prophecies, which were now fulfil-
ling. He then went into a flourishing rhapsody of nonsense
and absurdity respecting the visions with which the boy had
been favoured, arid declared he had witnessed miracles per-
formed by him. In the course of his long address, he
quoted the Scriptures very fluently, and concluded by refer-
ring, in justification of the propriety of his belief, to the
passage which states, " that, in the latter days, your, old
men shall dream dreams, and your young men see visions."
Being asked what place of worship he attended ? He
said his church was his own house, No. 3, Gooch-yard,
Upper Whitecross- street : there were about thirty of them,
who assembled there frequently to read the Bible, and re-
ceive the commands of the Lord. He had now received

PERSONS RENEWING THEIR AGE, &C. 349

the command of God t<p desist from any further proclama-
tion : and if the Prince Regent were to collect all the
money in the world, and lay it at his feet, he dare not do it.
The magistrate might therefore rely that there would be no
repetition of the conduct which had brought them under
his cognizance. In this declaYation he was joined by his
wife and the rest of his associates, who declared aloud,
that they dared not proceed any further in that business.
On this assurance from them, they were discharged, with a
suitable admonition from the worthy Alderman.

PEDESTRIAN AND MAIL COACH.

JAMES O'NEAL, an Irish lad, about eighteen years of age,
and who had served on board his Majesty's brig Mutine, in
the battle of Algiers, left Exeter on Friday morning, April
18, 1817, at a quarter after nine o'clock, with the Subscrip-
tion Coach, and arrived in Plymouth-dock, a quarter before
five in the afternoon, distancing the coach, and performing
the journey (forty-six miles) barefooted, in the short space of
seven hours and a half. Times, April 25, 1817-

SOME ACCOUNT OF

PERSONS WHO HAVE RENEWED THEIR AGE,
TEETH, AND HAIR.

CONCERNING MAKEL WIAN, Dr. Fuller hath set down
a letter sent him from Alderman Atkins, his son, thus : —

" There is an acquaintance of mine, and a friend of yours,
who certified me of your desire of being satisfied of the truth
of that relation I made concerning the old minister in the

o

north. It fortuned in my journey to Scotland, I lay at Aln-
wick, in Northumberland, one Sunday, by the way ; and un-

350 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

derstanding, from the host of the house where I lodged, that
this Minister lived within three miles of that place, I took
my horse after dinner, and rode thither to hear him preach,
for my own satisfaction. I found him in the desk, where he
read unto us some part of the common prayer, some of holy
David's Psalms, and two chapters, one out of the Old, and
the other out of the New Testament, without the use of
spectacles. The Bible, out of which he read the chapters,
was a very small printed Bible. He went afterwards into the
pulpit, where he prayed and preached to us about an hour and
a half. His text was, " Seek ye the kingdom of God, and
all things shall be added unto you." In ray poor judg-
ment, he made an excellent good sermon, and went clearly
through, without the help of any notes. After sermon I
went with him to his house, where I proposed these several
following questions to him : — Whether it was true, the book
reported of him, concerning the hair ? Whether or no he
had a new set of teeth come? Whether or no his eye-sight
ever failed him ? And whether, in any measure, he found his
strength renewed unto him ? He answered me distinctly to
all these, and told me, he understood the news-book reported
bis hair to become a dark brown again, but that it is false ;
he took hi* cap off, and shewed me it. It is come again
like a child's, but rather flaxen, than either brown or grey.
For his teeth, he had three come within these two years, not
yet to their perfection ; while he bred them he was very ill.
Forty years since, he eould not read the biggest print without
spectacles, and now, he blesseth God, there is no print so
small, no written hand so small, but he can read it without
them. For his strength, he thinks himself as strong now as
he hath been these twenty years. Not long since he walked
to Alnwick to dinner, and back again, six north country
miles. He is now one hundred and ten years of age, and,
ever since last May, a hearty body, very cheerful, and stoops
very much. He had five children after he was eighty years
of age, four of them lusty, lasses, now living with him, the

PERSONS RENEWING THEIR AGE, &C. 351

other died lately ; bis wife yet hardly fifty years of age. He
writes himself Machel Vivan. He is a Scottish man, born
near Aberdeen ; I forget the town's name where he is now
pastor. He hath been there fifty years.

Your assured loving friend,

THOMAS ATKINS."
Windsor, September 28, 1657-

Fuller's Worthies, p. 308, 309. Northumberland.

To this may be fitly annexed a letter which Pletnpius saith
he saw under the hand of this wonderful old man himself,
dated from Lesbury, October the IQth, 1657, to one William
Lialkus, a citizen of Antwerp, which is as followeth :

" Whereas you desired a true and faithful messenger should
be sent from Newcastle to the parish of Lesbury, to inquire
concerning John Maklin ; I gave you to understand, that no
such man was known ever to be, or hath lived there for these
fifty years last past, during which time I, Patrick Makel
Wian, have been minister of that parish ; wherein I have all
that time been present, taught, and do yet continue to teach
there. But that I may give you some satisfaction, you shall
understand that I was born at Whithom, in Galloway, in
Scotland, in the year 1546, bred up in the University of
Edinburgh, where I commenced Master of Art, whence tra-
velling into England, I kept school, and sometimes preached ;
till, in the first of King James, I was conducted into the
church of Lesbury, where I now live. As to what concerns
the change of my body, it is now the third year since I had
two new teeth, one in my upper, and the other in my nether
jaw, as is apparent to the touch. My sight, much decayed
many years ago, is now about the hundred and tenth year of
my age, become clearer; hair adorns my heretofore bald
skull. I was never of a fat, but a slender, mean habit of
body: my diet has ever been moderate; nor was I ever ac-
customed to feasting and tippling ; hunger is the best sauce :
nor did I ever use to feed to satiety. All this is most certain

S52 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

and true, which I have seriously, though over hastily, con-
firmed to you, under the hand of

PATRICK MAKEL WIAN,

Minister of Lesbury."
Francisc. Plemp. Fundam. Med Munic. sect. 4. c. 8. p. 120.

That worthy person, D. Pieruccius, a lawyer of Padua,
and host to the great Scioppius, did assure me, that a certain
German, then living in Italy, had, at sixty years of age, reco-
vered to himself both new teeth and black hair, and had
extended his life to a great many years, by the use only of
an extract of black hellebore with wine and roses.

Bartlwl. Hist. Anatomic, cent. 5. Hist. 28. p. 51.

Alexander Benedictus tells of VICTORIA FABRIANENSIS,
a woman l>eing fourscore years of age, that her teeth came
anew ; and though the hair of her head was fallen off, yet
it also came afresh.

Donat. Hist. Med. Mirdb. 1. Q. c. 2. p. 300.

Torquemada assures us, that being at Rome, about the
year 1531, it was reported throughout Italy, that at Taren-
turn there lived an old man, who at the age of an hundred
years was grown young again : he had changed his skin like
unto the snake, and had recovered a new being ; withal he was
become so young and fresh, that those who had seen him
before could then scarce believe their own eyes ; and having
continued above fifty years in this estate, he grew at length
to be so old, that he seemed to be made of barks of trees ;
whereunto he further adds another story of the like nature.

HakeweVs Apolog. I. 3. c. 1. sect. 6. p. 1(5?, 168.

Ferdinand Lopez of Castegnede, Historiographer to the
King of Portugal, in the eighth book of his Chronicle, re-
lateth, that NoNNio DE CUGNE, being Viceroy at the
Indies, in the year 1536, there was a man brought unto him,

MISS M'AVOY. 353

us a thing worthy of admiration; for that it was averred by
good proofs, and sufficient testimony, that he was three hun-
dred and forty years old. He remembered that he had seen
that city, wherein he dwelt, unpeopled, being then, when he
spake of it, one of the chief cities in all the East Indies.
He had grown young again four times, changing his white
hair, and recovering his new teeth. When the Viceroy saw
him, he then had the hair of his head and beard black ;
although he had not much : and there being by chance a.
physician at the time present, the Viceroy desired him to
feel the old man's pulse ; which he found as good and as
strong as a young man in the prime of his age. This man
was born in the realm of Bengal, and did affirm, that he had
at times near seven hundred wives, whereof some were dead,
and some were put away. The King of Portugal being told
of this wonder, did often inquire, and had yearly news of him
by the fleet which came from thence. He lived above three
hundred and seventy years.

Corner. Hor. Subcis. cent. 2. c. 68. p. 278. Hakew.
Apol. p. 168.

MISS M'AVOY,

WHO POSSESSED THE WONDERFUL POWERS OF ASCER-
TAINING COLOURS, &C. BY THE TOUCH.

[With a Portrait.]

Miss MARGARET M'Avov, the heroine^of the follow-
ing narrative, was born at Liverpool, on the 28th of June,
1800. From her birth, to about nine months old, it appears
that she was a healthy child, and at that age was able to walk
alone ; during the following nine mouths she was often in-
disposed. Her complaints increased with her age; and at
last were of so serious a nature, that her death was looked

VOL. VI. A A

354 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

upon as inevitable, by her medical attendants and friends,
when she was suddenly relieved by a discharge of a thick
matter from the ear and nostrils. Being removed into the
country, for a change of air, after the lapse of about seven-
teen weeks, she returned home, fully re-established in her
health. Soon after her return, she was attacked with scarlet
fever, and afterwards with hooping-cough, which continued
for six months, with so great a degree of violence, as to cause
blood to be discharged from the eyes, nose, and ears. The
hooping-cough was succeeded by an affection of the eyes,
which severely afflicted her, and was attended with a very
considerable and constant discharge of a bloody watery fluid.
Her friends despaired of saving the eyes. At this time, no
professional man had been employed, and the applications
made use of were of the most simple kinds, such as brandy
diluted with water, bread and water poultices, rose water, &c.
These remedies produced no material benefit; the disease
gradually increased, and the exposure to light caused insup-
portable pain : when the eyelids were raised up, the eyeballs
appeared as one mass of blood. Johnston's Golden Oint-
ment being recommended by a friend, it was used with great
benefit; and in a short time the pain and irritation of the
eyes were removed. She now gradually recovered her sight
— perfectly with the right eye — but the left was so weak she
could scarcely open it, and saw every thing through it, as it
were through a mist. In appearance, she continued deli-
cate ; but her appetite was good — nor could she be said to
be unhealthy, until the month of October, 1814: about this
period, she caught a violent cold, attended with cough, loss
of appetite, and great debility. From this period, from va-
rious causes, she gradually became worse ; when, on the 4th
of June, 1816, it was found necessary to call in medical
advice ; she now complained of violent pain in the fore and
back part of the head, with a throbbing and beating sensa-
tion. She was so much affected with giddiness, as to stagger
io walking across the room. With the left eye she could

MISS M'AVOY. 35."«

•carcely distinguish any object, and with the right every ob-
ject at a distance appeared white. The firing of the guns at
the fort, on the 4th of June, \vas the cause to which she at-
tributed the increase of head-ach, of the palpitation of the
heart, and of the general symptoms of her disorder.

On the 7th of June, it was discovered that she could not
distinguish any object whatever, and she appeared totally
blind ; the pupils were considerably dilated, and did not con-
tract upon the application of strong light. From this date,
up to the month of July following, she remained in a very
distressing state, being frequently attacked with convulsions,
paralytic affections, and other complaints, from which, at
times, she partial !y recovered. On the 2d of August, she was
again visitea by Dr. Thomas Renwick, Physician to the Li-
verpool Infirmary, her medical attendant, who, in his Narrative
of her case, state? as follows :

" Upon my return from the Isle of Man, August 24, the
convulsions which had frequently appeared, ceased ; and it
was observed, that after each attack, her appetite became
extremely keen, her general health was also much improved,
and her spirits good. In the sight there appeared to be no
improvement ; the pupil was dilated, and insensible to the
action of light. Ill the general business of the house, she
Was more active than ever she had been, assisting in making
the beds, attending upon her half brothers and sisters, and
was cheerful and agreeable in her manners to every body
about her, and more particularly to those who visited at the
house."

We shall now present our readers with an account of the
manner in which it is slated Miss M'Avoy found herself pos-
sessed of certain powers of an extraordinary nature, as pub*
lished in the Liverpool Mercury, of the 5th of August, 1817,
in a narrative drawn up by Mr. Egerton Smith.

" Some time in September, 1816, I accompanied Dr.
Renwick, on a professional visit he paid to Miss M*Avoy, at
her residence in St. Paul's-square, on the east side. She

A A t

356 KIRBV'a WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

was then between sixteen and seventeen years of age, of
pleasing and ingenious countenance, and apparently of ami-
able and artless disposition. Her mother informed me, that
in the preceding June, her daughter had been attacked with
the hydrocephalus, or water in the head, together with a
paralytic affection on one side, and a complication of other
disorders, which I forbear to enumerate, because I am wholly
ignorant of that part of the subject. According to her own
statement, corroborated by that of her mother, the hydroce-
phalus preceded, and, in their opinions, produced blindness,
or gutta serena, under which she is supposed to labour, but
which has since been called in question, I understand, by
some of the professional gentlemen who have attended her.
Her mother, however, declared, that the light of the sun
produced not the slightest sensible effect upon her eyes; and
some of the professional gentlemen who happened to be pre-
sent at one of my repeated visits, declared, that though some
slight contraction of the pupil was perceptible upon the
approach of a lighted candle to the eye, it was by no means
such as uniformly occurs when the visual organs perform the
regular functions.

" At my first interview, I learned from herself, what I had
indeed previously been told by others, that she had recently
acquired the faculty of distinguishing, not only the colours of
cloth and stained glass, but that she could actually decypher
the forms of words in a printed book ; and, indeed, could
read, if the phrase may be permitted, with tolerable facility.
To put these pretensions to the test, she permitted a shawl
to be passed across her eyes, in double folds, in such a way
that all present were convinced that they could not, under
similar circumstances, discern day from night. In this state,
a book was placed before her, and opened indiscriminately,
when, to our extreme surprise, she began to trace the words
with her finger, and to repeat them correctly. She appeared
to recognise a short monosyllable by the simple contact of
the finger ; but in ascertaining a long word, she placed the

MISS M'AVOY. 857

forefinger of her left hand on the beginning, whilst with that
of her right hand, she proceeded from the other extremity of
the word — and when the two fingers, by having' traversed
over all the letters, came in contact with each other, she iu-
variably and precisely ascertained the word. By my watch,
I found that she read about thirty words in half a minute ;
and it very naturally occurred to us, that if, notwithstanding
her supposed blindness, and the double bandage over her
eyes, she could still see, she would have read much more
rapidly, if her motive had been to excite our astonishment.
And here it may not be amiss to state, that there does not
appear to be any adequate motive for practising a delusion
upon the public : her situation in life is respectable ; and her
mother disavows any intention of ever exhibiting her daughter
as the means of pecuniary remuneration. Fifteen months
have now elapsed since the period at which she laid claim to
the extraordinary faculty which has given rise to so much
curiosity, astonishment, and perplexity ; during which time,
the reputation of so wonderful a circumstance has subjected
her to the fatigue and inconvenience of daily, and almost
hourly visits.

" According to her own statement, her powers of touch
vary very materially with circumstances. When her hands
are cold, she declares that the faculty is altogether lost; and
that it is exhausted also, by long and unremitted efforts ; that
she considers the hours of from ten until twelve, of each
alternate day, the most favourable for her performance. Her
pulse, during the experiments, has varied from 110 to ISO
degrees.

" One circumstance which has excited much doubt and
suspicion, must not be concealed, which is, that if any sub-
stance, for instance, a book or a shawl, be interposed between
her face and the object she is investigating, she is much em-
barrassed, and frequently entirely baffled. She explains this
by saying that it is necessary there should be an uninterrupted
communication between her fingers and her breath. I leave

358 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

it to others to draw their own conclusions upon this point,
as my object is not to establish any theory, or give currency
to any mystery, but to relate the simple facts. I am, there-
fore, compelled to express my conviction that she can neither
ascertain colours, nor the words of a book, in total darkness :
and as many persons will very naturally ask, Why has not
such a test been proposed? the reply must be, that as the
young lady is not the subject of a public exhibition, and as
an introduction to her is merely a matter of favour, it might
might not be very courteous or delicate, under such circum-
stances, to make any proposal which seemed to imply a sus-
picion that she was an impostor.

" There are persons, however, who, giving her implicit
credit for the reality of the extraordinary powers to which
she lays claim, will contend, that it is altogether unfair to
propose the test of total darkness. Proceeding upon their
belief that she actually ascertains colours, &c. by the finger,
or that the visual organ is transferred to the touch — still they
say that light is essentially necessary to produce that effect upon
the surface of the body felt, which enables her to distinguish
one shade from another; they add, that as there is no such
thing as colour in total darkness, it is perfectly ridiculous to
expect that she could ascertain the various shades, without
the presence of that light \\hich alone produces those shades.
It is, according to their mode of considering the subject, as
absurd as to expect an effect without a cause. It has already
been stated, that with the double bandage over her eyes, she
read several lines of a book indiscriminately opened; as it
was possible that the letters of a printed book might leave
some slight impression, sensible to an exquisite touch, I took
from my pocket-book an engraved French assignat, which
was hot-pressed, and smooth as glass ; she read the smallest
lines contained in this, with the same facility as the printed
book. A letter received by that day's post was produced,
the direction and post-mark of which she immediately and
correctly deciphered. She also named the colour of the

MISS M'AVOY. 359

•

separate parts of the dresses of the, persons in company, as
well as various shades of stained glass, which were purposely
brought.

" What I had seen at my first interview was so extremely
astonishing, and so far surpassed any thing I had ever known
or read, of the powers ascribed to persons deprived of sight,
that I could only account for it, on the supposition that she
was not blind, and that she had some secret mode of discern-
ing an object, notwithstanding the bandage, through which I
myself could not distinguish night from day, when it was
applied to my own eyes. I therefore made the best apology
I could, for visiting her house again the same evening, having
previously prepared myself with several tests, which I begged
permission to submit to her examination, when the candle
was withdrawn. Not the slightest objection was offered to
my proposal, and the candle was extinguished ; her mother
stationed herself before the fire, which was extremely low,
and offered so little light that I could not have read one word
of moderate size print, if it had been brought almost in con-
tact with the bars of the grate. I then took from my
pocket a small book, the type of which was very little larger
than that of an ordinary newspaper ; observing at the time,
that I was afraid the print was too minute — to which she re-
plied, that her fingers were in excellent order, and that she
had no doubt but she should be able to make it out. The
candle, as I before observed, had been extinguished ; and her
mother and myself were so stationed, that had there been
any light afforded by the fire, we must have completely inter-
cepted it : Miss M'Avoy sat in the farthest part of the room,
with her back towards the grate, in such a situation that I
could hardly discern even the leaves of the book which lay
open before her — the title of which she proceeded to read
with complete success, with the exception of one very mi-
nute word.

" I then presented to her a small piece of smooth writing-
paper, which was ruled with horizontal feint blue lines, be-

KIRBY S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

tween each of which were traced lines with a pen and
black ink ; there were also perpendicular red lines, between
which were scored black lines. All these, with their direc-
tion and order, she determined without any apparent diffi-
culty. She also told correctly the colour of a variety of
pieces of cloth, procured immediately before at a draper's
shop. All the experiments hitherto described, as well as
those which follow, were performed by Miss M'Avoy, with
the bandage before her eyes ; and as the shawl, which was
usually applied to this purpose, produced considerable
warmth and inconvenience, a pair of what, in the opticians'
shops are called gogglers, had been provided, which so com-
pletely excluded the light, that no person who tried them,
could discern the difference between day and night, when
they were fitted to the face. As these gogglers have been
generally used, when Miss M'Avoy has exhibited her surprising
talent, it is necessary that the reader should have a correct
idea of them. They are intended to be worn by travellers,
to guard the eyes against the wind or the dust, and consist
of two glasses, sometimes green, fitted into a bandage of
Leather, which is passed horizontally across the face, and is
tied with ribbons round the back of the head. The gog-
glers provided for Miss M'Avoy instead of glasses, were tilted
up with opaque pasteboard, lined with paper, and .not an
aperture was left through which a single ray of light could
penetrate. \_We exhibit the same, as worn by Miss M<-A-coy
in a plate accompanying this account] Mr. Nichol, a
scientific gentleman, who was delivering a course of philo-
sophical lectures in Liverpool, having heard of this extraor-
dinary property, applied to me to obtain an introduction to
Miss M'Avoy, and I accompanied him to her house, along
with Mr. James Smith, printer, of this town. At this inter-
view the experiments I have already detailed were repeated,
•and with complete success, whilst the gogglers were applied.
One part of the performance was so truly astonishing, that I
should almost hesitate to relate it, if those two gentlemen

Misa M'AVOY. '

Iwd not been present to vouch for the truth. I had fur-
nished myself with a set of stained landscape glasses, usually
termed Claude Lorraiu glasses. They were seven in num-
ber, contained in a frame. She ascertained the precise
shade of each correctly ; one glass, however, appeared to
embarrass her, and after considerable scrutiny, she said it
was not black, nor dark blue, nor dark brown ; but she
thought it very deep crimson. We did not know whether
her conjecture \vas correct or not, as we could not ourselves
ascertain the shade. By reflected light it appeared to us
perfectly black ; nor was the flame of the lire, which was
stirred for the occasion, visible through it in the faintest
degree. We had abandoned all expectation of determining
this point, when the sun suddenly emerged from behind the
clouds ; and by that test, and that alone, were we enabled
to discover that she was correct, as we could just discern the
solar image of a very deep crimson. It has been said, and
with some plausibility, that this must have been a bold
guess upon her part ; if not, it will puzzle our physiologists
to explain, how a person reputed to be blind, with an opaque
bandage also over her eyes, could declare the colour of a
glass, which persons in full enjoyment of their eyesight, and
without any such obstacles, could not discern by any other
light than that of the meridian sun.

" At this meeting we were informed, that Miss M'Avoy
had recently found out that this extraordinary faculty was
not confined to her tingers ; that she could also distinguish
the colour of an object which was brought into contact
with the back of the hands. This was immediately made
the subject of experiment by Mr. Nichol, who successively
applied several objects which he had with him, to that part
of the hand ; in placing which, he used so much precaution,
that I could not see them myself, although my eyes were
fixed upon his hands. She was completely successful also
upon this occasion. I have now given a faithful narrative
of. what 1 have actually witnessed, and what has been the

362 KIRRY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

subject of notoriety and astonishment, probably to thousands
in this town. I shall only trespass further upon the public
patience, whilst I briefly state what has been related to me
by several professional gentlemen of the town, as the result
of their experiments, since the time when I discontinued my
visits, for a reason which candour obliges me not to con-
ceal, although I am loth to say any thing which might
wound the sensibility of an individual who has afforded me
much amusement, and uniformly received me with the ut-
most affability and politeness. I have never believed it pos-
sible, that all the experiments I have witnessed, were per-
formed by the simple medium of touch; and though I
admit, with our master poet, that " there are more things
'twixt heaven and earth than our philosophers dream of,"
yet I could never divest myself of the impression, that the
eye was in some way or other concerned in these mysteries.
It was a delicate point, as I before observed, to scrutinize
too closely into all the minutiae of a performance which was
gratuitous, and politely conceded to a stranger in her own
house, and which, however it can be explained, is abundantly
wonderful. As I could not, however, like some of my
friends, become a proselyte to these miracles, I did not
think proper any longer to harass her with an impertinent
and a hopeless curiosity. She had begun to assume powers
of a more extraordinary character than any I had described,
and by proving too much, she defeated her own object, at
least in my imperfect estimation. I had seen her seven or
eight times in the course of a few weeks, previous to my
declining my visits ; but still continued to hear of her, from
those whose faith had survived mine, and is as lively to the
full at this moment as it was fifteen months ago. From
these, her truly faithful followers, I heard that the experi-
ments I have detailed, and many others, had been repeated,
with the boiled whites of eggs fixed upon the eyes ; and,
also, that goldbeaters' skin had been used for the same pur-
pose. She had also began to tell the hour aud minute

MISS M'AVOY. 363

through the watch-glass, without opening the case. But the
most wonderful thing of all, and which forms an appropriate
climax to the other mysteries, was the newly-acquired power
of ascertaining ohjects at a distance, with her back towards
them ; and by simply stretching out the fingers in the direc-
tion of such objects. I have heard it gravely asserted, and
corroborated by herself in an interview on Monday last,
that she has thu&from her parlour-window identified several
persons passing through St. Paul's Square, and declared the
•colour of their dress, &c. ! ! !

" In the preceding protracted narrative, it has been my ob-
ject to detail facts, rather than indulge in theories. What-
ever contrariety of opinions may prevail on this point
amongst true believers or sceptics, there are two conclusions,
to one of which they cannot withhold their assent.

" First, Either Miss M'Avoy, although blind, possesses
the faculty of distinguishing objects and colours by the
touch, or some other means than the eyes ;— or,

" Secondly, Miss M'Avoy, reputed to be blind, and with a
bandage over her eyes, through which no other person can
see, in a place also, so dark that others can distinguish
little or nothing, can see better than any other person.

tf Leaving to physiologists the further investigation of this

extraordinary case, I shall, for the present, conclude, by

affixing to the preceding statement my name at full length,

which I conceive to be indispensable in the present instance.

Signed, EGERTON SMITH."

Liverpool, Septembers, 1817.

The following experiments were made with Miss M'Avoy,
July 31, 1817:

After having been completely blindfolded, she was first
presented with six different coloured wafers, pasted between
two plates of common window-gJass. She first laid her
fhigers on each red wafer, and named it. Does it now ap-

364 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

pear like a piece of red cloth ? She answered no ; I think
it is a wafer. The six wafers she named as follows : — dark
ruby, red, black, green, stone, or light drab, pea green. She
pointed out, unasked, the cracks, openings, and deficiencies
of the wafers. She said the glass was white.

2d. — She traced the outline of a very irregular figure,
formed by squeezing the portions of two wafers, one black,
the other red, between two plates of glass.

3d. — The seven prismatic colours being painted on a card
in water colours, she gave them the following names : — scar-
let, buff, yellow, green, light blue, dark blue, or purple, lilac.

4th. — The red and orange rays of the solar spectrum
being thrown by a prism upon her hand, she said it appeared
as gold. All the colours being thrown on the back of her
hand, she distinctly described the different colours on the
different parts of her hand. She marked the moments when
the colours became faint, and again vivid, by the occasional
passing of a cloud, without being desired to do so. The
prismatic colours have afforded her the greatest pleasure
which she has experienced since her blindness. Never saw
a prism in her life. She felt the spectrum warm. The vio-
let rays were the least pleasant.

5th. — She perceived the coloured rings formed by press-
ing together two polished plates of glass. Feels them at
the edge of her fingers flying before them. Feels the re-
flecting rays much better than the transmitted : could just
perceive the latter.

6th. — The prism being put into her hands, she declared
it was white glass ; but on turning it, she said, " No, it is
not, it is coloured, it has colours in it ; and she traced what
she called stripes of colours, ribands, one coloured stripe
above another. Could discover no colours on that side of
the prism on which the direct rays of the light fell.

7th. — Several attempts were made to discover colours in
the dark, by presenting different coloured objects to her

MISS M'AVOY. 365

hands, concealed under a pillow. She always failed ; every
thing appeared black. On one occasion she said a green
card was yellow.

8th. — She read a line or two in small print by feeling the
letters. Read through a convex lens at the distance of nine
inches; the focal length of the lens was fourteen inches.
Reads much easier through this lens than without ; the let-
ters appear larger, and as if they were printed on glass.
When a hand was interposed between the lens and the book,
she immediately perceived it. A penknife was laid on the
line which she was reading, and she named it.

Qth. — A concave lens was put into her hand ; she tried to
read at the distance of seven or eight inches ; said all the
letters are confused ; she moved the lens gradually towards
the paper, and observed the letters were very small. Could
not read easily until the lens was laid on the paper.

10th. — When she touched a plain glass mirror, could not
perceive any reflected image but that of her own fingers.
<c I feel," she said, " the picture of my own fingers."

llth. — Distinguished by the feel the difference between
polished glass and cairngorum crystal, between silver, steel,
gold, and brass ; gold and silver have the finest feel. The
silver of a watchcase felt finer than the gold of the seal.
She distinguished between ivory, tortoise-shell, and horn ;
which last she called bone, but seemed to have meant horn.
A pin which was supposed to be crystal, she pronounced to
be glass ; afterwards, on trial, it proved to be glass.

12th. — Read common print easily by touching a piece of
window-glass held twelve inches from the book ; at a greater
distance she could not read, but could read much easier
when the glass was brought nearer the book. In the like
manner, at the same distance, she discovered a sixpence,
half-guinea, three-shilling-piece, &c. She mentioned which
had the head, which the reverse upwards, read the dates,
pointed out, on the sixpence, the portion of the harp, lions,
crown, &c. She observed, unasked, that one half-guinea

366 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

was crooked ; said it did not lay flat on the paper, that the
crown was downward ; that it was not a brass counter ;
does not think it is the shadow of the half-guinea, which
makes her know it to be crooked.

13th. — Declared by feeling on the plain glass, at the dis-
tance of three or four inches, that two substances below
were red and white rose-leaf. Being asked if it was not
red and white paper or cloth, replied no, it is a rose-leaf.

14th. — Again she distinguished by the feel, the difference
between stone and glass ear-rings, seals, broaches, &c. ;
and pointed out one glass seal, which was supposed to be
crystal, being tried by a file, it proved to b% glass. She
named the colours of all the different articles. She says,
stone feels more solid than glass, more firm.

15th. — Could not discover colours by the tongue ; but
closing between her lips, the red, yellow, blue and white
petals of flowers, she told each accurately.

l6th. — She told the prismatic colours as accurately as
on the preceding day, whether cast on the back, or the palm
of the hand ; said she perceived something on the hand ;
observed when it moved, and when it was stationary. Being
bid to move her fingers, she exclaimed oh, it is the shadow
of my own fingers, which was the fact, i

17th. — Uncovering her eyes, we cast the most brilliant
prismatic colours upon her eyes, which she received firmly,
without either winking, or shewing any signs that she was
aware of it. The most rapid vibrations of the same light,
did not produce the smallest effect ; her eyes remained
equally firm and motionless. When the prismatic spectrum
was thrown upon her mouth and cheeks, she perceived that
there were colours on her face, but could not describe them
so easily, or so accurately, as when they were thrown on her

18th. — She distinctly felt, through a plain glass, at the
distance of four inches, the prismatic colours thrown upon a,
white paper.

MISS M'AVOT. 367

IQth. — With her hands upon the window, perceived two
newly cut stones, of a yellow colour, lying one on the other,
against a wall on the other side of the street, distance about
twelve yards : also, a heap of cast iron railing, piled upon
each other. One of the company being dispatched to place
himself on the ground, stones, rails, 8tc. she mentioned
whenever he moved his position ; perceiving him jump off
the railing ; mentioned the colours of his dress correctly,
only said that a plum-coloured coat was black ; mentioned
two children accidentally passing by at the time. She said,
they appear very small indeed ; the person who was sent
appeared about two feet high, when at the distance of
twelve yards ; as he came nearer, she observed, that she
felt him grow bigger. AH objects appear as if painted on
the glass.

August 2d, eleven o'clock. Found Miss M'Avoy much
agitated ; was unable to distinguish colours ; her agitation
increased at the arrival of many visitors ; her pulse rose
from 96 to 120; attempted several times to distinguish dif-
ferent coloured cloths, but all in vain; at length became
unable to stand. At five o'clock, found Miss M'Avoy quite
recovered ; had been in two or three fits after we left her
this morning ; pulse 96 : her touch in the finest order.

