I was disappointed the article didn't talk more about the mermaid. For anyone else like me interested in that, I found a high resolution version [1], transcribed the old-fashioned French and wrote a translation:

> 240. Monstre ſemblable à une Sirenne pris à la côte de l'isle de Borné ou Boeren dans le Departement d'Amboïne. Il étoit long de 59. pouces gros à proportion comme une Anguille. Il a vecu à terre dans une Cuve pleine d'eau quatre jours et ſept heures. Il pousſoit de temps en temps des petits cris comme ceux d'une Souris. Il ne voulut point manger, quoy qu'on luy offrit des petits poisſons, des coquillages, des Crabes, Ecrevisſes, etc. On trouva dans sa Cuve apres qu'il fut mort quelques excrements ſemblables à des crottes de chat.

> 240. Monster similar to a Siren [Mermaid] caught on the coast of the island of Borné or Boeren [I can't find these places in a modern dictionary. Maybe Borneo?] in the Department of Amboine. In length it was 59 inches and in size had the proportions of an eel. It survived on land [i.e. after it was caught] in a tank full of water for four days and seven hours. It made small cries like those of a mouse from time to time. It did not want to eat, whatever anyone offered it: small fish, shellfish [the French word refers only to molluscs], crabs, crayfish, etc. Several pieces of excrement similar a cat's were found in its tank after it had died.

1. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/50095192#page/220/m...