A REPLY TO THE Hertford Letter: Wherein the CASE of Mrs. STOUT's Death Is more particularly Considered: AND Mr. COWPER Vindicated from the Slanderous Accusation of being accessary to the Same.  
LONDON: Printed for, and sold by M. Fabian, at Mercers chapel in Cheapside; and J. nut, near Stationers-Hall. 1699.   

A Reply to the Hertford Letter, &c.  
SIR,  
I received your Letter from my Bookseller on the 20th of September last: And though I am far from thinking your Sentiments upon this Matter, were either desired or commanded: Yet am I well enough pleased with your Apology, wherein you tell us, you are very Sensible of your own Weakness, and how unfit you are to enter into a Controversy, &c.  
This I must confess may be of some use to the Ignorant, by forestalling their expectation of any wonderful Discovery; but for the Learned, the Compliment might have been spared, since the Performance does so evidently Discover what you aclowledge.  
The Introduction does indeed promise us great Matters, viz.  
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, &c.  
But pray Sir, if we find your Thoughts arise from the Ebullition of a heated Fancy, and that your too eager Zeal for your Friend, has carried you oftentimes to over hasty Conclusions; if instead of a well grounded and rational Solution of these Phaenomena, we are only entertained with incoherent Expressions, false Grammar, Tautology, groundless Surmises, and want of Proof; in a word, if these pregnant Thoughts of yours ●re found to be mere Trifles, had it not been better yourself alone had been still Master of them? Or, if there was a Necessity for their breaking out, had you not better have communicated them only to your Friend in London, than to have exposed yourself thus ridiculously to the Learned World?  
That I may make Good what I have alleged, I shall now proceed to your Letter.  
Hertfort Letter, page. 3. It is a common Observation of most People not used to Dive, &c.  
Give me leave Sir here, only to question the Truth of your Proposition, Whether or no, the greater Number of those who are not Divers, have made any Observations upon Drowning, or from their own Experience can satisfy us of the Consternation that ensues plunging themselves into the Water? But admit the Confusion( as without dispute it is) to be very Great; it may not hence follow, that the very first Moment of Submersion, Reason must be lost; or, in your own Words, that there is a Moral Impossibility to regulate their Actions, by the Dictates of Reason.  
As to the laying hold of any thing in their Way, 'tis what equally happens in the Fall from a House, and seems not so much to argue a total eclipse of the Rational Faculty, as a want of Time to deliberate: For the Action of falling being Instantaneous, 'tis impossible to Form a settled Act of judgement.  
We all know the Prospect of sudden Death, by what way so ever, impresses a certain horror( which I must yet think is not so Great, to One who wilfully destroys Himself, as to Him who either by Accident or Constraint is put upon it); but that it leaves us immediately destitute of Choice, or a Power to refuse both, which are Acts of Free-will, and import Reason: I can't allow; as conceiving if it were so, He that wilfully throws Himself from a House, and He that falls accidentally, would both equally lay hold of any thing, that might save their Fall.  
page. 4. In this Confusion, you say, it is no ways surprising that Water, wherein they are immerced, should insinuate itself into some Vacuities, no ways adapted for its Reception.  
On the contrary, I must allege that whether in or out this Confusion, it is not only very surprising, but absolutely impossible, that Water should insinuate( though ne're so cunning,) or enter into any Cavity, which is at the same time, no ways fitted, or( if you had rather) adapted to its Entrance.  
I will not stand to Comment on your Notion of Suction, I thought such kind of Motion had been long since exploded: For my own part, instead of believing that the Lungs do suck in the Air, I think it more Rational to conceive, that as by Pulsion they are emptied, so by the Weight of the Air from the Pressure of the Atmosphere, they are presently filled again. Be this, however, as it will, I cannot grant you that every Man under Water, swallows down the same into the Gullet whilst his Senses continue: For, I doubt not but that He who designedly Drowns Himself, may choose to let it into the Windpipe, that He may thereby the sooner be choak't.  
The swallowing of Air or Water down the Windpipe, is a Term I do not readily apprehended, I take Deglutition, or Swallowing, which is the sole Office of the Gullet, and Respiration, or Breathing, which only appertains to the Windpipe, to be Two different Actions, and diversely effected; whoever swallows any thing, either in or out of the Water, must, by opening the Sphincter of the Gula, let it into the Stomach: and whilst a Person under Water continues swallowing, there may be no great Danger attend him of being drowned: it being very probable, that during this Action, no Water gets into the Lungs; but being unable to hold out for want of Breath, he must necessary make an Attempt to respire, when ceasing to swallow▪ the Epiglot riseth, and the Water spontaneously( if you will allow me the Expression) rusheth on the Lungs: So that when a Person is totally submerst, provided he swallows not at all, or cannot swallow longer, 'tis not only not improbable, but I believe certain, that in his attempt to respire, a far greater Quantity of Water, than Air( perhaps nothing but Water) will get into the Lungs.  
In every Expulsion of Air out of the Lungs, the Epiglottis, you say, is lifted up. And is it not so, I would be informed, in every Impulsion of the Air into them?  
'Tis my Opinion, that this part does never exactly close upon the Larynx, but upon Deglutition: and although by your Account it may be thought to be raised up like a Trap-door, and presently shut down again; I do find it a sort of Springy Body, and is, I doubt not, at all times somewhat elevated from the Glottis; unless, as I said before, at the time of swallowing: when by the Weight of the Aliments, whether liquid or solid, some peculiar Muscles assisting, it is forced down: and after this Action is over, by its own proper Elasticity it raiseth itself again, that the successive Motions of Inspiration and Expiration, may be orderly carried on.  
When once there is any considerable Quantity of Water got into the Windpipe, I imagine this mighty Struggle of Nature doth not long continue; and therefore cannot choose but wonder to hear you say, By this Struggle of Nature the Epiglot is lifted up, &c.  
It seems, in my Opinion, very natural; the Cover to the Windpipe being a springy Body, and for the most part inclining to an Horizontal Position: This, I say, considered, if the Mouth be full, and the Person almost spent; or though he can, yet if he will not swallow, the Nature of all Fluids is such, that they will run into any Declivity; unless( as upon another Account you have it) they are shut out, or that the Vacuity is no ways adapted to let them in.  
page. 5. As soon as the Senses are gone, you say, the Epiglottis is kept open by the Force of the Stream: To which I reply, that the natural Posture of the Epiglot, being such as I have described it; we might rather think the Force of the Stream should clap it down than keep it open: unless by the Force of the Stream, you mean somewhat like that of an Injection through a large Syphon, whereby the said Trap-door may be beat within the Rimulae of the Larynx; but in stagnant Waters the Force of the Stream will be inconsiderable.  
