The Sun.
London, England, 1822-11-16 00:00:00

THE MERMAID.

Some time ago we noticed the exhibition of "A
Mermaid, the wonder of the world !" and suggested the necessi-
ty of removing all doubts respecting its authenticity by the only
test of demonstration—dissection. No attempt, however, to
satisfy by that test will, it seems, be afforded, though it could
be partially, yet sufficiently, done without injury to the figure
for the purpose of exhibition. This denial of anatomical de-
monstration renders a more close and scrutinizing examination
of the exterior of the figure necessary, and every fresh view
tends to expose the making up of this "mermaid." If exa-
mined in a strong light, and with a powerful magnifier, there will
appear an evident line passing across the top of the nose where
there is a wrinkle, and through the orifices where the eyes are
I lodged ; the upper part and back of the head have the exact
conformation of a baboon's, the arms and back have a precise
resemblance to those of the same animal, and so has the hair.
The face has all the appearance of a composition executed and
inserted with considerable ingenuity, and covered with a ba-
boon's skin well prepared and fitted for the purpose. The
teeth are not those of a baboon, but of what is called the " blue
faced monkey," well known in Africa. The back 'is exactly
that of the baboon, with the skin thinned and wetted, and_
laid on the vertebra', to which it adhered closely in the process
of drying, and assumed its present appearance : immediately
at the extremity of the vertebra the form of the fish begins,
and the prepared skin and fins of a salmon will supply the
rest of the figure ; the junction is perceptible with a strong
magnifier, and in a particular light, although the greatest pains
have been taken by art to conceal it. The whole figure, as a
work of art, is well worth exhibition, and the Japanese are famous
for such experiments upon human credulity. There is hardly
a naturalist of eminence in Europe who has not, in the shape
of birds, fishes, and insects, had experiments of this kind made
upon his science and curiosity from the same ingenious mart.
This " mermaid" has the apperance of being made at a re-
mote period ; but It is said by those who have seen the manner
in which this singular people prepare their objects of curiosity,
that when the skin is worked down by them, and wetted in a
particular manner, it will soon shrivel and dry when exposed to
the sun, become rapidly worm-eaten, and assume the appear-
ance of the decay of time. So much for this dead mermaid.
The best account of a living one (or rathera merman) is in a Spa-
nish collection of tales of the time of Cervantes, where a deform-
ed and emaciated sailor, who had been long cast away tipon an
unknown island, was discovered and released by some Spa-
, !fish sailors, who compelled him, at the peril of having his
brains knocked out, to remain naked besmeared and tatoo'd in
a tub while they exhibited him in Spain. The story is ad-
mirably told. Not many years ago an Italian, who was dis-
charged from the conduct of a menagerie of wild beasts, sent by
Pidcock's to Ireland, played a trick nearly similar, and with ca-
pital success in the South of Ireland: He met a good-natured
" Paddy" of extraordinary stature, but of distorted features, and
who was as forlorn in actual resources as the Italian renegado.
The latter had however wit enough to make the fellow underg6
the operation of besmearing in a fan-yard, the walls,of which
they scaled at midnight, and of being afterwards pasted over
with cow hair, and then 'exhibited in an iron collar and chain to.
the gaping country people as " a Yahoo." The Italian, after
he had filled his pockets with the produce of the " Yahoo,"
left him one night chained in a stable, .and decamped with the
whole of the profits.

ANECDOTE OF LORD MANSFIELD.—During one
of the last days of Lord 11 AN-sriELD's presiding at the
Court of King's Bench, in which there was a trial of some
im-
portance, he remarked with uncommon satisfaction the assiduity
of a student placed near him, who was employed on his note
book with considerable industry, and occasionally directed
glances at their Lordships with very shrewd and attentive ob..
servation. When the trial was over, he complimented the
young gentleman on his zeal and diligence, arid requested to be
favoured with a sight of his notes. 'The student, with much
confusion, expressed his apprehension thtit they were far too-
imperfect for his Lordship's inspection ; but being further soli-
cited, he was obliged, though very reluctantly, to cornply.
The Judge proceeded very solemnly to examine the con-
tents, in which, much to his surprise, he only found'.
the accurate likeness of himself and his brethren, highly cari-
catured in profile. He returned the book to the confdsed young
Templar, pleasantly acknowledging " that it was one way of
approaching to the head of the profession."
A LORD AT HIS EASE.—A Marquis of WIN-
CHESTER, who lived in the reign of CHARLES the Second,
used to dine at six or seven in the evening, and to conti-
nue the meal until the same hour in the morning ; dur-
ing which time he sometimes drank, sometimes listened
to music, conversed, or smoked ; while the rest of the coin- •
pany were not expected to follow his example, but had
their free choice to go or. come, - sit or rise, sleep or eat
and drink. The dishes and bottles were never removed front
table; when morning came, the Marquis would hunt cr
hawk, if the weather was fair • if not, he would dance, go to
bed at eleven, and repose until evening, when he rose to begin
the same round of debauch again.
OLD WINES.—The passion for old wine has
been sometimes carried to a very ridiculous excess ; for me
" thick crust," the " bee's wing," and the several other crite-
rions of the epicure, are but so many proofs of the decom-
position and departure of some of the best qualities of the
wine. Had the man that first filled the celebrated Heidel-
burg tun been placed as a sentinel, to see that no other
wine was put into it, he would have found it much better at
twenty-five or thirty years old, than at one hundred, or one
hundred and fifty, had he lived so long, and been permitted
now and then to taste it.

GRoG.—Until the time of Admiral VERNON,
the British sailors had their allowance of brandy or rum served
out to them unmixed with water. This plan was found to be at-
tended with inconvenience on some occasions; and the Admiral,
therefore, ordered, that in the fleet he commanded, the spirit
should be mixed with water before it was given to the men.—
This innovation, at first, gave great offence to the sailors, and
rendered the Commander very unpopular. The Admiral, at that
time, wore a grogram coat, and was nicknamed " Old Grog."
This name was afterwards given to the mixed liquor he com-
pelled them to take, and it has since universally obtained the
name of grog.
A NOVEL CIRCUMSTANCE.—Baptized at Lea-
singham-church, on Thursday, November 7, 1822, by the Rev.
F. Gunnis, Rector, 21 children, all of whom, except one, were
from the paper-mill, Leasingham-moor, and 17 of them of two
families, viz.—nine of Mr. Cropper's, the eldest lti years of
age; and eight of Mr. Clark's, the eldest 15. Mr. Robinson,
of Sleaford, and Mr. Clark, of the paper-mill, imposed upon
themselves an important duty as sponsors for the whole 21.
large concourse of people from the neighbouring villages at-
tended to witness the ceremony. The bells rung merrily,
throughout the day.—(Stanybrd News.)
CORONER'S brouEsT.—Last night an Enquest
was held at the Crown, Duke's-court, St. Martin's-lane, before
Mr. HiGcs, Deputy-Coroner for Westminster, on the body of
a man, name unknown, found drowned in the Basin in the
Green-park. The deceased, who wore a shoemaker's apron,
had a memorandum-book in his pocket, by which it appeared
he had paid several workmen; also some bills, and other dis-
bursements, but there was no name to lead to a discovery who
he was. He seemed to be about 35 years of age : a duplicate
of a coat pledged for 3s. at the house of Hedge and Co. Drury-
lane, in the name of Gray, was found upon him ; there was no
money about him. Verdict—" Found Drowned."