came into his present situation, where he had been about two years. The other was not of this sanguine temperament. He was a large, powerful, curly fellow, and had no recollection of having been at any time employed in a more honourable pursuit than the present. He regarded with an eye of great suspicion every one whom he met, and greeted all who ventured to approach the cart with a low menacing growl. Indeed, he appeared to consider himself as not only employed in transporting his master's property, but likewise in the capacity of guardian; and our master in his turn seemed to repose no small confidence in him.

I was now sufficiently well off, with no lack of food, and not in general very hard work; but I could not forbear, at times, brooding over the indignity offered to my high ancestry; and my reveries usually terminated in the conclusion that "I was not born to be a slave.” Our journeys comprised visits to the various towns and villages situated beyond a circle of fifteen miles from the metropolis; but in one of these visits recently, every mouth was full of the glorious news that, "We were no longer to be subjected to the whims and caprices of mankind, but that the legislators, with that liberality which has of late years characterized their proceedings, were about to consider whether in these enlightened days it might not be proper to forbid altogether the use of our species for menial purposes.' It was shortly determined that we should comply with the spirit of the age; and a meeting was called for a certain day, for the purpose of forming some protective association; and also with a view of petitioning the humane members of both houses of Parliament to continue their exertions on behalf of our persecuted race.

By an early hour on the morning of the appointed day, parties of us were to be seen with visage sage and tail erect, bending our steps from all quarters towards the place of rendezvous. The first step after we had assembled was the appointment of a chairman; and the choice fell unanimously upon Bevis, the dignified sagacity of whose countenance at once pointed him out as the most fit and proper person to preside over this august assembly. He was also especially fitted for the office by reason of his high character, as likewise from the ascendancy which he derived from the ancient family of which he was a member, to which, possibly, may be added something from his own personal prowess. The majesty of his appearance is best described in the words of the poet :

"My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind,
So flew'd, so sanded; and their heads are hung
With ears that sweep away the morning dew."

Our chairman opened the proceedings by stating the object for which we were that day assembled, showing that we had met in accordance with the prevailing spirit of the age, for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of using all constitutional means to obtain the rights of the canine race. He stated that, as slavery was no longer tolerated in the British dominions, he could see no reason why our race, which is universally admitted to be only second to the lords of the creation, should be doomed to drag on our lives in the degradation of menial drudging; and concluded a very able

address by cautioning us that we had met together for the purposes of free discussion, and he trusted that no party feelings would lead us to the commission of such outrages as had disgraced the meetings of some of those who had set up for our superiors; but that, if after mature consideration, it should meet with the approbation of the majority of those present, we might petition the legislature to grant us those immunities to which we cannot but consider ourselves justly entitled, from the position held by our race in the scale of created beings (great cheering).

The next who addressed the meeting was of a very different mould. His mien partook of an almost equal mixture of defiance and contempt, which rendered it far from prepossessing. His face was covered with the silvery hairs of age, though his eye (for he had but one remaining orb) had lost but little of that fire which had been its distinguishing characteristic in youth, while manifold scars bore honourable testimony to the victories of his more robust years; and, together with the respect due to age, commanded the attention of all present. He commenced by saying that he could not but entertain considerable doubt as to the benefits which were likely to accrue to us from the prohibition which was now sought, and he much feared we were about to ask a boon the nature of which we were but imperfectly acquainted with. Indeed, when he reviewed his own life, he could not but be of opinion that the arbitrary caprices of our task-masters might submit us to the performance of works of a far more vexatious and harassing nature than those of which we were now complaining. He proceeded to state that he had the misfortune to be born of a family renowned for their pugnacious qualities, which character he gave such promise of supporting, that he was early in life matched against most of the celebrated fighters of his time, and had shortly acquired the reputation of being the best dog of his weight. His combats, however, had not been confined to his own species; he had also had the distinguished honour of being matched against the "king of beasts;" but this unequal contest had deprived him of an eye, and had gone near to cost him his life. Thus had his strength passed in a continual scene of strife and bloodshed, till declining nature too plainly discovered that he was no longer able to maintain his wonted superiority. Nevertheless, he was not even now suffered to shelter himself behind his hard-earned laurels, but was repeatedly doomed to suffer the mortification of being vanquished and triumphed over by those who, but a short time before, had cowered beneath his gaze, till at last his teeth being all broken in various encounters, he was totally incapacitated for further contest; and he concluded by exhorting all present to consider whether there were not others labouring under fates infinitely less tolerable than their own, adding, that as all creatures were formed for the mutual benefit and assistance of one another, we could hardly expect to have an exception made on our behalf.

This aged spokesman was succeeded by a pert, high-spirited youth, who, with great sprightliness of manner, contended that there were donkeys enough for all necessary purposes of draught, and that, consequently, our services could not be required; and as for the

hardships talked of, by some philanthropic individuals, to those who, having lost their legs, are dependant on their dogs for their means of locomotion, he maintained that, if we consider the question, it must be evident to any sensible person that those who possess no legs can have no right to move about; besides, added he, we are properly the companions, not the slaves of man.

A small voice was now heard to proceed from one corner of the assembly, which for some time we were unable to trace to any visible cause. At length, after diligent search, a pair of silvery eyes were descried peering out of a mottled head supported by very short legs of a semicircular construction, and in conjunction with a back of most extensive longitude. He gave us to understand that he was descended from a long line of ancestors, who, for many generations, had held posts of the very highest consequence; and, calculating upon the absolute necessity for their services, had assumed considerable importance; but since the introduction of machinery in the shape of "smoke-jacks," their services have been dispensed with; which circumstance at the time had been a source of joy, as they expected to be maintained with their wonted comforts, but without the work; but, alas! they had since discovered, when too late, that if they had no labour to perform, neither were they admitted to the same privileges.