As long as the Senses continue, they( I suppose you mean Persons under Water) swallow most of the Water which comes into their Mouths, into their Stomachs: And the rest you tell us, elsewhere, they swallow into their Windpipes. But this I deny; For as long as the Senses continue, and they can hold their Breath, they very often swallow none: And after this, in the Case of voluntary Drowning( which you may smile at as long as as you please) 'tis more likely by far, that they admit it into their Lungs; since by swallowing ne're so much, they do not destroy themselves; but by letting a small Quantity into the Lungs, they presently put a Period to their miserable Lives.  
But when they are near suffocated, you say, the Water runs into those Ducts, where it meets with the least Resistance.  
I would, methinks, be informed what you mean by those Ducts. The Nose and Ears, I presume, are full before they are near suffocated: and if the Sphincter Gulae does oppose it Entrance into the Ventricle, what other dust remains, unless that of the Windpipe, out of which too, after Suffocation, 'tis not impossible but it may be kept, by the Contiguity of the Tongue's Basis to the Palate.  
So long as Life continues, you tell us, there is a Convulsive struggling of Nature, to expel out of the Lungs, all those things that are noxious to them, especially Water, &c.  
Let me tell you, Sir, I am apt to think, this especially, will be found a great Mistake; for I doubt not, but any thing of a more uneven Texture, slipping into the Lungs, will excite much stronger Convulsions, than those from Water. But indeed, according to some Experiments I lately made, I could not perceive the Marks of those violent Convulsions you here speak of.  
I took a Dog, and by a Weight directly sunk him under Three Foot of Water, which was so clear, that I could perceive what happened to him; and to be plain with you, I observed, that for almost a Minute, he threw his Head disorderly about, before he gaped; upon which the Water getting into his Windpipe in half a Minute more, he fell down with his Neck to the Bottom, voided of Sense and Motion.  
After this, I plunged another, somewhat less; when, in like manner as the former, I found when he had turned his Neck two or three times about, he was to appearance dead in a Minute's time.  
Now in all this, there were none of those Violent Efforts, to throw the Water out of the Lungs, discernible; or did I think it at all rational, to expect the same forced into the Cavity of the Thorax; either by dilating the Pores of the thin Membrane that invests the Lungs, as Quick-silver is forced by the Pressure of a Hand through a Piece of Leather; or by a rapture of their Tunicle, or by some minute Vessels not yet described by Anatomists. And the Reason of my thinking so is this, Because I could perceive little more to effect it, but the specific Gravity of the Water; which, according to the Laws of the Libration of liquours, I take to be inconsiderable.  
I know of no Physician that boasts of a Ne plus ultra in Anatomy: nor should I expect any such pretention from a Physician, so soon as from the Anatomist. These Two, you know, are not always ins●parable Companions. But as to your Instance about the Empyema; tho' I think it foolish to deny Facts, when I am unable to account for the Manner how they are brought about: Yet I see nothing to hinder me from believing, that very often, where the Matter you speak of is cast forth by Excreation; the Lungs have suffered a Solution of their Continuity. In Two Persons I have inspected, who died under these Circumstances, it was apparent; in both of which, as I suppose, from a preceding Peripneumony there had been Abscesces formed in the Lobes of the Lungs, which had rotted their outward Membrane; so that whether the Purulent Matter, which was coughed up, came from the said Abscess, or whether some of that which fluctuated on the Diaphragm, might not also be imbibed by the ulcerated Lung, was very uncertain.  
The Injection of bitter liquours affecting the Throat, if they are cast into a Fistula which took its Rise from an Internal Apostem: or otherwise, if the Penetration has been of long continuance, and discharged great Quantities of faetid, Ichorous or Corrosive Matter: I should less wonder the Experiment should answer; for in these Cases the Tone of the Viscera is very much weakened, the Patient very frequently dyes tabid, and we find upon Dissection, that very commonly the Lungs are corrupted. It may happen also in a Recent Puncture; but then we may be likewise sometimes uncertain, whether the Membrane of the Lungs received no Damage.  
I desire not that greater Stress should be laid upon these Cases, than they will readily bear: but this I must aver, that in Penetrations of the Chest, it does not always happen: For in a Puncture I have seen injected, and a Fistula of this part, into which I have cast at times, several Ounces of a bitter Decoction, with a Tincture of myrrh and Aloes: during which, I can safely say, I never heard any such Complaint, though I have purposely enquired.  
Your Citation of Mr. Boyl's Citation from Wallaeus, if Matter of Fact, might be Preter-natural: And as to his finding the same divers times, how diligent soever he might be, rather than show myself uncivil to him, by saying 'tis false, I shall turn sceptic, and suspend my Assent till I am better satisfied: At present I cannot see, if there was an admission of Air, through Pores much smaller than those made by the longer sort of Peas, into the Cavity of the Chest, how Respiration could be carried on: and I must needs think, that Dr. Garth's Remark upon the trial 
* Cowper's trial, p. 31.  is very pertinent: where he tells us, There is a great Providence in such a Texture; for if( saith he) there were any large Pores in this Membrane, the Air would pass through into the Cavity of the Thorax, and prevent the Dilatation of the Lungs, and consequently there would be an end of Breathing.  
But that I might put this Matter yet farther out of Controversy, being willing to be made sensible of the utmost Efforts of a Drowning Creature, and the Result of the most violent strugglings it could make to save itself; I sent for a Dog, and lest you should find fault had I made use of a Tub, I procured the use of a Distiller's Back, which, if I may call it so, is a sort of through, containing in Dimention Thirty Foot of Length, and half so much of Breadth. Into this, when filled with Water, I caused the Animal to be cast, having before ordered his Four Feet to be tied together.  
By the Force of the Fall he was plunged over Head and Ears, but rising up again, made to the side as well as he could, and though several times repulsed, continued struggling, and by the Liberty of his Hind-feet, often raised his Head above the Water; upon which, seeing no likelihood of his being drowned under a very long time, I ordered him to be taken out, and his Hind-feet also to be fastened together. Thus he was a second time thrown in, and continued struggling sometimes under, and sometimes above Water with his Head and Neck, in a quarter of an hours time his Navel started, and soon after there was a visible Prolaps of the Intestinum Rectum: Having thus between while had the Liberty of an imperfect Respiration, it was half an Hour before he had done struggling; after which, under Water he gaped several times. When dead I left him, and returned Five Hours after; at which time I desired he might be taken out with his Head erected, that we might lose no Water.  