20th. — A stone ornament, in the shape of an orange, she
took for a real orange, at the distance of two or three inches,
feeling through the plain glass. At the distance of fifteen
inches it appeared like a nut, the brightness of the colour
not diminished. At thirty inches it appeared no larger than
a pea, colour still vivid. Still imagines it to be an orange.
When she touched it, she immediately found out her mistake.
' 21st. — An orange and an apple (stone ornaments), being
placed at different distances, she told which was the nearest,
distance five or six inches ; felt them both upon the glass,
but the orange appeared the smaller, and therefore she
thought it further off.

22d. — Accurately described the features, &c. of two per-
S

368 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSECM.

sons, whom she had never seen before, distance of the plain
glass from the face, three or four inches. t'4*

23d. — Perceived her own face in a plain glass, distance
three or four inches ; at a greater distance her face appeared
very small, her face also reflected from a plain mirror, hold-
ing the plain glass at three or four inches from the mirror,
when the mirror was withdrawn, said her face diminished.
All objects constantly appear as a picture on the glass she
touches.

24th. — Perceived the sun through a plain glass ; also the
reflected image of the sun from a plain mirror j was not
dazzled with it; found it very pleasant.

25th. — Several small articles were held over her head; she
perceived them all in her plain glass. She asked doubtingly,
if a three-shilling-piece was not a guinea ; but raising her
glass, and bringing it nearer to the object, she corrected her
error.

26th. — With her fingers on the window, described a
workman in the street, distance ten yards ; a cart loaded
with barrels of American flour ; another, with two loaves of
sugar ; a third empty ; a girl, with a small child in her arms,
&c. all accurately true, except there were three loaves of
sugar in the second cart.

2?th. — Could not distinguish by the touch the difference
between pure water, and a solution of common salt in water.

28th. — Accurately described by the touch several small
engravings.

SUPERB ORIENTAL TOY.

IT represents the tomb of Confucius, and is one of the
most elaborate, costly, and beautiful specimens of oriental
ingenuity, ever imported into Europe. It long constituted
one of the most attractive objects in the late Museum of
Sir A shton Lever.

ORIENTAL TOY. 3(50 „

This illimitable performance is composed of the following
articles : —

The model of the tomb and sepulchral monument of
Confucius, represents an artificial rock, highly picturesque
and romantic in its appearance. . [The Chinese, when they
intend to do honour to the memory of any great man, erect
their sepulchral monuments in form of artificial rocks,
situated over a lake with temples.] qit}

Under this rock is a superb grotto in the oriental style, the
outside of which is adorned with diamonds and rubies, and
around the same are the heads of horses and other animals,
very finely executed. ...-,.

Within the grotto are six fabulous creatures, the upper
parts of which resemble women, the lower winged dragons.

These fabulous creatures support a splendid bier, in the
antique taste, on which the coffin rests.

Encircled by a garland of roses at the top of the bier, is
the representation of the bones and head of the deceased
Confucius.

On each side of the bier are two angels seated on red
cushions, each holding a label in his hand.

On one side of the bier between the two angels, is an
escutcheon, or entablature, with inscriptions.

The grotto has a japan covering, adorned with diamonds
and rubies.

Above the grotto is a lake, with a variety of aquatic herbs
and flowers, appearing in full bloom, which afford shelter
to different kinds of reptiles, as tortoises, lizards, toads,
frogs, &c.

In the midst of the lake is a swan darting on a frog.

Near this spot is a fierce dragon combating with two ser-
pents.

Another dragon is engaged with a serpent, which he
wounds, and the blood seems to flow ; but in return he ap-
pears to be wounded in his head.

A third dragon, a most terrific object, with its breasts

VOL. VI. B B

370 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

• / *

hanging down, is seen as if running on a rock, and fighting
with a crocodile and a serpent.

Above the lake is an elevated platform, having eight
pillars.

On the platform are eight highly grotesque or pantomi-
micai figures, forming a circle, and holding a gold chain in
each hand, and dancing round the platform.

Adjoining the platform, and over the lake, is a bridge
which leads to the temples or chapels on the upper part of
the rock.

The first object on the bridge is a black nnd white dog,
with a red collar, following a Chinese pilgrim, who is
mounted on a camel.

Very near the dog stands a venerable and aged hermit,
supporting himself with a stick which he holds in his right
hand, while his left is extended to receive alms.

Next the above is" a Chinese pilgrim mounted on a stately
camel equipped with red furniture ; he guides the camel with
his right hand, his left supports a beautiful umbrella. On
each aide of the camel hangs a bale, containing perfumes
for the sacrifice.

Above the Chinese pilgrim, sitting in a cavity of the rock,
is a beggar, having only one arm, with which he suspends a
small silver basket, to receive alms of the charitable pilgrims.

Before the camel runs a little dog ; he stops short at a
second beggar, seated in another cavity of the same rock,
with only one leg, holding in his left hand his hat, to receive
alms, and in his right hand a rattle, which he seems to shake,
in order to draw attention from the charitable as they pass
along. This figure proves the ability of the artist, in con-
ceiving and expressing so finely the passions of the human
countenance.

Directing the eye a little farther, you see another pilgrim
sitting on a bench, holding a letter over the gallery, which
he appears to read with a marked attention.

The next object i» a monkey riding on an ass, carrying

ORIENTAL TOY.

371,

two empty silver panniers ; the monkey guides the animal
with a small gold chain.

Near these objects you see a white dog, with a green
collar, looking at its master.

The master follows, to whom the monkey, ass, and dog
belong, having a bag on his back, and a stick in his hand.

Immediately after the eye passes these objects, you quit
the bridge, and enter upon a spacious platform, formed
through the centre or body of the rock, in which are the
following figures : — a handsome tiger dog, with red spots,
and a golden collar, looking towards its master, who is a
mandarin, seated on a white horse, a most lively and finely
proportioned figure.

Next appears the mandarin in a splendid habit, mounted
on the above horse, richly caparisoned ; he guides the horse
with his left hand, whilst with his right he bestows alms on
a beggar, sitting near the spot.

The ground-work or bottom of this spacious vacuity or
hollow is covered with japan, the bordering of which is de-
corated with diamonds and rubies.

On the side of this mandarin is the last mentioned beggar,
sitting on the ground, holding by a chain in his hand, a little
dog, trained, as may be supposed, to draw the attention of
the passenger by his sportive tricks; in his left hand this
beggar holds a bell so exceedingly minute, as to be agitated
by the gentlest motion. rf ,j

Next may be seen, at the bottom of the staircase which
leads to a chapel, an idolatrous priest, on his knees, having
before him a Iamb, and in his right hand an uplifted knife,
prepared to strike the devoted victim.

Near these stairs is the projection of the rock, covered
with coral trees, on which are several beautiful birds of dif-
ferent species.

At the top of the staircase is the magnificent quadrangular
chapel already alluded to, ornamented with festoons of dia«
s, and the roof embellished with diamonds and rubies ;

B B &

372 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

on the top there is a ball, with an elevated spire, terminated
with a crescent or half moon ; this chapel is called the Tem-
ple of the Moon.

Above the chapel is a lafge and venerable owl : it appears
as if going to descend out of a cavity in the rock ; and near
it, a very diminutive owl, seated in a grave and solemn pos-
ture.

In the centre of the chapel is an idol, in the form of a
large monkey, with a crown on his head, and a sceptre in
his hand : supposed to be the idol Fo.

Around the chapel is a covering of japan, adorned with
diamonds and rubies, on the side of which is seated an idola-
trous priest, holding a knife in his hand, as if preparing for
the sacrifice.

Behind the chapel is a beautiful coral tree, on which are
several elegantly formed birds.

From this chapel you ascend a ladder by twelve steps
through the rock towards another chapel.

At the entrance of this higher chapel is a priest on his
knees, holding a censer in his hand, which is suspended by a
small gold chain so very delicate, as to be almost impercep-
tible.

Underneath is a japan covering, embellished with rubies
and diamonds, upon which, before the chapel, opposite the
altar, sits the idol Anachi, in a human form, except the head,
which is that of a dog, having in his right hand a terrestrial
globe, and in his left a caduceus with winged serpents.
On the side of this idol is a crocodile.
Behind this chapel is an infernal spirit ringing a silver
bell, by means of a gold chain, and is represented as having
a fire in his. bowels, which, amongst the Chinese, is an em-
blem of the infernal flames.

On one side of the said evil spirit is a bright and glitter-
ing peacock.

This upper chapel is of an hexangular form. The roof
is adorned with diamonds and rubies, with a superb belfry,

THE FONT OP RAPHAEL. 373

in which is the before-named silver bell, having over it a
beautiful globe and a spire, terminated by the figure of the
sun ; the chapel being called the Temple of the Sun, from
its being .dedicated to that luminary.

Within this chapel is an altar.

On the other side of the chapel is a cragged rock, on
which are to be seen several finely executed figures, such as
goats, storks, &c. ; one of these goats appears to be in th«
act of browsing on the herbage on the rock.

Besides the before-mentioned particulars, there are dis-
persed several beautiful coral trees, with various birds and
beasts, which have a most striking effect.

Whatever may remain undescribed will be discovered by
attentively surveying this master-piece of human ingenuity.

The late Mr. Cox declared it to be one of the most ex-
traordinary productions of art he ever beheld ; and that he
could not undertake to make one like it for a less sum than
1500/.

THE FONT OF RAPHAEL.

THIS admirable performance was originally in the Flo-
rence Gallery, and by mistake was put out with various du-
plicates committed to public sale. The late Admiral Bro-
derick became the purchaser, and on his demise it came into
the possession of Sir Ashton Lever.

It is indubitably the finest and best proportioned extant,
and is the admitted work of Raphael.

The following detailed description of it was written by
that distinguished connoisseur, the late Noel Jennings, Esq.

" The magnificent laver of an oval form with a recurved
edge and pointed bottom, which as well as the raised zone
on the belt encircles the middle of the outside, is wrought
in fluted or gadrooued work. Each side is ornamented with
a laughing cornuted satyr's head ; two grotesque sphinx-
like figures, half satyr and half dragon, with each a double
tail, serve as supporters. Their arms are extended to the

S74 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

- V x

edge, and their hind parts with wings exp'anded underneath,

resting on an oval base, which has a hollow gadrooned edge,
The whole is painted in the most lively colours and glazed*
On the inside within a grotesque border, is represented a
Roman naval engagement. The boarding of two ships by
a number of soldiers in boats, sword and shield in hand ;
sailors fixing their gi appling-hooks to facilitate the entrance
of the assailants, who are opposed by soldiers on boaid the
ships, armed in like manner. The exterior is enriched with
grotesque figures, supporting festoons of flowers, inter-
spersed among which are birds, military achievements, fo-
liage, &c. &c.

Sir Ashton Lever repeatedly refused 500 guineas for this
font. This beautiful specimen was sold at the Egyptian
Hall, June 21, 1819, by Mr. W. Bullock, for 250 guineas,
to Mr. Upcott, of the London Institution.

A CARVED MODEL OF A FONT

OF EXQUISITE WORKMANSHIP.

AMONG the many works of art produced by the monks of
former times, it may be confidently said, that no one sur-
passes in tasteful execution, persevering labour, and uniform
excellence, the object above noticed. It is a small Ca-
tholic relic, or ornament of box wood, divided into eight
pieces, the whole of which forms a curious model of a font.

The execution of this work, however, constitutes its chief
merit and value ; and of this it is impossible to convey an
idea by language, or to speak of it in terms adequate to its
merits. It is evidently the work of an artist; one who
could design, draw and execute ; and who, regardless of time
and labour, seemed only ambitious of producing a work of
superlative curiosity and transcendent excellence. The ge-
neral design may be regarded as architectural, embellished
with several compartments of sculpture or carving, consist-
ing of various groupes of figures in alto and basso-relievos.
These display different events in the life of Jesus Christ,

MR. HERMANES BRAS. 377

MR. HERMANES BRAS.

[WITH A CORRECT LIKENESS.]

•f

IN conformity to our original plan of recording all sports
of nature, whether of dwarfish appearance, gigantic stature,
or the attainment of immense bulk, of the human frame, we
now present our readers with a faithful likeness of this
youth, obtained expressly for this work.

We are sorry, from the absence of materials, we cannot
enter more particularly into his former mode of life. It is
related of him that he is a very regular liver, and moderate
eater ; that at six months of age, he began to get amazingly
lusty ; and when he was fifteen months old, weighed a hun-
dred and six pounds weight ; therefore his growth is some-
what like Mrs. Everington's gigantic child, which we have
recorded iu one of our former volumes. At his birth he was
not more than of the ordinary stature : however, this singular
phenomenon of extraordinary bulk now forms a striking
counterpart to our countryman, Mr. Daniel Lambert, (see
the second volume of this work.)

Mr. Hermanes Bras, designated the gigantic Prussian
Youth, was born at Tecklenbourg, in the county of West-
phalia, between the bishopricks of Muhster and Osnabruck,
in the year 1801 ; and at the lime of his exhibition, at Bar-
tholomew fair, 181Q, was eighteen years of age; he then
weighed five hundred pounds, and stands near six feet iu
height; his countenance is juvenile and pleasant, and his ge-
neral appearance pleasing and prepossessing. He measures
round the body five feet six inches, round the calf of his leg
three feet, and his arm measures two feet in circumference.
He appears as active as a man of the common size, and is
particularly fond of music, playing on the violin for his
amusement, in no despicable manner. He converses in the
German, French, and Dutch languages, with great fluency ;
and has had the honour of being presented to the Emperor

378 KIRBV'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

of Austria, the Kings of France, Prussia, and the Nether-
lands, the Prince of Orange, and most of the nobility of the
different kingdoms, who have all pronounced him to be the
greatest prodigy of nature now extant.

MR. EDWARD BRIGHT,

OF MALDEN, IN ESSEX, GROCER.

THIS extraordinary fat man appears to have descended
from families inclined to corpulency, both on father's and
mother's side. Many of his ancestors could boast of being
of large dimensions — but nothing in comparison with our
hero. He was from his childhood a* very fat boy ; at the age
of twelve years and a half he weighed ten stone four pounds
horseman's weight — 144 pounds : and he increased in bulk
as he grew up, so that in seven years more, and while under
twenty, he weighed twenty-four stone, or three hundred and
thirty-six pounds. He went on increasing, and pretty nearly
in the same proportion, for the last time he was weighed,
about thirteen months before he died, his weight was forty-
two stone twelve pounds, with only his waistcoat, shirt,
breeches, and stockings on ; these clothes being afterwards
weighed, were sixteen pounds — so that his neat weight was
five hundred and eighty-four pounds. His exact weight, at
•the time of his death, was not known ; but as he was grown
bigger, since his last weighing, which he himself, and every
body about him, were sensible of, if in the same proportion,
in which he had increased for many years (upon an average,
about two stone a year,) and only allowing four pounds ad-
ditional for the last year, on account of his moving but little,
while he continued to eat and drink as before, this will bring
him to forty-four stone, or six hundred and sixteen pounds,
neat weight, which was reckoned a near calculation by those
who were about him, and knew him well.
3

MR, EDWARD BRIGHT. 379

He measured five feet nine inches and a half in height;
his body, round the chest, under the arms, five feet six inches,
and round the belly, six feet eleven inches ; his arm, in the
middle of it, was two feet two inches round ; his leg, two
feet eight inches.

While in his youth, he used to eat very heartily, but not
more than any other ordinary person using good exercise —
for. we find he was always very active and strong. He could
walk very well and nimble, and ride a horse with most
men, either trotting or gallopping; and used to travel to
London, backwards and forwards, very often, till within a
very few years of his death, when he became of so enormous
a size, that he was a wonder to every one ; and his amazing
size and weight so fatigued him, and his breath became so
short, that he was compelled to remain at home. His prin-
cipal drink was aie or strong old beer — but towards the latter
part of his lite he drank small beer; he now and then would
indulge himself with a little wine and water, or a little punch.
He enjoyed a good state of health, most of his time, except
that in the last three years of his life, he was two or three
times seized with an inflammation in his leg, attended with
fever — and every time with such tendency to mortification,
as to make it necessary to scarify the part, but by proper
treatment, was always soon relieved ; as it was always ne-
cessary to bleed him, when in this state, not less than two
pounds of blood was taken from him at a time, and he felt
no more from it, than an ordinary man would by losing a few
ounces. He was of a very cheerful disposition, a good-
natured man, a good husband and father, and was well
respected, and beloved by all that knew him. He married
when he was about the age of twenty-two or twenty-three,
and had five children: he died November tO, 175O, in th«
thirtieth year of his age, leaving his wife near her time with
her sixth child.

His last illness, which continued about fourteen days, was
a miliary fever. It began with pretty strong inflammatory

580 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

*
symptoms, a very troublesome cough, difficulty of breathing,

&c. and the eruption was extremely violent. For some days,
he was thought to be relieved in the other symptoms by the
eruption ; but it seems to be no wonder at all that his consti-
tution was not able to struggle through such a disease, which
proves so fatal to many, who appear to be much more fit to
grapple with it.

His body began to putrify, very soon after he was dead,
although the weather was very cold ; it became very offensive
the next day, before they could get a coffin made. As the
corpse was of a surprising bulk, the coffin must be so too :
it was three feet six inches broad, at the shoulders, two feet
three inches and a half at the head, twenty-two inches at the
feet, and three feet one inch and a half deep. Great num-
bers of people came to see the coffin while it was making ;
and at the funeral there was a vast concourse, not only of the
town, but from the country, for several miles round, out of
curiosity, to see how such a corpse could be got to the
ground. It was drawn to the church on a low wheeled car-
riage, by ten or twelve men, and was let down into the grave
by an engine fixed up in the church for that purpose.

MR. JOHN LOVE,

OF WEYMOUTH, BOOKSELLER.

IN the early part of his life, he lived with Mr. Ryland,
an engraver, and was a remarkably thin young man; his
friends considered him in a decline ; but the unhappy situa-
tion of Ryland at the lime compelled him to return to his
friends ; and from his delicate habit of body, by the advice
of his physicians, he had every kind of delicious nutriment,
which gave him such a habit of ease and indulgence, that
Mr. Love gave himself up entirely to wine and dainties.

When he became a bookseller, in YVeymoutb, he gave

CASES OF FATNESS. 381

himself full scope to his desires; through overeating and
drinking he now grew remarkably heavy and corpulent, as he
was before light and thin ; his weight and bulk at last became
the astonishment of every one. He used to have his small-
clothes made so as the waistband nearly reached his chin,
to prevent their falling off. He generally wore a night-
gown, seldom a coat, for he could not bear the confinement
of the sleeves. He increased in bulk so much that at last
he was choked in his fat and died in the forty-first year of
his age, and was buried at Wey mouth, in October 1793.
When living he weighed 26 stone, or 368 pounds. The
coffin and corpse is supposed to have weighed about a ton
altogether. He was obliged to be put out of the window,
and conveyed down by ropes on two pieces of timber.

ADDITIONAL CASES OF

OBESITY, OR FATNESS.

MR. SPOON ER, a farmer at Shuttington, near Tamworth,
in the county of Warwick, died in June 1775, aged fifty-
eight. About five years before he died, he weighed thirty-
six stone, horseman's weight, 14lb. to the stone avoirdupoise.
The last five years he was much increased in bulk, having
in that time become extremely fat ; but he would not suffer
himself to be weighed, though requested by several gentle-
men.

His widow verily believes he would have weighed consi-
derably more than forty stone, had he been weighed some
time before his death. He was five feet ten inches in
height ; bis appetite moderate, both as to eating and drink-
ing, and his food such as plain country farmers generally
live upon. He was very stout and active, and of a cheerful
merry temper. For the last five years, from his being so
greatly fed in that time, he was very indolent.

382 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

He had eight children, six sons and two daughters, who
are all living. Mr. Spooner's parents were not inclined to
be fat, but one of his sons is remarkably so. Mr. S. first
began to grow fat at the age of twenty-five ; 'at thirty-five he
was stabbed by a Jew with a knife, and lost a considerable
quantity of blood, but soon recovered of his wound.

His undertaker says, he believes, without exaggeration,
that the corpse and the coffin, though only of wood, weighed
700lbs. The coffin was six feet long, three feet wide in the
inside, and twenty-three inches deep.

This account was taken the 10th day of August, 1775,
from the widow of Mr. Spooner, at her house at Shutting-
ton, by Mr. John Vaughan, and Mr. Samuel Heath, bailiffs
of the borough of Tamworth.

Monthly Mag. November 1, 1818.

A respectable farmer within five miles of Hexham, Nor-
thumberland, has a daughter who has just completed her
twelfth year, of such amazing bulk, that she is supposed to
weigh above sixteen stone. General Chronicle, 1812.

ACCOUNT OF

CORPULENT PERSONS OF FORMER TIMES,

FROM WANLEY.

ZACDTUS speaks of a young man who was grown to that
huge thickness, and fatness, that he could scarce move him*
self, much less was he able to go and set one foot forward.
He continually sat in his ehair ; some time he was oppressed
with that difficulty of breathing that he seemed to be
choked ; he was in perpetual fear of being suffocated, or
that he should die of an apoplexy, convulsion or fit. H«
M?as afterwards cured by Zacutus himself.

See Zucut. Lusit. Pro*. Adm. I. 3. Obs. 108.^. 418.

CASES OF -FATNESS. 383

POI.YCUCTUS SPHETTIUS was a man of great corpulency.
He one time made a long oration amongst the Athenians to
persuade them to enter into a war with Philip of Macedon ;
in the speaking of which, by reason of the heat, and his own
fat, he had frequent recourse to a bottle of water, which he
had about him for that purpose. When he had ended, Pho-
cion rose up : " And my masters," said he, " i.i it fit to give
credit to this man concerning the management of a war?
What think you would become of him in the midst of a
battle when his helmet and breastplate were on, seeing he is
in such danger of death, with the bare labour of speaking."
Plut . in Phocine, p. 746. Trenchfield's History improved,
p. 42.

DIONYSIUS (the son of that Cleaschus who was the
first tyrant in Heraclea), by reason of his voluptuous life,
and excessive feeding, became so corpulent, that he was
oppressed with difficulty of breathing, and in a continued
fear of suffocation. Whereupon his physicians appointed,
that as oft as he fell into a profound sleep, they should prick
his sides and belly with very long and sharp needles. He
felt nothing while they passed through the fat, but when they
touched upon the sensible flesh, then he awaked. To such
as demanded justice he gave answers, opposing a chest be-
twixt him and them, to cover all the rest of his body, so
that nothing but his face did appear without it. He died in
the fifty-fifth year of his age, when he had reigned thirty-
three years. — Athencaus 1. 12. c. 12. p. 549- Mlian^ Far.
H. 1. 9- c. 13. p. 242.

Gabriel Fallopius tells, that he saw a man, who being so*
extremely fat, his skin was so thickened, that he lost all
feeling. Donat. Hist. Med. Mir. I. 5. c. 2. p. 274.

PTOLOMJEUS ENERGETES, the seventh king of Egypt,
by reason of his sensuality and luxurious life, " was grown,"

384 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MDSEUM.

saith Possidonius, " to a vast bulk ; his belly was swollen
with fat, his waist so thick, that scarce any man could com-
pass it with'both his arms. He never came out of his pa-
lace on foot, but he always leaned upon a staff. His son
Alexander (who killed his mother), was much fatter than he ;
so that he was not able to walk, unless he supported himself
with two crutches." JElian, Hist. 1 9. c. 14. p. 244, &c.

Agatharcides tells of Morgan, who reigned fifty years in
Cyrene, and living in peace, and flowing in luxury, he grew
to a prodigious corpulency in his latter years, insomuch that
at last he was suffocated with his own fat, which he had
gained by his idleness, sloth, and excessive gluttony.

Athen. 1. 12. c. 12. p. 550.

I have seen a young Englishman who was carried
throughout all Italy, and suffered not himself to be seen
without payment of money ; he was of that monstrous bulk
both in fatness and thickness, that the Duke of Mantua and
Montserrat commanded his picture to be drawn to the life
naked, as of a thing altogether extraordinary.

Donat. Hist. Mirab. 1. 5. c. 2. p. 274.

VITUS A MATER A was a learned philosopher and di-
vine, but so fat, that he was not able to get up a one pair of
stairs. He breathed with great difficulty : nor could he
sleep lying along without present danger of suffocation.

Donat. ibid. p. 274.

In the year 1520, there was a nobleman born at Dieth-
marsia, but lived some time in the city of Stockholm, in
Sweden. This man was sent to prison by command of
Christian II. king of Denmark. When he came to the pri-
son door, such was his extreme corpulency, that they who
conducted him were not able to thrust him in at it. The
guard that went to convey him thither, were to hasten back

DAVID OWEN. S85

to assist in torturing some other persons ; so that being ex-
tremely angry to be thus delayed, they thrust him aside into
a corner thereabouts. By this means the man escaped being
put into a prison, as was intended.

Zuing. Thealr. Vol. II. 1. 2. p. 279.

POPE LEO X. had so mighty a belly, and was so ex*
tremely corpulent, that to this very day his fatness is prover-
bial in Rome : so that when they would describe a man that
is very fat, they were wont to say of him that he was as fat
as Pope Leo. Zuing. Thealr. Vol. II. 1. 2. p. 279.

SANGUINARY REVENGE,

BY DAVID OWEN.

WE have to relate one of those dreadful instances of des-
perate depravity which reflect disgrace, not merely on the
age, but on human nature itself. On Friday, September 26,
1817, about two o'clock at noon, a Welshman, named David
Owen, came to town from Edmonton, and proceeded to the
house of one Jones, his brother-in-law, who is a cow-keeper,
resident in Gibraltar-row, Prospect- place, St. George's-tields.
After knocking at the door, he was admitted by a maid-ser-
vant. He asked for Jones, but before an answer could be
given, he rushed forward through a short passage, into the
kitchen, where the object of his projected violence was sitting
at his dinner with his wife ; and without uttering a syllable,
he darted upon him, and with a large knife, with which he
was provided, inflicted on his head and neck several wounds.
Mrs. Jones and her servant endeavoured to restrain his cruel
rage, and in the effort were themselves wounded. Owen
succeeded in getting poor Jones on the ground ; and
kneeling on his body, was proceeding in his murderous work,

VOJU VI. * C C

386 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

when the servant girl rushed into the street, streaming with
blood, and called for assistance.

A young man, named Hopkins, who was formerly a sailor,
but who then earned a livelihood by mending shoes, heard, ag
he was sitting at his work, the cries of distress, and instantly
came out. On ascertaining the place where his interference
was necessary, he ran into Jones's house, and seeing Owen
prostrate on Jones's body, he threw himself upon him, thereby
for a time preventing further mischief ; but not until Jones
had received, in addition to many wounds on his head and
neck, a large incision on the abdomen. Hopkins car-
ried Jones into the street ; upon which, Owen produced a
second knife, and flying at Mrs. Jones, his own sister, inflicted
upon her several shocking wounds : he stabbed her in the
forehead, cut her severely, though not dangerously, between
two of her ribs, and having thrust his knife in her mouth,
drew it clean through the face to her ear, lacerating her
tongue, and laying the cheek completely open.

The poor servant girl, Mary Berry, in again attempting to
saye her mistress, shared her fate, and was not only dreadfully
wounded in the face and hands, but received so severe a cut
in her arm, as to render her recovery extremely doubtful ;
one of the main arteries was completely divided.

The poor wretches, though faint, and almost insensible
with terror and loss of blood, contrived to make their way
into the street, where they were immediately observed by
their neighbours, and were carried into the adjoining houses
till medical assistance could be procured.

lu the mean time, the assassin had fastened the door of
Jones's house, and with loud imprecations threatened to de-
stroy any person who should dare to approach him. This
threat, together with the impression of the horrible scene be-
Fore them, and the circumstance of Owen (who is a remark-
ably large and powerful man) being armed with two knives,
completely deterred the multitude, though soon consisting of

DAVID OWEN. 387

many hundreds, from attempting to enter the bouse. Police
officers, however, were sent for; and on their arrival, after
an interval of nearly an hour, it was determined to break into
the house, and seize the desperate villain. For this purpose,
a great number of persons armed with pokers, clothes-props,
and bludgeons, made a simultaneous attack — some at the
back of the house, and some in front ; and by means of forc-
ing windows, and with the aid of ladders, they succeeded in
gaining admission. During these efforts, Owen was seen at
the window on the first floor, with two knives, in his hands,
which he kept whetting one upon the other, as if for the pur-
pose of rendering them more effectually murderous. On
the approach of his assailants, he threatened destruction to
any who should approach him, and actually did make several
desperate lounges at those who were nearest him, which were
parried by the weapons with which they were armed. In a
few minutes he was knocked down by a blow from a clothes-
prop ; but while on the ground, he made the most obstinate
resistance, and it became necessary, iu order to overpower
him, to strike him some severe blows. He for a long time
refused to part with the knives ; and they were at length taken
from him by force only, after some incisions on his own hands.
Having been finally overcome, he exhibited all the rage of a
madman, and could only be moved by main force — his arms
and legs being confined by strong ropes. Holmes, the most
active of the officers, then sent for a hackney-coach, and had
his prisoner lifted in, and driven to Union Hall, where he
underwent a partial examination, before Mr. Evance, the
sitting magistrate. Nothing could exceed the terrific and
bloody spectacle which he exhibited on this occasion; he
was covered both with his own blood, and that of his un-
happy victims, from his head to his feet, and had more the
appearance of a demon than a human being.

On being placed at the bar, he fixed his eyes on a Jew
attorney, named Cohen, and gnashing his teeth, he exclaimed,
<( You have been the cause of all this." Upon the evidence

c c 2

KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

of Holmes, he was committed to Horsemonger-lane-gaoT,
whither he was followed by some hundreds of persons, who
overwhelmed him with their execrations.

While these proceedings were going on towards the pri-
soner, every attention was paid to the objects of his diabolical
attack. Mr. Jones, and his servant girl, Mary Berry, were
conveyed to St. Thomas's Hospital, where, on examination,
it was found that both had been most dangerously wounded,
although hopes were entertained that their wounds might not
prove mortal.

Mrs. Jones, on being dressed by Mr. Dixon, surgeon, of
Newington, was carried back to her house, and placed in her
bed, in a very precarious state. There were none of them
for some time considered out of danger. By direction of
the surgeons by whom they 1vere attended, they were kept
quiet, and in the event of any danger of immediate death,
their depositions were to be taken before a magistrate. The
prisoner 'Owen maintained a sullen silence, and his person
exhibited the most lasting marks of that violence which it be-
came necessary to use in order to secure him. He had
received a severe cut on the head, and one of his fingers was
nearly severed from his hand ; his legs and arms were also
dreadfully bruised.

Our readers will now naturally inquire what could have
been the cause, however inadequate, of this savage barbarity.
Upon this subject we have inquired, and have ascertained
that some years back, Jones and his wife brought up from
Wales two lads, the sons of Owen, whom they treated as
their own — educating and supporting them in the best
manner their circumstances would permit. The prisoner
Owen in the meantime carried on the business of a publican
at Edmonton, and having been guilty of some act of un-
kindness towards his brother-in-law Jones, the latter thought
proper, about a year back, as a step of retaliation, to com-
mence an action at law against him for the board and educa-
tion of his two sons. In this action he employed the Jev?

