d afterwards with a smart application of the
cart-whip, but all to no purpose. The fellow, with an oath, threatened
to drive over the dog, and he did so, the faithful animal endeavouring
to arrest the progress of the wheel by biting it. He thus allowed
himself to be killed sooner than abandon his trust.

A mastiff-dog, who owed more to the bounty of a neighbour than to his
master, was once locked by mistake in the well-stored pantry of his
benefactor for a whole day, where milk, butter, bread, and meat,
within his reach, were in abundance. On the return of the servant to
the pantry, seeing the dog come out, and knowing the time he had been
confined, she trembled for the devastation which her negligence must
have occasioned; but, on close examination, it was found that the
honest creature had not tasted of anything, although, on coming out,
he fell on a bone that was given to him, with all the voraciousness of
hunger.

These dogs are alive to injuries, and not slow in resenting them.

A carrier had a mastiff remarkable for his sagacity. It happened
unfortunately one day, that one of the waggon-horses trod accidentally
upon him in the yard. The dog became furious, and would have attacked
the horse had he not been prevented. It was usual for the dog to
remain with the horses at night in the stable. After the men had
retired, the mastiff selected out the animal which had trod upon him,
and, no doubt, would have put an end to his existence, had not the
carters, who were at hand, hearing an unusual noise, come to his
assistance.

The widow of a farmer had two mastiffs, which, from their fierceness,
rendered some precaution necessary in approaching the house. Their
mistress was taken suddenly ill and died, and in the afternoon of her
death the benevolent wife of the clergyman of the parish called to see
if she could render any assistance. After knocking in vain at the
front door, she went to the back of the house with fear and trembling.
On entering the kitchen, to her dismay she saw the two dogs on the
hearth. They appeared, however, to be sensible of what had taken
place, for they only lifted up their heads mournfully, looked at the
intruder, and resumed their former attitude.

My neighbour, Mr. Penrhyn, has two noble mastiffs of the Lyme breed,
which I believe is now nearly extinct. It is probably, however,
preserved by Thomas Leigh, Esq. of Lyme Park, in Cheshire, who has
also the wild breed of cattle, now only, I be