CHEATS AND HOAXES. ree; 
able and imposing, that the Linnean Society of New England 
published a book on the subject, with the figure of the enormous 
reptile under the name of Scofopis. As the fishermen and natur- 
alists could not catch him and bring him ashore for inspection, 
it was concluded to fortify the story by oaths. Accordingly, affid- 
avits were made to great extent, contaiming the particulars of what 
the several deponents believed they had seen, and, as far as 
swearing went, such solemn declarations presented a strong case. 
Their operation however upon my mind was, that there was nothing 
better to show than those statements upon paper, which were, in 
no sense of the words, proofs of the fact, but merely expressions 
of the opimions formed by the deposing witnesses of what they 
had observed in the water. | who was a believer in the first in- 
stance, was gradually sworn into scepticism, which finally ended 
in incredulity.” | 
“About this stage of the panic, General David Humphreys did 
me the honor of a visit, and requested me to listen while he read 
a manuscript. To this I instantly consented. I discovered that my 
distinguished friend had visited Massachusetts for the express pur- 
pose of collecting all the testimony he could find concerning the 
sea-serpent. He was highly delighted with his success; and had 
reduced his researches into the form of letters adressed to Sir Jos- 
eph Banks, then President of the London Royal Society. He evid- 
ently intended to take the lead of the Linnean Society, and to 
acquire the honor and glory of making the wonderful intelligence 
known first to the scavans of Hurope. He did not vouchsafe, even 
to name me in the communication. After a very pleasant inter- 
view, during which I found that he positively considered himself 
right in the investigation, and I determined on my part to enter 
into no discussion about it, he requested me to receive the writing , 
and engage some bookseller to cause it to be put to press without 
delay. The reason for this was, that he was obliged to return 
forthwith to New-Haven. I made a contract in his behalf, and 
directed the proofsheets to be sent to him there. I had a lucky 
escape from an association with the extraordinary creature.’ 
“Afterwards, a mutilated specimen of a snake, killed on the 
land, somewhere thereabout, was brought to me preserved in alco- 
holic spirit. This had been exhibited as the spawn or young of 
the Great Scoliophis. The head, which contains the strong opfzo- 
logical characters, had been crushed and destroyed. But, as far as 
I could judge, from the formation of the belly and tail, it had 
