Brewer's: Stephens

(Joanna) professed to have made a very wonderful discovery, and Drummond, the banker, set on foot a subscription to purchase her secret. The sum, she asked was 5,000. When 1,500 had been raised by private subscription, government voted 3,500. The secret was a decoction of soap, swine's cresses, honey, egg-shells, and snails, made into pills, and a powder to match. Joanna Stephens got the money and forthwith disappeared.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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