I will not, however, trespass upon your pages with any more detailed account of our proceedings; suffice it to say that various other grievances were adduced by different individuals, complaining of certain hardships suffered in their own persons. One railed against the enormity of employing dogs for the purpose of initiating monkeys in the science of equitation; another bewailed his unhappy fate, which condemned him to the monotonous occupation of leading a blind man day after day through the same streets; while a third exerted all his eloquence in censure of dressing up dogs, and requiring them to dance upon their hind legs. In short, there were few but considered they had some just cause for complaint; and the meeting ended in the formation of a society, to be called "The Anti-Canine Operative League," for the purpose of making use of all constitutional measures to obtain a just protection to our species; and though nothing could cause us greater sorrow than to be driven to the adoption of such measures as may not be in strict accordance with moderation, still, should our claims continue to be disregarded, it is impossible to answer for the consequences which may ensue; but whether we may have recourse to agitation, or the system of lecturers, remains undecided.

Suffer me, however, to conclude with a friendly hint to yourself and readers (as I still retain a friendly feeling towards sportsmen), that "every dog has his day;" and that, ere very many weeks, ours will have arrived, when, should all redress still continue to be denied us, we may find ourselves under the painful necessity of pursuing active measures in our own defence, and endeavouring to frighten our tyrants into what humanity has not sufficient influence over them to prompt. Your most obdt. servant, "RADICAL."

A BILL OF FARE.

FOR ALL THE YEAR AND ALL THE WORLD.

BY AN OXONIAN.

Old England's stout cheer is beef and beer,
Soup-meagre is Gallia's boast;

And a mealy tatur with a drop of cratur
In Ireland joys a host.

All Wales we may please with toasted cheese,
And "muckle" your right true Scot
With the flavour fine (rather his than mine)
Of hard-kenn'd haggis hot.

The Spaniard afar on a good cigar

In fancy forms a feast,

While the Cossack as spoil will swill train-oil-
The nasty, greasy beast!

With taste more refined how often has dined
On a song Italia's son!

And the dram drained soon, sans, alas! spittoon,
Is to Yankee etarnal fun.

From the high seasoned curry not one will hurry 'Neath India's burning clime,

For the smack of Cayenne to many a man
Has a savour nigh the sublime.

Like the macaroni to lout Lazarone,

Of Naples, that big blackguard

Who lies on his back, and takes his "wack"
At two or three cents a yard.

Long before "heavy wet" the mild sherbet
With the sultan favour gains,

Though in want of "a rise" he opium tries,
To banish e'en regal pains;

While the African, void of all that's enjoyed-
The savage, but not the free-

Amidst riches and gold just life can hold

From the bread or butter tree.

"Nation" hard too the rations of Swedish nations (We are flying from hot to cold),

Where, all steam and froth, nice nag's-head broth For the public good is sold.

At such very coarse fare don't your German stare!
A people of higher taste,

Whose doubtful treat is prime sausage-meat--
Their recipe "nothing waste."

We look round again, and the world's citizen
Claims of us a knife and fork

For the wandering Jew, who nought will eschew
But a delicate piece of pork.

Let a hint here suffice to the nastily nice,
As we hurry on to close,

At "the kill and eat" knight, who after a fight
Can fancy his friends and foes.

May each one but the last be guiltless of fast
On the opening of the year;

May the thought or the wish but precede each dish
Put down in our Bill of Fare!

May each palace and cot, each long range and pot,
Of feasting pour out its load,

From city-king's spread to the poet who's fed
On beef, id est, à-la-mode!

LITERATURE..

In

ON LANDED PROPERTY, AND THE ECONOMY OF ESTATES. By David Low, Esq., F.R.S.E., &c., &c., &c. London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1844. The author of this volume is already well and favourably known to all those who are interested in the landed statistics of Great Britain by his valuable additions to her library of domestic natural history, and rural affairs in general. The present work will greatly add to his fame. It is full of practical details, occupying nearly seven hundred pages, comprised under eleven heads, namely-Relations between Landlord and TenantValue and Expenses of an Estate, and the Laying Out of Farms-The Lease-Buildings of the Farm-Enclosures-Drains-Watered Meadows-Embankments-Roads-Minerals-and Woods. these days, when the civil war between the land and the loom is carried on with an unhappy bitterness, anything which may tend to place the actual condition of our national resources in a true point of view must be regarded as a national concern. Such is this book of Mr. Low's. It points out, as we conscientiously believe, the origin of the existing agricultural pressure; and proposes a sound-at all events, a safe-alternative for the evil. The course it inculcates of necessity must benefit the position of labouring agriculturists in time to come, and lighten the burden of protective measures, by enabling the farmer-through the aid of scientific culture-to raise infinitely greater crops at a great reduction of expenditure than he does at present. The secret of the prosperity of this country is the development of her resources in advance of the nations which are her customers, and the diminished amount (and, consequently, cost) of labour by which this is accomplished. Men of science and practical attainments, like Mr. Low, have been the agents of this good work; would that they had all set about it in the fashion of a right philosophy, such as that dictated by our author in his preface-In laying a foundation for a better order of things, the interests-nay, the safety-of the