administered. We scarcely ever walk abroad, without beholding sights the most re volting. Let any one, for instance, watch the starting and progress of one of the "penny omnibuses," on the line of road between Oxford Street and Holborn Bridge. Some of the halfstarved cattle (their bones all but through their skin), employed to drag these crazy and overladen machines to and fro, are totally unequal to the task. We have seen them, after once stopping, positively unable to make a fresh start. It has been a matter of physical impossibility. The whip has been actively used; and by aid of assistance behind, applied to the wheel, a start has been gained, we acknowledge. But is it not infamous that such gross brutality should be tolerated? Is it not disgraceful, we ask, that Englishmen should stand by, gazing on such a sight, and not take the law into their own hands-nor even cry out shame! We did, and got laughed at for our "softness!" What is the "Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Animals about? Where are their emissaries? Have they no funds? or are they all sleeping? But we shall speak more of them, anon.

and poor, that animals were only made for use -not for the enjoyment of life. Look at our fashionable folk, who keep late hours while their poor animals are exposed to all kinds of rough weather in the streets. It may be said they are not worse treated than the coachmen and the footmen. That is no answer to our complaint. The two last can quit the service of their employer if they wish it. The poor animals cannot.

But we have not now to do with "fashionable " folk. We appeal to people with a heart that can feel, and a mind that can reason. To such we address the following remarks, penned by Mr. Sydney Whiting, who has come forth as a champion in behalf of a Society, which really deserves the most extensive support. He says in his printed pamphlet, page 12, &c. :—

which have been accomplished in the suppression Notwithstanding the great benefits to society of many ferocious and brutal pastimes, there yet remains much-very much-to accomplish, especially while whole masses of the people still remain in ignorance. Within the last year or so, legislation has increased our means of punishing delinquents by imprisonment or fine, according to the option of the magistrate; and consequently the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is armed with greater power than formerly. The good it has accomplished is immense, and the crime it suppresses is even more important; but it can only hope to be truly effectual by possessing the means of diving into those hidden places which are the foci for abominations of cruelty scarcely conceivable. This institution, to be efficient, must be ubiquitous, and its emissaries, on their sacred mission, spread all over this huge metropolis, so as, with more than as regular as clock-Argus eye, to watch the knacker's yard, the slaughter-houses, and the cattle markets. don boasts of its charities and its institutions for the alleviation of almost every description of disease, misfortune, or suffering, and can it refuse to support, with the fullest and most bountiful means, the only society which exists for the benefit of those who have no voice to complain— no tribunal of appeal?

This is only one branch of cruelty to animals. On market-days, the sights that come under the eye are awful. A poor sheep, or a bullock panting for breath, stoops to allay its thirst by a little foul water found in a gutter. For this, it receives a blow across the nose or forehead that causes it to reel and stagger. It patiently passes on, at the bidding of the miscreant who drives it. The pangs of thirst are unheeded, and its sufferings continue till death comes to its aid. This is going on, 66 work," three days a-week to our knowledge in London. And yet nobody interferes; nobody seems to think it is wrong!

We have recently called attention to the cruelty practised on animals-by attaching them to balloons, and subjecting them to a heavy pressure of the atmosphere, until the blood was forced from their nostrils. Even

this, the law did not clearly define to be cruelty. It required a long consultation among the magistrates, to decide whether it was so or not. "Counsel" were very readily found to defend the practice; and assured the magistrates, with a gravity most unaccountable to us, that the animals enjoyed it, because they were used to it! To back them up in this argument, they referred to "the number of well-dressed and respectable persons who had frequented Cremorne Gardens to see the animals go up." It certainly does not require a very clever man to be a magistrate; but every magistrate ought to have a human heart; at least such is our opinion.

One thing is very clear: there is a prevailing opinion among high and low, rich

Lon

Again I repeat, there is much, very much to moment a disgrace to our metropolis, to the accomplish. Our public vehicles are at this times we live in. The law provides for the benefit of the passenger by allotting him sixteen inches of space in our omnibuses; but the law says nothing of the proper weight for the poor beasts to draw. Let any one who doubts the fact of overloading our public conveyances, station himself at the top of Hungerford Street, and he will often see, not only there, but all over the town, such loads of human beings piled outside, and packed in, as will assure him, with sickening evidence, that every strain up the steep hill is a strain of torture to the horses.

