kind neighbour, who treated it with all possible humanity. Nevertheless, the inflexible dog ran away, and returned to its first position. It was then taken some miles from town, and closely confined for a few days, when it died of grief, probably broken hearted-for such things are. What an example to cold, fickle, and ungrateful man! The survivors of the nearest relations and best of friends wipe off hastily and soon after their death

"The tear forgot as soon as shed:" they reject not food, nor refuse comfort-they keep not their vigil near the narrow bed of those who have nursed and served them: such privations are reserved for the animal which boasts not the light of reason.

SPORTING IN INDIA.

IN youth, the pleasures of hope form our greatest enjoyments; but, in the autumn and wintry season of our life, we must draw upon the pleasures of memory for our chief resource. Such is my case: and I derive much amusement from looking over my old portfolio, ransacking my writing desk, and from turning over the annals of other days, which my paper-drawer and library contain; and it would be my proudest endeavour thereby to convey entertainment to my readers. In this feeling, and with this view, I have drawn from a blotting book a parcel of letters from a very good fellow, a Scotchman, written to me some years back from India, on the subject

of Sporting there, and I shall make an extract from one of them, which, I trust, will not be wholly devoid of interest.

*

Shortly after my arrival at Calcutta, I was invited to a day's sporting by Major ———, which I accepted gladly, having great curiosity to witness Oriental hunting, which, I was led to think, must be, like other pastimes there, in Eastern splendour. Nor was I disappointed-the scene and our success surpassed my most We sanguinary expectations. started before day-break in a style more resembling the march of a corps d'armée, or a triumphal procession in honour of the Goddess of the Chase, than the preparations for a day's hunting. No Scotch Laird, Yorkshire Squire, nor our Melton Mowbray Sportsman can conceive anything equal to it: our strength and numbers, our arms and appointments, our slaves and attendants, were astounding to behold. A tigerhunt was the object in view, and a grand and memorable day we had. The Major, a fine portly man, was mounted on an elephant, from the elevation of which, placed in a castle, he scoured the circumjacent country with eagle eye, preceded by sharp-shooters, tirailleurs, scouts, spies, and savages, followed and surrounded by divers brother sportsmen, comrades, and domestics.

"We were not long before we found a tiger, which afforded considerable sport, and was killed by a brother officer's rifle. From the dingle in which we found the last ferocious animal, we pro

ceeded on with nobler game in view--the monarch of all beasts of prey; and, after some excursive riding, a magnificent lion made its appearance. The sight was most grand! but I confess that, at this moment, no small degree of fear mingled with my ambition to have to record a lion-hunt amongst the adventures of my life. The attack seemed really more like actual war than any thing else, so great and grand was the enemy to which we were opposed. The bold Major and a dashing young Cavalry Subaltern discharged their rifles simultaneously at the lion, and each of them wounded him: infuriated with pain, the fierce animal attacked the elephant, whilst the Major seized another rifle and took deliberate aim at him; but, being anxious that this shot might tell, he leaned so far forward that he overbalanced himself and fell from his castle into the lion's arms (or rather paws). Here was an awful moment ! but, wonderful to tell, the Major got off with a broken arm only, a rush having been made towards the lion, whereby he was despatched, covered with wounds, and torrents of blood streaming around. Nothing could be so brave, so desperate, nor so marvellous!"

So much for my friend's letter. For my own part, I should be quite content with the humbler and less perilous sports of the British hunting field. For, if General Moreau justly observed, that in the latter part of Buonaparte's wars, "ces batailles n'etaient que des boucheries," the same may be applied to this wild beast hunting, and to the last remains of barbarity in Europe, the bull

fights of Spain. Mercy defend us from such sanguinary exhibitions in these civilized realms and in this piping time of peace! There is, however, no saying what we may come to, now that already we have the fact of wild beasts invading those boards which were formerly only trodden by the soc and buskin.

