THE Hertford Letter: CONTAINING Several Brief Observations On a late Printed Trial, Concerning the MURDER OF Mrs. Sarah Stout.  
LONDON, Printed, and Sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster, 1699.   

THE Hertford Letter.  
SIR,  
I Am favoured with Yours of the 20th ult. whereby I perceive your pleasure is, That I should give you my Sentiments concerning Mrs. Sarah stout Death, the Trial, etc. In answer, I am very sensible of my own weakness, and how unfit I am to enter into a Controversy, wherein so many Doctors have been worried already: Nevertheless, in obedience to your reiterated Commands, though in doing it I may expose my own Ignorance, I shall give you my thoughts concerning the Natural Cause of Drowning, Floating of Dead Bodies afterwards, the various Sentiments of the Doctors, the manner of her Death, the Letters produced in Court, her Melancholiness, why no mention was made of the Money, and lastly, concerning two public Experiments, whereof one was made here, and the other in the River of Thames.  
It is a common Observation of most People, not used to dive, that upon their Plunging themselves in the Water, whether it be voluntarily or involuntarily they find a great Confusion of their Spirits; so that it is morally impossible for them to regulate their Actions in this Surprise, by the Dictates of Reason; in this Consternation they lay hold on any thing that comes in their way, not considering whether it may contribute to their Sinking or Swimming.  
In this hurry of the Spirits, occasioned partly from the noise their fall makes in the Water, and partly from its running into their Ears, Nostrils, etc. The whole Animal Oeconomy is brought into Disorder; in this Confusion it is no ways Suprising, that Water, wherein they are immersed, should insinuate itself into some Vacuities, no ways adapted for its reception; and it being obvious to all, That no Man doth or can live without Respiration, whatever Element soever he is in; if in the Air, he sucks that in which naturally flows into the Lungs; if in Water, what comes into the Mouth, as long as his Senses continue, he swallows that down the Gullet; as long as he doth not Breath, there is little danger of Drowning; but on the first Inspiration, if he is at the surface of the Water, 'tis much if he doth not swallow down the Windpipe, with the Air, some small quantity of Water; but if he is totally immersed in it, 'tis not improbable, that upon Inspiration, a far greater quantity of Water than Air will enter into the Cavity of the Lungs.  
In every Expulsion of Air out of the Lungs, the Epiglottis is lifted up, if the Mouth at the same time should be full of Water, 'tis impossible but some of it will pass down the Windpipe, as is observable in those that accidentally Laugh while they are a drinking, if a drop falls into the Aspera arteria, it will cause a Coughing, which is a Convulsive Motion of the Lungs, etc. whereby Nature doth commonly throw up any thing that doth casually fall upon them; by this struggling of Nature, to expel the Water already slipped down, the Epiglottis is lifted up, and instead of ejecting the Water just swallowed, the Mouth being full of it, a great deal more forceth itself down, by its natural gravity, which gravitates the more, by reason of the Cylinder or Cone of the Air, that continually presseth on its Superficies; as soon the Senses are gone, the Epiglottis is kept open by the force of the Stream that runs into the Windpipe, till the Bronchia, and all their Ramifications, are filled; as long as the Senses continue, they swallow most of the Water that comes into their Mouths, into their Stomaches; but when they are near suffocated, the Water runs into those Ducts, where it meets with the least resistance.  
So long as Life continues, there is a Convulsive Struggling of Nature, to expel out of the Lungs all those things that are noxious to them, especially Water, being never used to be Receptacles for any thing but Air, they use their utmost Efforts to eject it by a violent Contracting their Lobes nearer together; by these Exorbitant Contractions, the Water contained in the Ramifications of the Bronchia, etc. are sometimes forced in to the Cavity of the Thorax, either by dilating the Pores of the thin Membrane that invests the Lungs, as Quicksilver is forced by the pressure of a Hand through a piece of Leather, or by the rapture of their Tunicle, or by some minute Vessels, not yet described by Anatomists. If any Practitioner in Physic, etc. shall assert, that Anatomy is brought to a Ne plus ultra, and that all Ducts, through which the Juices of Animals are strained, are detected. I would desire them to tell me through what Vessels the Pus in an Empyema, where the matter lies on the Midriff, when there is no Ulcer of the Lungs, is expectorated, or through what passages, when 'tis carried off by Urine, 'tis conveyed into the Kidneys, or how bitter Injections cast into the Thorax, can affect the Mouth with its taste, as the Observations of Physicians do demonstrate; or let them read a Treatise of Robert boil, Esq called, New Experiments Physico-Mechanical, touching the Spring of the Air; where, amongst many curious Observations about the Lungs, he asserts, That the diligent Wallaeus relates, that he divers times observed in the Dissection of Live Bodies, that the Membrane that invests the Lungs had Pores in it as big as the longer sort of Peas. p. 343.  
