He was first seen on shore, and taking to the
Water, was pursu'd by People in a Boat, who intended to strike him
with a Fishgig; but approaching him, the human Likeness surpris'd
them into Compassion, and they had not the Power to do it.
_The Pennsylvania Gazette_, April 29, 1736
_The Art of Saying Little in Much_
_Amplification_, or the Art of saying _Little in Much_, seems
to be principally studied by the Gentlemen Retainers to the Law.
'Tis highly useful when they are to speak at the Bar; for by its
Help, they talk a great while, and appear to say a great deal, when
they have really very little to say. But 'tis principally us'd in
Deeds and every thing they write. You must abridge their
Performances to understand them; and when you find how little there
is in a Writing of vast Bulk, you will be as much surpriz'd as a
Stranger at the Opening of a _Pumpkin_.
It is said, that in the Reign of _William_ the Conqueror, the
Conveyance of a large Estate, might be made in about half a dozen
short Lines; which was nevertheless in every Respect sufficiently
authentick. For several Hundred Years past, Conveyances and Writings
in the Law have been continually encreasing in Bulk, and when they
will come to their full Growth, no Man knows: For the Rule, _That
every thing past and present ought to be express'd, and every thing
future provided for_, (tho' one would think a large Writing might be
made by it) does not serve to confine us at present; since all those
things are not only to be express'd, but may (by the Modern License)
be express'd by all the _different Words_ we can think of.
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