The National Register. — London, England, 1818-01-11 00:00:00

JAN. 11. AMERICAN SEA SERPENT. [FROM THE JOURNAL OF sCIENCEs AND TILE ARTS.) " In the month of August 1817, it bras currently reported on various authoritie, that an animal of very singular appear ance had been recently and repeatedly seen in the harbour of Gloucester, Cape Ann, about thirty miles distant from Boston. It was said to resemble a serpent in its general form and motions, to be of immense size, and to move with wonderful rapidity; to appear on the surface of the water only in cal m and bright weather ; and to seem jointed, or like a number of buoys or ea•ks following each othor in a line. " In ronsequence of these reports, at a meeting of th e Lin moan Society of New Engl an d, holden at Boston on the 18th day of August, the Hon. John Davis, Jacob Bigelow, M. D. and Francis C. Gray, Esq. were appointed u Committee to collect evidence with regard to the existence and appearance of any such animal, and have since published a very copious report, from which the existence of the animal is placed be yond doubt. We are sorry only to have room for the follow. ing extract from the evidence, which however will give our readers, some notion of his aspect and behaviour. &R,--You request a detailed account of my observations relative to the serpent. I saw him on the 14th ultimo, and when nearest, I judged him to be about two hundred and fifty yards from me. At that distance I judged hint (in the largest part) about the size of a halt' barrel, gradually tapering to. wards the two extremes. Twice I saw him with a glass, only for a short time, and at other times, with the naked eye, for nearly half an hour. His colour appeared nearly black-- ibis motion was vertical. When he moved on the surface of the water, the track in his rear was visible, for at least half a rune. " His velocity, whom moving on the surface of the water, I judged was at the rate of a mile in about four minutes. When immersed in the water, his speed was greater, moving, I should say, at the rate of a mile in two or at most three mi nutes. When moving under water, you could often trace him by the motion of the water, on the surface, and from this Mr. eurnstance, I conclude lie did not swim deep. He apparently wool as straight through the water, as you could draw a line. ♦Vhen he changed his course, it diminished his velocity but little—the two extremes that were visible appeared rapidly moving in opposite directions, and when they came they appeared not more than a yard apart. With a glas-, I could not take in, at one view, the two extremcs of the *M enai, that were visible. I have looked at a vessel at about the same dines/et, and could distinctly see forty five feet. If he should lie taken, I have no doubt that his length will be found one hundred feet long. When I saw him I was standing on an eminence, ou the seashore, elevated about thirty fee/ above the surface of the water, and the sea was smooth. " If I saw his head, I could not distinguish it from his body, though there were seafaring men near me, who said that they could distinctly see his head. I believe they spoke truth ; but net having been much accustomed to look through a glass, I was not so furl unate. • " I never saw more than seven or eight distinct portions of hint above the water, at any we time,asid be appeared rough; though i supposed this appeasatice was produced by his mo tion. When he disappeared Ire apparently souk directly down like a rock. " Capt. Beach has been is Boston, fora week past, and I am informed that he is still there. AN engraving from his drawing of the serpent has been, or is now, making in Bos ton ; but I have not been able to ascertain bow ter his draw ing is thought a correct representation. " Itespectfully, Sir, "your must obedient, " LONSON NASH." " Monourebk John Davis." " I, William B. Pearson of Gloucester, in the County of WAsex,nierchant, depose anti say : That 1 have,several times, seen a strange marine animal, that I believe to be a serpeut, of veal size. I have had a good view of him only once, and this was on the 18th of August, A. D. 1817. I was in a sail boat, and when off Webber's cove (so called) in the harbour of said Gloucester, I saw something coming out of the cove ; ore hove to. not doubting but that it was the same creature -that had been seen several times in the harbour, and had ex cited James I'. Collins was the only person with me. The serpent passed out under the stern of our boat, toward!, Tee Youvid island ; then he stood in towards us again, and crossed our how. We immediately exclaimed, here is the snake?' From what I saw of him, I should say that he was nothing short of 'event:, feet in length. I distinctly saw bunches on his back, and once he raised his head ant of the water. The top of his head appeared flat, and was raised seven or eight inches above the surface of the water. He passed by the bow of the boat, at about thirty yards distance. His colour was a dark brown. I 3.1 W him at this time about two minutes. His mo tion was vertical. His velocity at this time was not great, though at times, I have seen him move with great velocity, I should say at the rate of a mile in three minutes, and perhaps' faster. His size I judged to be about the size of a half bar rel. I saw Mr. Gaffney tire at him, at about the distance of Shirty yards. I thought he bit him, and afterwards lie ap peared more shy. He turned very short, and appeared as limber and active as the eel, when compared to 116 size. The form of the curve when he turned in the water, resembled a staple; his head seemed to approach towards his body, fur some feet; then his head and tail appeared moving rapidly, in oppusite directions, and when his head and tail were on parallel lines, they appeared not more than two or three yards apart. " At what time in the day was this ?