rr 


/ 


■V  '  ' 

f 

Sir  R.  M  ANNING  HAm’s 

DIARY 

* 

Concerning 

MARY  TOFT, 

i  * 

The  pretended 

*  \  V  *■  *  ‘ 

RABBET-BREEDER. 


/ 


k 


/ 


r 


/ 


I 


AN  EXACT 


Of  what  was  obferv’d  during  a 

..  ,  * 

Close  Attendance 

UPON 

MARY  TOFT, 


The  pretended 

.  Rabbet-Breed  er 


O  F 

Godaiming  in  Surrey, 

From  Monday  Nov.  28,  to  W ednefday 

Dec.  7  following. 

Together  with 

An  Account  of  her  Confeffion  of  the  Fr  a  ud. 


By  Sir  RICHARD  MANN  INGHAM,  Kt. 
Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society ,  and  of  the  College 

of  Phyficians ,  London . 


LO  N  D  O  N,  Printed  for  Fletcher  Gyles 
over-againft  Grays- Inn  in  Holborn ,  and  fold  by 
J.  Roberts  at  the  Oxford-Arms  in  Warwick- 
Lane .  1726, 


* 


v  - 


I 


* 


\ 


AN  EXACT 

D  I  A  R  Y 

Of  what  was  obferv’d  du¬ 
ring  a  clofe  Attendance  upon 
MART  TOFT,  the  pretended 
Rabbet-Breeder,  &c. 

N  Sunday  Evening  the  27th  " 
of  November ,  17  z6.  Mr 

St.  Andre ,  Anatomift  to  His 
Majefiy ,  having  received  an  Exprefs 
from  Mr.  John  Howard ,  Surgeon  and 
Man-Midwife  in  Guilford ,  giving  him 
an  Account  that  another  Rabbet  was 

then 


then  leaping  in  Mary  Toft,  lent  me 
Notice  of  it  by  Letter  about  eleven 
of  the  Clock  the  fame  Night,  defir¬ 
ing  withal  that  I  would  keep  at  home, 
and  he  would  call  upon  me  fome  time 
that  Night,  in  order  to  carry  me  with 
him  to  Guilford.  -  - 

I  fat  up  till  two  in  the  Morning 
waiting  for  him,  and  then  fent  my 
Servant  to  his  Houfe,  defiring  to  be 
excufed,  for  I  was  then  going  to  Bed ; 
my  Servant  return’d  before  I  was  got 
into  Bed,  and  told  me  Mr.  St.  Andrli 
would  be  with  me  prelently,  and  de- 
lired  I  would  not  go  to  Bed. 

Accordingly,  between  three  and 
four  in  the  Morning,  He  and  Mr. 
Uimhorch ,  a  German  Surgeon  and 
Man-Midwife,  came  to  my  Houfe  ; 
and  Mr.  St.  Andre  told  me  he  had 
been  at  Kenfmgton  fince  he  wrote  to 

me, 


(  7  ) 

me,  and  defired  me  to  go  immediate¬ 
ly  with  him  to  Guilford ;  adding,  that 
it  was  his  Majefty’s  Plealure  that  I 
fhould  go  and  fee  this  Godalmmg  Wo¬ 
man  lb  much  talk’d  of,  and  after  a 
ftricfl  Examination  to  make  my  Report 
concerning  her. 

Immediately  we  let  out  together  for 
Guilford  about  four  in  the  Morning, 
and  arrived  there  a  little  after  twelve 
at  Noon  :  We  flopp’d  at  Mr.  How¬ 
ard’s  Houle,  who  being  out  of  Town 
we  went  directly  over  the  way  to  the 
Houle  where  Mary  Toft  (the  Woman 
faid  to  be  delivered  of  feventeen 
Rabbets)  then  lodged. 

I  found  her  in  Bed,  and  after  alk- 
ing  her  leveral  Queftions  in  the  pre- 
fence  of  Mr.  St,  Andre ,  Mr.  Limborch , 
and  feveral  Women  and  Mid  wives,  I 
proceeded  to  examine  her  Breafts, 

wherein 


C« ) 

wherein  was  a  fmall  Quantity  of  thin 
Serous  Matter  like  Milk  •  I  then  felt 
her  Belly  all  over  very  carefully, 
which  was  loft,  and  not  much  larger 
than  ordinary,  and  by  no  means 
like  a  Woman  with  Child  ■,  the  Right 
hde  of  her  Belly,  indeed,  was  fome- 
what  bigger  than  the  Left,  with  a 
Hardnefs  a-crofs  it,  which  when  I 
prefs’d,  flie  faid  it  gave  her  Pain. 

