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First edition of this account by the famous advocate François Gayot de Pitaval (1673–1743) of a 1709 case, where a midwife had substituted a new-born girl who was then claimed both by the real mother and the woman to whom the baby had been given. Pitaval’s account details the principles by which decisions are made about parenthood in lieu of proper evidence, and seeks to prove who the true parents are, with evidence from the midwife and others. Various objections, both factual and legal, are addressed, and the account closes with a statement of the damages awarded to the parents after the lengthy and public case.

The case was reprinted in the first volume of Pitaval’s extensive collection of Causes célèbres in 1734.

OCLC records the Mazarine and the BnF only.

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