1777-12-20 (static/transcriptions/1777/12/061.jpg)

1777. Sessions. [Saturday] Dec. 20.

and in that sence it is used, in the Creed commonly call’d the Apostle’s Creed in the Service of the Church of England, and in the compound word Quick-silver, Argentum Vivum, and a much more substantial reason than any that can be drawn, from verbal critiscism, is to be drawn from natural reason and common humanity and Justice, for in sound Philosophy we now know that the life of a Foetus commences at least as soon as the conception, what ever notions may have prevail’d in former times, or do prevail among the Ignorant at this day: And I hold it to be beyond the right which human authority can, without a crime, exercise over the lives of Men; to take away life without any crime, committed by the Person to be deprived of Life. I mean to apply this rule, only to the dispassionate exercise of Justice and Law, and not to the State of War between nations, nor to any kind of Battle or Combat. The Jury ought to be satisfied she is with Child in order to make them find the Verdict “with Quick Child” and not to find her so meerly
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