The native American., 1838-07-21
A CHAPTER ON DOGS.

led out to me, as he lay on the pavement in
font Of the House of Assembly 1t was mise
rable-looking cur but he had tale extra attached
to him, which had magnifed him into a lion. II
was said that he belonged to Dutch soldier, who
was killed in the revolutions at the spot where the
dog then lay, and that ever since, "a period of
four years. the animal had taken up his quarters
there, and invariably lain upon that spot. Wheth-
er my informant lied, and the dog did not, can
not pretend TO say; but if the story be true, it was
a most remarkable specimen Of fidelity and ugl-
ness. And lie was a sensible dog moreover: in
stead of dying of grief and hunger as some foolish
dogs have done, he always sets off for an hour
every evening to cater for his support, and then
returns to pass the night on the spot. went up
to him, and when within two yards, he thought
|proper to show his teeth, and snarl most dogmat-
llcaly; may, therefore, in addition to his other
Qualities, state that he was an ill-natured dog
How lar the report was correct, cannot youch;
but watched him three or four days, and always
| found him at his post and after such strict in
vestigation, had asserted ten years instead OF
four | have prescriptive right, as traveller, to
be believed.
| Ii is singular that it is only in England that
you can find dogs properly SO called; abroad they
have nothing but ours. | do not know anything
more puzzling than the genealogy of the animals
You meet with under the denomination of dogs in
most of the capitals of Europe Hwould appear
as the vice of promiscuous and unrestricted in
tercourse had been copied from their masters; and
| am almost tempted to assert, that you may Judge
of the morality of capital from the degeneracy
of the dogs. have often, at Paris, attempted to
make out descent, but found it impossible
Even the late Sir G. Naylor, with all the herald 5
office even for double fees, could not manage to
Idecipher escutcheons oblerated by SO many
Icrosses. s#
/ am very partial to dogs, and one of my
amusements, when abroad, is to watch their meet
| ings with each other; they appear to me to do
Everything but speak. Indeed, constant and
acute observer will distinguish in dogs all the pas
sons, virtues, and vices of men; and it is general
y the case, that those Of the purest have the
nOber qualifications. You will find devotion,
courage, generosity, good temper, sagacity, and
forbearance; but these virtues, with little alloy, are
lonly to be found in the pure breeds. In cur il
lisquite lottery; he isa most heterogeneous com
lPound Of virtue and vice, and sometimes the
amalgamation is truly iudicrous. Notwitlistand
ing which, little scrutiny Of his countenance anc
his motions, will soon enable you to form very
fair estimate Of his general character and disposi
| ton, sl t# .t.2t -fh Boz
/ One Of the most remarkable qualities in dogs is
the fidelity of their attachments; and the more So,
as their attachments are very often without any
warrantable cause. For no reason that can be
assigned, they will take partiality to people or
animals, which becomes so dominant that their
existence appears to depend upon its not being in
terfered with. ] had an instance Of this kind,
and the parties are all living. put up at live
ry stable in town, a pair of young ponies, for an
hour or two. On my taking them out again, the
phacton was followed by large coach dog, about
two years old, fine grown animal, but not mark
cd and in very poor condition. He followed us
into the country; but having my establishment OF
dogs, (taxes taken into consideration I ordered
him to be shut out. Ile would not leave the iron
gates, and when they were opened, in he bolted,
and fastening to the stables, found out the po-
MES, and was not to be dslodged from under the
manger without a determined resistance. This
alternate boiling in and boiling out continued for
many days; finding that could not get rid of him
| sent him away forty miles in the country; bu,
he returned the next day, expressing the most
extravagant JOY at the sight of the ponies, who,
strange to say, were equally pleased, allowing
| him to put his paws upon them, and bark in their
faces. But although the ponies were partial to
the dog, ! was not; and aware that a voyage is a
great specific ior curing improper attachments, |
sent the dog down the river in barge, request
ing the men TO land him where they were bound.
on the other side Of the Medway; but in three
days the dog again made his appearance, the pic
ture of famine and misery. Even the coachman 5
heart was melted and the rights and privileges Of
his favorte snow-white terrier were forgotten. II
was therefore agreed in cabinet council held in
the harness-room, that we must make the best
Of it; and as the dog would not leave the ponies,
the best thing we could do, was to put a little
flesh on his bones, and make him look respectable.
We therefore victualled him that day, and put him
on our books with the purser's name of Pompcy.
Now this dog proved that sudden as was his at
tachmcnt to the ponies, it was Of the strongest
quality. He never would and never has since left
these animals. If turned out in the fields, he re-
mains out with them, night as well as day, taking
up his station as near as possible half way be-
tween the two, and only coming home to get his
dinner. No stranger can enter their stables with
impunity, for he is very powerful, and on such
occasions very savage. year or two after his
domicaion, / sold the ponies, and the parties
who purchased were equally anxious at first to get
rid of the dog; but their attempts like mine were
unavailing, and like me, they at last became re-
conciled TO him. On my return from abroad,
repurchased them, and Pompey, of course, was
included in the purchase.
Il No GRO poog &c S,r ,,erfect.-and Do,n,ox, h, 1