154 THE VARIOUS ACCOUNTS, [ N°. 34, 35.] 
“Boston , September 1, 1817. 
“Sit :, R 
“At a meeting of the Linnaean Society of the 18th. ult., the 
subscribers there appointed a Committee for the purpose of eollects 
ing any evidence which may exist respecting a remarkable animal, 
denominated a Sea Serpent, reported to have been recently seen 
in and near the Harbour of Gloucester. The Committee have pro- 
cured evidence from Gloucester, which they are preparing to report 
to the Society, and this evidence is of such a character, that they 
have thought it expedient to extend their inquiry to other reported 
appearances of a similar nature on our coasts. An appearance of 
this sort is mentioned as having been noticed by some persons at 
Plymouth two or three years since. We would ask your assistence 
in procuring the evidence on this subject.” 
Your connection with the Society seems to authorize the Ree 
for your assistence in having the evidence on this subject, which 
may exist at Plymouth, properly taken and transmitted; but separ- 
ately from any such claim, we know your habitual readiness to 
aid in any investigation in natural science. This subject 1s now of 
general interest among us, and will probably be so abroad. Any 
cooperation which you may wish from magistrates and intelligent 
gentlemen at Plymouth, we doubt not will be readily afforded 
you. We shall suspend our final report to the Society, until your 
communication shall be received.” 
“Yours respectfully and 
“with esteem 
“John Davis 
“Jacob Bigelow Committee. 
“Francis C. Gray 
The answer was as follows: 
“Plymouth, Oct: 2, 15179. 
“Gentlemen.” | 
“Inclosed is the deposition duly authenticated of Capt. EH. Finney 
of this town, descriptive of an unusual animal, which was seen 
by him in the outer harbour of Plymouth, in June 1815. Capt. 
Finney lives a few miles from town, and is much engaged in 
business, which must apologize for the delay that has followed, 
since the receipt of your letter of the first of September. His de- 
position is impartial and unbiassed — and agrees uniformly with 
his first declarations in 1815 — besides he has not read, whatever 
he may have heard, of the Cape Ann descriptions; he has been 
