nd more reasonably impute her proud preeminence among nations which
she now enjoys, and which she will ever maintain till this spirit is
tamed into servility, under the pretence of applying salutary
restrictions to the licentiousness of the people."

After the foregoing essay, a parallel drawn between English men and
English mastiffs by the celebrated cardinal Ximenes comes not
unappropriately in this place.

The cardinal, who was minister to one of the French monarchs, observed
that the English, like their native mastiffs, lived in a state of
internal hostility. "The cause," said he, "which creates a canine
uproar, every one knows, is a bone; whence among the English, every
statistical elevation, as well as other causes of contest, is called A
BONE OF CONTENTION. During the time of profound peace, these island dogs
are always growling, snapping at, and tearing each other; but the moment
the barking of foreign dogs is heard, the contention about bones ceases,
the whole species become friends, and with one heart and mind they join
their teeth to defend their kennels against foreign enemies."

The following extraordinary circumstances are selected from the British
sporting intelligence of the last year.

"A herdsman lately met a fox in the morning, on a mountain in the
neighbourhood of Ballycastle (Ireland). On his approach, the animal did
not offer to avoid him, but allowed him to come close up, when he struck
it with a stick and killed it. On examination the fox was found to be
completely destitute of teeth, and is supposed to have been blind with
age.

"A fox lately turned out at Fisherwick-park, the hunting seat of the
marquis of Donnegal, being hard pressed, forced his way into the window
of a farm house, and took shelter under the bed of the farmer's wife who
had not an hour before lain in. The feelings of all parties may easier
be imagined than described. The good woman, however, suffered no
material injury by Reynard's unexpected visit, who was taken and
reserved for the sport of another day.

"On Wednesday last, about six o'clock, a covey of partridges were seen
to pitch in the middle of the CIRCUS, Bath, supposed to have taken
refuge there, after having escaped from the aim of some distant gunner.
Under the effects of fright and fatigue six were easily caught by three
servants, and strange as it may appear the three servants of three
eminent physicians who reside in that elegant pile. Doctor F.'s m