_Extract of a Letter of_ William Burnet, _Esq; F.R.S. eldest Son of Dr._ Gilbert Burnet, _Lord Bishop of_ Salisbury, _to Dr. (afterwards Sir)_ Hans Sloane, _dated at_ Leyden, May 9. 1708. _N. S._[195] “+SIR+, I Send you inclosed the print of a wonderful union of two twin sisters, who are at this time to be seen at the Hague. I saw them, and observed all, that I could think tended to explain the appearance. They are Hungarians, as the lines under the print will shew you. There is there an exact enough description of their condition; only I may add, that in fig. 1. the urinal passage is between the two foremost thighs, as they are in the print. The same is true of the anus in the 2d figure, in such manner, that the situation of these parts is the same to outward appearance as naturally, with this difference, that they are between two different bodies here, whereas in the course of nature they are between the two parts of the same body. It seems probable, that their parts are distinct; but that the most remote labia of each are outwardly visible, and the two contiguous ones are within. There seems to be no cheat in the thing; and the skin, where they are joined, is perfectly smooth, without any scar. They are now about six years old. They speak French and High German. They are very full of action, and talk one more than the other. When one stoops to take up any thing, she carries the other quite from the ground; and that one of them often does, being stronger as well as more lively than the other. They have not their feeling common any where but in the place of their conjunction. This is all I can say about it. If you think it worth while, you will do me an honour in giving the print, and the substance of this account, to the Society; to which, tho’ an unworthy member, I would be proud to be capable of any service.” This letter was read to the Royal Society on the 12th of May 1708[196]; and the print mentioned in it produced; which, being now become extremely difficult to be met with, is thought proper to be engraved again, and inserted here. _See_ TAB. XIII. Soon after the date of Mr. Burnet’s letter the twin sisters were brought to England, and publicly shewn in London, as appears from the following MS. note in a copy of the print bound up by the writer with Fortunius Licetus _de Monstris_[197], edit. Amstelod. 1665. 4to. in the possession of Thomas Wilbraham, M.D. F.R.S. “_Londini 14 Junii 1708. has vidi gemellas (plus annis sex natas) quarum forma et vivacitas elegantior et vegetior quam pictura et descriptio._” [Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. XIII. _p. 316_. _Corpora Binarum sic concrevere Sororum, Non nisi Divina dissocianda manu. SZÖNY Patria est, vicus COMORÆ co terminus Arci, Qvæ nunquam Lunæ paruit Imperio. Amplexa est ulnis HELENAM Lucina priorem, Horis deinde tribus JUDITHA fuit._