Whatever may be the Fate of this Account, I think my self indispensably obliged to relate the Facts that I saw, and transacted my self, as also the Reasons which first induced me to enquire into the Truth of such an Extraordinary Event; but I here declare that I take on me no other Part of this Narration, than that in which I was actually concerned.
As Mr. Howard himself intends shortly to publish the whole Account, and prove every Circumstance of it, by such Evidences as will put this Matter out of all possibility of Doubt, I must refer to him for several Particulars here omitted.
And as it will be impossible to judge impartially of this Fact, till the Evidences abovemention’d are produced, it cannot be doubted but all such Persons as are not governed by Prejudice, or some worse Motive, will suspend their Judgment till these Facts come to their Knowledge by a more certain way, than by flying Reports and Conjectures.
The first Intelligence I received of this Matter, was on the 5th Instant, when I saw a very particular[1] Account of a Woman living at Godlyman lately delivered of five Rabbets by Mr. John Howard, Surgeon at Guilford in Surrey, a Man of known Probity, Character, and Capacity in his Profession, who has practis’d Midwifery for above these thirty Years.
This Account was again confirmed by two [2]Letters from the said Mr. Howard, the first dated Nov. the 6th, 4 a Clock in the Afternoon; the Substance of which is, That from the 4th Instant to the 6th he had deliver’d the Woman of three more Rabbets; that the last of them had leap’d in her Belly, for the space of eighteen Hours, before it dy’d, and that the Moment it was taken away, another was perceiv’d to struggle for Birth.
The second is dated Nov. the ninth, and is here transcribed verbatim, viz.
Sir,
Since I wrote to you, I have taken or deliver’d the poor Woman of three more Rabbets, all three half grown, one of them a dunn Rabbet; the last leap’d twenty three Hours in the Uterus before it dy’d. As soon as the eleventh Rabbet was taken away, up leap’d the twelfth Rabbet, which is now leaping. If you have any curious Person that is pleased to come Post, may see another leap in her Uterus, and shall take it from her if he pleases; which will be a great Satisfaction to the Curious: If she had been with Child, she has but ten Days more to go, so I do not know how many Rabbets may be behind; I have brought the Woman to Guilford for better Convenience.
I am, Sir,