Water is as frequently found in the Cavity of the Abdomen as of the Thorax; but by what Ducts or Passages, when there is no visible Rupture of the Coats of the Stomach nor Guts, they are carried there, I leave it to the Microscoptical Anatomist to determine: I conceive it enough for me at present to tell you, that it is Fact. I am conscious you are not ignorant, that there are many things that happen in the Animal Oeconomy, that cannot be proved a Priori; yet when they are a Posteriori, they are admitted by the Schools, as undeniable Arguments; if any are so Sceptical as to deny what is not capable to be proved a Priori, they would be put to it to prove the Circulation of the Blood, Motion of the Animal Spirits, or where or how the Chile is Transcolated through the Coats of the Guts.  
As soon as the Lungs, Stomach, etc. are full of Water, the Body naturally sinks, and rises no more till there is a Putrefaction in the inward parts, which in cold Countries is longer than in hotter Regions; but the sooner Putrefaction is begun, the sooner the Corpse float, whereof no certain Calculation can be made, the time of their rising differing, with respect to the Region, and in the same Climates with respect to the Seasons of the Year; in these parts, according to the common reckoning, they float in Nine or Ten Days.  
The common Cause assigned for Floating of Bodies drowned, is, the breaking of the Gall, which you know is a vulgar Error; so that I need say nothing in opposition to it; The cause assigned by the Moderns, is Putrefaction, but how this Putrefaction renders the Body more boyant than 'twas before, is not obvious to every Eye, therefore I shall give you my thoughts concerning its Modus agendi, Putrefaction is a species of Fermentation; by Fermentation the Air contained in the Cavity of the Breast, Body, Stomach, etc. though seemingly full of Water, yet they contain, great quantities of Air, which is rarified with the other Juices, proportionable to the Degrees of Putrefaction; and this insensible dilatation of the Body increases gradually, till the Corruption hath made a passage through the Skin; so that a Person that is not above 20 Inches in Circuit when first drowned, after he hath lain some Weeks in the Water, will be at least 30 or 40 Inches in Circumference; this gradual dilatation of the Body, I conceive is the sole cause of its rising to the Surface of the Water, after some certain time, and also of its more or less boyantness afterwards.  
Having given you my thoughts concerning the cause of drowning, of the Floating of their Corpse afterwards; I shall now acquaint you with my Notions why Bodies thrown Dead into the Water do not sink, and why some are more boyant than others.  
It is observable, that Humane Bodies after Death admit no Water, especially Suffocated, as the Experiment made some Weeks since, doth evidently Demonstrate; because, as soon as Death seizes a Man, the Sphincter Muscles in all parts do naturally contract themselves, for which reason, it is not so easy to inject any Liquids into the parts that have them, as before; by this Seclusion of Water, the Vacuities (which in drowned Creatures are full of Water) are in those that come by their Death some other way, full of Air, which by natural Experiments, is proved to be as Thousand Times lighter than Water; and by the same sort of Experiments, solid Flesh is observed to be but a little heavier than Water; if you grant this, which is easily demonstrated, it will be no hard matter for any considerate Man to believe that Flesh (which hath many large Cavities in it, filled with Air) may Float: If you doubt the immediate Floating of Humane Bodies, thrown Dead into the Water, you may, for your Satisfaction, consult the Opinion of Seamen, who have been the last War in several Engagements with the French, or those that have been a Guiny Voyage; where, when they throw the Dead Negro's overboard, they never lay any weight to their Feet to sink them, as they do to white Men; it is certain that all those Negroes do immediately Float, I have spoken with several, lately come from thence, that if occasion were, would attest it with an Oath.  
Bodies are more or less boyant, either in respect to themselves. or in respect to the Medium wherein they Float.  
If the Person Died in the very act of Inspiration, the Lungs will be full of Air, by which the Breast will be sensibly dilated; that the filling of the Thorax with Air, may be a cause of Floating, is evident from those that can lie on their Backs without stirring hand or foot, it being observable that those do fill themselves as full of Air as they can, and that as long as they can hold their Breath they Float, but on the very instant of Breathing they Sink: If they have a large Chest, or are very Lean, they will Float the loftier.  
If they are cast into Salt Water, they will be more boyant than in fresh, it being experimented that Ships will Sink some Inches lower under Water in the Thames, than when they were at Sea; if into deep Water, all Men observing they can Swim more easily in deep than in shallow Water.  
On the contrary, if the Person died in Expiration had a small Chest, was Fat and Fleshy, or was thrown into fresh or shallow Waters, he will Swim the more under Water.  
I do not perceive so great a discordancy between the Doctors that were Evidences for the King, and their Opposites, as some seem to insinuate. The Witnesses for the King deposed, That it was their Opinion, that no Person ever was, or posibly could be drowned, that had no Water in their Lungs, Stomach, etc. and that as far as they had made any observations on drowned Persons, they always found great quantities of Water in the inward parts of drowned Persons; part thereof, usually in lifting them out of the Water, runs out of their Nose or Mouth, that upon their dissection, they had found considerable quantities of it in the Cavities of their Bodies; and that it was their Judgement, that the inward parts of drowned Persons would putrify in less than six Weeks time: Whether these are not undeniable Truths, I leave it to the determination of yourself, and all unbiased People that have made any real (not notional) Observations on drowned Bodies.  
Their Learned Antagonists, whose sole endeavour and business, as far as I could perceive, was to render it a mute Case, by their strenuously urging, That 2 or 3 Ounces of Water was sufficient to Drown a Person, not from any Observations on Humane Bodies, but from a private Experiment on a Dog or two that was half hanged, as I am told, and I am apt to think there was some Artifice used, seeing the Experiment did not succeed, when made publicly in the River of Thames, by the same Person.  
Dr. Sloane saith, that Cases of this kind are very uncommon (viz. for Mrs. Stout to be drowned without any Water in her) and none of them have fallen directly under my Knowledge; nor as I verily believe, under any other Persons, since the Creation of Man: Then he tells you that Water swallowed by the Gullet, into the Stomach, will not drown the Person (Who said the contrary?) But it is that which goes into the Windpipe and Lungs that Suffocates; and confirms it with an Observation, saying, I have observed Some Spoonfuls (if it went the wrong way) to have choked or suffocated the Person. Note, he doth not say drowned, neither do I think any Person can properly be said to be drowned, that hath not swallowed above 2 or 3 Ounces of Water, but rather such are (as the Doctor saith) choked or suffocated; in the same Paragraph he tells you, that Whether a Person comes Dead or alive into the Water, he believes some quantity will go into the Windpipe: Then Water in the Windpipe is no certain Sign of a drowned Person, I am of another Opinion, which our Experiment doth seem undeniably to prove.  
Being asked by the Judge, Whether the parts would not putrify in less than six Weeks, if there had been Water? His Answer was, My Lord, I am apt to think it would have putrified the Stomach less than the Lungs: How direct and satisfactory this answer was to the Question, you may determine. I observe a general Question, for what intention I cannot Divine; which was, Whether any Water would go into the Thorax? If it did, or did not, I cannot conceive what benefit or prejudice it would be to this Case, though I am apt to think the Membrane that invests the Lungs, may easily be torn by violent Coughing, which is observed in all Persons when any thing falls into the Windpipe.  
Near the foot of his Discourse, he saith, I am apt to think if there was any quantity (of Water) in the Lungs, the Sponginess of the part would suck up some part of it; Who said the contrary? But Doctor, If they had sucked up any part, would not her Lungs have been moister, than if they had sucked up none; but Mrs. stout were rather drier than usually they are in dead Persons; therefore— As to the Stomach I have not know it tried, Have you known it tried as to the Lungs? If not, we are as much in the dark as before, unless we take your I am apt to think for Demonstration.  
This Doctor closes his Sentiments with If there was a great Fermentation, a great deal of it (Water) would rise up in Vapours or Steams, and go off that way: Here he terminates all with an If: Suppose I should grant him there was a great Fermentation, to be as true, as I am confident 'tis false; his inference I doubt would not follow, viz. that a great deal of it would rise up in Vapours or Steams, and go off that way; if it should rise into Vapours in the Stomach, I am subject to believe that the coldness of the parts through which they must pass, would condence them again, before they could get out of the Body; what way he means by That Way, I cannot imagine; if 'tis through the Gullet, the contraction of the Mouth of the Stomach, Gullet (which is as Dr. Gath says) contracted or pursed up by a Muscle in the nature of a Sphincter, and the closure of the Lips, etc. would either keep them in the Stomach, or else the coldness of the part through which they must of necessity pass, would condense them in their passage out of the Body; if through the Guts, the Pylorus, the coldness of the Guts or the Sphincterani, would obstruct their passage, if it could be imagined that the Subtleness of these Vapours could get throw the Coats of the Stomach; I conceive the coldness of the Omentum Peritonaeum, and the thickness of the Muscles, Fat, etc. of the Abdomen, would impede their Exit out of the Body: In fine, it seems very probable to me, that if there had been any fumes raised in the Stomach, by Fermentation, that they could never get an Exit through so many impediments.  