I  afterwards  diligently  learch’d  the 
whole  Vagina ,  and  being  well  affured 
at  that  time  all  was  clear  from  Impo- 
fture,  I  touch’d  the  Os  Uteri,  which 
was  clofe  and  contracted  in  fiich  man¬ 
ner  that  it  would  not  receive  fo  much 
as  the  point  of  a  Bodkin  into  it’s  Ori¬ 
fice:  the  Neck  of  the  Uterus  was  lomer 
*  > 

what  long  ,•  I  then  prefs’d  againft  the 
Uterus  with  my  Fingers  opened  in  fuch 
a  manner  as  to  receive  as  much  of 
the  Body  of  the  Uterus  into  my  Hand 

as 

l 


C  9  ) 

.  ,  *  *  * 

as  poffble,  which  feem’d  to  me  to 

contain  fomething  of.Subftance  in  its 
Cavity. 

While  I  was  thus  examining  I  ap¬ 
plied  my  other  Hand  at  different  times 
-  to  the  feveral  Parts  of  her  Belly,  where¬ 
by  it  feem’d  to  me  that  there  was  Sub- 
ftance,  not  only  in  the  Cavity  of  the 
Uterus ,  but  allb  along  the  right  fide 
of  the  Belly,  which  I  then  judg’d  to  be 
the  Falloppmn  Tube ;  but  feeling  no 
Motion  all  this  while,  I  enquir’d  of  the 
Women  then  prefent  how  long  it  was 
fince  the  Rabbet  leapt  (as  they  term’d 
it)  and  whether  they  were  of  Opinion 
it  was  now  dead ;  to  which  they  an- 
Iwer’d,  the  laft  time  it  leapt  was  about 
one  in  the  Morning. 

I  left  her  lor  that  time,  and  did  not 
vifit  her  again  till  about  five  in  the 
Afternoon,  jointly  with  Mr.  John 

B  ,  Howard 


(  IO  ) 

Howard  her  Surgeon,  when  I  again 

examin’d  her  in  like  manner  as  before, 

- 

and  alking  Mr.  John  Howard ,  whe¬ 
ther  he  then  thought  the  Rabbet  was 
dead  ?  He  anfwer’d,  he  could  not  ex¬ 
actly  tell,  but  had  lately  obferv’d,  if 
hot  Clothes  were  apply’d,  the  Rabbet 
(if alive)  would  leap  again  j  upon  which 
I  immediately  ordered  Clothes  to  be 
made  very  hot,  and  apply’d  them  my 
felfto  all  her  Belly,  being  very  defirous 
to  feel  that  leaping  Motion  they  fo 
much  talk’d  of.  Upon  applying  of 
the  firfl  Cloth  the  Motion  began,  which 
they  called  the  leaping  up  of  the  Rab¬ 
bet  ;  it  was  indeed  a  Motion  like  a  hid¬ 
den  leaping  of  fomething  within  the 
right  fide  of  her  Belly,  where  I  had 
before  felt  that  particular  Hardnefs. 

The  Motions  were  various,  fome- 
times  with  very  ftrong  Throws  crofs 
'  the 


(  1 '  ) 

the  Belly,  efpecially  on  the  right  fide, 
at  other  times  with  hidden  Jerks  and 
Rifings,  and  tremulous  Motions  and 
Pantings,  like  the  ftrongPulfations  of 
the  Heart  j  and  as  I  fat  on  the  Bed  in 
Company  with  five  or  fix  Women,  it 
would  fometimes  {hake  us  all  very 
ftrongly  :  The  whole  appeared  to  me 
very  different  from  any  con  vu!  five 
or  hyfterick  Motion  I  had  ever  met 
with  before. 

•  ... 

We  then  left  the  Woman,  and  Mr. 
Howard  parted  from  us,  Mr.  St.  Andre , 
Mr.  Limborch,  and  myfelf  went  to  the 
White-hart- Inn  but  within  left  than 
an  hour  Mr.  John  Howard  brought  us, 
wrapt  in  a  Paper,  a  piece  of  Membrane, 
which  he  faid  he  had  juft  taken  from 
the  Woman,  and  fhew’d  it  us.  I  told 

*  :  r 

him  he  ought  to  have  fent  for  me,  that 
I  might  have  taken  it  away  myfelf, 

B  2,  being 

J  j  -  • 


(  S2  ) 

being'  come  down  for  that  Purpofe: 
To  which  he  reply’d,  ’twas  true,  but  he 
believ’d  there  was  more  to  come,  which 
I  fhould  take  away  before  I  return’d  to 
London ,  or  to  that  effcdt.  Upon  exa¬ 
mining  -  the  Membrane  which  he 
brought,  it  appear’d  to  me  like  a  piece 
of  Bladder,  but  he  infilled  it  was  a 
part  of  the  Chorion ,  and  that  he  had 
more  of  it  at  home  :  Upon  which  I 
walked  with  him  to  his  Houfe  to  fee 
the  Rabbets  and  Membranes  which  he 
laid  he  had  taken  from  the  Woman 
and  preferved  in  Spirits  of  Wine. 

