See a very curious paper upon this subject by Mr. _Robertson_, in the Philosophical Transactions, 1757, vol. 1. p. 30; from which it appears that the author made ten experiments, in which, with the exception of one person, he found all the men _specifically lighter_ than water, and hence he concludes that drowning might be avoided, if the person who falls into the water were not deprived of his presence of mind. Footnote 38: _Franklin’s_ Art of Swimming. Footnote 39: Vide _Valent. Pand. Med. Leg._ 297. “De reperto sub aqua Cadavere,” and 299 “De Submersorum morte sine pota aquæ.” Footnote 40: We say, “_generally_” because the comparative size of bone, on the one hand, or the quantity of fat on the other, will make a very considerable difference in the specific gravity of different parts of the human body. Footnote 41: See _Southey’s_ Life of Nelson; and the New Monthly Magazine for January, 1821. Footnote 42: This was the opinion of _Boerhaave_ and _Morgagni_. _M. Portal_ also coincides with them, and observes that the examination of the bodies of executed criminals formerly carried to him at the _Jardin des Plantes_ for his lectures, has confirmed him in this idea. Footnote 43: See 3 _Foderè_, 130. Footnote 44: See several cases cited by _Foderè_, T. 3. p. 134. Footnote 45: Memoires de l’Academie Royale, &c. 1704. Footnote 46: State Trials, vol. xii. Footnote 47: In consequence of plants, in the absence of the sun, giving off nitrogen and carbonic acid gases, the custom of sleeping with flowers in the bed chamber is deleterious, and may even, under certain circumstances prove fatal; a melancholy proof of this occurred in October, 1814, at Leighton-Buzzard, in Bedfordshire. “_Mr. Sherbrook_ having frequently had his pinery robbed, the gardener determined to sit up and watch. He accordingly posted himself with a loaded fowling piece, in the green-house, where it is supposed he fell asleep, and in the morning was found dead upon the ground, with all the appearance of suffocation, evidently occasioned by the discharge of _Mephitic_ gas from the plants during the night.” _Observer_ of 16th, and _Times_ of 17th October, 1814; see also _Currie’s_ “Observations on Apparent Death,” &c. p. 181. Footnote 48: