PHYSICAL AND LITERARY. 155 



as to give hopes that it would intirely 

 ceafe. But, if at any time it lay uhadive, 

 and, in appearance, almoft extinguiflied, 

 it was only to break forth again with re- 

 doubled force, or fbme new and more ag- 

 gravated circumftances. Great are the 

 perplexity and diflrefs, the fufpicion and 

 terror caufed by it where-ever it comes ; 

 and hitherto nothing has, been able to 

 prevent th^ fpreading of it. As this is 

 a matter of general concern, becaufe every 

 one is more or lefs in danger, and no 

 particular notice has bten taken of the 

 difeafe, it was thought proper, in this 

 public manner, to give fome account of 

 it in its various appearances, the progrefs 

 it has made in thefe parts, and how it is 

 propagated ; in order to fhew by what 

 means it is moft likely to be fubdued, 

 and, ifpollible, exterminated. It is be- 

 lieved to have been brought into the low 

 country from the highlands, where it 

 prevails under the name of Sibbens or 

 SivvENs; and tradition has it, that it 

 was firft introduced into that part of the 

 kingdom, in the time cf Cromwell, by 



the 