Mr.  “John  Howard  alk’d  me  to  go 
with  him  and  lee  one  of  his  Patients 
who  was  very  ill  ■,  adding,  he  believ’d 
it  would  be  lome  time  before  anymore 
Membranes  would  come  j  and  having 
left  Orders  to  be  fent  for  fo  foon  as 
the  Woman’s  Pains  came  on,  we  forth- 

with 


(  »3  ) 

with  went  thither,  and  from  thence  to 
Mr.  Cajile’s  at  the  Priory,  where  we 
met  Mr.  Thomas  Howard ,  his  Brother, 
and  feveral  Gentlemen  of  the  Neigh¬ 
bourhood. 

About  eight  in  the  Evening  a  Mefi- 
fenger  came  to  us  from  the  Woman 
and  told  us  hie  was  in  Pain  :  We  went 
immediately,  and  I  found  her  fitting  in 
a  great  Cha;r  by  the  Fire-fide  •  I  alk’d 
her  if  Ihe  was  then  in  Pain,  (lie  anfwer’d, 
no,  but  that  Ihe  had  force  (harp  Pains 
juft  before  I  came  in :  I  then  touch’d 
her,  and  in  the  Vagina  perceiv’d  with 
my  Forefinger  and  Thumb  fomewhat 
like  a  piece  of  Skin  ,•  but  being  willing 
to  know  whether  it  came  out  of  the 
Uterus ,  I  palfed  my  Finger  on  one  fide 
the  faid  piece  of  Skin  in  the  Vagina  to 
find  if  there  was  any  part  of  that  Skin 
or  Membrane  yet  remaining  within  the 
'  n  Uterus , 


(  14  ) 

Uterus ;  but  perceiving  the  Os  Uteri' 
clofe,  as  before,  and  in  the  fame  Form 
as  I  left  itlaft,  I  prelently  took  cut  what 
lay  in  the  V %gmay  and  upon  examining 
it,  confels  I  was  much  furpriz’d,  it  ap¬ 
pearing  to  me  fo  like  a  piece  of  Hog’s 
Bladder,  that  I  was  not  able  to  form 
any  other  Judgment  of  it,  as  I  then 
told  Mr.  Howard ,  Mr.  St.  Andre ,  Mr 
Limborch,  and  all  that  were  there  pre- 
fent,  alluring  them  that  it  was  my  Q- 
pinion  that  Membrane  never  came  out 
of  the  Uterus. 

The  Wo  m  a  n ,  A/ (try  Toft  ,from  whom 
I  liad  taken  it,  feemedmuch  concern’d 
A  at  what  I  faid,  and  cry’d.  I  alk’d  her 
the  Reafon  of  her  crying,  to  which  file 
gave  me  no  Anfwer,  but  the  Women 
about  her  faid,  it  was  becaufe  Ihe  fup- 
pofed  I  thought  her  a  Cheat. 

V) 

I  aflced 


I 


(  15  } 

I  alked  for  a  Hog’s  Bladder,  and 
they  prefently  brought  one  frefn  blown 
qp,  whicn  it  feems  they  had  in  the 
Houfe  :  This  added  to  my  Jealoufy. 
Then  I  compared  the  Membrane  which 
I  took  from  theWoman  with  the  Hog’s 
Bladder,  and  could  perceive  no  Dif¬ 
ference  but  in  theThicknels,  in  which 
the  Bladder  fomething  exceeded  the 
Membrane ;  they  had  both  the  fame 
ftrong  urinous  Smell  peculiar  to  a  Hog’s 
Bladder.  I  ftill  infilled  I  fhould  not 
be  fatisfied  as  to  that  Affair,  unlefs  I 
received  out  of  the  Uterus  itfelf  a  piece 
of  Membrane  of  the  fame  kind  with 
that  I  had  already  taken  from  the  V a- 
gma.  .  ; 

Mr.  John  Howard  and  Mr.  St. 
dre  bid  me  have  a  little  Patience  and 
I.  fhould  foon  be  fully  fatisfied.  I 
ftill  urg’d  the  Similitude  of  the  Mem¬ 
brane 


(  I*  ) 

brane  to  a  Hog’s  Bladder,  requiring 
them  to  tell  me  what  they  them- 
felves  thought  it  did  moil:  referable  ? 
Both  of  them  agreed,  nothing 
look’d  more  like  a  Hog’s  Bladder 
than  it  did $  and  Mr.  St.  Andre 
added,  that  had  he  not  actually  de¬ 
liver’d  the  Woman  of  part  of  a  Rab¬ 
bet  from  the  very  Uterus  itfelf,  this 
Circumftance  would  alfo  induce  him 

\  -N. 

to  believe  the  whole  a  Fraud. 

The  fame  Evening  Mary  Toft  had 
feveral  Pains  like  Labour-pains  while 
I  fat  before  her,  which  I  believe  was 
full  three  Hours,  and  I  was  all  that 
time  in  expectation  of  receiving 
lomething  from  her  Uterus ;  the  Pains 
were  fometimes  very  preffing,  and  the 
Os  Uteri  feem’d  to  prepare  for  open¬ 
ing,  but  they  went  off  again  fuddenly. 