DAVID owEjr. 339

attorney, Cohen, whom Owen addressed with so much bitter-
ness, on his entering Union-Hall. Cohen lost no time in fur-
thering the views of his client, and proceeded without delay
to serve the copy of a writ on Owen, at his house at Edmon-
ton. The effect of this proceeding was so powerful upon
Mrs. Owen, that she actually died two days subsequent to
the writ having been served, and to this event, melancholy as
it certainly was, may pet hups be traced that hatred which
at last led to the dreadful scene we have been describing.
The uction was in the meantime pursued, but upon being
brought into Court, a reference was recommended, and
adopted, and the facts of the case were submitted to tlie
arbitration of Mr. Barrow aud Mr. Reynolds. It appeared
that a set-off was made by Owen against Jones's bill, in
which he charged the latter for the work and labour of
his sons, during the number of years they had been living
with hi in. And as it appeared that the boys had been very
generally employed in assisting Jones in his business of a
cow-keeper, this set-off was admitted, and an award actually
made in favour of Owen, over and above the sum demanded
by Jones, of one hundred pounds* The effect of this
award was to drive Jones and his wife from the possession
of some premises which belonged to Owen, situate at
Newington. These premises Owen let to other tenants;
and on Friday, on his coming up to look after his rent, to
his surprise and vexation, he found tW house deserted, and
tjie late occupants gone. It turned out that the tenants had
been detected in carrying on an unentered soap-work, and
had found it convenient to fly, without the usual notice to
the landlord. The effect of the discovery on the mind of
Owen was such, added to the recollection that his law-suit
with his brother-in-law was the original cause, not alone of
his present loss, but of his wife's death, as to produce a tem-
porary lit of freuzj, during which he determined to be fully
avenged by the death of him whom he conceived to be the
original offender. He immediately went to a house in tht

690 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

neighbourhood, where he dined, and having increased hi»
passion by the use of spirituous liquors, he set out on his
atrocious expedition, in which he succeeded in the melan-
choly manner we have already detailed. It is stated, that he
expressed a design equally sanguine towards his son, who
happened to be absent at the time of his visit ; but of this
there is no other evidence than the vague reports of the neigh-
bours, whose feelings have induced them not a little to mag-
nify that which actually did take place.

The parties are all Welsh. Jones and his wife are about
forty years of age : the servant girl about twenty. Owen is
between forty-five and fifty, and is, as we have before stated,
a man of remarkably formidable s:ze and strength. The age
of the eldest son id about eighteen ; both this lad and his
brother, it appears, have always preferred the society of their
uncle and aunt to that of their father; and upon the elder
one has now devolved the whole management of his uncle's
business, which consists of an extended milk-walk — a great
part of which, it is feared, from tlie confinement of himself
and his wife, he will lose. The servant girl, Mary Berry,
had lived with them from her infancy, and is sincerely attached
to them. She was a witness for Jones before the arbitrators,
a circumstance which may perhaps account for the enmity of
Owen towards her.

Jones's house exhibited a most desolate appearance, from
the means which were taken to apprehend the assassin. The
sashes at the back of the house had been forced out; and
from the number of persons who pressed up stairs together,
the bannisters were completely demolished.

After tlie unfortunate victims of his brutal attack had
escaped from Owen into the street, their appearance diew a
large concourse of persons together. In a few minutes, a
sailor that was passing, vowed that he would secure him or
lose his life. HI- began to enier at the window, but retreated
in dismay at seeing Ovi.:ii in such a frightful attitude, with
two large knives in his hands, and a piece of bar iron lying

DAVID OWEN. 391

by him. He got a pistol loaded with ball, and again made
an attempt to secure Owen : he told him that unless he threw
down the knives, that he would shoot him ; instead, how-
ever, of throwing them away, Owen brandished them, vow-
ing that the first that attempted to secure him should lose
his life. The sailor pulled the trigger, but the pistol missed
fire. By this time, Mr. Sandbach, butcher, of Lambeth
Walk, a very powerful and spirited man, came up and got
a large pole, which was used to prop a clothes-line.
Holmes, the constable, got another, and both of them forced
the poles against Owen, and pinned him up in one corner
of the room, while the sailor and others disarmed him*
Owen said to Holmes the constable, " You know me, Mr.
Holmes, very well, and have no need to handcuff me."
Holmes replied, " Well, if you will act as you ought, and
go quietly, I will not handcuff you."

Mr. Sandbach said, that he insisted upon Holmes doing
his duty, by handcuffing him, for he was not a person fit to
be trusted with his liberty. After he was handcuffed, he
was put in a hackney-coach, and conveyed to Union Hall.
On the way he was asked, what could have caused him to
commit such a horrible act ? when he replied, " Had you
been in my place, you would have acted as I have done.
Why, Jones has robbed me within this fortnight, of 600/.
by false swearing."

Observer Office, Saturday Night, 1 1 o'clock.

The surgeons at St. Thomas's Hospital are of opinion
that Jones and his servant are not in very imminent danger,
and they have great hopes of their ultimate recovery.

Mr. Dickson, surgeon, of Newingtou, visited Mrs. Jones
last evening, and is of opinion she is in a fair way of reco-
very.

FIRST PUBLIC EXAMINATION OF MR. OWEN.

UNION HALL. — Although it was not exactly known on
Friday, that the examination of Owen, for attempting to

KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

murder Mr. John Jones (his brother-in-law), Mrs. Mar-
garet Jones (his sister), and Mary Berry (their servant),
on Frida\, the 26th of September last, was to take place on
that day, yet for hours previous to the examination crowds
of persons assembled, and the business of the office was
much interrupted. 1 he magistrates therefore thought pro-
per to examine the prisoner in the private room.— About
one o'clock Mr. Jones and Mary Berry arrived in a hack-
ney-coach from St. Thomas's Hospital ; they were in the
care of two i.urses, and were very weak. About two o'clock
the prisoner was brought into the room, and confronted with
Jones and his servant. The servant fainted as soon as she
saw him, Jtnd it was with difficulty that Mr. Jones was
roused to sensibility. When he recovered, he exclaimed,
*' O God ! I thought I saw him with a knife in his hand."

The magistrates ordered the prisoner to be taken out of
the room, as his presence so much agitated the prosecutors.

About two o'clock Mrs. Jones arrived in a hackney-coach
from her house in Newington ; she is still in a very weals
state.

Mary Berry sworn.— She is servant to Mr. Jones, and a
single woman. On Friday, September 26, about one
o'clock in the day, she was at home with her master and
mistress, and heard a noise at the front door. She went and
opened it, and saw the prisoner, David Owen, standing at
the door. As soon as she opened the door, he forced him-
self by her into the house. Her master was in the back
room, and she called out to him — " Mr. Owen is here.'*
Her master came out of the buck room into the passage j
before he came the prisoner had bolted the door, which by
the time he had done, her master came to the far end of
the passage. The prisoner opened his coat, took a large sharp
pointed knife out of his coat pocket, and struck at her
master with it. Not a single word passed between the pri-
soner and her master until after the prisoner cut him with
the knife ; the first blow he received was on the back of his

DAVID OWES. 393

hand. Her master called out as soon as he was attacked,
and her mistress came out of the back room to assist him ;
she (witness), also went to his assistance, and they struggled
with the prisoner; she grasped the knife, and he drew it
through her hand ; she bled very much, and was going to the
door, when the prisoner became desperate, and cut and
carved at all three of them : he cut her right arm, stabbed
her in the neck, and on the forehead. She got from the pri-
soner, and ran to the door; the blood was running down her
clothes; she saw a young man at the door, and called to
him ; she ran into the house again, and was very faint from
her arm bleeding so very profusely. She saw the prisoner
and her master on the ground struggling ; the prisoner had
the knife in his hand, and the blade appeared to her to be in
her master's side, but fortunately it was between the clothes
and the tiesh. The young man whom she called, came into
the house, and as the prisoner was struggling with her
master, she took hold of the prisoner's arm, and the young
man seized the knife, and forced it out of his hand.
She saw that her master was cut and bleeding : she did
not see at that time what was become of her mistress.
She ran out of the house when the knife was taken frotn the
prisoner, and was taken to a house in the neighbourhood,
and fiom thence to St. Thomas's Hospital in the Borough.

John Jones, of Gibraltar-row, Prospect-place, sworn. — -
He heard a knock at his door on the 26th of September,
about one o'clock in the day; Mary Berry went to the door,
and called to him as soon as she had opened it, and said,
" Mr. Owen is come." He got up and vxent towards the
door; he met the prisoner in the passage; he took a knife
out of an inside pocket of his coat, and struck at him with
it. He defended himself with his arm, and the prisoner cut
his left hand; he rushed upon him to get the knife from
bim, and they struggled very much, and fell on the ground;
he was undermost. He received several stabs in the throat
*nd on his head ; part of his left ear was cut off; his neck

394 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

was cut very bad, and bled very much. He remembered
seeing his wife and servant endeavouring to assist him, but
he was so confused, that he scarcely recollects what was
done to them. He lost the use of his hand. He and Owen
had a law-suit in 1815 ; he gave up the lease, which was the
cause of their contention, in August, 1816, and never spoke
to him since until the day he was attacked.

Margaret, the wife of John Jones, of No. 6, Gibraltar-
row, sworn. — On Friday, the 26lh day of September last,
she heard a knock at the front door, about dinner time ; she
knew that her husband was in the back room ; the servant,
Mary Berry, went to the door, and when she had opened it,
she called out to her husband, " Mr. Owen wants you."
Her husband went towards the door ; she remained at the
dinner-table, but had an opportunity in that situation to see
Owen, who was in the passage ; she saw him take a knife
out of his coat pocket, and exclaim to her husband, " You
wretches, I am come to kill you all." She then saw him
strike her husband on one of his hands, which he put up to
guard his body from the knife. She ran to assist him ; the
prisoner struck at her with the knife, and cut her on the
head ; he then forced the knife into her mouth, and drew it
to her throat, then turned it round, and cut in another direc-
tion, from her mouth to her eye, and cut her tongue very
much ; the prisoner then stabbed her husband in the side.
[Here the^witness grew so faint, it was some time before she
could proceed with her evidence.] The servant came to
her and her husband's assistance ; Owen got her husband
down, and her also ; she grew so faint from loss of blood,
that she did not recollect what took place afterwards, until
she was in the care of Mr. Dickson, surgeon, who dressed
her wounds, and she was conveyed to bed at her own house,
where she has been ever since.

Charles Hopkins, shoemaker, No. 11, Gibraltar- row,
Prospect-place, sworn. — He was in his house on Friday, the
26th of September, and a little after one o'clock he heard

DAVID OWEN. 393

the cry of Murder ! several times. He went to the door,
and saw that Mary Berry was bleeding at Mr. Jones's house,
calling Murder! He ran over to Mr. Jones's house, and
saw him lying on the ground in the passage, and the pri-
soner, Owen, was lying across his body. Owen had a knife
in his hand, and the blade of it was between Mr. Jones's
side and arm. Mrs. Jones came up at that moment. Mr.
Jones called out to them to take the knife from Owen.
Owen raised himself up a little, seized Mrs. Jones by her
apron and dragged her do*vn. Mary Berry then took hold
of Owen's arm, and he (the witness), took the knife out
of Owen's hand. When he had taken the knife from him,
he assisted Mr. Jones into the front room, and from thence
to Mr. Rally's, surgeon, in ihe London Road, and he went
with him and Mary Beffy from thence to St. Thomas's
Hospital. The knife he produced was that which he took
from the prisoner.

John Francis Holmes, constable of St. George's, South-
wark, sworn — On Friday, the 26th of September, he was
informed of ihe prisoner's having altempted lo murder ihree
persons, and proceeded lo Mr. Jones's house. He put the
handcuffs on the prisoner at the door ; he had been pre-
viously secured, and the knife taken from him. A young
man gave him a knife, which he said the prisoner had in his
possession, after the former knife had been taken from him.
On the prisoner's person he found two small knives (pocket-
knives), a bunch of keys, and a razor- case. He took him
to Union Hall, and he was committed to Horsemonger-lane
Gaol.

The prisoner, who was a very robust man, about five feet
ten inches in height, dark complexion, and about fifty years
of age, was then brought into the room again, and the above
evidence was read over to him. The prisoner bowed wheq
he entered the room ; he seemed rather agitated at first, but
soon became quite calm, and during the remainder of the
time his countenance assumed an appearance which could

306 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MIJSEUM.

not be misunderstood : he looked at the victims of his re-
venge with stern malignancy, and never uttered a word during
the whole time. He was remanded for another examination,
as the surgeons could not attend on Friday.

The parties who gave evidence entered into recognizances
to prosecute the prisoner at the next assizes at Kingston.

It is supposed that the knife the prisoner took with him to
Jones's house was carried in the razor-case, which was found
ip his coat pocket when he was apprehended,

FINAL EXAMINATION OF OWEN.

UNION HALL. — Tuesday David Owen was fully com-
mitted for trial at the next Kingston Assizes, upon a charge
of attempting to murder Mr. Jones, Mrs. Jones, and Mary
Berry, his brother-in-law, his sister, and their servant.

Two knives were produced which were bloody : one was
the carving knife, carried to Mrs. Jones's house by Owen,
and the other was a table knife which Mr. Jones identified
as his own property : he supposed the prisoner seized it from
the dinner table after the carving knife was taken from him.

Thomas Topper, a worker of the telegraph in West-
square, was on the telegraph on the day of the ^6ih of Sep-
tember, about one o'clock, and heard an outcry of "murder!"
He looked towards Jones's house, and saw Sarah Berry or
Mrs. Jones standing at the door with blood running from her
face. He ran with all possible speed to the house, and
found a mob collected both bapk and front. Owen had run
up stairs on the first floor ; the front door was shut, and he
could not get admission into the house. He climbed up to
the window of the first floor, and saw Owen in the passage
with two knives in his hand, sharpening one against the other.
Owen then came towards him in a menacing attitude, ami
he leaped from the window on the ground to get a ladder,
which he reared up to the window that was open. He call-
ed to Owen, and said, " You had better surrender, for we
have you presently." He replied, " .No, you will not,"

DAVID OWE!*.

arid drew one of the knives across his throat. He (the wit-
ness) called out, " He is going to cut his throat," but found
that he had not made any incision. A sailor ran up the lad-
der, with an iron bar, but retreated from the window of the
room when he saw Owen \\ith the knives, brandishing them,
and threatening to kill all who came to take him. Some
persons got into the back room and fastened the door, which
prevented his entering the room. Shortly after Owen went
out of the front room, upon the head of the staircase, a Mr.
Sand bach, a butcher, rushed into the front room, and pre-
vented him from coming in again by fastening the door. A
young man got a pistol, and threatened to shoot Owen if he
did not give himself up to them. He refused, and the
young man was going to shoot him, but was prevented by a
gentleman present. He, the sailor, and Mr. Saudbacb,
opened the door, when the prisoner was off his guard, and
he seized him by the collar and the right arm. The sailor
seized him by the other arm, and several others came up on
the instant, and endeavoured to assist. Owen struggled
very much ; the railing of the staircase was broken down,
and they fell down stairs; he kept hold of the prisoner, and
the knife being taken from him, he was delivered into
Holmes's custody.

George VVinton corroborated the chief of the above evi-
dence. He had a pistol loaded with ball, and was going to
shoot the prisoner, when a gentleman (Captain Porter) de-
sired him not, and pulled his arm back. He assisted the last
witness and two others to secure the prisoner. The knife
produced (the dinner knife, which is identified by Mr. Jones
as his property), was the one, he believed, the prisoner had
in his possession when he was secured.

Mr. Peter Dixon, surgeon, of Newington, on the after-
noon of Friday, the 26th of September, was called upon to
attend a wounded woman, whom he since understands to be
Mrs. Jones. She was then at her house in Gibraltar-row.
He examined the wounds, and found there were three several
5

398 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

cuts of a sharp instrument on her face, one on her neck, and
on the left side of her chest. As far as he could judge, he
believed they were inflicted with a knife. He did not con-
sider either of the wounds dangerous at the time. She is
still under his care, and the wounds are all healed, except the
one on the side of her chest.

John Carter, surgeon, and dresser to Mr. Chandler, senior
surgeon at St. Thomas's hospital, said, that on Friday the
26th of September last, two wounded persons were brought
to the hospital : one was Mr. Jones, the other his servant,
Mary Berry. He examined and dressed the wounds ; they
appeared to be incised wounds, and had every appearance of
being inflicted by a sharp instrument : they might have been
done by a knife like the one then produced. [Here the wit-
ness was shewn the knife the prisoner took with him to
Jones's house.] Mr. Jones was wounded on the left side of
the cheek and neck, and part of his left ear was cut off;
th€re was also a wound on the back of his left hand, which
had divided one of the tendons and part of another ; he did
not consider the wounds dangerous. Mary Berry was
wounded on her right arm by a very deep cut, her hand was
cut, and one of the tendons of her finger was divided ; she
had also a cut on the left side of her neck, and one on her
forehead ; he did not consider her wounds were likely to
prove mortal, when he examined them; both Mr. Jones and
Mary Bern are still under his care.

Mr. Wm. Lukes, surgeon, St. Thomas's hospital, said,
that on the 26lh of September, Mr. Jones and his servant
were brought to the hospital. The clothes he produced
were those worn by Mr. Jones when he was wounded; they
were covered with dirt and blood, and exactly in the same
state at that time as when he first received them. The knife
he produced he received from a young man ; it was bloody
then, and is become quite rusty ; he delivered the knife to
Holmes and Mr. Hall; an officer received the bloody
clothes.

DAVID OWEN. . 399

0 \

Robert Hftll said the clothes now produced were those he
received from Mr. Lukes. He examined them when he re-
ceived them, and found the coat was discoloured with blood,
and covered with dirt on the back, as if the person who had
worn it had been struggling on the ground. The waistcoat
was very much cut on the collar, and almost dyed with blood
from the collar to the pockets. The small-clothes were
also clotted with blood. — The Magistrate ordered the officer
to produce them on the trial of the prisoner.

The witnesses were bound over to give evidence, and the
prisoner was fully committed for trial.

The office was crowded during the examination. The
prisoner was silent (as advised by his solicitor) during the
whole of the time ; he paid no attention to the witnesses
who were giving their evidence, but during the time the
clerk was reading it, his features exhibited considerable
expression of surprise at various parts of it. At the close
he bowed, looked at the witnesses very sternly, and left the
room. He was conveyed to Horseraonger-laue gaol in a
coach.

At the following Surrey Assizes at Kingston, April 4,
1818, this sanguinary monster was indicted for feloniously,
wilfully, and maliciously stabbing and cutting John Jones
on the 26th September last, with intent to murder him ; the
prisoner pleaded not guilty. He now appeared much de-
jected, and sighed frequently during his trial ; the horrid
savageness of his countenance, which appeared so strong on
his examinations before the magistrates, had now left him,
and his aspect was meek and mild : on the examination of
the witnesses nothing new was elicited in addition to their
former depositions : on his defence he called several witnesses
to his former character, who uniformly deposed, that he ap»
peared always an inoffensive and well disposed man, but
that since the loss of his wife and the termination of his law-
suit with Jones, he appeared at times much injured iu his
3

400 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

mind, talking incoherently, and betraying a vvildncss and" in-
consistency of conduct.

The jury foitnd him guilty, but recommended him to
mercy. The learned judge then proceeded to pass the
awful sentence of death 011 him in the usual manner.

HORRID CRUELTY,

IN THE MURDER OF A SLAVE IN AMERICA*

THE New York Commercial Advertiser extracts from the1
Raleigh Star, the report of the trial of a human monster,
one John R. Cooke, who was convicted of having murdered
a negro slave, in North Carolina, under circumstances of the
most atrocious cruelty, but who was pardoned at the foot of
the gallows, by the governor of that State.- This was the
first instance that came under the operation of the law, but
lately enacted, by which the murders are declared capital
offences.

The persons tried were Cooke, Davis, and Baily ; the last
being the owner of the slave. One man, Hesiin, was indicted,
but had absconded. Davis and Baily were acquitted ; Cooke
was found guilty. It appeared in evidence, that Cooke and
Hesiin dragged the poor negro by force along the road, mak-
ing him keep up with their horses on a fast trot, to the house
of a Mrs. Stephens. The wretch begged for water; they
would give him only spirits, and, on his tasting it but slightly,
they threw a full glass in his face. Here they were joined
by Davis, who interrogated the negro about a runaway.
The miserable being protested his ignorance of Davis's run-
away ; they tied him to a horse-rack, and whipped him so
unmercifully, that Mrs. Stephens begged they would not
whip him more at her house. Davis said when they got the

OF A SLAVE.

liegro lo a certain log, the truth would come out. They
again dragged him on, pinioned — themselves on horseback,
travelling rapidly. After going some miles, they turned into
the woods, and tied the negro lengthways to a log. He said,
they would break his legs. Heslin replied, he did not care.
Here some witnesses deposed to have heard the cracks of
whips, and a " beating as with a stick, or something like a
person getting tan-bark." Heslin and Cooke quarrelled vio-
lently who should whip the murdered man. In crossing a
creek the slave begged for water ; Cooke bid him drink it if
he could ; being pinioned, he was obliged to get down on his
knees in the water to drink, and he was drawn on his face, by
Cooke's horse moving. This caused laughter! At the house
of a Mr. Gallihon, the slave stopped, quite exhausted, and
quivered all over ; Cooke then gave him many severe strokes
with a long switch of hickory, before he could be made to
move. This was at sun- set, in July, and seventeen miles
from Raleigh, which place the party left at two in the after-
noon. They again travelled on, their horses sometimes gal-
loping, till they reached Baily, the owner's house, twenty-five
miles from Raleigh ; it was then dark ; Baily came out, and
proposed that they should whip again ; but not at a tree near
the house, for fear of disturbing the family. They took the
wretch to a log at a little distance, laid him on it crosswise,
tied his feet and hands together, and passed a rail between
his feet and hands ; his shirt was turned up to his neck, and
his breeches let down. Cooke and Heslin whipped, giving
each from fifteen to thirty stripes ! Baily asked, if any others
would like to whip ! Davis promised to whip the next day,
when the slave might be brought to his shop to be ironed.
Baily bid the slave again get on the log, for he would whip
on the belly ! The slave asked to rest. The witness, who
stated these circumstances, declared, that he then turned
aside for a few minutes, when he heard an exclamation from
Cooke and Davis. Their victim was released by death : his
neck was broken, as the Coroner's Jury declared ; but one of

VOL. VI. D D

402 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

these gentlemen said, he had seen slaves worse whipped.
Mr. Gallihou, one of the Inquest, stated, that the body ap-
peared to be bruised to a jelly from one end to the other.
He confirmed that the neck was broken, and that the breast
of the deceased was considerably bruised. The Jury, as
stated, found Cooke guilty, and the others not guilty.

The convict was brought out of gaol, seated on his coffin
in a cart, and carried to the gallows ; after remaining some
time, and hearing the discourse of some pious men who at-
tended him, a noose was put round his neck, and the cap
drawn over his eyes. He began now seriously to think it
was really intended to hang him, which he had not believed
before. He asked the sheriff if he had not a pardon for
him ? The sheriff said not ; and ordered the carter to drive
off. The criminal then moaned bitterly ; when the Gover-
nor's secretary stepped up, and handed the sheriff a pardon,
and Cooke was turned loose ! Numerous petitions were
presented in his favour ! ! !

Observer ', December 17, 181o.

ABDUCTION OF MISS MARIA GLENN,

A MOST EXTRAORDINARY CONSPIRACY, AS EXHIBITED
IN THE FOLLOWING TRIAL, 8tC.

THE trial of James Bowditch, Joan Bowditch, William
Bowditch, Susanna Bowditch, Elizabeth Ellen Gibbens,
Susanna Mulraine, Thomas Paul, and Juliana his wife, Jane
Marke, and Elizabeth Snell, at the suit of the king, and on
the prosecution of George Lowman Tuckett, Esq. for con-
spiracy, assault, and false imprisonment, at the summer
assizes for the county of Dorset, July 25, 1818, before Mr.
Justice Park, and a special jury.

In presenting to our readers this account of the most,
premeditated conspiracy ever formed, we have taken every

ABDUCTION OF MISS GLENN. 409

possible care to draw it circumstantially from notes of the
evidence taken at the trial. We have omitted nothing that
Mas material, either on the one side or the other, and our
readers will find by the narrative, the full evidence as it was
given, we having avoided only the prolixity of the questions
of the judge and counsel to the witnesses.

Mr. Williams opened the pleadings to the follpwing effect :
Gentlemen of the Jury,

This is an indictment in which James Bowditch, late of
the parish of Ta union, Saint Mary Magdalen, in the county
of Somerset, yeoman ; Joan Bowditch, late of the same
place, widow; William Bowditch, pf the parish of Taun-
ton, Saint James, in the county of Somerset aforesaid, yeo-
man ; Susanna Bowditch, late of the parish of Taunton.
Saint Mary Magdalen, in the county of Somerset aforesaid,
spinster; Elizabeth Ellen, wife of William Gibbens, late of
the parish of Taunton, Saint Mary Magdalen, in the county
of Somerset aforesaid, gentleman ; Susanna Mulraine, late
of the parish of Taunton, St. Mary Magdalen, in the county
of Somerset, married woman : Thomas Paul, late of the
parish of Thornford, in the county of Dorset, yeoman, and
Juliana his wife ; Jane Marke, late of the parish of Taun-
ton, Saint James, in the county of Somerset aforesaid, spin-
ster; and Elizabeth Snell, late of the parish of Taunton,
Saint James, in the county of Somerset aforesaid, spinster;
are the defendants. The declaration charges these persons
with being persons of evil dispositions, and with unlawfully
«nd maliciously devising and intending to disparage, injure,
and aggrieve one Maria Glenn ; and wickedly, fraudulently,
and unlawfully confederating among themselves, and with
other persons unknown, fraudulently and clandestinely to
take and carry away the said Maria Glenn, being the
daughter of Mary Fenton Glenn, of the island of St. Vincent;
the said Maria Glenn then being under the age of twen-
ty-one years, being of the age of sixteen years, or thereabouts,
and being then under the custody, care, and protection «f

o D 2

404 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

George Lowman Tuckett, Esq. who intermarried with the
sister of the said Mary Fenton Glenn. Maria Glenn had
no guardian legally appointed, but her mother was seized
and possessed of certain real and personal estates ; and the
defendants are charged with having taken the said Maria
Glenn from and out of the custody and care of the said
George Lowman Tuckett from his said dwelling-house, to
cause and procure her the said Maria Glenn to be married
to the said James Bowditch in a secret and clandestine
manner, without the knowledge or consent, and against the
will of the said Mary Fenton Glenn, her mother, and of the
said George Lowman Tuckett, respectively, he the said
James Bowditch then and there being a person of low and
mean condition and circumstances in life, and having little
or no substance. It further states that the said defendants,
in pursuance of their said unlawful combination and conspi-
racy, and in order to complete and bring the same to effect,
on the 21st of September for the sake of the lucre of the
estate and fortune which it was supposed by James Bow-
ditch and the other defendants, that the said Maria Glenn
possessed, and without the knowledge and against the will
of the said Mary Fenton Glenn the mother, and the said
George Lowman Tuckett, respectively, did craftily, wick-
edly, and unlawfully take and carry away the said Maria
Glenn from and out of the custody of the said George Low-
man Tuckett, and from and out of his said dwelling-house,
and did there and with force and arms secretly, clandestinely,
and without the knowledge or consent and against the will
of the said Mary Fentou Glenn and George Lowman Tuc-
kett respectively, carry and convey, and cause and procure,
the said Maria Glenn to be taken, carried, and conveyed to
the dwelling-house of the said Thomas Paul, situate and
being in the parish of Thornford, in the county of Dorset ;
and then and there clandestinely, and without the knowledge
or consent, and against the will of the said Mary Fenton
Glenn and George Lowman Tuckett respectively, kept and

ABDUCTION OF MISS GLENN. 405

detained, and procured the said Maria Glenn to be kept
and detained in the said dwelling-house of the said Thomas
Paul for the space of two days, that the said Maria Glenn
might be secretly and clandestinely, and without the know-
ledge and against the will of the said Mary Fenton Glenn
and the said George Lowman Tuckett respectively, married
to the said James Bowditch ; and in further pursuance of
the said conspiracy, combination, and agreement, fraudu-
lently, clandestinely, and without the knowledge or consent,
and against the will of the said Mary Fenton Glenn and
George Lowman Tuckett respectively, procure and obtain
from one Blakely Cooper, clerk, one of the surrogates to
Robert Morris, clerk, M. A. official lawfully constituted of
the Reverend and Worshipful Charles Talbot, clerk, B. D.
Dean of the Cathedral Church of Sarum, within whose pe-
culiar jurisdiction the said parish of Thornford is situate, a
licence for the said James Bowditch to be married to her
the said Maria Glenn, by and under the name and descrip-
tion of Maria Glenn, of Thornford, in the said county of
Dorset, and peculiar jurisdiction of the Dean of Sarum, a
spinster, of the age of twenty-one years. There are other
counts varying the form of the indictment ; the defendants
have pleaded not guilty, and upon this issue has been joined.

Mr. Serjeant Pell then stated the case on the part of
the prosecution to the following effect : —

May it please your Lordship,
Gentlemen of the Jury,

My learned friend has stated to you pretty much at length,
the nature of the first count of this indictment ; the other
counts, in addition to the first, bring nothing further to your
consideration, as they only vary the nature and substance of
the first count ; but, Gentlemen, the parties to this record are
these: in behalf of the prosecution you have a gentleman of
the name of Tuckett. — Mr. Tuckett is at the bar ; he is a gen-
tleman of consideration in the county of Somerset, and known
to Us all ; and not only known to us all, but highly respected by

406 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

us all : the defendants are James Bowditch, Joan Bowditch,
William Bowditch, Susanna Bowditch, Elizabeth Ellen
Gibbens, Susanna Mulraine, Thomas Paul and Juliana his
wife, Jane Marke, and Elizabeth Snell. You will observe,
Gentlemen, that a great many of the defendants are of one
name, and of the name of Bowditch. I will therefore de-
scribe to you all those persons to whom that name belongs,
and you will see how much they are affected by the cause
which I am about to open to you. James and William
Bowditch are the sons of Joan Bowditch, and Joan Bow-
ditch lives at a farm called Holway Farm, at a small dis-
tance from Taunton ; James and William, being her sons,
were employed to assist her in carrying on the farm. Su-
sanna Bowditch is the daughter of Joan Bowditch, aud of
course the sister of the other two. Elizabeth Ellen Gibbens
is another daughter of the same person, but was not married
at the time when a part of this transaction took place. Su-
sanna Mulraine you will find to have been a very important
personage in this prosecution or inquiry, and she is repre-
sented to me to have been a woman of a low situation in
life, very much connected with the Bowditches. Thomas
Paul married another daughter of Joan Bowditch, whose
name is Juliana, and who is also one of the defendants ; so
that all these ore of the Bowditch family, Mr. Paul, as I
before observed, having married one of the {laughters. Jane
Marke, the last defendant but one, was the cook in the pro-
secutor's family; and Elizabeth Snell, the last defendant,
was housemaid in Mr. Tuckett's family.

The charge against these persons is,' that they conspired
together to withdraw a young lady of the name of Glenn
from out of the protection of Mr. Tuckett, the prosecutor,
for the purpose of marrying her to the first defendant upon
the record, James Bowditch.

Gentlemen, that introduces to my mind the necessity of
now mentioning to you who the young lady is, because every
thing in this cause will turn upon her. She is only sixteen

ABDUCTfON OP MISS GLENN. 407

years old, for she is not yet turned seventeen ; an early age ;
and if you find that she is not to be believed, you must agree
that there never has been found before in the history of our
fellow -creatures, an instance of a young lady having arrived
at a climax of infamy at the early age of seventeen years ;
shewing a conduct totally unprecedented in the annals of guilt.

