master there, he will immediately proceed up the third lane, without resorting to the aid of the olfactory organ This circumstance, if it could be substantiated, would establish the fact that these animals do possess some other faculty besides instinct.

It is instinct, certainly, which enables him to ascertain by the scent that his master has not passed up the two first roads, but it is reason which prompts him to take the third road without further examination, and he draws as correct an inference from the facts before him as a philosopher could deduce: there are but three roads, and having ascertained that his master has not passed the first and second, he knows that he must necessarily have taken the third direction.

(To be continued.)

In consequence of our arrangements for the present number of the MELANGE, we find ourselves under the necessity of reserving the remainder of this essay for our next number.

TO THE EDITORS.

[WRITTEN IN 1813.]

GENTLEMEN,-The interesting account you gave of the "Learned Spaniel," in your Miscellaneous Extracts, last week, though it may stagger the faith of some of your readers, will readily obtain credit with those who have witnessed the extraordinary feats of a fine black Newfoundland dog, now in possession of Mr. Wilkinson, of Crosbie-street, in this town; by whose skill and perseverance the animal has been taught to perform several tricks of so singular a kind, that I could scarcely have given them full credit, had I not been repeatedly a witness to what I am about to relate.

A few months ago I saw this sagacious animal play a game at "All Fours," with a gentleman who has the reputation of being a pretty good player, when Watch (for that

is the name of the dog) beat his adversary in grand style; almost what is called a love-game, I believe, for I am so little skilled in the fashionable arts of shuffling and cutting, that I never yet got beyond "Beggar my Neighbour," or "Laugh and Lie down."

When Watch exhibits, his cards are dealt out in a circle upon the floor, by his master, who, of course, directs his movements, although imperceptibly to the bipeds around. One corner of each card is bent a little upwards to enable the dog to take it from the floor with his teeth. As these cards are placed with their faces downwards, it is above my compre hension to discover how the master himself recognises them, which he must do of course, or his pupil, notwithstanding the magic circle, could not play so well as he does.

When the "Lord of the creation" leads off, say the ace of hearts, the master of the ceremony, addressing his Newfoundland friend, exclaims, "Now, Watch, you see the gentleman has played the ace of hearts, what will you do?" upon which, Watch traverses the circle of cards until he arrives at that which it is the most proper to select under such circumstances; this he takes gently in his mouth, and exhibits to his adversary; he leads in his turn, proceeding in this way until the game is concluded; and it is generally admitted that he makes the most of his hand!

Watch has been also taught to distinguish any person in company by some secret signal; and immediately upon his master calling out the name, he walks up to him, and taking his coat-lap in his mouth, gently shakes it, to the great amusement of the by-standers, and sometimes to the consternation of the person himself.

If a penny be placed on the nose of this sagacious animal, he instantly becomes fixed in the position he may chance to be in at the moment, and will remain as motionless as a statue, until the charm is broken by the words of command,

"Ready, present, fire!" when he instantly tosses up the penny, which he catches in his mouth, and makes the best of his way to some of the neighbouring cellars, where he stands looking the people in the face until a penny-loaf is placed before him, upon which he deposits the cash and carries off the bread to the company he has just left, without attempting to eat a morsel by the way. A hat is then given to him, and he is ordered to beg for the bread, which is distributed amongst the company, to each of whom he pays his court in succession, holding up the hat, looking wistfully in his face, and wagging his tail. When a piece of bread is thrown in, he drops the hat, and after eating what is given to him, he again takes up the hat and proceeds to the next person; but if any one opens the palms of his hands, to show that he has nothing to give him, he instantly turns away to some other person, and when he finds there is no more to be expected from any of them, he lays aside the hat and lies down or marches off as he thinks proper.

His master has told me, and I have no doubt of the fact, that when Watch goes into any of the neighbouring cellars with his penny, if an attempt is made to pass off a stale or hard loaf upon him, he will not, for some time afterwards, visit the same cellar, but remove his custom to some more liberal dealer. He is so convinced too, by experience, of the necessity of prudent caution in dealing with the human race, that he never deposits his money until the bread is laid before him; and in this he evinces his sagacity and love of justice, for being himself a dog of infinite good nature, who never bites any of his neighbours, he takes good care that none of them shall bite him.

When the money is placed on his nose, as before observed, he will remain perfectly motionless until the word of command breaks the spell; and although his master has some

times quitted the room for half an hour or upwards, he has always on his return found Watch in the same attitude.

If any of your readers doubt the truth of any part of my account of this sagacious animal, he may easily satisfy himself of the truth of each particular, which is known to hun. dreds in this town as well as to

It may

Your friend and correspondent,
AMICUS CANUM.

be necessary to state that this dog is not exhibited for money. It is also much to Mr. W.'s credit that he seldom has resorted to any severity in its tuition.

A MODERN MIRACLE, FOUNDED IN FACT.

"He who giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord."

Last Sunday, when at church, 'tis said,
Collections for the poor were made,
Gripe, with heart heavy as his purse,
And uttering many an inward curse,
Eyeing his shining pieces o'er,
At length selected from the store
Half of a sovereign, short of weight,
And sighing plac'd it on the plate.

IMPROMPTU,

ON HEARING IT SAID OF A NOTORIOUS PERJURED WITNESS, THAT HE 66 TOOK GOD'S NAME IN VAIN."

He takes God's name in vain, you say,

But, Sir, I must deny it;

'Tis not in vain, he swears for pay;

He makes a living by it,

MAD JOHNNY BULL'S FREAKS AND THE RESULTS.

"So comes the reckoning when the banquet's o'er,
The dreadful reckoning, and men smile no more."— Anon.

John was an honest, blunt, good fellow
When sober, but when he was mellow
He was a bullying, blustering, blade,
Who car'd not what he did or said;
Hot-headed, vain, and domineering,
In all men's business interfering;
Who never could be kept in compass,
But always must kick up a rumpus;
With all about him he would fight,
It matter'd little, wrong or right:
Whatever champion threw the glove,
John would set to with him for love;
Or if the other wish'd for quiet,
John still insisted on a riot.

One day he'd knock his neighbour down,
Next day, shake hands, the quarrel drown
O'er bowls of punch, to make amends,
They'd swear to be eternal friends;+
And thus he'd revel night and day,

Regardless what there was to pay;

Meanwhile the landlord would chalk double,

For broken glasses and for trouble,

John once possess'd good store of wealth,

Sound constitution, vigour, health;
But forty years of dissipation

Had made a woful alteration;

Both health and wealth began to fail,

For time we know will "tell its tale;"
Still John would quaff to keep off sorrow,
And to keep off the bailiffs-borrow;
He double mortgaged his estate,
Paid interest at enormous rate,‡

On the eve of the French Revolution, John Bull began to grow outrageous, and continued in a state of constant irritation and dissipation for many successive years. + The late Mr. Whitbread used to say, that great part of the national debt was incurred in putting down the Bourbons, another great portion expended in putting them up again, John has made his bargains so improvidently, and managed his estate so imprudently, that it is asserted by some politicians, that if the public creditor should foreclose the estate would not pay a tithe of the sum originally advanced on mortgage.