Gentlemen, it were needless to expatiate on the heinousness of these crimes. Your own sagacity, and regard to justice, will be your best guides. We shall support our allegations by incontestible proof, and I make no doubt that you will find the Prisoner guilty of the crimes and misdemeanors specified in the indictment. If the Court pleases, we will now proceed to examine witnesses. Call Mr. Robert Houlton. Mr. Robert Houlton was sworn. _Couns. for the Cr._ Do you know the Prisoner at the bar? _Houlton._ I do. _Couns. for the Cr._ I think, Sir, you are a clergyman? _Houlton._ I am. _Couns. for the Cr._ Pray, Sir, give me leave to ask you, whether you have had any particular connection with the Prisoner? _Houlton._ Yes, Sir, I was particularly connected with him. I was his officiating clergyman. _Couns. for the Cr._ Give me leave to ask you, whether you can give the Court any information concerning the number of persons inoculated by the Prisoner, during the last three or four years? _Houlton._ In the year 1764, he inoculated 1629 In 1765 4347 In 1766 7816 ---- In all 13792 ----- To this number should be added 6000 that have been inoculated by Mr. Sutton’s assistants, as he taught them his method, and as they use none but his medicines. So that he may be said to have inoculated, within these three years, 20000 persons. _C. for the Cr._ How many of this number have died in consequence of inoculation? _Houlton._ Not one. _C. for the Prisoner._ I think you said that you was officiating clergyman to the Prisoner? _Houlton._ I did say so. _C. for the Prisoner._ And pray, Sir, what was your office? _Houlton._ To pray with the sick, and return thanks for their recovery. _C. for the Prisoner._ Very extraordinary, truly. Give me leave to ask you, whence you took this very exact account of the number of persons inoculated by the Prisoner? _Houlton._ From Mr. Sutton’s books. _Couns. for the Prisoner._ I beg, gentlemen of the jury, you will observe that this account of the number of persons inoculated, and consequently of the number of lives preserved, one of the crimes of which the Prisoner stands accused, was taken only from his own books. This is a material circumstance, and I make no doubt but you will give it its due weight. _Couns. for the Cr._ Have you any other question to ask this witness? _Couns. for the Prisoner._ I have done. _Couns. for the Cr._ We are perfectly satisfied, Mr. Houlton, with your accurate account of the number of people inoculated by the Prisoner. Now, Sir, let me ask you a few questions relative to the Prisoner’s peculiar method of communicating the infection. How is this performed? _Houlton._ By means of a puncture so slight, that it is scarce felt by the patient, and which in a minute afterwards is scarce visible. _Couns. for the Cr._ What do you know of his medicines?