The Express.
London, England, 1846-12-03 00:00:00

NDNIEN"E OF

society was held it
t,
yesterday eyenutg,
iehed members of the
1 Brougham took the
e udnutos of the pee•

übmit to the confide.
report of the Lair&
question, which had
clietlier, in cor.nectita
of insurance of tales

nion of a entoPetent.c,
Lievirr test of its rabid!.
d on: the faith of these
it the Ole to the lands n
log that a t+dtisbctory °P-
it necessary on everr ante
id itiul..rgo a fresh oionn.
the repetition of ineesofb
lecessarr, whether one ft.
whether up to the tube at
.le o be insurel,.tbs
d ••good one, the

conceived, be estentled •

as approved titles USA it
cuusidered good hole"
3. Titles subject to sails
according to the F0ri241%

to, and to a great eatql
rod insuranee
should not be rePou.;
certain point uneaten*
r, to take up the examb*.
nunined and ',metilate!!
he present practice, PO 7.1
red in every (404 e ailke,l7
be good titles as in the in!,_
ay* Sir Edward ,4,Bde°!!
is in furty4une ousa nut'
be in danger al are per.
ill increased wain the

_
Langer."
_
e to this class of tides,
ty of eviction should ro•
I after the transaction ••••
er, SoonIIS adds
was gained by the polder
g undir him. Let ste,
company is
willing t• glag.
field
!not a great one,
11,1 enter into the fie ; •••
multi F eon more for the fits'
ne.s among such of digit
as were illing to sot
art mode which aped,
general principle LS
=lice might be aft;*
• We will nest
taken in the matter,
e [tile risk. A peet;a7is
ise
to his
s title to the saol°.
mording to the some:
limey on niortglifela
sclected bv the ornos._,
tie might be he Ow
Le °thee, and it would .
Le title previous to that tit:
ch was insured up LO
be fro the IST,
ligation ofthat iff•*•_tsai
insurance might tes
looln
• flood o, of course
red out ne
that his WO OM um
ted, he would come Va
had all
in t the person. -
e that had thus turned
matter of regu m
lation
t your committee belleelfr-tt
eviction now tak. 00;71
d by the eidstbe wig 00,
minor should not be • aa
the title would fall in _Z.
?nttuAlty the the
of the wr-,
ew); but as the purchtr
p;01.
rely relieved from such
would be willing to P•li_
lasers would be more ntliopi,
espenses, and Proba,_,bl,..r:o
of Ms propertY, w.f.. "
ands much more roil!!
plan would also mum It
Ma.
ction to invest in land,
Ale usually prevents the
particularly advan ra;
ors being trustees, or Wow,
re entered.
the title was a markemes-
and third classes of Wit ;w
mounted by the pone
ible title, but a good
less substantial, the aka
.•=roperlY sdoi nd be.
, whatever that
safe to hold, thouglic
Laster Senior, in Ms 772:,
on the Burdens of Lena jef..oll
y defective title. Titles ,•"'"

