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OBSERVATIONS On the CURE of WILLIAM TAYLOR, THE BLIND BOY of Ightham, in Kent; Who being born with Cataracts in both Eyes, was at Eight Years of Age, brought to Sight, on the 8th of October, 1751, By Mr. JOHN TAYLOR, junr. OCULIST, in Hatton Garden.

CONTAINING His ſtrange Notions of Objects upon the firſt Enjoyment of his new Senſe: Alſo, ſome Atteſtations thereof, in a Letter written by his Father, Mr. WILLIAM TAYLOR, Farmer, in the ſame Pariſh. Interſpers'd with ſeveral curious Examples and Remarks, hiſtorical and philoſophical thereupon.

DEDICATED TO Dr. MONSEY, Phyſician to the Royal Hoſpital at C [...]lſea.

ALSO Some ADDRESS to the PUBLICK, for a Contribution towards the Foundation of an HOSPITAL for the BLIND, Already begun by ſome NOBLE PERSONAGES.

Printed by E. OWEN, in Hand-Court, Holborn, 1753.

A LIST OF THE Noblemen and eminent Perſons who have [...]mitted their Names to be mentioned for Encouragement of this Treatiſe.

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  • HIS Grace the Duke of Ancaſter.
  • The Dutcheſs of Ancaſter.
  • The Rev. Gilbert Affleck
  • Harbord Aſtley, Eſq
  • Mr. Arnaud, Surgeon
  • Mr. Adderly
  • Mr. Alexander
  • Mrs. Alexander
  • Tho. Bladen, Eſq
  • Mr. Briggs
  • Mr. Burrow
  • The Rev. Mr. Clendon
  • Carter, Eſq
  • Mr. Robert Cliff
  • Mr. Chapman
  • Mr. Dingley
  • Mr. Driſſield
  • Mr. Dickens
  • Sir John Evelyn
  • Col. Elleſon
  • Mr. De Ellens, a Swiſs [...] tleman, blind of [...] Eyes, was lately co [...] and reſtored to Sig [...] [...] Mr. Taylor, Oculi [...] [...] Hatton-Garden, [...] Preſence of Mr. [...] Fontaine, an emine [...] [...] geon, in Meard's [...] Dean-Street, Soho; [...] what is very remar [...] had not the leaſt I [...] mation during his [...]
  • Simon Fanſhaw, Eſq
  • Wm. Fauquier, Eſq
  • Mrs. Fauquier
  • Mr. De la Fontaine, S [...]
  • [] [...] Farran, French Teacher
  • [...] Foot, Apothecary
  • [...] Froling Hogmagog
  • [...] Grace the Duke of [...]rafton
  • [...] Right Honourable the [...]rl of Godolphin
  • [...] [...]d Garrick, Eſq
  • [...] de Grey, Eſq
  • [...] Honourable William [...]arvey, Eſq
  • [...] [...]am Harvey, Eſq of [...]igwell
  • [...] Hall
  • [...] Johnſon of Eltham
  • [...] Johnſon
  • [...] T. Johnſon of Norwich
  • [...] Grace the Duke of [...]ds
  • [...] Grace the Dutcheſs of [...]ds
  • [...] Honourable James [...]nley, Eſq
  • [...] Rev. Mr. Love
  • [...] Thomas Life, Surgeon, [...]market
  • [...] [...]atham, Apothecary, [...]itham
  • [...] Right Honourable [...]d John Murray
  • [...]m Melliſh, Eſq
  • [...] Melliſh, Eſq
  • Mr. Mantineau, Watchmaker
  • Miſs Mautineau
  • Francis Naylor, Eſq
  • Piercy Windham Obryen, Eſq
  • T. Salter, Eſq
  • Miſs Oldfield
  • Tho. Panton, Eſq
  • Mrs. Panton
  • Mr. Francis Pit, Newmarket
  • Mr. Palmer
  • Wm. Robinſon, Eſq
  • Joſeph Richardſon, Eſq
  • Sleigh Soame, Eſq
  • Mr. Shillingfleet
  • Mr. Surman
  • The Rev. Dr. James Taylor
  • Philip Ryley Taylor, Eſq
  • Mrs. Taylor
  • Tilſon, Eſq
  • Oliver Tilſon, Eſq Hil-Street
  • James Trimmer, Eſq
  • The Right Honourable the Earl of Waldgrave
  • William Windham, Eſq of Fellrig
  • John Windham, Eſq
  • Mr. Thomas Worlige, Painter
  • Mr. Wilton
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TO Dr. MONSEY.

SIR,

UNderstanding that you have been a ſingular Friend to Mr. Taylor, junr. in recommending him to ſeveral Patients; and in particular, that you are acquainted with his having had the Honour to attend his Grace the Duke of Ancaſter; and alſo of his having performed a remarkable Cure on one of his Grace's Family, I am induced to take the Freedom of begging your Confirmation thereof. I have been alſo informed, that you ſaw the Boy of Ightham, of whom there will be a ſhort Treatiſe ſpeedily publiſh'd; and if you made any Remarks upon him, which you think may be ſerviceable to the Publick, I ſhould be very proud of ſuch Communication thereof, as may illuſtrate, and alſo confirm the ſame; which will be look'd upon as a great Honour conferr'd upon

SIR,
Your obedient humble Servant, WM. OLDYS.
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TO Mr. OLDYS.

SIR,

THAT I have been a Friend to Mr. TAYLOR, jun. I am very ready to own, and wiſh my Friendſhip could have been of more Service than I fear it has been, becauſe I think he deſerves it; and I ſhall be glad to give him all the Aſſiſtance in my Power for the Future.

I CAN atteſt the Truth not only of his having performed a very remarkable Cure on one of his Grace the Duke of Ancaster's Family; but that he alſo had the Honour of being twice ſent for, from Town, by the Duke himſelf, to his Grace's Seat at Grimesthorpe, in Lincolnſhire,; where he attended his Grace under a violent Inflammation in his Eyes; which Mr. Taylor treated with all due Care and Judgment, 'till he effected a complete Recovery.

THE principal Obſervation I made upon the Ightham Boy, was, his confirming the Phoenomenon in Viſion, of Objects being painted, inverted upon the Retina; for when a Pin was held upright before him, he conſtantly directed his Finger to the Head, inſtead of the Point, [v] and ſo, vice verſâ: How the Mind turns it afterwards, is a Queſtion of another Kind, and very hard to be reſolv'd.

