aforesaid) lying on a sort of crimson sofa,
covered with flowing blue drapery, and bears the
following legend, in which a peculiarity of spelling
seems to heighten the prodigious character
of the painted prodigy,— A Mounstrous child
with two heads." Then comes the description:
—"This mounstrous child was bom att Pluviers
or Pithiviers in Gastinois in France in the
Maternal House of James Paris, Rue de Gastinois,
he had (as the Figure represents him) two heads,
and a Round Excresence of a Sponge Flech
between the two Heads, he was born dead, and
the Mother was Delivered by the Sieur Martel,
Famous Doctor of Phisick, and Surgeon in the
said Town, and in our House, he Having
Married one of my Aunts. The Occasion of this
Monstrous Birth was thus. About the year
1680 or 81, there was an Almanak (as most
of the French Almanacks are) full of Stories,
with Pictures, and Amongst them the History
of Such a Birth of a Child, of the very same
form and Figure, with the Picture of it: The
Mother was a Gentleman's wife, whose name
was Mr. De Souville, .who lived at a village
called Souville of which he was Lord, about a
League or two from Pluviers. this Gentlewoman
at the time of her Conception Grew very
fond Admirer of this Figure, her Husband the
sicur De Souville taking notice of it, took the
Almanack from her, and burnt it, but she
Procured herself another, and so a third, which he
also took from her, this lasted till her Longing
was over and the Mischief was don. when she
was very big and near the time of her Delivery
she Desired my Mother, Charlotte du Plessis
Paris, to lett her have an appartment in our
House, for her Lying in. Which was readily
granted, for the convenience of being near the
Midwife, Minister, and Surgeon, the two last
living in our House, she There, was Delivered
of this Child, who was born dead and was a Male
Child. this Accident was kept very Secret, and
the Child being a Monster and not having been
Cristend, was wrapped in a Clean Linnen Cloth
and put in a littel woodden Box and Buried
very Privately, in a part of our Garden which I
cal'd my Garden, being a bit of ground that was
given to me, to play the Gardiner in, that I
shuld not wast, the other parts. All this was
kept very Secret from me, Though I was very
Inquisitive and Whatchfull but having Received
a Great Slap on the Face" (in the margin is
added "From my Mother") "I was foarsed to
leve off my Curiosity. A Few Dayes After
being Buisy a Digging in my Little Garden, I
Discovered a little Box, in which I found this
Little Mounster, which I Buried Again, and by
it I Discovered part of the Mistery which I also
keept a Secret. A Little while after I found
Dr. Martel's Closet open, and I found in it the
foresaid Almanack, with the Relation as I give
it here. In Manuscript. I have seen such
another Child in all Respects, Excepting that
had not the Round Excresence between the two
Heads; att Marybone near London, he was born
dead and was Shown for Mony. Seen by James
Paris Duplessis aged then about 15 years.
—Finis." (The last word is attached to every
narration.)

This early-awakened curiosity was, doubtless,
the stimulus which led to all that follows. The
next picture is announced as "The Effigies of a
Monstrous Tartar taken in Hungary February
1664. This Tartar was taken Prisoner by Count
Sarini. A creature of extraordinary Strength
and Valour, who having spent all his Arrows in
fight against ye Christians, was taken alive and
so continues, being carefully kept in those
parts." Of this "Mounster," there are two
representatives. The first is an engraving, the
second a painting. The engraving, besides the
title and description, has on it: "Are to be sould
at ye Globe in the Ould Bailye,"—and "with
allowance May 23 1664. Roger Lestrange."
"This Tartar" (whom certainly one would like
to catch) is represented in all respects like a
man, with the exception of a long thick curling
neck like a camel, about one-third of his
whole length, a long flowing mane and horses'
ears; his face is human and his beard and
moustaches very like what one meets with every
day. The expression of his countenance is
excessively mild and amiable—as that of many
monsters is. He is attired in a simple tunic
which reaches to his knees; his legs and feet
are bare. In the engraving he holds a bow in one
hand and an arrow in the other, and his quiver
is full. The painting, adhering more closely
to the description, exhibits an empty quiver.

Number Three is "A Man with a Mounstrous
Goiter," and is thus described: "This man Grew
to the age of about forty years, being Born with
An Excresence like the Entrils of a Young
Lamb, which grew as the boy Grew in bigness
and age, he being born of poor Parents, was
forced to begg his Bread about London Streets,
to the Shame and Scandal of the Church
Wardens, and over Seers of the poor of his Parish.
I, James Paris saw him begg about the streets
att the age of about forty years. His Excresence
was something like the largest Goyters of
the Peasants of the Mountains of Savoy but
much bigger than the Biggest I Ever saw. it
Reached from one Ear to the other round about
his Chin and Contracted his mouth so as to
make him Grinn horribly. I saw him many years
togather, and he Dyed about the year 1690."

Number Five bears this peculiar title: "A
Mounstrous Hary and moldy Woman. This
Mouustrous Woman was about Thirty Years old
when I James Paris saw her in London she had
a very handsom Face Black Hair on her Head
her body was mi-parted all her Right Side was
from the Shoulder to the Knee all Harry the
Leg and hand of a fine Smooth white Colour
without Hair the other Half side of her was a
pure White Soft Smooth and White skin but all
over Bestrewed with Molds of a Reddish
Collour, with a few hairs upon Each of them
from the Shoulder Down to the Knee her hand
and foot as them on the Other Side, and so
behind alike as before." This lady's hair curls
gracefully over her shoulders, and for her
greater adornment she wears crimson stockings,