r, in the same county (Northumberland), was, on the
6th of June, 1799, advertised to be hunted on the Wednesday following,
by three packs of hounds, which were to meet at different places; the
aid of men and fire-arms was also requested, with a reward promised of
twenty guineas to the person killing him. This dog was described by
those who had seen him at a distance as a large greyhound, with some
white in his face, neck and one fore-leg white, rather grey on the
back, and the rest of a jet-black. An immense concourse of people
assembled at the time appointed, but the chase was unprosperous; for
he eluded his pursuers among the Cheviot Hills, and, what is singular,
returned that same night to the place from whence he had been hunted
in the morning, and worried an ewe and her lamb. During the whole
summer he continued to destroy the sheep, but changed his quarters,
for he infested the fells, sixteen miles south of Carlisle, where
upwards of sixty sheep fell victims to his ferocity. In September,
hounds and firearms were again employed against him, and after a run
from Carrock Fell, which was computed to be thirty miles, he was shot
whilst the hounds were in pursuit by Mr. Sewel of Wedlock, who laid in
ambush at Moss Dale. During the chase, which occupied six hours, he
frequently turned upon the headmost hounds, and wounded several so
badly as to disable them. Upon examination, he appeared of the
Newfoundland breed, of a common size, wire-haired, and extremely lean.
This description does not tally with the dog so injurious to the
farmers in Northumberland, although, from circumstances, there is
little doubt but it was the same animal.

With a laughably philosophical account of dogs, under the supposition
of a transmigration of souls, and with their general natural history
from Linnaeus and Buffon, this introductory chapter will be concluded.

A facetious believer in the art of distinguishing at the sight of any
creature from what class of animals his soul is derived, thus allots
them:--

The souls of deceased bailiffs and common constables are in the
bodies of setting dogs and pointers; the terriers are inhabited by
trading justices; the bloodhounds were formerly a set of informers,
thief-takers, and false evidences; the spaniels were heretofore
courtiers, hangers-on of administrations, and hack journal-writers,
all of whom preserve their primitive qualities of fawning on their
feeders, licking their hands, and snarlin