156 LETTER VII. 



ment, to rejoice in upon all occafions of publick 

 Feftivity. Now, as two Men were at work, 

 fawlng through a Portland Stone, of three foot 

 in diameter, to ufe it in fome part of the Build- 

 ing, they found in the center of it a great live 

 Toad, which died within five or fix minutes af- 

 ter it became expofed to the open Air 5 and what 

 caufed the greateft wonder of all was. That 

 in the Cavity of the Stone, where it was lodged, 

 it had very little more room, than would barely 

 ferve it to turn round in. 



7. People flocked thither, from all cjuarters of 

 the Town, out of an uncommon curiofity, to be 

 Eye-witnelTes of fo fingular and rare a fpedacle, 

 both before and after its death ; admiring how it 

 could poflibly get into the Heart of fuch a fplid 

 Stone, or how it could live there, without either 

 Meat, or Drink, or even open Air to breath in. 

 And indeed I mud fairly own. That I perceive 

 but two ways to folve their fcruples -, viz, firil:, 

 by Toad-fpawn, or elfe by fome very fmall young 

 Toads being dropped into a Hole, that went 

 down a foot and a half deep into the Earthy 

 which Soil being of a quick petrifying nature, 

 turned almoft immediately into Stone, and fo 

 fhut up the Toad a clofe prifoner; or elfe, fe^ 

 condly. That the Spawn, or very fmall young 

 Toad was accidentally dropped (or wafhed by 

 Rain) into a Cleft, between two Stones, that were 



almoft 



