considerable sums were depending) was decided in his favour. In the year 1792, Schoolboy, the property of T. Clerk, Esq. (commonly called Vauxhall Clerk,) was a greyhound of much sporting celebrity at Newmarket, and in its vicinity. He was bred by sir C. Bunbury, Bart. and got by Dr. Frampton's Fop, out of sir Charles's Miss. He ran a great number of matches over Newmarket, upon which very large sums were frequently depending, and never was beat. He was the sire of Troy, Traveller, Lilly, and others, very good runners, many of whom have been sold for twenty guineas each. That highly celebrated dog, called the Miller, bred by the reverend T. C. B. Dudley, had little to boast upon the score of pedigree, having by individual merit run himself into local popularity. During the first nine months he was so exceedingly awkward, heavy, clumsy and unpromising, that no thoughts were entertained of bringing him into the field; the book of fate seems, how ever, to have contained predictive, pages in his favour: various vicissitudes are observed in the human as well as in the animal creation :many a substantial city subordinate (originally from the tail of the plough) has become the chief magistrate of the first commercial city in the world. The Miller, upon a sporting emergency, (when only twelve months old,) was borrowed of the owner by a friend, who, going to the marshes in St. Osyth, did not like to appear without having a sporting like appendage in his retinue; alike "unknowing and unknown" he was introduced to the honours of the day, winning several matches VOL. XLVI. against the best dogs in the field. Returning with this sudden and unexpected blaze of reputation, he was received into personal favour, considered worthy of confidence, appointed to a place in the administration, and admitted into the cabinet council of the canine department. Having thus raised himself by the peculiar merit of personal precedence, from the recesses of obscurity to a degree of sporting eminence, and absolutely run himself into reputation, he became oc casionally introduced to the most powerful and popular opponents; where, however, he for several years continued to maintain his superiority over every dog brought against him; winning, during that time, 74 successive matches, without having been once beaten. Miller is at present a stallion of great estimation, and his produce prove excellent runners. The energetic velocity of the greyhound in pursuit of game, has always been matter of admiration to the lovers of the sport; but more particularly so to the ruminative amateur, when prompted by reflec tion to form comparisons. Various have been the opinions upon the difference of speed between a wellbred greyhound and a blood horse of some celebrity, if opposed to each other for a mile, or for any greater or shorter distance. It has by the best and most experienced judges, been thought that, upon a flat, a horse of this description would prove superior to the greyhound, for either an extended or contracted distance; but that in a hilly country, the greyhound would have an evident advantage. Wishes had been frequently indulged by different branches of the sporting world, 3G that that some criterion could be adopt ed, by which the certainty of superiority in speed could be fairly as certained; when, after a variety of suggestions and propositions from one quarter to another without saccess, the following circumstance accidentally took place; affording some rays of information upon what was previously considered a matter of the greatest uncertainty.— In the month of December, 1800, a match was to have been run over Doncaster course, for one hundred guineas, but one of the horses having been drawn, a mare started alone, that by running the ground she might insure the wager: when having run about one mile of the four, she was accompanied by a greyhound bitch, who joined her from the side of the course, and, emulatively entering into competition, continued to race with the mare the other three miles, keeping nearly head and head, affording an excellent treat to the field, by the energetic exertions of each. At passing the distance, five to four was betted in favour of the greyhound: when parallel with the stand, it was even betting, and any one might, have taken his choice for five or ten; the mare, however, had the advantage by a head at the termination. The invincible ardour and determined progress of the greyhound is not easily to be restrained by any intervening obstacles it is possible to surmount, or any difficulties that can, by the most indefatigable perseverance, be overcome; in confirmation of which a volume of facts might be adduced, but few will suf. fice. Early in life, the writer being upon a visit at Wortingwood farm, near Basingstoke, in Hampshire, 1 and walking over the fields with an uncle, a hare was found sitting upon the bank of the fence, but previous to her being turned out of her form, it was thought necessary to use some precaution that she might be prevented from too easily gaining a covert not far from the scene of action. That this might be the better effected, the writer was fixed in an open gap of the hedge (leading directly to the covert), with a strict injunction to stop the hare if she came that way. The hare, however, upon