I think, if it had been possible, I had Reason in this Case to expect Water in the Two Cavities, i.e. e. the Thorax and the Abdomen, which seemed much tumefied, but was so far from it, that upon the opening the Peritonaeum, instead of an Inundation, I found not a Drop of Water; and even the small Intestines had received very little, if any at all from the Pilorus. What was contained in the Stomach was much short of half a Pint, or little more than Four or Five Ounces. Having raised the Sternon, we perceived the Thorax, in like manner as the Abdomen, perfectly clear of Water. Out of the Windpipe there issued a Spumous Matter, and the whole of what we pressed from its Ramifications, was about Three Ounces.  
Thus, Sir, have I given you a faithful History of the Fact; but if you think the Experiment was made clandestinely, or that the Dog was half strangled before thrown into the Water, as you pitifully insinuate about Mr. Cowper's Experiments; for your farther Satisfaction, you may be informed of Mr. Harrison, without Bishopsgate; of Tho. sergeant, Esq; Gentleman Porter to the Tower of London; Mr. John Lichfield, Surgeon, with sundry other Persons, as Honest as Judicious. But to proceed.  
page. 6. Water is as frequently found in the Cavity of the Abdomen, as the Thorax.  
It may be so; but if the Stomach, Guts, &c. in the former, and the Lungs in the latter, continue firm and sound( as it is reported they were in Mrs. Stout) I cannot see how it should happen to be found in either. I must confess, I have never seen it, nor was there any thing like it in my late Experiment. If the Viscera are putrid I should not wonder at it; but if otherwise, I should be thankful to your Microscoptick Anatomist to show me how or which way it should enter.  
As soon as the Lungs, Stomach, &c. are full of Water, the Body naturally sinks,  
I suppose the &c. includes the Thorax and Abdomen, as well as the Guts; but though the Lungs▪ Stomach, and the &c. are full of Water, in the Sense of fullness here meant: I deny that the Body will always sink; as having seen the contrary, and can bring Proof of the same.  
page. 7. It is observable, you say, that Human Bodies after Death, admit no Water; because as soon as Death seizes a Man, the Sphincter Muscles in all Parts do naturally contract themselves.  
How it is in Human Bodies I can't say, having made no Experiment of that kind: But that it is always so in other Animals I deny, and indeed can see no Reason why it should not be admitted for a parallel Case. For though you say, the Sphincter Muscles do contract themselves, yet the Epiglot stands open; so that unless the Tongue and Palate by their Contiguity, or some Spumous Matter already in the Windpipe, intercept its passage: What hinders, in a supine Position of the Body, but that some small quantity of Water may slip within the Rimulae? But whether or not the Sphincters do always naturally contract themselves before Death, may be disputed: For they sometimes labour at that time with such a Paralysis, as occasions a Resolution of their Nervous Fibres, and forces them involuntarily to let go their Contents: Thus nothing is more common than for dying Animals, whether Rational or Irrational( if soon before they did not Exonerate) to let fall their Urine and Intestinal Faeces.  
That I might inform myself whether the Water would get into a Dead Body, I caused a Dog to be suffocated over the Fumes of a Spirituous liquour, prepared for Distillation, in the time of its Fermentation; and though his Nose was held some little distance from the Surface, yet it stifled him to Death in two or three Minutes time, after this he was thrown into the Water, and sunk presently to the bottom, where he lay several Hours. Being carefully taken out, I opened his Throat, and found the Epiglot( as is always usual) raised from the Windpipe, which inclining downward, there was discharged about three spoonfuls of fair Water.  
page. 7. The immediate floating of Human Bodies, thrown dead into the Water, I believe to be very uncertain: And whoever goes about to establish it for an infallible Hypothesis, I must needs think very rash if not guilty of a downright folly. For, though your Sea-men should tell me a Thousand idle Stories, I know there are so many causes that may alter the Case, that it would be very ridiculous to credit so bold an Assertion. I cannot say, I have as yet tried the Experiment on a human Body, but of those other Animals( both alive and dead when thrown into the Water) which I have made use of, there was but one which floated, and that I thought most likely to be found at the bottom; as having received most Water into the Lungs and stomach. If the Dead Body of an Ascitical Person should not sink, it might seem strange. one the other hand, if that of a purely Tympanitical, should not Float, it would be equally a wonder.  
If the Person died in the very Act of Inspiration, the Lungs you say, will be full of Air, &c.  
Here Sir, you must give me leave to think you very much out of the way, for unless in the case of some very sudden and violent Death, I am apt to believe all Persons finish their Life in the Act of Expiration; and even in the most sudden setting aside that of strangling by a Ligature, where the Air is forcibly included, and its passage from the Windpipe intercepted; I make it a Question whether the last Motion of the Lungs, is not that of its Systole or Contraction. For, although to outward appearance, a Man or other Creature may be thought to die inspiring, and seem perfectly devoy'd of sense and Motion: Yet by laying any polished or Diaphonous body to the Mouth and Nostrils, there is oftentimes a Damp contracted on the same, which is nothing but the Air insensibly proceeding out of the Lungs, and condensed on the surface of the said Body.  
'Tis this general Opinion, that hath given Rise to that very common Expression, when we would signify the Death of a Friend, by saying he is expired, or hath breathed out his last. But admit the Assertion good, of Dying in the Act of Inspiration, it will not follow that any Dying Person can take a tenth Part of the Air, he did in perfect Health: And so consequently cannot fill his Lungs with Air. For not to instance in Asthmatic Persons, who at all times take but little Air, by reason of the Obstructions of the Bronchia; and are therefore forced upon quick breathing: It is very rational to believe that immediately before Death, the constrictive Fibres are much weakened, the Blood begins to Stagnize in all Parts, and being carried by the Arteria venosa into the Lungs, faster than thrown off by the vena Arteriosa, into the left Ventricle of the Heart; a great part of the Pulmonary Cells are so stuffed, that they can admit but little Air: So that the quantity of what we take in perfect Health, and that which we receive Dying, is vastly disproportionate.  
By filling the Thorax with the same Air forced into the Windpipe, unless you mean filling the Lungs in the Thorax, it seems of kin to the Jargon of filling the Thorax, with Water out of the Lungs. For my Part, I have several times through a Tube, blow'd with as great Force as I could into the Lobes of the Lungs, and causing at the same time, a lighted Candle to be held nigh their Extremities, and round about them; I never could perceive the least Motion of the flamme, whereby I might conjecture the Air had any vent: So that I must think it impossible that either Air or Water, whilst their Texture continues Firm, can insinuate itself into the Cavity of the Thorax; till you can bring me some of the diligent Wallaeus's Gentlemen, that have Pores in the investing Membrane of their Lungs, as big as the longer sort of Peas.  
page. 9. I think it very likely, that a dead Body will be more Buoyant in Salt than in Fresh-water. But your Experiment I take to be inconclusive, for unless you had said that a Ship will sink some Inches lower in a Sea of Fresh-water, than in one of Salt: Your Adversary may object, that the reason of the lower sinking in the Thames, may perhaps be as much owing to the want of Depth, as Salt.  