-11etwcen the hours of five and sk, in the afternoon. _ . _ • " HOW many distinct portions of it were out of water at one time ?—Ten or twelve distinct portions. " Can you describe his eyes and month ;•—•.I thought and believe, that I saw his eye at one time, and it was dark and oliarp. " How did its tail terminate ?—I had not a very distinct view of his tail ; I saw no hunches towards, what I thought the cud of his tail, and I believe there were none. " WILLIAM B. PEARSON." A few days since, as a man at the Abercrombie Inn, Aran del, was making some detonating cracktro I'm sale, lie in cautiously let fah some of the mixture (firlruinating silver), about the quantity of the size of a pea, when another maw sc. eidently stepping on it, it exploded, and tore off three of his toes, and 'drivel ed his shoe to fragments. A few days since, .as the daughter of J. Wellstood, of Linlemore, near Oxford, about six years of age was standing by the tire, in the house of a neighbour, a cinder Hew trom tl.e grate on her clothes, which immediately took fire, by which she was ao theadfully burnt that tier life is de spaired of. THE NATIONAL REGISTER. POLICE. • MANSION HOUSE. A DUITRPM NO CiRCUMSTANCE.—A poor Irishwoman, whose appear: uu •e indicated no ordinary degree of calamity, WAN brought before the Lord Mayor, on Wednesday, to an. swer the complaint of a gentleman of independent fortune iu the city. A friend of the complainant mentioned to his Lordship, that a connexion had unfortunately misted between the tw o pet sous who thus appeared before the public about 1•t years ago, the fruit of which was a daughter, who was immediately removed into the protection of her father, by whom she was educated with the most attentive care; at the same time that she was taught to believe her mother to have been in no respect his inferior, and that that parent was now dead. It was apprehended by the complainant, that the very worst consequences would arise fron► undeceiving the child upon the subject of the very important distance between the con ditions of the parties, and more especially from a contradic tion of the mother's death. To prevent such a disaster, he gave an annual allowance to the mother, in order to make her of the same opinion, and to induce her to stay in her own country, making it one ofthe conditions that she should never • conic to this. For several years the understanding was kept up with the necessary scrupulousness, and the young lady was advancing in accomplishments, and had now attained such improvement as to make the shock at beholding !tuella 1110iller impossible to be borne. The prisoner was however, determined to break in upon the happiness of father and child ; and accordingly came to town. and created much disturbance at the complainant's honse, upon being told that she should not see her child. The -feelings of the father were, the witness said, indescribable upon the occasion. The Lord Mayor.—" Who can tell Inc what the feelings of the mother must have hero : were they not of an afflicting kind, too?" The complainant's friend replied, that much allowance would certainly be made if it were not the fact that the sole object of the prisoner was to oblige the complainant to give her money. She had, he said, frequently travelled from Ireiand, mid made her anxiety to sea her daughter the pretence for undertaking the journey, without having any visible means of accomplishing it. The complainant, influ enced by affection for his daughter, MRS unrestricted in his liberality, and procured short intervals of ease from every present to the visitor. 'lire Lord Mayor.—" Still there appears in this story some thing that operates more upon the heart of a poor It isliwoman than the love of money generally does. The obligation im posed by an agreement made many years ago, although upon terms so highly advantageous to the child, and honourable to the father, falls to nothing in comparison with the force of na tural affection. Tlwe is too much in this to spring tions a sordid principle." The complainant's friend begged that all thertlrctim- MUM:PS of the case should be considered, and krepresented that the case would indeed have been very different if the complainant had acted as 99 men out of 400 did,and left the child to beggary and wretchedness. The Lord Mayor.—" tie has unquestionably done his duty, lint if he hail done as the ninety-nine do, how would he• be descrilted ? The case is indeed one of deep distress. I (eel the to. cc of what has been stated, and insist declare that the distress must be very great, nut only to the father, but to the poor creature before me." The Irishwoman remained silent during this conversation, and when she did speak, it-was in the manlier of the sonth era inhabitants of her country, which is peculiarly calculated to express strong emotion, from being accompanied with the raising up of the eyes in performing the duties of mourning over the dead, or of bewailing those who are absent for ever trout other causes. " God bless you. Sir," said she, " let me have but one look at the child, and I'll never trouble you or her again." The friend of the complainant, after some conversation with hint, said it was impossible. Ile told her she had no feeling for her child, or she would never desire to see her more. It was enough for her to know that the child was well and happy ; and that all that wealth and tenderness could do, should be done for her. _ Thr prisoner.