[ H7 3 
fn Water too Fathoms deep, will go down to the 
Bottom, and the Trunk will return in one Minute and 
three Seconds. 
VIII. A Letter from Mr. J. Breintal to Mr. 
Peter Collinfon, F. R. S. containing an 
Account of what he felt after being bit by 
■a Rattle-Snake. 
fUad April 10. 
• 746. 
Philadelphia, Feb. io. 1 74.fi. 
I AM much obliged to you for your kind 
Letter; but you injoin me a fad Task. 
You muft know then, that, on the 2d of laft May in 
the Afternoon, I took a Turn down to the River ; 
and meeting there fome Company, we tarried about 
two Hours. 
I hearing a Bell upon the Top of a fteep Hill, 
which I knew to be the Cows of the People where I 
then quarter’d, and thinking to drive them home, it 
being almoft in a ftrait Line thither, went right up the 
Hill; and as it was ftony, fometimes I was ready to 
fall, fo faved myfelf by my Hands, and got fafe very 
near the Top ; where either my Foot flipt, or the 
Stone under it gave Way, and brought me down upon 
my Knees. I laid my Hand on a broad Stone to flay 
myfelf ; and, I fuppofe, the Snake lay on the oppofite 
Side, and might be offended by fome Motion of the 
Stone, fo bit my Hand in an Inftant, without any 
Warning or Sight; then Aid under the Stones, and 
founded his Rattles. 
I 