The Discordance of the Physicians, is best perceived by reading over the trial, some part of the Disagreement as I remember, did consist in this: That whereas on the King's Part, it was affirmed the Lungs of Mrs. Stout, were firm and sound, and not the least appearance of Water in the Thorax; for the Prisoner Mr. Cowper, it was replied, that if the investing Membrane of the Lungs was sound, it was ridiculous to expect Water in the Chest their Enclosure.  
Again, For the King, it was thought impossible that any Person thrown alive into the Water, should be drowned without swallowing or taking in ● great Quantity of the same, into the Stomach and other Cavities; Whereas for the Prisoner it was thought very Possible two or three Ounces might be sufficient to Drown any Submersed Person. And this leads me to your Tenth page., where I find you much concerned, that Mr. Cowper's Physicians should strenuously urge, that so small a quantity of Water was sufficient for this Purpose: Which you say they grounded on a Private Experiment on a Dog half-hang'd, you being apt to think that there was Artifice in the Case: and indeed so should I, if I were sure they had half hanged him; but if you were  told so in your sleep it may happen to be false; or if not, I think you are but little obliged to any Person, who who was so officious as to tell you an untruth. However, that you may not be  told of any Artifice made use of in my Experiments, I shall refer you to the foresaid Mr. sergeant. He is a Gentleman very curious in these inquiries, a Man of unquestionable Probity, and very well known in our City of London.  
In his presence, with divers others, I caused a Dog who had been kept fasting almost twenty four Hours, to be plunged under Water, without suffering him to rise: When he had been dead some time, I took him with his Head erected, that we might not lose a drop of Water he had taken in. Having made a Ligature on the Gula, I turned down the Larynx, and with a moderate Pressure, there was discharged of Water mixed with a Spume or Froth, about four large Spoonfuls.  
After this, I came to the Stomach, which I perceived to be very lank and flaccid, when cutting into it, there was not a Drop of Water to be found; nor indeed the least remains of the Chylous Juice, which had been before carried off through his long Fasting, so that the wrinkles of the inward Membrane were very conspicuous.  
Soon after I drowned another before the same Company, and do assure you have all imaginable reason to persuade myself, that all the Water he had received was let into the Lungs, which did not exceed two Ounces and an half: But in this latter,( having, unknown to us, been fed a little before) the Stomach was half full of indigested Aliments, yet no appearance of Water, which in Drowning we could suppose he had gulped down.  
I come now to your Pleasantry with Dr. Sloan, who it seems was so unhappy as to tell the Judge, that Cases of that kind were very uncommon; and least some Ignorant Person should be to seek for the meaning of the words, here is a Parenthesis clapped in, to tell us, that by Cases of this kind is meant ( for Mrs. Stout to be Drowned without any Water in her.)  
I thank you Sir for your Information, till now I did not think the Doctors Words were so Mysterious, but harmlessly gave them a quiter different Construction, which before you were pleased to be so witty with them, I thought very natural; and having since asked others, they tell me the Dr. means the Cases of Drowned Bodies remarked upon, especially when they have been laid six Weeks under Ground, and afterwards inspected to find Water. Now, Sir, if since the Creation of Man or Woman either, you have heard of such a Case before, or if in the Multiplicity of your practise, you have met with any thing like it, I think 'tis great Injustice that you have so long concealed it.  
I would gladly know precisely what you mean by Drowning. You think that no Person can properly be said to be drowned, who hath not swallowed,( I should rather like received or let in, because swallowing, as I have already  told you, is proper to the Gullet) above two or three Ounces of Water; and I think, that if under Water those two or three Ounces do effect his Destruction, he is as truly said to be Drowned, as if he had taken in two or three Gallons.  
If Respiration could by any Contrivance, be secured to a Person under Water, he would be then in no danger of Drowning. Again, set him up to the Chin, and if it were possible, let him swallow a Tun; tho' it may be otherways mischievous, it will not drown him. For if, as may be inferred from your Opinion, Drowning must be measured by a great Quantity of liquour swallowed into the Stomach, we have abundance of those Drowned Persons, some of them top full, daily reeling about our Streets in London, and I believe you have some few of them in your Town of Hertford: Hitherto we have called them Drunken Persons; and you will find it a very difficult matter to persuade them, that they are properly or truly Drowned.  
Since then it is not the greater quantity swallowed into the Stomach, but the lesser taken into the Lungs, that kills the Creature, and since there is no such thing at all as Drowning, but by that smaller Quantity entering the said part; I reckon that if a Man dies under Water, without the distinction of more or less Water taken in, he is as much and as really Drowned, as any thing can be. I know the word is somewhat ambiguous, and Custom has applied it differently: for if a Person upon Land, by liquour accidentally rushing on the Lungs, or as it is called, going the wrong way, receives his Death: This I say is name Suffocation; but if the same thing betides him under Water, we usually call it Drowning; tho' the latter is as much Suffocated as the former. But I have already been too long on this matter, and shall therefore proceed.  
page. 11. I hope by this time, you are no great stranger to the meaning of that general Question you take notice of, about Water in the Thorax; if being sensible of the Blunder, they had ingeniously quitted it; I believe it had been much better; but whether or no their persisting in it has been any advantage to them, the Learned World must judge.  
I cannot think the investing Membrane of the Lungs, so easily torn in Coughing: if it should there may an Ulcer of the Lungs ensue, for the Solution would not presently, if at all, be re-united: But what of this, or what would you infer. I can't persuade myself there is any Coughing under Water, that should break their Continuity.  
I find the Dr. is not yet got out o● your Clutches. He brings us, poor Gentleman, so many ifs and and's; that his Sentences happen to prove un-intelligible; for where he tells us, that if there was a great Fermentation, a great deal of the Water would rise up in Vapours and Steams, and go off that way; we are at a Loss it seemeth what way he means.  
page. 12. I can't imagine, say you, by that way, what way he means.  