_ ore kg to
but the difficulty is to trawler them.
than y elections to title as to marketablenem, few as to
The same wittiest gore on to nay : —tt I believe that thin is
the (wily civilised eouatry tcgwring sixty years' title, or even forty
• • r believe that in almost every country but this the trans-
Miroper ts effected in the bootie of a notary, or a registrax, or
some pram 01/1011 and that you require only the title of the person
who Rln subtnitted, then, that the principle of insurance
would abla apply to this class of titles, and would be found highly be-
A few general remarks remain to be added. If the purchaser he
efrewheretheland was insured were desirous of improving his
fraught, if he thought proper (ifsach improvements were not
he the well known role of equity ns to this) secure the re-payment Of
ifree edvanoes by edditional premiums, as is now dune when extra
rishz ere incurred on
riskfire, and marine insurance. It is farther
to be observed, that the of bad title is one which Is now actually
incurred by all offices advancing money on land, and that In front ht
,AseA the office might be its own insurer. But it may is
day
the office would be liable to be defrauded, that had titfre
bet,eted, with the view of obtaining the value of the Yid lowered
and that roller too would take plate bet n the vendor and par.
chase'. Tats eommittee is, however, of opinion that the prupeeed
...dem of insurance might be as effectually guarded against fraud as
„jaws dealings which are now profitably carried on. Some
head uOght exist, but not in a sufficient proportion to countervail the
nest benefits which would be obtained by the system. Indeed frank,
`‘',/tiji, nature might now be committed If it were easy to commit
them iu niers where money was lent by an office on the security of
iinds. gal it would be proper to take all precautions against fraud.
thee of any attempt to recover any lend, the title to which had
in
been Moved, .the office might have the option given it to defend the
frtio.a. It would not be unreasonable further tactualo protect the office by
meth; frecre penalties against frauds, or attempted.
It has also been urged that in many ewes the purchaser would only
frrually indemnified by getting bock his purchme money, that be
ce. his purchase trim peculiar motives, and that the very piece of
had which he buts is what he wish." and not its mere money value.
But when it is remembered that under the present system he may
not oily lase the land which he has purchis ased, but also the mider that
which he phi for it without any redreSiii, th committee cone
there is rot much in this objection. And it is tube observed that the
obiectioa is totally inapplicable to all loans on land by way of mortgage
ot others ire, and in thort ewes the repayment of the money lent
would be a complete indemnity. It has also been objected that a rub-
el:quest purchaser might note disposed to take a title goaranteed by
the insurance office, but might insist on having the deeds. But this
might always be guarded against by the conditions of sole. It has
peen urged that the powers poeneseed by a company of this
sdse
uture might be used oppressively as against private incli-
nhuoth, but it should be remembered that similar powers are already
pewees' by all railway companies, to a lees or a greater extent, ac-
cording to the quantity of land which they have acquired, and such
powers are also poreseed by many existing insurance companies, by
which large sums are constantly invisted on the 'security of land.
eu the whole, this committee, givinst due weight to all these objec-
tions, are of opinion that the plan which has n laid before them
for the insurance of title. to real property to well deserving of
urious consideration as the suggestion of a principle, and that
it seems capable of being employed, either in connexion with
a reltbtrY or without it. But if a registry were established I
it would probably greatly facilitate it. If the committee lire right I
in supposing that our retrospective titles may be worn out and
stolehtsl within a period of about twenty years, as is proposed in
the second report on Registry, a well-urranged system of insu-
rance, by throwing upon a pubic body the burden of all past defects
and empties:Mons, and guanuiteeing and establishing the registered
title during its pi riod of transition, might make the benefit of the
register immediate. Or if our restrospective titles be im necea-
ttarfly on the existing state of English society, verities
an
itlSUfaist a of the title at periodical intervals might uaeviate the evil by
shortening the inquiry. AU the recent labours of this committee inn e
been dee:test towards the abolition, as far ON possible, of retrospective
deduttion of title, and they are of opinion that the principle of insur-
ance juilicioualy carried out, may alfonl important aid towards the
arecamdisluntut of this object.
In ca, eying out it proper plan of insurance, it is quite certain that
iegislatite aruistanee would be neontsary • but this aid, it
is considered, would not be withheld under proper restrie-
hew. The plan proposed would set free and bring into the
market a greet mar, tit property which might be immediately dealt
with either tousle or mortgage, and a fund to provide against kw
would thus speedily be lased. Neither should it be forgotten that the
plan particulinly facilitates the transfer of small freeholds which, under
the present srtem, arc nearly unmarketable, if a rigid investigation
of title takes place.
Tie learned gentleman said that he did not ask the
society to adopt the report, but merely to receive it, and to
give so important& subject their careful consideration.
After some 4.1 iteussion the report was received, it being
understood that its reception did not pledge the society
entirely to the principle, or preclude future discussion on
some pointiof detail. The meeting then adjourned to that
day fortnight, for the special purpose of considering lir.
motion on the subject of juvenile offenders

