The whole narrative, published by St. André in 1723, was considered by his contemporaries as an ostentatious falsehood, invented only to render him an object of attention and commiseration. It should be remembered, that his depositions were all delivered on oath; and yet, being replete with facts totally improbable (for his apologist allows "they partake of the marvellous"), obtained no credit from the world; a sufficient proof of the estimation in which his moral character was held by the people who were best acquainted with it, though at that period (for the rabbit affair had not yet decided on his reputation) he possessed sufficient interest as court-surgeon to engage the privy-council in his cause. They readily enough consented to offer a sum which they might have been sure would never be demanded. All the poison he was ever supposed to have suffered from, was such as is commonly administered in a more tempting vehicle than a glass of strong liquor:
"'Twas that which taints the sweetest joys,
And in the shape of Love destroys."
The bare mention of Socrates in company with such a pretended victim as St. André, cannot fail to make the reader smile.
But "He's half absolv'd who has confess'd," continues his advocate, speaking of the recantation St. André made by public advertisement. Yet, what did he confess? Why, what all the world concurred to believe, that he had been grossly imposed on; or perhaps that, out of two evils choosing the least, he allowed himself to be a fool, that he might escape the imputation of having proved a knave. His absolution therefore was not obtained on the most creditable terms. He adds, however, on this emergency, a fresh proof of his disposition to deceive. "I think myself obliged (says he) in strict regard to truth, to acquaint the public that I intend, in a short time, to publish a full account of the discovery, with some considerations on the extraordinary circumstances of this case, which misled me in my apprehensions thereof; and which, as I hope they will, in some measure, excuse the mistakes made by myself and others who have visited the woman concerned therein, will also be acceptable to the world, in separating the innocent from those who have been guilty actors in the fraud." This work was never published, though St. André survived his promise by the long term of fifty years. So much for the faith thus solemnly pledged by an impostor to the public.
After the accident had befallen Mr. Pope, on his return from Dawley in Lord Bolingbroke's coach, St. André was called in, because he happened to be the surgeon nearest at hand. No man chooses to be scrupulous in the moment of danger. It might be urged that our hero had little to boast on the occasion, because his patient never recovered the use of his wounded fingers. But this calamity is not strictly chargeable on St. André's want of skill; for I have been assured, that though he stopped the effusion of blood, the completion of the cure was entrusted solely to another artist. The RABBITEER, having received his fee, was not admitted a second time into the Poet's company.
To conclude, I differ as much with our ingenious apologist at the close of his Epistle as throughout the foregoing parts of it, being of opinion that his hero no more deserves to be admired than to be copied. There is always hazard lest wonder should generate imitation; and the world would not be much obliged to any circumstance that produced a second being fabricated on the model of St. André.
[1] See also Dryden's Limberham, or the Kind Keeper. Act III.
[2] The words of Pope are "the poisoning dame." See Epilogue to his Satires, Dial. II. v. 22.
[3] Whilst the above page was preparing for the second edition of this work, the following particulars of this gentleman's family appeared in the public prints: "Mr. Molyneux, who was equally the friend of liberty and literature, was founder of a society in Ireland, in imitation of the Royal (as was his nephew, the Rev. Dr. Madden, of the Dublin Society). His genius was celebrated by Locke, and other sages of those days; and his patriotism was rewarded with the successive representation of the City and University of Dublin, with other posts of great trust, from the Revolution to his death. He married the daughter of Sir William Domville, attorney-general of Ireland in the reign of Charles the Second, and niece of Sir Thomas Leake, of Cannons in Middlesex, by whom he had an only son, Samuel Molyneux, Esq; secretary to his late Majesty when Prince of Wales, a lord of the Admiralty, and member of parliament both in Great-Britain and Ireland, who resembled his illustrious father in his pursuits of philosophical knowledge, which he many years, until engaged in political business, prosecuted with great application at his seat at Kew, now his Majesty's, and presented a telescope of his own construction to the King of Portugal; his perhaps fatal acquaintance with and patronage of St. André will make his name long remembered. Leaving no issue by his wife, who married St. André, and lived many years, the estate of Mr. Molyneux fell at her death to his cousin-german and her god-son, the right honourable Sir Capel Molyneux, member at present of the Irish parliament, and a privy-counsellor, only surviving son of Mr. Molyneux father's next brother, Sir Thomas Molyneux, bart. whom, through regard for his nephew, his late Majesty created the first Irish baronet upon his accession to the throne."