I know not what you may imagine, yet I cannot think you altogether so dull as you pretend: But others do imagine, that by the way of Steams and Vapours, he means the way of Steams and Vapours: or if 'twill be more easy to your imagination, under the form, after the manner, or by the way of Evaporation. Through what passages these Vapours were to make their way, was another Question, which if you were to ask him, he would perhaps tell you thro' the Pores of the Body. But it seems, to serve a turn, all Out-lets must be barred and bolted; the Sphincters must be locked up, and all the coverings of the Body grow so dense and compact, that not one poor Corpuscle shall gain its Liberty: so that altho' some steams cannot extricate themselves from putrid Flesh, yet others will get through plastered and Brick-Walls, nay the very stones themselves are not a Fence against their Penetration. But if a certain Person, present at the Dissection, does not retract, I was  told there was a moisture somewhat like these Steams, on the Burial clothes of Mrs. Stout; in others I have been informed it has been frequently observed: But rather than this Putrefactive Moisture, or sort of due, which has been seen upon the shrouds of the Dead, should be thought to arise from the Body: I suppose you would choose to account for it, from the Subterranean Damps, working through the Coffin, and so settling on the Corps.  
page. 13. I make no question, but that dead Flesh, whether in or out of Water, will quickly grow putrid: but which of them will be so soonest, I can't be positive, tho' I am rather inclining to Dr. Garth's Opinion, and to think that Water will rather retard than hasten putrefaction: In a little time I shall be better able to give Satisfaction to them who require it.  
page. 14. You must excuse me, if I don't come up to your Belief, that there was a Lapsús Linguoe, in the Dr's. Distinction of Accident and Design, as believing it founded both on Reason and Experience: but if you will allow them as much Difference as may be found in your witty Simile, P. 16. between the Person who putteth the Halter about his own Neck, and one( as you express it) that the Hang-man forceth it on. I know not whether they will desire any more.  
page. 17. The Animals I drowned, had all of them much Froth came from their Mouths and Nostrils; and after having taken out of one of them, the Lungs and Wind-pipe, and laid them on a Table, I observed this Spumous Matter plentifully to rise up, and to run over the Epiglottis: insomuch that it seemed likely the Lobes might be quickly emptied of their Water by this way of Purgation. I cannot say this Froth is peculiar to drowned Persons; for tho' perhaps the Lungs may not furnish the Matter, yet to Persons dying otherways, there very often happens so quick a Ferment in the Stomach, that the Contents thereof are frequently Discharged by the Gullet, under this Appearance. I know 'tis positively asserted by one of the Physicians, that if Mrs. Stout had not been Drowned, there had been none of this Purgation, I suppose he means from the Wind-pipe, and then I am inclining to the same Opinion.  
Mr. Herriot must be answerable for his own Contradiction, I am so far from defending him, that if he or any one else, should tell me it was so general a Rule, as did admit of no Exception, I should give little heed to them, since I find it very uncertain.  
page. 19. Having now, as you suppose cleared the way, and knocked down all before you: the next thing is your Account of her Death: but if I am not much deceived, the Entrance to it, is either thro' your unfitness for the Task, or the weakness of your Intellect, ushered in with a very great mistake.  
If this Gentlewoman, say you, was not Drowned, as the Doctors and Surgeons for the Prisoners, seem to insinuate.  
How! Did the Doctors for the Prisoners insinuate that She was not Drowned, I profess I thought they had all taken it for granted that She was Drowned. Dr. Crell, I think in particular was a Physician for the Prisoners, and He expressly tells the Judge 
* Cowpe● trial, p. 3  that He is not to descant upon the Matter of Fact, whether She Drowned her self: Yet saith He, my firm Opinion is that She was Drowned.  
Now if to be positive or firmly to believe She was Drowned, be the same thing as insinuating she was not Drowned: I see not how any Man can rightly apprehended anothers meaning, but by the Rule of Contraries. I confess you have already  told us of the weakness of your Intellect, but how weak soever that may be, I must needs think your Memory is very Treacherous. Now as to the Manner of Mrs. Stout's Death.  
First then we are to understand, She was knocked down with a Blow upon Her left Ear. Secondly, After She was down, She was throttled with the Gripe of a strong Hand. And Thirdly, That the Person who throttled Her, might gripe the Stronger, He restend his Arm upon Her Breast.  
On my word Sir you have made it out extremely well, I find 'tis a rare thing to have a quick Invention: And I must tell you for your encouragement, 'tis a Question whether the best Mathematitian in our City of London, could have done it more exactly. 'Twas well your fruitful genius was consulted to untie this Knot, otherwise we might have met with much difficulty, and perhaps had never been able to have solved so many perplexing Phaenomena with so much perspicuity.  
I ●●●st con●●●s ●●as very unlucky for Mr. Cowper, these jennings happened so pat for your Learned Comments: But had they been elsewhere, I fear they would not have escaped your penetrating judgement. Thus upon the Belly they might have been made by kneeling to keep Her down: Upon her Back by falling on the said Part against the Ground Her Thighs might happen to be trampled on in the Scuffle, and nothing more likely, than that some Body should lie upon her Legs, for fear she should rise again before they had dispatched her. Thus, right or wrong, rather than it should be thought she was accessary to her own Death, we must find out the best means we can, on which to ground a persuasion that it happened otherwise, and that of necessity there must be violence in the Case.  
We come now to the Reasons, why you can't believe she did destroy her self: which I shall briefly speak to, as they lie in order; and, with you, submit myself to better Judgments.  
The first is, Because she was found without her Gown and Nigthtrail, which( that we may have a salue for every Soar) were very probably torn in the Scuffle.  
As to this, I must think it rational to suppose, that she her self might take them off, to promote( as she might imagine) the speedy sinking, or prevent the Discovery of her Body, by their spreading on the Surface of the Water; nor do I see any great Difficulty in the Thought, that a Norwich Stuff may be rotted under Water, in as little time as the Gown was, of which we are speaking. If the Nightrail be never found, I hope it does not follow that she was murdered: I should rather think, if the Gown was brought and thrown in afterwards, so might the Nightrail too; which would have been as easily rotted elsewhere, as the Gown, and with the same Trouble both might have been cast into the Water. I can't suppose, admitting it had been in the River from the time of her Drowning, that it would have been always in one Place; but rather carried by the Stream under Water, sometimes to one place sometimes to another; sometimes lodged and sometimes at Liberty, as we find other Trumpery will be under a Current: So that supposing the Miller had very diligently cleared that very Stake, but half an hour before; what hinders the possibility but that the next half hour, the Gown either by itself, or together with other Trash, might be carried thither by the Stream and lodged?  
page. 20. Secondly, Because she was found Floating, of which you make no doubt, because it was Sworn by several Witnesses.  
