who had Stmllowcd a Number erf' Clasp-Knives. 
women standing, and a large tent that was placed upon the 
ground. Being anxious to know what they had been about, 
steered their course towards the place where the multitude 
stood ; by inquiring of the first they met with, was informed 
it was a play. Directly they collected a livre each, and entered 
inside the scenes. They had full view of the performance ; but 
by observing the play-actors swallowing knives, induced him to 
try the experiment. That night they were in time enough on 
board, where they began to enjoy the former part of the night 
as follows : — After drinking very hearty, one of the company 
opened the story concerning the above play-actors, which he re- 
peated that it was an extraordinary affair to swallow knives. 
The author made answer directly, and told him that he could 
swallow knives as well as they could. The company present 
took notice of the above answer being made so quick, and for 
the curiosity of the circumstance, made a serious enquiry if he 
was man enough to perform what he had already stated. He 
did not like to go against his word, neither was he anxious to 
take the job in hand ; but, by having a good supply of grog 
inwardly, he took his own pocket-knife, and tried it first, which 
slipped down his throat with great ease ; and, by the assistance 
of some drink and the weight of the knife, conveyed it into his 
stomach. But still the spectators seemed not satisfied with one, 
but made further enquiry, if he could swallow any more. He 
replied in a word, “ All the knives on board the ship.” By 
this answer, there was three more knives presented upon the 
table, which he swallowed in few minutes, the same way as the 
former. And by this bold attempt of a drunken man, the com- 
pany was well entertained for that night. Next morning nature 
worked him to a stool, but passed nothing extraordinary; at 
four o’clock the same afternoon had another, when he passed 
one, and, what was more surprising to him, that was not the 
first knife he swallowed ; the next day he passed two at once,, 
and one of them being the first knife he swallowed ; the fourth,, 
never knew any thing about it, nor ever knew whether it came^ 
away or remained in his bowels. But yet he never suffered 
pain by them that time, and was safely delivered without any 
assistance from a surgeon ; and shortly afterwards took his de- 
parture from France, and never thought on swallowing any 