I shall put this young lady in the foremost ranks of the
battle, and you will judge of the credit to be given to what
she will relate as facts. Miss Glenn is described on the one
side and on the other in a very, very different manner ; she is
represented to me to be a person of perfect simplicity, inno-
cence, and virtue. On the other side, she is represented as
a young woman of the worst principles, whose character
hereafter will lay under a stigma for treachery and a degree
of guilt, as great as ever attached to any human being.

Gentlemen, Miss Glenn, not yet seventeen, is thedaughter
of a widow lady, now living in the island of Saint Vincent ;
she came to this country for the purposes of education in
the year 1811, and was placed under the care and protection
of Mr. Tuckett, a barrister, that gentleman having married
the sister of the mother of this young lady. She was en-
tirely put under the protection of Mr. and Mrs. Tuckett,
and in better hands she could not have been placed.

Miss Glenn is described to me to be a young lady whose
manners are peculiarly simple. I am told so, and you will
have to judge whether th«y be so or not ; for in that part of
the case you must exercise your judgment. I am told that
there is a softness of manner about her, and a shyness of
temper, joined with kindness of heart, which of necessity
rendered her subject to every impression in favour of those
who were appearing to suffer uneasiness. It is a very
striking part of this case, that the young Udy of whom I an
speaking, is of that description of reserve and temper, and
that she is unacquainted with the world, never having till the
time when this wretched affair happened had occasion to enter
much into the affairs of life ; totally destitute of ail acquaint-

408 KIHBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

ance with the character of her fellow-creatures, always moving
in innocence, and therefore never suspecting guilt.

Gentlemen, in the month of July, 1817, Miss Glenn
having suffered indisposition for some time previous, it was
thought necessary that she should be removed from Mr.
Tuckett's house to some other place near Taunton, for the
benefit of change of air ; and in a most evil hour, certainly,
and under the influence of most inauspicious stars, she was
removed to the house of Mrs. Bowditcb, one of the defend-
ants. I have already represented to you, that Mrs. Bowditch
occupied a farm at no great distance from Taunton ; I be-
lieve within a mile or a mile and a half from Mr. Tuckett's
house ; being thus within reach of Mr. Tuckett, that gen-
tleman had the opportunity day after day of seeing the young
'lady, and she also had the frequent opportunity of going to
Mr. Tuckett's house, which she did from time to time.

Gentlemen, Mrs. Bowditch was represented to be a
widow woman, and there were living in the house, besides
herself, two sons, James and William (although William
does not appear to have been a part of the family at that
time); but there \\ere at all events living with her James
Bowditch and two of the daughters. I think it was on the
llth of July that Miss Glenn first went to Holway Farm,
and she returned home to Mr. Tuckett's house on the 2d
of September. About a week before she returned home,
she was, as it is represented to me through the medium of
my instructions, first made acquainted with what she thought
a singular thing, — the affection of James Bowditch. She
was told, and you will hear in what manner she was told, —
she was told that James Bowditch had conceived an ex-
traordinary affection for her, and that in consequence, his
life had become perfectly miserable. I believe the obser-
vation which she made upon that was, that she should be
sorry if he had conceived any affection for her, as she
should regret that any body should suffer upon her account ;
that it must strike him in his very inferior situation of life,

ABDUCTION OF MISS GLENN. 409

that he was the last person whom she could ever entertain a
notion of forming a serious connexion with; and she re-
quested from that moment that she might hear no more of it.

I forbear to go through with any great minuteness the dif-
ferent measures which were resorted to for the purpose of
impressing upon the young lady's mind (such as have not oc-
curred before) the effect of that man's attachment : she was
told from time to time that life was no longer of any avail to
him; that he not only would destroy her, but that he
would destroy himself, if she refused to accept him. Miss
Glenn became much distressed ; she was told this from
time to time by different persons, both during the day and
during the night, and by those persons who had constant
means of access to her. This was told her so repeatedly,
and with so much seriousness, that at last her mind came
to be firmly impressed with the notion, that in one way or
the other, her life as well as his life would depend on this
most extraordinary circumstance, — the completion of his at-
tachment to her.

Gentlemen, Miss Glenn returned home on the 2d of Sep-
tember ; and I believe, as I stated to you, that the first time
she had any intimation given to her of the attachment of
James Bowditch was on the Saturday previous to that 2d of
September. Upon Miss Glenn's return home she found
Mr. Tuckett's family composed among other persons of
Jane Marke and Elizabeth Snell, two of the defendants, and
a third person who is not a defendant, of the name of Mary
Whitby, who was nurse maid in the family. Gentlemen,
every opportunity was taken advantage of by Jane Marke
and Elizabeth Snell to further the views of the Bowditches;
and you will find both by Miss Glenn's evidence as well as
by the testimony of Mary Whitby, who was a party con-
cerned in the transaction at the time, and before I come to
that part of the subject, I shall have to make a few observa-
tions upon a person who is now about to give evidence, not
1 /

410 K1RBY S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

only of her own guilt but also of the guilt of her accom-
plices, in their having from time to time, from the 2d of
September till Miss Glenn left her uncle's house on the 22d
of that month, continually acted upon her mind for the pur-
pose of leading to a result of the nature which I have men-
tioned.

I now come to a most important part of the transaction ;
and I see sitting at the table a gentleman whose name must
of necessity be introduced. Gentlemen, on the day before
Miss Glenn left her uncle's house, having occasion to go in-
to the town of Taunton, she met, among other persons, Mrs.
Mulraine and James Bou ditch, and they prevailed upon her,
and you will hear in what way ; — they prevailed upon this
young lady to go up a court ; and having induced her to go
up the court, they further induced her to go into a house in
the court, which is described as a house of a very mean sort.
In that house and in the presence of Mrs. Mulraine they
prevailed upon this unfortunate victim to their artifices to put
her name to a paper. — Now I call upon them in the name
of justice to produce that paper ! they must do it ; I know
the nature of it ; I know what it did contain ; I know what
it does contain ; and I demand of my learned friend (and I
am not using the language improperly, as he well knows) —
but I demand, in the name of my client, that my learned
friend does produce this day the paper which was signed by
this unfortunate girl, the day before she was prevailed upon
to leave her uncle's house.

Gentlemen, Miss Glenn signed a paper, whatever it was,
and you will hear what it was. She signed the paper, but
that was not enough for the purposes of this conspiracy ; a
gentleman, whom this young lady described before she ever
saw him (for she saw him afterwards);— a gentleman came
hito the house, whom she afterwards, when she saw him,
fixed upon as Mr. Oxenham, who is now sitting at the table;
sht did not know Mr. Oxenham at that time ; she WM •

1

ABDUCTION Of MISS OLEKN. 411

perfect stranger to Mr. Oxenham, who, Gentlemen, is aft at-
torney living at Taunton ; and I have no hesitation in saying
(for it is right I should say it) that up to the time of this
transaction 1 have no reason but to believe that Mr. Oxen-
ham has obtained, and deservedly obtained, a fair character.
Mr. Oxenharti, Gentlemen, and Miss Glenn will swear him
to have been the person ;— Mr. Oxenham produced another
paper, of which, from the language in which the young lady
describes it, I do not even now know the contents ; she
speaks of it as a paper written in characters with which she
was not acquainted ; whether it was German text or not she
does not know ; but being requested, she signed also that
paper; the characters of the paper being one with which
she was totally unacquainted; still she was induced to pat
her name to that paper ; — now that paper to-day must be
produced.

If it should turn out to be Mr. Oxenham who did this,
Mr. Oxenham will have to explain how it happened that he,
knowing who Miss Glenn was, should meet her under such
circumstances, and that, knowing her to be the ward of Mr.
Tuckett, and under his protection. It will be for him to ex-
plain how he happened to be there, because, as it strikes
me, every thing (if it should turn out that he was there)
must depend upon it. To clear up this mysterious affair,
Mr. Oxenham must then give an explanation. You will re-
quire such an explanation at his hands as will account for his
being there with Miss Glenn and with the other persons such
as they are described.

Gentlemen, after Miss Glenn had signed both these-
papers, sh« was permitted to return to her uncle's house.
She was wretched beyond human endurance, and you will
bear the account of her whole demeanour. I protest to God,
if I am not misinstructed in this part of the case, greater
misery no human being could have endured. A more severe
infliction of misery npon the mind of a fellow creature never
can have been heard of beyond what this most wretched girl

412 KIRB^'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

must have endured, if she speak the truth ; and it will all
depend upon that one point ; — all will depend upon that. I
know what my learned friend Mr. Casberd will ask ; I know
that, and I will anticipate his question. He will ask why
did Miss Glenn endure all this ? Why, being under the pro-
tection of Mr. Tuckett, whom we all know to be a gentle-
man practising the law in this part of the country, and a bar-
rister of considerable estimation — Why did she not apply to
him? Why not apply to her aunt, her mother's sister?
One word from them would have dissipated this imaginary
charm which was operating upon her mind ! It is singular ;
I admit it to be singular ; I always have thought it singular ;
but who can account for the operations of the human mind ':
Who is the man that can well explain how far the influence
of terror may overcome all the judgment and destroy the vi-
vacity of a person's mind ? Who can tell how far this unfor-
tunate girl, of the age of sixteen years, — how far her mind
might have been operated upon under continued persecution ;
her feelings too operated upon with the threat that her life
would be in danger, and that hers would be an untimely end
if ever she communicated any part of this extraordinary
story to her uncle or to her aunt.

Gentlemen, feeling a belief of this, was it likely that it
should not canker her peace ? You will hear her demeanour
described ; that will be detailed to you by other witnesses.
You will find how far this matter operated upon her whole
character and conduct ; and you will have to say, when you
hear the representation made upon this part of the case, whe-
ther you do not believe, that the proposal of the Bowditches
was not really kept from the view of the uncle and aunt, and
from their knowledge, — whether she did not forbear to tell
them, because she really did believe, if ever she told it, her
life would be in danger in one manner or another, as you will
hear afterwards.

This affair took place on Saturday the 21st of September.
On the morning of the Sunday following she appears in

ABDUCTION OP MISS GLENN. 413

great agitation ; and a very singular circumstance occurred
on that Sunday, which, though it is little and trifling in itself,
it is necessary for me to mention, and you will hear it de-
tailed in proof. On the Sunday morning a singular circum-
stance with reference to this young lady occurred. It had
been determined by Mr. and Mrs. Tuckett, that as Miss
Glenn's health was completely re-established, and the pur-
poses of her education requiring it, — it was determined that
she should leave Mr. Tuckett's house, and that she should go
to a boarding school at Chelsea. You will find, Gentlemen,
that the instant the communication was made to her that she
was to be removed from the county in which she had been
suffering the utmost mental anguish under most extraordinary
circumstances ; — that the moment it was mentioned to her
that she was to be removed to a distance, her countenance
was seen to shine, and she is descnbed in fact as becoming
perfectly happy the instant it was communicated to her.
What can be inferred from this, but that she felt relieved
from a load — a load which had so long oppressed her t that
she should be at last happy in the thought of being relieved
from the wretched thraldom under which her mind had so
long laboured r

On the Sunday, however, Gentlemen, the purposes of Mr.
Tuckett were altogether frustrated ; and there is no doubt, I
understand, that they were frustrated under circumstances of
so much terror, that I never remember to have heard any
thing at all equal to them. Gentlemen, this 'unfortunate
young lady was actually taken out of her bed, and, under the
influence of a degree of terror beyond conception, was de-
prived of her voice, and actually despoiled of her senses.
She was lifted out of Mr. Tuckett's house, and put into a
carriage (a gig I think it was), James Bowditch, and his
brother William Bowditch, being there; they took her a
great way, and her first recollection was at finding herself
without her shoes. She was carried over field after field
which she was totally unacquainted with before. They then

414 MRftXli WOVDERFUL MUSEUM.

carried this wretched, miserable person from the place
whence she was first taken, to Holway Farm, where they ad-
ministered to her an infamous potion, which fully completed
th? object they had in view, and totally deprived her of her
returning reason, that for the first time she appeared to be
regaining during the night, and which she bad for the first
time an opportunity of enjoying.

Miss Glenn was taken into a room at Holway Farm ; and
here a singular circumstance occurred, which probably my
learned friends on the other side will be able to clear up. In
the bed-room in that house was a lady of the name of Owen,
who, as it is represented to me, expressed herself in a very
striking way with reference to this transaction. That Mrs.
Owen made every possible attempt she was able to ascertain
the real state of it; and I must say if that lady be forth-
coming she must be produced on the other side. She is not
one of the defendants, but she seems to have been an ac-
quaintance either of Mrs. Mulraine or of Mrs. Bowditch;
but at all events she was there, and, being there, could give
as well as any body a true account of the matter, if she
means to speak the truth ; for every thing will depend on
that sort of evidence. If Mrs. Owen is produced to-day,
Gentlemen, you will hear what account she gives of the
transaction. Gentlemen, they then put Miss Glenn, after
having persuaded her, or rather forced iier, to drink some-
thing similar to that which they before gave her ; — they then
put her into a gig, and in this gig James Bowdilch drove her
from Holway Farm for the remainder of the night, to a
place called Thornford in this county. This, Gentlemen,
brings roe to that part of the transaction which took place at
the house of Mr. Paul at Thornford; Mr. Paul having mar-
ried one of the Bowditches. Thornford appears to have
been the place fixed upon for the last act of this intamous
transaction — infamous as it stands upon the representation
made to me. Here was to be the last act of this infamous
transaction ; for at Thoruford she was to have been married.

ABDUCTION OF MISS GLENN. 415

They got to Thomford early on Monday morning, and you
will hear, for I again forbear to describe it to you ; — you will
bear the state of this young ludy when she arrived at Mr.
Paul's house, and you will hear the condition she was in
during the day, for that is part of the defence : for I am sa-
tisfied this part will be much rested upon.

Gentlemen, a respectable gentleman of the name of Tem-
pler, who is, 1 believe, a clergyman, came to Mr. Paul's
house on the Monday, for the purpose of shooting. I am
told that Mr. Templer dined at the table at which this young
lady was seated ; and the way in which this dinner is suppos-
ed to have passed, will be much rested upon on the other
side. My learned friends will say, supposing this young lady
could account for her not telling her uncle and aunt ; how is
she to account for her not telling Mr. Templer her situation,
at the time when Mr. Templer was at Mr. Paul's house.
To which I answer in direct terms ; she was an utter
stranger to Mr. Templer ; she was an utter stranger to Mr.
Paul. She had been in the hands of people who were treat-
ing her with the greatest possible cruelty. She was, as I be-
fore observed, an utter stranger to Mr. Templer ; she was
hemmed in with the belief that those about her were the
most determined enemies of her peace of mind. You can-
not be surprised, then, that on seeing a stranger at Mr. Paul's
house, herself also a stranger there, and other persons sitting
at the table ; — you are not to feel surprised that Miss Glenn
did not say, " Mr. Templer, I am here a prisoner against my
will," at the time when she firrrJy believed (most erroneously
indeed) that her fate was decided from the earliest stage of
the business. This is my answer to what I anticipate upon
this part of the case ; that I say, is the reason why she did
not mention her situation to Mr. Templer.

Gentlemen, in the course of the following night, an inti-
mation had been given to Mr. Tuckett where this unhappy
girl was ; and the persons who were properly deputed by
Mr. Tuckett for the purpose of effectuating her return, ar-

416 KlfeBY'g WONDEfcFUfc MUSEUM.

rived with all possible dispatch at Mr. Paul's house, and
there they found Miss Glenn. They found her under cir-
cumstances of great pain, and rejoicing at the idea of being
removed immediately. They did remove her, and this pro-
secution immediately ensued.

Now, Gentlemen, I can scarcely anticipate how this case
is to be answered, except in the way I have described, by
impressing your minds with the full persuasion that this
young lady consented to all that was done, by having eloped
from her uncle's house ; and that it having been afterwards
discovered that she had eloped with James Bowditch ; that
then, for the first time, in vindication of her own character,
she invented the account which you will this day hear her
give of the transaction. Gentlemen, that is the sort of de-
fence which I take for granted will be attempted to be put-
up to-day. Gentlemen, I mentioned to you that some time
on the preceding evening, or during the Monday night, inti-
mation was given to Mr. Tuckett where the young lady was ;
I will state to you who the person was that told Mr. Tuc-
kett, and you will be a little surprised when you hear that
it was one of the defendants, Mrs. Mulraine. This part of
the case you will perceive at first to be a little strange, —
at first sight it certainly does appear a little strange, that
such an intimation should have been given by Mrs. Mul-
raine, if it be proved that Mrs. Mulraine had taken steps in
order to effectuate the marriage on the Monday morning.
Mrs. Mulraine called indeed on the Monday evening ; but
during all that time she thought that every thing was com-
pleted to the satisfaction of the Bowditches. Mrs. Mul-
raine then with great candour communicates the matter to
Mr. Tuckett, when she supposed it was too late for any
useful interference on his part ; she then, and not till then,
communicates to Mr. Tuckett where the young lady is.

Therefore, Gentlemen, upon the whole of this case, the
outline of which I have described to you, you will have
ultimately to decide whether there has been a conspiracy

ABDUCTION OF MISS GLENN. 417

to take away this young lady in the manner charged upon
the record. The offence, Gentlemen, is charged in two
ways; first, with having taken her away against her conseut;
but they are also charged with a conspiracy to take her away
independent of the consent, and out of the care, and from
under the protection, of those who had the legal custody of
her person. On the latter part of the case, there can be
no doubt that these persons must be convicted. Now with
reference to the other part ; even that part will be made out
completely, provided the facts I have stated to you are
proved to your satisfaction. I shall say no more, either on
the one side of on the other, further than that part will
also be made out against them if you believe the testimony
of Miss Glenn ; the whole, I repeat, and it is the last obser-
vation I shall trouble you with — the whole of that part of
the case depends upon her. I shall, however, be able to
confirm her testimony in all the material parts of the case
in which it is necessary she should be confirmed for the pur-
pose of obtaining your verdict. Still the very foundation of
the case rests upon the character of this young Jady for
truth.

You will have an opportunity of seeing her, and hearing
her, and a great deal will depend upon- the impression on
your minds, as to the nature of her character. That, Gen--
Ucmen, is an advantage of no little consequence ; the man-
ner in which criminal cases are entered upon and conducted
in our courts, is of the greatest advantage in the dispensa-
tion of justice.

Gentlemen, I must have the opportunity . of addressing
you again. I know I must have that opportunity ; I am
satisfied of it, for it is impossible to be avoided. I forbear,
therefore, to take up more of your time and the time of his
Lordship, because it is a case which rests not only upon
proof, but also upon a great variety of facts. When tbo&e
facts shall have been proved, and after they have been at-
tempted to be answered, I shall have the opportunity of

VOL. VI. E E

418 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

addressing you again. 1 sit down, therefore, under the
full persuasion, not only that [ shall be able to make out all
that 1 have stated to you, but that 1 shall make out a great
deal more, when I lay before you the faets which confirm
that statement. When 1 have done that, if the defendants
give no direct answer in proof on the other side, you must
agree with me in what I said at the outset of this prosecu-
tion, that it is a prosecution on the behalf of innocence,
virtue, and happiness, against the most complicated trea-
chery and guilt which can by any possibility be found in the
annals of human nature.

George Lowman Tuckett, Esq. sworn. — I am a barrister,
residing in Taunton. Here Mr. Casberd requested* the
witnesses on both sides should withdraw.

Mr. Justice Park. — Let them remain without the door.

Mr. Tuckett then continued. — I married a sister of Mrs.
Glenn, who is now living at St. Vincent's; her name is
Mary Fentou Glenn ; her daughter's name is Maria Glenn.
Her age is certainly not more than seventeen. She was sent
by her mother to England for her education, and placed under
my care. She was resident in my house in June, and the
early part of July, 1817 ; but almost all July she was at Hol-
1 way; she was ill of a hooping-cough. He was recommended*
by a medical gentleman to let her have change of air. The
place selected for that purpose was Holvvay Farm, occupied
by Mrs. Bowditch. Miss Glenn's former schoolmistress re-
commended the place, she having lodged in the family ; he
had a good opinion of the family, or should not have sent
her there. Mrs. Bowditch's name is Joan ^ she is a widow ;
there is no John. Mary Whitby and my two daughters who
also had the hooping-cough, accompanied Miss Glenn to
Holway Farm ; one is four, and the other five years of age.
Mrs. Bowditch's family consisted of herself and two or
three daughters ; I knew nothing of a son. Miss Glenn
continued there till the 2d of September ; she was there two
months, and there was scarcely a day passed that he did not

ABDtJCflON OF MISS GLEHN. 419

go to see them, sometimes twice a day, except at the So-
mersetshire assizes and sessions, at Bridgewater. Mrs.
Tuckett is an invalid ; but exercise having been recom-
mended to her, she ust'd to go also. Hoi way Farm is not
more than a mile, or a mile and a half, from his house. We
used to send to Miss Glenn every day, afid the servant
came home for the children's victuals ; and during his visits
he never saw any thing improper, but quite the reverse.
The first time he heard any thing of James Bowditch, that
he recollected, was seeing him at work in the field amongst
the reapers, in a common workman's jacket. He did not
know his age ; he is a young man, and may be twenty-four
or twenty-five years of age. Miss Glenn has very great ex-
pectations in point of circumstances ; her mother has pro-
perty, and her grandfather is very rich ; he is possessed of
two sugar estates ; and she is the only child now living, and
heiress to her grandfather, and daughter of a favourite son.
In person Miss Glenn is plain, but of the gentlest nature
he ever saw in his life, and possessing a mind the most easily
worked upon, of any mind that ever was formed. She has
been a great deal secluded from the world. She returned
from Holway Farm on Wednesday, the 2d of September.

Maria Glenn, sworn. — Examined by Mr. Serjeant Pell. —
Miss Glenn, will you have the goodness to raise your head,
and turn your face towards the Jury. She remembered
going to Holway Farm, about the llth of July. Marj
Whitby, the servant of Mr. Tuckett, accompanied her
there, as well as two of Mr. Tuckett's children. The ser-
vant was to attend on her, and also to attend on the chil-
dren. She slept with one of her cousins, the other slept
in a bed by her. [She was then requested to take off her
bonnet. J When she arrived at Holway Farm, she did not find
Mrs. Bowditch's son, James Bowditch, living there ; but after
she had been there about three weeks, and used to walk in the
garden, she saw him, but took him at first to be a common
labourer. When passing by with her cousins, he moved his

E E 2

4£0 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

hat. She was informed James Bowditch was a son of Mrs.
Bowditch, and William was another son of hers ; Susanna
Bowditch \\as the daughter ; Elizabeth Gibbens was also a
daughter; she was not married when she went there first;
she knew Mis. Muliaiue, but did not know she was a rela-
tion of Mrs. Bowditch ; fancied she was a friend of theirs.
Mr. Paul, she understood, lived at Thornford. Jane Marke
was a servant of Mr. Tuckett, and Elizabeth Snell was
another servant; she returned to her uncle's the 2d of Sep-
tember. On the Saturday before the 2d of September, was
the first day she heard any thing particular of James Bow-
ditch. Mrs. Mulraine and Mrs. Bowditch came into her
room ; Mrs. Bowditch spoke first, and asked if it was true
that her uncle said she was to leave on the Monday follow-
ing. She answered it was, as he had been there in the
morning. Mrs. Bowditch then said her son was lost, and
asked what was to become of him, for he was as good us lost.
She asked what she meant ? Mrs. Mulraine said, she could
not be ignorant, that I could not have been so long there
without being sensible of the attachment of James Bow-
ditch. I replied, that I was excessively surprised, and very
much astonished, at what she said, and could not believe it;
and that, during the time I had been there, James Bowditch
always appeared to be one of the family ; and that of course
I looked upon him in no other light, and asked \\hat would
her uncle and aunt think, if they knew they had spoken to
her in such a way, and begged them to say no more, for she
could not possibly believe it; and that it distressed her very
much. Mary Whitby the servant was not there, and I took
ray two cousins by the hand and went up stairs. This was on
the Saturday. On Tuesday evening Mis. Mulraine came
into her room, where she was with her two cousins, and the
servant, she believed, but not quite sure she was there. She
entreated her to come out and speak to Mr. Bowditch ; for
since he had heard she was going to leave, he was like one
distracted ; and that all the family had tried to reason with.

ABDUCTION OF MISS OLEVK. 421

him, but to no effect; and she thought, if she would come
out, she was sure he would be sensible of the difference ;
and if she spoke to him he would be contented. This she
refused for a great while, as she thought it extremely
wrong; but at last she did. Mrs. Mulraine said, she must
speak to him, for all the family could have no effect. She
said, Oh nonsense ; she would go with me. She then went
out and saw some one; but whether it was James Bowditch
or not, she could not tell, as it was dark. She went to the
door of the garden, and found a man there, whom she took
to be James Bowditch, and told him she was surprised at
what she had heard , for on the Monday before she had told
his sister what his mother had said, and how uneasy it had
made her; and she then saiH, it was merely a joke of her
mother's. I told him I was surprised to hear it spoken of
again ; this was Belsey Bowditch, now Gibbens. 1 per-
suaded him to give up all thoughts about it ; but he made
no reply ; when 1 retired to the parlour. Mrs. Mulraine
accompanied me home on the Wednesday, when she said
she was exceedingly sorry at what had passed, and said how
foolishly James Bowditch had behaved ; but it was not to be
helped, when there was such a young girl, and such a nice
young girl in the house. It was not to be supposed a young
man could help being fond of her. She begged that I
would not make myself uneasy ; she was sure he was sen-
sible of the difference between them, and it would all come
to nothing. On the 15th of September Mrs. Mulraine and
Betsey Bowditch came to her uncle's house ; Mrs. Mulraine
first desired me to ask my aunt's leave to walk out, as she
had something very particular to say to me. I said, I could not
think of asking my aunt's leave, as 1 was persuaded she would
not allow me to go. I felt fully assured she would not let me
go ; but I went and asked her, but she did not permit me to
go. When I went back, I told Mrs. Mulraine so, who said to
Betsey Bowditch, " So I thought." She theu asfced me if

422 KIEBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

I had considered what she had told me ; if I recollected
•what she had mentioned of James Bowditch's attachment.
Before I replied, Mrs. Mulraine said, James Bowditch was
like one distracted ; he said he could not live, and was deter-
mined not to live ; and that if I did not do him justice, he
was determined to murder me and himself afterwards.
Upon which Betsey Bowditch said, that he would do it; for
she never saw any one so resolute as her brother was ; and
when he said a thing, he was sure to do it. Mrs. Mulraine
then said, that from the first moment she alway had a great
regard for me; she said, that it could not be supposed that
it was any interest to her, but that she acted merely out of
attachment to me ; that what she spoke was merely from
friendship, for she was fully assured, if I did not consent to
what Mr. Bowditch required, she was certain he would
murder me ; that in whatever part of the world I was, he
would find me out, and certainly destroy me. That I was
not to suppose, by telling my aunt or uncle, it would do
any good, it would be only putting me in greater danger.

At this conversation I felt very much terrified, and believ-
ed as true every thing that she told me. Mrs. Mulraine then
said, " Recollect what a shocking thing it would be to be
murdered ; swear upon your life and soul, that you will do
what Mr. Bowditch wishes you. Only think what a dread-
ful thing it would be to be murdered, for that would cer-
tainly be the case ; for if you were to go to any part of the
world, he would find you out." She repeated the same thing
again, and said, " Swear upon your life and soul ;" I hardly
knew what I said, for 1 felt exceedingly alarmed and fright-
ened, and 1 said, " Yes." Mrs. Mulraine then got up, as
did also Betsey Bosvditch, and Mrs. Mulraiue said she must
wish me good bye, for she was going very shortly to Bristol.
They then went away. On the same day after dinner, I re-
member meeting Jane Marke upon the stairs ; she was the
cook : she said she had just met Mr. Bowditch ; but without

ABDUCTION OF MI8& GLENN,.

my speaking to her I went into my bed-room, where she fol-
lowed me. I had not given her any encouragement to follow
me into my bed-room. She then said she always had a great
regard for me : that she felt very much Mr. Bowditch's at-
tachment to me, and spoke in the same manner about it as
Mrs. Mulraine had done, and about the difference between
us ; and also said, she never saw any thing so resolute as Mr.
Bowditch ; that was her expression. He had sworn that if
be could not have me, no one else should ; and that in what-
ever part of the world I went, he would find me out and
murder me, and she prayed me not to tell either her master
or mistress, meaning my aunt and uncle, and she used to
come to me every opportunity : J never- went to my room at
any other time, but she used constantly to come to me, and
always spoke of the same subject, entreating me not to tell
my aunt and uncle, for that I was too young to know the
danger I should be put into. Elizabeth Suell was the house-
maid, and she used to talk to me upon the same subject : once
when she came into the bed-room she found me crying, aiuJ
told me not to vex myself. 1 came home on the Wednesday,
and Monday was the 15th. I was crying when Elizabeth
Snell came into my room. I was crying about what Mrs,
Mulraine, Betsey Bowditch, and Jane Mai ke, had been speak-
ing to me. Elizabeth Snell begged me not to vex myself as I
did. I asked her how I could help it, and that it made me
so miserable, that to relieve my mind I must speak to my
aunt and uncle about it. She then said, " So, Miss, I would
devise you to do ;" or some such expression. I said, What,
and to do what Mr. Bowditch tells me, or be murdered ?
" Oh Miss," said she, and she shook her head and wrung her
hands, " what a dreadful thing it is ; I would not be you for
all the Indies in gold, but I will have nothing to do with it
one way or the other/' I think she then left the room, and
did not say any more ; it was in the same week of the Sa-
turday I put my name to some paper. I also saw Jane
Marke and Elizabeth Snell, but not together, and Jane

424 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

Marke took every opportunity of speaking to me. I was sit-
ting one evening in the parlour when Elizabeth Snell came in
and told me she saw Jane Marke, near the next house, which
was at a little distance, talking to Mr. Bowditch, and heard
them mention my name. That was before she spoke to me
in the bed-room. There was also a person of the name of
Mary Whitby, who expressed herself in the same way to me;
she was the nurse maid. On Saturday the 25lh September, I
was returning from market, my aunt had sent me there ; I
cannot tell exactly the time, but I think it may have been
between nine and ten o'clock in the morning. I met James
Bowditch and Mrs. Mulraine. Mrs. Muliaine first spoke,
and said, " You have been to market." I said yes; she then
said, " Come with us, I want to tell you something." 1 said,
no, I could not, for J must return to my aunt. She said,
" Don't be foolish, come, come at once." I still said, no, I
could not, for that I must go to my aunt. James Bowditch
then said, waving his hand, "Go; you know already what I
have stated, and it is no use to repeat it again." He looked
in a fierce manner, and waved his hand. Mrs. Mulraine said
the same thing : " Go; why don't you go." She said, " You
know what Mr. Bowditch has said." He said, then, " Aye,
and I'll do it too." I felt greatly alarmed, and followed
them both directly up East-street, I think. They came to
some court. Mrs. Mulraine and James Bowditch were go-
ing into a court; but I stopped. She said, " Come in ; now
don't be foolish again." I refused to go, and said I must re-
turn home. She then said what she said when we first met.
I then went into the court with them, into a house that ap-
peared to be at the bottom of the court. 1 saw Mrs. Wil-
liam Bowditch there, the wife of William Bowditch. I did
not see any one else. There was not any one there when I
first went in. Mrs. Muliaine and James Bowditch went in-
to a small room : Mrs. William Bowditch then appeared, and
desired me to follow, and Mrs. Mulraine directly after left the
room, and then William Bowditch came in. Mrs, Mulraioe

ADDUCTION OF MISS GLENN. 425

then returned with pen, ink, an I paper. She said, [ want
von to write something. 1 said, no, f could not ; I must go
home. Mrs. Muhaine then said, " Don't begin again, it is
no use to repeat, but you ktiow what Mr. Bowditch has said."
James Bowditch merely said, " It is no use to repeat, you
know already what 1 have said, and 1 will do it." Mrs.
Mulraine then said, " Take up a pen, and I will tell you
what to write." 1 do not recollect the precise words ; I
merely recollect the substance, which was, that I would com-
ply with every thing James Bowditch required, or what
James Bowditch would wish me to do, and that my age was
sixteen. She made me leave several spaces in the paper. I
put my name to it, and as soon as I had written the paper,
Mrs. Mulraine put her hand over my shoulder and took it
away, and a person came in I was certain I had not seen be-
fore. William Bowditch went out at this time. William
Bowditch remained in the room while I was \\riting, and
then went out and returned with a person whom I had
not seen before. I have seen that person since, but I did
not then know him. I now know him to be Air.
Oxenham, and I have not the slightest doubt of him ;
he had a large paper in his hand, but not the paper I had
been signing; it looked like Greek to me, I do not
know what it was ; he told me to sign my name at the
bottom of the paper, in the presence of some of these peo-
ple. He pointed with his finger. I took up a pen, and put
my hand to the middle of the bottom of the paper, but he
pushed my hand and said, " Not there." Then I signed it.
After this Mrs. Mulraine opened the door of the parlour;
after I had signed the paper Mr. Oxenham left the room first,
as Mrs. Mulraine got up and opened the door. I then
walked up the court, Mrs. Mulraine on one side, and James
Bowditeh on the other. Mrs. Mulraine said I need not now
be alarmed, for Mr. Bowditch would not hurt me. I then
returned home. On the Sunday I went to church with my
aunt, and saw Mrs. Bowditch at church. My aunt walked

426 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

home, and Mrs. Bowditch walked by my aunt's side. It
was at the Scotch Church, where my aunt is not in the
habits of going, and they sat in the same pew. My aunt
told Mrs. Bowditch, she was going to send me to school to
London. This was after church ; she said Chelsea, or near
London ; I am not sure. Mrs. Bowditch appeared greatly
surprised, and hoped my aunt would bring me to take leave
of her before I went. My aunt said, yes ; and she would
accompany me. I was first told of it on the Sunday
morning, while my aunt and I were walking to church.
I felt very glad ; I felt highly pleased at going. After I
returned from church in the morning Jane Marke brought
me a note from Mrs. Mulraine. I do not know what be-
came of that paper ; I do not know any thing of it ; I do
not recollect \vhat I did with it ; I fancy I may have put it in
a small red trunk, where I sometimes used to put my letters
in ; I have searched for it, but have not been able to find it;
the contents, as near as I can recollect it, was about James
Bowditch : still speaking in the same manner of James Bow-
ditch, saying he would have me ; that there would be no use
in my telling my aunt and uncle ; that they were going to
take me away, but when she could not state ; it might be the
latter end of the veek, or the beginning of next.. Mrs.
Mulraine's name was signed at the bottom. My aunt said I
was to go very early in the week to Chelsea. I heard her
tell Mrs. Bowditch so. I received the note as soon as Jane
Marke saw me by myself; she gave me the note \vhen I
went into my bed-room to go to bed, I believe between nine
and ten, but I am not sure. When I went to bed, I did
not know what was to happen during the night. My mind
when 1 went to bed was composed and easy ; much more-
happy and tranquil than it had been the whole of the week
before, under the idea of my going to school. 1 thought I
should escape the danger from these people. My two cou-
sins, the two little children, slept in the same room ; I shut
the door, but I was never in the habit of locking the door.

