1998.1]. 
condvet of the Herefordthire yeomanry, 
in their election of Robert Bidaolph, efq. 
to be their reprefentative in parliament ; 
the cireumftanccs of that appointment, and 
the generous refolutions that followed, de- 
ferve the moft honourable mention ; and 
are worthy nor only of being held up to 
general imitation in modern times, but of 
beiug handed down in the moft refpecrful 
manner to pofterity : for it may with truth 
be afferred, that there is not a fingle mem- 
ber in the Houfe of Commons, who has 
been placed there by a conduct equally fpi- 
rited and popular. 
The Iciter was accompanied with a 
propofal, that when medals were ftruck, 
entitled’ ‘to public notice, one thould be 
fent to your Magazine; and it was fub- 
mitted to.your judgment, wherler it might 
not be at once agreeable and inftrufive to 
your readers to prefent them with an én- 
graving of it. . 
This letter was a mere hint, and appcar- 
ed in your Magazine: but I withed to af- 
certain, how far it was confifient wich your 
plan, to allow the fubjeét a more ample 
difeuffion. I accordingly propoled, if 
agreeable, to refume it, and to fend an cx- 
planation of the Herefordthire medal. 
The infertion of thar letter I conf-dered 
as an anfwer to my queftion; and accord- 
ingly, in conformity with my promife, 
fent a fecond letter, containiny fome ob- 
fervations on medals, firft, in reference to 
ancient jiterature, after the manner of 
Spanheim, Villaipandus, and Addifon; 
and afrerwards, in reference to modern 
times, with a few particulars concerning 
the Herefordfhire eleétion, explanatory of 
the medal.— This laft lecter never made its 
appearance. 
I, at firft, apprehended, that the eflay 
might not fuit the genius of your Repofi- 
tory, going, as it did, into a minute exami- 
nation, and making refpeétful mention of 
an art that is frequently treated as trifling. 
But on enquiry I have been informed that 
the printer has miflaid it. I beg per- 
miffion, therefore, to give this informa- 
tion; otherwife 1 am liable to becharged 
with levity, or imadvertence. For. J 
pledged mytelf to write on the fubjeét, if 
agreeable to your wifhes ; and your infer- 
tion of my firft letter will be confidered in 
the light of a compliance with my requett: 
a farther reafon for my writing will be 
made to arife from a call of one of your 
correfpondents, unknown to me, to fulfl 
my engagement.—My f{econd letter was 
communicated to you, before that letter 
made its appearance. I am, fir, &c. 
Yan, 5, 1798. ore, 
Doubts as to Toads found ‘in Stone. 
to afedl even the vulgar. 
. 
27 
To the Editor of the’ Monthly Magcxiha. 
SIR, “ 
Wess reciprocal defire to communicate 
and to liften to extraordinary narra- 
tions, efpecially fuch as appear to contra- 
‘dié& the ufual courfe of nature, is every 
where prevalent. among mankind. ‘Tales 
of ghofts and’witches, once the fraitfal 
fource of the marvellous, have now ceafed: 
But fingular’ 
deviations from what we are accuftomed 
to fee, are'ftill received with peculiar.avi- 
dity. To the operation of this principle, 
I.am inclined to refer the various narra- 
tives with which-you have been favoured 
by feveral corref{pondents, of toads fonud 
{hut up in folid rocks, of flate, of free- 
ftone, and even of marble, of which dat 
there is a fpecimen in the ‘Marquis of 
Rockingham’s feat in Yorkthire, 
Thave obferved a triking peculiarity 
in all the infiances brought forward in 
your’‘Magazine. Noone is given by an 
eye-witnefs of the faét, but always on the 
authority of fome perfon of undoubied 
veracity, that is, in whom the narrator. 
had implicit belief, I need hardly 
obferve, fir,; how much in this refpeét, 
thefe ftories refemble the tales of ghotts, 
which are always given at fecond-hand, 
and we can never fee the perton, -who,) 
himfelf, faw the-ghott. Now, fir, as to me) 
it.is a real miracle; rhat an animal which 
has lungs, and confequently requires al) 5. 
that has a ftomach, end organs of digei- 
tion, and therefore ftands in need of foods 
that has bulk and dimenficns, and there- 
fore occupies fpace ; thould be found in 
the centre of afolid rock, where there is 
neither air,food,nor vacancy—for I think 
noman will be hardy: enough ro affert 
that a toad can live during the centuries 
required to form fione; I muft be per- 
mitted, till the phenomenon is eftablithed 
by better authenticated proofs ‘han have 
yet been ftated, to abide by the golden 
rule laid down by Mr. Hume, viz. to be- 
lieve in the Jefer miracle. Surely 101s 
more probable that all chefe people fhould 
be miitaken, than that the courfe of -na- 
ture fhould be to unaccountably perverted. 
An inclinaiion for the marvellous is.a 
fin that eafily befets us, and is with dif- 
ficulty repelled: the bef mode of curing 
it, is an attentive ftudy of nature, which 
not, only teaches us that her laws are uni- 
form, bur fatisfies that inclination of the 
mind for the wondeiful, by unfolding the 
real wonders .with.which every part of 
creation abounds. Jam, fir, your’s, 8c. 
T¢ 
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