[ 437 ] 
Mr. STUCKEY SIMON to Dr. MACBRIDE. 
DEAR SIR, Strand-ftreet, 4 Feb. 1773* 
I RECEIVED your letter; and fee that Sir 
john pringle received the fnail fafe. You fay, 
that fome gentlemen are inclined to think, my fon 
has impofed on me frefh fhells, in the Head of 
thofe I gave him. He had no opportunity to get 
any other fhells, being, at the time and for feveral 
days after, confined to the houfe with a cold. I 
am pofitive they are the fame I gave him, having 
more of the fame fort of fhells in my cabinet* 
and nearly the fame fize. 
The nine fhells, which produced the fnails, arc 
of the fame kind as the one you lent to Sir john 
pringle ; and I now fend you one of them, with 
the fnail in it, which I take to be dead. Having 
put it in water feveral times, it became foft ; and 
a part of it pufhed out of the fhell, but fhewed 
no other fign of life. I would have fent you a 
few more of the fhells, but that the Bifhop of 
Derry, and fome other friends, have begged of 
me to give them a fhare. 
I am, dear Sir, 
Your mod: obedient, 
humble fervant, 
STUCKEY SIMON. 
xliil 22 * 
