O 
Literary and Philosophical Iniclligence, 
Kintyre, tlint he saw oh the afternoon of 
the ISth of Octobei last, on a black rock 
on the sea-coast, an animal, of the par¬ 
ticulars of which he gives a long and 
curious detail, answering in general to 
the description commonly given of the 
supposed amphibious animal, called the 
jNJermaid. He states, that the upper 
lialf of it was white, and of the shape of 
U human body; the other half, towards 
the tail, of a brindled or reddish grey 
color, apparently covered with scales; 
but the extremity of the tail itself was of 
a greenish red shining color; that the 
bead was covered with long hair; at 
times it would put back the hair on both 
sides of its head, it would also spread its 
tail like a fan; and, while so extended, 
the tail continued in tremulous motion, 
and, when drawn together again, it re- 
mair.ed motionless, and appeared to the 
deponent'to be about twelve or fourteen 
inches broad; that tlie hair was long and 
light-brown ; that the animal was between 
four and five feet long; that it had a 
bead, hair, arms, and body, down to the 
3niddle, like a human being; that the 
arms were short in proportion to the 
body, which appeared to be about the 
thickness of that of a young lad, and 
tapering gradually to the point of the 
tail; than when stroking its head, as 
above-mentioned, the fingers were kept 
close together, so that be cannot say 
whether they were webbed or not; that 
he saw it for near two hours, the rock on 
which it lay being dry; that, after the sea 
had so far retired, as to leave the rock 
dry to the height of five feet above the 
water, it tumbled clumsily into the sea; 
a minute after he observed the animal 
above water, and then he saw every fea¬ 
ture of its face, having all tlje appearance 
of a human being, with very hollow 
eyes. The cheeks were of the same 
color with the rest of the face; the neck 
seemed short; and it was constantly, 
with both hands, stroking and washing its 
breast, w hich was half immersed in the 
water. He therefore cannot say whether 
its bosom was^formed like a w'oman’s or 
not. He saw no other fins or feet upon 
it, but as described. It continued above 
water for a few' minutes, and then dis¬ 
appeared. He was informevl that some 
boys in a neighbouring farm saw a si¬ 
milar creature in the sea, close to th^ 
sho’-e, on the same day. The minister 
of Campheitowi), and the chamberlain of 
Mull, nicest his examination, and declare 
tliey know’ no reason why bis verapity 
sliould be questioned. 
[Jan. 
A w’ork of “ Literary Anecdotes of 
the Eighteenth Century’' may be ex¬ 
pected in January. 
The Father’s Reasons for being a 
Christian, by the Rev. C. Pow’let, are 
at press, and will be shortly ready for 
publication. 
Number HI. and IV. of the Architec¬ 
tural Series ofLondonChurcbes,are nearly 
ready, and Number V. is in forwardness. 
The first volume of the works of Con» 
fucius has been issued from tlie Missi¬ 
onary press at Serampore, in Bengal: it 
is primed in the Chinese character, with 
a translation, which refers, by numbers 
over each sentence, to the corresponding 
words of the Chinese text, and is accom¬ 
panied by an ample commentary. 
Mr. Horsley, of Dundee, is preparing 
a new' edition of his father's Tracts against 
Dr. Priestley ; it will include some 
additions w'ritten by the bishop himself 
on the margin of the former edition, and 
some observations by the editor on Mr, 
Belsham’s review of the controversy. 
Mr. Lancaster is at Dublin, for the 
purpose of promoting the establishment 
of schools for the education of the poor 
in Ireland, upon his system, under the 
sanction and patronage of the Lord-Lieo- 
tenant. 
Mr. Reynolds, master of the Lam- 
betii-boys' parochial school, has in the 
press a small tract, which will be imme¬ 
diately published, entitled, The Teach¬ 
er's Arithmetic,” containing a set of Sums 
in Numeration and Simple Addition; 
part the first ; principally designed for 
classes, and intended for the guidance of 
youth, who are the conducting agents of 
a system (the Rev. Dr. Bell's), “resting 
on the principle of tuition by the scholars 
themselves.” 
The Liberty of the Press can only ba 
preserved by protecting those who are the 
victims of power, for having used it with 
uncourtly freedom. Qii this principle 
we w'ere pleased to hear of a late re¬ 
spectable meeting at the Crown and 
Anchor, in support of Mr. Whjte, who 
for several years has bad to contend 
against the entire power of the crown 
lawyers.—-The following resolutions were 
carried at this meeting; 
1. That the liberty of the press is an in¬ 
separable part of a free constitution; and that 
they must exist or perish together. 
2. That it appears to this meeting, that 
the manly and judicious conduct pursued by 
Mr. White, in his late struggle with tt^e 
strong arm of power, in refusing to subnii; 
£0 a false confession, or to suffer judgment to 
^0 
