160 THE VARIOUS ACCOUNTS, [1817.] 
some of the inhabitants of that town with regard to the appearance 
of this animal, to make the examination as early as possible, to 
request the persons examined not to communicate to each other 
the substance of their respective statements, until they were all 
committed to writing; to have these statements signed and certified — 
in due form, and sent to us. Our letter also contained certain rules 
with regard to the mode of conducting this examination, and 
questions to be put to the persons examined.” | 
“In answer to it we received from Mr. Nash a letter, dated 
28th. August, enclosing eight depositions, duly certified, which on 
the 1st. September were read before the Society as were also three 
depositions taken in Boston, on the 30th. August and 1st. Sep- 
tember. You directed as to return your thanks to Mr. Nash for 
his readiness in complying with our request, to continue the in- 
vestigation of the subject committed to us, in such manner as we 
should deem expedient, and to lay before you a formal report of 
the whole evidence that should be procured. In compliance with 
your directions, the chairman of the Committee wrote again to 
Mr. Nash on the 2d. September, and received from him an answer, 
dated 9th. September. We also wrote to Mr. Samuel Davis of 
Plymouth on the lst. September, requesting him to examine upon 
oath some respectable men of that place, with regard to the ap- 
pearance of an animal said to have been seen there in the year 
1815, and to resemble the one lately seen near Gloucester; this 
letter contained the same rules and questions as were sent to Mr. 
Nash. In answer to this application, a letter from that gentleman 
was received on the 4th. October, enclosing the deposition of Capt. 
EH. Finney. Your Committee have. also received a communication 
from the Rev. William Jenks of Bath relative to the subject. All 
these documents are now laid before you in the following order.” 
“1. The rules and questions of your Committee. 
“2. The letter from Mr. Nash of 28th August, enclosing the eight 
following depositions. 
“3. The deposition of Amos Story. 
“4. That of Salomon Allen. 
“5. That of Eppes Ellery. 
“6 That of William H, Foster. 
“7. That of Matthew Gaffney. 
“8. That of James Mansfield. 
“9. That of John Johnston. . 
“10, That of William B. Pearson. 
