Daily National Intelligencer

THE SEA SERPENT ATTACKED.

Palladium office, Boston, Aug. 21.

The report this morning respecting the Sea Serpent is, that a boat, with 14 men on board, which went in pursuit of him, has fallen in with him--and the commander threw a harpoon into him, to which empty casks were connected by a chain--that the water immediately became discolored by the blood from the wound; and the monster darted off, carrying with him all the apparatus, which is intended to destroy him, and be a buoy to his remains. If we have misunderstood no part of this report, there is certainly now great reason to expect the body of this great mammoth of the deep will soon be on shore for exhibition, to remove all doubts and satisfy curiosity.

P. S. The above mentioned boat was fitted out by a merchant in this town, and commanded by capt. Richard Rich, who threw the harpoon. The boat left Cape Cod on Sunday last. and fell in with the monster on Thursday, in Ipswich bay.

Merchants' Hall, Boston. Aug. 21, 1 p.m.

Captain Rich, who went from here a few days since, in pursuit of the Sea Serpent, writes to the concern as follows :

"Squam river, Aug. 20th, 12 o'clock.-After several unsuccessful attempts, we have at length fastened to this strange thing called the Sea Serpent. We struck him fairly, but the harpoon soon drew out. He has not been seen since, and I fear the wound he has received will make him more cautious how he approaches these shores. Since my last, yesterday, we have been constantly in pursuit of him by day; he always keeps a proper distance from us, to prevent our striking him. But a few hours since, I thought we were sure of him, for I hove the harpoon into him as fairly as ever a whale was struck; he took from us about twenty fathoms of warp before we could wind the boat, with as much swiftness as a whale. We had but a short ride when we were all loose from him, to our sore disappointment.

RICHARD RICH."

"GLOUCESTER, AUG. 20.

"As I thought it would be interesting to you to hear from Capt Rich, and as he is at some distance, I will give you some particulars of his cruise. On Monday last he sailed from this in a large whale boat, and two smaller ones, well manned. My brother commanded one of the boats. Yesterday they met the serpent off Squam, and chased him about seven hours, when they closed with him. He passed directly under the bows of Capt. Rich's boat; he immediately threw the harpoon, which pierced him about two feet; he drew the boat a considerable distance, but went with such velocity that he broke that part of the boat through which the rope passed, and drew out the harpoon. I hope they will have another opportunity before they give up the chase. He has no scales on him, and no bunches on his back, but his skin is smooth, and looks similar to an eel. In the attack, Capt. Rich had one of his hands wounded. These particulars I have in a letter from my brother.

SAML. DEXTER."