Merman near Brest, France

Some particular Advices from Brest, in France, say, That on that Coast has lately appear'd a strange sort of Sea Monster, in the form of a Man, eight Foot high, call'd a Merman; his Teeth are white as Ivory, he hath black curl'd Hair, flat Nose, and in other Members proportionable to his Stature without Deformity.

From Dublin Journal, October 12th, 1725.


LONDON, Dec. 11.

The Reader may remember an Account of a Merman or Sea Monster seen off at Brest lately, and inserted in the Foreign and Domestick Papers about two Months ago. The Authors of the Memoirs de Trevoux have publish'd a more satisfactory Description of it than any that has been given, in an Article from Brest, attested by the Captain and Pilot of the very Ship which the Monster encounter'd. We find the said Article translated to our Hands in the New Memoirs of Literature; (viz. that just published for November;) whose Author not only gives an Account of the best Books as they come out both at Home and Abroad, but likewise entertains the Publick sometimes with such Articles of Foreign News as are not to be met with in the common Gazettes.

"The Wind being Easterly, we had thirty Fathoms of Water, when at Ten a Clock in the Morning a Sea-Monster like a Man appear'd near our Ship; first on the Larboard where the Mate was, whose Name is William Lomone, who took a Grappling-Iron to pull him up: But our Captain, named Oliver Morin, hindred him, being afraid that the Monster would drag him away into the Sea. The said Lomone struck him only on the Back, to make him turn about, that he might view him the better.

The Monster being struck, showed his Face, having his two Hands closed, as if he had expressed some Anger. Afterwards he wen round the Ship: When he was at the Stern, he took hold of the Helm with both Hands; and we were obliged to make it fast, lest he should damage it. From thence he proceeded to the Starboard, swimming still as Men do.

When he came to the Forepart of the Ship, he viewed for some time the Figure that was in our Prow, which represented a beautiful Woman; and then he rose out of the Water, as if he had been willing to catch that Figure. All this happened in Sight of the whole Crew.

Afterwards he came again to the Larboard, where they presented to him a Codfish hanging down with a Rope: He handled it without spoiling it, and then removed the Length of a Cable, and came again to the Stern, where he took Hold of the Helm a second Time. At that very moment, Captain Morin got a HArping Iron ready, and took it himself to strike him with it; but the Cordage being entangled he missed his Aim, and the Harping-Iron touched only the Monster, who turned about, showing his Face, as he had done before.

Afterwards he came again to the Fore-part, and viewed again the Figure in our Prow. The Mate called for the Harping-Iron; but he was frighted, fancying that this Monster was one La Commune, who had killed himself in the Ship the Year before, and had been thrown into the Sea in the same Passage. He was contented to push his Back with the Harping-Iron; and then the Monster showed his FAce, as he had done at other Times. Afterwards he came along the Board, so that one might have given him the Hand. He had the Boldness to take a Rope held up by John Mazier and John Dessiete, who being willing to pluck it out of his Hands, drew him to our Board; but he fell into the Water, and then removed at the Distance of a Gun's Shot.

He came again immediately near our Board, and rising out of the Water to the Navel, we observed that his Breast was as large as that of a Woman of the best Plight. He turned upon his Back, and appeared to be a Male. Afterwards he swam again round the Ship, and then went away; we have never seen him since.

I believe that from 10 a-Clock till 12 that this Monster was along our Board, if the Crew had not been frighted, he might have been taken many Times with the Hand, being only two Feet distant. The Monster is about eight Foot long: His Skin is brown and tawny, without any Scales: All his Motions are like those of Men; the Eyes of a proportionable Size, a little Mouth, a large and flat Nose, very white Teeth, black Hair, the Chin covered with a mossy Beard, a sort of Whiskers under the Nose, the Ears like those of Men, Fins between the Fingers and Toes of his Hands and Feet, like those of Ducks. In a Word, he is like a well shap'd Man. Which is certify'd to be true by Captain Oliver Morin, and John Martin, Pilot, and by the whole Crew, consisting of two and thirty Men.


From Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer,  December 11th, 1725.

Romanesque merman, by Helena