Among the human Mortals, whom I lived in, the Chief was that fnarling Philofopher Diogenes, the first Founder of Tub-Preachers. He was properly ftiled the Cynic, on Account of his dogged Nature; of which I was truly the conftituent Cause. From him I tranfinigrated into many other Bodies, which, at prefent, I have no Inclination to enu

merate.

I fhall haften to the Period at which I affumed the Form I am now in: I had the Honour to be tranfmitted into the Carcase of a Puppy fprung from a polite Lady's favourite Lap-Dog: My Education was the tendereft imaginable: The Lady's Son andHeir was not brought up with more Delicacy, Care, and Affection. Unluckily for me, my Parent had not been quite fo curious in her Choice of an Helpmate : I foon discovered Marks of a Mungrel Breed, and thewed evident Promifes of an unfashionable Size and Shape. In fine, I was expelled the foft Velvet Cushion of the Drawing-Room, and fent down to the hard Mattrafs of the Servants Hall.

Before I had paffed the Nonage of Puppy-hood, I found myself transported to an Alehouse Kitchen: for the Servants were worn out with my continual Yelping at my indelicate Situation: the Lady ceased to enquire after me; and they were glad to get rid of me at any Rate. My new Mafter of the Taphouse clapped me up into a wooden Whirligig, and fet me to work at what is called Spinning of RoastMeat. My Limbs, alas! never inured to Service, and before always indulged in the Luxury of Indolence, could not fubmit to fuch toilfome Employment: Blows only disheartened me; and I learnt the mean Practice of those daftard Curs, that fkulk away in Corners, when they are wanted to get Dinner.

After I had encreafed confiderably in Bulk, almoft too big for the Service I was deftined to, a Coach

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man,

man, who used to drink at our Houfe, was charmed with my Spots: He begged me, easily obtained me, and I was carried to the Stable; where my Spirit was fɔ broken, that I with Pleasure fuffered the dirty Hands of Grooms to clap me on the Back, and ftinking Poftillions to fpit in my Mouth. But my Pride made me more than Amends; for wherever the Coach went, I was always carried in the Boot, and stuck myfelf up erect upon the Foot-board : I then thought the Horfes, and all, were at my Command: and like the Fly upon the Wheel, I attributed to myself the mighty Dust that was raised about me.

I was a very docile Creature, and at Times had been taught to fetch and carry, to ftand upon my hind Legs, to yawn at Command, and to play a thoufand Tricks that fervile Dogs are obliged to fubmit to. This procured me the Good-will of the grinning Vulgar, and gained me many a caft Bone as a Reward for my Ingenuity.

At Length the famous Bampfylde More Carew, (well known in the Country by the Name of Dogftealer) came to the Town where we were: He fcraped Acquaintance with me among others of my Species; and enticed us along with him by a Charm no lefs powerful than the Cake, which quieted the Triple-headed Cerberus. For myfelf, not having been initiated in any of the ruftic Sports, he fold me to a Mountebank at the next Village for Sixpence Dry and a Pot of Flip. With this my new Master and his Merry Andrew, I travelled over several Parts of England, and contributed my Share to their Impofitions on poor, ignorant, gaping Clowns. He taught me, upon taking fome innocent Compofition, immediately to counterfeit myfelf dead: I would throw myself into the most convulfive Agonies, 'till, upon applying a trifling Liquor to my Noftrils, I could fpring up brifkly upon my Legs,

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thake

hake myself, wag my Tail, fkip about, and show all the evident Tokens of my fpeedy Recovery.

Poverty, and the Apprehenfions of a Gaol, drove my Master at laft to feek a Refuge in France. Here it was that I first had an Interview, which foon ripened into Intimacy with the famous Chien Savant, who was then learning thofe Exercises, which he has fince exhibited with fo much Applaufe in England: I was ftruck with his Ingenuity: I ftudied his Practices; and in copying after this great Original, I found myfelf able to make many Improvements on them. However, I chose to conceal my Talents, 'till I should get a favourable Occasion to exert them.

After Monfier Le Chien had been fome Time fettled in England, the ingenious Artist, under whose Tuition I now am, came to Boulogne on the fame Errand with my Mafter. Mafter. He had feen the fagacious. Performances of Le Chien: And when he faw a Specimen of mine, he was in Raptures to meet a Dog of his own Country, that might, at the fame Time I brought Profit to himself, do Honour to the Nation. În a Word, he foon ftruck up a Bargain with my Owner, who having no farther Ufe for me in his medical Capacity, parted with me without Reluctance: and I revifited once more my dear native Land England.

I have ever fince been preparing for Exhibition: My Inftructor, refolving I fhould exceed the Foreigner's Sagacity, has taught me to diftinguish the Greek Alphabet, of which I am now perfect Master from Alpha to Omega. I can even found fome of the Letters almoft to a Degree of Speaking; as the

&c. but particularly the p; which I can grow! out (efpecially when afferting my Poffeffion to a Bone) with fuch a guttural Emphafis, as Mr. Malop, whom I've heard my Owner talk of, cannot equal,

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To conclude.-My Countrymen are fond of Novelties: They love every thing that is ftrange and unnatural: I have therefore a juft Right to their Favours and if they are not blinded by that National Partiality to Foreigners, I don't doubt but Į fhall eafily convince them, that the Most Amazing and Sagacious English Dog, far exceeds the Famous French Chien Savant, at least, let the old Proverb affift me, which tells us, Every Dog has his Day.'

THE

THE LIFE Of

OF

HENRY ST. JOHN,

Lord Viscount BOLINGBROKE.

By Dr. GOLDSMITH.

HERE are fome Characters that feem formed

Tby Nature to take Delight in struggling with

Oppofition, and whofe moft agreeable Hours are paffed in Storms of their own creating. The Subject of the prefent Sketch was perhaps of all others the mot indefatigable in raising himself Enemies, to fhew his Power in fubduing them; and was not lefs employed in improving his fuperior Talents, than in finding Objects on which to exercise their Activity. His Life was spent in a continued Conflict of Politics; and, as if that was too fhort for the Combat, he has left his Memory as a Subject of lafting Contention.

It is indeed no easy Matter to preserve an acknowledged Impartiality, in talking of a Man fo differently regarded on Account of his Political, as wellas his Religious Principles. Thofe whom his Politics may please, will be fure to condemn him for his Religion; and, on the contrary, thofe most strongly attached to his Theological Opinions, are the most likely to decry his Politics. On whatever Side he is regarded, he is fure to have Oppofers, and this was perhaps

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