I have already taken Notice, that from this, there can be nothing certainly inferred; Dead Bodies thrown into Water, I am satisfied will often Sink, and Drowned Bodies sometimes will not: But as to the Case before us, 'tis plain that some of those who viewed the Body, gave a different Relation from some others. Thus some of them said She did Float though it was under Water, whilst others, who should know best, being the Parish Officers and employed by the Coroner to take Her out, Depose, that the Body lay half a Foot under Water, and that for any thing they could perceive, Her Feet might touch the bottom, and farther that when She was heaved up, there were several Sticks and Flags on which She restend; but without all this, Sir, I think it very Natural for a Dead Body which is always Buoyant, in a Current four or five Foot deep, by the bare Force of the Stream when it meets with a sl●nting Opposition, to be raised from the bottom.  
Thirdly, Because Her Belly was not at all Swollen.  
Nor was it at all necessary, though Drowned, that it should.  
Fourthly, Because no Water came out of Her, when lifted out of the Water, nor purged from Her afterwards.  
This, with Submission, is a mistake: For, though there is no quantity of Water taken Notice of, to issue from Her; yet is it agreed on both Sides, that She did purge at the Mouth and Nostrils: Some say more, others less. The two Principal who took Her out, and stood by for some time afterwards, do affirm that the Froth came out after such a Manner, as to run down the sides of the Face, and that as it was wiped of, fresh Froth came presently on again; which Doctor Crell does assert, could not have happened had She been strangled or otherways killed before. Whether this be so or not, I believe it very Possible, where little Water is received( and very little will suffice to Drown a Person), if there be so great a Purgation at the Mouth and Nostrils, most if not all the Water, may be turned into a Spumous Matter, at least so much that there will be no absolute Necessity, for Water to run out upon the Motion of the Body afterwards.  
Fifthly, Because Her Inwards were not putrefied.  
After six Weeks time, I should indeed have expected putrefaction from any Person under Ground, that had not been Imbalmed, without regard to Water taken into the Body; which whether or no it hasten putrefaction, is very disputable: What it may do under the Earth I know not, but I much question whether Dead-flesh, covered over with Water, will grow Putrid so soon as that which is exposed to the immediate Contact of the Air. Of this I shall be able to say more in a little time and for the present leave it as a Problem undecided.  
Sixthly, From the several distinct jennings of Blood, unusual in Drowned Persons.  
Upon the trial, it is affirmed by Mr. Camlin, that both Mr. Dimsdale and Himself having viewed the Body, did give it in as their Opinion to the Coroner, that there were no other settlements or stagnations of the Blood than that what may usually happen to Drowned Bodies. Mr. Camlin instances in the Child for one, but whether that were so or not, I have perceived it myself on the Superfice of a Drowned Body, nor do I see why it may not be found on the Neck and Breast, as soon as on other Parts.  
Seventhly, From the continual Disturbance, 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.  
If Mrs. Gurrey was disturbed in Mind, it would seem strange that she should not be disturbed in Body; the latter being, as I suppose, seldom or never easy, whilst the former is under Trouble or Disquiet. But whether Mrs. Gurrey's mighty Disturbance, had other Rise than a Whim of the Brain, founded upon a strong Prepossession of Fancy, may very reasonably be questioned: For my part, I look on it so natural, for a doting ignorant old Woman to be terrified with the Disorder of her own Imagination, before hand perverted by too deep R●flection; though the same has nothing but a Chimaera to support it, that I am never startled when I hear of their Pretences to Voices and Revelations. These you know are not engrossed, though more peculiar to a distinct Sect. So that if once such Persons happen to be strongly opinion'd that any thing may be so, they need but fall asleep for a Confirmation that it is so.  
Had you not already acquainted us with the Weakness of your Intellect, and your Incapacity, &c. I should have been startled that a Man of Learning and Solid judgement should build on the idle Fancies of a dreaming old Woman. I think, how greatly soever she might be disturbed before in Mind or Body, she has now more Reason to be concerned, that by her fond belief of a Revelation, those Men should be brought into danger of their Lives, whom we have a great deal of Reason to believe were as Innocent as her self, and little or none to to think they should be guilty of such a horrid Fact as they were accused of.  
page. 21. Eighthly, from what is sworn by the Gurreys against their Lodgers at the trial.  
Could I believe all to be true that the Gurreys swore, I should make no question of the likelihood of these Mens Guilt: But that they did stretch in some things, is very easy to believe, by some Particulars at the trial, and by their Behaviour before, at, and after the same, we have great Inducements to persuade us that they did so in others. Thus it is proved that Gurrey himself went out of the Court in a boasting way, to tell some of his Acquaintance, That he had done Cowper's Business; or to that effect. And at another time he said, That if Mr. Cowper had visited Old Mrs. Stout, none of this Trouble had befallen him. Another thing discovers the Malice of the Prosecution, in that though themselves suspected Mrs. Stout's Maid, yet this was not to be taken notice of, for fear of taking off her Evidence: And if his Wife could so readily turn the Fifty Shillings, Mr. Marson had that Day received in Southwark, for Business done in the Borough-Court, into Fifty Pound, supposed to be paid him for murdering Mrs. Sarah Stout at Hertford; she might by the same kind of Improvement, or by a Mistake, understand all the rest.  
It seems indeed to me, the most notorious Absurdity can be imagined, that had these Men really came down on such a Design, they should go directly to tell their Landlady, Mrs. Stout's Business was done, they had spoiled her Courting Days, and that one of them had received Fifty Pounds for doing her Business.  
In Matters of this Nature, where we can have nothing but idle Stories, and an Old Wive's Dream to raise the Suspicion; I think it highly behoves us, before we pass our Censure, to pay a just Regard to the Character and Reputation of the Person. Thus indeed, tho' it will be impossible for Mr. Cowper to clear himself, in the Opinion of every one who knows nothing of him: Yet I am ready to think there are few who know him( unless some particular Persons, that upon any Terms, would willingly ruin the Interest of his Family in that County) will be brought to a persuasion he could so barbarously imbrue his Hands in Blood, though instead of the pretended One Thousand Pound, he might have gained Ten: And as to the other Persons, 'tis visible they live in Credit and Reput●tion, their Characters well attested, and not one of them in the least likely, to make an assassin, for the Lucre of Five Hundred Pounds.  
Ninthly, From the Sentiments of the Grand Jury.  
I must needs think that on so formal an Indictment drawn up against these Gentlemen; such strenuous Allegations of their being Guilty; so foul a Crime charged on them; such a Circumstance attending, as that of Mr. Cowper's being last in her Company, and the others of his Acquaintance: especially when Mrs. Gurrey's Tale had been set out with abundance of Aggravation; I see, I see not how for public Satisfaction as well as Private the G●and Jury could do less than Find the Bill. But as to the Perty Jury as you call them, I wish you had named those several, who did believe her murdered after the trial. I am assured that some of them have openly declared, they thought the Gentlemen we speak of, had been so much abused, that the Prosecutor's Estate, if it were ten times larger than it is, was little enough to make them Reparation.  
