Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-09-18

T'iisItlon, though without rrctea,io,
wit o. classical learning tuhieE, r,,, .
our system Of education. are fcr,y, ..
nearly Gbscle!e) in pint Of s,liJ s''I
ment and r.,ti"ual conjecture, IT, ny
Judgment, little. if a!y thing, ince,..
Bay'es' thought, on c"me:. |, J'.
be read ard studied by aiIirquire,, ~
physical ruth. Who arr yet unhs,,.r'
nora"t Of tie t;ac history Of the H.,
.erpent; sho have never er;o,,j
luxury oi fiDd.ns the Longitude 5y Nv,
,ism, and who kaow NOT he saii.f',s
of discovering the rue tire by t,'.;'
kry on the finger, or i,oldius a i,r,s,
ny bit in a glass. These three phe,l,'
ia now nearly dividing the pubic h.
rest, | shall lorbear no longer (.inc. (
existence If he sea serpent is put b.,,.
dispute) to publish the following .,st
and sagacious reflections on then, srS
benefit of the present age, and If n
latest posterily. The letter which |. g
isioed is evidently from the pen 4 !
celebrated philosopher. to whom 4.
public Of letters, like that of psit;, L
already eminentIy indebted for lr,m
diversion.
Program ola memoir to be readto.IsE
ciety If Naturci History JNEM
1t has been considered ny The .,r.
to have been happy conjurctic1 & /
cums;aGles wl:;ch gave TO The void
g,eat philosopher as ',:r Isaac H,,:sr
4 the same time that The wondofa o
CT # 1859 appeared. Iii, Doubtless, 4
-.s.. a h=p,.iaeS, for the caaseoi .ci.,e
dat die ;;,rce GREATEST natural soltoI
! winch have occur, et for celtary std,
| come t. pass while our i!iustsiOus rct,-
a, s.4.. -, NJ. ID. L. /. 0. Il
, still above The horizon. The public G,
not fail TO be grateful TO meiOr lsJ
irg The opiuions. and thus family reGs,.
IN the Ugh; o.! that great iu@ia4y g.
I. The appearance OF the stIarss g
monster; T.. The new scheme 1T I'D
irg the longitude by magnetic ,Iiat
| III. The modern, patent, aslrulvCia
chronsmeter. For the better saisl.:ia
Of the curious reader, | shall give d,
preoi,e words Of my learned coTr;rs!.
ent.
| .Ssw-Tork, .iHgn,I ST.
(, FEAR SIR,-I am Lot at al. So ,a,t.
a, the appearance Of the great serPsG'G
Cape Anu harbor. had already snlt.
pated the probable existence Of tbs IMs
resting link between the boa ccHsrIas
OF Africa anG the ssrpens oesanus na:ta
cf the white sea. From your aceun,
description, 1t evidently belong. 10 t.:
class amphit.a, order serpentss, n.la..
ia,pily heserOdsrmafa, AID | prOpce Il
give II the generic name ophiueas, Utl
the specific qualification oquaiieis to'.
ais. He NAV, indeed, vie with hi. ga
rival IF tie heavens, oph;uchus hE:..
in latitude, longitude, ard every phy 81
dimension. Philosophers have sho'
TnUre as,an!shmen. on the appearance
this non deScript than could be sappcs
10 the present advanced state st IaIaf
science, when we already know enO..
% divine all the rest, as, ffom ba'lE
three terms given in proportions, We ca
calculate the fourth. Thi, vulgar ansl'
ment arises from our not remUlnurs
the store. Of antiquity, and 'rac Dg ooG'.
historically per mutstus tormGs. sor
have creduloosly supposed this bcagt''
aud interesting aquatic TO be the ch.ai
ra Of the aucients. N,rhirg coOid
more unphllosophIcal. The only e'''H'
ra known 10 the ancient. Was nOlOrCr'..
killed by Be!lerophon; and. cousequ:s,
ly, the moderns have NJ chimTrns al al
th'rgh ignorant persons stall suPI''
them to exist. Besides, Hesiod, shc "a
nearly eUtemporary with BelicrTn'
and lhe chiinera, and who had pro1ia
seen chimera's skin tas P!iDy do To.
Of the serpent Of Resuiu'l in his eha'r
ing iheogOnia, describes tie chinGii
having Ii. ee heads, whereas 70 speels;'
ophiuchas has as yet been detected vi
more than one head. The erigin Q! o.
curious visitor is not 50 fantiial. It
now generally allowed that iieiler"I1'
when b, ing to Heaven On fegas..' .!
not thrown BY bee stingins hi' hos
tfor lie VAS 50 excellent q rider that
was suIllamed HippcnOas :; Dat "a
culous lici,ea has been c0niouGded VI
historical truth, ard instead ri Lar
hav.Eg his wings melted Of BY The "
fesasas had l,i, burnt to astes, and
and las rider tell together mo tue hI'
tic ocean This is the reason WY %
dern poets ride wingless sieeds. Pegs.
We ali know, wss Ike RcLinanie, 4 aS
at al points ard, beirg once q, EcGf
The Sra, soon made love 20 TIE Be!sT