Republished from The Caledonian Mercury, Edinburgh, Scotland, Friday, December 14, 1725, p. 1.
The reader may remember an account of a Merman or Sea Monster, sighted off Brest (in France) and reported in the Foreign and Domestic Papers about two months ago. The authors of the Memoirs des Travaux have published a more satisfactory description of it than any that has already been given. In an article from Brest, attested by the captain and pilot of the very ship that the monster encountered. We find the article, already translated, in the New Memoirs of Literature (published for November), whose author not only gives an account of the best books as they are come out at home and abroad but likewise entertains the public with such articles of news which are not found in the common gazettes.
The Wind being Easterly, we had 30 Fathoms Water ; when at 10 o’clock in the Morning, a Sea-monster, like a Man, appeared near our Ship, first on the Larboard, where the Mate was, whose Name is William Limone, who took a Grappling-iron to pull him up : But our Captain, named Oliver Morin, hindered him, being afraid that the Monster would drag him away into the Sea. The said Lemone struck him only on the Back, to make him turn about, that he might view him the better, the Monster being struck shewed his Face, having his two Hands closed, as if he expressed Anger. Afterwards he went 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 fore Part 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 him with a Cod Fish, 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 2d 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 of the 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 contended to push his Back with the Harping Iron ; and then the Monster shewed 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 Dessiette, 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 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 ruled 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.
The Wind being Easterly, we had 30 Fathoms of Water; when, at 10 o’clock in the Morning, a Sea Monster, like a Man, appeared near our Ship, first on the Larboard side, where the Mate, whose Name is William Limone, was stationed. He took a Grappling-iron to pull him up, but our Captain, Oliver Morin, prevented him, fearing that the Monster might drag him into the Sea. The said Limone struck him only on the Back, to make him turn about, that he might view him the better. Upon being struck, the Monster showed his Face, holding his two Hands closed, as if expressing Anger. Afterwards, he swam around the Ship.
When he reached 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 there, he proceeded to the Starboard side, still swimming as Men do. Upon reaching the fore Part of the Ship, he observed for some Time the Figure in our Prow, which represented a beautiful Woman, and then he rose out of the Water, as if willing to seize that Figure. All this happened in sight of the whole Crew.
He then returned to the Larboard side, where they presented him with a Cod Fish, hanging by a Rope. He handled it without spoiling it, then withdrew to the Length of a Cable, only to return again to the Stern, where he took hold of the Helm a second time. At that moment, Captain Morin took up a Harping Iron himself to strike him, but the Cordage being entangled, he missed his Aim, and the Harping Iron merely touched the Monster. Upon this, the Monster turned about, showing his Face as before.
Again, he moved towards the fore Part of the Ship and examined the Figure in the Prow. The Mate called for the Harping Iron, but in his Fear, he hesitated, believing the Monster to be La Commune, a Man who had killed himself aboard the Ship the previous Year and had been thrown into the Sea in the same Passage. Rather than strike, he merely pushed against the Monster’s Back with the Harping Iron, whereupon the Monster again showed his Face, as he had done before.
He then swam alongside the Ship, so near that one might have given him a Hand. He boldly grasped a Rope held by John Mazier and John Dessiette, who, attempting to pull it from his Hands, nearly brought him aboard. However, he slipped back into the Water and withdrew to the Distance of a Gunshot. He then returned again near our Ship and, rising out of the Water to the Navel, we observed that his Breast was as full as that of a Woman in the best Plight. He rolled upon his Back and was seen to be Male. Afterward, he swam once more around the Ship, then departed, and we have not seen him since.
I believe that from 10 a-clock to 12 this Monster was along our Side; if the Crew had not been frighted, hi might have been taken many times with the Hand, being only two Foot distant. The Monster is about 8 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, with Teeth, black Hair, the Chin covered with a mossy Beard, a Sort of Wiskers, the Ears like those of a Man, Fens between the Fingers of his Hands and Feet, like those of a Duck. In a Word, he is like a wellshap’d Man. All which is attested to be true by Captain Oliver Morin, and John Martin Pilot, and by the whole Crew, consisting of 32 Men.
Republished from The Caledonian Mercury, Edinburgh, Scotland, Friday, December 14, 1725, p. 1.
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