I cannot dismiss the subject of tiger-hunting without a retrospect of regret for the fate of that fine young man, Lieutenant Munro, who was destroyed by one of these ferocious animals. I had the account of it from General Conran's own lips, who was present, and in whose arms this unfortunate victim fell. The story is pretty generally known*; but one point of it has escaped notice-namely, that when an effective shot was fired at the furious brute, which forced it to loose its hold, the dying man just staggered a few paces, and cast himself on the General's bosom, uttering these last words, "God is good!" What a volume of piety, fortitude, and resignation!" C'est une belle chose la guerre, quand on est revenu," says the French soldier after his campaigns; and so should I think of lion and tiger-hunting.

SPANISH GASCONADE.

que

IN my last I recorded the Gasconade of a hunting foreigner, who assured me that he took such a high leap that he was tired of remaining up in the air; but my Spanish brother sportsman fully equalled him-for, on my praising the steadiness of my pointer, and giving some instances to prove what I asserted, he replied, "All that is nothing; I have a

black pointer, so staunch that I defy all Europe to match him. I was shooting one day in the province of Andalusia, and was called away suddenly on pressing and particular business, leaving Azor at a dead point. I forgot him all the next day, but returning on the subsequent morning I found him motionless, but in the same position. I feared that he was dead or lost; but there he His joy at seeing me was indescribable when I released him from his post."

was.

After this he proceeded to inform me that we knew nothing of shooting until his countrymen taught it us; that the very name of spaniel is derived from Espagnol, as pointer is from punto and ponto, a point in the Spanish and Italian languages.

I cannot conclude this Gasconading article without noticing a bon mot of the late King's on this subject? A very broad ditch presented itself during a hunt, which the late King remarked to the Emigrant Comte de Belzuns as a desperate leap. The Count replied that he had leaped twice as far; on which the King smiled and observed, "that is a great stretch!"

ANECDOTES OF GEORGE IV.

AFTER the late King returned from Ireland-where his popularity was beyond description, where his smile seemed to call the mourner into joy, and the disaffected to devotional loyalty, depending on personal attachment; where admiring crowds, contemplating the Prince, the Gentleman, and the philanthropist, felt under the hand of his enchantment-he naturally visited all his favorite haunts about the Royal Cottage in the

fairy grounds, created by splendid taste and refined art, and resumed his habits and amusements in inspecting his menagerie, stud, and other establishments. The kindness of the Sovereign attached all the animals to him, and great joy was manifest in their reception of him. This circumstance did not fail to excite the flattering remarks of his Courtly circle. "Yes," replied the merry Monarch, “ they were all very glad to see me; I never witnessed such capering and prancing, such billing and cooing, such giving of tongue, and wagging of tails in my life." The way in which this was playfully spoken gave an indescribable effect to the remark.

One day, when the late King was hunting with his Royal Father near Windsor, he perceived a very great dandy amongst the field, and inquired who he was? He was informed that he was in the habit of attending the hunt in the very first style, and had been taken by the country people for some Lord, but that in fact he was no other than a very rich tanner. "Well," said the then Prince of Wales, "let him pass off for a Lord if he likes: we will call him Lord Hide the title sounds very well indeed." George the Third heard of this, and laughed heartily at it, and the tanner got this nick-name ever after.

When our late Monarch held his Court at Carlton Palace, he came rather unexpectedly into a room where Sir John M'Mahon was warming his feet at the fire, the weather being damp. The opening of the door announced the then Prince Regent's arrival, and the Baronet turned hastily round, his back having previously

been opposite the entrance, and in some confusion advanced, making an inclination of his head. "Never mind, Mac," said the late King, in his affable, sprightly tone of voice, "I always knew that you were a wet soul" (sole). These little jeux d'esprit were innumerable with His Majesty.

