GREEN TURTLE. 81 



or Hawkbill Turtle, which affords the tortoise- 

 shell used for ornamental purposes and in various 

 manufactures, having neither sufficient strength 

 or beauty ; but so much is the flesh esteemed, that 

 the inhabitants of the West-Indian islands have 

 long considered it as one of the most excellent ar- 

 ticles of food, and have gradually succeeded in 

 introducing a similar taste among some of the 

 European nations. In our own country in parti- 

 cular it is in the highest estimation, and is regu- 

 larly imported in considerable quantities to supply 

 the luxury of the metropolis. The introduction 

 of the Green Turtle as an article of luxury into 

 England is of no very distant date, and perhaps 

 can hardly be traced much farther than about 

 fifty years backward *. In reality, so little was 

 the nature of the sea tortoises understood by the 



* In the part entitled Historical Chronicle, of the Gentleman's 

 Magazine for the year 1753, I find the following article : " Fri- 

 day, Aug. 31, a Turtle, weighing 350lb. was eat at the King's 

 Arms Tavern, Pall Mall ; the mouth of an oven was taken down 

 to admit the part to be baked." 



At p. 489> for the same year, is the following paragraph : 

 " Saturday, Sept. '29, the Turllei\ C'apt. Crayton, lately arrived 

 from the Island of Ascension, has brought in several Turtles of 

 above 300lb. weight, which have been sold at a very high price. It 

 may be noted, that what is common in the West Indies is luxury 

 here." 



In the Historical Chronicle of the same publication, for the year 

 1754, I find the following article: " Saturday, July 13, the right 

 hon. the Lord Anson made a present to the Gentlemen of Jf 'kite's 

 Chocolate-house of a Turtle, which weighed SOOlb. weight, and 

 which laid five eggs since in their possession. Its shell was four 

 feet three inches long, and about three feet wide. When its head 

 was cut off, at least five gallons of blood issued from it, and so 



v. in. p. i. 6 



