160 



The first discovery (probably) of fossil bones and teeth in the State of 



New-York. 



(From Weld's history of the Royal Society, vol. 1, p. 421.) 



In 1713, in answer to " instructions to Ministers and Governors pro- 

 ceeding abroad," and which had been directed by the Queen to be pre- 

 pared, Lord Cornbury made the following communication. It is dated 

 from New- York and addressed to the secretary. 



" I did by the Virginia fleet, send you a tooth, which on the outside 

 of the box, was called the tooth of a giant, and I desired it might be 

 given to Gresham College. I now send you some of his bones, and I 

 am able to give you this account. The tooth I sent was found near the 

 side of Hudson's river, rolled down from a high bank, by a Dutch coun- 

 try fellow, about twenty miles on the side of Albany, and sold to one 

 Van Bruggen for a gill of rum. Van Bruggen, being a member of the 

 Assembly, and coming down to New-York to the Assembly, brought 

 the tooth with him and shewed it to several persons here. I was told of 

 it, and sent for it to see, and asked if he would dispose of it ; he said it 

 was worth nothing, but if I had a mind to it, 'twas at my service. Thus 

 I came by it. Some said 'twas the tooth of a human creature ; others, 

 of some beast or fish, but nobody could tell what beast or fish had such 

 a tooth. I was of opinion that it was the tooth of a giant, which gave 

 me the curiosity to enquire farther. One Mr. Abeel, Recorder of Alba- 

 ny, was then in town, so I directed him to send some person to dig near 

 the place where the tooth was found; which he did, and that you may 

 see the account he gives me of it, I send you the original letter he sent 

 me ; you must allow for the bad English. I desire these bones may be 

 sent to the tooth, if you think fit. When I go up to Albany next, I in- 

 tend to go to the place myself, to see if I can discover any thing more 

 concerning the monstrous creature, for so I think I may call it." 



Mr. Abeel's letter runs thus : 



" According to your Excellency's order, I sent to Klaverak to make 

 further discovery about the bones of that creature, where the great tooth 

 of it was found. They have dug on the top of the bank, where the 

 tooth was rolled down from, and they found, fifteen feet under ground, 

 the bones of a corpse that was thirty feet long, but was almost all de- 

 cayed ; so soon as they handled them, they broke in pieces ; they took 

 up some of the firm pieces and sent them to me, and I have ordered 

 them to be delivered to your Excellency." 



