Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-08-31
From the Boston Daily Advertiser.

feureSS OF tiieiE WiOuEs.-A1H2HHEs
From the Boston Daily Advertiser.
The Seq Serpent. recent appear
ance of This animal at Nabant in the view
of several hundreds Of persons, has fur
nished perhaps more conclusive proofs of
his existence than any that have been be-
fore made public. For the satisfaction Of
our readers We have procured copy Of
the following letter, which gives very
clear and ineligible description Of bis
appearance and movements. We have
heard verbal statements from great
number Of gentlemen, all of which agree 10
substance with what is here related.
Copy of letter from James Prince. Esq.
Marshal of this District, to the Hon.
Judge Davis, dated .Nahant, dag. l6,
1879.
My DEAR SIR-I presume may have
seen what is generally thought to be the
Sea Serpent. | have also seen my name
inserted 10 the evening newspapers printed
at Boston on Saturday, in communica.
tian Oh this subject. For your gratiica-
ton, and from desire that my name may
not sanction any thing beyond what was
actually presented and passed 10 review
before me, l will now state that, which in
the presence of more than two hundred
other Witnesses, took place near the long
beach Of Nahant on Saturday morning
last.
Intending TO pass two or three days
with my family at Nahant, we left Boston
early on Saturday morning. On passing
the half way house on the Salem turnpike,
Mr.. Smith informed us, the Sea Serpent
had been seen the evening before at Ma
liant beach, and that a vast lumber Of
people from Lynn had gone to the beach
that morning in hopes Of being gratifed
with sight OF him this was confirmed
at'the hotel. was glad to find had
brought my famous mast head spy-giass
with me, as il would enable me from its
size to view him to advantage if l might
be so fortunate as to see him. On our
arrival on the beach, we associated with
a considerable collection of persons on
loot and in chaises !; and very soon an
animal of the fish kind made his appear
ance nearly in this attitude and manner:
A cut describing the serpent is here
inserted in the Boston paper.
His head appeared about three feet out
OF water counted thirteen punches on
his back-my family thought there were
titeen-he passed three times at mode
rate rate across the bay, but so feet as to
occasions foam in the water-and my
family and self, who we're in a carriage,
judged that he was from fifty and not
more than sixty feet in length-whether,
however, the wake might NOT add to the
appearance of his length; or whether the
undulation Of the water, or his peculiar
manner of propeling himself might not
Cause the appearances of protnberances,
! leave for your better judgment. The
nrst view OF the animal occasioned some
agitation, and the novelty perhaps pre-
vented that precise discrimination which
afterwards took place-as be swan up
he bay, we and the other spectators
moved on and kept nearly abreast Of him;
lie occasionally withdrew himself under
he water, and the idea occurred to me
hat his occasionally raising his head
boye the level Of the water, was to take
'reath, as the time he kept under was on
n average about eight minutes and af-
er being accustomed to view him, we be-
anne more composed; and his general
ppearance was as above delineated. Mrs.
'rince and the coachman having better
yes than myself, were Of great assistance
me in marking the progress of the ami
lal; they would say, he is now turning,
I'D by the aid Of my glass I saw him
istinctly 10 this movement he did not
Urn without occupying some space, and
king into view the time and the space
hich he found necessary for bis ease
I'd accommodation, adopted it as cri-
rion to form some Judgment Of his
ngth-I had seven distinct views of him
ON the long beach SO called, and at some
them the animal was not more than al
inbred yards distant. After being on
e long beach with other spectators about