Dr. Gath tells you, that It is impossible that the Body (of Mrs. Stout) should have Floated, unless it had rested, or been entangled amongst the Stakes: This is a certain Truth, if she had been drowned, but if she was thrown in Dead, there is nothing more common than for it to Float; and this my Assertion, is consentaneous to the Universal Experience of those Seamen that use the Negro-Trade; for when any of their Slaves die, they throw them overboard, without any weight to their Feet, and these Float immediately.  
That she was found Sideling in the Water, is a mighty Argument with this Doctor that she did not Float; but grant she was entangled (which is denied by several) between the Stakes, as 'tis asserted, I think it no greater wonder, than for a Deal Board 12 Inches broad (which should accidentally get edgwise between two Stakes not above 9 Inches distant one from the other) to Float edgeling, as long as 'tis entangled between them: Nay, on the contrary, I think it morally impossible for any Body that is much broader, than 'tis thick, if it casually gets edgewise between to Stakes, whose distance will not let it lie flat, but it must continue more or less edgeling, till 'tis disintangled.  
I observe the Judge asked this Gentleman, Whether Water in the Body would putrify it? He answered, I say not, for in some places they keep Flesh-Meat from corrupting, by preserving it in Water: If he means Water in a deep Well will keep it a day or two in hot Countries, I may admit it; but that it will keep it six Weeks or more, I utterly deny it; if it will not keep Flesh from Putrefaction 46 Days, it hath little Analogy with the Case under Debate.  
This Doctor tells you, He must differ from him (Mr. Coatsworth) where he infers, She was murdered, because he found no great quantity of Water in her: This is a Mistake, for neither he, nor any of the other Doctors, or Surgeons, that were present at her Dissection, inferred she was murdered, because she had no great quantity of Water in her; but, because she had none at all in her.  
Dr. Morley saith, that These which seem to be the Questions of greatest Moment, are, Whether there was a necessity for this Body (if drowned) to have a great quantity of Water in it; and whether Bodies thrown Dead into the Water Float? To the first I answer positively, That there is no absolute necessity that she should have a great quantity of Water in her: With submission, Doctor, pray tell which of your Opposites said there was an absolute necessity for Mrs. Stout to have a great quantity of Water in her; they said, they could not conceive that she was drowned, that had not one drop of Water in her; if you would have contradicted them, you should have demonstrated to the Jury, either by Reason or Experiments, how a Person might be drowned without any Water in them; if you could have done this, you had answered the Question of greatest Moment.  
This Doctor's difference between Persons drowned by Accident or Design, I would flatter myself, was rather a lapsus linguae, than his real Judgement; for it is certain, with whatsomever design a Man may go into the Water, before he is half Dead he is deprived of his Senses, and how he governs himself then, you may Judge: To The 2 d Question, he saith, I think if Bodies new killed Float, 'tis by Accident: It is as accidental for Bodies new killed, when thrown into the Water, to Sink, as 'tis for Persons just drowned to Swim.  
Dr. Woolaston being asked his Opinion, If a Person be drowned, Whether it can be discovered six Weeks after? His answer was, I think it impossible to be known: I am apt to be of his Opinion, that 'tis impossible precisely to determine what, and how many Injuries her Viscera had received, or what Accidents had happened unto them 46 days after any Person is drowned; for naturally they would have been putrified in half that time; and when the Bowels are reduced into a Putrilaginous Mucilage, who can give a rational judgement concerning their former Figure, Position, or how they had been affected? This is what naturally happens to a drowned Person; but there was nothing of this in Mrs. Stout, which is no small Argument with me, that she was not drowned; I shall take little notice how he contradicts his Brothers, by his affirming, That in drowned Persons, the Water lies only in the Stomach and Guts: As to his Experience, I doubt he is not candid; for I believe I have heard the same Story, which was thus, Two Man quarrelling in a Wherry, one of them took up the Stretcher, and knocked the other down; in his falling, he accidentally caught hold of his Adversary, and they both fell into the Water together; he that was knocked down was not swelled, but the other was exceedingly.  
Mr. Cowper affirms, That it is not reasonable (in Mrs. Stout, though drowned) to expect any thing but Froth: What, will all the Water turn to Froth, that a dying Person receives before he is drowned? 'Tis a Paradox to me: How contrary this Surgeon's Sentiments are to the Universal Experience of the Learned and Unlearned part of Mankind, let the unbiass'd judge? If he had consulted Ambrose Parey, and had thought him a reasonable Man, doubtless he would have been of another Opinion, who saith, The Belly of him that was thrown in alive, will be swollen or puffed up by reason of the Water that is contained therein.  