I have been a Witneſs to ſeveral other very deplorable Caſes, in which, he has given ſurprizing Relief; and if it were proper, I could name ſome other Perſons of the higheſt Rank and Quality, to whom he has given the fulleſt Satisfaction.

I have but one Thing more to add; which is, That my worthy Friend Mr. Chiſelden, in his Life-time, gave this Man all the Encouragement in his Power; and for this good Reaſon; becauſe as he told me, he very well deſerv'd it; which I think too, or elſe I had ſav'd you, and myſelf the Trouble of this Anſwer.

I am, SIR,
Your oblig'd, tho' unknown humble Servant, M. MONSEY.
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TO Dr. MONSEY, Phyſician to the ROYAL HOSPITAL at Chelſea.

SIR,

AS great Weights may hang upon ſmall Lines, we know not to what extenſive Benefit, the within propoſed Foundation of an HOSPITAL for the BLIND, may arrive; ſince the Conſtitution of ſuch a neceſſary and deſirable Charity, has already been ſo generouſly patroniz'd by his Grace the Duke of ANCASTER, and the Right Honourable the Earl of GODOLPHIN, beſides other noble and publick-ſpirited Perſons of Rank and Diſtinction, who have alſo ſignified their favourable Diſpoſition, as well to establiſh and maintain the ſame, as to appropriate ſome reaſonable Salary for the Encouragement of his Deſerts, who firſt offer'd this laudable Scheme thereof, and his Attendance upon the Patients to be admitted therein.

Indeed, Merit is a Plant, not always of ſuch a hardy and independant Nature, as will riſe to any eminent Head of its own Strength, and ſpread itſelf forth, or flouriſh to the Notice, and fructify to the Advantage of Mankind, without ſome Aſſiſtance: On the contrary, we ſee Virtue often like the Vine, apt to [vii] droop with the Weight of its own vigorous Fertility, and even to trail, or creep only along the Ground, till it withers and conſumes away, or is trampled on, and cruſh'd under Foot, without ſome friendly and fostering Hand to rear, conduct, and diſplay it, to the cheriſhing Beams of the Sun: Then will it produce its Fruits to Maturity in Abundance, and adorn its Supporters with many a generous Cluſter.

Upon theſe Conſiderations, it is with the greateſt Satisfaction that I perceive, in your courteous Anſwer to my Letter annex'd, how cordially you have, by your benevolent Recommendations, promoted the Practice and Intereſt of Mr. Taylor, who firſt propoſed the Foundation of the Hoſpital aforeſaid, and among the many other Distempers of the Eyes by him relieved, perform'd the remarkable Cure that is the Subject of the following Diſcourſe, which I beg leave to offer the Publick, under the Shelter and Protection of your Name. Had you been in Town, I would have perſonally intreated the Favour of this Liberty, as a further Proof of your Friendſhip, to the Performer of that Cure, and of its great Influence, if it ſhould extenuate the Imperfections in this Repreſentation of it. But as the Impreſſion is ſo nearly finiſh'd, I hope you will pardon the Preſumption of this Addreſs, as alſo that of publiſhing my Letter to you, with your Anſwer; ſince others may be confirmed thereby, in the Contents of it, no leſs than,

SIR,
Your oblig'd humble Servant, WM. OLDYS.

OBSERVATIONS On the CURE of William Taylor, THE BLIND BOY Of IGHTHAM.

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SINCE our merciful Creator has condeſcended to render himſelf more viſible in his Operations, than his Eſſence, what an invaluable Bleſſing ought we to eſteem it, that he has aſſiſted our Reaſon, with ſuch an admirable Senſe, as that of Sight, thro' ſuch curious [2] Organs as the Eyes! Whereby we may every Moment confirm ourſelves in the Omnipotence and Eternity of his Being, by the continual Wonders of his Works; whereby, all thoſe, who rationally behold the Miracles of his Creation, muſt be illuminated in their Souls, with thoſe Attributes of their Creator, tho' theſe Luminaries of the Body.

AND as it is a Satisfaction unexpreſſible, in Minds divinely exalted, to enjoy thoſe ocular Confirmations, what miſerable Darkneſs muſt it be, to be deprived of them? But to what Strait, what narrow Limits muſt their Knowledge and Ideas be contracted, who have been led about, in this State of Obſcurity, from the Time of their Birth, for the whole Night of their Lives? What a comfortleſs Condition, to think, that all Places and Things, are to them alike diſmal, and the whole Univerſe itſelf but a Dungeon! But on the other hand, to conſider, what a Feaſt of Felicities muſt be ſpread before them, in having ſuch Loſs repair'd; ſuch Want ſupply'd, and that ineſtimable Benefit of Sight, from which the Eyes of the Blind, had been, by natural Defects, Diſeaſes, or Accidents, ſo long debarr'd, ſuddenly, by the ſkilful Hand of their Fellow-Creature, beſtow'd upon them! When he draws the Curtain of Darkneſs from before them, and opens at once, as it were a new Creation of Images and Objects, in moving and ſtill Life; at once, a moſt ſpacious and opulent Proſpect, of all Varieties, on every Side, in this [3] lower World, and innumerable Worlds themſelves, glittering in the vaſt Expance above! For all which ſerviceable, delightful, glorious and marvellous Scenes, to be made Partaker, what Reward, what Recompence can be adequate? And yet of ſo much Happineſs, how long will ſome remain unpoſſeſs'd? becauſe their penurious and enthralled Souls cannot give them Liberty to make any reaſonable Return of Gratitude, but will rather conſtrain them to continue moping on, in perpetual Pain or Darkneſs, than let them beſtow any thing for the Enjoyment of their Sight. Some again are deterr'd from ſeeking any Redreſs, thro' a Prejudice raiſed by Ignorance againſt it, under the diſtaſteful Notion of trying Practices, and dabbling or tampering with their Eyes: So thro' their diffident, obſtinate, or indolent Delay, in admitting timely and proper Applications to diſperſe, or aſſwage their Diſorder, at the Beginning of its firſt and unſettled Invaſion, or Encroachment upon them, ſubmit to, as what could not be prevented, the daily Depravation of their Sight; or perhaps at laſt, permit themſelves to be quite blinded, even by thoſe very ignorant People, who diſſuaded them from attempting to be reſtor'd, by ſuch as have the greateſt Skill, and are beſt qualified to relieve them. And laſtly, how long will others refrain from applying for ſuch Relief, thro' the fear of ſome little ſhort, or ſudden Smart, which the diſeaſed Organ may endure in the Recovery; ſo let [4] their Maladies grow ſtronger and more ſtubborn, as the Organ itſelf, its Spirits, Humours, or Muſcles grow weaker, and more decayed or corrupted, till by Inflamations, and other dangerous Conſequencies, they become incureable; when the lighteſt Bruſhing over the Eye, with the Corner of an Handkerchief, a little Duſt, a Pinch of Snuff blown into it, or the bare waſhing it with any ſtrong Liquor, no leſs than the more violent Wounds, Blows, and Diſtempers, which blind it, ſhall often be more painful than the Operations by which the gentle and careful Hand of an experienc'd Oculiſt reſtores it to Sight.