ABDUCTION OF MI88 GLENN.

My room was the next bed- room to my uncle's. My aunt
always locked her door. I had fallen asleep, and Jane Murke
came to the bed side and waked me. I did not sleep with a
light in my room ; Jane Marke had no light with her; it was
a moonlight night. I should not have known whether it had
been Jane Marke or not, but by her voice. She appeared
much taller, and had something coming over her face, which
appeared like a handkerchief; it covered great part of her face.
She said, " Get up, they are all waiting ; get up, you know
what James Bowditch has said ; come, come at once." She
said again, " You know what Mr. Bowditch has said," and
then lifted me out of bed. I felt quite unable either to
speak or cry. She then put on my clothes without either
tying or lacing any of them. I have a confused recollection
of her going to my drawers (I always kept my drawers
open), and hearing her pushing from one end of the drawers
to the other end ; pushing up something, but whether it was
my clothes or not, I do not know. She took me by the arm
and pulled me down the stairs ; when I was about half-way
down, I spoke in a whisper, for I could not speak loud,
though I tried several times. I said, " Oh Jane!" upon
which she pushed me down the remainder of the stairs. I
was sensible of the great noise made by pushing me, and I
saw the door of my uncle's office, which was the back par-
lour, wide open, and the window shutters open. The window
was down to the ground of the garden ; Jane Marke then took
me up and put me out of the window, and I saw some per-
son in the gravel walk. Mr. James Bowditch was there.
There were several persons outside the gate, and Mr. William
Bowditch was on the step of my uncle's garden. The only
people I knew were Mrs. Mulraine, Betsey Bowditch, James
Bowditch, and William Bowditch, and several more \\hom I
did not know. 1 recollect James Bowditch taking my arm
and pulling me down the garden; William Bowditch took
the other arm ; the gate of my uncle's garden was wide open.
I have no recollection after that of any thing more. I do

428 K1RB\'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

not recollect how it was, or where it was, they took me.
When I tirst came to myself I recollect sitting on a step, and
Betsey Bowditch putting' on one of my shoes. Mrs. Mul-
raine was there. Sl:e said, " Only think of her walking all
this way without her shoes;" and Betsey Bowditch said,
" Her feet must be blistered." They took me to a house
where 1 saw Mrs. William Bowditch. It was not day-light
at this time. 1 cannot be exact to the time I remained in
the house, but it was not long. I afterwards went to Hoi way
Farm, and remember going up stairs at Holway Farm, into
Mrs. Mulraine's bed-room. Mrs. Owen was in bed with
Mrs. Mulraine. She had walked to Holway Farm before,
with James and William Bowditch. My reason for going
there was Mrs. Bowditch coming to me saying, " Only
think of Mrs. Mulraine being gone to bed." I did not know
in which room she slept ; but in the first room I saw a can-
dle, and in this room Mrs. Owen and Mrs. Mulraine were in
bed. In answer to what I first said to Mrs. Mulraine —
" What will become of me ! Oh ! that I could but go to my
uncle's :" she then said, " You had better not let Mr. Bow-
ditch hear you say this." She also said, " However, I have
had nothing to do with it, nor will I have." Mrs. Owen said
to Mrs. Mulraine, " This is a most scandalous and abomi-
nable thing for a young creature like this to be left in this way;
such a young thing as she is." Mrs. Bowdilch came up
stairs, and said, " Come directly this way;" or else, " Come
with me direc'ly." In a very resolute manner she said,
" Come, you must go with me," and 1 did go down stairs
with her, where I saw the two Bowditches in the kitchen, and
Mrs. Bowditch took from the table a cup which had some-
thing black in it. She then desired me to drink it, which I
did. I tiid not then know what it was, but 1 do since. I was
only desired to drink it, and never had at any time tasted any
thing like it before. It appeared more like medicine; it was
something bitter. After that, one of the Mr. Bowditches, 1
think it was James, came and said, " Now it is lime for us

ABDUCTION OP MISS GLENN. 429

to be off." William Bowditch was ihrre too. James Bow-
ditch took me by the arm ; and when I was taken out of the
door, William Bowditch took me by the other arm. They
took me down the garden and through a field at the end of
the garden. I then saw a gig. James Bowditch lifted me
into the gig, and old Mrs. Bowditch threw up the leather
and stood upon the step of the gig ; she then gave me some-
thing of the same which she had before given me in the cup.
Upon her offering me this to drink, I refused it. They in-
sisted upon my taking it, and said, " Drink it directly." I
then did drink it, and I recollect passing through some fields,
and perfectly recollect the gig setting off from that place. I
fell into a stupor after I left the place where they put me into
the gig ; and I did not recollect any thing further. The first
thing I recollect afterwards was I heard James Bowditch call
out in the middle of the night to know what o'clock it was ;
but I did not hear any answer. I saw William Bowditch in
the morning. I did not know at first who it was ; I saw a
man riding before the gig at some distance, and afterwards
found that to be William Bowditch. I was taken to Thorn-
ford, to Mr. Paul's house. Ic might have been between
seven and eight o'clock ; it was early in the morning ; but
what time it was I cannot exactly say. I have no recollec-
tion of any thing from the time they gave me the second
mixture until I arrived at Thornford between seven and eight
o'clock. When we got to Thornford James and William
Bowditch were still holding me at the door, when at another
door came Mrs. Paul, who took me by the hand, and without
speaking led me into a room. Mrs. Paul is a daughter of
Mrs. Bowditch. It appeared to be a kitchen. Susanna
Bowditch was standing by the fire. I had known Susanna
Bowditch before at Holway. She was in the house as one
of the family at Holway. I was put up stairs in a bed-room.
I do not recollect seeing Mr. Paul when I first came in, but
I saw him a few minutes after I came into the room. He
was walking up and down the room, and said in an exulting

430 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

manner, " I suppose all the bells in the parish will be ring-
ing by and bye." Mrs. Paul asked James Bowditch if he
had not had a tiresome journey, or something to that purpose.
He said, " Yes, that I have ;" and pointing to me said, ", I
could not keep her in the gig, she was one minute laughing
and the other crying ; I thought I should not have been able
to keep her in the gig ; I never saw any thing like it." After
that I was taken to a person who was standing by the win-
dow. I have seen him since; it was Mr. Gould. Mrs. Paul
took me to him and said, " Come with me ;" she then took
me by the hand, and the others followed. I saw a tall man
standing with a large paper in his hand, and several smaller
papers on the window seat close by him. He appeared to
be reading it very earnestly. He asked me what age I was.
I said I was sixteen. He asked me whether I had the con-
sent of my friends or parents. I said " No.'-* He looked
over the paper very rapidly, and then said, " Nonsense ; this
marriage can never be legal." James Bowditch was stand-
ing opposite' to him, and heard this said. He only gave me a
very severe look, but did not speak. The man that had the
paper said the marriage would not be tow fill; again looked
over the large paper, and said, " Never mind, you can be
married jusPthe same," and looked at the parties and smiled.
I began to cry and put my head upon Mrs. Paul's shoulder;
1 was sick and giddy, and doubted that I was going to fall,
and therefore leant on Mrs. Paul. In consequence of that
Mrs. Paul carried me up stairs. I remained up stairs ail the
time I was there, except at some intervals, when Mrs. Paul
desired me to come to dinner where Mr. Tempter was; and
when Susanna Bowditch desired me to come down, when I
was shivering with cold, to come down and warm myself.
Except upon those occasions, I w as up stairs the whole of
the day. I heard before I came down that Mr. Templer
was coming to dinner. I heard it from Susanna Bowditch,
I think; 1 understood from her or Mrs. Paul, that Mr.
Templer, a nephew of Mr. Paul, was coining to dinner.

A«DUCTI(TN OF MISS GLENN. 431

They did not tell me he was a clergyman. When I was first
desired to come down I refused ; but Susanna Bowditch
said that I should die if I sat up there ; that she saw her
brother in the field, and that I need not be alarmed. When-
I came down Mr. Templer was there, and I sat down to the
dinner table ; but I did not eat. Mr. Templer helped, and
asked to help me to some beef. He sent me some beef; I
put a bit in my mouth, but could not take any more, for I felt
that I was going to cry. I was not there above five or ten
minutes; I left the room just after Mr. Templer helped me,
and before the cloth was removed. 1 could not have sat
above a few minutes at the table. Susanna Bowditch and
I went into the kitchen, and James Bowditch came in at
another door. In the room before the kitchen I saw some
pens and ink ; that was in the third room, and in the first
room I supposed there might be some paper. When
Susanna Bowditch was gone out I began a letter, and then
James Bowditch came in. He snatched the paper from me,
and said no one could blame him if he treated me ever so
unkindly, as I provoked him to do so. He also said, " Your
saying you were only sixteen to-day to that gentleman, and
saying you had not the consent of your parents when you
know you have, and when you know you are twenty-one, and
have the consent of your friends and parents;" and called
me by very foul names. He called me a little bitch. I then;
left him and went up stairs, and I locked my door, and
remained there the greatest part of the time till the next day.
when Mr. Leigh came from Mr. Tuckett, and took me away
to my uncle's.

Cross examined by MR.CASBERD.
I was born in the West Indies, and have been in thi»
country six years last August. My mother, I believe, was
married very early in life. I do not know at what age she
was married. I was two months at Mrs. Bow ditch's house
at Holway. When I first went there the impression upon
my mind, with respect to James Bowditch, was that he wa»

4

432

a common labourer. I had no communication with him at
all ; when I have walked and met him he has moved his hat*
I had none except the time 1 went out with Mrs. Mulraine,
within the last fortnight. T had no communication with
James Bowditch for the first six weeks, and was therefore
quite surprised at his expressing professions of attachment;
He lived in the same house, and formed part of the family,
I believe; 1 did not frequently see him. I saw him v.ith
Mrs. Mulraine, but otherwise he was always at work with
the labourers. I might have seen him in passing from the
bed-room to the parlour, when I was obliged to pass the
kitchen door. I did not dine and eat with the family; I
used to ride sometimes: they had a small pony, which I
was welcome to whenever I chose to ride. It was about
three weeks or a month before I rode out on the pony. I
have had no communication with him in the house, and
never conversed with him outside, farther, than after 1 rode
out he used to assist me on the pony, and his sister or the
servant used to call him to assist me off. That might have
been within the first six weeks. I never walked out before
breakfast, except at my aunt's request ; I did two mornings ;
he saw me twice home from Holvvay to Taunton, during
which time i had no conversation with him ; he walked be*
hind me. I never walked out with him at any other time,
nor ever took out an umbrella to him when in the fields. I
have seen a farmer of the name of Puddcy pass by, when 1 have
been in the garden with my cousins, walking up and down.
I saw this man, though I did not know him at the time, pass
by with James Bowditch, and both moved their hats. I do
not remember being near a hay- rick with him when Puddey
was there ; nor do I remember Puddey getting me up a
ladder to the top of a hay-rick that was in the field ; and i
never had any conversation with this Pudde\ at all. I was
told by Betsey Bowditch, the sister, that his na.H* -vas Puddey.
I usually went lo bed at Holway Farm about nine, and some-
times before. My bed-room window was generally left open

ABDUCTION OP MISS GLENN. 433

before I went to bed, to air the room ; the servant used to go
and prepare the room while I stai'l below with my cousins, be-
fore we went actually to bed. I never desired James Bow-
ditch to shut the window before I went to bed. The win-
clow, after there had been some rain, woulJ not shut ; I sent
the servant, and she said she could not do it, and asked my
leave to tell James Bowditch to do it; and 1 said certainly.
I was waiting with my cousins till it was done ; this might
have been two or three nights, in which he was obliged to do
it; I staid in the room below during that time. I never
held any communication with him until the Tuesday night,
when I went with Mrs. Mulraine, and that was the only time
I spoke to him, and had not any other conversation with
him. He never walked out with me, or rode out with me,
except by my aunt's desire. I might have seen him in the
kitchen if I went to call the servant, or if I wanted to call
one of the sisters. I never said that I would meet him in
the French Wear Fields. I do not know who was godmo-
ther to Mrs. Mulraine' s child, nor \Uio was godfather; I
remember the circumstance of the christening of the child ;
that was when I was at Holway ; I do not know what
church the child was christened at. I returned home to my
uncle's on the 2d of September. In that week, 1 think on
the Wednesday of the same week that I saw Mrs. Mulraine
and Betty Bowditch, I was walking with my little cousins,
and saw a man and woman at a great distance upon the
bridge leading to the French Wear Fields. They ran after
me ; but I avoided them, and got home before them. The
place called the North Town, is where my uncle lives; I did
not see James Bowditch in that part of the town during
the three weeks I was at home, and never walked wivh him.
I had been playing at chess in the couise of the afternoon,
with my cousin, a child of seven years old. Jane Marke
was in the room before I finally left it, I think a few mi-
nutes ; I did not go near the door of my uncle in passing
down thestaiis; his door was from the stairs, mine was near.

VOL, VI. F T

454 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

It is on the same landing-place ; his door is farther on ;
Jane Marke took me by the arm, and pushed me down
stairs. There was noise ; I said so. The children were
fast asleep alt this time ; they were in the same room with
myself, but neither of the children in the same bed. My
bed-room was not over my uncle's office, it was in the other
part of the house. I said, " Oh Jane i" 1 tried to speak
loud, but was not able. A box was taken with me, which I
afterwards saw at Thornford ; I did not pack it. It was a
small box, in which I kept letters and bits of tape. I think
it was in the same state I left it, and it was brought back in
the same state ; except my missing a pincushion. I did not
see the trunk till I got to Thornford. It was first in Mr.
Paul's house that I saw it ; now I recollect it was in the
house where 1 saw Mrs. William Bowditch ; I saw the
trunk in Mr. William Bowditch's hand. I only recollect
seeing Mr. William Bowditch riding on horseback ; I recol-
lect being taken out of the gig, and walking through a field ;
the gig stopped opposite some gate, or by the side of some
gate. When walking through the field, there was with me
James and William Bowditch; the one had hold of one
arm, and the other of the other. I saw no person at all,
after I got into the gig, in my way to Thornford. I waj
sick at dinner, and unwell, at Mr. Paul's. 1 very soon rose
from table ; the mention of my uncle's name made me feel
as if I was going to cry, and I left the table and went up
stairs before the cloth was removed.

Mr. Casberd. — Have the goodness to look at those letters
(handing over a letter to the witness). That is not my
writing. But I have seen those letters before at Mr. King-
lake's office.

Re-examined by MR. SERJEANT PELL.

I had no reason to believe that Mr. Templer was a cler-
gyman at the time I saw him at Thornford ; but I do recol-
lect Susanna Bowditch mentioning something of his being a
clergyman. When I came down stairs, Mrs. Paul took me

ADDUCTION OF MISS GLENN.

by the hand and led me to the table ; there was a servant 39
we passed the kitchen, and Mrs. Paul said every thing is
ready. She entreated me to go in, and pushed Susanna
13o\vdilch in first. Mr. Templer was at the top of the
table, and I believe Mr. Paul at the bottom ; they had began
to dine. Neither of the letters, I am quite positive, and
quite sure, are of my hand- writing. I saw the papers pro-
duced now to me before at Mr. Kingluke's office. Mr.
Oxenham was there ; he produced these papers, it being re-
ported the Bowditches had some letters of mine; Mr. Oxen-
ham, Mr. Kinglake, my uncle, and myself, were present at
that time. I think Mr. Templer had some intimation of my
being connected with Mr. Tuckett, but do not recollect
what passed when Mr. Templer mentioned Counsellor
Tuckett's name.

MR. TUCKETT again called; examined by Mil. GASELEE.
Miss Glenn returned from Holway the 2d of September.
I remember seeing an alteration in her manner preceding that
time ; the first time J recollect to have observed her, was,
\\hen in my own mind she looked very bad, and I spoke to
her upon the subject. Her eyes looked inflamed, as if she
had been crying. I was not at home when. Mrs. Mulraine
culled ; but it was in the afternoon at dinner when I observed
it. it was on the Monday preceding the day she went away.
At dinner- time I observed her eyes looked very bad. On
that evening she walked out with me and her aunt, and then
for the first time I observed something strange and altered in
her manner. I saw James Bowditch on the Sunday morn-
ing ; the day she was taken away. It was early in the morn-
ing, before church; it was before breakfast, and just as I wa^
going out to walk ; I came upon him as he was talking to
Mary Whitby, who had gone out with the two children. 1
came very suddenly upon him as I turned just round the
corner, when he was standing by the turnpike-gale.; he first
turned red as scarlet, and then shuffled olF in a very abrupt
manner, and receded from me in a quick kind of pace till

F F 3

436 tflfcBY's WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

he got out of sight. I observed a considerable alteration
in her after she returned from church with her aunt. In
the morning, previous to her going to church, I observed
her in much distress and perturbation, and I determined to
speak to her about it ; but upon her return she seemed per-
fectly happy, and appeared quite tranquil when she came
into the parlour. That was the cause of my not speaking
to her, as I intended ; I dreaded to speak to her, and was
astonished on being informed, that her going to school had
been the occasion of so happy a change. I went to bed
that night about ten o'clock ; she retired before I did ; but
from the time of her coming from church, to her going to
bed, she was not out of my sight for five minutes together.
She was very much attached to her home, and the most affec-
tionate girl that ever lived ; devoted to her mother and my
children. I never knew, her to go out without leave ; she
had not done it for the last quarter; she may, during the
time I was absent, have been sent once or twice to school
with her cousins, and once she was sent up to town to buy
something at a shop for her aunt. She almost lived in my
presence. On the morning she went away, Mrs. Tuckett
was unwell, and I went into Miss Glenn's room, about four
o'clock, or before four. When she was missed, I took all
possible pains to discover where she was gone to. I sent
expresses in all directions; and in going up to town for the
purpose of making inquiries, in passing over Tone Bridge,
I met a woman who appeared agitated, and who asked me
if I had heard any news of my niece. This woman was
Mrs. Mulraine. This was about six o'clock in the evening,
and I was going, in consequence of some information, to
make further inquiry; when I was accosted by this woman,
who in an agitated way asked me if I had had any intelli-
gence. She held out a note in her hand, and told me she
had already written me a note to inform me where my niece
was ; that she had written that note in case I had not re-
ceived the other. I told her to give me news of my niece

ABDUCTION OF MISS GLENN. 43?

who hiul been taken away (her conversation arose from what
I sai:i), under one of vthe foulest conspiracies that ever
existed ; that I was determined to bring all the parties to
justice, be the consequences what they might. I said fur-
ther, that they had wrung my mind, destroyed her peace of
mind, broken the heart of her mother, and would be the cause
of ht-r being left without a shilling. She exclaimed, " I had
nothing to do with it." 1 hud not that note she mentioned.
She further told me that she was a mere visiior at the Bow-
ditches, and had come down out of friendship to tell me
where Miss Glenn was. I ihen asked if Mrs. Bowditch the
mother had any thing to do with it. She told me my niece
had been carried to Thornford ; it was in. a gig with a top
and of a yellow colour. Mrs. Mnlraine first assigned as a
reason for knowing it was her, having met the gig returning,
on the road. I went immediately to Mr. Leigh. I believe
Thornford is from Taunton about four or five and thirty;
miles ; or it may be more, but I am not exactly certain. I
went to Mr. Kinglake's office, as Miss Glenn had given me
the description of the person whom she had seen in the
court, and who produced to her a paper in a strange cha-
racter. I saw the person answering that description ex-
actly; it was Mr. Oxenham. As soon as Miss Glenn had
seen Mr. Oxenham, she immediately pointed him out to be
the person she had seen before. I was present when the
letters were produced. [Here an altercation arose among
the Counsel and Judge, on the subject of the letters, and
Mr. Casberd then handed in the letters.] These were the
letters shewn to Miss Glenn at Mr. Kinglake's office. The
first letter was put into her hands, and the moment she
looked at it, she said, she did not think she ever wrote it j
she could not read it : and that it was not her hand-writing.
She positively declared the second letter was not her hand-
writing, and that she had never written to Mrs. Mulraine in
her life. I sent Jane Marke to Holway early in the morn-
ing. She returned in three quarters of an hour j it would

436 KlfiilY's WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

take her about that time to get there and return back again.
My reason for sending there was this : — When 1 found Miss
Glenn was gone, I ordered all the servants to open the gate
for me, that I might go in pursuit of her ; I called out,
" You are all detaining me for the purpose of preventing
my going in pursuit of my niece." They all protested their
innocence, and declared they knew nothing at all about the
matter. I said, " I could hardly think she would have at-
tempted it by herself: that she was not bold enough to do
such a thing." I added, " Convince me of your inno-
cence ; go directly to Holway, and bring me back my niece."
I think previous to this, Mary Whitby told me, if I would
forgive her, she would tell the truth. I told her I would, if
I found she did not deceive me. She then said, that Miss
Glenn was gone off with James Bowditch, and that she had
said she would poison herself, if she could not have him.
I never before heard of any attachment in my life, on his
part towards her. I heard of his being in the house, but
nothing further. The reason assigned for his being there,
was, that he had work to do at Norton. He was a labourer
with his mother generally ; I knew of his being in the house,
and did not like it, and inquired the cause ; and was told
that he had got some work in repairing a mill. I had no
suspicion of him before Mary Whitby told me of it.

Maria Glenn again called. — Examined by Mr. Serjeant
Pell.— *Miss Glenn, have the goodness to describe to the
court, the sort of man who came into the house in the court,
and produced the paper with the writing upon it, the cha-
racters of which you did not understand; describe the
height, general make, and general appearance of him. But
first let me ask you, did you ever describe his person, and
what sort of a man he was, to Mr. Tuckett ? — I did : he was
a short fattish man, with black hair and greasy face.
MR. JUSTICE PARK. — Let Mr. Oxenham come in.
Mr. Oxenham then came into the witness box by the side
of Miss Glenn.

ABDUCTION OF MISS GLENN. 43£f

That gentleman was the one that was iu the court on Sa-
turday. 1 have not the slightest doubt but that that man was
the person ; he is the man also who was at Mr. Kinglake's
office, and produced the two papers to me.

Mary Whitby sworn. — Examined by Mr. Moore. — In
June last I was servant to Mr. Tuckett, as nursemaid, and
was at Mrs. Bowditch's, at llolway, with Miss Glenn and
two children ; it was my business to wait upon Miss Glenn
and the children there. 1 was living at Mr. Tuckett's at the
time when Miss Glenn was missed from the house, and fre-
quently in the presence of Miss Glenn, before she was miss-
ing from the house. It was my business to attend upon her
in her room when she went to bed. 1 know a person of
the name of Jane Marke, I first spoke to Miss Glenn by
the desire of Jane Marke, after her return from Holway,
on the Tuesday before she was taken away. She said I must
tell Miss Glenn that she must go away with Mr. James
Bowditch, for that he would murder her if she did not;
which I did ; and as well as I can recollect, I think it was
in the nursery. I told her several things more which re-
garded James Bowditch ; that he would murder her if she did
not go away with him ; she was very much frightened. Jane
Marke induced me to carry messages; she was repeatedly teas-
ing me to do it ; and James Bowditch was continually talking
of his love to Miss Glenn, and asking me to try to make
her like him. Several times he spoke to me in that way;
William Bowditch did also, and Mrs. Bowditch did, at Hol-
way, about three day.s after we came there. Mrs. Bowditch
said, she dared say Miss Glenn was a lady of large fortune.
I said I did not know, but I dared say she had, as she was
an only child. I know Mrs. Mulraine ; have seen her at
Holway, and have spoken to her upon the subject of James
Bowditch. She said she wished Miss Glenn to marry
James Bowditch, as he was very unhappy about her. It
was about a month after going to Holway, she said this. I
knew Miss Glenn was to be taken away ; Jane Marke told
me so on the Tuesday before the Sunday. In the afternoon

440 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

of Tuesday I met James Bowditch at the cottages just be-
low Mr. Tuckett's house. He talked of his love for Miss
Gleni», and asked me if I could not leave Mr. Ttir.ketl's
parlour window and the front door open ; I said that I was
sure 1 could not do that. On that evening, after I had seen
James Bowditch, I saw Janfc Marke -again ; 1 told Jane
Marke that 1 had seen James Bowditch; she said, she wished
she could have seen him, as she would have put him up to
something, 'fiat-was on the Sunday morning of the Sun-
day night Miss Glean was removed. I met James Bow-
ditch jn the French Wear Fields, by Waterman's, the farmer.
It is not far from Taunton ; I walked as far as the turnpike-
gate. It was about eight o'clock. Mr. and Mrs. Tuckett
came by; they were coining out of the lane, and came sud-
denly upon us. James Bowditch then left me and walked
away : James Bowditch then said, I could contrive to take her
away; I said 1 was sure J could not. He said he only wanted
her, and not her clothes ; there would be no difficulty. Ou.
that nielli I had a conversation with Jane Marke, that Miss
Glenn v\as to be taken away. Jane Marke said she had seeu
Mrs. Mulraine; that she had brought a letter from Mrs. Mul-
raine to Miss Glenn. I did not see the note, nor do not
know whether the note was given to Miss Glenn by any
body else. In the course of the evening she said I must
give the note to Miss Glenn, and do it in a minute. She
said, that I must leave Miss Glenn's bed-room door open;
that Miss Glenn was going to be taken away that night. 1
said I could not. She said, " Leave her bed-room door
open ; we can do it in a minute." I said, that Miss Glenn
would cry and make a noise ; she said, " I don't care, 1
shall do it in a minute ;" and repeated what she had said.
She said, I must leave the back parlour window open.
That night we had a further conversation about Miss Gleun.
When we were sitting down to tea, we were then talking
together. Jane Marke said, that " When we are told of it,
*we must have a stare upon our countenances, and afterwards
say, we kuew noihiug of it." I said, What could I do, as

AllDUCflON OF MISS GLENN. 441

my master would ask many questions? She said, " If I
ever was to tell, we should all be hanged." And it was
again a matter of conversation after we went into the bed-
room. Jane Ma: kr said, I had not left Miss Glenn's bed-
room open, and then said, " Never mind, I have been down
and opened it." We all went to bed together; I left Jane
Marke up in the room, and Elizabeth Snell was in bed with
me. Jane Marke was undressed, but she put on her pelisse.
We all awoke at the same time, and then Jane Murke was
sitting on a trunk, and a candle was burning on the table.
This was all that I recollect that night.

She was cross-examined by Mr. Jeremy, but nothing new
was drawn from her.

The REV. BLAKE LY COOPER sworn. — Examined by Mr.
\\ILLI AMS. — I am one of the surrogates to the Rev. Robert
Morris, official to the Dean of the cathedral church of Sarum.
I recollect James and William Bowditch. They came to
me on the 18th of September, in the afternoon. 1 had a
friend to dine with me, and excused myself from transacting
business on that account; I requested them to call again
early the following morning. They came again the follow-
ing morning about eight o'clock. James Bowditch request-
ed me to grant him a licence for his marriage. I asked him
where ; and he said, at Thornford. My residence is at Yet-
minster, within the peculiar of Salisbury. Thornford is not
more than t\vo miles from Yetminster. Before I grant a
licence 1 inquire where the parties reside, in order that I
might know whether they reside within the jurisdiction ol the
Dean of Salisbury. James Bou ditch said, he resided at
Taunton, in Somersetshire, but that the lady was on a visit
at Mr. Paul's, at Thornford. I immediately inquired, how
long she had been visiting there, knowing, if she had not
been resident there a month, the marriage could not take
place. His answer was, that she had been resident more
than a month. I should observe, that I was induced more
particularly to ask what lady it was at Thornford, for I knew

442 KIHBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

of no lady at Thornford. But when he told me, that the
Jady was on a visit to Mr. Paul, I was satisfied, not beiug
acquainted with Mr. Paul; and am positive he mentioned
that the lady had been there more than a month. I pro-
ceeded to fill up the bond; and after I had filled up the
bond I proceeded to fill up the licence. In the body of the
licence it is usual to describe the lady exactly, as to her age
and place of residence. When I inquired her age, there
seemed to be a little hesitation on the part of James Bow-
ditch ; he turned round and looked towards his brother for
information, as I suppose, as to what answer he should give.
The brother said, " I know she is twenty-one ;" upon which
James acquiesced, and said, " It must be so." I told him,
that he would not merely have to state, that she was twenty-
one, but that I should, upon his peril, oblige him to swear
so. I was induced to be so particular from the slight hesi-
tation I observed on the part of James Bowditch, and I
stated to him the necessity of swearing it. He said he could
readily swear it; and I then completed the licence, and ad-
ministered the oath; he signed the bond in the presence of
two of my servants. The oath was merely parole ; it was
not in writing. As I was filling up the licence I asked him
the name of the lady as a matter of course: — " Maria
Glenn," was the answer. I wrote the word Maria, and then
asked as to the other name. I spelt it G, L, Y, N, N ; and
he approved of that mode of spelling it.

