"...The facts relating to this apparition (entered in various log-books) agreed in most respects as to the shape of the object or creature in question, the untiring rapidity of its mo-vements, its surprising power of locomotion, and the peculi-ar life with which it seemed endowed. If it was a whale, it sur-passed in size all those hitherto classifıed in science. Taking into consideration the mean of observations made at divers times—rejecting the timıd estimate of those who assigned to this object a length of two hundred feet, equally with the exa-ggerated opinions which set it down as a mile in width and three in length—we might fairly conclude that this mysteri-ous being surpassed greatly all dimensions admitted by the leamed ones of the day, if it existed at all. And that it DID exist was an undeniable fact; and, with that tendency which disposes the human mind in favour of the marvellous, we can understand the excitement produced in the entire world by this supernatural apparition. As to classing ir in tho list of fables, the idea was out of the question..."