something that has the qualities necessary for generating.

The prolific powers of some individuals among mankind are very extraordinary.—Instances have been found where children, to the number of six, seven, eight, nine, and sometimes fifteen, have been brought forth after one pregnancy. The wife of Emmanuel Gago, a labourer near Valladolid, was delivered, the 14th of June 1779, of five girls, the two first of whom were baptized; the other three were born in an hour after; two of them were baptized; but the last, when it came into the world, had every appearance of death. The celebrated Tarin was brought to bed in the seventh month of her pregnancy, at Argenteuil near Paris, 17th July 1779, of three boys, each 14 inches and a half long, and of a girl 13 inches: they were all four baptized, but did not live 24 hours.

The public papers for the month of June 1779, made mention of one Maria Ruiz, of the district of Lucena in Andalusia, who was successively delivered of 16 boys, without any girls; and seven of them were still alive on the 17th of August thereafter. The following, though a recent fact, is almost incredible: In the year 1755, a Muscovite peasant, named James Kyrloff, and his wife, were presented to the Empress of Russia. This peasant had been twice married, and was then 70 years of age. His first wife was brought to bed 21 times; namely, four times of four children each time; seven times of three, and ten times of two; making in all 57 children, who were then alive. His second wife, who accompanied him, had already been delivered seven times, once of three children, and six times of twins, which made 15 children for her share. Thus the Muscovite patriarch had already had 72 children by two marriages. We are assured that the Sultan Mustapha III. had issue by his concubines 580 male children. What number of female children he had, and whether there were twins of both sexes, we are not informed. These facts suppose great fecundity; and whatever credit is given to them, we must consider as entirely fabulous what is reported concerning a countess of Holland who was delivered of 365 children, of a very small size.