NORTHERN OCEAN. 
and I advanced clofe to him, and found him 
215 
1771. 
ftanding at the conjuring-houfe door as naked as -~—~ 
he was born. 
When the piece of board was delivered to him, 
he propofed at firft only to fhove one-third of it 
_ down his throat, and then walk round the com- 
pany afterward to fhove down another third ; 
and fo proceed till he had fwallowed the whole, 
except afmall piece of the end, which was left be- 
hind to haulit up again. When he put it to his 
mouth it apparently flipped down his throat like 
lightning, and only left about three inches ftick- 
ing without his lips; after walking backwards 
and forwards three times, he hauled it up again, 
and ran into the conjuring-houfe with great pre- 
cipitation. This he did to all appearance with 
great eafe and compofure; and notwithftanding 
I was all attention on the occafion, 1 could not 
detect the deceit ; and as to the reality of its be- 
ing a piece of wood that he pretended to f{wal.- 
low, there is not the leaft reafon to doubt of it, 
for Thad it in my hand, both before and immedi- 
ately after the ceremony. 
To prevent a variety of opinions on this occa- 
fion, and to leflen the apparent magnitude of the 
miracle, as well as to give fome colour to my 
{cepticifm, which might otherwife perhaps appear 
ridiculous, it is neceflary to obferve, that this feat 
was performed in a dark and exceflively cold 
night; and although there was a large fire at 
fome diftance, which reflected a good light, yet 
there 
ovember, 
