Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-10-09
ZINC nuIke and dine Rat-CatcI,er.

Inc Dufkt sAna INT 1slt-IsttC4tCEs
Panch, one Of the wtiest papers of the age, has
happy talent also, of lashing the folies and rascal
ties of the times. The following explains itself, and
goes far 10 show up the English system Of arisocracy
so ardentIy desired by Wing leaders to be established
in this country.
The Duke of Buckingham has fine eve for happy
peasantry. On royal visit to Stowe, his grace can
group thousand tilers Of the soi-in snowy smock-
frocks washed expressly for the occasion-with the
taste of bale;-master. The Duke is the farmers
friend and therefore, descending little in his benev
olence, he is the friend Of the laborer Nevertheless,
his Grace Is greater friend to everets, though they
shall not be bigger than kittens. In the East there
are asylumns and hospitals for reptiles; and the man
who could with meekest serenity, contemplate the
wants of his ellow-biped, woald feel the tendercst
pity for cock-roach lizard And in this spirit
do some of our gentlemen of England =" merry
England" as sometimes with knowing look AID
tongue in their cheeks, they call it-preserve their
game. Fine, mprison, grind to the dust the peasant
but preserve the game Heap hot Goals upon the gray
head Of the laborer; but preserve the game! Be
deaf to the goody reputation of forty years. and pun
ish the dog Ill the pauper master, (for they
and the same,) but-preserve the game! The Duke
of Buckingham, represented by one of his game
keepers) appeared few days since at the Bucking-
ham petty sessions against 50 veperable-looking
man." although rat-catcher, named William White.
Fearful odds 1! The Judges were ranged terrible
God 90 the Rev. MeSsrs. Eyre Andrews and Baynes."
The offended, White, had caught rats for 40 years
and in that time had never been cited before magis-
trate He had wife and five children to support !;
and (rat-catching was not the best OF trades-the
reverend magistrates themselves might allow that,
at times it was hard matter with him to get
his crust In an honest way. He was crossing the
public road, followed by three dogs One of them
went into ditch and brought out and killed " lev
eret as big Kitten whereupon the officer of the
/ l.I.r
dogs master before the bench. And then did these
reverend men take counsel one with another; and,
sympathizng with the wrongs of the coronated
of the leveret " as big a kitten" they ordered
White to pay 49, and in default, Ia days impris-
onment." William White handed in a written testi-
monlal of good character, signed by many men Of
good report; and the reverend magistrates-what
could they do Hooked at the document, and still the
sentence was "l6s., or IA days Imprisonment. "
Not shilling not day, was abated but mercy was
not wholly banished from the Court; time given
the rat-catcher TO earn the money. Thus William
White-his family, be sure, will be pinched little
for bread the while--may be enabled to discover how
many rats make the value of one leveret as big as
Kitten. He may also learn the value of char
acter may feel how worthless is the reputation of 4C
years honest toll, when his dog kills leveret "as bic
as kitten" And thus, at beer-houses, by the way
Gide and at the coagehearth, Will the tale of the
naughty William White 90 round; and it is natural
to suppose It, universal love for the Duke of Buck
ingham in the individuals and reverence for aristoc
racy in the abstract will sink into the hearts of the
story-telers. And thus will the reputation of the
Duke of Buckingham descend. For though he may
not mark his name in his countrys councils-thougf
with the exception Of the ESQ clause, he may heve
be known legislator-stll bis name may trave
from generation to generation Of rustcs written IL
the blood of leveres big Kittens Yet is
all our sympathy for William White. No; we fee
touch of compassion for his reverend judges. Apos
tolical they must be, we imagine their morta
struggles, the acuteness of their sufferings, wher
called upon to levy crushing fine upon venerabl,
old man who has lived life of honesty and toll fol-
that his dog has killed everet big kitten.
Sure we are that with their peculiar caste of though
they must and then ask themselves whethe
leverets, any more than field mice, were sent upol
the earth 10 be tickled as the sacred property of an
one owner. 1t is unfortunate that, when game-lav
sentence of peculiar cruelty is to be pronounced,
clergyman is generally on the bench to utter it. Il
be sure this may give solemnity to the sacrifice
as in the olden day the victim was also sacrificed b.
, priest.