_King_ Edward the Confessor, _was the first that cured this Distemper, and from him it has descended as an Hereditary Miracle upon All his Successors_. To dispute the _Matter of Fact_, is to go to the _Excess of Scepticism_, to _deny our Senses_, and to be _incredulous_ even to _Ridiculousness_. See _Collier_’s Ecclesiast. History Vol. I. Mr _Beckett_ took an immediate Occasion to explode all these Legendary Assertions, and fully proved the Truth of Mr _Collier_’s positive _ipse dixit_ to lye on the other side of the Question, in two Letters which he Published, I. To Dr _Steigerthal_, intituled “A Free and Impartial Enquiry into the Antiquity and Efficacy of _Touching_ for the _King’s-Evil_.” II. To Sir _Hans Sloane_ in “order to a compleat Confutation of that supposed _supernatural Power_ descending from _Edward the Confessor_ to the succeeding _Kings_ of _England_. Also, A Dissertation concerning the ancient Method made use of, for the curing _Diseases_ by _Charms_, _Amulets_, &c.” To which is added, _A Collection of Records_. When in the Year 1722, it was feared that we should be visited with the _Plague_ in _England_, after it had raged so violently at _Marseilles_ in _France_; Dr _Mead_ published his _Preservative_ against _Pestilential Distempers_. And, among several other _New_ Pieces written, and _Old_ ones revived upon this Occasion, Mr _Beckett_ voluntarily lent his helping Hand for the good of his Country, by giving his Judgment, and Publishing (Anonymously) _A Collection of Pieces_ Written during the _Plagues_, which happened in the two last Centuries. Mr BECKETT’s _Chirurgical Observations_, made at St _Thomas_’s Hospital _Southwark_; Published last Summer, were prepared for the Press by Himself, and Inscribed to Sir _Hans Sloane_ and the _Royal Society_. TO Sir HANS SLOANE. _Honoured Sir_,