AN IRISH MERMAID.-The fol...
The Times, 1824-09-01T00:00:00

Iu iRISH iYtERRMAID.-Ihe ltollowing article has ap- peared in the Droghiedai Joz.rnal:- " The declaration of George HPsy, parish clerk of Tertnonfechin, in the county of Louth, and of Owen Maguire and Patrick Taaffe, of the said parish, farmers, states, that on WN'ednesday last, the 18th inst., as the- were on the sea shore, on the lands of Meagh's farm, in said parish, about half past three in the afternoon, the tide being nearly in, they saw a mermaid (as they believe from having seen it described in books) of the full human size, swimming in the sea, and directing its course towards the river Boyne : that it was only abou. 15 perches from them, and that thev and several other iersons saw it quite plain, and that they could not be mistaken ; that its bsdy was remarkably whit., with long arms, which it frequently used to drive away the sea-gulls which were hovering over it: that its hair was very dark, and that its tail, whichi it frequently showed when plunging, was of a dark colour. and shaped like the tail of a fish. Theboldy of the animal, which from the wais upwzsrds waR comple ely oif the hurnan form and size, was generallv aboat three feet tbove the water. They state that they saw it for more than a quarter of an hour, and when they were leaving the place it was still above the surface of the water. " GEORGE HOEY. " O.VEN MAGUIRE. " PAT. TAAFFE." 're questioned the above-named persons on Saturday, relative to the extraordlinary appearance of this phenonsenon on our coast, anti received such satisfactory answers as leave no doubt on our minds of its ilentity.-Droe1gedi Journal. The sentence of contumacy, which had been pronounced against the Dean of Christchurch, Dablin. was on Thursday last rescinded at the adiourned visitation at 'it. Patrick's Cathedral, the Dean then niaking his appearance and submission. XVrASTAN MISSIONARY MIEE-TrNG.-On Monday even- ing at six o'clock a verv numerous and respectable meeting took place at the Areasersn Chapel, George-street, Greenwich, in aid of the funds of the Wesleyan Alissionary S3cietv for Christianizing and civilizing the Heathen in forelgn climes. The chair was taken by - Dyer, Esq., of WVoolwich. After the business of the meet- ing had been opened, much interesting information was communi- c ted by the Following gentlemen, who were engaged tu attend on this occasion, respecting the progress of Christianity in Heathen countries :.-The Rev. Air. Hewlet, secretary I the Rev. iMr. Inila- the Rev. Air. Mason ; the Rev. Mlir. Morley ; the Rev. Air. Fox, AMissionary, from Ceylon; and fronm several other gentlemen who tdtressed the meeting in the course of the evening, which did not terminate till nearly ten o'clock. when a liberal stibscription was re- ceived at the doors in furtherance of the objects of she institution. An old woman of the name of Boswell, the wife of a pensioner in Greeinwich-hospital, sent, enclosed in a hag to the chairman of the meeting, 960 farthings, in aid of the Mtrigsionary cause, with a letter, expressing her wish that every person would contribute, as she hat3 done, to the utmost extent of their power, when thc dark and be- nighted Heathen would then no longer have to lament the want of a knowledge of the pover anid omnipotence of God ! The whole of the towvni of WVetherby, whicit is the pro- perty of the Duke of Devonshire, with about 1,300 acres of land, Is offered for sale by public auc ion. We understand, however, this valuable property is not likelv to be brought to the hammer; two gentlemen, both extensive landed proprietors in the county of York, being in treaty for it by private contract. We have heard that a debt of honour has cotnpelled the noble Duke to dispose of this porton of bis patrimonial estate; but, perhaps, the improve- ments he is making on other parts of his property have rendered him in want of money. Those at Chatsworthi, it is estimated, will cost him 200,000I.-_Hrll RockingAa7m. A young English ladly, 17 years of age, wvas carried off, some months ago, by a young officer, and conducted to Caen, where her father found her. The officer, his servant G'allier, and another person, were prosecuted by the father at Paris, who declared at the trirl that his daughter was a minor, being less than 16 years old. It was proved, however, by authentic docunments, that the young lady's age exceeded that number of years, and as she had volunti- rily gone Mwith the gzentleman, he and the others accusel were set at liberty by an order of the Cottrt Royal. Under these circumstances, the servant brought an action of damage against the father of the lady, on the ground that he had led the Court into error, in not de- claring the exact aFe of the lady. The Court, bowever, after hearing counsel on both stdes, held, that as the parent made his plaint on facts, without any nmotive of malignity or calumny, he could not be subject to an action of damages.-.Paris paper. Acci.DET IN TuE KENT-ROoAD.-(n Mionday evening about ten o'clock, as MIr. Gibson, of Chislehurst, was returning home from London in his gig, when about half-way between the l,ord Nelson public-house and the Green Mlan, it being very dark, IL person ott the wrong sile of the road came driving along towards town at a furious rate, and coming in contact with Alr. Gibson's single-horse chaise, caused the aggTessor's vehicle to overturn, and sent its careless driver across the footpath into the ditch. On his being taken up he appeared completely intoxicated, which, together with the injury, he might have received from his jfall, rendered him incapable of getting into his gig withot,t assistance, and totally inca- pacitated him from having sufficient command of the reins to pre. vent any future accident either to himself or to those whom he might chance to meet in his way home. Air. Gibson demaniled the card of the author of the injury, who gave him the following address *- " :ir. Levi, 14, Fleet-street." He was then permitted to pursue his course wwards town, accompanied by a persoa who witnessed the occurrence, v;ho took chargeof the horse and gig, with the incat,tious driver, determined not to leave them till all had been depositel is a place of safety- On inquiry, we have since learnt that no person of the name of Levi resides at 164, E'leetstreet, bat an ironmonger of the name of Downer. AcciDSrNTv-Oti Saturday morning a shocking accident happened at the Gro5venor-wharf, Millbank, now belonging to Alessrs. Johnson, paviers. Large masses of stone were being lattd- ed from a barge, by means of a crane, and wbile one of the immense pieces was sttspended in the air, some part of the crane gave way, when the stone fell on the foot of one of the labourers, and crushedI it in a dreadful manner. He was put on a shutter and carried instantly. to the Westutiaster Infirmary, where it .was feared he would be obliged to suffer amputatzon. On Monday, a fine yotng woman, at Marple-bridce while in a gsate of great perspiratioti, occasioned by dancing at 9ez club, took a drauglht of cold water, and was immediately taken ill, and died three days after. She was interred at Charlesworth on the Sabbath following, when the Rev. AJr. Adamuson addressed thLe man)y yong persons who attended on the mournfiutl occasion, from Luke xii.. " Be ye therefore ready also; for the Son of Man eometh in an hour when ye think not.' -Nanade4er Gazette.