WHEN we read among the many Volumes which have been written upon the Eyes, that there are above Two hundred and forty Diſeaſes, with their Complications, to which they, and their relative Parts are incident, we cannot but perceive, there are room and Buſineſs enough, for ſeveral ingenious Men to make this beautiful Orb, minute as it is, with the Preſervation, or Reſtoration of its moſt precious Senſe, their ſole Study and Practice: And as it may be Employment enough, to devote their whole Time to it, ſo there ought to be Encouragement enough in theſe, as in France and other Countries, to engage them aſſiduouſly in the Attainment of a ſucceſsful Proficiency therein. If many, from the meaneſt Excreſcences, by keeping our Hair, our Corns, and Nails in due and convenient Retrenchment, have eſtabliſh'd very [5] comfortable Ocupations, and cut themſelves out very decent Livelyhoods, independent of Phyſic, Surgery, Anatomy, or Pharmacy, for the Eaſe chiefly of our Feet; how much more deſerve they, who, beſides the Merit of being acquainted with the nobler, more conſiderable and important Objects of their Practice, can by the Knowledge and Aid alſo of thoſe Sciences, join'd with their own Experience, preſerve or recover our Sight, by which thoſe very Feet are guided, and we are aſſiſted to exerciſe them? If many Hoſpitals and Infirmaries have been charitably erected, and endow'd, for the Lame, why none for the Blind? Since the Blind may be as well Lame as they, uncapable as they are, of uſing their Arms or Legs to any Effect; or as unable to walk without a Leader, as a Cripple without a Crutch; and ſince, the Cure of the Blind requires longer Experience, deeper Penetration into the Nature of its Object, and more delicate Operations than the Lame.

IT is leſs difficult to attain a ſuperficial Knowledge of the Diſorders that affect the Body of Man in general, than a profound Knowledge of thoſe which diſtreſs ſome Parts in particular, whereof the Eye is the Chief; complicated as it is, of ſuch fine ſolid, as well as ſubtil and ſpiritous Matter; conſiſting of ſuch various Compoſitions, ſuch different Subſtances, Teguments, Films, Fluids, Muſcles, Nerves, Veins, and Fibres; ſuch an elementary Labyrinth of concordant Parts, mutually reflecting all Images to [6] the Organ of Sight, and all in ſuch cloſe Compact and circular Confines: Yet is it alſo, of ſuch a refined Frame and Texture, of ſuch a tender and ſenſible Nature, that it is ſubject to numerous Defects, Diſtempers and Diſaſters, which often lie ſo intricately involved, or internally conceal'd, as to be even undiſcernable to ordinary Inſpection, and ſometimes almoſt inacceſſible to proper Applications for its Relief, without creating Diſorders, greater than are attempted to be cur'd. Upon the mature Conſideration hereof, we may well agree with that learned and ingenious Gentleman, who has obſerv'd that, ‘"Thoſe Defects and Diſeaſes, ſo numerous, are more than ſufficient to employ the whole Study and Attention of any one Perſon, be his Abilities ever ſo great, or his Knowledge ever ſo extenſive. Hence it is, That Patients commonly meet with ſuch bad Succeſs, from their Application to Gentlemen whoſe Judgment and Skill, in other Parts of the human Body, may indeed be unexceptionable, but whoſe Practice is too general, to permit them to make any conſiderable Improvement in the Knowledge of this one Organ, the Structure of which is ſo delicate, and its Parts ſo exquiſitely fine and minute, that it will hardly bear any Miſtakes in the Treatment of its Diſeaſes, ſince the firſt falſe Step in theſe Caſes, is always of dangerous, and very often of fatal Conſequence."’

[7]BUT there are other Difficulties and Diſadvantages, which are apt to divert, or deter a Student from practiſing with Succeſs, upon this moſt neceſſary, comprehenſive, and elegant Organ: For, beſides that the Tranſition of Studies and Experiments, from one ailing Part of the Body to another, external and internal, as well for healing as reſtoring of Health, is more engaging to the Curioſity of a Practitioner, thro' the Diverſity of Objects and Operations, than a conſtant and confined Attachment to any one Organ of Senſe, that contains a greater Variety, in a more contracted Compaſs, and requires Methods of Treatment more nice and curious, dexterous and difficult; there is this further Diſcouragement, attending the ſaid more particular Attachment to the Relief of this, or any other Senſe, that, as there are fewer Patients, and more indigent Objects, there is leſs Proſpect of Profit from profeſſing to reſtore only one little Part, how uſeful or important ſoever, of the human Frame, than thoſe uſually meet with, who promiſe, and undertake to cure all Diſeaſes, in every Part of every Body.