OPENING OF THE PORTS.—MEMORIAL TO TETE
QUEEN.—Yesterday afternoon a deputation from the citizens
of London waited, by appointment, at the Home-office, on
Sir George Grey, for the purpose of presenting, through the
Right lion. Bart , a memorial to her Majesty, praying that
her Majesty would be graciously pleased to cause the ports
to be opened for the admission of foreign corn duty free, with
the view of relieving the distresses of the people.—The me-
morial having been read, and Mr. Cochrane having addressed
the right hon. baronet, Sir George Grey said I assure
the deputation that there is not the slightest necessity for
env apology for speaking their sentiments freely and frankly.
There is not a word in the memorial of which there is any
ground to complain. It is worded with the greatest pro-
priety. With regard to .what passed between Lord John
Russell and the firmer deputations, I cannot say anything,
not basing been present ; but I am sure that no minister
would have a right to complain of a free and unreserved
expression of the sentiments of throe who appointed them. It
is an undoubted right which the people have. I did not wish
to interrupt you, Mr. Cochrane, but I have thought it right to
state that there is no occasion whatever for an apology for the
wording of the memorial, nor for the way in which you have
expressed yourself. —After a few words from Mr. Cochrane
Sir George continued : It is not for me to say what Lord
John Russell meant by the words " extraordinaryneceasity,"
but f ant quite sure he could not have meant that the getting
up of a meeting of 50,000 persons in Palace-yard would be
considered by him as constituting that necessity. At the
same time neither Lord John Russell nor any member of
her Majesty's government can question the constitutional
right of her Majesty's subjects to meet in large numbers on
this or any other subject. —Mr. Cochrane having again re-
ferred :o Lord John Russell's words " extraordinary neces-
sity," Sir George Grey again spoke as follows: As I said
before, I cannot undertake to say what Lord John Russell
meant by the words, not having been present when they
were spoken, but I presume he meant that certain statistical
facts respecting the condition of the country would alone con, I
stitute the necessity to which he refers. lam quite sure that
he would not consider public meetings, boxes er numerously
attend. d they might be, as constituting any such " fleecy-
site." I can soy for myself, as a minister of the Crown,
that I would not. A certain class of statistical facts, bearing
on the condition and the circumstances of the country would
alone, in my view of the matter, justify me, as a member of
the government, in tendering my advice to her Majesty to
throw open the ports. But, though I cannot, gentlemen,
promise to support the prayer of your memorial, I shall have
great pleasure in presenting it to her Majesty as expressive
of the feelings and sentiments of Unit portion of the citizens
of Landon by wham it was adopted.—The deputation then
withdrew.
PUNIqH)IF.NT OF DEATH.—Last evening a public
meeting was held at the London Tavern, Bishopsgatc-street,
to promote the abolition of capital punishment. Mr. Ald.
Sidney presided, and there was a very crowded attendance.
The Chairman, in introducing the :business, said he did not
modems capital punishments on scriptural grounds, neither
did be think that they could be defended on those grounds,
or on these of expediency, morality, or humanity. As a
means of deterring from crime, capital punishment had
paned an utter failure ; this he could state from some ex-
perience; its chief influence was of a brutalising character.
It was advisable, at least, to ask the legislature to suspend
the punishment of death for seven years ; in some countries
where this had been done, crime had diminished. Not long
ago, in this country, from 150 to 200 crimes were punishable
by death; hut since the mitigation of the punishment the
number of crimes had decreased. Wero the law omniscient
capital punishments might be justified ; but it was stated,
on no leas an authority than that of Sir F. Kelly, that since
1900, fnurt.en innocent persons had suffered death; and
how many more cases might have occurred, in which the
innocence of the parties could not be established ?—Mr. D.W.
lire said it had been suggested that executions should no
longer take place in public ; but he trusted the community
would not entertain the question of private or public exeou-
tons, hut consider whether they ought to take place at all.
Sanguinary laws always recoiled upon their makers; and the
necessary effect was, that juries were unwilling to convict in
the clearest cases. There being clearly no scriptural warrant
forthe infliction of capital punishments, it becomes question
solely of policy and expediency. It was well known that
executions had never operated as preventives of crime; and
Prosecutors, wi'nesses, juries, and judges themselves, had
done all they could to prevent this sanguinary law from
taking effect. It was a fact, that out of 164 person. who
had been executed, 162 bad witnessed previous executions.
la Tuscany, where the punishment of death had been abo.
lisped for 20 years, crime had diminished. In Belginnt,
capital punishments had been abolished with perfect security.
Thus experience, reason. religion, and authority, were all in
favour of the object now sought. Closely connected with this
question, was that of the condition of our prisons. He
mooed: "That the punishment of death is opposed to the
‘pint of Christianity; that it does not answer its design; that '
its effects are demoralising; that it sometimes involves
the destruction of the innocent by judicial process, and in i
other cases favours the escape of the guilty thus promoting
the crime it was meant to repress."—The Rev. Dr. Mor-
timer, in seconding the resolution, said the mode of treat-
ing criminals ought to be a remedial one • and it was grati-
fsteg to know that the Prime Minister had announced, in a
public meeting in this city, that the proper treatment of
naminals was a question yet to be solved. Two kinds of
murder, duelling, and infanticide, were positively encou-
raged by' our sanguinary law ; for no jury would convict for
the capital offence, and thus the crime went unpunished. If
a proper punishment were attached to these crimes, thej
Would soon be suppressed.—A Mr. H. Brooks wished to pro-
Pose an amendment relative to the destitution of the poor,
Out the meeting refused to entertain it.—The resolution was
Owe put and carried unanimously.—Mr. H. Vincent moved
the adoption of a petition founded on the foregoing resolu-
tion. lie maintained that, under no circumstances, was
lam permitted to take the life of man. A conviction was
last gaining ground that legislators ought not, any
more than private individuals, to act in opposition to
the divine laws, and he trusted that the spirit now manifested
in the heart of England would, ere long, sweep away the
disgrace of the scaffold. It was undeniable that the crowd
who
„gathered round the gallows was chiefly composed of
alas es, burglars, paupers, and embryo murderers—a class
;)v_ ne ?, y
light fon
which, if suffered to continue in its present condition, might
the powder-mine to receive the spark which
up anarchy and devastation through the lend.
While the crowd sympathised, unavoidably so, with the
;aim, their respect for the law, the author of his punish-
7nt,waaPeoPortionably diminished. But the fate of the scaf-
f,
was already sealed, if the people would unite in a
vigorous effort for its extinction.—Mr. James billiard se.
sanded the adoption of the petition, which was unanimously
reed to.—At the close, thanks were voted to Mr. Alderman
Sidney for presiding.
Assoc/ .
ATION FOR THE RELIEF OF TIIE POOR.—
The anneal meeting of the association for the relief of the
Pony._in the city of London, and parts adjacent, Was held at
tLondon Coffee-house, Ludgate-hill, last evening—the

