( 8^9 ) 
IV. An Attempt to pro^e the Antiquity of the Vene- 
real Difeafe, long before the Vifco'Very of the 
Weft- Indies ; in a Letter from Mr. William 
Beckett, to 2)r. James Douglafs, M.T>, 
and R. Soc. Soc. and by him communicated to the 
Royal Society. 
SIR, 
T H E Undertaking I am at prefent engaged in, 
has unavoidably obliged me to confult, among 
others, a great Number of ancient Phyfical and 
Chyrurgical Books, written by my own Countrymen .• 
From thefe I cook the Hint, that the Vsnsrsal Difeafe 
was known among us, much earlier than the ^ra^ 
which has been generally alTign’d for its Rife by mo- 
dern Authors ; for it’s believed it was not known, at 
lead in Europe., till about the Year *494. Not with- 
Handing which, I determin, in the following Papers, 
to make it evident, it was frequent among us fome 
Hundreds of Years before that Date. ! could men- 
tion feveral Phyficians and Surgeons of Eminence, who 
have been of the fame Sentiments with me, particular- 
ly, the Learned Dr. Charles Fatin, who has written a 
curious DifTertation to prove the Antiquity of this Dif- 
eafe, which is fufficient to excufe me from the Impu- 
tation of having ftarted a Novelty, or being at the 
trouble of quoting ancient Authorities before taken 
notice of, from the mod ancient Writers of Medicine; 
as the Great Hiffocrates, Galeri, Avicen, Cdfus,^c* and 
even the Holy Scriptures. I fiall in thefe and Ibme fol- 
lowing Papers, lay afide all thofe foreign Aids and Af- 
I^PPP.PP fiftances, 