When 


(  *7  ) 

When  we  return’d  from  the  Woman, 
to  the  White  Hart,  I  told  them  again, 
that  the  more  I  confidered  the  thing, 
the  more  ftrongly  I  was  convinced, 
that  the  Membrane  I  took  from  the 

r  r  %  y  .  r  *  r  . 

Woman  had  never  been  in  the  Uterus , 
but  was  really  a  piece  of  Hog’s  Blad¬ 
der  artfully  conveyed  intor  the  Pa- 

"jr  r  '  ff  r  u-  ,  - 

Upon  this,  very  warm  Difputes  a- 
rofe  amongft  us,  and  Mr.  St.  Andr'b 
urged  it  was  not  more  lurprifing, 
than  that  Rabbets  fhould  come  from 
her  Uterus-,  adding,  that  he  was  con¬ 
vinced  of  that  Truth  by  examining 
the  Rabbet  he  had  taken  from  her  U- 
terus  -,  which  at  the  fame  time  had 
the  exad  external  Appearance  of  A- 
nimals,  like  fuch  Creatures  as  mult 
inevitably  undergo  the  Changes  that 
happen  to  adult  Ajnimals  by  Food  and 

■  ;  ‘  '  C  Air  j 


(  *8  ) 

Air  •  and  that  they  carried  within 
them  the  ftrongeft  Marks  of  Foetus’s, 
even  by  fuch  Parts  as  cannot  exift  in 
an  Adult,  and  without  which  a  Foetus 
cannot  poffibly  be  luppos’d  to  live,  or 
to  that  effed.  This  he  thought  prov’d, 
in  the  ftrongeft  Terms  poflible,  that 
thefe  Animals  were  of  a  particular 
kind,  and  not  bred  in  a  natural  way, 
faying,  Why  therefore  might  not  this 
Membrane  which  looks  like  a  Hog’s 
Bladder,  come  alfo  out  of  the  Uterus  ? 
from  whence  he  verily  believed  that  it 
did,  and  that  it  might  be  part  of  the 
Chorion $  to  which  Mr.  Howard  and 
Mr.  Limborch  affented. 

After  this  Difpute,  and  at  their  joint 
Delire,  I  determin’d  to  make  no  pub- 
lick  Mention  of  this  Affair  till  I  had 
feen  the  Event  of  the  whole  Tranf- 
adion,  or  had  frelh  Reafon  to  lufped 

a  Fraud, 


(  '9  ) 

'P  t‘  t  *  4  P 

a  Fraud,  left  by  fuch  an  Alarm  I 
fhould  rather  obftrudt  than  forward 
the  finding  out  the  Truth :  I  then 
mark’d  the  Membrane  which  I  took 
from  the  Vagina ,  by  cutting  a  fmail 
part  of  it,  which  I  brought  with  me  to 
London. 

Tuefday  the  29th,  we  brought 
Mary  Toft  to  London  with  us,  and 
lodg’d  her  at  Mr.  Lacy's  Bagnio  in 
Leicefier  Fields :  I  fat  up  with  her  all 
that  Night  ,-  ftte  often  had  the  Mo-  . 
tion  on  the  Right  fide  of  her  Belly, 
and  iometimes  very  ftrongly. 

Wednefday  the  30th,  the  Motion 
was  more  faint,  and  fhe  pafs’d  the 
Night  tolerably  well.  Some  time  that 
Day  I  told  Dr.  Douglafs  what  I  had 
oblerv’d  at  Guilford ,  and  took  out  of 
my  Pocket-Book  the  piece  of  Mem¬ 
brane  which  I  called  a  piece  of  Hog’s 

C  2  Bladder, 


(  20  ) 

Bladder,  and  Ihew’d  it  him,  and  alk’d 
his  Opinion;  he  faid  it  look’d  like  a 
piece  of  Hog’s  Bladder,  and  added, 
Surely  this  rauft  be  a  Cheat,  or  to  that 
cffedt:  The  fame  Day  I  told  the  Story 
of  the  Hog’s  Bladder  to  his  Grace  the 
Duke  of  Richmond,  Duke  of  Montague, 
Lord  Baltimore,  -  and  Mr.  Moljneux , 
but  did  not  declare  it  publickly  for  the 
Reafons  I  have  given. 

Thurfday  the  ill  Inflant,  about  ten 
in  the  Morning,  the  Motion  was  very 
languid,  and  having  intermitted  for  a 
while,  (he  was  feiz’d  with  Pains  like 
thoje-  of  Labour :  I  then  prepared,  as 
before  at  Guilford,  to  deliver  her  ■  and 
having  diligently  learch’d  the  Vagina,  I 
found  it  clear,  and  received  a  Pain  or 
two,  which  were  ftrong  and  exa&ly 
like  Labour-Pains :  Upon  this  1  defired 
Dr.  Douglafs,  who  was  then  prefent, 

that 


I 


.  (  21  ) 

that  he  would-  pleafe  likewife  to  exa¬ 
mine  her,  and  openly  declare  his  Opi¬ 
nion, which  he  did, and  in  the  hearing  of 
leveral  Perfonsof  Dillindtion,  profels’d 
that  he  found  the  Vagina  clear,  and 
was  of  Opinion  the  Pains  were  of  the 
lame  Nature  with  Labour-Pains.  I 
then  took  my  Place  again ,  and  re¬ 
ceived  more  Pains  of  the  like  Nature, 
and  perceiv’d  the  Os  Uteri  to  fpread  a 
little  and  grow  fofter,  her  Face  alio 
flulh’d  and  her  Pulfe  was  rais’d ,  as  it 
always  was  whenever  Ihe  had  thole 
Pains  upon  her. 

