The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-12 00:00:00

IHB GREAT SEA SERPENT HOAX.

Mr. Frederick Smith, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, gives
the following account of the great sea serpent :—On the
4th instant, Captain Harrington, of the ship Castilian,
stat,ql hiR belief that he had S,Oll the great sea serpent
near St. Helena. His confidence is strengthened from
the fact of something similar having been seen by her
Majesty's ship DmJalus near the same position. The
following circumstance, which occurred on board the
ship Pekin, then belonging to Messrs. T. and W.
Smith, on her passage from Moulmein, may be of some
service respecting this " queer fish." On December 28th,
1848, being then in lat. 26 S., long. 6 E , nearly calm,
ship having only steerage way, saw about half.a-mile
on port beam a very extraordinary-locking thing in the
water of considerable length. ith the telescope we
could plainly discern a huge bead and neck, covered
with a long shaggy-looking kind of mane, which it
kept lifting at intervals out of the water. This
was seen by all hands and declared to be the great
sea serpent. I determined on knowing something
about it, and accordingly lowered a boat, in which my
chief officer and four men went, taking with them a long
small line in case it should be required. I watched
them ♦ery anxiously, and tho monster seemed not
to regard their approach. At length they got close
to the head. They seemed to hesitate, and then busy
themselves with the line, the monster all the time duck-
ing its head, and shooing its great length. Presently
the boat began pulling towards the ship, the monster
following slowly. In about half-an-hour they got
alongside ; a tackle was got on the main yen',
and it was hoisted on board, It appeared somewhat
supple when hanging, but so completely covered with
snaky-looking barnacles about 18 inches long, that we
had it some tine on board before it was discovered to be
a piece of gigantic seaweed, 20 feet long and 4 inches
diameter, the root end of whioh appeared when i❑ the
water like the head of the animal, and the motion given
by the sea caused it tiff seem alive. In a few days it
dried up to a hollow tube, and as it had a rather offen-
sive smell, it was thrown overboard.
I had only been a short time in England when the
Dsedalue arrived and reported having seen the great sea
serpent—to the best of my recollection near the same
locality, and which I Lave no doubt was a piece of the
same weed. So like a huge living monster did this ap-
pear, that had circumstances prevented my sending a
boat to it I should certainly have behoved I had seen the
great sea snake.

Country r.larkots.

MANCHESTER-FEB. 11.

Our market this morning was fairly attended, but trans.
actions were of the most languid character. There was a
fair demand for the best qualities of English wheat at last
week's prices ; secondary sorts neglected. American red
being lees plentiful, met a moderate sale at lti to 2d per
701bs advance. Flour trade depressed. Oats and oatmeal
a slow sale at barely late prices. In barley, beans, and
Indian corn there was no material change.

NEWARK—FEB. 10.
A good show of grain to-day, and in better condition.
Nons but the finest qualities of wheat realised last week's
rates; in prices generally no alteration.
Wheat, white 50s to 565, rod 46s to 50e; barley, mailing
33s to 425, grinding 34s to 365; oats, 24st. 33s to 365, 22st,
321 to 345; beans, 448 to 46s ; malt, Gis to 72s ; peas, 44s
to 455; tares, —s to —s per qr.

LOUTH—FLA. 10.
Wheat, 40e to 4&; extra, 45s ; barley 32s to 35s ; oats
20s to 225; beaus, 40s to 445.

BOSTON—Fas. 10.

Pricos :—Wheat, rod, 3Ss Od to 44s Od; now, to —s-;
white, 42s Od to 46s Od; extra, 48s. Barley, 26s Od to 378
01. Oats 18s to 255. Poas, 36. to 42s Od. Beans, 34s
Od to 41s Od per qr.

GLA.SGOW—FEB. 11.
This day's market was pretty well attended, and a fair
business was done in good wheat at full prices. Flour in
favour of buyers. Beaus in fair demand. Peas scarce,
and wanted. Oats and oatmeal a slow sale at last week's
rates. Barley unchanged.

EDINBURGH GRAIN. —Ftz. 10.
A good supply of grain to-day, and sales heavy for all
sorts. Prices back forbeans and barley. Oats and wheat
a shade better.
Wheat, on the top, is 6d up, and on the
an averaged
Os 3d up. Barley, Os ed down on the top, lld
down on the average. Oats on the top were Is 9d up,
and on the average is 4d up. Beans on the top ls
6d up, and on the average Os 5d down.
AVERAGES PER IMPERIAL QUARTER.
Wheat XI 19 10 5-12th.
Do. new 0 0 0 0-12ths.
Barley
Oats 1 4 7 3-12ths.
Beans
CI1114.19529:11:s
Total Supply and Sales.
1
Wheat
1 15879 3 7 qr 5........
........ 1.
7.
. solds
d
1683 37 7 rr ss ................................... 137 2
00'
I,l'l
rir• ssa
Barley
Oats
Beans

DERBY SAIITIIFIELD.—FEB. 9.
A good supply of fat beasts to-day ; the demand was
inactive ; former prices were asked, and beef was a little
more than an average sale. Sheep was in large 'supply.
There was a full average supply of fat pigs. Fat calves
more plentiful.
The following were the quotations :—Boef, Gd to God;
mutton, 7d to 71d ; lamb, —d to 0I ; veal, 7d tc per
lb. ; pigs, 9s Gd to lls 3d per score ; rough fat, 5s 3d to Os
per I.llb. ; hides, 44d to 61c1 per lb ; calf-skins, Gd to 7,1
per lb.

TRE MAIL P
ACKET SERVICE.-9884881. is the total
estimated expense of the Post-office packet service for
the year 1858-9, against 965,064/. last year. The mail
services include obarges of 25,0001. (Holyhead and Kings-
town), 4,0001. (Southampton and Jersey, &c,) 15,5001.
(Dover, Calais, and Ostend), 20,5001. (Peninsular and
Gibraltar), 172,8401. (Liverpool and Halifax, Boston and
Now York), 240,0001. (to and from the West Indies),
30,0001. (Brazil and Buenos Ayres), 25,0001. (West
Coast of South America), 33,0001. (Cape of Good Rope),
:20,500/. (West Coast of Africa), 185,0001. (Australia),
139,4141. (India), and 20,0001. for the additional mail,
to India by alternate hebdomadal communication to
Bombay and Calcutta. •