Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

A GREAT SEA SERPENT!
The following is a very interesting account of the Sea serpent, seen on Saturday last. The respectability of the source of the annexed certificates, places the matter beyond a doubt-and we think Capt. Woodward has had a more minute view of this Serpent than it was possible for any one to have had of the one seen last summer off Cape Ann.
Gaz.
AFFIDAVIT.
I, Joseph Woodward, master of the schooner Adamant, of Hingham, on my passing from Penobscot to Hingham on Saturday last, at 2 o'clock, p. M. Accomenticus bearing w. n. w. 10 leagues distance, discovered something on the surface of the water, apparently about the size of a ship's longboat. Supposing it to be the wreck of a vessel, I made towards it; and on approaching it, to my surprize and that of my crew, discovered it to be a monstrous sea serpent-as we approached him he threw himself into a coil, and darted himself forward with amazing velocity-the wind being ahead. it became necessary to stand on the other tack, and as we approached him again, he threw himself into a coil as before, and came across our bows at not more than sixty feet distance.
Having a gun charged with a ball and shot, I discharged the contents of it at his head. The ball and shot were distinctly heard to strike him and rebound as tho fired against a rock--he, however, shook his head and tail most terribly-he again threw himself into a coil and came towards us with his mouth wide open. In the mean time, I had charged my gun again, and intended to have discharged the contents of it into his mouth: but he came so near us I was fearful of the con- sequences, and withheld it-he came close under the bows of the schooner and had she not been kept away, must have come on board of us--he sunk down under the vessel, his head a considerable distance on one side of the vessel, and his tail on the other--he played around us about five hours-I and my crew had probably the best opportunity of seeing him that has occurred I judge him to be, at least, twice the length of my schr. say one hundred and twenty feet-his head was about the size of a ship's long boat, say fourteen feet-his body, below the neck, at least six feet diameter--his head was large in proportion to his body —his tail was formed like a squid's-his body was of a dark color, and resembled the joints of a shark's back bone-his gills were about twelve feet from the end of his head, and his whole appearance was terrific.
His manner of throwing himself into a coil appeared to be done by contracting his body in a number of places in perpen- dicular directions, and placing his tail so as to throw himself forward with great force-he could contract and throw him- self in any direction, with apparently the greatest ease and most astonishing cele- rity.
JOSEPH WOODWARD.
Hingham, May 12, 1818.
The word "coil" does not exactly re- present the idea of the serpent's appearance; but from a more particular des- cription given by captain Woodward, it was of an undulatory appearance.
Having read the above statement of captain Woodward, we certify to the correctness of it.
PETER HOLMES.
JOHN MAYO.
Plymouth, ss.
May 12, 1818.
Personally appeared, Joseph Wood- ward, Peter Holmes, and John Mayo, and made oath, that the above statement by them subscribed, is just and true- before me,
JOTHAM LINCOLN, Jr.
Justice Peace.