Right Hs, it. the Lord Mayor in the chair. Aldermen WU- ,
son, Key, Gibbs, the Rev. Mr. Harding, and other gentle-
men support his lordship. The rep irt stated that, from
the sth Jantt try to the 27th March in the present year—a
period of twel. '0 weeks-25,610 cwt. of coals had been sold
to the poor at ti d. per cwt., and delivered to them free of
es/triage. The receipts during the year, which were less
than in the previo.us year, had been 1,9211. 13s. 9d., and
deducting the expensliture, a balance of 761. 21. remained in
the hands of the trears'rer. It also appeared from the report
that the committee ht d discontinued supplying the poor
with potatoes at a reduc price. It was stated by a mem-
ber of the committee that they had contracted fur a larso
supply of coals at 20s. 6d. p'r ton. The report having been
adopted, and the committee r e-elected, thanks were voted to
the Lord Mayor for his attendance, and the meeting termi-
nated.

Sr. PANCRAS AND THE DEPUTY CORONER.—At a
meeting of the vestry of St. Pancras yesterday, Mr. J. B.
E. Wnght in the chair, some severe censures were passed on
Mr. Mills, the Deputy-Coroner, for his conduct in relation to
the inquiry into the Woodward case ; and it was unanimously
resolved to appoint • committee to consider and report on
what steps shall be taken.. Mr. Douglas, who moved the
resolution, considered that the course which the vestry should
pursue, was either by a representation to the chief coroner
(Lord Denman) to procure the dismissal of Mr. Mills, or
prs coed against him by filing a criminal information in the
Court of Queen's Bench.
REGENT'S CANAL.—The half-yearly meeting of the
proprietors of the nbovc canal took place yesterday, at the
offices of the company, in the City-road ; M. Sethone, Esq.,
in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting having
been read and confirmed, the report of the general commit-
tee was read. It stated that there was in hand a sum of
13,6701. ss. I id., from which they recommended the decla-
ration of a dividend of 123. per share; that a sum of 8,0001.
would be paid to the company in consequence of their having
withdrawn their opposition to a bill which was brought for-
ward last session, and which was then passed, for the con-
struction of a railway from the Camden-town station of the
London and North-Western Railway to the East and West
India Docks ; that all the property required for the forma-
tion of the new barge entrance at Limehouse had been pur-
chased ; and that, in accordance with the resolution adopted
at the last special meeting for the construction of a railway
on the banks of the canal, notice had been given at the bill-
office of the intention of the company to apply for an act of
parliament for that purpose ; that all the nerewaly plans
were prepared and ready for the inspection of contractors.
It also recommended that, in consequence of the complaints
of the wharfingers of the insufficiency of the towage, the
company should take that upon themselves, and that the
sum of 3,0001. should be taken from the reserve fund for the
purchasing of horses, &c.; it finally stated, that, during the
six months ending November 30, the amount of carriage on
the canal was 518,567 tons, the receipts on which were
18,1111. The report having been unanimously adopted, re-
solutions iu accordance with the recommendations contained
in them were proposed and unanimously adopted; and a
vote of thanks having been given to the chairman, the meet-
ing separated.
ANOTIIER CONVERT TO ROME.—Mr. Henry Pow-
nall, son of 11. Pownall, Esq., of Spring-grove' Hounslow,
has just given in his allegiance to the Church of Rome.—
Standard.
TAKING THE VElL—Yesterday, the lion. Miss
Middleton and Miss Byrn took the veil, and entered the
Order of Mercy, at the chapel adjoiuing the Convent of
Mercy, in Parker's row, Bermondsey. The ceremony com-
menced at twelve, and was not concluded till two o'clock.
The young ladies, who looked in good health and spirits,
answered the interrogatories of the celebrant with firm
and clear voices, and went through, without apparent fatigue,
the long and arduous service.
TILE TRAINS OF TILE NORTH WESTERN LINE
due at the Euston-square station at a quarter past ten,
and the Express at eleven o'clock last night, did not
arrive at the station till twenty-five minutes before one
o'clock this morning. We understand the cause of thedelay
was the breaking down of tic quarter-past ten o'clock train,
the particulars of which we could not learn, except that no
persons were injured.
MODEL LODGING-HOUSES FOR FEMALES.—One of
these, in Newton-street, Holborn, has been opened fur the
reception of fernolee. The inmates are principally servants
out of place, persons who obtain a livelihood by needlework,
artificial flower-making, clear starchers, and workers in fancy
i paper, &e. The accommodation is tar superior to what
might be expected, and the greatest order prevails through-
' out the establishment. Each lodger is provided with a sepa-
rate bed. On the basement there is a kitchen, with every
requisite for cooking, a good fire, acd two boilers, with water
bo ling every morning by seven o'clock. Round the kitchen
are small cupboards, with different locks; one of these is
appropriated to the use of each lutlgtr. On the ground fluor
is a work room, for persons at needlework ; there is also a
