The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-11-10
From he Nep York American.
A LIVE MERMAID, AND NO MISTAKE

A prodigious excitement prevails in Ireland, es-
pecialy in the North, in consequence Of an actual
lirtng Mermaid which was recently caught In
salmon net, at Honneraw Point, in the county Of
Donegal There can be no mistake in this fact, as
FIVE or six papers corroborate IL In the important
points but the Derry Sentinel and the " Ferma-
nagh Journal" are the most enthusiastic and par
ticular in their descriptions The first announce
ment appeared in the Sentinel, as follows:
A Mermaid, and no miskake.-A very general dis
belief in the existence Of the Mermaid is likely TO
receive severe shock from the truth OF the follow
ing statement A creature in every respect an
swering the usual description OF the sea woman,
was caught lately in the salmon nets, al Honneraw
Point, near Fahan county Donegal. She Is az pre-
sent under the protection Of gentleman OF that
neighborhood, who has kindly permitted the country
people who are focking in hundreds about The place,
TO see and believe"
The members Of the Londonderry Natural History
Society, we understand, TO investigate this ex
traordinary phenomenon Tor the purpose of sending
an immediate report OF their observations 10 the
British Association, sitting at Newcastle We I'M
deIstand that, if the novel monster should survive
The sudden change In her suation she will be sent
to Viscount Melbourne as present 10 The Queen ; if
not the body will be preserved in spirits and will
grace the now forming museum Of our local society
A minute description shall be given in our next.
The effect of this notice was, that al least fourth
of all the inhabitants of Derry, who could afford the
expense, proceeded in body TO Honneraw, where
they admitted to inspection Of the singular
creature which is thus described in the Fermanagh
Journal,
The 1ermaid.-This is certainly roman, and
has such an expression Of intelligence in its connte
nance that absolutely inclined TO believe that
il Of reason rather than Of instinct We
do not To inSinuae thai IL has any notion OF abb
stract ideas; but the fact is that there Is appear
Of confusion about II that would seem to indi
cate sentiments of shame, fear and suppication-
It weighs about seventy pounds and is altogether
human in its OUTWARD organ Zation from the head TO
The navel when the fins begin develop and
the extremity is formed very like the extremity Of
large dolphin. The skin Of the face and the breast
is whish brown; the eyes are black and the nose
purely acquine; and its eyebrows, lips and chin,
models for SCULPTOR the hair is long and thick,
the creatures principal amusement seems TO be to
stroke il downward with her webbed, but otherwise
perfect fingers.
Ii looks 10 be twelve or fourteen years old, and re-
CARDS people occasionally as If it had inclination
to speak; and we solenny Of opinion that, when
i'm lis native element, il makes its wishes known
through the medium Of It's tongue. Altogether, in
deed, il is the most singular being ever witness
ed, and excites feelings in the breast Of behoders
at least as much akin TO awe TO curiosity. Can il
have soul and be an accountable creature2 At all
events, we shall examine it closely this week, and
report particulars. ...
We shall look with great anxiety for our next
files OF Irish papers, the receipt of which we trust
TO be able to furnish the readers Of The Examiner
with some fuller information in relation to this sur
prisng phenomenon. "...