WATERTON'S NONDESCRIPT APE.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Advertitig to the letter on this subject in the Spectator of July 29th, I believe I can give you some trustworthy information. When a. child of five or six years old (now more than seventy years ago), I knew a lady, Mrs. Hewlings, who died soon after that time. Years afterwards my father (the late Matthew Davenport Hill, Q.C., Recorder of Birmingham) informed me that Mrs. .Hewlings had resided for several years in Demerara, and was there when Waterton produced his "Nondescript,"—the head of a South American monkey, with very intel- lectual features. Mrs. Hewlings examined this object carefully, and was struck by its resemblance to the counte- nance of Cicero. Guessing how it was done, she said that she would produce a similar " Nondescript." She had or pro- cured a small bust of Cicero, and obtained the skin of the head of a monkey of the same species as that exhibited by Waterton. She laid this skin over the head of the bust, wetted it, and kept it wet until it had taken the shape of the bust, and became just like Waterton's "Nondescript,'; She then exhibited it, somewhat to Waterton's mortification. I have no doubt but that my father received this information from Mrs. Hewlings herself.—I am, Sir, &c., ALFRED HILL, J.P. of Warwickshire.
Birmingham, July 29th.
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