GEORGE IV. AND SIR JOHN LADE. THE recollections of any one acquainted with the private life and domestic habits of our late beloved Monarch would be endless. If we call to mind the many effusions of his warm heart, the innumerable kindnesses bestowed on the circle of his intimate friends, of his establishment, and down to the least of his menials, it will not then be wondered at that Sir John Lade, the gentleman-jockey, the pearl of coachmen, and the companion of his Prince's festive hours, should benefit by this beneficent disposition of his Royal Master. This he testified by an early and active exertion in Sir Jockey John's* behalf, when he was, as sporting men call it," driven to ground," i. e. in adversity, by granting him a pension: but the following anecdote will still farther illustrate what we have advanced. Some twenty years ago the then Prince of Wales was in the habit of paying an almost constant visit to Sir John, to pass away part of his evening. Finding the Sporting Baronet one night unusually

low-spirited, he kindly inquired the cause, which, after some reluctance and hesitation, was explained, and which was on account of Lady Lade's nephew (a great favorite of her husband and selt) being embarked and about to sail immediately for India, in which service His Majesty had procured him a Cadetship. The ship was already at Gravesend, and there were many probabilities of its being then in the Downs. The late King, nevertheless, said, "Johnny, there is still a chance left; send down immediately, and if he is not beyond our reach, I will provide for him otherwise." A friend of Sir John's undertook the task : one of his fleetest horses was saddled, and after the first stage he rode past, and actually brought back young Daly, having fractured his collar-bone on the way to seek him. The late King kept his word, and appointed him in his own regiment (the 10th), where he served with credit to himself, but fell a victim to the fatal retreat from Corunna. This anecdote does honour to all parties concerned in it. As for George the Fourth, the remembrance of his high mind, polished manners, and gentle heart ought to be engraven on the tablets of memory in these words :"Semper honos, nomenque tuum, laudesque manebunt."

-:

THE HERMIT IN LONDON.

than any other within my remembrance, whether we consider the superiority of the yachts opposed used to call him.

to each other; the number of Cups to be sailed for; or the contending opinions of some more knowing, as they thought themselves, than others: for many thought they saw enough in their favorite yacht to secure the prize to a certainty, and in confidence told their mighty secret to a friend, who plumed himself on the knowledge thus easily acquired! Vain hopes! the proof is in the trial, and the disappointments were almost overwhelming. They can scarcely believe their eyes or senses. A thousand excuses are offered to satisfy their inquiring friends; nor can the friendly shake of the hand buoy up their fallen spirits, or raise a smile. Toil, anxiety, and disappointment is too much-until nature has been refreshed: then re-action takes place, an improvement is pointed out, and eagerly adopted; hopes are again inspired -equally strong, yet with more reason, for experience has made them wise and however superior they allow a chance to others, which has fallen to the lot of two who have almost hopelessly striven for many times before the lucky trim could be found, to bless their longing eyes with a Cup, the winning of which is an interesting soul-stirring sight, even to those unaccustomed to it, but doubly so to the Amateur. On a fine evening in July or August, the setting sun gilding the peak of each of the many wide spreading sails, swelling with the breeze, and gracefully bending to its power, until, the guns proclaim them near-she's through the bridge, and in the distance each eye is strained to catch the favorite colour. The wind or sails conspire to keep them in suṣ

pense; but, as if by magic, she doubles her speed, and her size gradually increasing, fills the mind with astonishment at beholding the lofty mast and the immense size of the sails, which but a few minutes before seemed so small

""Tis she:

She rounds the boat, swan-like doth appear To stem the tide, giving cheer for cheer :" Or if the weather should not be so propitious, amid the storms where "blue lightnings flash," still there is interest. Close-reef'd she comes,

"Buried in foam-she seems to leap
Like an angry monster of the deep:
Or, as if her mighty spirits up-
Come of it what may-she'll win the
Cup."

The Emulation, one of the fortunate yachts alluded to, beat her old competitor the Lady Louisa in good style, and received a truly handsome Cup.

The other was to have been called the Alarm; but, from some panic in the owner's mind, was named the Water Witch. She had sailed four unsuccessful matches, which as she could not win,she contented herself with endeavoring to beat the Vestris-both yachts having been launched last season from the same slip, and within a few weeks of each other, alike in build and size, being as it was thought an improvement on that very successful yacht the Brilliant. This she could not accomplish at first, until, calling to her aid her magic art, she brought from some old store-some say she borrowed-the sails of the Don Giovanni. This was too much for the Vestris. She was overcome: she was bewitched; and, instead of witching others, lost her power. The Water Witch was successful; and amid thun