To the fair and more sensitive sex, I should scarcely venture to appeal in particular; but we all know the influence they exert upon society by their gentle, yet puissant might. Women, in a great degree, influence the tone of

was

mother-excellent monitress!-forbidden to re-
enter the house for more than a week. This is
the more remarkable, secing that "Kitty"
such a favorite with the domestics, who had
vainly endeavored to have the offender brought
back. No! no! Mr. Editor; the wise old mother
insisted-and I say she was right-that her
child should be punished for the offence she had
knowingly committed. It is not the first time
she has thus acted. Now, my dear Sir, may I
(I think I may) ask you to pronounce MY CAT an
"honorable exception" to the race against
whom you sometimes appear so highly incensed ?
-FANNY A.

all society, and they have only to be made ac-
quainted with the ills that surround the weak
and dependent, to give them all their sweet and
ennobling sympathy. I would ask them less to
aid by the purse than by their counsel. I would
ask of them an individual exertion in a holy
cause, which will harmonise with their natures,
and produce a greater effect than mere liberality
founded upon principle, without an accompanying
feeling of the heart. An immense moral edifice
of utility may be erected, by remembering how
much mankind is guided by gentle precepts from
those he loves. And if he be reminded of the
calls upon his common humanity in behalf of the
brute creation, in the soft tones of affectionate
expostulation, we may venture to predict not
only a renewed support of this society, but a new-
born perception of our responsibility, as rational
creatures, in relation to the charge over the dumb
creation which has been assigned us by an all-lowing motto:-
wise Creator, who showers down blessings upon
the land to be shared by all.

Need we say how very cordially we respond to this appeal? Nay, it becomes almost criminal to remain passive, when so great a principle is at stake.

* Unfortunately, they do so. And hence the great danger to morality and good-feeling, when their hearts are not in their right places.-ED. K. J.

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

An Amiable Cat.-Dear Mr. Editor,-let me say "my" dear Mr. Editor, because, in your leader of Oct. 23, you have said you love to hear the "purr" of a cat. [We are fairly caught, Fanny. Litera scripta manet. Our sign-manual stands against us.] Well, and why should you not like a cat? There are amiable cats, as I shall prove; so please to listen whilst I tell my little story. This cat, whose praises I sing, is of Persian extraction, and has always the good sense to appreciate kindness whenever and by whomsoever shown. She is now the happy mother of a wayward kitten, some nine weeks old. Well, this kitten, kitten-like, would persist in poking her little nose into the closet where the culinary artiste keeps her stores. To prevent this intrusion (you know, Mr. Editor, cats really have no business to interfere with cooks), the closet door was made fast by a peg. One day, however, Kitty (I call her "Kitty ") artfully contrived to remove the peg, and thus gained entrance to the closet, as she thought unnoticed. Not a bit of it. The cook indeed might have been deceived; but it was her own mother that detected her routing among the stores! Now for the "point" of my little story-true is it, to the very letter. No sooner did the discreet mother discover her child's weakness, than she at once removed her from the house. To see her drive her erring child before her, was as good as-how much better than, a play! To use the expressive words of the cook, "One would almost imagine they heard the words 'Come along! come along!'" Well, the kitten was, by its own

[Oh, Fanny! when argument and proof are so arranged before us, and urged by such a kind and affectionate advocate-what can we say! Yes! yes! Your cat is a prodigy. Have a seal engraved with her portrait on it, and the fol

"Mi-cat inter omnes!"

This, whilst it astonishes the natives, will serve your cause nobly; for when your friends ask the meaning of it, you can refer them at once to the original. For your own private information, we will give you the free translation of it :-" My cat takes the shine' out of all the rest." It is classically neat in Latin, and being interpreted, it reads well in English.]

Curious Instance of Revenge exhibited by a Horse. A very curious circumstance has just come to my memory, Mr. Editor, connected with the revengeful disposition of a horse. It occurred more than fifty years since, on the border of Ditton Marsh, opposite the Marquis of Granby. It was just where the road turns off to Claygate Well; here a man named Hitchiner, kept a farm. One day, he had occasion to send one of his men to Esher. The horse he rode was a fine, black, active animal, famous for lasting speed. This last is a very requisite qualification, when a heavy weight of anchors of smuggled spirits is behind, and when the dragoons are in pursuit! The rider wanted to go to Esher; the horse, however, had other views. A favorite "female friend" of his, to whom he had before paid a visit, lived at Claygate; and here his heart lay. However, though his horse reared and plunged, the rider whipped and spurred; and eventually triumphed. Well for him had it been otherwise! Several weeks after this, the same man entered the field, where the horse was feeding, with a view to catch him. He held in his hand a sieve filled with corn. The moment the horse recognised him, he rushed furiously at him; and seizing his arm between his teeth, carried him bodily to the hedge. On the other side, ran the river Rye; and at this point it was both wide and deep. Into this river did the infuriated animal drop his victim. He was not drowned, fortunately; but the arm was so severely bitten as to require surgical aid; and this, my father supplied.-VERAX.

