acturi colla Britanni."

This noble dog, which, like the bull-dog, is supposed to be an
original breed peculiar to this country, is now seldom to be met with
in its pure state, it having been crossed and recrossed with other
dogs. Perhaps the finest specimen now to be found is one at
Chatsworth (where also is to be seen a noble Alpine mastiff). It is a
dog of gigantic size, of a yellowish colour, with a black muzzle.
There is also another at Elvaston Castle in Derbyshire, not so large
as the one at Chatsworth, but apparently of the true breed, and for
which we believe Lord Harrington gave the sum of fifty guineas.

These dogs are brave, faithful to their trust in an extraordinary
degree, and have a noble disposition.

Their strength also is very great, and their bark deep and loud. Sir
Walter Scott's remarks on the character of the dog may be well applied
to the mastiff,--"The Almighty, who gave the dog to be the companion
of our pleasures and our toils, hath invested him with a nature noble
and incapable of deceit. He forgets neither friend nor foe--remembers,
and with accuracy, both benefit and injury. He hath a share of man's
intelligence, but no share of man's falsehood. You may bribe a soldier
to slay a man with his sword, or a witness to take life by false
accusation, but you cannot make a dog tear his benefactor. He is the
friend of man, save when man justly incurs his enmity."

The mastiff, indeed, usually shows a remarkable and peculiar warmth in
his attachments; and, on the other hand, he will evince his dislike in
the strongest manner. It has been observed of him, that if he is once
severely corrected or insulted, it is almost impossible to eradicate
the feeling from his memory, and it is no less difficult to attain a
reconciliation with him. He seems conscious of his own strength,
power, and authority, and will seldom condescend to lower his dignity
by servile fawning; while he appears to consider his services as only
befitting a trust of the highest importance. He is naturally possessed
of strong instinctive sensibility, speedily obtains a knowledge of all
the duties required of him, and discharges them with the most punctual
assiduity. His vigilance is very striking. He makes regular rounds of
the premises committed to his care, examines every part of them, and
sees that everything is in a state of perfect security. During the
night he will give a signal of his presence by repeated barkings,
which ar