Plott, in his History of Staffordshire, gives an account of
this curiosity; but Johnson would not believe it, though we had the
attestation of the gardener, who said, he had put in corks, where the
river Manyfold sinks into the ground, and had catched them in a net,
placed before one of the openings where the water bursts out. Indeed,
such subterraneous courses of water are found in various parts of our
globe.
Talking of Dr. Johnson's unwillingness to believe extraordinary things
I ventured to say, 'Sir, you come near Hume's argument against miracles,
"That it is more probable witnesses should lie, or be mistaken,
than that they should happen." JOHNSON. 'Why, Sir, Hume, taking the
proposition simply, is right. But the Christian revelation is not proved
by the miracles alone, but as connected with prophecies, and with the
doctrines in confirmation of which the miracles were wrought.'
In the evening, a gentleman-farmer, who was on a visit at Dr. Taylor's,
attempted to dispute with Johnson in favour of Mungo Campbell, who shot
Alexander, Earl of Eglintoune, upon his having fallen, when retreating
from his Lordship, who he believed was about to seize his gun, as he
had threatened to do.
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