The 12th Instant, just without Exmouth Bar, by Robert Heath (the Person who caught the 2 Fishes by People in general call'd Mermaids, one Sept. 9, 1737. the other May 6, last) was taken as strange or stranger fish, supposed by many to be the Triton, or Merman, of the Ancients, being 4 Feet and a half in Length, having a Body much resembling a Man, with a Genital Member of considerable Size; together with jointed Legs and Feet, extending from his Belly 12 or 13 Inches, with Fins at his Thighs, and larger ones, like Wings, in the Form of which those of Angles are often painted, at his Shoulders, with a broad Head of very uncommon Form, a Mouth 6 Inches wide, Smellers, or kind of Whiskers, at his Nostrils, and two Spout-Holes behind his Eyes, through which he ejected Water, when taken, 30 or 40 Feet high.
From the Derby Mercury, 20th July 1738.
Exon, July 14. Wednesday was caught by some Fishermen on the Back of the Warren, a very surprizing Fish, called a Mermon: When taken it made a hideous Noise, and 'twas with much Difficulty they killed. it. About seven Months ago, near the same Place, was taken a Fish of the same Kind (beautifully delineated by Mr. Bradley) which they called a Mermaid; but the Difference in the Species is too obvious to admit of any Dispute. The same will soon be exhibited to View in this City.
From the Sun Paper, August 29.
MR. EDITOR, -- I think it is now about a year ago, the London Newspapers gave a very curious account of a Mermaid which had been seen on some part of the coast of Scotland. The existence of such an extraordinary animal has been, and no doubt is still considered by many people as fabulous. Indeed, I have been myself one of those who held the Mermaid as the mere offspring of the imagination, and preserved in the catalogue of substantial beings by credulity. But I am now convinced of my error; and if you think it will interest or amuse any of your readers by giving publicity to the following account relating to this animal, I beg you will do so. It may, moreover, call the attention of some able naturalist to the subject, and perhaps he may favour the public, throught the same channel, with his opinion as to the probable economy of this wonderful being.
The day of yesterday being very fine, I joined a party of ladies and gentlemen in a sailing excursion. When we had got about a mile to the S.E. of Exmouth Bar, our attention was suddenly arrested by a very singular noise, by no means unpleasant to the ear, but of which it is impossible to give a correct idea by mere description. It was not, however, unaptly compared by one of our ladies to the wild melodies of the AEolian harp, combined with a noise similar to that made by a stream of water falling gently on the leaves of a tree. The sound, however, had not all the variety, nor the soft cadence, of the AEolian notes, but appeared like four or five different notes, each tone repeated several times on the same key.
In the mean time we observed something about one hundred yards from us, to windward. We all imagined it to be some human being, though at the same time we were at a loss to account for this, at such a distance from the shore, and no other boat near. We hailed, but received no reply, and we made toward this creature as soon as possible; when, to the great astonishment of us all, it eluded our pursuit by plunging under water. In a few minutes it rose again, nearly in the same place, and, by that time we had got sufficiemtly near for one of the boatmen to throw into the water a piece of boiled fish which he had in his locker.
-- This seemed to alarm the animal, though it soon recovered from its fears, for we presently observed it to lay hold of the fish, which it ate with apparent relish. Several other pieces were thrown out, by which the creature was induced to keep at a short distance from our boat, and afforded us the opportunity of observing it with attention, and found, to our astonishment, that it was no other than a mermaid. As the sea was calm, and in a great degree transparent, every part of the animal's body became in turn visible.
The head, from the crown to the chin, forms rather a long oval, and the face seems to resemble that of the seal, though, at the same time, it is far more agreeable, possessing a peculiar softness, which renders the whole set of features very interesting. The upper and back part of the head appeared to be furnished with something like hair, and the fore-part of the body with something like down, between a very light fawn and very pale pink colour, which at a distance had the appearance of flesh, and may have given rise to the idea that the body of the mermaid is, externally, like that of the human being.
This creature has two arms, each of which terminates into a hand with four fingers, connected to each other by means of a very thin elastic membrane. The animal used its arms with great agility, and its motions in general were very graceful. From the waist it gradually tapered so as to form a tail, which had the appearance of being covered with strong broad polished scales, which occasionally reflected the rays of the sun in a very beautiful manner; and from the back and upper part of the neck, down to the loins, the body also appeared covered with short round broad feathers, of the colour of down on the fore part of the body. The whole length of the animal, from the crown of the head to the extremity of the tail, was supposed to be about five feet, or five feet and a half.
In about ten minutes, from the time we approached, the animal gave two or three plunges in quick succession, as if it were at play. After this, it gave a sudden spring, appearing to swim away from us very rapidly, and in a few seconds we lost sight of this wonder-creating animal.
Crowds of boats are this day on the water in the hope of witnessing such a novel sight, and a medical gentleman of Exeter has offered a reward of 20l. to whoever may succeed in catching the animal, and will bring it to him for dissection -- In consequence of this, all the fishermen are very busy in making preparations to endeavour to entangle in their nets this fair nymph of the ocean.
I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, J. TOUPIN.
Exmouth, Aug. 13, 1812.
P.S. it was reported here a few days ago, that a large strange fish had been seen in the neighbourhood of Torbay, and is supposed to have been this animal.
From the Liverpool Mercury, September 4th, 1812.
EXTRAORDINARIES.
The French newspapers report, that a Triton, or Merman, was lately discovered by five fishermen in the creek of Melia (Morbihan) which frightened the beholders; (they were not lads of Paris) - and the English papers tell us, at the same time, of a Sea Nymph or Mermaid, lately discovered sporting within a mile and half of the harbour of Exmouth, which delighted a water party of ladies and gentlemen. - The sensations of the beholders in both cases, may be traced in the colourings of their several descriptions; and nothing is wanted, we apprehend, to do away their belief in the reality of either, but the catching of the thing itself.
From the Royal Cornwall Gazette, September 5th, 1812.
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