—" But still I wish to see her. She is my child, and the tither stands alongside of you ; aemi it he lets we luuk oil her hut once, never ask it again, but go home contented." The complainant declared that she never should see her. The Lord layor represented to her the propriety of ab staining from pressing the subject, especially as an interview would inevitably cause the utmost distress to the child. She at length consented to go to Ireland. The complainant immediately engaged one of the officers, by the advice of the Lord Mayor, to attend her on board the Liverpool packet. QUEEN-SQUARE. Hannah Peasant, a poor ill-dressed old woman, apparently about 60 years cf age, was on Monday brought to the•office to custody of kietson, one of the Hammersmith constables, under the following circumstances:— Witness stated, that prisoner had been delivered to him by one of the watchmen belonging to Hammersmith, and a pa trol of the same parish, who had found her traversing the road between two and three o'clock. that morning, and finding her answers to to the questions they asked her very incohe rent and wild. they thought it their duty to confine her iu his watch-box till he quitted his beat, and he bad then brought her to witness's house,aud given her into his custody. Wit. oess seat for another constable who lived hard by, and they searched ps isoner, and found tied mood her waist, the large canvass hag now produced, which to their great surprise they found eu opening romantic(' a very large stun in shillings and sixpeuces. Witness asked her if she had any more property about her, and She said no l but on serelaing further, he found seven silver tea spoons, also produced, sewed inside one of her petticoats, and in her other pocket tits bunch of keys, produced all which he had pin into the bag with the silver and brought to the other fur the Magistrate's disposal. Smith, tho other ceastable, confirmed the foregoing testi mony, The siver being counted amounted to 591. 14s. 6d. Prisoner being asked by the Magistrate (P. Colqiihoun , Esq.) how she came by so much money, answered, that it was her own, and else bad got it at different grocer's shops where she bought tea, and where she had given guineas and Bank notes to have silver is their stead, by which, in the course of two years, she had got the above sum. 'The spoons, she said, were also her own; she said she lived in Crown-street, jevest Dials, with her two suns and her daughier, who was married. She was remanded to give time fur inquiry. Prisoner was on Wednesday brought up for further examina tion when it appeared from the evidence of C.Drew, the office. keeper, who was ordered to make the inquiry, that lie had found every thing she had arid As to references quite cor. rect. W, Penson, prisoner's eldest son, stated, that 1114 mother (the prisoner) had left their lodging, No.:, Crown sheet, Seven Dials. oir Saturday morning, is a flighty tit, and he produced u Morning Chronicle of Monday, with an ads et tisa anent off'eringat reward to any one who would Wing he•r to that house. Ile also deposed, that the hag, silver, and tea spoons, where her pi uperty. Ile said she had dreamed on the Friday night that thieves had broke into the Ironic ; and made so mach noise as to awake 1113(1 Marro the whole family. In the morning, after begging every one's pardon for the moire she had made, she went off unknown to liiin or his bro ther and sister. The worthy Magistrate ordered all the money, tea spoons, &c. to he restored to her, and humanely advised her never to early so much money about her again. She promised she would not, and sas dismissed. Died at Dundee, on the 22nd ult. Thomas Clark. a labour lug man, aged 06 years, who, by dint of parsimony and saving had accumulated property to the amount of from SOO to 10001. He lived by himself, in a small garret, situate iii a filthy lane, called Tyndal's Wind. His diet consisted of a little oatmeal mixed with water, which he begged from his neigh bours every morning ; ter many years he had laboured under a severe disorder ; but could not find it in his heart to put himself node, the care °fa surgeon, fearful ante cost. 1/riven at last to desperation by the intenseness of his sufferings, he, about 12 months ago, sent for Mr. Cricht 1111 l who fonnd hint lying, in the most inolement season of the year, barely covered by an old tattered blanket. The furniture of the apartment consisted of about a dozen pairs of old shoes, some old tattered clothes, a ploughshare, a wooden dish , and a horn spoon, u pair of s cal es an d we i g ht s , a t u b fin holding meal, and ars old crazy chair.