Victoria Regia.-In the course of the present year, there were aquariums built for the Royal water lily, and the other kinds of aquatic plants, in the following places on the Continent: In the Royal Garden at Rosenthal, near Stockholm; in

sessing his lovely person? One only can have him; and the other kind hearts that desired to do him homage, (but did not apply in time to be first in their application) will, I know, allow me to thank them through you. Let me take this opportunity of telling you, that I have just had a very handsome pied fly-catcher sent me from Worthing. It is rather rare in the south; though common, I believe, about "the lakes."-P.

last effort woke Pincher up, and his natural good-temper caused him to wake pleasantly. (You know, Mr. Editor, we sometimes wake cross, when we are disturbed.) Bunny now set off at full speed, closely followed by Pincher; and away they flew, round and round and round; until at length Bunny fairly gave in from fatigue. The game over, she stopped to take breath; and having received a friendly poke on the nose from Pincher-erit Bunny. Pincher for a while seemed thoughtful, but his thoughts

Vanessa Urtica; Variety of the Chrysalids.—were soon set aside, and he again fell asleepDuring the month of August last, I took a number of the larvæ of this insect. Among the chrysalids produced were two, the same in every respect as the others, except in being brilliant yellow. In fact, they resembled a piece of polished brass. They subsequently became of a reddish-brown color. The perfect insects never appeared. There was also another with but faint traces of the lustrous gilding of the rest, and nearly white.-C. MILLER, Hackney.

Habits of the Heron.-There is a heron, Mr. Editor, which regularly frequents the large wood above my house. He has been there for two years; and has invariably occupied the same bough of a tall oak. He is a confirmed old bachelor, and fond of being alone-a strange fancy you will say! [It is indeed. But perhaps, Sir, he has " reasons for it; reasons un known to you and to ourself. H-e-m!] My friend Mr. Waterton, of Walton Hall, has just given me such excellent advice, that I hope I shall be able to induce him to 66 'breed," next spring. [Let us hope so. If anything" weighty now lies heavy on his mind, time may obliterate the remembrance of it.] I will let you know if he does. JOHN MATTHEW JONES, Montgomery, N. W.

66

to wake in five minutes afterwards, to look for another rabbit. He had expected her it seems to come in, as usual; but not brooking the delay, he now went to fetch her. We followed him to the door; and inside, sure enough there was another rabbit. To give her a friendly scratch with his paw, to "start her off," was the work of an instant. Away flew Bunny; away dashed Pincher; and the game was repeated (as before); only with variations. The old woman at the cottage, told us this was a regular game" here daily; and it was still "better fun" when the children joined in and ran with the animals. The cat all the while sat looking on, with the gravity of a judge. It was such fun, Mr. Editor! Although the animals ran over her several times, she was so used to it that she never moved!-By the way, those darling milk-white pigeons of mine, which you love so dearly, are as strange" as ever. They will not sleep in the dovecote; but will be in the house where I am, day and night. How they do love me! [Why should you wish to get rid of anything that so loves you? We approve, vastly, of the stedfastness of these same pigeons. Would we were one of them!] Perhaps it is because I love them. You know well, Mr. Editor, what " sympathy" is; or you would never have penned that note to the tale called the "Fatal Gift."LEONORA, Leeds.

66

[We will not attempt to contradict you, Miss Leonora. Your philosophy does you honor.]

A "funny" Dog, and "funny" Rabbits.-A short time since, Mr. Editor, I was walking with my sister, in a lane leading from our cottage to the station. (You well know the place.) A heavy storm of rain coming on at the time, we An "ancient" Mule.-I send you, Mr. Editor, were compelled to take shelter in a most unin- some very curious particulars of a mule, nearly a viting-looking cottage. On entering, there was century old. They are copied from the Manchester a scene I shall never forget. Not the least curi- Guardian-"We noticed some months ago, that ous part of it, was the variety of children of all an old mule, the property of the Earl of Ellesmere, ages and sizes-some dressed, some undressed. had been stolen from Worsley Village, and after On a heap of clothes in one corner, lay a large a six weeks' absence, had been fortunately recocat, sleeping; and a thrush, suspended on the vered. This aged creature, believed to be wall, made himself heard high above the rest. between 90 and 100 years old, has, after working He was in his glory, and evidently, from his almost a century, been at length turned out to tameness, he ranked as one of the family. To grass' upon the moss, and is described by those complete the picture, a very handsome white who have seen it, to be as lively as a cricket.' terrier dog, sound asleep, decorated the hearth-The mule's great age is well authenticated; for rug. As the rain fell in torrents, to go out was Mr. Joseph Brotherton, M.P., can remember impossible; we therefore determined to make some fifty years ago, to have seen it on the the best of it. Little did we know what fun was Bridgewater estate, and it was then known as in store for us! We had hardly time to let 'the old mule.' A carter who died some months our imagination dwell upon the probable number ago, aged 80 years, could remember working the of rats that had fallen a prey to the sleeping dog, animal above 60 years since. It is of very before, to our great surprise, our little company diminutive size; and we hope it is now to enjoy received an addition. A rabbit had joined us, green pastures and fresh water, freed from toil, unperceived! Hopping up familiarly to the dog, for the remainder of its protracted existence."Bunny's first feat was to jump clean over his Whatever doubts may arise about the "stupiback. She then alighted on his side; and this dity" of this mule, none surely can arise about not rousing him, she besieged his nose. This his being an 66 aged" animal!-Query. After

having lived so long in this sharp part of the country, ought he not to have known better than to have allowed himself to be stolen?-WILLIAM SMITH, Manchester.

