ce for the last few Years," given an amusing account of the progress
of sea-serpentism. It was read before the New York Lyceum, and is
inserted in the American Journal of Science, although not thought
conclusive by its learned editor, Dr. Silliman. The first sea-serpent was
a steam-boat, which, being established at Boston to coast along the
shore, and from its powers and capabilities competent to injure the
business of small boats, was described as a sea-serpent that had been
seen off Nahant and Gloucester, and had probably come there to consume
all the small fish in the place. This was received by many as a serious
account, and believed accordingly.

Another sea-serpent history arose from the circumstance, that a small
sloop, called the Sea-Serpent, having been passed by another vessel, the
captain of the latter, when asked, upon his arrival at home, for news,
said he had seen a sea-serpent, and then described its bunches on the
back, the action of its tail, and other parts; all of which being
understood literally, actually appeared in print, as evidence for the
existence of the animal.

Then a piece of the skin of the bony scaled pike was taken for part of a
sea-serpent's hide. A speckled mother duck, with a numerous brood of
young ones swimming after her in a line on Lake Ontario, was described as
the sea-serpent itself. And from such occurrences as these, perhaps,
mingled with careless observation of the motions and appearances of
porpuses, basking sharks, and balaenopterous whales, appears to have
originated every thing that has been said about American
sea-serpents.--_Brande's Jour_.

* * * * *

THE GATHERER.

A snapper up of unconsidered trifles.

SHAKSPEARE.

* * * * *

ELEGANT COMPLIMENT.

A French officer, having arrived at the court of Vienna, the empress,
knowing that he had seen the Princess de * * *, asked him if he thought
this princess was, as reported, the handsomest person in the world?
"Madam," replied the officer, "I thought so yesterday."

* * * * *

Should women sit in parliament,
A thing unprecedented,
A great part of the nation, then
Would be Miss-Represented.

* * * * *

ON A STONE IN THE WALL OF CHISWICK CHURCHYARD.

This wall was made at ye charges of ye Right Honorable and _trulie pious_
Lorde Francis Russell, Earle of Bedford, o