After  fome  time  the  Motion  on  the 
right  fide  of  her  Belly,  which  they 
call’d  the  leaping  up  of  the  Rabbet, 
begun  again,  and  thole  Pains  like  La¬ 
bour-Pains  went  fuddenly  off  -  her  Pulfe 
foon  became  calm  as  before,  and  the 
flulhing  of  her  Face  difappeared ;  Ihe 

pals’d 


C  22  ) 

pafs’d  the  remainder  of  the  Day  in¬ 
differently  well,  having  for  the  mod 
part  the  Motion  on  the  right  fide  of  her 
Belly,  which  I  never  obferv’d  had  any 
Influence  on  her  Pulfe;  her  Diet  was 
Beef,  Rabbet,  Red-Herring,  and  fuch 
like :  That  Night  fhe  flept  very 
well.  ,  . 

Friday  the  id  Inftant,  fhe  had  the 
Motion  the  greatefl:  part  of  the  Day, 
towards  Evening  it  increafed  extream- 
ly,  infomuch  that  {he  fell  into  violent 
Convulfions,  which  I  never  before  ob¬ 
ferv’d  in  her,  with  frequent  Contrac¬ 
tions  of  her  Fingers,  rolling  of  her 
Eyes,  and  great  Rifings  in  her  Sto¬ 
mach  and  Belly:  During  the  Fit  fhe 
would  often  make  a  whining  Noife, 
and  at  Intervals  be  more  than  ordinary 
faint.  She  continued  in  her  Fit  near 
two  Hours,  for  fome  Minutes  I  could 

fcarcely 


.  (  23  ) 

X 

fcarcely  perceive  fhe  had  any  Pulfej 
when  fhe  came  out  of  her  Fit,  fhe 
perceived  herfelf  very  weak  for  fome 
time,  and  when  I  afk’d  if  fhe  remem- 
bred  file  had  been  in  a  Fit,  fhe  an- 
fwer’d ,  No;  fhe  refted  well  that 
Night. 

On  Saturday  the  3d  in  the  Morn¬ 
ing  fhe  was  brifk ,  and  all  that  Day 
had  the  Motion  by  Intervals ;  towards 
Evening  flue  had  another  Convulfion 
Fit,  though  not  fo  violent  as  the  for¬ 
mer;  this  Night  fhe  was  very  reftlels, 

and  fometimes  convulfed,  had  a  Dif¬ 
ficulty,  in  making  Water,  and  the 
Motion  in  her  Belly  was  very  little. 

On  Sunday  the  4th  Inflant,  about 
Eleven  of  the  Clock  in  the  Morning, 
Dr.  Douglafs  and  my  felf  did  carefully 
examine  her  Belly,  when  we  percei¬ 
ved  a  Swelling  a  little  above  the  Os 

Pubis 


(  24  ) 

Pubis ,  fuch  as  we  had  never  felt  there 
before,  it  was  long,  and,  as  we  appre¬ 
hended  in  the  Cavity  of  the  Uterus t 
which  we  obferv’d  had  little  or  no 
Motion,  this  we  could  not  account 
for  •  we  each  of  us  examined  the 
Vagina,  and  found  it  clear  as  before, 
the  Os  Uteri  foft  and  fpread,  as  on 
Thurfday  laft,  but  fomething  more  re¬ 
lax’d. 

About  Three  in  the  Afternoon,  the 
Pains,  like  Labour  Pains,  came  on  a- 
gain:  I  touch’d  her  as  before,  and 
Dr.  Douglafs ,  Dr.  Mowbray ,  Mr. 
Limborch  the  German  Surgeon  and 
Man  Midwife,  who  were  then  pre- 
fent,  did  the  fame,-  and  we  agreed, 
that  the  Nature  of  the  Pains  were  fuch, 
and  fo  violent,  as  we  apprehended 
fomething  would  fcon  ifiue  from  the 
Uterus  j  and  this  we  declared  in  the 

hearing 

8 


( 2$  ) 

hearing  of  many  Perfons  of  Diftinc- 
tion,  who  were  then  prefent:  And  I 
well  remember,  the  Room  being  very 
full,  I  dehred  if  there  was  any  Perfon 
prefent  willing  to  examine  her,  that 
they  would  do  it  then  while  her  Pains 
were  upon  her.  Accordingly,  feve- 
ral  Perfons  did  examine  her,  and  de¬ 
clared  to  the  fame  Purpofe :  After  ha¬ 
ving  received  feveral  Pains,  they,  to¬ 
gether  with  the  other  Symptoms  of 
approaching  Labour,  vanilhed  on  the 

ludden,  as  formerly. 

