14

Indeed to tell the scenes display'd to view,
Is more than language has the power to do,
Accept therefore this weak but artless lay,
From th' pen of one who signs his name
J. K.
Cheltenham, 1816.

From a LADY.
To M. S. GIRMONDI.

Now Monsieur Girmondi I'll strive to relate
Those scenes so exceedingly pleasing,
Performed by dogs you have train'd to that state,
That nightly our thoughts they are seizing.

But first I must tell you, I hired a seat,
When the wonderful animals viewing
I thought to myself so delicious a treat
I long had been vainly pursuing.

Surpris'd at the patience you must have possess'd,
While these animals you were a teaching;
To myself I oft said, was I put to the test,
Your fame I should far be from reaching.

For such tumbling, and dancing, and various
sports,
(Though often times since I've been thinking)
Were so num'rous and diverse, I had to resort,
To your BILL for its feeble assisting.

The Hearse drawn by Dogs, with one on the seat,
And others brought on in full mourning,

The Deserter when shot to enclose—was a treat
That I wonder'd from whence all were pow'ring.

The Country Dance completed by Dogs,
Was a scene so extremely bewitching;

That the lasses all smil'd on beholding them jog,
And the sleeves of their lovers kept twitching.

The Skipping Rope, Snake Dance, and World
Upside Down,

With Sedan, Spinning Wheel, all in motion,

Were sights so amusing, I am certain the town
Of their favours will give you a portion,

15

In the course of amusement a Dog she w'd his skill,
On legs right and left he was walking;
And apparently chang'd them to music at will,—
—They are only deficient in talking.—

But ere I conclude I must notice one more,
Who in fire appear'd to delight in;
Surprising all dogs, as aloft he did soar,
And when disentangled 'gan barking.

But afraid I have trespass'd too much on your time,
And my verses may not be delighting,
I beg you'll accept this small tribute of mine,
Determin'd to close my weak writing.

London, 1816.
E. H.

To Mr. GIRMONDI, on seeing his Performing
DOGS.

SIR,

Accept the tribute of my muse,
Which I te you reveal,

Design'd your merit to diffuse,
And all your feats reveal.

So wonderful your Dogs perform'd,
Such evolutions shew'd,

That satisfaction reign'd all round
With encore often loud.

A Barrow wheel'd by Dog upright,
Amaz'd the public eye;

While Harlequin full to the sight,
Through hoop did quickly fly.

An Advocate attracts the fears
With orders for the death

Of a Deserter, who appears
With his condemning breath.

A Hearse, by Dogs drawn slowly on,
With Mourners dress'd in black,

Conveys the corpse for its last home,
Returning slowly back.

16

A Wounded Soldier pity claims,
Appearing on three feet,
Who tricks his Master with great pains,—
—A most surprising feat.—

But more so this and harder still,
On two right legs is seen,
Then on two left, a Dog at will,
Changing them I ween.

A Sedan Chair, by Dogs produce
A Tumbler small to view;
While Snake Dance, Spinning Wheel amuse,
And Skipping Dance they shew.

O'er rope so nimbly one Dog s kip
On legs two, three and four;
In various postures round he trips,
Assisted by one more.

But now a Country Dance in time
Enlivens every guest,
By Harlequin and Columbine,
And Clown who is profess'd

With Madame Plateau he will join;
United all the rest
Whilst Dogs the stage in numbers line,
Partaking of the feast.

The changing scenes now bring about
A Dog so fierce to view,
Who keeps in fire 'till quite out,
Delighting in it too.

Which closes these surprising feats,
By M. Girmondi taught,
Providing for the town such treats,
So perfect are they brought.

Your's respectfully C—.

Manchester, 1817.

17

As the Public may not unlikely conceive that
it is by coercive measures, and indifferent usage,
the Proprietor has been enabled to instruct them,
the following fact will, he trusts, exonerate him
from such imputation.

During his stay at Aix-la-Chapelle, on the
borders of Germany, he lost one of his Dogs, and
being about to leave town he was compelled to re-
linquish the search, from thence he travelled to
another town about 13 or 14 miles off, a place he
had never before visited, and therefore unknown
to the animals. On the third night after his arrival,
about twelve o'clock, he was disturbed by a scratch-
ing and howling at the door, on opening which the
dog immediately entered, and by every demonstra-
tion of joy testified his fondness, but not without
mingled sensations of regret and disappointment at
being left behind. The animal came with a
thick rope about her neck, which she had evidently
bitten in two; and from information after, it ap-
peared that the Collegians at that place had used her
thus, and endeavoured to retain her but ineffectu-
ally. This Dog turns the spinning wheel.

18

The PROPRIETOR

Cannot conclude without adding these beau-
tiful lines from the pen of the Poet Cowper, who
thus immortalized the sagacity and attachment of
"Beau," in his description of the "Dog and the
Water Lily."

I saw him with that lily cropp'd,
Impatient swim to meet;

My quick approach and soon he dropp'd
The treasure at my feet.

Charm'd with the sight, the world, I cried,
Shall hear of this thy deed,

My Dog shall mortify the pride
Of Man's superior breed.

But, chief, myself I will enjoin,
Awake at duty's call;

To shew a love as prompt as thine,
To him who gives thee all.