As to the Letters produced in Court, your Thoughts it seems are, That they are not of a Legitimate, but a Spurious Issue: And why?  
1. Because the style doth no ways svit her Character.  
If the Author of the Hertford-Letter had no extraordinary, or perhaps no Knowledge at all of her, but takes every thing on Trust from her Friends and Relations: he ought not to be so positive, that the style does no way svit her Character. If by style, as the Word generally is understood, you mean the Order of her Thoughts, or the Manner of her Expression, you must own she might have Sense enough to be the Author of those Compositions. But I find you make so bold with the Use of Words, and take them so differently from other Learned Men, that in some places it Occasions a little Difficulty to understand you. If by style then, as I imagine, you would signify the Subject of the Discourse, or the Matter of the Composure; I have more Reason to think, than I will at present make public, that these Letters do well enough svit her Character, with some that knew her. And I must tell you, that I am ready to believe, had her Mother been asked the Question some Months before she dyed, when she had some Words with her one Evening in the Garden; or about the time when Theophilus was sent for to reprove her, about her falling from the Light: I say at these times, I can't think her Mother would have denied, but that these Letters might have been suitable to her Character. However, she is now out of a Capacity to defend her self, and upon that Account it might seem ill, with Contempt to tread upon her Ashes; I shall therefore say no more, but that I would not have you too busy with the Character, lest you should happen to make good an old Proverb.  
2. Because the Mother doth affirm, the Letter shown in Court, was of a smaller Character, than ever she observed her Daughter to writ, neither doth her Brother think them to be Genuine.  
Would it not have been very odd, if the Mother and Brother, who came to secure the Reputation of so near a Relation( though never so well satisfied that it was her Hand) should have said otherwise than they did. For my part, I take both their Answers to be so unsatisfactory, not to say foolish, that nothing but the Relation they were speaking for, can pled their Excuse.  
The Mother being asked by the Judge, whether she thought it was her Daughters Hand, reply's only, how should I know? I know she was no such Person, her Hand may be counterfeited. Being questioned again what she would say to it, if it had been written in a more Sober style, She answers, I shan't say it to be her Hand, unless I had seen her writ it.  
The Brother being interrogated on the same Question, says, 'Tis like his Sisters Hand: But being asked if He did believe it was her Hand, He reply's, No: And why? Because it does not svit her Character. Now let the World judge, if this contains any more than if the Mother had said, because She was my Daughter, or the Brother, because She was my Sister, we won't believe it, least the World should look on Her to have been a Lewd Woman.  
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 former Admirer) was proved to be false, &c.  
If these Letters were taken Notice of, so soon as the Report of her being with Child, it was very early, for that Morning She was taken out of the Water, it was whispered in the Country, and at Night I heard from some in London, that they believed it very likely for Her to be with Child: And that to prevent the ensuing Infamy, She had made her self away. This was no more than what is generally Suspected, when a Single Gentlewoman is by any means accessary to Her own Death. So that without dispute, if the Nominal Quaker had not been concerned in it, the Report would have spread without him. But I judge this Epithet is bestowed on Him, not so much for that He thought and reported Her to be with Child, which Hundreds did besides Him at that time, but because He was so very officious to prove her Hand by his Receipt.  
This may indeed be thought a mean Spirited Action from Him, as He had been Her former Admirer: And I think if her Hand writing could have been proved without his Appearance, He should have stirred last. However I would not have You so very angry at Him, since I don't find that He got any thing more by it, than to have the Judge informed, that He was one of their own Sect. And if for this only, He must be a Nominal Quaker, I could tell You of some that have had great Parts to Act in this Prosecution, that are as far from being Real Quakers( if to be so is a Perfection) as Mr. B.—  
page. 22. 4. Because Mr. Mason and Mr. Archer, on the trial Swear that Mr. Cowper Deposed that Mrs. Stout was a Modest Person, &c.  
When Mr. Cowper was before the Coroner, He dreamed not of the approaching Storm that was coming upon Him: And I think 'twas not reasonable that he should concern himself at all with her Character; there were not wanting those, who were ready enough to think He had been too familiar with Her, and that on some resentment taken at his Carriage to Her, she had destroyed her self: So that if 'twere only to wipe off this Suspicion, His Account of Her was no other than what any Man under his Circumstances, might have given. I can't tell what you might have thought of Him, but had he  told the Coroner he knew She was Melancholy, that it was upon his Account, for that having formerly been very civil to Her, he grew of late sick of her Acquaintance, and that because in his last Visit, he had betrayed some little Inifference, and notwithstanding her Importunity, would not stay to lie at her House, She had therefore in a Passion, thrown her Self into the River; if Mr. Cowper I say, had given the Coroner such a Relation as this, I should have thought him a Person of very little understanding.  
page. 23. As to her Melancholy, I believe it was such as did make her Head and her Heart ache also; and that it was more than a common Hemicrane, whatever you( who had perhaps no great intimacy with Her) may imagine, or her Mother and Brother give out I am satisfied there wants no Proof of such a Melancholy, as was next to a Distraction. There is a certain Gentlewoman, now in being, who cannot deny that She had heard Mrs. Stout wish her self Dead, saying She was the miserable'st Creature living, and that She hoped if 'twere possible, to die after such a Manner, that the World might know nothing of the Matter, nor ever so much as mention there had been such a Person living. But indeed her Melancholy is too well attested to be so much as doubted of, by any disinterested Person, and therefore as you are apt to think, there are many Friends and Relations, bigoted to a Party, that will not Boggle to tell a lye, to save a Friend or near Relation from— I suppose you mean the Gallows; so on the other hand I believe there may be those in the World, who would not scruple to tell an untruth, which is of near kin to a lie, and if 'twere in their Power, would bring a Man to the said Place, rather than it should be thought a near Friend and Relation, was in Love with a married Man.  
The Gentlewoman you take Notice of, so much importuned by the Deceased to stay with her that Night, if she has not altered her Story, will aclowledge that Mrs. Stout did tell her she was very much Indisposed, and farther saith she, you see I am very Melancholy, so that it will be the greater Unkindness, if You leave me at this time alone.  
page. 25. You say there are a thousand Pounds wanting of her Original Fortune, I wish you had  told us whether you set a side the Charge of the Prosecution, if you include this in the want, one half might be expended that way; for I suppose there was nothing spared to carry it on.  