The whole stress of this Gentleman's Arguments seem to depend on a supposed difference, that there is between Persons that Drown themselves, and those that are casually suffocated by Water; whereas I am apt to think there is little more difference, than between one that puts the Halter about his own Neck, and one that the Hangman forceth it on; here is a parity of causes, why the effects in the same Species should extremely differ, is more than my weak intellect can comprehend; in both I conceive that in less than a Minute, their Rational Faculty is so egregiously distorted, that nothing is done regularly or by its dictates.  
The verity of his private Experiments I doubt, because when he made a public one, it infinitely contradicted his Clandestine one's; there is a vast difference in drowning a Creature in a Tub, and in a River, in sinking him with a weight tied to him, and permitting him to Sink by his own gravity; I am not of Opinion that 'tis ridiculous to expect Water in the Cavity of the Thorax, tho' the Lungs had not suffered an Impostumation, or the like, for Reasons formerly assigned.  
Dr. Crell saith, He shall only insist upon what Ambrose Parey relates in his Chapter of Renunciations— He tells us, That the certain Sign of a Man's being drowned is an appearance of Froth about his Nostrils and Mouth, which could not be, as he declares, if the Person had been strangled, or otherwise killed before. For the Confirmation, or Confutation, of these positive Assertions of this Learned Doctor, I shall give you the Verbal Expressions of Ambrose Parey, Whosomever, saith he, is found Dead in the Waters, you shall know whether they were thrown into the Water alive or dead, for all the Belly of him that was thrown in alive will be swelled and puffed up, by reason of the Water that is contained therein; certain clammy Excrements come out of his Mouth and Nostrils. In the foregoing Paragraph he gives you the Signs, whether one is hanged Dead or Alive; his formal Expressions are, If he was hanged alive, there will be a Foam about his Mouth, and a Foamy and Filthy Matter hanging out of his Nostrils. Observe this Author, whereon he only insists saith, There is a Foam and Filthy Matter about the Mouth and Nostrils of them that are hanged Alive. Now whether Froth at the Mouth and Nostrils is a certain Sign of a Man's being Drowned, or whether it is not incident to Persons that die of other Diseases, any Physician can easily determine. If you will be pleased to read Paulus Zachaeus' Questiones Medico-Legales, on the same Subject, you may find that he agrees with Ambrose Parey, That an appearance of Foam about the Nostrils and Mouth, is no certain Sign of Drowning. By such positive Assertions of the Learned, how easily may the Ignorant be imposed on? By this you may evidently see the difference between a Witness on his Parole, as this Gentleman was, and one upon his Oath, as the King's were.  
Mr. Herriot being asked by Mr. Cooper, What Observations he had made concerning this Matter? Answered, When I was a Surgeon in the Fleet, I made it always my Observation, when we threw Men overboard that were killed, some of them Swum and some Sunk. Then being interrogated by the Judge, when a Body is thrown overboard, doth it Sink or Swim? His answer was, I always observed that it did sink. What Incoherence is here! First, I made it always my Observation, when we threw Men overboard, that were killed, some of them Swum, and some Sunk: And almost in the same Breath saith, I always observed, That it (a Dead Body, thrown overboard) did Sink. I am apt to be of Mr. Herriot's Mind; as to his first Assertion, That Men killed in a Fight being thrown overboard, some of them Sunk, others Swum; those whose Breast and Belly are no ways injured Float, but those whose Breast and Belly are perforated, so that Water gets into their Cavities, through the Wound, I doubt not but they will Sink.  
Mr. Bartlett tells you, He never saw any Body float, tho' he had been in several Engagements. It is very probable, he kept himself all that time in the Cockpit, and it may be long after dressing the wounded Persons. The fittest Persons in this case to give their Observation, are Officers and Seamen, who are always upon Deck, and often obliged to look out, and not Surgeons, who are all the time of Engagements, secured in the Hold of the Ship.  
Mr. Camlin saith, There were more and greater Signs of the Stagnation of Blood on the Body of this Child, than on the Body of Mrs. Stout. But on what parts these more and greater Signs were, whether on the Breast, Belly, etc. not one word. The Mother of the Child asserts, there was not the least Sign of any Stagnation of Blood on any part of her Child: She having lately had the Smallpox, her Face where the Smallpox had fluxed, was somewhat discoloured; but it was no more discoloured, after her Drowning, than it used to be (when she was cold) before her Death; the Soil of the Water doth generally alter the Faces of People: So Mrs. Stout was not known by her Neighbour's, till that was wiped off. The Settlements of Blood on Mrs. Stout were dispersedly on her Ear, both sides of her Neck, Breast, Arm, but on what part of the Child's Body these more and greater Signs of Stagnation were, he doth not specify, because had he assigned any particular place, there were several present that would have contradicted him: General Terms are the fittest covers for Falsehood.  