Theſe, among other Reaſons, render our Obligations the greater, to thoſe few who have ſo circumſcribed their Experience, and ſo confined themſelves to this diſtinct and more unbeaten Path, as to acquire the moſt acurate Skill and Expertneſs, in the ſaid more difficult, and leſs advantageous Branch of the Practice; which [8] therefore, ſo much more deſerves the Encouragement of the Publick, as the Patients are more unfrequent, and diſperſed, leſs acquainted, where they may repair for Aſſiſtance, and leſs able to recompence in any Proportion, of their own ſingle Subſtance, or Abilities, the whole Application, Time and Attendance, of an expert Oculiſt, in his more private Situation. That this is a very ſeaſonable and promiſing Juncture, to ſolicit ſuch a needful Benefaction, may be preſum'd, in that there have been ſo many others of late Years eſtabliſh'd, which flouriſh with Succeſs, and however laudable, are not more neceſſary. Therefore it is to be hoped, that Charity will remain no longer liable to the Suſpicion of being any ways defective in her own Eyes, by overlooking the moſt effectual Means of Relief to thoſe which are blind: Thoſe, whoſe moſt wretched Lives are lingering on, in the moſt helpleſs, deſtitute and deplorable Condition, of Darkneſs, Beggary and Want: But that ſhe will alſo ſtretch her Hands, no leſs extenſively forth, as to many others, ſo to theſe moſt unhappy Objects of Compaſſion, who have hitherto ſo much eſcaped the bountiful and unanimous Contributions of her gracious and generous Votaries. ‘"The Imperfections however, of whoſe good Deſigns, in the Foundations they have encouraged, are not,"’ as a judicious Author has lately obſerv'd, ‘"more glaring in any Inſtance, than in that great Number we continually meet with, of poor People, who are [9] either totally blind, or elſe labour under ſuch Diſeaſes in the Eyes, as for want of proper Aſſiſtance, from ſuch, whoſe whole Study and Practice are confined to this one Organ, do, notwithſtanding general Application, ſtill continue in a State of Miſery, and muſt ever remain, unleſs relieved by Thoſe who are willing to encourage and promote their Recovery, by commending them to ſuch particular Practitioners, who are moſt likely to effect it".’ Wherefore we are aſſured, as the ſame Author continues, ‘"It is with this Conſideration, that ſeveral Perſons of Quality and Diſtinction, have agreed to contribute to the Relief of ſuch unhappy Sufferers, by a generous SUBSCRIPTION: whereby they who labour under any ocular Diſorder, may without the leaſt Expence, have the Aſſiſtance of Mr. JOHN TAYLOR, jun. Oculiſt, in Hatton Garden, and be ſupply'd with every Thing needful to their Cure, though their Caſes require ever ſo much Time and Attendance, and their Circumſtances are too narrow to ſupport the Expence that would otherwiſe neceſſarily attend Cures of this Nature".’

UNDER this Gentleman then, and ſuch other Co-operators, as ſhall be appointed with competent Salaries, we may hence hope to ſee the beneficent Foundation here propoſed, effectually purſued, and brought to an honourable Concluſion, by a Number of ſuch noble and generous Subſcribers, as, in Conſequence of the worthy [10] Examples begun, will procure a Patent for the ſame, and elect ſuch Governors to form the Plan, proportion the Expence, and provide ſuch commodious Habitation, or ſettled Place of Abode, that, beſides even thoſe of better Rank, a Number of neglected and forlorn Patients alſo, who are now led about half naked, and ſtarving, as Vagabonds, may know where to apply themſelves, and meet with the ſoundeſt Advice, moſt ſovereign Medicines, and other Adminiſtrations; or ſuch further humane Proviſion, Tendance and Aſſiſtance, as may be found requiſite, for their being admitted either within Doors, or ſupply'd with all proper Means of Redreſs without, as the Nature of their Conditions, Circumſtances, and Caſes, or the Extent of the Charity will admit. Under ſuch Patronage, we hope to ſee ſuch a Benefaction eſtabliſhed, which has been ſo hopefully propoſed by Mr. Taylor, who has already, towards bringing the ſame to Perfection, met with the Encouragement of ſome noble Perſons, for his Knowledge and Succeſs in ocular Diſeaſes; as having had five Years Education in France, been regularly trained under the great Practice of his Father, and alſo had Experience of his own, for nine Years ſucceſſively in London. Among his many extraordinary Cures, that which he perform'd the laſt Year upon William Taylor, the blind Boy of Ightham in Kent, being not the leaſt memorable, or worthy of Obſervation, I ſhall here, ſo far as good [11] Vouchers will authorize, be ſomewhat particular thereon.

As there was no Proſpect of procuring this Boy any Relief that might reſtore him to his Sight, in the Country, where he lived, he was recommended to the Care of the ſaid Mr. John Taylor, the Younger, at London; who ſoon found him ſo lively and active, that he would not ſuffer his Eyes to be even examined, without much ſtruggling: But after ſome ſerious and affecting Expoſtulations with him; after the ſtrongeſt Aſſurances given him, that if he did not patiently comply with the only Means that were to be uſed for his Cure, he would be deprived of all Ways to get his Livelihood; muſt be a Beggarboy, in want of Cloaths and Victuals, and be led about, to ſeek his Bread, from Door to Door, like ſuch a one, of whom he had heard, and have nothing to depend upon, but the cold, ſcanty, and precarious Relief of an hard-hearted World; he thereupon conſented to undergo any Trial that ſhould be made upon him, at his Father's Houſe in the Country. Accordingly the Oculiſt went thither; but being apprehenſive that his Patient would not lie ſo ſtill on the Table, as ſuch a tender and ſteady Operation of his Hand required, he told him that he muſt be tied faſt down, from ſtirring or winching: But he, as he could ſee no Danger, felt no Fear; therefore abſolutely promis'd, he would, without any Conſtraint, lie unmov'd; which he did, with his Hands in his Pockets, till the Obſtruction [12] in his right Eye, was, in little more than a Minute, entirely remov'd, without the leaſt ſtarting or Complaint. As ſoon as the inſide of his Eye was clear'd of its little thick, white, cloudy Spot, by that delicate Depreſſion of it, with the Needle, which is called Couching, ſo that it quite ſubſided, and did no longer intercept the Light, or Admiſſion of Objects to the Organs of Viſion, he, being aſk'd by ſome of the Company, for there were ſixteen of his Neighbours preſent. What he ſaw? Anſwer'd, with a Kind of wild Tranſport, and Wonder, at the ſtrange Shapes, Forms, and Colours of many Things, ſo incomprehenſible about him, that He beheld the Room full of Lights, and Moons. For, as I underſtand, his Eyes were not ſo totally dark'ned by the Cataracts, but that he had ſome faint Diſcernment, or glimmering Senſation of luminous Bodies, admitted round the Pupil; as in the moſt ordinary Eclipſes of the Sun, the Moon's Diſk does not ſo entirely over-ſhadow and obſcure it, but that ſome Edgings of its Light will irradiate, or break out at its Sides, or Circumference; the like of which, might help the Boy to deſcribe ſome ſhining Utenſils he now ſaw, by thoſe Names: For next Time, upon the Dreſſing of his Eye, he declared, as it is atteſted in a Letter of his Father's, That he ſaw the Pewter on the Shelf, with the Clock, and its Caſe; that all theſe Things the Boy knew before by Feeling, and, I dare ſay, adds he, that now he can ſee the above-mention'd Things.