On the cross examination of Mr. Casberd, Mr. Cooper
repeated the bath \\hich he had administered to James Bow-
ditch, and stated that there were some words omitted which
were inserted in the usual oath. At the time of administer-
ing he had omitted the first words, but not wishing to disturb
the thing by beginning DE NOVO, he thought it best to let it
pass.

Mr. Casberd then rose on the part of the Defendants, and
spoke to the following effect :

ABDUCTION OF MISS GLENN. 443

May it please your lordship ;
Gentlemen cf the Jury,

My learned friend, in his opening address to you OH the
subject of this prosecution, lias stated to you, and no doubt
most truly, that he laboured under considerable embarrass-
ment ; but, Gentlemen, sifter the case which you have heard
proved on the part of the prosecution, if \\ith the impres-
sions upon his mind, my learned friend could state that he '
felt considerable embarrassment in the view which he had
taken of the case, what must be my sensations of anxiety
when I rise to address you on the part of these defendants,
^charged as they are by the record, upon which you are im-
pannelled, with one of the foulest crimes which ever exhi-
bited itself in a court of justice.

Gentlemen, I stand here to defend ten different persons
who are enumerated upon this record ; — persons whom I will
venture to say, up to the hour in which 1 am now addressing
}rou, have boine, throughout the whole career of lifej a most
irreproachable character. The character, indeed, which
these persons have uniformly borne, has been perfectly cor-
rect and proper ; and I refer to Mr. Tuckett's conduct as an
illustration or this as regards some of the principal person-
ages. Mr. Tuckett, besides having nothing generally to say
against them, did by his own act appear to entertain the
highest opinion of some of them, by entrusting them with
the care and management of his family.

Gentlemen, it is therefore an anxious task for me, under the
circumstances in which the case now presents itself before
you, to rise to address you on the part of the defendants ;
because, I am not so blind and so void of understanding as
not to see and feel that the case which has been made out is
most undoubtedly a strong case. I do not wish to conceal
the view which I have taken of the subject ; arid if I did not
know and feel thoroughly assured of the trulh of what my
learned friend has indeed stated to you, namely, that this
would turn out in the event a most extraordinary case, I

444, „ KIHBY'S WONDEHFUL MUSEUM.

should certainly fold up my brief, and consign the defendants
to the fate that \vould necessarily await them. You have
heard only one side ; you have heard the evidence only on the
part of the prosecution ; and undoubtedly, Gentlemen, if the
case rested upon that evidence alone, the defendants must be
qouvicltd.

Gentlemen, I repeat, you have heard one side; but I have
a body of testimony to adduce on the part of the defendants,
which, if 1 am not mis instiucted (and 1 have no reason to
suppose that any misinformation has been given to me upon
the subject) — testimony, 1 say, which will give to this case a
very different character and complexion from that which it at
present wears.

Gentlemen, there is some little singularity in the mode in
which this prosecution has been instituted, and I know not
why the prosecution should be reserved to be decided in this
county. It docs not properly belong to this county ! I have
some difficulty, I confess, in finding out how it was that the
county of Dorset could have jurisdiction in this case, for I
find that which is the body of the charge took place in the
county of Somerset; that it was wholly engendered in that
part of the world. Gentlemen, that is not a slight circum-
stance among the many which will be submitted for your
consideration. There is, however, that (a trifling part,
indeed), which gives this county a jurisdiction, and enables
you to decide upon the case.

Gentlemen, is it not somewhat singular that this matter
should not have been brought forward in the very neighbour-
hood \\here these persons resided ? — The place of habitation
of most of the individuals implicated in this charge? Why,
Gentlemen, are you called upon to decide it in preference to
its being decided by persons, whose knowledge of the parties
could best enable them to appreciate their conduct ? This is
a fact to be estimated as of the greatest importance ; for to
this is fairly to be ascribed the weight of evidence adduced
on the other side. That is a singular feature : — it is a singu-

ADDUCTION OP MISS CfLENN. 445

lar feature, as I have already observed, that the defendants
should have been brought before a jury of the county of
Dorset, instead of a jury who would have been enabled to
form a more correct judgment, and to have decided more
correctly the fate of the defendants upon this record.

Undoubtedly it is a most extraordinary case; and the many
witnesses that have been called have given, to a certain extent,
a connected story. If, Gentlemen, we are to infer, that be-
cause a person has sworn to a fact, that, therefore, that fact
must be true, then the defendants have no case; unquestion-
ably they have no case. But there are certain circumstances
which have transpired in the course of the testimony, which
fairly and candidly must be decided by the credit which the
witness obtains at your hands ; or rather, I sboulisay, that
there are certain circumstances mentioned in the course of
the examination of the principal witness for the prosecution,
•which, according to the notion and judgment I have been
able to form of human nature upon this occasion, are to me
perfectly unaccountable. Her story is, that this was a matter
of violence, and that it was effectuated against her imperfect
opposition to her consent; that it was entirely a matter of
aggression, and that she was carried away against her will.

On the other hand I shall have to exhibit to your view, on
the part of the defendants, that so far from its being a matter
of aggression against the particular individual, it was a matter
of election, and undoubtedly there were other circumstances
occurring at the time which, I conceive, make it appear to
have been no more than an ordinary case ; and, I will ven-
ture to say, that it is one of those cases which, supposing
they make out the facts which took place on the days men-
tioned, which occur every day, and which never should have
been thought fit to have been made the subject of a public
prosecution.

Gentlemen, I cannot help thinking but that there must be
some mistake in the evidence on the part of th;slady; be-
cause to me it seems perfectly inconsistent aud unaccount-
4

446 KIHBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

able, how, considering the time of life at which she had
arrived; considering the confidence she reposed in Mr.
Tuckett with whom she lived ; considering the interval which
elapsed between the threats which are supposed to have so
powerfully operated upon her mind, and the time when she
finally went away; — how could she, under such circum-
stances, withhold the tale from Mr. Tuckett, the friend of
her bosom, her patron and guardian at the time? Mr.
Tuckett, too, a person whose situation in life, and whose
means of information, gave him such competent powers of
affording protection ! Under circumstances of such pecu-
liarity, and with the want of explanation, it does certainly
appear to me to be perfectly unaccountable. How came it
to pass that Miss Glenn, living under the roof of Mr.
Tuckett, he being the friend of her bosom ; how came it to
pass that she should not have confided to him those repre-
sentations which were made to her, from time to time, of an
event which has actually taken place? — It is a most extraor-
dinary thing which she would have you believe, namely, that
her mind was so affected by my clients as she would have
you suppose it to have been ;^-so affected, indeed, that she
\\as compelled to take refuge in the arms of the man she
detested.

Gentlemen, I think it was on the 15th of September, that
a most extraordinary conversation took place between Mrs.
Mulraine and Jane Marke, at different periods of the same
day, and Miss Glenn. This is singular, not only with refer-
ence to the tenour of the conversation, but singular also in
being in the very same terms ; the same words being spoken
and used by both, if the witness is to be credited. I think,
according to those expressions, Miss Glenn was to be fol-
lowed wherever she went, and the result of her refusal to do
what was required of her by James Bowditch was, that he
would follow her to any part of the world and murder her.
These are the expressions which you are to suppose operated
upon the mind, and produced the result which afterwards

ABDUCTION OF MISS GLENN. 44?

•

ensued. This, Gentlemen, is said to have occurred on the
15th of September, when Miss Glenn constantly resided
with Mr. Tuckett, with whom she continued to remain till
the time of her quitting his house on the 21st. Can it be
believed, that she actually did place herself under the autho-
rity, awed by the threats, of persons in a very inferior situa-
tion in life to herself? — I will ask you, looking at all the cir-
cumstances, if her account is to be believed ! Can you
give credit for a moment to the supposition that all this affair
did actually take place in the way represented ? It is cer-
tainly a most extraordinary thing that Miss Glenn should not
have con tided an affair to Mr. Tuckett which to her was of
the greatest importance; but, according to her account,
nothing whatever was said between the 15th and 2'2d of the
same month."

Gentlemen, I say this is very extraordinary ; but it is even
more than extraordinary, for it makes that case of forcible
abduction, as stated on the other side, and made out under
the circumstances which you have heard, absolutely impro-
bable and incredible ; because the story comes to nothing
unless you believe the whole. Gentlemen, you are told, that
Miss Glenn was sleeping in the adjoining room to Mr.
Tuckett ; a person enters this room — a room in which two
children actually slept, the one seven years of age and the
other five; a person conies in, I say (not secretly, for her
voice made her known), and forces the lady out of the room
and finally out of the house ; liable undoubtedly to be over-
heard by Mr. or Mrs. Tuckett, who slept in the adjoining
room, and still more so by the children who slept in the same
room ; that person liable to be apprehended, and made the
subject of that punishment which must have awaited her up-
on the discovery of her criminal attempt. Yet this is the
Btory you are now called upon to believe. But, Gtntlemen,
in a moment I shall show you that this story is false, abso-
lutely false ; that the account now given of what happened at
that particular period, is widely different from the true ac-

448 KIRB-V'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

count. That true account I shall make known to you, and
you will then believe what were the real reasons which in-
duced Miss Glenn to refrain from making an immediate dis-
closure to her uncle. Gentlemen, my story is, that it was a
matter of election on her part. That story I shall make out
to your satisfaction, if the witnesses which I shall call before
you are to believed, and I shall call many of them, and
some of them will tell you that they are totally unconnected
with the family. I confess I do not see how it is possible to
believe Miss Glenn in the major part of her story. I do
not see how it was possible for her to have been conducted
out of the house in the manner she has described. But you,
when you have heard the whole of the testimony to be ad-
duced in the cause, will be the most competent judges : but,
Gentlemen, this consequence must necessarily follow; — if
you do not believe her on this most important point — nei-
ther can you respect any part^of the evidence which she has
given in the cause.

Gentlemen, if this case is important as it affects the de-
fendants upon this record, it acquires an additional import-
ance from the circumstance of Mr. Oxenham being intro-
duced into it. Gentlemen, I will venture to say to my learn-
ed friends on the other side, that up to the moment of this
transaction there has not been the slightest imputation cast
upon the character of Mr. Oxenham. Gentlemen, Mr. Ox-
enham is a respectable solicitor, in Taunton, who succeeded
a person equally respectable in life with himself. Now you
are told, Gentlemen, that Miss Glenn, never having seen Mr.
Oxenham before this transaction took place, ventures now to
decide upon her oath that the person who tendered her the
papei for the purpose of her signing it, and about which there
is so much doubt— that that person was the Mr. Oxenham to
whom I have alluded.

Gentlemen, I shall call before you persons of unquestion-
able veracity, as well as bring persons actually concerned
with Mr. Oxeuham at the time to which I refer, .who will

ABDUCTION OF MISS GLENN. 449

prove to you that Mr. Oxenham never had the slightest con-
cern, either in the nearest or remotest degree with this trans-
action.

Gentlemen, if that be s<>, what are you to think ? what are
you to think of Miss Glenn's evidence, when she swears so
positively to Mr. Oxenham being the person f Having fixed
upon him too, in a way to make an impression upon the
court, by having previously given a description of his person
in such a way as must be calculated to induce you to believe
that she could not be mistaken if he came forwards. Gen-
tlemen, you will have no doubt that he certainly was not the
person, and your belief of that will be fully confirmed in my
being able to show you where Mr. Oxenham was at that very
time.

What then must become of all the rest of her evidence,
for she was equally positive upon this subject as she is upon
the rest? If you disbelieve her upon this point, you must
necessarily disbelieve her in all the rest. But I shall not rest
here ; there are other circumstances in the case to which I
shall be able to give a contradiction equally positive as to her
conduct.

Gentlemen, you then find Miss Glenn at Thornford, at
the house of Mr. Paul, and I am happy to find that in that
place there was a person of great respectability in life ; a
gentleman in the church, coming from a remote part of the
country, and happening to be at this particular spot purely
by accident. In fact, they have not cast any imputation on
this gentleman, but, on the contrary, his conduct has met
with commendation ; now let us see what Miss Glenn says
upon that part of the subject. Miss Glenn says that she
came down when the family was at dinner, and that she at-
tempted to eat ; that a gentleman of the name of Templer
invited her to eat, and helped her; but she was so uneasy, she
really only tasted a bit, and retired before the cloth was re*
moved.

But, Gentlemen, you will now hear what Mr. Templer will

VOL. VI. G G

450 KIRBY'S WONDEUFUL MUSEUM.

'• i ~

say upon the subject; — upon this very part of the subject,
Mr. Templer will tell you, that so far from not tasting any
thing at dinner and never eating any thing, that she ate like
other people : that she ate heartily, and made an exceedingly
good dinner ; and lhat, with respect to her being ill, he will
tell you that she was in as good spirits as the rest of the com-
pany ; that there was no apparent difference except, as he be-
lieves, for he will not vouch for the truth, as perhaps his
memory might not be quite correct ; — but he rather thinks
she was even in better spirits than the rest.

Gentlemen, 1 will not fatigue you by going through all the
incongruities which you will find in the course of Miss
Glenn's evidence, but shall proceed to lay before you that
which must convince you that Miss Glenn has been endea-
vouring to give a false account of this transaction. 1 do not
wish to deal harshly or uncivilly by her, but I must think, that
so far from this being a forcible transportation from one place
to another, you will find it to have been entirely voluntary on
her part, she herself having contracted a passion for the
young man — And, Gentlemen, here let me remind you,
whatever may be the event, that because there was a disparity
in the circumstances of life, that is no reason why a marriage
ought not to take place.

Gentlemen, we have heard something upon the subject of
the independence of this young lady, and of the fortune likely
to be in her possession ; but 1 see nothing of the, kind that
she possesses, if it be true that she has a mother now living,
and that her grandfather is still in existence. By whose evi-
dence does it appear that this young lady is independent, and
that the bulk of the grandfather's and mother's fortune is to
come to her? I recollect perfectly well Mr. Tuckett's say-
iug something about feeling exceedingly alarmed at his
niece's being cut off with a shilling by the proceedings then
going forward. If this is a case, then, which rested upon
expectation (for it is in part stated that she could expect no-
thing after such a marriage), let me ask what expectation a.

ABDUCTION OF MISS GLENN. 431

husband could entertain upon the marriage taking effect?
\vhat benefit could a man in a station in lite, comparatively
humble, have to look forward to with a person so different in
situation, and so different in habits ? A person moving un-
der these circumstances could not be a very valuable acquisi-
tion. ]f we do not foiego the consequences, then this is a
case not to be supported, because it rests entirely upon there
being expectations, and you have it in evidence that those ex-
pectations might have been cut off.

Gentlemen, this is the sort of case to which I have allud-
ed. The whole depends upon the evidence of the principal
witness, Miss Glenn. If you disbelieve her, then, as she is
the substratum of all the rest, the whole case must fall to
the ground.

Gentlemen, if 1 shall show you that the account given by
Miss Glenn is not a correct account ; if I do that by the tes-
timony of witnesses, whose veracity I apprehend has never
been impeached, and is totally unimpeachable ; if by means
of these witnesses you find the account already given to be
perfectly inconsistent with truth and reason ; then the defend-
ants will be entitled to your verdict of acquittal, and to that
verdict 1 most confidently look.

JOHN OXENHAM sworn. — Examined by MR. SELWYX.
— I am an Attorney, and reside at Taunton. Have resided
there about fifteen years, or nearly fifteen years. I came
there in 1803. I was first a writing clerk to Mr. Kinglake,
and after that was articled to him, and 1 have been about
four years an Attorney in Mr. Kinglake's office, and had
some part of the business some part of the time. Mr. King-
lake gave up business at Midsummer, and I pay him a cer-
tain sum out of the profits of the business. I know the
young lady who has been called here as a witness to-day. I
have seen her aloat four times. The first time I saw her, to
the best of my recollection, was when she came to Mr.
Kinglake's office with Mr. Henry Leigh, her Attorney, the

G G 2

452 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

latter end of last January, since the indictment was preferred.
I never saw her to the best of my recollection before the
time she came to Mr. Kinglake's office. I had no know-
ledge of her whatever when she came with Mr. Leigh to the
door; and did not know there was such a person as Miss
Glenn in Mr. Tuckett's family until about the time I have
just before named ; about that time I understood there was,
because I had seen the affair advertised in the newspapers ;
but during the time of the elopement I never knew there was
such a person. I remember having been engaged with Mr.
Weaver of Staple Grove, on the morning of Saturday the
20th of September. I cannot exactly say whether he came
before nine in the morning, but he was there about that time,
and I was engaged with him about two hours; though I
cannot positively say, for I was sometime engaged with
Henry Foy. Mr. Weaver and the other person called about
the same hour. There was a Mr. Slade, and I think a man
of the name of Uttermere. That was at Mr. Kinglake's
office; it is in Mary-street, at the corner of Brick-street,.
Taunton ; and I never produced any deed, paper, or writing,
to Miss Glenn, antecedent to the time she came to the office
with Mr. Henry Leigh ; that I swear most positively.

Cross examined by MR. SERJEANT PELL..
I remember Mr. Leigh and Miss Glenn coming to Mr.
Kinglake's office, and produced two papers to them, in con-
sequence of a proposal which Mr. Leigh made for the pur-
pose of abandoning the prosecution, if it could be proved,
to their satisfaction, that the story which Miss Glenn had
told was not correct. I am the solicitor of some of the
defendants ; they have come to me upon some occasions, and
am now concerned for these defendants. When the indict-
ment was preferred I was not, (but to the best of my recol-
lection I have not seen Mr. Paul), Mrs. Bowditch came to
me, and I did receive those two papers, 1 believe, to the best
of nry recollection, from old Mrs. Bowditch, Mrs. Joan
2

ABDUCTION OF MISS GLENN. 453

Bowditch ; but I cannot exactly say ; they were brought to
me in the course of business ; I speak to the best of my
recollection. I remember Mrs. Bowditch showing me some
letters which purported to be in the handwriting of Miss
Glenn ; but it is impossible for me to answer the question
exactly ; I cannot say how long it was, but it was soon after
Miss Glenn went away ; 1 think it was just after that. It
was soon after the 22d of September that old Mrs. Bow-
ditch delivered me these papers, but I cannot say how long.
I beg leave to say that I cannot speak with certainty as to
whether she brought both the papers at the same time. I
know William Bowditch's house in Taunton ; the house in
which he lately lived is up a sort of court. I swear, I was
not in that house on the 20lh of September. It is just at the
head of East-street ; perhaps, it may be a quarter of a mile,
or something that way. A person may possibly go round in
a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes. It would take to
walk from William Bowditch's to my office, I should think,
between eighteen and twenty minutes ; it is just at the head
of East-street, but I am not exactly certain whether the
house is in the same parish ; I do not know whether it is in
Taunton, St. James, or St. Mary Magdalen. I have known
old Mrs. Bowditch several years ; she has been at my office
several times ; I never considered her as a client of mine ;
she has been at the office, I believe about writings, but she
was never a client until I was employed about this business.
I had known her before, many years, and she has spoken to
me upon matters of business. 1 do not remember to have
done business for any of the other defendants; but I may
have advised James Bowditch about business. I remember
preparing a marriage settlement for a daughter of Mrs, Bow-
ditch, who married a person of the name of Scarlett, and I
prepared a marriage settlement for William Bowditch. I
was applied to as a professional man, by the defendants,
about three weeks or a month after the affair took place on
•the 22d of September ; I remember Mrs. Bowditch showing
me a letter, and telling me that Mr. Tuckett had threatened

454 KIRHY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

a prosecution. I cannot possibly say as to the time; it may
or may not have been so long ; ail I recollect is that it \vas
very shortly after ; I cannot say the specific time. 1 know I
am on tny oath, and it is quite impossible for me to say how
soon after the 22d of September it was before I was applied
to by any body upon the subject as an attorney; 1 cannot
speak positively. (Mr. Serjeant Pell here said, " 1 am quite
satisfied.") I knew Mr. Tuckett. I never knew Mr.
Tuckett had a niece before I heard she was gone off. I
understood the time of her going off before I had seen
any of the defendants ; I understood she went off on
the 22d, for there was a paragraph the same week
in the newspaper. But I cannot fix the precise time after
the 22d, before I saw the defendants. The first time that
I heard there was any intention of James Bowditch
marrying any body, 1 believe, was on Saturday, the
20th of September, that William Bowditch called at
Mr. Kinglake's office. Here, my Lord (addressing the
Jtidge), I beg leave to observe, that he called upon me to
advise him, and I considered it a confidential communication;
but if your Lordship thinks I ought to disclose it, I will.
(Ma JUSTICE PARK. An attorney has no right to disclose
the secrets of his client. MR. SERJEANT PELI,. The wit-
ness may surely be allowed to answer that question, or so
much of it as relates to whether William Bowditch did call
upon him upon business respecting the marriage of his bro-
ther or of some of the family. The Witness. But before I
say any thing upon the subject, I beg leave to observe, that
at the time of his calling, I had no knowledge of this young
woman ;) and he never mentioned the name of the young
Mvoman to me at that time : the impression on my mind is
that William Bowditch did consult me on the Saturday before
Miss Glenn went off; on Saturday the 20th of September.

Re-examined by MR. SELWYN.

Between eight and nine o'clock in the evening; it was late
in the evening, for it was after the clerks had left the office.

ABDUCTION OF MISS GLKNN. 455

I was advised to produce two papers which had been given
me about the same time, by Mr. Kinglake, in consequence of
an application from Mr. Leigh; the object was to satisfy
Mr. Tuckett that the hand-writing was the hand-writing of
Miss Glenn. They were given to me, 1 believe, by old Mrs.
Bowditch, she alleging them to be in the band-writing of
Miss Glenn. When the papers were produced, Mr. King-
lake, Mr. Tuckett, Mr. Leigh, Miss Glenn, and myself were
present. I beg to explain : one letter was given back imme-
diately ; she said she could not read it ; afterwards she said
she might have written such a letter, except the direction. I
understood that to be an admission on her part that she had
M'ritten it. I mean to represent that she admitted one of them
to be in her hand-writing, except the direction, on the letter
addressed to James Bowditch. (Mr. Selwyn, handing the
two tetters to the witness.) Were these two, the two papers
you produced to Mr. Leigh ? They certainly are. Point-
ing to the iirst, she admitted to be in her hand-writing. All
except the direction ? I certainly understood it so.

(The letter was then put in and read by the Associate. It
Avas signed Maria Glenn, and directed to James Bowditch at

Hoi way Cottage, and was to the following purport.)

i

" My dear James,

" In answer to your last letter, I wish you to buy the
lisence, and assure that I was 21 the 28th of last August, re-
member that 1 have no independent fortune, can there then
be blame in our forming this alienee, when love not interest
actuates the deed ;

" Sept. 14th, 1817. " Yours truly,

" Mr. J. Bowditch, " MARIA GLENN."

" Holzcay Cottage.

MR. JUSTICE PARK. — Let us see how this other is evi-
dence.

456 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

MR. SERJEANT PELL. — The difficulty is, got over by
what Mr. Oxenham has said.

MR. JEREMY. — But the other was not admitted to be in
the hand-writing.

MR. JUSTICE PARK. — I am of opinion that it is evidence
under the circumstances. These letters are not professional
letters ; we know them only as letters brought by Mrs. Bow-
ditch to Mr. Oxenham her attorney, and merely given to him
in the course of his profession. They are tendered here in
confirmation of what the witness has sworn ; being produced
to the lady, she expressly asserts that one is not, but does not
deny the other. It is therefore evidence to show that.

[The other paper was then put in and read ; it had no di-
rection, but was dated Sunday morning. It was as follows : —

" Miss Glenn sends her kindest love to Mrs. Mulraine,
aud informs her it will be perfectly out of her power to see
her before half past 12 to night, as her aunt and uncle both
will be with her if she goes out to walk. She understands
that she has something to communicate to her of conse-
quence, if so she should be obliged to Mrs. Mulraine, if she
would write and inform her what it is by the bearer.

ft Sunday Morning."

CHARLES PUDDEY sworn; examined by MR. JEREMY.

I live in the parish of Taunton, St. Mary Magdalen; my
house is near Mrs. Bowditch's : it is the adjoining farm. 1
have been in the farm three years come Michaelmas ; 1 lived
there at the time this transaction took place, and was fre-
quently at Mrs. Bowditch's. I was in the constant habits of
intimacy ; there was scarce a day we did not see each other,
and I saw Miss Glenn frequently during the time of her re-
siding there, when she was riding as well as walking. James
Bowditch generally accompanied her, and sometimes his
sister ; he was generally leading the horse, with his arm rest-

ABDUCTION OP MI8S GLENN. 457

ing upon the horse's mane, talking to her. I suppose I have
seen them ten times in tliut situation ; I have seen her walk-
ing as well as riding upon my farm ; I cannot say that she
ever catched hold of his arm, but he used to walk by the
side of her ; they seemed a little in the sweethearting line ;
he was more like a lover than a servant, and I have seen them
together in the barton, that is, Mrs. Bowditch's farm-yard.
I saw her upon the wheat-mow ; that was at the time when
it was not quite finished ; there were none of the men work-
ing, but Mr. Bowditch was there. I was in the house when
she asked me to assist her in getting up this mow, and I
went out to her, in company with those that were in the
kitchen. James Bowditch was out in the barton by himself.
She asked me to hold the ladder for her; J said,, u You had
better give me leave to proceed ; I will hold the ladder, and
then you can come up." James Bowditch was in the wag-
gon, pitching to the mow. I have seen her on more occa-
sions than one in the kitchen. I have known her spend her
evenings in the kitchen ; she was always there. In my opi-
nion James Bowditch took the liberties of a sweetheart with
her ; he used to talk to Miss Glenn freely, and she used to sit
down upon the same seat with him, but 1 never saw him kiss
her. I have seen him take those kind of liberties which are
considered to be the privilege of a sweetheart; but he never
advanced so far as to kiss her. 1 don't know that she said
any thing upon the occasion, but I saw there was a kindness
between them. I said to Mr. Bowditch ; " 1 think this
young lady seems to have an inclination for you." He said,
" Do you think so? ' This was about a week or a fortnight
after I saw them in the habits of being together; this
was, I suppose, about a fortnight, or within thiee weeks
after Miss Glenn came to reside at Mrs. Bov\ ditch's. I
do not know at what time Miss Glenn came to reside
there. It was at the time of earn, nig hay; it was hay
harvest time. They have often walked out together, and I
have seen how they went out hay-making. When she rode,

458 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

the servant was not always with her. She appeared very
shy at first. When I came into the kitchen, she often left it
in the evening. Miss Glenn at one time, when the man was
busy, came to me and said, " Mr. Puddey, will you oblige
me in one thing ?" I asked her how she could be obliged to
me ; she then asked me to catch the horse for her, and as-
signed as a reason that James Bosvditch would not catch it,
as he was sulky. I have been in the house frequently, when
Miss Glenn was there, morning and evening. I do not know
that I ever met her in a morning, but she used to exercise in
the fields. I have not seen her ride early in the morning; she
asked one time to borrow my wife's saddle and bridle for the
servant to ride to Hestercombe. I know that one time in
the morning, about ten o'clock, just after breakfast, 1 heard
her ask him to go up and fasten the window, and I suppose
he did. When she went into the kitchen, he did not go im-
mediately ; I heard her say, " Why do you not go ?" He
left the room, but whether he went up stairs, I am not cer-
tain. I went home, and did not see Mr. Bowditch again ;
they have walked to my house together ; they looked as if
they were suitors; they came to see a print we had got; it
was not Mr. Bowditch that was with her then ; it was one of
his sisters. James Bowditch was not then with her; she
came with James Bowditch, but not to see the prints ; but he
has been with her in my house ; I suppose they came out of
curiosity.

MR. JUSTICE PARK. — I might wonder at her taste, per-
haps, but that has nothing to do with it. If she was with
James Bowditch at the witness's house, it is material. Let
us hear why she went there first ; I want merely the fact.

She used to come there very often ; but I think it was to
drink tea at that time ; I am not certain ; but we were drink*
ing tea. James Bowditch was not with her when she saw
the picture. I recollect seeing them after they went home.
I went part of the way with them from Holway to Taunton.
I walked on a little way with them ; they had little conversa-

ABDUCTION OF MISS GLENN. 45O/

tion, for slie was so very low; it was the veiy morning she
left llolway to return to Taunton. I have seen them walk-
ing together in Taunton after her return, upoit the occa-
sion of the christening of a child to which James Bowditch
and the joung lady stood. On that occasion I saw James
Bowditch with her in the town going to church. James
Bowditch frequently said so himself 1 did not hear hef say
any thing myself that she stood godmother ; but James Bow-
ditch said so. Mrs. Mulraine owned the child. I have seen
him not ten yards from her when they have been walking to-
gether. Jle did not go exactly like a servant.
SAMUEL MANSFIELD sworn; examined hy MR. CASBERD.
I recollect seeing Miss Glenn at Mrs. Bowditch's in July
last; on the seventeenth. I live in Taunton. I have many
times seen Miss Glenn and James Bowditch walking arm in
arm .very loving together about the fields of the farm belong-
ing to Mrs. Bowditch ; und sometimes walking up and down
the garden ; in July and August too. I have seen them in the
summer-house many times, very loving indeed. She used to
ride out in the waggon that was carrying the hay and corn.
I saw him kiss her in the waggon. She has many a night de-
tained me only to catch the pony. James Bowditch some-
times ran by her side. I never saw him ride with her. 1
have seen her in the kitchen sitting on his knee. I recollect
their going together with Miss Susan Bowditch to Hester-
combe. I saddled the pony. She appeared to be very
fond of him.

Cross examined by MR. SERJEANT PELL.

Did not know her before she came to Mrs. Bowditch's to
live. I am a labouring man there. I know Miss Glenn very
well.

[The remainder of this evidence is so very material, that
we think it advisable to give it fully as it occurred.]

Mr. Serjeant Pell. — Now, Sir, turn your head round to the
right ; now I ask you this question ; Is that the young lady

460 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

you have been describing, by whom all these things have
been done ?
[The witness looked at Miss Glenn, but made no answer.']

Q. Are you drunk ? — [He made no answer.']

Q. (By Mr. Justice Park.) Was she ihe lady who sat
down on Mr. James Bowditch's knee in your presence? —
A. W ot in my presence.

Q. Then, Mr. Mansfield, you did not see her sit upon
James- Bowditch's knee? — A'. Not in my presence, I was
walking through the passage.

Q. (By Mr. Justice Park.) Still it was in your presence,
for you saw it ? — A. Yes, my Lord.

Q. You know who the young lady was ? — A. Yes.

Q. You are sure of it ? — A. Yes, Miss Glenn. >

Q. Was it that young lady ? (pointing to Miss Glenn.) —
A. I don't think that was the lady.
[A noise in court prevented the proceedings for a moment.']

