The National Register.
London, England, 1809-10-22 00:00:00

THE MERMAID.

Mr. "Irmo R—The letters from
giddiness respecting the Mer-
maid, which have lately appeared in the public prints, having
excited considerable attention, the Glasgow Philosophical So-
ciety, by their Secretary, wrote to the Rev. Mr. Mackay, Mi-
nister of Reay, to ascertain the authenticity of these documents.
The following polite answer wa.., in due course, received by the
Society. I am, &c. JAMES WATT, Pres.

- -
Society's Hall, Oct. IS. 1809.
Sir—ln terms of your and the Philosophical Society's request,
-I
have to inform you, that my daughter wrote a letter to Mrs.
lanes, Dowager of Sandside, concerning the phenomenon seen
sear this place, merely for private information; without the
smallest suspicion of any other use to be made of it. But having
excited Sir John Sinclair's curiosity, he obtained a copy of this
letter, and., it seems, that by one of his friends it found its way
to the Engli.-h newspapers. Though I never say.' the letter,
either originally or in the papers, I have good reason to supp•ise
that it is a genuine document.
With regard to the animal's timidity, I have only to say, that
two seivant maids and a boy being at the time down among the
rocks, it was the cries of the boy that made it first disappear.
It soon reappeared farther out in the sea, and ultimately disap-
peared, after having taken its course a considerable way along
the shore, the zitectators following, and walked on until the-,
lost hope of itscoming up again. The schooloupitor of Thurso's
letter is al4o genuine ; and he is a gentleman w hm-e veracity is
not called in question. I am, respectfully, Sir,
Your moat obedient humble servant,
• "

,tlatnes Bongs Esq. See. Phil. Sot
Iligh-strcei) Chogow,

DIVID MACKAY.
Reily, Oct, 3) 160.

ICT. 22,

JUSTICE OP_ PEACE COURT.—At Dumfries, On Monday
sermight, a cause of some interest was decided in said Court--
Smith v. Wilson—to recover lOs tid. as reward of rapture.—
The Defendant is a fruit-dealer and gnrdener, and had bought
the fruit in a gentleman's orchard, in the neighbourhood of Daw-
n ies. having Occasioo for a person to watch the fruit, he of.
fered 6s. per week and victuals, with a premium of one guinea
for every one he shot to death. and 10s. 6.1. for every one w ouud-
ea and made prisoner, in the act of robbitv, the orchard.
Th,.! pursuer, elated with the hop( of gain, eNages, w ill heroic
ardour, faithfully to peiform the bargain, reckoning upon the
reward, if fortunate, at the end of his Yet vit ude. Upon ving
in the list to the commander-in-chief, it appeared he had killed
none, nor wounded any, hut had made one prisoner, for w Welt
he demanded half-a-guitwa. The Defendant iAnititing that the
aAreement was, as has ti,•eli 1-elm:sr-mud, Cie Court des ded
against Wilson, in favour of Smith, half-a-guinea with
The Jud Ares gave both parties an isdY ice iv:N. er to make any such
bargains for the future.
NEW MODE or SWINDLIN6.-- A fellow has contri, • to
levy contriinoiOns during the last week in MO ford /led it.. •
bourhood. by finding out such persons as have relatives •
or in a French prison, and V. rititqr, letters., :••• he
from such friends, by w Welt he has obtained mono-, -at
people, pretending to have the power of r4.•i ?ir
friends and relations. He had a young w otna• on
finding that a constable was after them. ti.e.; •
precipitation as to leave behind a great ntitn:,- ad-
dressed to different people at Botany Hay ; .1111•
stance, it is presumed that the man is rt coaviet
transportation, and that he has cbtained those ire the
frit lids of person's there, under pretence of he • for-
ward them, and for which service it is probable he n:•••. I••ceived
rewards.

Within these few days an unfortunate accident I,an;:ened at
Freshwater, in the ['le of W ight„ • throu;4l, the tareic—ness of
one of the Gertnah troops at prei•ent stationed at that 4,iace, -.•he,
io the absence of his master (one af thc officer-1, took ny gun
and presented it to the female servant, ant, in threate...d to
shoot her. Unfortunmely the piece, which was l.F.tded ith
shot, went tr. and killed hot- on the.spat. It apdeared that
the gun had been used just before by the officer, but %%:,s ne.:;:ect.
ed to be discharged. The deceased was a fine girl, about seven-
teen years of age.
A few days ago a Lady at Gad's Hill, near Gil:ingham, in
Kent, not thinking fit to entiust a servant with the washing of
some of the fine articles of her dress, was getting them up herself
in her own room, when her presence being necessary in another
part of the house, she (pine,' the room, leaving behind her it
beautiful child of about twelve months old. The mother was
not absent many minutes; on her return she found that her infant
had fallen off a chair, in which it watisitting, into the soap suds.
The best medical advice was obtained as speedily as possible,
but to no effect—the child lingered from Thursday till Saturday,
and then died. 5.,•

FAMILY PRIDE.-- A notorious culprit, who suffered some
years since at Salisbury. and the last of three brothers, who had
been executed for similar offences, after sentence was pasS:rd,
said, " My Lord, 1 humbly thank you."—His Lordship asto-
nished, asked hial for what? " Because my Lord, I thought
I should have been hung in chalus, which would have been a
disgrace to the family."

A curious circumstance took place whilst the Duke of York
stopped to change horses at the Chequers Inn, Brandon. The
new landlady of that lon, (a Mrs. Clarke) being very anxious
for a sight of his Royal Highness, had instructed her servants
to inform her when the carriage drove up, and in consequence
they innocently vociferated the name of " Mrs. Clarke' so loud
aril frequent, as could not fail to strike the Duke's auricular
nerves. The same unintentional exclamation was not the case
on his changing horses at Bury, where a number of persons as-
sembled, and three shouts were given for Col. Wardle; nor was
Mrs. Clarke forgotten.

Friday laQt the Lottery began and fini,hed drawing, when
Bisti, at 4, Cornhill and 9; Charint-Cro., sold the following
Capital Prizes, in 44 Shares :—No. z,GtB, 20,000/. in Class A ;
No. 2,618. 20,0001. in Class U; No. 4,091, 5,0001. in Clats
; No. 383, 1,000!. in (.143, ; No. 8.30, 1,1;00/. in Class A $
Nu 830, 1,000!. in Class B; No. 548, 5001. in Class U; Nu.
4,855, 500/. in Class C.—The fortunate Share-holders may hut*
their money nu demand, at 4, Cornhill, or 9, Charing•Crots.