[13]THESE are his Father's Words; and they have been conſtrued to ſignify, that the Boy diſtinctly named thoſe ſeveral Pieces of Furniture, upon his firſt beholding them, from the Knowledge he before had by Feeling them, without having felt them again, after the Uſe of his Sight. But ſuch a familiar Acquaintance inſtantly with Objects never before ſeen, how frequently ſo ever before felt, has been much diſputed by ſome Oculiſts and Opticians, who have deeply conſidered the Properties and Powers of Sight, ſo long kept an utter Stranger to thoſe Objects. Indeed the Clock might be diſcoverable to him, by the Help of his Hearing; as from the Vibrations of its Pendulum, ſtriking, and other Sounds; but the Diſhes, Plates, Shelves, and other Things, tho' perhaps often handled, could as it is thought, ſcarcely be named, upon the firſt Sight only of them; at leaſt, without Feeling again, and a better Knowledge of thoſe Parts and Places in the Room, where he might before feel them, than he could receive in his State of Blindneſs, or retain, and refer to, at firſt Sight.

HOWEVER, there is an ingenious Author, the Reverend Mr. Edward Synge, the ſame I take it, who was the late Archbiſhop of Tuam, in Ireland, who has argued that, the Images of Things ſhall be ſo well known to the Senſe of Seeing, how newly ſoever brought to uſe, only by the Ideas conceived of them, thro' the Senſe of Feeling, that the Patient ſhall be able inſtantly to know, and name them, without feeling them [14] any more, to inform or confirm his Sight. His Arguments are drawn from a Problem, that was ſent by Mr. William Molyneux, to Mr. Locke, who has honour'd it with a Place in his Eſſay on Human Underſtanding *: The Caſe ſtands thus, in the ſaid Mr. Synge's Letter to Dr. Quayl . ‘"A Man born perfectly Blind, has a Globe and a Cube given into his Hands, and inſtructed, as much as he is capable of, in the Notion of each of theſe Figures, and the Difference between them. Let us now ſuppoſe, this Man to be ſuddenly endowed with the Senſe of Seeing, and the Queſtion is, Whether the Globe and the Cube, being placed before his Eyes, he would be able, by his Sight alone, and without touching them, to tell which was the Globe, and which the Cube?"’ Then, one of his Arguments is,—‘"If immediately, upon the Sight of the Globe and the Cube, there be Grounds enough for ſuch a Perſon clearly to perceive the Agreement and the Difference, between his pre-concived Ideas, and newly conceived Images of thoſe Figures; then may he be able to know, which is the Globe, and which the Cube, without touching them again, after he has ſeen them. For the Agreement which he may find between his Idea, and his Image of a Globe, and the Difference of the Idea of a Globe, from the Image of a Cube, et ſic vice verſâ, will be a [15] ſufficient Direction: If,"’ as he repeats again, ‘"there be a ſufficient Ground, immediately to perceive the ſaid Agreement and Difference".’ So, without clearing this Doubt, which he has twice ſuggeſted, he concludes, ſuch Diſtinction may be made by Sight alone, and the Patient be thereby rendered able to know, and name one Object from the other. But Mr. Molyneux, in a Letter of his to Mr. Locke, wherein he incloſes that of Mr. Synge, tells him; ‘"You will find thereby, that what I ſay, of its puzling ſome ingenious Men, is true; and you will eaſily diſcover, by what falſe Steps this Gentleman is led into his Error"*.’ And in another ‘"Letter before, to Mr. Locke, wherein Mr. Molyneux firſt ſtates this Problem",’ he aſſures him that, ‘"He had propos'd it to divers ingenious Men, and could hardly ever meet with one that, at firſt Daſh, would give me the Anſwer to it, which I think true, till by hearing my Reaſons, they were convinced."’ Then having deliver'd the Problem, to the Senſe above repeated, with the Queſtion, ‘"Whether by his Sight, before he touch'd them, he could now diſtinguiſh, and tell which is the Globe, which the Cube?"’ He anſwers himſelf, in the Negative, and gives his own Reaſon in theſe Words: ‘"For, tho' he has obtain'd the Experience, how a Globe, how a Cube affects his Touch; yet, he has not yet attain'd the Experience, that what affects my Touch, ſo [16] or ſo, muſt affect my Sight, ſo or ſo; or, that a protuberant Angle in the Cube, that preſs'd his Hand unequally, ſhall appear to his Eye, as it does in the Cube".’

IT may be conſider'd, whether this Opinion upon that Problem, might not receive ſome further Confirmation, from the Miſtake of a certain blind Man, who, as it is reported, upon his being firſt brought to Sight, could not diſtinguiſh, by that Senſe, a plain Superficies, from a prominent Body; or the Figures of Men painted in Colours, all even, upon a Canvas, or Wainſcot Picture, from thoſe of living Perſons; but was greatly ſurpriz'd at his Diſappointment, that he could not find thoſe Figures, as Men, by feeling, no leſs than he though he had found them ſuch, by his Sight: And being told they were only the artificial Imitations of Men, in their Size, Shapes and Proportions, by the well-diſpoſed Lights, and Shades of Colours, he aſked, Why then, which of the Two is the lying Senſe? He meant, the deceived Senſe, not yet having had the Experience of knowing the Proverb, That Seeing is believing, but Feeling, the Truth. And it may ſtill be further conſider'd, whether external Objects, when render'd viſible, by the Cure of a blind Perſon, may not contradict, or at leaſt confound the internal Conceptions he had of them, before he could ſee; and whether they may not, to the Eye, which is firſt brought to the Sight of them, become thereby rather leſs [17] known; more incomprehenſible and confuſing, thro' the vaſt Variety of their new, and ſtrange Forms, Dimenſions, and Complexions, without any Aſſiſtance from any other Senſe; and conſequently, leſs able to be nam'd, than ſome of them might have been, by the Intelligence of ſome other Senſe, during the former Privation of Sight? Therefore the Boy of Ightham, as he diſcovered much Conſternation upon the firſt Sight of the various Objects about him, might, if he felt not the Things mentioned in his Father's Letter, above-cited, before he named them, have them inadvertently named to him, in the very Queſtions that were put to him, Whether he ſaw them? As thus,—What do you ſee? Can you ſee the Pewter Diſhes here, on this Shelf? The Plates on that? The Clock there, its Caſe, Glaſs? &c. The Enquirer pointing to the Places where they ſtood; and the Boy might anſwer yes, name thoſe ſeveral Things, as he heard them named, and ſaw them; and alſo point out the Places where they ſtood, as he had been led the Way. Which may be a truer Interpretation of his Father's Words, That he declared he ſaw the Pewter on the Shelf, &c. than that he firſt named the Pewter, and other Things himſelf, as ſoon as he firſt ſaw them.