In  the  Evening,  Thomas  Howard, 
Porter  to  Mr.  Lacy’s  Bagnio,  made 
an  Information  againft  Mary  Toft. , 
before  Sir  Thomas  Clarges ,  Bart,  one 
of  His  Majefty’s  Juftices  of  Peace,  con¬ 
cerning  a  Rabbet  (he  had  clandeftine- 
ly  procured  by  his  Abidance  j  upon 
which  fhe  was  taken  into  Cuftody,  and 

D  ftridly 


\ 


(  26  ) 

ftriftly  examined  by  Sir  Thomas:  She 
very  obftinately  denied  all  the  Porter 
had  fworn ;  but  her  Sifter,  who  nurfs’d 
her,  being  examined  to  the  faid  Faft 
upon  Oath,  acknowledged  the  pro¬ 
curing  the  Rabbet  in  a  clandeftine 
manner  j  but  that  it  was  not  defigned 
for  the  Ufe  we  fufpe<fted,  but  for  eat¬ 
ing  only. 

Soon  after  Mary  Toft  confefs’d  fhe 
had  procured  the  Rabbet,  according 
to  the  Porter’s  Depoiition,  but  that  it 
was  her  Intention  to  eat  it,  ihe  having 
longd  for  it,  and  moll  obftinately  per- 
fifted  that  fhe  was  ftill  big  with  a 
Rabbet. 

The  fame  Evening  I  examined  her 
again,  and  her  Uterus  appear’d  to  me 
to  contain  fomething  of  Subftance  in 
it,*  whereupon  I  earneftly  prefs’d  Sir 
Thomas  C larges  that  fhe  might  not  be 

fent 


(  27  ) 

fent  to  Prifon  that  Night,  being  ftill 
a  pp  rehen  five  there  might  feme  thing 
come  from  her  Uterus  in  a  little  time  $ 
and,  as  the  Fraud  was  not  fully  de¬ 
leted,  I  judg’d  it  might  prove  of  ve¬ 
ry  ill  Confequence  to  remove  her  till 

the  whole  was  found  out. 

On  Monday  the  jth,  I  gave  my 
Opinion  to  Sir  ’Thomas ,  conceining 
Mary  Toft  j  and,  left  he  fhould  com¬ 
mit  her  to  Prilon,  I  fpoke  to  lever  al 
Perfons  of  Diftindtion,  and  that  Day 
wrote  to  the  Honourable  Mr.  Molyneux 
to  aflift  me  in  that  Affair,  well  know¬ 
ing  how  induftrious  they  had  always 
been,  in  endeavouring  to  find  out  this 
fuppofed  Fraud }  for  I  believ’d  a  hid¬ 
den  Commitment  of  her  to  Prifon, 
before  the  Cheat  did  manifeftly  ap¬ 
pear,  would  be  a  means  of  preventing 

*  D  i  a  Dif- 


(  28  ) 

a  Difcovery. :  The  Copy  of  my  faid 
Letter  is  as  follows. 

i  f  ‘4. 

To  the  Hon.  Mr.  Molyneux. 

'  "  l  •  :  vi 

Dear  Sir, 

\  .  ’  '  ,  *’h  * 

££  IT  Have,  fince  I  left  you,  very 
I  ££  maturely  confidered  what  you 
££-  faid  this  Morning,  and  the  Con- 
£C  tents  of  the  Letter  frank’d  by 
f£  Lord  Onflow,  which  you  alio  fhew- 
££  ed  .us,  importing  a  Difcovery  of  a 
<£  Fraud  in  the  Affair  in  the  Coun- 
<£  try;  and  adding,  that ,  to  what 
££  happen’d  to  my  felf  at  Guildford , 
<£  in  relation  to  my  taking  away  from 
“  the  Vagina  of  Mary  Toft  the  Godal- 
<£  ming  Woman,  what  I  call  the  Piece 
££  of  Hog’s  Bladder,  and  the  Depofi- 
“  tion  about  the  Rabbet  laft  Sunday 
<£  Night,  which  I  heard  Thomas 

u  Howard, 


(  29  )  I 

“  Howard ,  the  Porter  of  Lacy’s 
“  Bagnio,  make  before  Sir  Thomas 
u  Clargesy  in  the  Prefence  of  feveral 
“  Perfbns  of  Quality,  and  the  Unna- 
“  turalnefs  of  the  Production,  fiap- 
“  poled  to  have  been  j  all  this,  I  fay, 
“  laid  together,  is  to  me  fuch  Evi- 
{C  dence  of  Roguery ,  as  makes  me 
i(  ftrongly  believe  the  whole  to  be  a 
<c  Fraud.  Therefore,  that  our  En~ 
<c  deavours  fully  to  deteCt  the  Cheat 
<c  may  prove  raoft  effectual,  and  the 
u  unnatural  Impofture  may  molt  clear- 
“  ly  appear  to  the  Publick,  I  think 
<£  Mary  Toft  fhould  by  no  means  be 
“  fent  to  Prifon,  till  the  Truth  comes 
“  out  j  but  that  fhe  fhould  rather  be 
“  kept,  and  moft  ftriCtly  watched  in 
“  fome  private  Houfe,  where  all  Per- 
<c  fons,  thofe  of  the  Faculty  efpecial- 
€<  ly,  rfiay  have  free  and  convenient 

