"ing, act in perfect unison with each

❝ other.

"He discriminates, at first sight, be"tween the higher classes, and the "lower orders, of society: the former " he will receive at the door, and con"duct to the family parlour with the "politeness of a courtier: the latter he "keeps aloof, with the sternness of a "sheriff's officer.

"Upon the approach of night, he is

so well aware of its impressive still

ness, so favourable to depredation,

that he is instinctively determined, "and always prepared, for action; but "to conceive, in its full extent, the im"portance of this species of human nalet us suppose that it never ex

"ture,

❝isted.

"Without the assistance of the dog, "how could man have conquered, "tamed, or reduced the other animals "to a state of slavery? How could he "still discover, hunt down, and destroy "noxious and savage beasts?

"Hence the training of the dog

66

seems to have been the first art in

"vented by man; and the result of "this art was the conquest, and peace"able possession, of the earth."

And yet this noble animal is used for sports at which a Hottentot would shudder.

Sport, to whom?

To the fashionable and high-born heroes of a bull-bait-the dignified patrons of mercenary pugilists-the exemplary champions of a cock-fight!

2

.. α

I cannot dismiss this subject—altho' bull-baiting has been publicly denominated in the H of C "characteristic sport, necessary to keep "alive the spirit of the nation"-without detailing an instance of its savage properties, to be found in the Sportsman's Cabinet.

"It is universally known among the "lovers of bull-dogs, and bull-baiting, "that when once exasperated by an (6 opponent, or encouraged by the own"er, no pain or punishment will allay,

"or induce the dog to swerve from,

"his purpose.

"In confirmation of this fact, a ju"venile amateur of the sublime and

66

beautiful-some years ago-inhuman"ly confident in the pure blood, and "instinctive courage, of his dog, pro"posed a trifling wager, that he would,

at four distinct intervals, deprive the "animal of one of his feet by amputa"tion; and, that after every indivi"dual deprivation, his dog should at“ tack the bull with his previous fero.