THIS being preſumed the Caſe, it may render his Nomination of thoſe Things accountable, and clear him from the Objection that was made to the Beggar of St. Albans; who pretending to have been miraculouſly endow'd with perfect [18] Sight, tho' blind from his Birth, upon offering up his Prayers at the Shrine of that Saint, was brought before the ſagacious Duke Humphrey, and aſked by him, of what Colours the Gowns of ſeveral Perſons preſent, and other Things were, that were pointed out to him; which, he naming truly, was juſtly, as an Impoſtor, ſent to the Stocks; for he could no more know the Names of all Colours, by barely once ſeeing them, than he could thoſe, of all the Men preſent, only at firſt Sight; as Sir Thomas More has very judiciouſly obſerved*. Indeed had that Beggar, while he was blind, if he was ever ſo, been taught to name the Colours of Things, with the Things themſelves, he might, after he was brought to Sight, upon having thoſe Things produc'd, and named to him, name, by the Help of his Memory, the Colours alſo, whoſe Names had been combined with, or annexed to them; and from thence likewiſe, the ſame Colours in different Things. For Example, had he heard, in the State of Blindneſs, ſome Things called Blood-red, others Sky-blue, or Graſs-green; ſome Coal-black, and others Milk-white; he probably, when he was brought to the Senſe of ſeeing, upon being ſhewed ſome Milk, and told its Name, and aſked what elſe it was called, would anſwer, it was White; tho' the Meaning of the [19] Word, he could not explain; but being told it was its Colour, which diſtinguiſh'd it from others to the Eye, and from thence being referr'd to a Piece of clean Linnen, or ſome white Paper, he would ſay it was of the ſame Colour; and ſo of the reſt: Otherwiſe, for a Man to name all Colours, which he had never before ſeen, is a greater Miracle, than that of being brought to the Sight of them, only by the Interceſſion, here, in that Cure, at the Shrine of St. Alban pretended. But to return:

At the next opening of the Boy's Eye, the Perſons attending to dreſs it, ſaid it appear'd very clear; and then, beſides the Things within Doors, he took Notice of the Barn, and other Out-houſes; and, in the Letter of his Father's aforeſaid, I find it atteſted that, He had never felt any Pain, ſince the firſt Operation. A few Days after, he was ſet before a Looking-glaſs, and was greatly delighted with the little Man he ſaw in it, whom he would have to be his own Man, becauſe he ſo obediently imitated, or repeated all the Motions and Geſtures, which he made, with his Head, Mouth, and Hands; but ſaid, He would not cloſe his Eyes, till he himſelf did firſt; and whenever he went abroad, he wanted, and aſk'd for his little Man, to go along with him. 'Tis in this View or Proſpect, of that ſurpriſing and agreeable Figure, that his Sculpture was prefer'd to be repreſented, with an oval Glaſs in his Hand, by that ingenious Artiſt, Mr. Thomas Worlige, who lately publiſh'd a Print [20] of him, which he has etch'd upon Copper, in a ſmall Octavo Size. But to many other Images he could not ſo ſoon reconcile himſelf: For, when he ſaw any large Utenſil, Piece of Furniture, or Apparel, that ſtood, or lay near him, he diſcover'd himſelf ſo perplex'd to go forward, that he would not ſtir, till he was told what it was, how far off, and how to avoid, or paſs by it; herein agreeing exactly with the Behaviour of the blind Youth of Newington, when he was firſt brought to Sight by Mr. Grant, in the latter Part of Queen Anne's Reign, as the ingenious Author of the Tatler, among other curious Circumſtances, has remark'd*; where we are inform'd that, ‘"When he offer'd to move, he ſeem'd afraid of every Thing around him".’ Yet, one Evening, this young Patient of Ightham, then reſiding, for ſome time at Mr. Taylor's, in Hatton Garden, ſtole up to the Top of the Houſe, and clamber'd out at Window, along the leaden Gutter, without any Apprehenſion of Danger; but being diſcover'd, brought down, and aſked, what induc'd him to hazard his Life, if by a Slip of his Foot, he had tumbled to the Ground? He reply'd that, He only went thither to catch the Moon. When I ſaw him, ſome Weeks after he had received this new Senſe, I obſerved, the Eye which was brought to Light, was, in all due Motion and Symetry, very clear, lively, and briſk; but it ſeemed more infantine, or as if it belonged to a Body, younger than one even [21] of his Years; not looking methought, ſo ſtrong, bold, and ample in the Pupil, as if it had been longer exercis'd in the Reception of various Objects. He is a Lad of a pleaſant Aſpect, fair Complexion, with Features ſoft, and agreeable; alſo of a ſprightly and chearful Temper; and has a quick or ready Ear for Muſic; inſomuch that, to ſeveral Tunes play'd before him, on the German Flute, he would join in Concert with his Hands, by drumming them over, at the ſame Time, upon the Table.

WHETHER he was, as yet, but ſhort-ſighted, thro' the Want of ſome tranſparent Humour, in the room of that which was depreſs'd, or he only appear'd ſo, thro' his Ignorance of the proper Space, at which he might diſtinguiſh his Objects, I will not decide; but it was remark'd that, when ſome Money was laid on the Table; Gold, Silver, and Copper; and he was bid to take up a Guinea, or a Shilling, he would look, as it were, firſt for the Table; then, upon ſeveral Parts of it, before he found where the Money lay; and when he perceiv'd it, by holding his Head down very near it, he would offer to ſnatch at the Piece he aim'd at, two or three Times before he could reach it, becauſe he could have no Notion of Diſtances; which made him before ſo little afraid of being at the Top of the Houſe, and think, from thence, of catching the Moon.

