Note: Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/storyofelizabeth00hill Transcriber's note: Text in italics in the original are surrounded by underscores (_italics_). A complete list of corrections follows the text. THE STORY OF _ELIZABETH CANNING_ CONSIDERED. By Dr. HILL. THE STORY OF _ELIZABETH CANNING_ CONSIDERED By Dr. HILL. With REMARKS on what has been called, _A Clear State of her Case_, by Mr. FIELDING; and Answers to the several Arguments and Suppositions of that Writer. [Illustration] _LONDON_: Printed for M. COOPER, at the _Globe_ in _Pater-Noster-Row_. 1753. [Price One Shilling.] THE STORY OF _ELIZABETH CANNING_ CONSIDERED. Before I speak any thing in support of that Truth, on the Evidence of which the Life of a most injur'd Person depends; I think it necessary, that I may not seem, under the Colour of public Information, to be acting an interested Part, and defending my own Conduct, to say, that I am convinced it needs no Defence. Whatsoever the Malice of little Adversaries may wish to propagate on this Head, I shall be at Ease in my own Mind, while conscious of the Honesty of my Intention; and I have Reason to be satisfied, with Regard to the Opinion of the World, while I have the Honour to be told, that he who is certainly the best Judge, and perhaps the best Person in it, says, that I have done as became a prudent Man. No one will call it a Bad Action, that I have endeavoured to obtain the Truth, in a Case, where Humanity must have engaged any, who had the least Suspicion of Falshood, to wish the Secret known; it would have been a very imprudent one for him, who had no Authority to have taken that Confession which discovered it; and it has appeared to those who are better Judges, that it was most right, when the Preparation was made for that Confession, to apply to the supreme Magistrate of the Court, in which the Cause had been tried, to receive it. This is all I have done in the Matter. I claim no Praise from it; that belongs to another; but neither can I regard those who shall think, that which I have done merits Censure.