If this Gentlewoman was not Drowned, as the Doctors and Surgeons for the Prisoners seem to insinuate, the Query then will be, How she came to her End? With submission to better Judgements, I shall here offer my private Sentiments concerning it: I am induced to believe, she was knocked down with a Blow on her left Ear, from the large Settlement of Blood there, which, as Mrs. Kimpson Swears, was as much as her Hand could cover, and more; after she was felled to the Ground by the Blow, it is probable, with the Gripe of a strong Hand, she was Throttled; from the Stagnation of Blood on both sides of her Neck, under her Ears, which Mr. John Dimsdall, Jun. Swears there was; and from the Settlement of Blood on her Breast, I am inclined to believe, That the Person that Throttled her, to support his Hand, that he might Gripe the stronger, rested his Arm on her Breast, which occasioned the Stagnation there.  
The Circumstances that induce me to think she was not accessary to her own Death, are these following: Her being found without her Gown (which probably was torn in the Scuffle) and Nightrail; her Gown could not be found, though the River was diligently raked several times, till about a Week before the Trial, it was found hanging on a Stake, which the Miller had cleansed from the Trash that hung on it about half one hour before, and he will depose that it was not there then; it was torn to Rags, without one of its Sleeves, some parts of it were as rotten as dirt, others firm; you might tear it (which was made of a sort of Norwich-Stuff) and the Lining (which was a Silk Damask) with your Fingers, as I did: Query, Whether Stuff or Silk will naturally Rot so soon under Water? Here is no news of her Nightrail yet. 2. From her Floating; whereof I make no doubt, because it is Sworn by several Witnesses. 3. Because her Belly was not swollen. 4. Because no Water came out of her when lifted out of the River, nor purged out of her afterwards. 5. Because her inward parts were not putrified, though her outward, that had been injured, were; which I suppose was impossible they should have continued so 46 days after her Death, had there been any Water in them. 6. From the several distinct Settle of Blood, which is unusual in Drowned Persons; if it had been occasioned (as some may think) from a Blow, which she received when she threw herself in, I am subject to believe, that the coldness of the Water, in the Month of March, would have hindered its Settlement in the Cutaneous parts of the Body, as it is generally observed to do; for what is more common than to dip a Linen Rag, or a piece of Brown Paper, in cold Water, and apply it to a bruised part, to hinder the Blood from settling there? 7. From the continual disturbance that Mrs. Gurrey was under, both in Mind and Body: Nevertheless she would not discover it till she was almost frighted out of her Senses, by the Voice, as she thought of Mrs. Stout, which uttered these words, Divulge, Conceal Nothing. 8. From what is Sworn by the Gurrey's against their Lodgers at the Trial, viz. Mr. Marson was hot, and put by his Wigg; I see his Head was wet— they came in about 11 and 12 a Clock— she turned me off, but a Friend of mine will be even with her by this time— Her business was done— He would pass his Word, Mrs. Sarah Stout 's Courting-Days were over— The Vse-Money is paid to Night— You have Forty or Fifty Pounds for your share— Asked him, Whether the business was done? And he answered, He believed it was; but if it was not done, it would be done to Night— Pulled a Handful of Money out of his Pocket, and Swore, he would spend it all for Joy, the business was done. 9 From the Sentiments of the Grand-Jury, who, after a nice Examination, were of an Opinion, That she was Murdered; as were several of, the Petty-Jury, but by whom they did not know—  
As to the Letters produced in Court, my thoughts are, they are not of a Legitimate, but of a Spurious Production. 1. Because the Style doth no way suit her Character. 2. Because her Mother doth affirm, The Letter shown her in Court was of a smaller Character than ever she observed her Daughter to Write; neither doth her Brother think them to be genuine. 3. Because there was no mention made of these Letters, till the common Report of her being with Child (which had been industriously spread abroad by several, but by none more Zealously, than by a Nominal Quaker, her Quondam Admirer) was proved to be utterly False, by the Oath of several Doctors and Surgeons that had opened her Body. 4. Because Mr. Mason and Mr. Archer, on the Trial, Swore (and several of the Coroners-Inquest were ready to Swear) That Mr. Cowper, before the Coroners-Inquest, being on his Oath, deposed, That Mrs. Stout was a modest Person, that he did not know of any thing that was the cause of it (viz. her Death) That he did not know any Person she was in Love with, but of one, whose name was Marshal; and Mr. Martial told him, That he was always Repulsed by her. Whether this Oath is not Diametrically Opposite to his Plead on the Trial, you may determine. 4. Because they did not insist on these Letters, when Mr. Jones said, Indeed they have produced some Letters without a Name; but if they insist upon any thing against her Reputation, we must call our Witnesses. If the Witnesses then present in Court (who were some of the most reputable in that Town) had been called, to speak to her Reputation, a great deal of that Dirt, that is now cast upon her, would have been wiped off. I cannot but take notice here how seemingly unwilling he was to expose the weakness of this Gentlewoman, or to meddle with her Letters, had he not those Innocent Gentlemen to defend; when before her Death he had shown them to Mr. Martial, a Repulsed Lover, and his Brother, and after the Trial, the Printers, who at the Trial did not take them in Shorthand, were favoured with them to be exposed to the whole World.  
What concerns her Melancholy, I am induced to believe, that she was no more than is incident to all People that are Sickly, or much troubled with the Headache; from what her Maid Swears, That she was ill sometimes, and I imputed it (Melancholy) to her Illness; and I know no other cause. And Mrs. Walker doth assert, That Mr. Cowper told the Coroners-Inquest, That he did not observe her any ways Melancholy, that he should have taken notice of, had not such an accident happened; only now he remembers, That she was not so free in Discourse at Dinner as sometimes she used to be; and that the Discourse than was chief between him and her Mother. Her Mother and Brother do affirm they never observed her Melancholy, and all her intimate Companions do assert the same: It is much that none but this Gentleman's Sister, and Two or Three others, devoted to a Party, should observe any such thing.  
Mr. Firmin, his Wife, and several others that were in her Company, with Mr. Taylor, do affirm, that she did not say her Head-cloths would serve her time, or any thing like it, and that they esteemed his Discourse with her pure Banter; that she was in her Night-dress, and presently went home and put on clean Linen: I am apt to think there are many Relations and Friends, bigoted to a Party, that will not boggle to tell a Lie, to save a Friend, or near Relation from—  
The afternoon before her Death, she was observed to stand, to see the Judges make their Entrance, with her Friends, as Brisk and Airy as any there; about 4 hours before her Death, as 
☜  I am told, she was in Company with a Knight of that County, and several others, who observed her to be as Merry and Pleasant as any amongst them: At nine at Night, she earnestly importuned a young Gentlewoman of that Town, to tarry and lie with her that Night, as she had formerly done several times; which she refused then, for some particular Reasons: When Mrs. Stout, perceived she would not tarry all Night, she invited her to Dinner next day, and told her what she had provided, and that she should be glad of her Company; not intending to go out of Doors the next day.  
I am apt to think that if she had been such a furious Lover as is pretended, or had any Intention that Night to destroy herself, that she would not have fallen out with any Body about the payment of Money; much less have refused to Sign a Receipt for six Pounds, which her D—st had prepared when he paid her the Interest-Money; what was the true cause why she refused to Sign this Receipt, is a Riddle to most.  
If she had had so great a kindness for some Years for this Joseph, as is insinuated, certainly his Wife would have observed something of it; and then she would not be importuning her every Month, by her Letters, to come to London, that she might enjoy her sweet Company: Neither would she in all probability (if she had been so desperately in love with him) have lived here several Months together, without his Company, even when importuned by his Wife; but would, as we may reasonably conjecture, have resided in your City, where she might the oftener, and more privately have enjoyed his Company: And, as for her going out at the Window, it is morally impossible, the Bars being so close together, that a Child of a Year old cannot get out between them; neither was there any occasion for it, the Keys being always left in the Doors.  
Because there is no mention made on the Trial, of the missing of any of her Money; several are apt to report that her Relations want none of it, which is a grand Mistake; for they want, as they compute it, at least a Thousand Pounds of her Original Fortune, besides the Improvements she had made thereon, which were considerable; they made little mention of it there (that was taken notice of) because their Evidences that could speak materially to that point, were Quakers, whose Affirmation will not be taken in Criminal Cases.  