I have heard of Peoples wanting that which they never had; and I am credibly informed this is the Case in debate. Some of your Country Men, that have been many Years acquainted in the Family, do tell me there is as much found as ever She could be thought Worth, but if You would be credited, You must give better Proof than Yours, or Her Relations say so. However I think this to be very little Material, She might, though in some things very Frugal, in others be as Extravagant, but which way soever 'tis gone it seems nothing less can repay it, but the Lives of Persons who had never seen Her.  
Though the Quakers Affirmation will not be taken in Criminal Cases( 'twas well I think that it was not admitted in this particular One), yet they have now the privilege to Publish their Reasons, why they Suspected Mr. Cowper to be privy to the Receipt of any of her Money, more than that which the Writings found in her Custody, and his own acknowledgement do Evince. I am sure he has bid them a fair Defiance, having openly challenged the Worst of his Adversaries, to discover what they can of this Nature.  
If they think fit to draw up any thing of this kind, I should advice them to make use of some abler Clerk, than the Author of the Hertford Letter: For, if he has the Management, 'tis a great chance if we are not entertained with one of Mrs. Gurrey's Dreams, or some such ridiculous Innuendo.  
page. 26. In this Place, we are once more acquainted with the use of the Epiglottis, which you will have continually to close on the Mouth of the Aspera Arteria unless in Expiration. On the Contrary, I have  told you( and will submit myself to any Anatomist in Europe,) that it is for the most part open, and never exactly closes but upon Deglutition, so that whatever you build upon that Notion, must fall to the ground.  
page. 27. I think 'tis but reasonable, that Mr. Baron Hatsell return his Thanks to you, for the Compliment you put upon him in the close of your Letter. I am ready to apprehended that there is no trial suffered to be Printed, till after the Examination of the Judge, and his Permission first obtained; and therefore must needs think Omssions and Alterations, especially of great Moment, as these should be which you insinuate; is a very great Injustice to the World, an Injury to Truth, and too sinister an Action for a Judge to be guilty of. But let who will stand in your way, I see you will have a Fling at them, and rather than be thought to have nothing at all to say, will be telling us of that which( if possible) comes to less.  
Thus to heighten a Suspicion of Guilt, we are entertained with a Tale of a Tub, about Mr. Stevens's being ill, or as you express it, taken with a strange sort of Fit. I hope, Sir, 'tis not always an Argument of a Man's Guilt, that he cannot carry himself unconcernedly, when he sees his Life hanging by a Hair, or depending on the Delivery of a Word or two from the Fore-man of a Jury: 'Tis time enough to Censure, when we ourselves have undergone the trial.  
Your Story of the Wine-Cooper I have never heard of, and re●lly I am so desperate Jealous of your Relations, that I dare not 〈◇〉 them till they come with more Authority: When I have b●●●er informed myself, I shall be ●etter able to give you my Opinion.  
Your Prayer, methinks, with which you conclude, had better have been left out; since, though it wants the Length of the Pharisees, whoever takes notice of the Spirit that runs through the whole Letter, will need no Arguments to persuade him that it proceeds from an Hypocrite. There is little Appearance that 'tis your Desire the Innocent may be cleared from Aspersions cast undeservedly on them, when for more than Twenty Pages, you are venting the utmost of your Malice, and by the basest means imaginable, would insinuate those Gentlemen are Guilty, who for any thing you know of the Matter, may be as innocent as yourself.  
Let me tell you, Sir, I think it a very bold Attempt, and such as 'tis great Pity does not come under the Lash of the Law. When a Gentleman has taken his trial, and it does appear upon that trial, there is no Proof of the Fact he is charged with, nor indeed any thing on, which to ground so much as a Suspicion, unless that of his being unfortunately the last Person in her Company: In a Word, when Faction and Personal Prejudice, appear the only Motives of the Prosecution, whoever brings the Business a fresh on the Stage, does only expose the intenseness of his own Mind, and plainly evidence that he is neither a true Gentleman, nor a good Christian.  
I have looked over your Postscript, and as in many Places of the Letter, perceive through the Weakness of your Intellect, or your Unfitness for the Controversy, you have made good your prognostic of betraying a little Ignorance.  
First of all you tell your Friend. You make no doubt but he has heard, that the Surgeons that opened Mrs. Stout's Body, deposed she was a Virgin. Now if he had heard as much before, as you make no doubt he had, I don't see to what purpose, or what News it could be to inform him of that he had heard before; but being fearful it had not reached every bodies Ear, I make no doubt this Intelligence is to inform the World. But doubt you as you please, had I found the Surgeons deposed as you report, I should be ready to doubt whether they were Wise Men or Fools.  
I find nothing like it in the Affidavit, of which you say you have delivered us a true Copy.  
They tell us indeed, They found the Uterus perfectly free and empty, and of the natural Figure and Magnitude usually in Virgins. But surely this will not amount to a Deposition, that she was a Virgin; all that can be hence inferred, is only that she had not conceived, and if 〈◇〉 possible for a Woman in Coitu, to miss of Conception, i● missing of a ●onception, the Womb may, notwithstanding the Carnal Con●●●●●●●●in the natural Form and Figure usually in Virgins, why then 〈…〉 ●●is implies no more than a bare Probability that she had not known a Man.  
I must confess till now, I never heard that the Figure or Magnitude of the Womb, were numbered amongst the indubitable Marks of Virginity; and as to the State of the Vagina, the Myr●●form Caruncles, and Hymen, which Mother Peppercorn her self could only guess at: There is no notice at all taken, if there had indeed, it would only have furnished Matter of Derision: The Body having been so long interred▪ So that you see, for any thing pretended to in the Affidavit, or elsewhere, she might not be a Virgin, though Charity should oblige us to hope at least, that she was.  
 
POSTCRIPT.  
SInce this REPLY went into the Press, I have been informed by a Gentleman of unquestionable Credit, that the Story of the Wine-Cooper at the Close of the Hertford-Letter, took its Rise only from what follows.  
There was, it seems, a Person going down to the Assizes, who had the Misfortune to be thrown from his Horse, and was taken up as dead; being carried to his Lodging, he began to rave and to talk idly; which was no more than the Effect of a Delirium, arising from the Concussion of his Brain; which might have made any Man Light headed as well as he, and which nothing but one as mad could have improved after such a Manner as the Letter writer has done.  
By this, the public may be informed of the Disingenuity, not to say down right villainy, of some People in the World; who missing their Design of taking away a Man's Life, seek all possible ways of Murdering his Reputation.  
FINIS.