t it expedient to order all dogs that had not
the mark of having been wormed, to be seized and confined for a
certain time in a large yard without the walls of the town. These
dogs, which were of all possible varieties, made a hideous noise while
thus confined together; but a spaniel, which, as the person that had
the care of them observed, sat apart from the rest in a corner of the
yard, seemed to consider the circumstances with greater deliberation.
He attended to the manner in which the gate of the yard was opened and
shut; and, taking a favourable opportunity, leapt with his forepaws
upon the latch, opened the gate, looked round upon the clamorous
multitude, and magnanimously led them the way out of the prison. He
conducted them in triumph through the gate of the town; upon which
every dog ran home exulting to his master."

The following anecdote, which was sent to me by the gentleman who
witnessed the occurrence, proves the sense and observation of a
spaniel. He possessed one which was a great favourite, and a constant
companion in all his rambles. One day, in passing through a field of
young turnips, he pulled up one of them, and after washing it
carefully in a rivulet, he cut off the top, and ate the other part.
During this time the dog eyed him attentively, and then proceeded to
one of the growing turnips, drew it from the earth, went up briskly to
the rivulet, and after dashing it about some time till he caused the
water to froth considerably, he laid it down, and holding the turnip
inverted, and by the top, he deliberately gnawed the whole of it off,
and left the top, thus closely imitating the actions of his master.

A gentleman, who generally resided at Boston in Lincolnshire, had also
a house at Chepstow in Monmouthshire, to which he occasionally went in
the summer. While at the latter place, a small spaniel dog which a
friend at Chepstow had given him was taken on his return in a carriage
to Boston. On the Sunday evening after the arrival at that place, the
spaniel was attacked by a large dog, when out walking with his master
on the river bank, and ran away. Nothing was heard of him until the
receipt of a letter from Chepstow, announcing his arrival at that
place in a famished and travel-worn condition. The distance is one
hundred and eighty-four miles.

The following anecdote is related by Mr. Blaine:--

"I was once called from dinner in a hurry to attend to something that
had occurred; unintentionall