Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

The following example of uncommon fecundity was published in the Russian news-papers in the year 1782, and reprinted in the Spanish Gazette No. 57, Madrid, July 16, 1782. viz.

"St. Petersburgh, 4th of June. In the martricular book of the inhabitants of the county called Trooifka, remitted this year (1782) into the chancery of the town Moscow,--there is made mention of a peasant, named Pheador Vasiliz (Theodore Basilides) 75 years old, who was married but twice, and has a very numerous family. His first wife lay in 27 times: she was brought forth of 4 children at a time, at four births, of three children at a time, at seven births, and of twins at sixteen births: so that she bro't forth sixty-nine children. His second wife gave light to eighteen children in eight deliveries, viz. to two in six, and to three children in two deliveries; so that in five and thirty labours of his two wives, that peasant became the father of 87 children, of whom 83 are now living. (1782.)--In the reign of the Empress Elizabeth, Peterwan, (Betsy, daughter of Peter) another peasant was introduced before this great princess, with a file of 82 of his lawful children and graciously by her majesty gratified with a pension. We have now in this city, a Russian, born in the year 1745, who left his native country, St. Petersburgh, in the year 1773, when he had five brothers and sisters born before him, and 27 after him, so that his father and mother had 33 children, and were in good health and high spirits when he departed from them. Among the ancients the north of Europe was called the nursery of mankind, and it still deserves the name."