24 
V 
the testimony of Capt. Toppan, and his crew, of the schooner 
Laura, coming from Newbury port to Boston, 
It appears by your letter, that you had sight of the animal. 
A letter from you, giving a detailed account of your observa¬ 
tions, would be particularly acceptable 
We understand that a gentleman in Gloucester, (Capt Beach,) 
has a drawing, supposed to be a pretty good representation of the 
animal. Some information respecting this drawing would be 
agreeable ; how far it is considered by those who had the best 
view of the animal as a correct representation, and whether the 
person possessing it would be disposed to permit an engraving 
from it to be annexed to the publication of the evidence, and 
on what terms. Yours very respectfully, 
JNO. DAVIS. 
XV. 
Gloucester, September 9, 1817'. 
SIR, 
Your favour of the second inst. has been received. The vote 
of thanks of the Linnasan Society for my services was highly 
gratifying to me, not simply on account of the high consideration 
I entertain for the members of that laudable institution; but 
likewise for the agreeable manner, and respectable channel, 
through which their vote of thanks was communicated to me. 
I have seen and conversed with the woman, who was said to 
have seen the serpent dormant on the rocks, near the water, to 
whom you refer in yours ; but she can give no material evidence. 
She says that she saw something, resembling a large log of wood, 
on the rocks, on the extreme eastern point of Ten Pound island, 
(a small island in our harbour,) resting partly on the rocks, and 
partly in the water. The distance was about half a mile. She 
took a glass, looked at the object, and saw it move. Her 
attention was for a short time arrested, by some domestic avo¬ 
cation, and when she looked for the object again, it had disap. 
peared. 
