Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-06-13

I SEND YOU Al extract from YER.
entertaining work, entitled. Comi'
Tales" &c. which contains many sf"rie
,u o,,o,lated fur amusement in = leisure
hour. This tale is good satire on those
who feel more delight in contemplating
an o,idit, in nature, than in adlnirins TIT
numerous and beautiful works Of the crea'
ton.
.u0DERS PHILOSOPHF OF
THE HISTORY OF HORNED Cock.
A man that bought poultry round the
country to supply the markets OF the me-
trc3oiis, having got intelligence Of q Viz
tnoso who built his pretensions to seicnti-
fic fame on making collections OF the ano-
malous frolics Of nature, without ever at
tan3tias to inyesti, ,te the wisdom ant.
power displayed in the regular process ol
her works, resolved to turn it TO has own
Advantage.
As SOON as he found that he could
bring his scheme To 4 probability vi sue
cess. he waited OH the firtnosO, and Siy-
ing no;:cs that he had something curious
to commandments, WAS Immediately admit
ted to an audience. liz his museum. where
he Informed htIn that nc had received III
teiliscncc from 4 particular friend OF his.
Scotch petllar, that. in the iaithest part
of the Highlands, there was most re-
markabie Cock, with two surprising horns
growing out Of the back OF his head, in
the possession of an old woman. who was
famous for second sight that upon his
ad.n;ring the creature, the old woman had
offered to sell it TO him for pound Of to-
baeeo and bottle of brandy. bit he was
afraid to NEEDLE with it, as all the cOun-
try said il was her familiar, though he
had seen it himself scrape the dunghill and
behave like any ether cock and that,
upon hearing the news, he was come to
inform his lorsisilip oft. and otter his ser
vice to go all the way himself for the bird,
aid bring him up, if he would promise
to reiinh,ir>e him the expenses OF his jour
nay. and g;ve him some little cOnsidcra-
ton for his trouble: and to convince his
hardship that he mad no design to impose
upon LIN. he should go ct his own ha-
zar,l, and desire nothing ifhe did not sue
eeed.
The first mention OF such curiosity
threw the Virtuoso into the highest rap
ture he embraced the fellow. cOnjured
him not to lose a minute. nor drop the
least syllable Of the affair to any person
living, till he brought him the Cock and,
TO secure his fidelity. pulled out his purse,
and gave him ten g,,ineas. with promise
of fifty more the moment he should re-
e-iye hi'n. The man promised every
thing that he required, and went away
hugssins himself in the success Of his
scheme. Accordingly he left that part OF
the country directly. and, taking care to
keep beyoad the reach of his iordship's
enquiry, followed his business rs usual
far the time that he might be thought to
have spent in his expedition. In the mean
while the Eirtuoso could not conceal the
pride Of bis heart, on the prospect of so
great an acquisition but in all letters
10 his philosophical CORRESPONDENTS. gave
mysterious hints Of something immensely
fine, rare, anu unnatural. and assumed the
importance due to the possession Of such
treasure.
At length the moment arrived that was
to complete his happiness. About ten
o'clock at night the man aiishted at his
loTlship's gate. and sending in his name.
was immediately shewn into the museum.
where his loIslship ilew to meet him, in
A -.
man entered. all over bcspattered with
dirt, and putting on every appearance Of
fatigue. :. Well. my good friend. (saii
the Yirtuoso, with the greatest earnest
n.ss1 WHAT s.,etess Where is the dear
creature Si-' be so happy as TO see
t'r;-. in my possession ?" '.s,y icrd Gan
- NAM must beg your pardon