The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-08-08
SEA SERPENT Ac.4rNt,
From Che portsmouth journal, August a

cd III HSnlng near the entrance OF this
harbour, he saw the SEA SERPENT
lying asleep on the water, about a quar-
ter of mile from Bush Island. He at
first supposed it to be large log float
ing on the water but on approaching
within about one hundred yards, the Ser
pent Immediately moved with great rap
idity towards the west, and approached
near to Odiorne's Point. In his motion
through the water, he Showed five
punches at time, about five feet apart;
presenting the appearance of five por-
poises following each other in a right
line. lie was seen distinctly, while go
ing about mile and a halt. When he
came near Odiorne's Point, he turned,
and made towards the Shoals. Mr.. Dun
can was in a whale-boat, accompanied
by his son, about Is years old, and by
Mr.. Jonathan Vennard, who both saw
the Serpent.
About o'clock the same afternoon,
Mr.. Duncan was hailed by man in an
other boat, who directed his attention
towards the South, where he again saw
the Serpent, about half mile distant,
approaching the boat in which Mr.. Dun
can was. The Serpent came directly
towards the boat, and approached with
in 40 feet of the stern when he sud-
denly changed his course, and went off
towards York Ledge
Mr.. Duncan is confident that the ami
NAL he saw was entirely different from
any which he had ever seen before;
and he represents himself to be well
acquainted with the appearance of the
different kinds of Whales, Porpoises and
Sharks, as well as of Horse .Nackereis.
The animal he saw had no appearance
of any fms. The first time the Serpent
was seen, he was in sight about half
an hour, and by the rapidity of his mo-
tons, appeared to be alarmed but the
| second time he continued moving in
different directions, near the boat, as
much as an hour.
The above relation is taken from Mr..
Duncan himself, who is ready, if requir-
| ed, to make affidavit of its truth.
A noble deed, and worthy our brace Tars.
The crew of the Franklin "A, Com
modore Stewart, after receiving Ii
brary of voyages, travels, sc. from the
committee for distributing libraries to
sailors, have unanimously contributed
one, dollar each, being $500! for in
creasing their Forecastle Library.
National .4dvocate.
Health of Baltimore.-The Baltimore
Board of Health report thirteen deaths
in that city for the last forty-eight hours,
ending July 90, at sunrise. OF these,
one was of malignant fever.
| No cases of yellow fever are stated
by the Board of Health to have occur
red in that city, on the 30th and 31st
ult.
| FlaG and Coal.--We have satisfaction
in stating that much greater quantity
of Flax has been grown in Pennsylvania
this year than usual, and report speaks
tavourably of the quality of the article
Never was the size or quality of our
new Potatoes finer than this season.
We hope to be able to say the same of
our fall potatoes, and that the quantity
is very great Potatoes, if they fetch
but hoJf the price which they have usu-
ally brought for the last 90 years, will
be more profitable crop than any kind
of grain:
We are also of opinion, that great at
tention should be paid to the working
of our Iron and Coal mines, If we
were to reflect, even for short time,
what mighty things iron and coal have
done for England, that we probably
have in Pennsylvania greater body of
both substances than there ever was
in Great-Britain, and that our coal es-
pecially, is much more easily worked,
millions of tons of it being above, and
not, as in England, great depths belozv
the surface of the earth; we say, that
if we did but give attention and consid-
Grafton to these facts, we could scarcely
be so Indifferent as we are to these
great natural sources of wealth, which
are to be found in almost every district
in Pennsylvania. fDemo. Press.
! A writer in the Petersburg Intelligent
Ger ascribes the invention of that useful
instrument, the quadrant, to Thomas
Godfrey, a glazier, of PHILADELPHIA