Mr. Justice Park. — Brother Pell, this cannot be endured.

Mr. Serjeant Pell. — It is really excusable, my Lord ; I am
ready to jump out of court myself.

Q. (By Mr. Justice Park.) That is not the young lady
you saw him kiss in the waggon ? — A. I don't think it is, my
Lord.

ANNE WARREN sworn; examined by MR. SELWYN.

I live opposite Mr. Tuckett's at Taunton, and know James
Bowditch and Miss Glenn perfectly well. Have seen James
Bowditch and Miss Glenn together in the beginning of Sep-
tember ; I cannot exactly say the time, but it was -some time
in the beginning of September; it was in the evening. I
saw Mary Whitby come out and speak to James Bowditch
opposite the house, and I then saw Miss Glenn come out,
and speak to him likewise. It was after tea, about six or
seven in the evening. Mary Whitby remained : Miss Glenn
nodded with her head towards the -French- Wear- Fields; at
least that way. It appeared to roe that she did that for him

ABDUCTION OP MI88 GLENN. 46l

to go on. James Bowditch, at the time she nodded her head,
was with her. I saw James Bowditch go on. He went on
before. She followed him, and looked through the pales of
Mr. Tuckett's garden ; she then ran to the steps and spoke
to the servant, Mary Whitby, and then went in. She return-
ed, and ran after him as fast as she could. She ran on the
causeway, towards the French-Wear-Fields ; and she over-
took him. I saw her look back towards her uncle's house ;
Mr. Tuckett's house ; she then took hold of his arm, in this
manner, (showing how), and then walked on to the
entrance of the fields, and I lost sight of them then. I do
not exactly know how far I was from them when she took
hold of his arm; they were not out of sight; I suppose
about twenty or thirty yards ; but I do not exactly know. It
may be more, I should rather suppose. My husband is a
bricklayer.

Crow examined by MR. GAS ELBE.

I did not remark the day of the month nor the day of the
week on which this happened ; and cannot tell the day of the
week. It did not occur to me that I should be callejd as a
witness. I thought it improper. I am a married woman,
and I have a great many children. I did not communicate it
to Mr. Tuckett ; I did not concern myself about it ; I had
enough to do with my own family ; I took no notice of it.
I cannot particularly say how near 1 was to the lady ; I was
about my own house, and I saw her pass the causeway across
the road. She had got on a light-coloured shawl. I do not
know what else. I know Miss Glenn's face ; and I did see
her face. Not for any length of time ; I suppose about
eight minutes ; but* I cannot tell what her dress was like.
She had a bonnet on ; a straw bonnet. I cannot tell the
shape of the bonnet. She had nothing at all on her bonnet.
I mentioned it to my next door neighbour, Mrs. Northam.
Mrs. Northam came out and saw her too.

KIRBYS WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

Rc-cxaminedby MR. SELWYN.

I think it was about a fortnight before the affair happened
at Mr. Tuckett's house. James Bovvditch is a well-looking
young man. Tlie turnpike road \\here this happened is
wider than from the judge's bench to me; it K as far from
•\vht-je 1 stood, as it is up the court. She could see me if 1
could see her. Mrs. Northam was by the door. 1 have
lived there six years. Mr. Tuckett has lived there not half
so long as I have. My eldest ch'.id is three years old.

Q. (B) Mr. Justice Park.) When you Saw a child come
out from Mr. Tuckett's, should you not as a neighbour have
gone over to him, and told him that it was his niece or daugh-
ter, you did not know which, who had run off with a labour-
ing man up the street in apparent wantonness :

A. I did not do it. I would solemnly take my oath a hun-
dred times that she done it.
WILLIAM WARREN sworn; examined by MR. JEIIEMY.

I live in North Town/Fauutou, just opposite Mr. Tuckett's ;
I am husband of the last w itness. 1 have seen James Bow-
ditch and Miss Glenn as near together as that a little thorn
hedge parted them ; the one just standing in the garden and
the other just at the outside. I know his person well. He
is a small growth man. He appears of the station of life of
a farmer. He does not look like a labourer. He is rather
decent than otherwise. I have never seen him and Miss
Glenn walking together. I have seen them talking together,
one on one side of the hedge, and the other on the other
side, twice. It was about the middle of September, in the
evening.

Cross examined by MR. SERJEANT PELL.

My wife has many children ; my eldest may be about or
near twelve, but I cannot say exactly. I should not suppose
that my wife should have said any such thing that my eldest
child was only three years old ; it cannot be true, if she has
sworn so.

ABDUCTION OF MISSX GLENIC. 463

SAMUEL Poo LI; sworn; examined by Ma. CAS HERD.

I know Mr. James Bowditch, and know Miss Glenn. I
saw them walking together in the month of September last.
I was coming home from work between six and seven o'clock
in the evening, and I saw Mr. James Bowdilch coming to-
wards me. 1 passed him and went a little further and stop*
ped. He spoke to a servant girl who was there. I was about
twenty yards from her. 1 went on twenty yards more, and
the girl went into Mr. Tuckett's house. Mr. Bowditch stop-
ped about twenty yards off, and Miss Glenn came out at the
gate; then Mr. Bowditch saw her and turned and walked
away ; she ran after him, and they walked off arm in arm.
Cross examined by MB. MOORE.

It was between six and seven in the evening. It was as
light as it is now. It was at M?r. Tuckett's front gate. I
believe the sun was down. I suppose it may be forty yards
from the house to the gate. There is an iron rail before the
house. It is not a close fence, but an open fence. I was at
a little distance ; and I saw her running down from the house
as fast as she could run. I had seen her before this : I dare
say it was twice, but I would not swear it. I fix on twice,
because I saw her with Mr. Bowditch ; she was walking with
him. That was the last time. I saw her three or four days
before, in the evening, between six and seven o'clock. I did
not see her come out of Mr. Tuekett's house. I met her
in the path against Mr. Tuckett's house. They were not
•walking arm in arm ; but one by the side of the other. I
passed by the side of them, but did not take much notice how
far they walked together. I saw them, the first time, near
the same place, within a hundred yards, in the same path.
They were walking in the same way, and in the same direc-
tion. The second time I met them I was coming from work,
•which I chiefly left at six. Both the other times were be-
tween six and seven as well as the first. There were no
people about. I am not certain ; I die! not see any. The
third time John Burroughs was there. I know Master

464 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

/ v»

Warren whom we have had here to day. I have been drink-
ing with him a little to day ; and I have been drinking with
John Burroughs, and with different people; and with Mr.
William Bowditch and Joseph Broom : nobody else. There
were several persons in company drinking. William Warren
the last witness was not there the last time. I have seen him
in a room drinking to day. He had been drinking pbrt of a
pot of beer with me. I suppose I had forgot to mention his
name when I told the other three names. I knew Miss Glenn
very well ; I had seen her at times when she was not walking
with James Bowditch, at her uncle's house. I had done bu-
siness at the garden beside the house. That is Miss Glenn.
JOHN BURROUGHS sworn; examined by MK.SELWYN.
I am a gardener living in North Town, in Taunton. I
know Miss Glenn. That is the lady. I have been acquaint-
ed with her person two years. I know James Bowditch. I
have known him three years. I have seen Miss Glenn and
James Bowditch together in North Town, and in other places
besides that, in September, 1817- I do not recollect whether
it was about the time the affair happened at Mr. Tuckett's.
I cannot say how long ago. I recollect the affair at Mr.
Tuckett's. It was before the affair happened. I cannot say
how long. It was in the beginning of September, between
six and seven o'clock in the evening. The first time I saw
James Bowditch coming towards Mr. Tuckett's house he
came as far as Mr. Tuckett's gate and spoke to the nurse
maid, who went into the house. I know the bouse maid at
Mr. Tuckett's. Then out came Miss Glenn; she had not a
bonnet nor a cap on : and then they went to meet one an-
other ; and went and shook hands. They then walked arm
in arm together ; she took hold of his arm. She took hold
of his right arm with her left arm. They went towards a
place called the French- Wear- Fields, down through North
Town. I kept them in sight for about seventy yards. Sh$
had no shawl, but had on a white gown. They went into
the little lane called French- Wear-Lane, and within five

ABDUCTION OP MISS GLENN. 465

minutes they came back that way again ; towards Mr. Tuck-
ett's house. They walked about arm in arm ; but they had
changed arms then. They then shook hands and parted.
They were arm in arm when they came out of the little lane*
I did not say it was the first titne ; I had seen them once be-
fore ; that was on the Thursday night before she went off on
the Monday morning. I have seen them two or three times-
walking arm in arm in North Town.

Cross examined by MR. SERJEANT PELL.
It was so light that I am quite sure it was Miss Glenn.
Any body might have seen that it was her. I was about
twenty yards from them. She had on a white gown. They
were walking arm in arm together, and went towards the
French-Wear-Fields. The day of the week 1 saw them was
on a Thursday.

Q. (By Mr. Justice Park.) On the night you speak of,
this Thursday night, when the parties interchanged first their
right and then their left arms, did you take particular notice
whether it was observed by any woman ; did any woman look
after her, or did any one else look after her. — There were a
great many people in North Town;

I know Mrs. Warren, she lives pretty nearly opposite Mr.
Tuckett's house. I did not see Mrs. Warren look after them.
There was a great number of people about, but I did not
see them take any notice. Yes, Samuel Poole, my partner,
was with me, and took notice of it to me. There were a
great many people walking about. That is the young woman,
(pointing to Mary Whitbt/) ; that is the nurse maid ; she was
with Mr. Bowditch when Miss Glenn came out. I saw Mr.
Bowditch speak to her.

MARY PRIEST sworn; examined by MR. JEREMY.
I am the wife of Aaron Priest. He is a relation to Mrs.
Mulraine. I live at Taunton. Mrs. Mulraine was staying
at my house in the course of last year ; in September ; she
staid there a month or five weeks. Miss Glenn called occa-
sionally to inquire for Mrs. Mulraine. She came once, and
VOL. VI. .H K

466 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

inquired if Mr. James Bowditch was there. They called
together once. At another time she called again, when he
was not there, and asked for him. She sent me to Mr. Wil-
liam Bow 'ditch's, to see if he was there, that is, James Bow-
ditch, and I found him. I came back with him about two or
three minutes after. They then walked away together ; Miss
Glenn and James Bowditch. I did not take particular notice,
but they seemed very fond of each other. I saw them walk-
ing across the Old Plott, arm in arm. It is near East Street,
J do not think I have ever seen them w alking any where else.
I recollect the christening of Mrs. Mulraine's child. James
Bowditch was the godfather, and Miss Glenn and Betsy Bow-
ditch were the godmothers. The christening was at St. Mary
Magdalen's. They all went to church. I took the child.
It was a female child. I dined with them at Mrs. Bowditch'*
at Holway Farm. I saw Miss Glenn at Holway. I did not
see any fun at all going forwards. Mrs. Bowditch's party,
and Miss Glenn dined with us in the kitchen, and Mrs. Bow-
ditch's family. There was Betsy Bowditch, Susanna Bow ditch,
Sarah Bowditch, and James Bowditch. As soon as I had
dined 1 returned home again ; and do not know any thing more.

Cross examined by MR. SERJEANT PELL.
Now, Mrs. Priest, I give you warning before I begin your
cross examination, that what you say will be taken down with
great accuracy. Now, I ask you, Madam, at what church ;
give me the name of the church where this christening took
place. — St. Mary Magdalen. Miss Glenn was there. Miss
Glenn stood godmother to the child upon that occasion.
For Mrs. Mulraine's child. It was the first time 1 ever saw
Miss Glenn. I am certain it was that young lady, who now
sits at my right hand. I am quite sure it was on a Wednes-
day, the 2?th of August. Mrs. Mulraine is a first cousin to
my husband. I do not recollect the clerk's name at St. Mary
Magdalen's church. — Being asked if it was Long, she an-
swered, yes. — Mr. Serjeant Pell. I give you notice, Mrs.
Priest, that the clerk is here, who was present at the christen-

3

ABDUCTION OF MISS fil.ENN. 467

ing. — Long is the clerk's name. I will swear that Miss
Glenn was present at the christening. I never saw any body
but the two girls of Mr. Tuckctt's at the dinner. I did not
see Mary \Vhitby there ; only Mr. Tuckett's two daughters;
the two little girls. I was not often at HoKvay Farm. I
never was there but during the christening ; and never saw
Mary Whitby there. The five weeks Mrs. Mulraine was
staying at my house was part of September, and part of Au-
gust ; not in continuation ; she would stay a week or two,
and go to Mrs. Bowditch's.
JAMES SCARLETT sworn ; examined by MR. CASBEHD.

I recollect being at Mrs. Bowditch's house, in the course of
last year, when Miss Glenn was there, two or three times a
week, and recollect seeing James Bo s\ ditch there. I saw
James Bowditch and Miss Glenn together, walking in the
garden on a Sunday morning. I am uncertain whether one
of Mr. Tuckett's children was not with them, but there was
no other grown person with them. I have seen them in the
kitchen together many times, and remember their going to a
place called Gotten together ; it is about three miles from
Mrs. Bowditch's ; and they appeared familiar with each other.
Cross examined by MR. GAS ELBE.

I have married Mary, one of the daughters of Mrs. Bow-
ditch. I went to Gotton about a fortnight after Miss Glenn
came to lodge there ; it is near the seat of a gentleman at Hester-
combe ; t1;e party were, myself, Mrs. Bowditcb, my wife, James
Bowditch, Sarah Bowditch, and Miss Glenn. We walked;
the distance is near three miles. I am a printer, and live at
Gotton, when I am at home ; but I work at Taunton.

JOSEPH BROOM sworn ; examined by MR. SELWYN.

I am a labourer ; I remember being at Mrs. Bowditch's,
at Holway Farm, last year. I was employed to cut the
wheat some time in August. I remember the christening of
Mrs. Mulraine's child ; I knew when the christening was
going on. That is Miss Glenn, I will swear to her. [Look-
ing at her.~\ I remember seeing her at that time, at Holway,

H H 3

468 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

when I went in after the liquor, into the pump-house, at the
backside of the house. I saw Miss Glenn that day, in the
morning when 1 went in after the liquor, in the passage with
Mr. Bowditch, and one of his sisters. 1 was in the pump-
house ; she came over the step out of the passage ; she was
at the outside, and stood over the step in the passage. She
said she was going to be marrird to Mr. James Bowditch ;
he was in the passage, and she went back to him ; she came
back again towards me, and held out a ung which she said
she was going to be married with ; at the time she shewed
me the ring, she did not say any thing more then. I remem-
ber seeing her in Mr. Puddey's orchard ; she went out
through the front of the house, and through Mr. Puddey's
orchard ; she went with James Bowditch and his sister
Betsey, they went out right through the orchard. They
went to St. Mary Magdalen's, and they returned about twelve
o'clock ; they went out somewhere about ten. They came
back through the reaping fields where we were. I said,
" Miss, is the knot tied?" " Aye, and so tied," she said,
<c that thank God it cannot be untied." I afterwards wished
her much joy, for I did not know whether she had not been
married. (By MR. JUSTICE PARK.) This was in August? —
Somewhere in August, but I do not know the day. I saw Miss
Glenn and James Bowditch in the wheat-field together. She
came out about twelve o'clock after him, and I saw her there
in the afternoon. Four or five times she came out after him
and called him, and wanted to have him in the house. 1 saw
them sitting together when I was reaping, upon some sheaves
of wheat taken off the stitch, between eight and nine o'clock at
night, there were three of them together ; the sister, James,
and Miss Glenn. She came out about six o'clock, and insisted
upon taking hold of him with her right arm round his neck.
This was after they hid been to St. Mary Magdalen's. I
had seen this behaviour only that once.
THE REV. GEO. TEMPLER examined by MR. JEREMY.
I sun a clergyman and a magistrate ; I had occasion to be

ABDUCTION OF MI8S GLENN. 469

at Thornford in the course of the last year ; in September
twice; I was there on the first of September, and I was
there about the 20ih. I apprehend it might be the 22d, but
I am not confident whether it was the 23d or not. 1 dined
at the house of Mr. Paul, and recollect the parties present :
Mr. Paul, and a person whom 1 had never seen, but who was
represented to me as Mr. James Bowditch, and two ladies
whom I did not know, having never seen either before.
(Pointing to Miss Glenn.) That lady was there.

Q. As you were at dinner, was any thing remarkable,
either of gaiety or sadness in her conduct ? — Was there any
thing remarkable either M-ay? — Certainly, with respect to
sadness, there was not the least ; but with respect to the
other word, I beg to say something. With respect to the
word gaiety, there was an observation made by me jocosely
with respect to the cheese; it was said by me to Mr. Paul,
and said jocosely to him, " I believe your ribbons have been
taken out of this cheese." There was a jocose answer re-
turned to me, and the lady certainly did smile upon that
occasion. When that observation with respect to the cheese
had been made, and Mr. Paul had made a reply to it, this
lady and the other certainly withdrew from the table:
Miss Glenn ate her dinner like any other person. I beg to
be particular here, because [ have heard a great deal upon
the subject; the dinner was roast beef, and I helped the
lady myself; she ate what was put upon her plate, except,
I believe, the skin and fat which attaches to roast beef.
She certainly ate th« other part. This will be corroborated
by the servant who was in the room. I did not help her to
more than she ate ; there was vegetables, a boiled apple-pud-
ding, and I believe the dinner ended with cheese. I will repeat
as nearly as I can recollect what she ate: she ate ot the roast
beef and some of the apple pudding. I saw her in the
evening; I believe between seven and eight o'clock. She
crossed the room where I was sitting reading, and went into
another room with the other lady ; they put on their bon-

470 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

nets, and fold me they were going out walking, and they
went out of the room.

Cross examined by MR. SERJEANT PELL.

It is impressed upon my mind that this young lady did
eat her dinner in an ordinary way. Mr. Paul said, that he
had been taking some luncheon, as he made a bad dinner ;
but I do not remember his using the word " damper." I
do not believe that I said, " This young lady has done so
too." I turned to the young lady, and 1 believe I said,
" Ladies*, you have taken a luncheon too." 1 cannot say I did
not say to Mr. Tuckett, in the presence of Dr. Thomson,
that I could not tell whether she ate her dinner or not;
but I do not believe I did. Mr. Paul is my uncle, and Mrs.
Juliana Paul was formerly one of the Misses Bowditch ;
but I never knew any of her connexions. She is the sister
of James Bowditch, who is the person so particularly con-
cerned in this matter.

EDWARD JONES sworn; examined by MR. CASBERD.

1 am a servant to Mr. Tempter, and recollect in the month
of September, in the course of the last year, being with my
master at Thornford ; we got there about two o'clock ; Miss
Glenn and James Bowditch were there at that time. Mr.
and Mrs. Paul were at home, and I recollect seeing Miss
Glenn and James Bowditch in the kitchen. Miss Glenn
stood up against James Bowditch by the tire ; I do not
think William Bowditch was there. He was not there
\\hen I first went in; afterwards I recollect having seen
James Bowditch in the kitchen. Miss Glenn was there
then ; they were standing and walking about ; I did not
hear their conversation. While they were there, I did not
observe her conduct towards James Bowditch, but I did in
the morning; there was nothing remarkable in the kitchen
before dinner ; I waited upon them all the time of the din-
ner, and I was near enough to observe what sort of a dinner
Miss Glenn made. My master helped her to some roast
beef, and she ate it all, except a little of (he skin of the

ABDUCTION OP MISS (GI.ENX. 4? 1

nwat, which was left. Master also helped her to soine
apple pudding, and she ate that. She seemed to be in very
good spirits; when she left dinner she went into the kit-
chen, she and Miss Bowditch. I saw her in the kitchen
with James Bowditch ; she was sitting on his knee playing
at dominos, with her arm round his neck ; I recollect on the
following morning seeing these persons at breakfast together
in the kitchen ; that young lady breakfasted in the kitchen
before master got up. The others that breakfasted there
were Mr. and Mrs. Paul, Miss Bowditch, and Mr. Bowditch
and his brother. There might have been conversation, but
I did not understand it ; I did not listen to any conversation.
Mr. Bowditch did not say a word; I heard Miss Glenn say
something about that she had learned to make butter, and
should learn to make cheese, as she had an idea about it.
Miss Glenn walked out in the evening; I think it was near
eight o'clock, when 1 saw her in the evening. She ap-
peared to be in good spirits.

Cross-examined by MR. GASELEE.

During the dinner, I was to and fro from the dining-room
to the kitchen. Soon after this, Mr. Tuckett came and in-
quired of me in the presence of my master, what had passed.
I did not say upon that occasion that 1 had merely seen
them at dinner, but that I took little notice, and could say
very little about it. I know'd nothing about the matter ;
I told master I know'd nothing of the affair of the lady
being taken away. I did not say to Mr. Tuckett that there
was a young lady at dinner, but that I knew very little more
about the matter, and was told that she was Mr. Bowditch's
sister. I went over to Mr. Tuckett's the next day ; I did
not give a different account of the matter : it was the same
account, only that Mr. Guppey came to Mr. Paul's, and I
forgot to say so at master's house, but I recollected it after
he was gone. I did not recollect any body; Mr. Guppey
the horse-dealer, (I forgot Mr. Guppey), and another per-
son, the other's name I do not know.

472 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

JOHN WEAVER sworn; examined by MR. SELWYI*.

I have not been in court during the time the trial has been
going on ; I have just been on the stairs about a minute; I
have not been in court above two minutes.

To a Question of MR. SERJEANT PELL. Did you not
hear the order given for the witnesses to withdraw ? — 1 did
not expect to be called upon at this trial.

Mr. SERJ. PELL. My Lord, I object to his being called.

MR. Jus. PARK. Let him repeat what he has said before.

I have not heard any of the evidence given in the cause ;
J was here when a witness was examined, but I could not
hear so clearly as to know what was said. I heard a very
few words. I have been in Court not above two minutes.

By MR. JUSTICE PARK. How long have you been
here while Jones has been under examination?—! thought
he had been in the box now. I saw the last witness
Jones here; I heard a few words. I am a miller, and
live at Staple Grove. I remember in September last
going to Taunton, on a Saturday, the 20th of Septem-
ber. J had got a power of attorney of a man whose goods
had been seized for rent and taxes, and I came with the in-
tention of getting a bill of sale ; I went to him and came
back to Taunton to Mr. Oxeuham, somewhere about nine ;
a little after nine; it may have been half past nine when I
came to Taunton. I found Mr. Oxenham at home, at Mr.
Kinglake's office, in Mary-street ; the corner of Mary-street
and Brick-street. I remained with Mr. Oxenham in Mr.
Kiuglake's office two hours or more. He was with me
making out a copy of a bill of sale : he was not with me
the whole of the time. I went to Messrs. Badcock's bank
for some money, and left Mr. Oxenham at the office. I
was absent not half an hour. I had been with him before I
went for the money, not above half an hour. When I re-
turned, 1 found Mr. Oxenham at the office, and my friends
remained there during the time I was out ; they were Mr.
SJade and Mr. Uttermere, Mr, Slade is the person who

AHDUCTION OF MISS GLENN. 473

was going to give the bill of sale. The time I finally left
the office that day was nearly twelve o 'clock.
SARAH BOWIMTCII sworn; examinedby MR. JEREMY.

I am acquainted with Miss Glenn, and I am acquainted
xvith her hand-writing ; I have seen her write.

[The letter to James Bowditch, dated 14th of September,
1817, was shown to the witness.]

I believe that to be her hand-writing.

[Another letter was then shown to the witness, addressed
to Mrs. Snow, Sadler, St. Thomas's Street, Exeter ; signed
Maria Glenn, and dated July the 24tb,,1817.]

I believe that to be her hand-writing.

[The letter was then put in as evidence, and read by the
Associate.]

I lived during the last year at Hoi way with my mother,
at the time when Miss Glenn and the Miss Tucketts came
to my mother's, the whole of the time. The occupation of
Miss Glenn, generally, during the time she was there, was
mostly with the children ; she amused herself in the evening
with us in the kitchen. I mean myself, and my brother
James, and sister; it was about a week or ten days after she
came to reside there she did do this; she went out occasion-
ally in the evening ; she often rode out, and walked ; she
rode on my brother's pony, who used to accompany her in
these rides ; she was sometimes alone ; my brother always
went, and sometimes my sister would go. When she came
home from these rides, she employed her evenings in the
kitchen, with us. I have often seen them playing together at
blindman's-buff, and other things, and at cards. I observed
a great deal of impropriety in Miss Glenn's behaviour with
regard to my brother, such as treading upon his toes, and
throwing her handkerchief at him. I have seen her on his
knee. I observed it about a fortnight, or it may be a little
more, after she came to reside at my mother's, and continued
jtill she left us.

474 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

Cress-examined by MR. SERJEANT PELL.
I never talked in the family about my brother marrying
her. I was much surprised to hear that my brother had taken
her off from her uncle's house on the Sunday night. I
heard of it the same night, or rather on the following morn-
ing. I was at Holway when she came there. I never knew
of her coming till she actually came. She came there be-
tween one and half past one in the morning. I did not see
Mrs. Mulraine till after Miss Glenn came. We went to
bed about half past ten. Mrs. Mulraine was not in the
house at the time. My brother, James Bowditch, was not
at home. My brother William did not live with us. The
house was shut up when we went to bed. My mother went
to bed at the same time with us. I did not directly get up
when Miss Glenn came to the house, at such an extraordinary
hour of the night. I heard her voice. I did not dress myself,
but I got out of my bed. I was very much surprised. Miss
Glenn was not in a great deal of distress. She was very
lively and in very good spirits. She did amuse herself
the time she was there with playing upon the harp and
singing ; she did not play upon the harp at the time she came
to the house so late at night. I have not seen her since till
to-day. I was surprised when I saw her impropriety at
Holway, in treading on my brother's toes, throwing handker-
chiefs at him, and sitting upon his knee. I did not mention
it to my mother, but I mentioned it to Miss Glenn. I did
not know of any probability of my brother being about to
be married to her, any farther than she said she would have
him, and I was not sorry for it when I found the marriage was
prevented, and that she had returned to Mr. Tuckett's : the
impression upon my mind was, that Miss Glenn was a young
lady of very loose behaviour. 1 did not complain to my
mother of her being a young lady who conducted herself
with great impropriety ; my mother did not know it. She
was away most days. I did not say any thing to my mother

ABDUCTION OF MISS GLENN. 475

about such improper behaviour. I am twenty-two years
of age. Miss Glenn is a young woman to me. The
lodgings were taken for her, but she was not under my
mother's care in any particular manner. My mother is a
widow with a largo family of 'Children, and I did think as
far as I was capable of thinking, that there was a great and
striking difference between a labouring man and Miss Glenn;
the reason why I did not go and tell her guardian of it was,
I thought Miss Glenn would not be long in the bouse. I
was not afraid that my morals would be hurt in the mean
time ; Miss Gknn was not a person to hurt my morals. I
thought if I had seen Mr. Tuckett f would have told him.
JOSEPH BROOM again called and examined.

[Looking at the last witness said~\. This is not tl,e young
woman I spoke of as being in the passage ; it was Betsy.

WILLIAM SNOW sworn; examined by MR. CASBERD.

I live at Exeter; I have had a letter shown to me, which
Mr. Serjeant Pell admitted to J>e in the hand-writing of Miss
Glenn.

MARY OWEN sworn; examined by MR. SELWYN.

I have seen Miss Glenn. That is her. I remember being
at Mrs. Bowditch's house on the night of the 21st Sept. last.
Miss Glenn came there between 1 and 2 o'clock in the morning.
I was in bed with Mrs. Bowditch. 1 heard Mrs. Bowditch speak
to Miss Glenn; I believe she asked her how she came to take
so imprudent a step. I believe those were the words to the
best of my recollection ; she did not say any thing more ; not
directly. I did not rise out of bed myself. I suppose it
was about 4O minutes after she came, she said this to Miss
Glenn. I did not get up. Miss Glenn did not come into
our bed- room. I cannot possibly be certain what answer
Miss Glenn made to Mrs. Bowditch's question how she came
to take so imprudent a step. She seemed very cheerful and
lively. I could not see her manner, because I did not see
her all the time. After that she left the room, and came
back in about ten minutes. She did not come to me, for

476 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

she did not know I was there, she came to speak to Mrs.
Mulraine. Mrs. Mulraine had put off her clothes and got
into bed by the side of me instead of Mrs. Bowditch. Mrs.
Bovvditch had got up ; I recollect that Miss Glenn asked
Mrs. Mulraine if she would not go with her. Mrs. Mul-
raine said she would not, as she had to go to her husband the
next day. After that Miss Glenn, I believe, said some such
words as this " If you will not go with me, I will go by my-
self." Mrs. Mulraine either said that she could not go, or
that she would not go. I recollect Miss Glenn called out to
know if the gig was ready. She had just moved from the bed-
side ; she had been sitting down Vipon the bed. She got uj»
at that time and went out of the room. She was just at the
door, or going out. I desired her to take Mrs. Bowditch's
advice ; those were the very words I spoke to Miss Glenn,
to the best of my recollection. I do not recollect that Miss
Glenn spoke at all. She went out of the room into the next
room, where Sarah Bowditch lay. I was not near enough to
hear her conversing with Sarah Bowditch, after she went out
of the room, I heard some words, but I am not positive what
they were. I do not recollect any thing more that I can
positively speak to.

Cross examined by MR. GAS ELBE.

I had been at Holway before that night; I suppose about
a day before the affair happened. I am a relation to Mrs.
Bowditch, by marriage. Mrs. Bowditch is my aunt by
marriage ; she is my husband's aunt. I had gone to bed that
night with Mrs. Bowditch. It was drawing 1 suppose to-
wards the middle of the night; it was drawing towards
twelve. I do not know, but it may have been later. I am
not positive as to the time. We all got to bed about the same
time. Mrs. Bowditch, Sarah Bowditch, and me. All the
people were in the house, except the servant girl. It was near
12 o'clock, but 1 am not positive to the hour. Mrs. Mulraine
had not been in the house all the day ; but she had a part of
the day. She slept the night before, I believe, in the town.

ABDUCTION OP MISS GLENN. 477

* •

1 believe I had slept there the night before. Mrs. Mulraine
was perhaps every day in or out ; but I am not certain ; I
cannot bring it to my mind ; she had been there that day ; I
cannot say what brought her there that night. 1 cannot say,
to be certain, whether she slept there ; I believe she had not
dined there. I do not wish to say what I do not know ; she
was there to tea. I do not know exactly what time she did go
away ; we usually drank tea sometimes at five, and sometimes
at six o'clock ; that night, perhaps, it might have been seven
when she left. I had not been at Holway, at the time Miss
Glenn was living there. It was after that I came to Mrs.
Bowditch's. I was in lodgings first. I know her person,
but never before Miss Glenn came into the house. I staid
there at first, I think, three days. Miss Glenn did not know
I was there when she was sitting on the side of the bed.
She talked to Mrs. Mulraine.

FRANCIS SMITH sworn; examined by MR. JEREMY.

I was at Mrs- Bowditch's on the night of the 2 1st of
September. Mr. James Bowditch came after me. It was
about nine o'clock when he fetched me. It was ten when
1 came there. I went to town after a gig. I drove the
horse and gig over to Holway, and left it standing under a
hay rick. I staid there. I got up in the gig and dropped
asleep. James Bowditch came and waked me, and told me
I should not go to sleep ; I then went into the house, when a
young lady came out of Mrs. Bowditch's house. James and
William Bowditch came out with her. The young lady went
up into the gig, and Mr. James Bowditch went up into the
gig. The young lady said to Mr. William Bowditch,
" Come up, there is plenty of room." He said, " No, I
shall come on upon the pony." They had got two bundles,
with them. I reached them up to the young lady in the gig.
Mr. Bowditch went on, and as they went away, the young
lady said, " Let we drive along." He told me to light out a
candle upon the common. They told me to open the gates.
I went into the house and took -out the pony for Mr. William
Bowditch.