“  Accefs 


(  30  ) 

«  Accefs  to  her,  which  a  Prifon  will 
«  not  fo  well  afford,  till  the  Matter  be 
“  as  plainly  and  fully  deteded  as 
«  pofTible;  for  which  Purpofe,  I  will 
tc  wait  upon  Sir  "Thomas  Clarges  to 
“  take  Meafures  accordingly ;  and,  if 
tf  you  will  give  Leave,  will  call  on 
(l  you  as  I  come  from  him,  to  ac- 
«  quaint  you  with  our  Refolutions. 

1  am, 

y  *  s  r  '  *  '  *  '  S  ' 

S  I  R, 

Dec.  o.  Your  mofi  humble  Servant , 

1 726. 

, 

R.  Manningham, 


After 


(  31  ) 

% 

After  fome  Difficulty,  I  prevailed 
with  Sir  Thomas  Claries  to  let  her  re¬ 
main  in  the  Cuftody  of  the  High  Con - 
Jlable  of  fVeJlminfler ,  at  Mr.  Lacy’s 
Bagnio,  till  the  Cheat  Ihould  be  found 
out,  or  at  leaft  for  a  few  Days  longer 
to  which  he  agreed. 

On  Tuefday  the  6th,  Sir  Thomas 
threaten’d  her  feverely,  and  began  to 
appear  the  moft  propereft  Phyfician  in' 
her  Cafe,  and  his  Remedies  took 
Place,  and  feem’d  to  promile  a  perfect 
Cure;  for  we  heard  no  more  of  her 
former  Lab'our-like  Pains. 

I  urged  her  very  much  to  confels 
the  Truth  j  and  told  her,  I  believ’d 
her  to  be  an  Impoftor,  and  thatlhe 
was  differently  form’d  from  other  Wo¬ 
men,  having  lome  peculiar  way  of 
conveying  Pieces  of  Rabbets  into  her 
Uterus ,  and  of  impofing  upon  the 

World 


(  32  ) 

? 

World  by  her  Motions  and  Pains,  and 
therefore  I  refolded  to  try  a  very 
painful  Experiment  upon  her,  and  was 
accordingly  prepared  for  thatPurpofe,- 
whereas  if  fhe  would  ingenioufiy  con- 
fefs  the  whole  Truth,  I  would  fpeak 
to  feveral  of  the  Nobility  in  her  Be¬ 
half,  fome  of  whom  then  prefent  pro- 
mifed  her  their  good  Offices  on  the 
like  Condition. 

I  affined  her  alfo  there  was  no  Time 
left  for  Delay  j  and  if  fhe  would  not 
confefs,  I  fhould  immediately  proceed 
to  the  Operation. 

Thefe  Threats  made  great  Impref- 
fions  upon  her,  and  being  withal  in  a 
moft  particular  manner  exhorted  by 
his  Grace  the  Duke  of  Montague , 
Lord  Beltimore ,  Dr.  Douglafs ,  and 
myfelf,  to  make  a  free  and  open  Con- 

feflion,  before  it  fhould  be  done  by 

any 


(33) 

any  other  Perfon  in  the  Country,  and 
to  avoid  fo  terrible  an  Operation ;  {he 
at  laft  begg’d  very  heartily  to  be  let  a- 
lone  till  the  next  Morning,  and  if  (he 
did  not  then  confefs,  I  might  proceed 

as  I  pleafed. 

Accordingly  on  W idnefdcty  T)ccem~ 
her  7,  in  the  Morning,  in  the  Prefence 
of  the  two  Noblemen  before  mention¬ 
ed,  Dr.  Douglafs  and  myfelf,f  {he  began 
her  Confeflion  of  the  Fraud  j  and  in  her 
Confeflion  {he  own’d ,  That  upon  her 
milcarrying  {he  was  {eiz’d  with  violent 
Floodings,  and  the  Womb  was  then 
as  {he  thought  open  as  if  {he  had  been 
juft  deliver’d  of  a  full-grown  Child, 
fhe  did  verily  believe  one  of  her  wicked 
Accomplices  did  then  convey  into  her 
Womb  part  of  the  Monfter  ( as  {he 
i  E  calls 