IT is credibly atteſted that, the ingenious Mr. King, who reads Lectures upon Optics, and [22] other Parts of Philoſophy, has aſſerted that, all Objects, to a Perſon who is firſt brought from Blindneſs to Sight, do appear inverted; and that, he confirm'd himſelf in the ſame Opinion, by ſome Experiments which he made upon this Boy; who having a Pin held up before him, of which he had been taught to diſtinguiſh the Point from the Head, and being bid to touch the Head, he laid his Finger upon the Point of it. The ſame Miſtake he committed in three ſeveral Attempts; upon which, the Gentleman who made the Experiments ſmil'd, and ſaid, He knew it would be ſo. Thoſe who have ſeem'd unwilling this Miſtake ſhould be aſcrib'd to the Objects appearing to the Boy inverted, are not ſatisfied belike in ſome Doubts; as Firſt, Whether the Boy's Miſtake was not owing, in this Trial, no leſs to his Ignorance of Situations, as to higher and lower, or right and left, than it was in others before, to his Ignorance in the Diſtances of Things, further or nearer? And Secondly, they thought it very extraordinary, that the Eye, fram'd, and intended by Nature, moſt exactly and conſtantly, to reflect and report, the true unperverted, Poſitions of Objects, ſhould, as in Submiſſion to one of her moſt capricious Operations, be at firſt, ſo unnaturally diſpos'd, as to behold thoſe Objects in the moſt falſe, unfaithful, and prepoſterous Poſitions; and yet, ſo change to the utmoſt Extream, as to reverſe, rather than ratify the Habit, by further Practice of the ſame Organs, in the ſame Manner, upon [23] the ſame Objects; ſo that thoſe Things which appear'd to the ſame Eye, one while upſide down, ſhall appear at other Times, or at all Times after, upright, and on their proper Baſis! Whether ſuch Appearances of Objects in the Reverſe, might be owing to any Inſufficiency in one of the Humours, upon the Vacancy made by the Removal of the opaque and phlegmatic Obſtruction; whether to ſome Irregularity, ſome Indiſpoſition in the Retina, or in any other Mediums to the Senſory in the Brain, which were not yet ſettled in their due Place or Proportion, by Exerciſe, and Experience in proper Diſtances, for a true Reflection of Objects, we need not here ſo much conſider, as whether ſome Light into the Cauſe, might not be reflected from the uſual Experiments, with an ordinary Convex Glaſs; which being held to any Characters or Images near at hand, ſhall only magnify, but not reverſe them; and yet the ſame Glaſs, held almoſt at Arms Length, towards thoſe Objects, at a further Diſtance, ſhall both diminiſh, and turn them all topſy-turvy.

So that to ſee Things firſt in this Manner, how much ſoever it may have of Truth or Fact in it, and therefore may be leſs rare and uncommon; yet is it no leſs remarkable, in this Boy, and all in his Caſe, to have been endow'd with that Faculty really, which was long ſince obſerv'd apparently, in another Boy, mention'd by old Dr. William Bulleyn *, who tells us, He had two Sights [24] in one Eye. And if ſuch the Property be, or Objects do after that Manner, appear inverted, at their firſt Admiſſion to the ſo long obſtructed Organ of Sight, it may poſſibly illuſtrate the blind Man's Similitude in the Goſpel; who being brought to the Uſe of that Senſe, and aſked, if he could ſee any Thing, anſwered that, He ſaw Men like Trees, walking. For, however he knew the Trees at firſt Sight, enough to name them, Men revers'd, or ſtanding upon their Heads, with their Arms and Legs, as it were, branching uppermoſt, are more like Trees, and in that ſuppoſed Poſture have oftner of old been compared to them, than when they ſtand upon their Feet. And what makes it more credible, that this Man was at firſt confus'd with the Sight of thoſe Men in ſuch perverted Attitudes, is, that in the very next Verſe, it is ſaid, after he had been touch'd again, by the ſame all-healing Hand, that He was restor'd, and ſaw every Man clearly: That is, diſtinctly and perfectly, in his real, and proper Poſture.

OTHER, and more remarkable Obſervations might perhaps have been made, had any Thoughts of preſerving and recommending them to public Application or Intelligence, been deſign'd at the firſt bringing of this Boy to Sight; and ſeveral philoſophical Elucidations in the Doctrine of Viſion, might alſo perhaps be further made, from the Particulars above, were it neceſſary or convenient to be more extenſive and circumſtantial in this Place thereon.

Appendix A TO Mr. JOHN TAYLOR, junior, BY Mr. BOYCE.

[25]
WHILE modeſt Merit does its Rays conceal,
Let the juſt Muſe draw the injurious Veil;
'Tis her's, fair Truth, diſtinguiſh'd to diſplay,
And place by Vertue, in its native Day.
Then take rare Oculist, theſe artleſs Lays,
As the free Tribute of unpurchas'd Praiſe.
No longer timid, in Retirement pine,
But claim the Notice that is juſtly Thine.
SAY, of the Bleſſings to Mankind decreed,
From great Hippocrates, to greater Mead,
The ſov'reign Secrets of their Godlike Art,
Which oft have warded Fate's approaching Dart;
Can any with thy noble Science vie?
Which guards that guiding Lamp of Life, the Eye;
[26]Gives us the heavenly Joys of Light to know,
For what is Darkneſs, but infernal Woe!
And clear from Clouds, redeems the viſual Ray,
To bleſs the Blind, who wiſh in vain for Day.
RARE Oculiſt! could'ſt thou reſtore aright
But intellectual, as Organic Sight;
Cou'd thy enlightning Needle but advance,
The Cataracts to remove, of Ignorance;
Unveil the Films, couch the diſtorted Eyes
Of ſquinting Envy, ſcoulding Prejudice;
Art would, with Praiſe, and Wealth embroider'd be,
And Worth, no more dwell with Obſcurity;
Thy Cures, with Fame's beſt Quills, ſhe ſhould record
Thy Lights, thro' Men, ſhould glorify their Lord,
Thy Skill, all Eyes, from deepeſt Darkneſs free;
Tho' none ſo blind, as thoſe who will not ſee.

2.

[]

A SPECIMEN OF SOME Of the MANY Remarkable CURES, OF Various Diſeaſes in the EYES and EYE-LIDS; PERFORM'D BY Mr. JOHN TAYLOR, jun. OCULIST, IN HATTON GARDEN, ſince the Year, 1743. Containing a Liſt of the Patients Names, and their reſpective Places of Abode.

LONDON: Printed by E. OWEN, in Hand-Court, Holborn, 1752.

A SPECIMEN OF REMARKABLE CURES.

[29]

PATIENTS.