being put up, made immedi ately for the well-known gap, and passing between the legs of the writer, was instantaneously follow, cd by the greyhound at his utmost speed; whose back coming into con. tact with the fork of the unfortu nate guard, gave him an electrical elevation of four or five feet above the ground, which he had but just recovered from, when he had to encounter a severe flagellation from an enraged relative for the loss of the hare. Some few years since, a greyhound, named Rajah, the property of a Mr. Knowles, in the county of Hertford, having supported a very long course, and turned the hare at least a dozen times, killed her singlehanded, but was so completely exhausted, that he lay panting by her side, seemingly unable to rise. In this situation he was observed by two countrymen, and the master not coming up, or being in sight, they determined to secure the hare; but, upon getting near, with an intent to seize her, the greyhound suddenly sprung up, took the hare in his mouth, and set off the way he came, the fellows pursuing with sticks and stones; when meeting his master, who had followed the course, he laid the hare at his feet, and immediately turning round, flew at the men, but was then so weak, in consequence of the successive exertions, that he again dropped as if dead; by bleeding, and proper attention, he was luckily recovered, and long continued a faithful servant of an affectionate master. In 1794, as a party of gentlemen were coursing at Finchingfield, in Essex, a hare was suddenly and unexpectedly started, when a brace of greyhounds, coming in opposite directions, ran against each other with such velocity, that both were killed on the spot. In February, 1798, a brace of greyhounds, belonging to a gentle man of Carlisle, coursed a hare from the Sweft, and killed her at Clemmell, a distance of seven miles: both the dogs were so exhausted, that, with every possible means of assistance, they were with difficulty recovered. The field consisted of nearly two hundred horsemen, and much money was sported upon the occasion: betting was even at starting, although the hare was the favourite against the greyhounds, she having been repeatedly coursed, but always beat her pursuers easy. She was, on the day of her death, given two hundred yards law, and, when killed, found to weigh eight pounds eleven ounces; rendering erroneous the opinion that light hares are the best runners. Some few years since, the greyhound of a gentleman who was delayed at Dover, waiting for a wind, was taken by the owner and a small party, in search of a hare of some local notoriety, who had escaped her previous pursuers of every description; when found, the greyhound soon proved himself so superior in speed, that she instantly ran for the cliff, as the only chance of escaping; but, throwing himself at her some yards with the most incredible and determined ferocity, he caught her exactly on the brink, and unfortunately went with her in his mouth to the bottom, where, as may be natu rally concluded, they were literally dashed to pieces. The mild, affable, and serene aspect of the greyhound, in its domestic state, constitutes no drawback to its innate sagacity, or grateful attention to its protector; of which the unfortunate king Charles the first was so truly observant, that the remark he made during his troubles is upon record, and strictly just, as applicable to the instinctive fidelity of the animal, as well as its satirical effects upon the herd of sycophants who surrounded him. In the course of a familiar conversation, respecting the canine species in general, a doubt was started, what particular kind of dog was entitled to pre-eminence, when it was universally admitted to rest between the spaniel and the greyhound; to which the monarch gave a polished finish, in favour of the latter, by saying it possessed all the good-nature and solicitous affability of the spaniel, without the fawning. The natural simplicity and peaceable demeanour of the greyhound has sometimes induced a doubt, whether the instinctive sagacity of this particu lar race has been equal to some others of the species; circumstances, perhaps, have not often occurred, by which a fair criterion could have been formed; one, however, within the personal knowledge and remembrance of the writer, seems admirably calculated to throw an additional light upon that part of the subject. 3 G 2 A Mr. A Mr. Moore, then residing at Windsor, in Berkshire, had made application to his friends in the north of England to obtain a well-bred greyhound from thence, to oblige one of the keepers of Windsor Great Park, for the purpose of killing fawns in the season. The soli citation was attended with success, and the greyhound was consigned by the waggon to London, arrived safe in Bishopsgate-street, and from thence was conveyed to the Bell-sarage, upon Ludgate-hill, where it was delivered to the driver of the Windsor caravan, and reached the place of destination in safety. After a confinement of two days, with every attention to food and family tenderness, the dog was left at liberty about the house and premises, seemingly not only satisfied, but pleased with his situation and the caresses he received; in less than the next eight and forty hours, he had suddenly faken his