stablishment were on the watch; and the brutes have
been off to their mountains, five miles distant, without even the dogs
giving an alarm. I could almost persuade myseif at times, such are their
supernatural knowledge, swiftness, and invisibility, that we have to
contend with evil spirits. I long for your advice, to refer to on this
subject; and am, dear Philip,
"Your loving brother,
"AMBROSE MAWE.
"P.S. Since writing the above, you will be concerned to hear the body of
poor Diggory has been found, horribly mangled by wild beasts. The fate
of Chippendale, Gregory, and Mudge is no longer doubtful. The old lion
has brought the lioness, and, the sheep being all gone, they have made a
joint attack upon the bullock-house. The Mudiboo has overflowed, and
Squampash Flatts are a swamp. I have just discovered that the monkeys
are my own rascals, that I brought out from England. We are coming back
as fast as we can."
EMIGRATION:
[Illustration: _Meeting a Settler._]
_Meeting a Settler._
THE CUTS.
_A clear stage, and no favour:_ a coach and horses on their sides, with
all the passengers' heels uppermost, in a horse-pond.--_The air adapted
to a Violin:_ a fellow flying a kite-fiddle in a field.--_"Those
Evening Bells:"_ a postman and muffin-man.--_Shrimp Sauce to a Lobster:_
a little urchin putting out his tongue at a Foot Guard.--_"Toe-ho:"_ a
sportsman caught in a spring-trap.--_Boarded, Lodged, and Done for:_ a
wight in the pillory, and a shower of brick-bats, dead cats, &c.--_"A
Constable's Miscellany:"_ a crowd of offenders, preceded by the man in
office, staff-in-hand.--_Unlicensed Victuallers:_ a couple of greyhounds
seizing a dinner. _"She walks in beauty, like the night:"_ a black girl,
shaded by a broad leaf.--_Boxer and Pincher:_ a pair of dogs taking
snuff together.--_A Round Robin:_ a red-breast in the shape of a ball.--
_Hook and Eye:_ a parrot on a perch.--_A Leading Article:_ a jockey
a-head in a race.--_A Sweepstakes--"Every jockey has a jenny:"_ sweeps
on donkeys.--_Soap-orifics and Sud-orifics:_ two busy washerwomen.--_A
Court Day:_ a crowd sheltered from the rain, beneath "Poppin's Court."
These are but a few of the eighty-seven drolleries of the cuts and
plates, which have more fun and humour than all the pantomime tricks and
changes of our time; they are worth all the fine conceits of all the
great painters of any age, and the pun and patter which accompany them
are excellent. We giv
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