WIlliam Taylor, Son of Mr. William Taylor, Farmer, at Ightham, in Kent, a Boy Eight Years old, born blind, with Cataracts in both Eyes, and brought to Sight in October, 1751,

Mr. Auſtine, Maſter of the Breakfaſting-houſe, oppoſite Sadlers-Wells, Iſlington; upwards of 65 Years of Age.

DISEASES.

An Abſceſs in the Left Eye, occaſioned by a long and violent Inflammation, and attended with a total Loſs of Sight.

N. B. This Patient had been under the Care of an eminent Surgeon, and an Apothecary; by both of whom his Caſe was deem'd incurable.

[...] John Jarrat, Horſe-bridle Founder, in Hoſier- [...] Weſt-Smithfield; about 40 Years old.

[30]A thick Opacity (or Speck) on the Cornea, entirely obſtructing Sight, attended with the moſt excruciating Torment, and an Inflamation ſo violent as to deprive the Patient of Reſt for the Space of five Weeks: For the Cure of which, Application was firſt made to the Surgeons, &c. of St. Bartholomew's, and by them all the Patient's Sight was unanimouſly judged to be irretrievably loſt.

A Daughter of Mr. Gardner, an eminent Butcher, in Hollis-Street, Clare-Market; a Child of about five Years of Age.

Two large Albugines, (or White Films) one on each Eye, attended with no Inflammation nor Pain, but a total Deprivation of Sight.

N. B. This Child had likewiſe been a conſiderable Time under the Care of an eminent Surgeon.

A Child about five or ſix Years old, Daughter to Mr. Roybold, Maſter of the Bell Inn, in Weſt-Smithfield.

An Albugo, (or White Film) over one Eye, attended with Inflammation and Loſs of Sight.

Mrs. Orneau's in Brook-Street, Holborn; a young Lady of about 22 Years of Age.

An Oedema, (or Wenn) on the upper Eye-lid of her left Eye, about the Magnitude of a large Nut, the Weight of which had cauſed the Eye-lid to fall, ſo as to cover half of the Pupil. This Cure was performed without the leaſt Hazzard or Loſs of the natural Motion of the Eye-lid.

A little Boy about five or ſix Years old, a Son of Mr. Rook, an eminent Farrier, in Salisbury-Court, Fleet-Street.

[31]An Oedema (or Wenn) on the upper Eye-lid, about half the Bigneſs of that above-mentioned, and like it in every other Particular, except that this had the additional Diſadvantage of being attended with an Inflammation in the Eye.

A Maid Servant at the Queen's Head, in Albermarle-Street.

An Ectropion (or Everſion) of the lower Eye-lid, occaſioned by a large Tumour about the Size of a Pidgeon's Egg, attended with an intolerable inflammatory Pain in the Eye.

This Cure was performed with ſuch happy Succeſs, that not only the Excreſence was removed; but the Eye-lid was likewiſe reſtore to its priſtine State.

Mr. Rapſon, Watch-maker, near Goldſmith's-Hall.

A terrible Opthalmia (or Inflammation) occaſioned by a Blow in the left Eye, ſo violent, that for ſome Time it quite deprived the Patient of Viſion.

A Child about ſix Years of Age, Daughter to a Servant belonging to the Earl of Godolphin, in Stable Yard, St. James's.

An Opthalmia (or Inflammation) in each Eye, proceeding from an internal Cauſe, together with Opacities in both Eyes, greatly obſtructing Viſion.

James Dowſet, Labourer, of Rumford in Eſſex.

Two Guttae Serenae, one in each Eye; a Diſeaſe which has hitherto, by moſt Practitioners been judged incurable. Nevertheleſs, this poor Man is ſo well recovered to Sight, that he is capable not only of guiding himself, but of performing his daily Labour as before.

[32]
PATIENTS reſtored to Sight of different Diſeaſes.
  • THE Daughter of Mr. Drowater, Maſter of the Red Lyon, at Iſlington.
  • Miſs White, Niece of Mr. Newton, [...]ing Lime-ſtreet Church, Fenchurch-ſtreet.
  • Mr. Giles, a Coffin-plate Make [...] [...] W [...]d-ſtreet.
  • The Son of Mr. Huſhing, Watchmaker, in Biſhop's-Court, Clerkonwell Greeen.
  • The Daughter of Mrs. Summerfield, Mantua-maker, in Charles-ſtreet, Covent Garden.
  • Mr. Dicken's Wife, Stationer, near Smithfield-bars.
  • The Miſtreſs of the Brown Bear Publick-houſe, in Broad St. Giles's.
  • The Wife of Mr. Duplex, Peruke-maker, in Quaker ſtreet, Spittlefields.
  • Mr. Harvey, Poulterer, in Newgate-Market.
  • The Son of Mr. Silby, an eminent Linnen-draper, in Smithfield, the Sign of the Queen's-head.
  • WHereas I was greatly afflicted with a terrible Pain in my left Eye, upwards of fifteen Weeks, made Application to ſeveral eminent Surgeons without Succeſs, at laſt happily applied to Mr. Taylor, Oculiſt, in Hatton Garden, who ſoon diſcover'd the Cauſe of my Diſorder was nothing but a little Bit of Stone which accidentally flew into my Eye at my Work, which being extracted, I received immediate Eaſe, and am now perfectly recover'd. Witneſs my Hand John Baldry, late Journeyman to Mr. Morris, Gardiner, at Clapham, in Surry.
Notes
*
Page 67.
Vide The Familliar Letters between Mr. Locke, and ſeveral of his Friends. 8vo. 1708, p. 135.
*
Idem. p. 133.
Ibid. p. 37, 38.
*
In his Dialogue on the Worſhip of Images and Reliques, praying to Saints, &c. From whence Shakeſpear has brought the Story of the ſaid Impoſtor, under the Name of Simcox, upon the Stage, in one Part of his Play of King Henry VI.
*
Vol. 2d. Edit. 1712. P. 31.
*
In his Dialogue of the Peſtilence. 80. 1569. Fol. 55. b.
Mark viii. 24.
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Zitationsvorschlag für dieses Objekt
TextGrid Repository (2020). TEI. 4074 Observations on the cure of William Taylor the blind boy of Ightham in Kent who being born with cataracts in both eyes was at eight years of age brought to sight on the 8th of October 1751 by. University of Oxford Text Archive. . https://hdl.handle.net/21.T11991/0000-001A-5C2E-B