washing room, with every convenience. The charge is
eighteenpence a-week. As this system has b..en found to
work well, the promoters intend to construct similar esta-
blishments in all neighbourhoods where the industrious
portion of the poor reside.
THE FIRE AND Loss OF LIFE AT LAMBETH.—
As soon as circumstances would permit, the fireman made
an examination of the premises, and under the pile of
charred timber they found the body of the female dwarf,
who formed a portion of the exhibition. Her lower extremi-
ties were much burned, and her features considerably dis-
figured. She had retired to rest in an upper apartment.
The servant, who also resided in the house, escaped unin-
jured. The body of the dwarf was conveyed to Waterloo-
road Church, to await a coroner's inquest—The exhibition,
destroyed by the fire, was valued at upwards of 1,0001., it
contained 400 full length figures of celebrated and notorious
characters. In the first floor, there was a self-performing
seraphine, valued at 1401. ; an organ that cost 100/. ; two
smaller ditto, and a coupe of pianofortes. There were
one hundred and forty sovereigns in the same p ace. It
is, however, expected, that the money will be found in the
ruins, and up to last evening, the firemen had been suc-
cessful in recovering between 20 and 30 sovereigns. There
was also an Egyptian mummy, and a valuable serpent.
Whilst the firemen were searching the ruins, they found a
large monkey which had wrapped itself up in a pin ce of
green baize, and by that means had escaped suffation.
Mr. Fergussen, who has been such a serious loser, oc
was not
insured.
INQULSTB YESTERDAY.--DEATII FROM FIRE-ARMS.
—By Mr. Carter, at the Victory inn, Merton-lane, on the body
of Mr. William Newman, of Mitcham, the well-known
medical herb-grower. On Tuesday, about eleven o'clock,
the ,body was found lying across a ditch in a field at Lower
Tooting, with a recently discharged fowling-piece lying by
its side. The roof of the right side of his skull was b,own
completely off just above the ear. Deceased had left home
early in the morning to shoot over his fields, and from the
position in which the body was found, there is no doubt that
whilst he was in the( act of leaping the ditch, which is six
feet wide, his foot slipped, and as ha fell the trigger caught
the hedge, and in a moment the deceased was hurried into
eternity. The deceased was sixty-two
, years of age.
A verdict of " Accidental death ' was returned.--
DEATII so SYRUP or PUPPIES.—By Mr. C. J. Carttar,
at the United Service Tavern, Woolwich, on the bodies of
two infants, named Charles Simcox, aged five months, and
Goldfinch, who, it was alleged, had died from the effects of an
overdose of syrup of poppies. The inquiry had been ad-
journed several times, but the following is a brief summary
of the facts of the case, which has before been referred to.
Some weeks since the infant child of a woman named Gold-
finch was rather indisposed, and on the advice of a neigh-
bour, named Anne Simcox, she gave the child a dose of
syrup of poppies. The child was taken ill immediately, and
upon a medical gentleman being sent ter, it was found, to be
labouring under the effects of a narcotic poison, and, not-
withstanding every remedy, it died the aext day. In the
conversation that ensued on the arrival of the doctor, Mrs.
Simcox reproached h rself for recommendiag the mother to
administer the poison, stating that it had caused the death of
her own child about eight months previously, but that she
thought a little of it would not hurt the deceased. These
facts coming to light, the coroner ordered the body of the
child Simcox to be exhumed and sent to Dr. Leeson, of St.
Thomas's Hospital, for analysation. Dr. Leeson deposed that
he had analysed the contents of the abdomen and thorax,
which were very much decomposed. The quantity of
meconic acid and morphia were so small, and be could not
obtain them in the form of pure crystals, so that he could
only state that a considerable comparative quantity appeared
to have been given, but he could give no decided opinion
whatever as to the cause of death. 'The evidence of a female
named Taylor, and of Mr. Heater, the surgeon who at-
tended the child, was then given, and, after hearing a detail
of the symptoms, Dr. Leeson gave it as his opinion that the
child died from epilepsy, and not from the action of morphia.
The jury, after a long deliberation, returned a verdict in the
case of Chas. Simeox, " That the deceased died, but from
what causes there was no evidence to show ;" and in the
case of the child Goldfinch, " That the deceased died from
a dose of srup of poppies, administered by. the mother in
ignorance.' It was stated that the analysis of Dr. Leeson
was the first that had satisfactorily proved the existence of
a vegetable poison after a period of eight months.—
CHILD-DItOPPINO.—Late on Tuesday evening, by Mr. Bed-
ford, at the Barley Mow, Mount-street, Grosvenor-square,
on the body of a new-born male child, which was found in a
hamper, left at the door of Miss Burdett Coutts, in Stratton-
street, Piccadilly, on Saturday night. The body
.had been
examined by Mr. Bloxom, surgeon, who was of opinion that
it had been born alive, and had died from injuries resulting
from natural causes in the birth. Verdict, in accordance with
the medical evidence.

