Note 350 — Chapter XXI · OTHER SIGHTS.

These were native productions, and, although abnormal, could not compete with rarities from foreign lands—especially with the whale, Vide Daily Courant, September 15, 1712: 'There being last Week a Royal Parmacitty Whale taken in the Thames, which is the noblest Fish ever seen in England, the same will for the curiosity of Gentlemen, &c., be exposed to view in a Barge near the Faulcon over against Black Fryers at 2d. a piece.' It got rather odoriferous by keeping, so we read in the Daily Courant of September 22, that, 'the Royal Whale, supposed to be the Spermacete so much admired, will be exposed to Sale by Auction to-morrow at 4 o'clock.' Its purchaser is unknown, but we hear of it again: 'We called at the Isle of Dogs to see the Skeleton of a whale, forty-eight yards long, and thirty-five round.'[350]