The last Assizes, here was a Man hanged, after he was Dead, was cut down, and buried without a Coffin, the Grave filled up, and the Earth well trod down; in the Evening he was digged up again, being pressed almost flat by the weight of the Earth, was privately cast into the River, and when it was observed that the Corpse would Sink, it was exposed to public view, and an Advertisement of it was printed in the Post-Man 25th of July last, with a great show of Exaltation, by their saying, Many Hundreds having seen this Experiment with their own Eyes, the Opinions of the Surgeons produced on the part of the King, is thereby destroyed and exploded, and all Persons convinced of the contrary: What influence this Experiment may have on you, I know not; but when all the Circumstances attending it are duly considered, I am of Opinion, it will make more against them, than their Opposites: If they had been certain of Success, what need of so much Art; Why did they not insert in their Advertisement, how the Body had been managed before 'twas thrown into the Water, how they opened it afterwards, and how they made a strict Scrutiny after Water, yet could not find a drop in it? Not one word of this. Methinks this partial Relation is calculated on purpose to magnify their own Evidences, and put a slur on the King's.  
I doubt not but the ingenious Contrivers of this Experiment did not only expect it would Sink, but that it would have some Water in it also; I am apt to think it reasonable, to expect that the weight of the Earth would have driven out the Wind contained in the Cavity of the Breast through the Windpipe, which is impossible to be done without lifting up of the Epiglottis, which continually closes the Mouth of the Aspera Arteria, but in Expiration, this being once forcibly removed out of its natural Situation, 'twas very likely that it would not cover it again so nicely, but that some small quantity of Water might insinuate itself through the small passages, which the violent forcing out of the Air had made; if this had succeeded, What a Triumph there would have been, you may easily determine?  
Some Weeks since, a Surgeon, that had been an Evidence at the Trial at Hertford, going into a Bookseller's Shop, meeting some acquaintance there, he fell into Discourse about Mrs. Stout, and asserted there, what he had affirmed at the Trial, viz. That Two or Three Ounces of Water will Drown a Dog: One of the Company told him he could not conceive that so small a quantity would do the business: He replied, Sir, I will lay a Guinea, that I will Drown a Dog in the River of Thames, and he shall not have above Three Ounces of Water in him: The proffer was no sooner made, than accepted, Time appointed, Dog brought, and with a weight tied to his hinder Feet, fling into the River, sometime after was taken out, and dissected; where instead of Three Ounces, there was about Thirty Three; whereby he not only lost his Wager, but in a great measure his Reputation, as to what he had so confidently asserted to the contrary on the Trial.  
Having in some measure answered your Commands, tho' by it, I have, I am afraid, a little too much trespassed on your Patience, shall take little notice now, what Omissions and Alterations there are in the Printed Trial; how Mr. Stevens was taken with a strange sort of a Fit, (just after the Petty-Jury went out) which disturbed the whole Court; or how a Wine-Cooper in Southwark (who came down as an Evidence for the Prisoners) fell into a sort of Distraction; and all the time of the Trial was mightily discomposed in his Mind, so that he was fain to be tied in Bed, yet would often ask how the Trial went, and whether they were like to be cleared, and would often tell the People about him, that he had done a very bad thing, but would not confess what, though often urged to it: But shall conclude, desiring that the Authors of this Horrid Murder may be detected, and brought to condign Punishment; but that the Innocent may be cleared from all Aspersions thrown undeservedly on them, which I doubt not, but that the Great Jehovah, in his own time, will bring to pass: And that it may be so, shall be the daily Prayers of  
Sir, Your Humble Servant, P. D. Hertford, the 5 th' of September, 1699.   

POSTSCRIPT.  
I Doubt not but you have heard, that the Gentlemen that opened Mrs. Sarah stout Body, did depose, that she was a Virgin; for your Information; I will post you a true Copy of their Certificate, which is as followeth,  
Hertford, April 28, 1699.  
WE whose Names are here under-written, having examined the Body of Mrs. Sarah Stout, Deceased; do find the Uterus perfectly Free and Empty, and of the natural Figure and Magnitude, as usually in Virgins. We found no Water in the Stomach, Intestines, Abdomen, Lungs or Cavity of the Thorax,  


John Dimsdale, Sen.  
Robert Dimsdale,  
John Dimsdale, Jun.  
William Coatsworth,  
Samuel Camlin,  
Daniel Phillips.    
After this Certificate was delivered to the Relations, they desired the Gentlemen that had Signed it, to give their Opinions, whether they thought She was drowned or no, all of them were unanimous that she was not drowned, except Mr. Camlin, who was unwilling to give his Opinion, either pro or con; but when asked, would only say, There were very odd Circumstances▪ Yet at last, when he was asked. Whether he did conceive any Person could be drowned, that had no Water in their Stomach, Intestines, Abdomen, Lungs or Cavity of the Thorax▪ He replied, No, which the other, thought virtually to include, as much as they had said.  
FINIS.