departure; a few days after which, Mr. Moore received a letter, with information that the dog had reached the place of his former residence in Yorkshire, before the return of the waggon by which he was originally sent to London. Innumerable are the instances which might be adduced in demonstration of the sagacity, fidelity, and inviolable attachment of the greyhound, in an equal degree with such of the canine species as possess the means of displaying those qualifications in a manner more conspicuous and attracting; but, as enough has been already introduced to confirm that idea, and to gratify the moderate mind of investigation, it may not be considered inapplicable to bring this head to a conclusion, by extracting from ancient records one of a different description, shewing the ingratitude of Richard the second's greyhound, translated from Froissart, by Sir John Bourchier, Lord Berners: "And, as it was infourmed me, kyng Richarde had a gray hounde, called Mithe, who always wayted upon the kynge, and woulde knowe no man els; for when so ever the kynge did ryde, he that kept the grayhounde dyd lette him lose, and he wolde streyght runne to the kynge, and faune uppon him, and leape with his fore fete uppon the kynge's shoulders. And as the kynge and the erle of Derby talked togyder in the courte, the grayhounde, who was wonte to leape uppon the kynge, left the kynge, and came to the erle of Derby, duke of Lancastre, and made to him the same friendly countenance and chere as he was wonte to do to the kynge. The duke, who knewe not the gray. hounde, demanded of the kynge what the grayhounde wolde do? Cou.... sin,' quod the kynge, it is a greate goode token to you, and an evil signe to me.'-- Sir, how knowe you that?' quod the duke. I know it well,' quod the kynge; the grayhounde meket you there this daye as kynge of England, as ye shalbe, and I shalbe deposed: the grayhounde hath this knowledge naturally; therefore take hym to you, he wyll folloe you and forsake mee.'"The duke understoode well those words, and cheryshed the grayhounde, who walde never after followe t'kynge Richarde, but followed the duke of Lancastre.” Observations on the various Kinds of New South Wales produces a great great variety of timber trees, to some of which the colonists have given names descriptive of their qualities; and others they call by the names of those trees which they most resemble either in leaf, in fruit, or in the texture of the wood. Among the former are the blue, red, and black butted gums; stringy and iron barks; turpentine and light wood: and among the latter are the she-oak, mahogany, cedar, box, honeysuckle, tea-tree, pear-tree, apple-tree, and fig-tree. These trees shed their bark annually at the fall of the year, and are always in foliage, the new leaves forcing off the old ones. The blue and red gums are nearly of the same texture; they are very tough and strong, and in ship-building are adapted to framing: the best size is from two feet to two and a half, for when larger the timber is generally unsound in the heart.The blue gum, while standing, is subject to be pierced by very mipute worms, which make innumerable holes, scarce visible to the naked eye. Black butted gum and stringy bark differ very little either in quality or appearance: they are much tougher and stronger than English oak, and are particularly adapted to planking. They will also answer for lower masts, or lower yards, for beams, or any other purpose where straight timber is required. If intended for spars, they ought to be procured as near the size wanted as possible, for the toughness lies in the outside, and the wood at the heart is generally decayed. Iron bark is not so tough as the two former, but is extremely strong and hard, and runs good from two to four feet: in ship-building it would answer for framing, beams, &c.---In New South Wales it is chiefly used in house-building and common furniture. Turpentine is a small wood of no service but in flooring houses. Lightwood grows to twenty inches, and, from its buoyancy, (whence its name,) is proper for building small craft and boats. The oak is distinguished accord ing as it grows either on the hills or swamps; the former runs to be'tween twelve and eighteen inches, and when larger is always shaken in the heart; the grain is short and cross, and the wood is apt to fly and warp-it is used chiefly in cabinet work, particularly vencering. The swamp oak is the same size, and differs from the other in having a more uniform grain, and being consequently much tougher in shipbuilding it would answer for scantling. Of both these woods the pailing and shingles are made in New South Wales, Mahogany runs good to three feet, and by its texture can scarcely be known from the mahogany of Jamaica. In shipbuilding it answers well for framing. Cedar nearly resembles the ma, hogany of Honduras in its grain, and might be applied to the same purposes. When growing, it re sembles the mountain ash both in its leaves and berry. its Box (so called from its leaves) is a sound and very tough wood; size about two feet and a half, and would answer for any purpose of shipbuilding. Honeysuckle (named from its leaf) is a soft wood, fitter for joiner's work than shipbuilding. At Port Jackson its size does not exceed two 3G 3 feet, |