[Be merciful, my dear Sir. Consider his age! Perhaps his memory was at fault. As we get older, we do not always get wiser. Certes, this is a most remarkable animal. He deserves to be well taken care of, for the rest of his days.]

muttered Mr. Lennox, striding to the window, and gazing intently at an old clothesman, who was perambulating on the opposite side of believed it; but I'd swear to that bonnet." the way, "if I hadn't seen it, I couldn't have

"Come, sit down, Charles, and see what a little quiet will do. Don't walk about so, it'll make you worse. What! going out again? You never used to leave me alone so." "Don't hinder me, Madam, Emily--I have business abroad. I shall be back to dinner, | I dare say."

Horrible Death caused by the Bite of a Reptile. -One of the keepers, at the Zoological Gardens, has just lost his life, by foolishly playing with an Indian Cobra di Capello. It seems, he was This was said with a firm, yet nonchalant possessed of a remedy or cure; but that he ne-air, and Mr. Lennox, without waiting for an glected to use it! Was this through fright, Mr. answer, left the room, and descending the Editor, or superstition?-W. C. C., Camden stairs, at a railroad pace, walked up one street and down another in a state of anything but pleasurable excitement.

Town.

[Through fright, doubtless.]

THE GREEN-SILK BONNET.

BY MOTLEY."

"MARY," said Mrs. Lennox to her soubrette, "why has not Madame Crepon sent home my bonnet?"

Don't know, I'm sure, Ma'am, I called there this morning, and Miss Smith promised it should be here by one or two at the latest." "Very provoking," murmured the disappointed lady, commencing a fragment of La Sonnambula, after Persiani; "you needn't wait, Mary. Really," continued she, pirouetting before the glass, "I am not so bad looking; no wonder Charles is so fond of me! Well, he is a darling man, and I do love him. But it is very annoying, when I wished to surprise him. There is a ring, perhaps it is-no, it's my husband. Dear fellow!"

The countenance of Mr. Charles Lennox, as he wiped his shoes leisurely at the foot of the stair-case, and afterwards ascended slowly to the first floor, wore an expression of discontent, which by no means denoted "tranquillity within." Even the certainty that he should speedily behold her, the idol of his heart, after a trial of two hours' absence, did not appear in any way to soothe him; on the contrary, his brow assumed a blacker frown than before, as he entered the drawing-room. "My dear Charles," said Mrs. Lennox, observing with alarm the obscurity which dimmed the "fair face" of him she loved, "what is the matter?"

"Nothing, Emily-a slight head-ache. Don't agitate yourself, I beg. 'Tis better

We must now transport our readers to the dressing-room of Captain Arthur Lacy, located, "for the time being," in a handsome suite of apartments in Jermyn Street. It is now nearly three o'clock, and the gallant Captain, having just terminated a slight refection of chocolate and a Naples biscuit, was engaged in scrutinising the make of a new pair of boots. A hasty ring at the streetdoor attracted his attention.

"Go down, Tom, do you hear?" said he to the servant, who was anxiously awaiting the sentence about to be pronounced respecting the newly-built "trotter cases." "Never mind the boots, answer the bell. Who can it be?" soliloquised the Captain, when the door had closed on the retreating figure of the domestic, "duns never ring in that impatient way; haven't an idea, positively."

Again the door opened, and Mr. Charles Lennox appeared, having made good use of his legs during the last half-hour, as his red face and difficulty of respiration sufficiently testified. "Bless me, Lennox, what is the matter?" inquired Lacy. "Get out, you scoundrel," added he, despatching a boot-jack after the inquisitive Tom, whose desire for improvement and edification had induced him to station himself immediately behind the new arrival.

"Lacy, my dear fellow," said Mr. Lennox, 66 excuse my abruptness, but really I am so perplexed and annoyed, that I cannot do without your advice. Will you listen to me?"

"Proceed," ejaculated the Captain, disencumbering himself of one of the aforesaid boots, and a tremendous groan, "unfold thy tale."

"You must know, Lacy," continued Lennox, working his right arm up and down in the violence of his emotion, "I am a miserable jealous being."

"Is that all?" ejaculated his hearer.

"All! listen on, I entreat you. I believe