THE SEA SERPENT.
After all the jokes and jeers at the expense of
American skippers, it now appears that the Sea Serpent is I
to take rank amongst the veritable marvels and monsters of 1
the great deep. The sober and serious Northmen have again
taken his case in hand, and come forward to vouch for his
character. The following is abridged from a circumstantial ,
narrative of his visits to the fjords of Norway, published in
the Norwegian papers, and attested by clergymen, lawyers,
booksellers, printers, and others:
In the neighbourhood of Christ Mle
iannand and olde, in the province
of Somalia, several persons, highly respectab and credible wit-
CSSCO, have reported that they have seen this animal. In general
they state that it has been seen in the larger Norwegian fjords, seldom
in the open sea. In the large bight of the sea at ChriMiansand, it has
been seen every year, though only In the warmest semen, in the dug-
dart, and then only when the weather was perfectly calm and the sur-
face of the water unruffled. The following persons whore names are
here mentioned give the subjoined testimony : —Nils Roe, workman
at Mr. William Knudtzon's, relates : I saw the serpent twice, once at
noon, and two days afterwards towards the evening in the fjord at
the back of Mr. Knudtzon'a garden. The first time 'it was out a
hundred feet distant. It ream first along the fjord, then afterwards
direct over to the spot where I stood. I observed it for above half an
hour. Some strangers who were on the opposite shore fired at it,
when it disappeared. The second time it was further from me. It
was small, perhaps twice as long as this room (about 44 feet) ; while
swimming it mad., serpentine movements, some to the side, others up
and down. I cannot state what thickness it was but it appeared to
be about as thick as a common casks in proportion to its length. It