The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-06-27
Montgomery.
Correspondence of the Herald.l
MONTGOMERY Ala June II. ISj

i
Il real Mermaid said TO be caught al ha-Busi,,sss
IN alabama, &c.
Mr.. BENNETT =
have this day enjoyed treat, which regard as
altogether too good TO be confined TO one person. so
shall proceed TO furnish it second hand to yourself
and readers. BY giving the details, which | am
about TO indite probably hazard the imputa,ion of
credulity; but | am convinced that yourself and
every one OF your numerous readers, would agree
with me- if you had the opportunities for exa-
mlnation and observation which have enjoyed to-
day But to the point have this day seen, hand
led, and very closely examined, what | am con-
vinced is vertable mermaid. However much
naturalists may dispute the existence of such ami
| NAL, am convinced that the subject has now
sumed tangible shape, which will forever put al
rest the erroneous impression that the mermaid is
| fabulous animal An English gentleman, recently
arrived in this town from the Fejee Islands via the
West Indies. He took board at one of our principal
hotels, where | myself am an inmate, and | soon
made his acquaintance, and found him TO be very
| polite and talented mana gentleman of science
| ana great traveller. We soon became intimate
and knowing that was of the medical profession,
he this morning informed me that he had in his pos
session curiosity, obtained at great expense the
Feee Islands, the examination of which he believed
| would be interesting to me-
| proceeded with him to his room, and you may
Judge my astonishment when he took from large
travelling truck bundle, which, when Invested of
numerous cushions and silk wrappers proved upon
examination to be real mermaid.
| Having always considered the existence of this
creature as fabulous, took it in my hands, and be-
held with eye of incredibly, but after examin-
| ing il mnutely for several hours, rose from my
seat with my scepticism entirely removed.
AS is probable that no description of this extra
ordinary creature has yet reached this country, the
following particulars respecting il may CRAFTY the
curiosity yourself and patrons = ,s ..., ss.n
The head is abont the size of that of an ordinary
baboon. Il is thlnly covered with dark straight
hair. On the lower, part Of the face and upper lip
are few hairs similar to those the head, but
| little shorter. The ossa malarum or cheek bones
are prominent. The features are wei proporoned,
nance with the exception of the forehead, which is
low. The head is turned back, and the counte-
nance is distorted; appearing not unlike that of
| circus clown when exhibiting his various grmaces.
| But ] am inclined to believe that these circum-
stances are owing entirely to the manner in which
the creature met its death, from all the appear
ances Of the counenance and mbs, it died in great
| agony, f8f .lnm lailh aa
| The ears, nose, lips. chin, breast, and nipples,
arms, fingers and nails, resemble those Of human
/ figure.
| The formation and inclination of the nipples,
| think prove concluslvey, that the animal when
| alive usually assumed an erect position.
/ The hands and fingers are well proporoned, and
bear an exact resemblance to those of an infants,
/ which isnever the with any OF the balloon. or
| DURAN outang tribes; their fingers and palm being
muchlonger in proportion than those OF the human
| species
| The spinous processes of the vertabrae are very
prominent, and apparently arranged in the human
body.
| The appearance of the teeth indicate that it is
full grown; the. incisores, being considerably worn
have each four lncisores, four molare and two ca
mines. All the teeth except the CANNES similar
to those OF human being; bnt the latter resemble
| those OF a lull grown dog. 100
| The animal ~ something more than three feet in
length, but not having been scientifically preserved
| cannot well Judge what its size was when alive
| The appearances indicate that when caught II was
thrown into strong pickle for preservation, and il
consequently has evidently shrunk considerably. IL
mpst have been considerably larger and longer
/ the position ct the arms, and the manner in which
they are disposed, that the animal has clanices an
| appendage belonging TO the human subject, which,
believe balloons are without. Immediately under
the mammae its resemblance to human being
ceases. At this point, and directly under the
| breasts, are two fins.
| From the separating line where the human figure
ceases, which Is little over foot below the vertex
| of the head, it resembles large fish somewhat 81
miar to salmon, but in several respects differing
materially from any specles Of fish which has ever
uccIi IL is CONtItu VIII scales all
but on that part Of the body which resembles the
human species, the scales small scarcely to
be perceived. The scales the lower part are large
| and precisely resemble those of a fish On the
lower fish part of the body il has six fms the vent
real, the pectoral and the dorsa two Of each; and
the tail. The upper fins, which are pecoral, have
remarkable peculiarity; they are placed in horizon
tai position evidently being formed for hr purpose
of supporting the creature in AN erect posture The
position and curve OF the tail i5 very similar 10 thai
which is usually given in The representations of the
| mermaid.
The pecoral fins, position of the nipples and other
peculiarltes, indicate that the creature usually
suned erect posture like that in which has been
sometimes represented curling its hair The gentle
man who has possession of this curious creature in
| forms me that it taken near one of the Fejce
| Islands by fisherman, who sold il to a gentleman
| from France, from whom the present owner bought
it for six thousand dollars He intends taking to
Europe, and should he pass through New York as he
al present purposes, have obtained his promise 10
nIpst prominent naturalIsts in your city, and you will
of course get a peep at what really consider the
most marvellous work OF nature which ever beheld
Business here is IN perfect state OF sagnatlon.
Indeed trade throughout the whole south is pros
tratc, and when it will be better is more than dare
prophecy. Exchange in Alabama is 30 high on the
north, that those who feel inclined pay their debts
(and their name Is not LcglonD can hardly make
up their minds suffer the loss arising from the nm
precedented depreciation ofo currency We have
reason to be thankful, however, that our corn and
cotton crops this season promise great abundance.
We entertain forlorn hope that half crazy Coz
gress will finally relnquish their foolish attempts
head" Captain Tyler, and pay a little more acn,
ton 10 the wants and sufierings OF the country and
their legitimate duties
As ever yours, ID G.
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