Cowper—I desire to know, whether this gentleman attempted to drown himself, or was in danger of being drowned by accident?
Dr. Coatsworth—It was by accident: I was passing up the ship-side, and took hold of a loose rope instead of the entering rope, which failing me, I fell into the water.
Cowper—But you struggled to save yourself from drowning?
Dr. Coatsworth—I did so; I have seen several persons that have been drowned, and they have lain several days, until by fermentation they have been raised; but I never made my observations of any persons that have been drowned above six hours.
Jones—Did you ever hear of any persons that, as soon as they were drowned, had swam above water?
Dr. Coatsworth—I have not known such a case.
Cowper—Did you ever know, Sir, a body that was otherwise killed, to float upon the water?
Dr. Coatsworth—I never made any observation of that.
Hatsell, Baron—Dr. Browne has a learned discourse, in his Vulgar Errors, upon this subject, concerning the floating of dead bodies; I do not understand it myself, but he hath a whole chapter about it.[46]
Then Dr. Nailor was sworn.