The autobiography of Elizabeth Squirrell of Shottisham, and selections from her writings : together with an examination and defence of her statements relative to her sufferings, blindness, deafness, entire abstinence from food and drink during twenty-five weeks, and other extraordinary phenomena: also facts and opinions illustrative and suggestive / by one of her watchers.

  • Squirrell, Elizabeth, 1838-
Date:
1853
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The autobiography of Elizabeth Squirrell of Shottisham, and selections from her writings : together with an examination and defence of her statements relative to her sufferings, blindness, deafness, entire abstinence from food and drink during twenty-five weeks, and other extraordinary phenomena: also facts and opinions illustrative and suggestive / by one of her watchers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    INTRODTJCTOliT. those only who have been long and intimately acqvxainted with it—some who have known it from the beginning, and through all its stages; nor can I withhold my respect due to the testimony of the parents and child, so solemnly, unre- servedly, and perseveringly given. The parents have long been known as persons of integi’ity and truthfulness, and members of a Christian church; and the child has been distinguished by a pious disposition, and a remarkable love of truth. And ought not these considerations to operate in coming to a decision in this matter ? or is it so, that the Christian profession is so frequently belied, that we may place no reliance whatever upon it, even where it has been long and consistently sustained? I hope not. In the course of my investigation, I have found that many of the current reports are false; many of tlie objections trivial and worthless; and others admit of a satisfactory solution. Assuming that some of the features of this case were doubtful, and even were it admitted that truth has not been strictly adhered to by the Squirrells, it appears to me that Christianity— yea, even humanity—dictates a different treatment to that which it has received. The conduct of those with whom they have been connected religiously, as well as that of the world at large, has been undis- criminating and harsh; and one can enter into the views and feelings of David, expressed in the petition, ‘ Let me fall into the hands of God, for His mercies are great, but let me not fall into the bauds of man,’ I know not how to admit, with my knowledge of the case, even the possibility of its being an imposture; and, until evidence is brought before me more