Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-03-07

ed Massachusetts for the express purpose Of
collecting all the testimony he could ind con-
corning the Sea Serrent. He was highly de-
l;ob,ej with his success-and had reduced his
researches into tae forms of letters, addressed
n Sir Joseph Banks, then President OF the Lon
don ROYAL Society. He evidently intended to
take lead of rhe Linnean Society, & TO acquire
the honor and glory Of making the wonderful
intelligence known first TO the scavans OF Eu>
rope. He did not youchsafe, even 10 name me
in the communication. After very pleasant
iuterview, during which found that he posi-.
lively considered himself right in the inses'l'
CATION, and determined on my part to enter
into no discussion ABOUT il, he requested me TO
receive the writing, and engage some boOksel-
Ter to cause il to he put in press without delay.
The reason for this was. that he was obliged 10
return forthwith to New Haven. ] made con-
tract in his behalf, and directed the proof sheets
TO be sent 10 him there. had lucky escape
from an association with ,heextraOrdinary crea.
TUE.
Afterwards, mutilated specimen Of snake
killed on the land, somewhere thereaboui, was
brough, to me preserved in alcoholic spirit
This had been exhibited as the spawn or young
of the Great Scoliophis. The head which con-
tains the str ong pathological characters; had
been crushed and destroyed. But, as FAR
could Judge, from the formation Of the belly &
tail, it had been native ofthe land, apparent,
iy coluber,) x had, ofcourse no pretension 10
claim kindred with its pretended parent OF the
ocean.
was the better enabled, thought, to form
a more correc, opinion, relative 10 the matter,
by reason Of my possessing, in my museum, at
the time, -four true sea serpents, which my ma
viga,ing friends had brought me from the Gulf
Of Mexico, and the Chinese Sea-
The history Of sea serpantism, is very men,
orable part OF the sayings and doings Ill this
enlightened age and country. For the benefit oil
the present generation, & OF poslerity,it ought
to be written. In proceeding to pen short
sketch oft, must premise, that am one oil
the last persons in existence who should pre-.
sumo 10 put limit to creative power. l ad-
nit that the Almighty being could make wa
ter snake as easily as ashland that such an
animal nigh, be as big as Kraken, as easily
as of the diminulivs size Of the Stickleback.-
Yet, on reviewing these legends of the times,
there is found such propensity towards The
strange and the marvellous, that the men Of
the presen; day show creduliiy very much re-
sembling that Of the remote ages, when the
terraqueous globe was peopled with gorgons,
mermaids, chimeras, hydras, dragons, and all
the monsters Of fabulous zoology.
Ca, The first tale remember TO have con.
sdered seriously relative toit was ,his,-it had
been determined, they said, to put a steam boat
in operation at Boston 10 coast along shore &
TO convey passengers. 1t was ioresecn that
such a vessel would traverse the currents and
pass among the Islands with an ease and speed
unknown 10 boats moved by oars and sails, aud
Of course, much of the business Of Transporting
passengers would be taken away from the small
craft heretofore employed. The large boat
would thus destroy the small ones, or, as was
expressed by others would devour them. I'm
der these forbodings, the steam vessel made
trip, with favorable auspices. Some wag, the
account proceeds, wrote Tor one Of Gazettes
an allegorca al description Of sea serpent, that
had been deserted off Nahant and Gloucester,
and had probably come there to consume all
the small FISH in the place. The narrative given
with such grave dicIion and imposing serious
ness was received by many as an actual and lite.
rary occurrence, and credited accordingly.
% Long Island Sound pu. in n claim for a
Sea serpent. On this felton,, am well salts
fed of the particulars that follow. An active
Young fellow who had become weary Of plough
ing the land, bought little sloop Of about fit.
teen tons, which remember to have seen-and
resolved to try his luck in ploughing the waves.
He named his vessel the Sea Serpent. She was
mostly employed in carrying country produce
10 New York market, and in bringing manure
back, with the advantage Of passengers when
any offered. This boat was on her way from
Mumaroneck harbor or tliereabout toward the
CITY, and was met by a sloop from that place,
short distance from City Island. The Cap
tain Of the latter, on arriving at home, was ca
gerry Intercepted by quidnunc for news, and
being man Of some humor and fancy, told his
neighbor, the queris,, he had just seen the Sea
Serpent. He then described, how (alluding to
the barrels on deck) he had seen the punches
on his back; how the head (meaning the bow
spriO was out of water-how the black and
white colors (meaning the painted waist
were variegated-how he saw The lashing OF
the tail, meaning the motion Of the boom
jibing as she was going along before
fare easterly wind )-that the sea serpent was
proceeding with speed equalling at least
from five to six knots an hour, which made
all white before him, (meauing the foam at
a, the bows.) The good man took the joke in
Il ID So