The Trial of Childrens Legitimacy by Serpents, puts me in mind of Hereditary Right; whose Title was try’d by the _Fatal-Stone_, on which the _Irish Monarchs_ used to be inaugurated on the Hill of _Tarah_; and which being inclosed in a _Wooden-Chair_, was made to emit a Sound under the rightful Candidate, when he sat in it; but was quite silent under one who had no Title, or not a good one; that is, one who was not for the Druidick Priest’s Turn. “This Stone was sent to confirm the _Irish_ Colony in _Scotland_, where it continued to be the Coronation-Chair till in the Year 1300, _Edward_ I. of _England_ brought it from _Scoon_, and placed it under the Coronation-Chair at _Westminster_[109]; and there it still remains, is used in the Coronation, the antientest respected Monument in the World[110]. The Vulgar call it _Jacob_’s Stone, as if this had been his Pillow at _Bethel_.” _Note_, Antique Appearances often give birth to popular Superstitions. Footnote 109: Ni fallat fatum Scoti quocunque locatum Invenient lapidem, regnare tenentur ibidem. Footnote 110: _Island_’s _Colect._ A. D. 1726. Such natural Power against _Diseases_ did in our Days appear in the celebrated Mr. _Greatrix_, before _whose Hand they fled_. In the Philosophical Transactions we have the following Account of it, received from Eye-Witnesses,—_e. g._ “... My own Brother, _John D——n_, was seized with a violent Pain in his Head and Back: Mr. _Greatrix_ (coming by accident to our House) gave present Ease to his Head, by only stroaking it with his Hands. He then rubb’d his Back, which he most complain’d of, and the Pain immediately fled from his Hand to his right Thigh; then he pursued it with his Hand to his Knee, from thence to his Leg, Ancle and Foot; and at last to his great Toe. As it fell lower, it grew more violent; and when in his Toe, it made him roar out, but upon rubbing it there, it vanish’d. “A young Woman being seiz’d with a great Pain and Weakness in her Knees when a Girl, used divers Means to no effect: After six or seven years time, Mr. _Greatrix_ coming to _Dublin_, he stroak’d both her Knees, and gave her present Ease, the _Pain_ flying downward from his _Hand_, till he drove it out of her Toes; the Swelling that always attended it, did in a short time wear away, and never troubled her after. “... A certain Gentlewoman being much troubled with a Pain in her _Ears_, and very _deaf_, Mr. _Greatrix_ put some of his Spittle into her Ears; which, after chafing them, soon cured her, both of the Pain and Deafness.... Her Uncle was cured by him of the same Malady, and in the same manner. “... A Child, being extremely troubled with the King’s-Evil, was touch’d by King _Charles_ II. and was nothing better; but was soon and perfectly cured by Mr. _Greatrix_.[111]” Footnote 111: