The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1818-11-03


md BanGa, thus undermining the Bilfssh
mining interest that in order to debar the
British from all intercourse with the natives,
they keep in commission 3 line Of battle
| ships, frigates, several sloop2 OF war, and
linnumerable armed vessels.
| fOf all the quiazes we have seen on the subject
Of the Sea-Serpent, and there have bee "A not
| few of them,t the following is the mosthumorous
and witty. We may laugh at the bagGtetles
of unbeleveFs without being accused Of skep-
| ticism ourselves. What ever may be said or
sung, the evidence Of the existence Of the O.
cean monster is too strong to be invalidated.I
/ Pror. Pat.
/ From the National Allocate.
/ letter, said TO have been found in bottle
which was picked up in the Sound, is another
proofo of the existence of the Sea-serpent, and
throws some additional light upon the subject of
its size, velocity and habits, and gives TO hope
we may still have one for the inspection of the
curious and the learned.
ION June, from on board The Sea-Serpent.
On the 9th of June, as we were weathering
Cape Cod, squall carried away the mast of our
small schooner. Ia the morning discovered some
thing astern-a monstrous thing, with its head
out Of the water, and moving towards us with its
Jaws wide open. We at first were much frigh-
tened, but its eye had mild expression, and
seemed TO half smile upon US, Nevertheless, |
loaded my musket, and when il was close under
the stern fired into what seemed large red
cave. It closed over us, and we We're in total
darkness We are still in the stomach of the
great sea-snake, but our fears are much abated.
We should have dashed to pieces on the sea
shore and all lost, five had not fortunately been
| swallowed by this terrible animal. | struck a
I iignt and examined the premises. 1t looks like
a grotto-shels of every descrPtion-very damp
"a long boat lying our stern trunk full of
hpapers, all Spanish, can't read them-cabin boy
got upon the bowsprit, and discovered through
his mouth Montaug Point--our motion is as easy
as though we were in calm--though moving
with Incredible swiftness we appear to be arrest,
and every thing passes by as if the world was
turning round, but we were standing still. 1t
VIII not give you an adequate idea of the rate
with which we move, by telling you where we
have been, as we have spent SO much time at
each place. Yesterday forenoon were two
or three hours in Hudson's Bay. While lying of
Albany fort, which could plainly see with my
I spY glass, the serpent swallowed few most sin
gular fish. We have sailed one ofthem, in hopes,
II we ever return, of making our fortunes by the
exhibition Of the many curiosnies we have pre-
served. About O'Clock, we arrived at the Pole
saw no ice--moved slowly round very large
and beautiful island, covered with trees Of great
height IN blossom. As we approached the shore,
heard great screaming, and multitudes of what
we took to be men and women scrambing up the
rocks, but which we found to be nothing but mer-
maids. This Is the eighth time we have mistak-
| en- them IN the same way. Shorter, as my mate
calls him, only swallowed five of them | have
saved two, beautiful young mermaid, about six
teen years old, and her father. as take him 10
be. If can get his consent, and if the deacon
OF our town viii marry us, will marry her in
spite OF her fail T; for | shall be rich enough to
ride in carriage with her. Poor thing. she can
only walk upon her hands. She is now looking
over my shoulder, weeping and wiping her eyes
with her long green hair. wish | could under
stand what she says. When she speaks to her
father, she sings with the most melodious voice
all she has 70 say, mention these circumstances
SO particularly, that IN case we should never es-
cape from our present awkward. situation, the
| world will have no longer any doubts about the
| the existence of men and women in the sea. and
who pity US as much because we are without
their means ofmoving from one place to another,
as we pity them for not having feet
We passed near vessels with English colours
distinguished Gregor Nc Gregor standing on
the companion way. know him well. He fir
| ed at us, which set us all laughng-he might
as well fire at our fert at Stonington. Last night
we were again along the coastof North America,
| and 10 several hours lay off New-Bedfo and
gloucester; but it takes me too long to tell every
thinE, and perhaps should not be believed If /
/ did We have been twICe to Columbia river. al
high up as Astoria We went north about
i he Snorter is very particular as to his eating
lie breakfasts at the Pole on mermaids, dimes ia
the Paclfc ocean on sea-lions, and many a name
less hsh, and usually sups on mossbankers and
| perka michellasin Long-Island Sound.
hope and pray that all the vessels along the
coast will be sent out to look for US and when
we see probable chance of being picked up.
shall order black Sim and Eben to saw the Snor-
tersback bone across, which will stop his progress
until we can cut our way out. Fore and aft he
| Is about the length of the New-Yorlx Institution
his head about the size ofScudder's Museum
and his teeth may be compared to the little pillars
in front of the hall. The bottle in which | am
! gong to cork the letter | shall throw from the
end OF the bowsprit out of his mouth, in sincere
hopes itmay be picked up, and effect our release
| we have plenty Of every thing bat bread and
vegetables. W took in such quantity of fresh
water last night we were all washed off the deck !;
and was happy to find my dear Swimberrella is
no more fosd ofliving with her head under water
than am. In fact her father has evidently got
| touch of the rheumatism from the dampness Of
the place we are in. | shall keep writing and
| throwing letters over whenever find we are on
tins side of the continent, and until | see gen
eral turn out ofall the vessels from New-York to
the province of Maine, which will so cover the
water that It will be impossible but some will dis
cover US. Yours whoever you may be,
hicodensus .Nnntuckie.