Drains, or their horses have been rather shy of their corn, after the two former days' sport, the field was but thinly attended : A chosen few alone the sport enjoy," Was most truly the case. After drawing two covers, a fox was found in a hedge below Norton Priory, and came away for Bird Spring, over the Brook, and through the line of Woods in the Womersley country, back again by Bird Spring, and Womersley Grove, facing the open country, for Smeaton, and over the lugs by the river Went towards Womersley Park, which they crossed at a racing pace over to Hodge Wood, by Castle Farm, into Stapleton Park, and running the whole line of the Plantations towards Wentbridge without hanging a moment, made away for Darrington Moor, leaving Darrington village on the left, crossed the road, and passed along the Open Commons for Gridling Stubbs, whence turning to the left, the fox went by Grove Wood and over Grove Park, passing the London road near Ferrybridge in a line towards Pontefract, the gallant pack killed old reynard in capital style, in a grass field, after as sevele a burst of fifty-six minutes as was ever witnessed. The only horsemen who could live with the bounds throughout this severe chase, and were up at the death, were, Mr. T. Hodgson on Timothy, Mr. Hawke on the Dusty Miller, John, the huntsman, on Own Brother to Julius Cæsar, and the second Whipper-in on Assassin. From such a brilliant begin ning of a young pack, may we not venture to predict capital sport in future? ACCOUNT OF A SINGULAR DOG. IN the species of animals which man bas domesticated, or rather reduced to a state of servitude, Nature often produces monsters, either by excess or defect. Of the latter sort, I will here cite an example as a new proof of the perfection of instinct in the dog, and of the resources of Nature. It was first communicated to the public by M. Feret, jun. in the Journal de Physique for the month of August, 1810. In the month of May, 1808, at Paris. a black spaniel bitch, with red spots, pupped eight young ones: she was only allowed to keep four, and of these four it was discovered in a few days, that one of them was deprived of the two front legs. It was thought it would not live; but this defect of conformation did not prevent it growing equally ar fast and as strong as the others; and it was two years old when the following description of it was drawn up. Two-legs, (for so she was called) had a considerable resemblance to the wolf-dog, but the body was more elongated. Her hair was long, rather rough, and of a brown colour. She often carried her ears erect; her tail was a good deal like that of the fox, not only in its form, but also in the manner in which she carried it. She would caress very freely, and approached towards persons whom she knew, upon her two hind legs, which she held wide apart, and toes very open. If she wished to advance quickly, she used the under part of her neck as a third leg to support herself with, she then proceeded with considerable velocity by successive leaps and springs; but this constrained pro gression fall into vice; but he who has the muses for his companions, can never be idle enough to be uneasy. A man should enlarge the sphere of his innocent pleasures, that he may gression fatigued her very much; her respiration seemed to be interrupted each time her neck touched the ground, and to save her head and nose from the blows which they were likely to receive, the mus-retire into them with safety, and cles of the neck were always in a find such satisfaction as a wise man state of contraction, in order that need not blush at. the head might constantly be erect. If Two-legs heard any noise, she immediately sat upright, even for a considerable time. If she wished to go up stairs, she effected it pretty easily by means of her neck, but to descend was absolutely impossible. In 1809, this extraordinary creature had six young ones, none of which were in any manner deformed. J. J. B. ON LOUNGING. A Lounger is one seized with a general inability, indolence, and weariness, and a certain impatience of the place he is in; with a heaviness of removing to another, he seems rather to suffer time to pass, than to spend it, and rather breathes than lives. His maxims are these; first, as time destroys all things, to murder it without mercy; secondly, business and books were made for knaves and blockheads; thirdly, the devil is at home. Nothing is so great an inlet to misery and vice, as not to know how to spend our vacant hours: an idle life makes a man a prey to the woes of imagination, which never fail to grow up in inactive and unexercised minds. Those who have no pleasure above sensual, can hardly be idle and innocent. Their diversions are all at the expence of some virtue, and when they step out of business they VOL. XLI.-No. 244. IN the Christmas Pantomime brought out this season at Covent Garden Theatre, entitled Har◄ lequin and the Red Dwarf, the Managers have introduced for the amusement of the town-bred Sportsmen, a representation of the renowned Easter Epping Hunt.So ludicrous a scene suggested to us the idea of presenting our readers with a sketch of this burlesque sporting; we must however premise, that the artist has been necessarily compelled to extend the "view far beyond that of the Theatre, in order to embrace the principal figures of the hunt. The manner in which it is introduced is as follows:-The pantomimic part being commenced, the changes run on through Ramsgate Pier, Inns on the road, the George and Blue Boar, Holborn, the Panharmonicon, the Liverpool Museum, the Auction Mart, Bow marketplace, &c. till the parties arrive at Epping Forest. At this very lucky instant, the Epping Hunt is about to commence; and the audience is then treated with a sight of all the preparations. The Huntsman, the Yeoman Pricker, and the Whipperin, with about twelve couple of fine hounds pass across the stage. Colombine mounts her hunter, and A a sets sets off for the chase, unaccompanied by Harlequin, for his gallantry is such that he will not risk his neck in the pursuit. Pantaloon then mounts a sturdy pony. A large rough white horse, of a very singular appearance, belonging to Messrs. Clementi and Co. the music-sellers, is ridden by Grimaldi, who figures away in great style on his courser, with a carman's whip in his hand, to urge the animal to full speed. His horse not having a full tail, he unties his neck cloth, and affixing it to the stump, gives it the curious appearance it bears in the plate. The hunt is next seen, and the whole motley group in full chase. The whole passed across the stage three times, with the dogs in close pursuit; but the hissings and applauses of the audience so terrified the animals on the first night of performance, that the hunt went off very badly; it has, however, much improved, and contributes not a little to the effect of the Harlequinade. The lady at a distance represents Mrs. Parker, as Columbine; nearer to the view is a sporting tailor nearly dismounted; and the prominent figure in the centre, is denominated" the fat Parson, who, choosing to sport at his ease, is armed with an umbrella, to avoid Sol's heating rays, so unpleasant to sportsmen of his apparent bulk and dignity. The animal introduced is not a stag, but a lama, represented to be of extraordinary fleetness, and procured for the purpose from Bullock's Museum. ACCOUNT OF TWO NEW DRAMAS. DRURY-LANE THEATRE. ON Saturday, the 23d instant, was acted at this Theatre, Re tain Naomi Donna Teresa ..Mr. Wallack, Miss Smith. Alhadra, wife to Isidore ...Mrs. Glover. Familiars of the Inquisition, Servants, &c. The scene, as may be collected from the Dramatis Personæ, is laid in Spain, and the events of the play are supposed to have taken place in the reign of Philip II. shortly after the close of the civil wars against the Moors, and during the heat of the persecution which raged against them. The story is as follows: Donna Teresa, an orphan heiress, is brought up under the roof of the Marquis Valdez, with his two sons, Don Alvar and Don Ordonio. They grow up together, and she is beloved by both the brothers, but her early affection fixes itself upon Don Alvar, the eldest, and this affection is ripened by time into the most pure and ardent love. The preference given by Teresa to the pretensions of Don Alvar alienates the friendship of his brother from him, and resentment for slighted love, aided by a secret consciousness of his brother's superior virtues and amiable qualities, at length so inflames the mind of Ordonio, naturally proud, gloomy, and revengeful, that he resolves upon the destruction of his rival. For this purpose he employs Isidore, a Moresco chieftain, but pretended Christian, who with two ...others 1 |