—His disorder having been as. certained, he was informed that a surgical operation would be necessary for Ilia relief • to this lie expressed his utmost willingness to undergo ; Cut when he was informed it would • be necessary se have hint removed to a comfortable room, his eyes died within him; and he said he must just then con tinue as he was, until death relieved him. In vain was he told that every thing needled would be provided. He still persevered in his determination. Leaving a trifle with him to procure necessaries, Mr. Crichton descended from the garret and made inquiries of the neighbours concerning this miserable object ; from whom he received the account above narrated. Possessed of this information, he returned and rated the wretch ter his miserable disposition; but all that could be obtained, was a promise to procure souse bed clothes, and to allow the operation to be performed iu a room belonging to one of the neighbours, and immediately after to be conveyed back to his miserable abode. The first morning after theoperation he was found quarrelling and abusing the old woman left in charge of him, for her extras agance in making use of soap to wash the clothes that were occasi onally taken from under him ; and he expressed great exulta• lion when he was given to understand that soap was not ab sobriety-necessary for the purpose. A dose of castor oil that had been prescribed for him, he would not allow to be sent f .r, but in its place swallowed a pieco of soap, Which be•said, would answer the pus pose equally well, and at much less cost. The cure going on well, he was ordered some beef tea. The parting with 3d. every morning to put chase half a pound of meat, was perfect torture. But recollecting a piece of old rusty bacon, which he had formerly picked up somewhere in his travels, he thought of the expedient of converting a piece of it into beef tea, and drank it with seeming relish. Nixt morning, however, the old woman, alarmed for the conse quences, insisted peremptorily for money to purchase fresh meat, at the same time acquainting him that a supply of coals was necessary. " The coals consumed already ! Impossi ble ! They should have served hint ler the winter ! She must have carried off some of them! Threepence tOr meat and ISd. for coals I ruination ! Site must pack off imme diately I But before she goes, she must account for the 2s. received on the day of the operation!" The poor woman being somewhat confused could nut bring to her recollection the disposal of more than Is. led. It was then perfectly plain she was robbing his room, and ruining him by her ex travagance, and she must go to prison ! By this tune the garret was tilled with the neighbours, alarmed at his noisy vociferation; and nothing they could say, having pacified him, they sent for Mr. Crichton, who thought it might be the wisest plan to leave him alone, and let him manage and f ee d himself in his own way. By t hel help of a good constitution he soon recovered his health, but never afterwards could • forget the expences lie had been put to during his confine ment. The failure also of some people tinkling money of his • in their hands, tended much to embitter the remainder of his life; and he was often observed lamenting his misfortunes ; frequently saying aloud, " All bankrupts should be hanged!" There would be ho cud to the detail of this poor creature's miserable eccentricities. He wort into a neighbour's room three days previous to his death, to warm Iriurselt, (it being a bitter cold day) before ascending to his tarrtt, on the next • day he was found lying almost stiff wilts cold, and unable to move himself—the bedclothes, which be had made to • provide himself with last year, lying folded up in a corner, as he had not the heart to use them. He lay in this state till he lost the use of his faculties, and expired in a most de plorable cauclitieu. His only surviviug sister, a ;woe old woman, living somewhere in Strathmore, iulierits all liiiarro. perty. A few evenings since, as Mr. Bray, shoemaker, of Prince's stieet, Drnry.lone, was coming down George-street, from a friend's house iu Tottenham-court-road, lie was accosted at the Black Horse public-house by oi elderly man, in the garb • of a sailor, who asked him what it was o'clock. 311. Bray pat his hand to his fob to get his watch, and at the seine mo ment was knocked down from behind. Two fellow* thou, after taking ills watch and titling his pockets of some silver, ran away. MIIRD►:R AND PIRACY IN THE INDIAN SEAS,—The ship Wabash, Capt. Grant, of Baltimore, attired in Macao roads (Can ton river,) from Smyrna, on the thin of May last. The captain p.o corded to Canton, to inquire the markets, leaving the two mates. and 13 others, to take care of the vessel On the tells she was boarded by the crew of a Ladroon bust, to the number of faun 2,S to • 30, under pretence of putting a pilot on hoard. After amusing the officers until dark, they commenced an attack on them and the peo ple with long knives; killed Mr. Hall, the first mate., and three seamen, out right; and mortally or badly wounded the other mate, and two of the seamen ; and compelled two others (boys) to jump overboard — one of which, &tier having been seven hour, in the Water, was savesL The surviving crew rttreattil to the forecastle ; but were compelled, by threats to burn the voice', to come on deck, owl die. close where the money was stowed away. The Latinions then secur ed about 10,000 dollars in specie, 35 chests of opium, and other property, the whole amounting to nearly sit,ouu dollar.. Mr. Cush ing, and other American residents in Canton, were taking measures to obtain restitution, from the Chinese government, for tltia robbery In their waters but their ft&GCCSS v doubted. ~ .A