(  34  ) 

calls  it)  being  the  Claws  and  Body  of 
a  Cat,  and  the  Head  of  a  Rabbet  this 
put  her  to  much  Pain:  After  that 
time  fhe  believed  nothing  was  ever  put 
into  her  Womb,  but  into  thePalfage 
only,  by  the  Advice  of  a  Woman  Ac¬ 
complice  whom  Ihe  has  not  yet  nam’d, 
and  who  told  her  flie  had  now  no 
Occafion  to  work  for  her  Living  as 
formerly ,  for  lhe  would  put  her  into 
a  Way  of  getting  a  very  good  Liveli¬ 
hood,  and  prom i led  continually  to  fup- 
ply  her  with  Rabbets,  and  fhould  there¬ 
fore  expc&  part  of  the  Gain,  or  to  that 
effect.  Mary  Toft  afked  what  way  that 
was.  The  Woman  told  her  lhe  muft 
put  up  her  Body  lo  many  pieces  of  Rab¬ 
bets  as  would  make  up  the  Number  of 

Rabbets  which  a  Doe  Rabbet  uluaily 

kindles 


(  35  X 

kindles  at  one  time,  otherwile  {he 
would  be  fufpedled.  Mary  Toft  afked 
how  many  that  was  v  the  Woman  told 
her,  fometimes  thirteen. 

I  s  .  y  '  '  ’  I"  "  *  %  •  *  *  *  »  .  .  4  ’{  . 

From  that  time  Mary  Toft  did  of¬ 
ten,  by  the  Affiftance  of  that  Woman, 
convey  Parts  of  Rabbets  into  her  Bo¬ 
dy,  ’till  at  laft  Ihe  could  do  it  by  her 
felf,  as  {he  had  an  Opportunity,  and 
that  fhe  did  continue  fo  to  do. 

Now,  by  the  conftant  Irritation  of 
tho{e  extraneous  Bodies,  thus  artfully 
convey’d  into  her  Vagina-,  the  whole 
Uterus  fuffer’d  much,  and  became  lar¬ 
ger  in  Bulk  than  it  ought  to  be  in  its 
natural  State ;  and  the  Bones,  and  o- 
ther  Parts  of  thofe  Rabbets,  fo  con¬ 
vey’d  into  the  Vagina,  did  often  offend 
the  Neck  of  the  Uterus ,  which,  to- 

■  i  ’  ;  P  2  gether 


(  3  6  )} 

r*>y  ***  %  V  *  ^ 

gether  with  artful  Management  of  her 
(elf,  did  occafion  thofe  violent  bear¬ 
ing-down  Pains,  which  came  on  by 
Intervals,  and  very  exa&ly  counter¬ 
feited  the  true  Labour-Pains.  The 
Motions  of  her  Belly  were  partly  Ar¬ 
tifice,  and  partly  real  Convulfions  ; 
for  I  have  often  obferv’d  fome  of  the 
Motions  in  her  founded:  Sleep,  and 
even  fince  file  has  confefs’d  the  Fraud, 
part  of  her  Motions  being  involun¬ 
tary- 

Mary  Toft  owned  there  was  no¬ 
thing  in  her  Pafifage,  when  I  examined 
lier,  only  that  time  when  I  took  the 
Piece  of  Bladder  from  her,  which  file 
bfad  put  into  her  Body  a  little  before 
I  came  to  her,  on  Monday  the  2.6th 
of  November,  1 about  Eight  in 

the 


#  w  V  J 

(  37  ) 

K  >  *  *  .  .  •  ft  M- 

the  Evening  j  and  ever  fince  that 
Time  Ihe  was  afraid  to  put  any  thing 
into  her  Body,  becaufe  I  had  often 
told  her,  if  I  found  twenty  Rabbets 
at  times  in  her  Body,  it  would  go 
for  nothing  with  me;  for  I  mould 
never  be  convinced,  unlefs  I  did  take 
fame  Parts  of  Rabbets  from  out  qf 
the  very  Womb  it  felf,  which  I  was 
very  well  allured  could  never  be  put 

there  by  Art. 

Dr.  Dougla/s,  who  was  fo  kind  as  to 
write  down  her  Confeffion  from  her 
own  Mouth ,  will  I  hope  Ihortly  o- 
blige  the  World  with  it  at  large, 
when  Ihe  has  difcover’d  the  whole. 

Thus  have  I  given  a  full  and  faith¬ 
ful  Account  of  every  material  thing 

which  occurred  to  me  during  my  con- 

■  •  ftant 


/ 


f  38 ) 

y. 

ftant  Attendance  upon  Mary  Toft  from 
Monday  t  the  2  8  til  of  November ,  1726. 
to  December  the  7th  following,  which 
I  thought  my  felf  obliged  to  commu¬ 
nicate  to  the  World,  as  weli  for  their 
Satisfaction,  as  the  Juftification  of  my 
own  ConduCt. 

r,7  '<  .  ■;  1 ;  •  • .  ....  v  ■  ■  •>. 


Decemb .  $ 


172.6 ,  * 

v  i  < 


R,  Manning})  am. 


->rjv  .  •  {  » 

*m.kJ  1  >.*  V  4 

1  / 


F  l  N  I  S. 


rt«vi  ? 

.2  /  *.  A 


m.r\‘  .-»< 

*.  *  \>  *  5  t 


'  ,  * 


L 


*  // 
k  -  m. 


D