478 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

Cross examined by MR. MOORE.

I was not in Mrs. Bowditch's employ in October last.
I came to be employed upon this occasion, by having
worked there about a fortnight before that. In September I
was in their employ. I know Mr. Tuckett and Mr. Leigh.
I remember their speaking to me upon the sul/ject not long
after this happened. I did tell them that James Bowditch
had spoken to me a few days before, and that lie was talking
to me in the fields. I did not tell Mr. Leigh and Mr.
Tuckett, that James Bowditch had told me in the fields a
few days before to tell Mr. Tuckett, if he should ask me,
that Miss Glenn got up into the gig first, nor that she helped
up James Bowditch. I did not say to these gentlemea that
James Bowditch told me'to say that Miss Glenn got into the
gig first. He did not tell me so ; he told me to speak the
truth, and I did speak the truth.

Re-examined by MR. JEREMY.

Q. Did she, or did she not, get into the gig first ?

A. She did get up into the gig first.

MR. JUSTICE PARK. — Then you told these gentlemen
what you have sworn is not true ; however the jury will
judge of it.

SARAH BOWDITCH again called; and examined by MR.
JUSTICE PARK.

I have been out of court ; my mother keeps a maid-ser-
vant ; she was in bed before us ; she went to bed, I suppose
about half past nine, and we went to bed about half-past ten.
The doors are always locked before we go to bed ; they were
locked that night; I saw them locked. Mrs. Owen slept
with my mother. My mother got up and let all these people
in, between twelve and one o'clock, and I saw her go to bed.
Mrs. Owen slept in the same room. I heard them knock
and come, in ; they did not wait long ; it might have been
a minute or two : there was a candle burning, for we ex-
pected my brother home, and, upon my oath, I did not ex-
pect that party, and I am certain I went to bed at half past
ten. If any body has sworn that it was near twelve o'clock,

ABDUCTION OF MISS GLENN. 479

that is not true. We all went to bed at the time Mrs. Owen
went to bed. If she has said that it was near twelve, that
is not true. We did go to bed at half past ten.
WILLIAM CRIDL \xDsworn; examined by MR. CASBERD.
I recollect being near the church- yard at Bradford, on the
morning of the 2£d of September last. The public road
passes by the church-yard ; it was between six and seven
o'clock in the morning. Upon looking along the turnpike
road towards Yeovil, I remember seeing the same lady pass-
ed by Bradford in a chaise and four ; a post chaise with four
horses. They were coming towards Yeovil. It was the
day after I had seen her in a gig at Bradford. On the 22d
of September I saw her in the chaise ; on the 23d a gentle-
man and lady were in it, and a man on horseback. I was in
the church-yard. I went to the church-yard gate to give
them the meeting. The man on horseback asked me if they
could put up the horses at the public house; I told them I
believed they could, but they had better ask the landlady.
The gentleman and lady got out of the gig ; the gentleman
got out first. There was taken out of the gig a bundle,
which the gentleman handed to me, and I took a small trunk
from where the seat is, and I handed it to the gentleman.
She then got out of the gig. They went through the church-
yard towards Thornford, and asked me to let them know the
road. The lady hitched hold of the gentleman's left arm.
They continued to walk that way as far as I could see them
go. She had something like a veil over her bonnet ; but it
was so that I could see her face. The following day I saw
her upon Yeovil bridge, in a chaise and four, between two
gentlemen.

Cross examined by MR. G ASF. LEE.
I am a mason by trade. I saw die gentleman and lady
walking arm in arm, between six and seven in the morning.
She bad a bonnet on, and something green tied round it ; on
the top part of it there was something like a veil. She had a
pelisse ; a kind of greenish pelisse. I am sure it was the

480 KIRB\*S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

same lady that I saw the next day upon Yeovil bridge be-
tween the two gentlemen in the chaise. The chaise was
going pretty fast. I had never seen the lady before the 2Sd,
to the best of my knowledge. ^v-i

MR. SERJEANT PELL called evidence to credit.
Miss GLENN again called; examinedby MR. SERJEANT
PELL. — I have seen a person called Charles Puddcy. I
never did ask him to assist me in getting upon the wheat
mow by means of a ladder. I never did tell him that I stood
godmother to Mrs. Mulraine's child, and that James Bow-

O '

ditch at the same time stood godfather. I never did stand
godmother to any of Mrs. Mulraine's children. I recollect
having seen such a person as Mrs. Warren. It is not true
that I came out of my uncle's house and walked with James
Bowditch in the French- Wear-Fields. I have heard of such
a person as Poole ; he is a gardener. J never in ray life
waited at my uncle's gate until James Bowditch came up,
and then go out walking with him. 1 was never in the parish
church of St. Mary Magdalen, at the christening of Mrs.
Mulraine's child. It is quite false that I stood as godmother.
I do not know John Burroughs. It is quite false, that after
my return from Holvvay Farm, and before I was taken away,
as they have described, that I came out of my uncle's house
without either bonnet or cap, and with a white gown ; and
that I met James Bowditch and walked with him into the
French- Wear- Fields. I do not remember a person of the
name of Joseph Broom ; at that time I never said such a
thing to Broom, in the wheat field, when they were reaping,
that I was going to be married to Mr. James Bowditch; nor
in the passage to the pump-house, I did never say to him,
" Thank God the knot was tied." I do not remember say-
ing to any body in Mrs. Bowditch's house about my being to
be married, or going to be married to James Bowditch, in,
the passage. I did never say to any person in Mrs. Bow-
ditch's house that, that was the ring, showing it to them, and
telling them I was to be married with it. It is false, that

ABDUCTION OF M18S GLEN If. 481

Joseph Broom, after I had been absent two hours, asked me
whether the knot was tied, and that 1 said, " Yes, and thank
God it cannot be untied." I recollect the time I v\as at
Thoruford at dinner, on the Monday, Mr. Templer helped
me to a plate of roast meat ; hut I could not eat. I saw no
apple-pudding. It is quite false, that Jones saw me at Mr.
Paul's house sitting on James Bowditch's knee, with my arm
round his neck, and playing at dominos with him. 1 know
Miss Sarah Bowditch, and have seen her here. Did nevef
in my life play at blindmau's-bufT with James Bowditch.
Did never tread upon his toes, or throw handkerchiefs at him.
It is quite false, when it is said I came to Holway Farm in
the middle of the night, that I found Mrs. Owen there. It
is false, that I said, if Mrs. Muhaine would not go with me
I would go by myself. It is quite false, I never got up into
the gig first, and never helped up James Bowditch ; and neve?
asked William Bowditch to get up.

JAMES LONG sworn ; examined by MR. GASELEE.
I am parish clerk at St. Mary Magdalen's, at Taunton ;
and I do remember when Mrs. Mulraine's child was christ-
ened perfectly well. I do know Mrs. Mulraiue. The god-
mothers upon that occasion, I believe, were the Bowditch
family. I have seen Miss Glenn. I saw her at Mrs. Bow-
ditch's after the child was christened ; the day after. I did
not dine there the day the child was christened. I can give
a reason in a moment, on the occasion of my going to Mrs.
Bowditch's ; there was no sexton, and the sextoness was a
widow woman : the entry I thought was not made right, and
I went to ascertain the Christian and Surname. I went, in
short, to see if the register did not want alteration. I do not
know that that lady (looking at Miss Glenn) was the person
that stood godmother. I cannot recollect that I ever saw
her before the christening. I do not recollect whether I have

O

either seen her or not the day before that; she was not the
person who stood godmother.

YOL, VI. I I

482 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

Cross examined by MR. CASBERD.

It was a person of the name of Bowditch who stood god-
mother. I am not so positive as to swear. To my know-
ledge Miss Glenn was not at the christening. She was not
the person who stood ; and 1 will venture to say positively,
that she was not there. I never saw her till I saw her at
Holway Farm ; that was some time in August last ; there
might have been three or four persons there, without the par-
son and clerk ; in gossiping it is not required there should be
more. That lady was not there.

MARY WHITBY again called.

On the Tuesday after Miss Glenn was gone back to Mr.
Tuckett's, and before Miss Glenn had gone away, James
Bowditch said to me, that I was to say, Miss Glenn had been
at the christening of Mrs. Mulraine's child ; and that Miss
Glenn stood to the child.

MR. TUCKETT again called.

I have carefully examined both the letters supposed to have
been written by Miss Glenn. The paper marked A is verj
nearly like her writing, but I believe it is not. The other
piece of paper, marked B, I positively pronounce not to
be her's. I recollect having a conversation with Mr. Templer
about Miss Glenn's eating a good dinner. He said first of
all, when I asked him whether he meant it jocosely or not, I
cannot say ; but he said, " She did pretty well." I said,
Mr. Templer, you know that Mr. Paul said to you, " You
cannot expect me to eat, because I have had a damper of beef-
steaks ;" and you then said, addressing yourself to the young
lady, that she had dined too. Mr. Templer admitted the first
part, but was not sure as to the other part. Mr. Templer
also said, that he helped the young lady to some beef, but
could not say whether she might not have eaten it, not taking
much observation of her. Jones did say to me, that he had
only seen Miss Glenn at dinner, and had taken very little
notice of her. 1 believe he said, that he was told she was

ABDUCTION OF MISS GLENN. 483

Mr. Bowditch's sister. The next morning the man was ex-
tremely positive, over and over again, that not any man had
come to the house ; but he said, he had forgot to relate a cir-
cumstance, which was, the circumstance of the young lady
sitting upon James Bowditch's knee.

SARAH NORTHAM sworn.

I live nearly opposite Mr. Tuckett's house. I remember
being with Mrs. Warren when 1 saw Mr. Bowditch and Miss
Glenn together. I did go out with her. She called me out,
and said, " Come out now, here is Mr. Bowditch and Miss
Glenn." I went out in consequence, and I saw a young lady
run down the garden path and shake hands with the nurse-
maid with great eagerness ; she seemed to look downward.
Mrs. Warren had described her, and said that was her. The
nurse-maid was in Mr. Tuckett's garden. After shaking
hands with the nurse- maid she ran towards Mr. Bowditch
and took hold of Mr. Bowditch's arm, and went over to the
French- Wear- Fields : — 1 said, if I saw any thing more of the
kind, I would acquaint Mr. Tuckett with it. She was dress-
ed in a white bonnet and light gown. I had not an oppor-
tunity of seeing her face. My daughter was there; she went
after some water ; she went to the Rhine to see whether it
was Miss Glenn or not: she had heard from Mrs. Warreu
that it was, and disputed it: it was not Miss Glenn. She
said this in the presence of Mrs. Warren. I could not see
her face.

Cross examined by MR. SELW Y N.

I did not see her come out : when I first saw her it was
upon the causeway shaking hands with the nurse-maid, under
Mr. Tuckett's garden.

SARAH NORTHAM, the younger, sworn.

I am the daughter of the witness who has been just exa-
mined. 1 am acquainted with Miss Glenn's person. I re-
collect iny mother and Mrs. Warren talking about Miss
Glenn and Mr. Bowditch walking past the house. I heard

I i 2

4S4 KIRBY S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

my mother say that if she saw any thing more she would tell
Mr. Tuckett. I went out after with a pitcher, and coining up
saw Mr. Bo wd itch and a young lady ; I was fully determined
to see who it was ; I put down the pitcher, and looked earn-
estly, and saw it was not Miss Glenn. It was the same lady
that was with Mr. Bowditch, when my mother and Mrs. War-
ren were together. I have seen her walking with her uncle
before. I know Mrs. Warren : she has a family of six chil-
dren : the eldest is nine or ten.

Mr. Serjeant Pell. — I propose now, my Lord, to call some
persons who have had the superintendance of Miss Glenn,
who will speak to the great propriety of her conduct, and to
her moral behaviour.

Mr. Justice Park. — I cannot receive it; it is not evidence.

Mr. Serjeant Pell. — Then it is for my learned friend, Mr.
Casberd, to reply to the witnesses I have last called.

Mr. SeKvyn. — Mr. Casberd waves the right of reply.

Mr. Justice Park. — I hear something about Mr. Casberd
waving the privilege of reply ; if so, brother Pell, you had
better proceed.

Mr. Serjeant Pell then rose to address the Court and Jury,
in reply, to the following effect :
May it please your Lordship ;
Gentlemen of the Jury,

I have now to address you, in reply, upon this most extra-
ordinary and infamous case ; a case in which the degree of
infamy committed-

Henry Bankes, esq., who acted as Foreman to the Jury,
desired leave for them to consult for a minute or two — he
then turned round and addressed the Court as follows :
My Lord,

The Jury have come to a determination upon the subject,
and I rather think we can save your Lordship the trouble of
summing up, unless you have any particular wish to do so.
Our attention has been closely directed to the proceedings ;

9

ABDUCTION OF MI8S GLENN. 485

ami we have no doubt that there has been a conspiracy, and
that ihe persons, named as defendants, have been concerned
with it, or had some knowledge of its existence ; — but that
there has been a conspiracy, we think, there cannot be a
doubt.

MR. JUSTICE PARK. Gentlemen of the Jury; the case
before you is a question of fact depending upon a mass of
conflicting testimony, to which I am confident you have
paid infinite attention. I have, myself, taken full notes of
every thing arising in the course of the trial, to lay before
the Judges of the Court of King's Bench, when they give
their judgment: being under an obligation to report every
thing that has passed. If you, Gentlemen, are satisfied that
a conspiracy has existed, there can be no necessity for my
taking up your time ; but I cannot help observing upon the
demeanour and manner of the young lady. You have heard
her evidence ; you have seen the manner in which she has
given her testimony upon this trial ; and I agree with what
has been stated by the learned counsel for the prosecution,
as to the nature of the case; it appears, as far as my judg-
ment goes, to be fully confirmed and proved by the evidence.
The young lady has stood a very severe ordeal ; she has
heard a great deal of testimony addressed to her conduct
and character, and I am bound to say (for the advantage I
have at present may not again occur), that 1 never saw,
since 1 have had the honour of sitting in a court of justice,
which now, as man and boy, has been about nine-and-thirty
years; — I never did see a young woman apparently (for
God only can read people's hearts), sit more patiently and
listen to all the obloquy which has been attempted to be
heaped upon her.

With respect to the material parts of Mr. Templer's evi-
dence, which does not seem to be mainly relied upon, that
her mind did not seem to be at all distressed : — upon that
subject it would appear, that till some one happened to men-
tion h«r uncle's name, she was unmoved; but when her

486 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

uncle's name was mentioned, it appears she felt herself af-
fected. All the persons, at least most of them, at the table
were strangers to her ; she was oppressed, and, she says, she
left the room. In this part of her story she is clearly cor-
rect, for Mr. Templer states that she did actually leave the
room.

Except in the first part of what I have mentioned, her
account of the transaction itself, and an amazing transaction
it is, is uncontradicted. There is no contradiction on the
other side ; the only thing which raised a doubt in my mind
was as to the fact itself, and there was much singularity in
it. It does appear a little extraordinary, that this young
lady should have been pulled out of bed, and that she should
have been pulled down stairs without waking her uncle or
aunt. But we all know that the deepest sleep we have is
sometimes, if not generally, in the early part of the evening ;
and that the first sleep is always the soundest. It is highly
probable, therefore, that neither this gentleman nor his wife
heard any thing of what was going forward.

Under these circumstances, and not doubting your judg-
ment, because if you had been determined the other way,
against the present impression upon my mind, I should have
thought it my duty to have summed up the case, and stated
the different points for your consideration ; — I certainly can-
not say that 1 am disposed to trespass upon your attention, or
of calling upon you to hear my brother Pell, who, I see, was
prepared to address you in reply.

Mr. Bankes. My Lord, I think I ought to state, that the
Jury conceive, that the evidence against Elizabeth Snell is
not so strong as against the others ; she appears to have been
much less implicated.

Mr. Justice Park. I ought to have remarked upon that :
I have anxiously looked, and, I think, the evidence against her
is too slight to warrant a conviction — perhaps my brother Pell
will consent to her acquittal.

Mr. Serjeant Pell. I would not press her conviction,

ABDUCTION OF MISS GLENN. 487

whatever might be my private feelings upon the subject : the
purposes of justice are now answered.

The Jury then returned a verdict of Guilty, generally,
against all the Defendants, with the exception of Elizabeth
Snell.

Mr. Justice Park, as soon as the verdict was returned,
said : — As this case now seems to be disposed of, I cannot
but remark, that all the evidence given on the part of the
Defendants is only a continuation of the conspiracy. Now
the verdict is given, I feel at liberty to state this as my opi-
nion, but I would not say so till after the verdict had been
returned.

The trial lasted from about half past ten in the morning
till past eleven at night.

Counsel for the prosecution ; — Mr. Serjeant Pell, Mr.
Gaselee, Mr. A. Moore, and Mr. C. F. Williams. For the
defendants ; — Mr. Casberd, Mr. Selwyn, and Mr. Jeremy.

In Hilary term following Mr. Scarlett obtained a rule to
show cause why a new trial should not be granted; after
hearing arguments at great length on both sides, which
lasted near two days, the Court declared they were perfectly
of opinion, " that there was no pretence for a new trial."
The rule was accordingly discharged. Mr. Justice Bailey
then in a most solemn and impressive manner delivered the
sentence of the Court. He dwelt on the enormity of the
offence, of which the defendants had been convicted, and
told them, that if they had succeeded in their object, they
would have been guilty of a capital crime. The evidence
against Susanna Bowditch was but slight ; and as the coun-
sel tor the prosecution had consented to enter a nolle pro-
sequi as to her and Mr. and Mrs. Paul, no punishment
would be inflicted on them. It could not be denied, how-
ever, that the conduct of Mr. and Mrs. Paul was very
blameable. The sentence of the Court was, that Joan Bow-
ditch, and William Bowditch, should be imprisoned in the
gaol of Dorchester for twenty-one months; that Susanna
Muh aiue should be imprisoned in the same gaol for two

488 KIRBY'S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.

years ; and that James Bowditch should be imprisoned iw
the same gaol lor eighteen months.

Since the above sentence was passed, a bill has been pre-
ferred before the London grand jury, assembled in Septem-
ber, 1819» who found a true bill of indictment against Miss
Maria Glenn and Mary Whitby, for perjury : and on Fri-
.day, the 24th of September, 1819, the defendants arrived in
London, accompanied by Mr. Tuckett, the guardian of the
former, to put in their plea and give bail ; and on Saturday,
the 25th, the defendants attended at Mr. Shelton's office^
and pleading not guilty, were admitted to bail. The case,
it is understood, will be removed by certiorari, into the
King's Bench for trial. Should any thing particular occur
in this interesting cause, we shall watch its proceedings, and
preserve it for our next volume..

MADEMOISELLE LEFORT.

[WITH A CORRECT LIKENESS.]

AN recording this very extraordinary personage in our
pages, we present to our readers the most singular pheno-
menon that has occurred in our day ; in fact, we are at a
loss whether to describe this human being by the term mas-
culine or feminine, so equally blended are the sexes, that it is
almost impossible to say which has the predominance ; but
finding she attaches herself more to the latter than the
former, and names herself Mademoiselle (or Miss), we shall
continue to designate her as a female, according to her own
prescription.

Mademoiselle Lefort is of French origin, born in the
south of France, and is one of the few instances where na-
ture, stepping out of her usual track, produces to the won-
dering world a magnet of irresistible and universal attrac-
tion. The hands, arms, feet, and bust possess perfect femi-
nine beauty^ likewise the upper part of the face ; the lower

MADEMOISELLE LEFORT. 489

part is also beautiful, but possessing all the masculine ac-
companiments, as mustachoes and whiskers, of very strong
black hair, with which the chin is also thinly sprinkled ; she
appears to be about the age of twenty two years f walks like
a female, and possesses a pleasing feminine voice ; her eyes
are black, with a sparkling brilliancy, and her strong jet black
hair on her head, which she wears tastefully dressed, gives
her a striking and not unprepossessing appearance. During ,:
her exhibition she wears a remarkable short dress, displaying
a beautiful and well formed muscular leg, with small ancles
and feet; when perambulating the streets, \ve have seen
her, always dressed in male attire, wearing a green jacket,
with white trowsers, and a round hat. When receiving com-
pany, her manners are always modest and dignified, and as
her hand-bill expressed, ladies may divest themselves of ap-
prehension, as the exhibition is conducted wilh the strictest
delicacy. Her first exhibition, after arriving in this country,
early in the year 1819, was at No. 8, Gerrard Street, Soho;
after which, finding the influx of visitors to be great, she re-
moved for their accommodation to the Great Room, Spring
Gardens, and received company from the hours of one till
ten o'clock. We presume to think she never exhibited her-
self out of London, and it is probable from the sums of
money she has been known to receive in the course of a
day, being from fifty to one hundred pounds and upwards,
for private and public exhibitions ; for the first, one guinea
was the admission ; for the latter half a crown ; she soon ac-
quired a competency, and immediately retired, we are inform-
ed, to France, to enjoy in peace what she had thus earned.
Delicacy forbids us to be more explicit in respect to this ex-
traordinary person, but we must state, that to the medical
world this personage has proved an inexhaustible source of
professional inquiry, who all declare that have seen her, that
take her for all in all, they never shall look on her like again.

END OF THE SIXTH VOLUME.
VOL. VI. K K

INDEX

"O THE iilXTH VOLUME,

A PAGE

ABDUCTIOX of Miss Ma-
ria Glenn 402

Accident and preservation, at

Ramsgate 57

Age renewed by various persons 349
Allen, Mrs. a horned woman •• 166
All ice, a female slave, aged 116 271
Apples, extraordinary large

onesj&c. 300

Arc, Joan, D', account of 204

Arms, account of persons born

without 305

Ash tree, remarkable large one 302
Ashford, Mary, account of her

murder 65

Avoy, Mc, Miss, who names co-
lours by the touch of her

fingers 353

B
Bagshaw, Martha, born without

arms 307

Bainbridge, Mr. preservation of 156

Bandey, death by fright 63

Barber's honour, singular law-
suit 153

Barclay match, failure of Mr.

Howe • 327

Barpetri, MODS. L'Abbe, eccen-
tric character 329

Bat, longevity of the 168

Beech-trees, two remarkable

large ones 302

Bees, swarm in a parasol • 156

Bees found in a stone 260

Bidder, George, mental calcula-
tor 1

Biffin, Miss, born without arms 307
Bill, singular one for a night's

lodging ' • • 178

Births, singular account of • • • • 58
Bomby, Mrs. the horned woman ]67
Bomb, Regent's, account of • • • • 170

Bones, flexible ones 91

, brittle ones 93

Bounty, account of the mutiny 27
Bowditch's trial for abduction

of Miss Glenn 402

Bra*, Hermanes, the great Prus-
sian youth 377

Bright, Mr. Edward, fat man •• 378
Buried alive, persons rescued

from 163

Burning-spring, at Fincastle,

America 173

C

Cabbage, extraordinary large
one 300

PAGE

Canterno lake, sudden disap-
pearance of 150

Caverns, near lake Ontario • • • 64

Caves of Ellora 135

Chesnut-tree, large growth of one 301
Children, singular births of • • • • 58
Cock-roach, tenacious of life.. 297

Cooke, Mrs. Giantess 147

Corpulency, remarkable, of per-
sons of ancient times 382

Cows, remarkable small race-. 98
Cox, Matthew, Esq. narrative of

his sufferings 310

Crabb, Capt. sleep-walker .... 152
Cruelty and murder of a slave 400

D

Davis, Mary, the horned woman 164
Death by fright of Mary Baudey <J3
Devil's Dike, near Brighton,

ride down 328

Devotees, singular in India • • • • 246

Dog, lost in a coal pit 337

Donnel, Mich. Me, obstinacy of 194
Dowlens, Mr. pedestrian feat • • 328
Drinking, excessive, cause of

death 200

E

Earth, sudden sinking of 91

Eater, great one at Staunton-. 178

, Marriot the great ] 68

Eels, extraordinary large ones •• 296

Eggs, remarkable ones . . 298

Electrical fish, account of 178

Ellora, singular caves at 135

Elm-tree, remarkable large one 301
Escape of Chas. Sturt, Esq. M.P. 160
of Mr. White 161

Ewe and lamb, affecting ac-
count of igj

Explosion at Nottingham 98

the fire at Wool-
wich prevented 335

F

Fear, fatal effects of 1 53

Female intrepidity 343

Ferguson, David, aged 124 • • • • 270

Fire, subterranean one 97

Fir, silver, large growth of one 303

Scotch, ditto 303

Font of Raphael, extraordinary

work of art 373

— — carved model, of exquisite

workmanship 374

Fort, Le, Mademoiselle 488

Frogs, longevity of 296

Fungus, extraordinary large

one 300

INDEX.

G PACE

Giraldelli, Signorn (salamander) 24

Giants, account of 1 K»

Giantess, Mrs. Cooke 147

Glove plant of Africa, account of 182

Gluttony of Nicholas Wood 198

of Walter Wiliey... 19!)

of a young watchmaker 1 99

of two shoemakers • • 200

of a blacksmith at

Stroud 200

in eating raw eggs • • 200

of a weaver 200

Greatrakes,Valentine,accountof 107
Gryifith, Mrs. horned woman •• 166
Guns, large ones, account of«« 169

H
Hair, sudden falling off, account

of 1G8

Hares, Domestication of 1 83

Hart, Nicholas, the great sleeper

and impostor 151

Harpooner, shipwreck of the- • 255
Hawk, lark, and crows, singular

account of 376

Heifer, hornerl, account of • • • • 262
Hen, with a human face, ac-
count of 201

Heroine of La Vendee 105

Holman, John, falls down a shaft

96 ft.it 62

Horns growing on the heads of

women 164

Horse, remarkable small one • • 64

.. 98

Horse-shoe found in the body of

a tree 294

Howes, Mrs. her intrepidity. • • • 343

Hiiaylas Basilio, a giant 56

Hurricane, or Tornado, at Bex-
hill 12

I&J .

Ignis Fatuus, account of 263

Inundation at Marienburg • • • • 157
John, Thomas, mental calculator 30£
Iron, &c. swallowed by Reeves

Williams 304

Jugglers, Indian, singular feats

of 337

K

Keylas,seeElIora 135

Kidney of an ox, enoraiously

large 1 78

Knife, two-bladed, swallowed by

a child 269

L

Lake of Canterno, sudden dis-
appearance of 15(

Langevin, heroine of Vendee • • 10*.
Laugher, Thomas, account of •• 28

Leach , Master, a dwarf 14

Leap, wonderful one without a

saddle 22

Lioness and Exeter mail coach
horse ••••...-•••• 2

fAGX

found in a large block of

coal j>!i.j

obster, a largo one 298

.edging, singular bill for a niglit 178
^ngevity of divers persons, 270

to 2D4

.ove, Elizabeth, a horned wo-
man 165

— , Mr. John, a fat man 380

M

Vf ail coach and pedestrian • • • • 349
VTan, reflection of in the atmo-
sphere 150

Harriot, the great eater 168

klanin, Ann, found in a wood,

singular preservation of • • • • 143
Helens, extraordinary large

growth of 301

Morgan, Lady, a dwarf 149

Mountains, Blue, New Holland 173

N

Narodsky, Francis, aged 125 - . 470
SToUiug!iain, dreadful explosion

at 98

O

Oak, remarkable large one • • • • 301
Obstinacy of Michael M'Don-

nell 194

Ordnance, large pieces of, at

Leith 172

Oriental Toy, extraordinary

piece of mechanism 368

Owen's sanguinary revenge-.. • 385

Ox on the top of a house 55

— a remarkable large one • « • • 295

P

Paap, Mr. Simon, a dwarf •••• 147
Pedestrian feat of Mr. Dowleus 328

Pines, Isle of, account of 42

Pitcairn's Island, account of • • 30
Potatoe, extraordinary large

growth of 168

Poole, T. Esq. singular ride down

the Devil's Dike at Brighton 328
Preservation, singular, at Rams-
gate 57

of John

Holman • 62

of Anne

Martin 143

of Mr.

Bainbridge.of Bolton 156

of Miss

Nicholas and her horse 162

of Mr.

Schmitt from the jaws of a

tiger 180

of a boy

who fell into a well 334

of Mr.

Sturt, M. P. 160

R

Rabbit Breeder. (See Toft.) 109

Fecundity of 296

INDEX.

PAGE

Ramsgate, accident at, and pre-

ser v atiou 57

Rat caught by an oyster 234

Rat, gigantic one ,. 299

Reinaud Marguerite, aged 117... 271
Resolution of Grove and John-
son at Portsea - • • 90

Revenge, sanguinary one of

David Owen • • • • 315

Rigby's, Dr. lady, delivered of

four children at a birth 61

S

Salmon, rapid growth of 296

Shipwreck of the Sylvan 188

• Harpooner •• 255

Signs in the Skies 303

Skeletons, human, discovery of- • 262
Slave, murder and cruelty of a • • 400

Sleepwalkers, account of 152

Smith, Miss, a dwarf 149

Snow, red, fell at Genoa 304

Southcott, Joanna, account of

her followers 344

Spooner, Mr. a fat man 381

Stones swallowed by Reeves

Williams 304

Sturt, Mr. M. P. preservation of 160

Swan, courage of a 2!'S

Swinging of Devotees in India- • 246
Sword swallowed by Indian Jug-
glers 337

Sylvan, Shipwreck of • • 188

T

Thornton, Abraham, trial of • • • • 65
Tiger," miraculous escape from

one 180

Toads found embedded in va-
rious substances 294

Toft, Mary, the rabbit-breeder.. 109
Toller, Jatnes, giant, account of 145
Tornado at Bex In 11, Sussex • • • • 12

Torture, self, of devotees in In-
dia 235

Trees, horse-shoe found in one 294

toad found in one ibid

— — extraordinary large

growth of 301

Trout, remarkable large size • • 297

Turnips, extraordinary large
growth of 300

Tweed, Joseph, shocking death

of, and family 23

V

Valerius, John, born without
arms • • • • 305

Vegetable production, singular
one at Working, in Surrey • • 1G7

Vegetables, account of several
extraordinary large ones • • • • 299

Vine, Master, born with remark-
able short arms 308

W

Water Spout at M <r-den 144

White's, Mr. miraculous escape
in tailing down the geometri-
cal flairs at St. Paul's 161

Wian, Patrick Makel, renewal of
hisa-e '• 351

Widows buraing with their hus-
bands 250

Wife, whimsical account of 4 hat
she should be, and what she
should not be like 270

Will-o'-the-Wisp, account of •• 2o3

Williams, Reeves, account uf "bis
swallowing iron and stones • • 304

the wonderful strong

man and deserter 333

Woolwich, dangerous fire at • • 335
Y

Yew-tree, remarkable large one 303

LIST OF PLATES TO VOL. VI.

Madame Lefort Face Title

George Bidder 1

SignoraGiraldelli 24

Basil io Huay las 56

Abraham Thornton 65

Plan of the Field 74

View of the Pond, &c. 76

Rene Bordereau 105

James Toller > _ ^
Simon Paap $ ' '

145

Hen with a human face 201

Hindu Fakeer 235

Devotee Swinging 246

Thomas Laugher 284

John Valerius- • • • • 305

Monsieur 1'Abbe Barpetri • • • • 329

Indian Juggler 337

MissM'Avey 353

Mr. Hermane* Bras 377

BARNARD AND FARLEY,

Skinner Strut, Lonitn.

University of California

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