strange Effects, yet he doubted whether the Causes were any Vertue that came from him, or the Peoples Fancy; to convince him of his incredulity, as he lay one Night in Bed, one of his Hands was struck dead, and the usual Impulse suggested to him, to make trial of his Vertue upon himself, which he did, stroaking it with his other Hand, and then it immediately returned to its former liveliness. This was repeated two or three Nights (or Mornings) together.
This is his Relation, and I believe there is so much sincerity in the Person, that he tells no more than what he believes to be true. To say that this impulse too, was but a result of his Temper, and that it is but like Dreams that are usually according to Mens Constitutions, doth not seem a probable Account of the Phænomenon. Perhaps some may think it more likely, that some Genius who understood the sanative Vertue of his Complexion, and the readiness of his Mind, and ability of his Body, to put it in execution, might give him notice of that which otherwise might have been for ever unknown to him, and so the Gift of God had been to no purpose.
This Sir, is my Learned and Reverend Friend's Relation, and I judge his Reflections as Ingenious as his Report is sincere. I shall say no more about it but this, that many of those matters of Fact, have been since critically inspected and examined by several sagacious and deep Searchers of the ROYAL SOCIETY, whom we may suppose as unlikely to be deceived by a contrived Imposture, as any Persons extant.
And now Sir, 'tis fit that I relieve your Patience; and I shall do so, when I have said, that you can abundantly prove, what I have thus attempted to defend; and that among the many Obligations your Country hath to you, for the Wisdom and Diligence of your Endeavours in its service; your ingenious Industry for the Detecting of those vile Practisers, is not the least considerable. To which I will add no more, but the Confession who it is that hath given you all this trouble; which I know you are ready to Pardon, to the respect and good Intentions of
SIR
Your affectionate and Obliged
Honourer and Servant,
J. G.
