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'Animal; and when he died, the Dog would not quit the body, but laid upon the bed by its side. It was with difficulty he was tempted to eat any food; and although, after the burial, he was taken to the Hall, and caressed with all the tenderness which so fond an Attachment naturally called forth, he took every opportunity to steal back to the room in the cottage where his old master breathed his last: here he would remain for hours; from thence he daily visited his Grave, and at the end of fourteen days, notwithstanding every kindness and attention shewn him, he died literally broken-hearted.

"A few days before the overthrow of Robespierre, a revolutionary tribunal had condemned Monsieur R. an ancient magistrate, and a most estimable man, on a pretence of finding him guilty of a conspiracy. Monsieur R. had a water Spaniel, at that time about twelve years old, which had been brought up by him, and had scarce ever quitted his side. Monsieur R. was cast into prison, and in the silence of a living tomb he was left to pine in thought, under the iron scourge of the tyrant; who, if he extended life to those whom his wantonness had proscribed, even until death became a prayer, it was only to tantalize them with the blessing of murder, when he imagined he could more effectually torture them with the curse of existence.

"This faithful dog, however, was with him when he was first seized, but was not suf fered to enter the prison: he took refuge with a neighbour of his late master's. But, that posterity may judge clearly of the times in which Frenchmen existed at that period, it must be added, that this man received the poor dog tremblingly, and in secret, lest his humanity for his friend's dog should bring him to the scaffold. Every day, at the same hour, the dog returned to the door of the prison, but was still refused admittance. He, however, uniformly passed some time there. Such unremitting fidelity at last won even on the porter of a prison, and the dog was at length allowed to enter. The joy of both master and dog was mutual; it was difficult to separate them; but the honest jailor, fearing for himself, carried the dog out of the prison. The next morning, however, he again came back, and once on each day afterward was regularly admitted by the humane jailor. When the day of receiving sentence arrived, notwithstanding the guards, which jealous power, conscious. of its deserts, stations around, the dog penetrated into the hall, and couched himself between the legs of the unhappy man, whom he was about to lose for ever.

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"The fatal hour of execution arrives, the doors open; his dog receives him at the threshold! his faithful dog alone, even under the eye of the tyrant, dared to own a dying friend! He clings to his hand undaunted. Alas! that hand will never more be spread upon thy head, poor dog!' exclaimed the condemned. The axe falls! but the tender adherent cannot leave the body; the earth receives it, and the mourner spreads himself on the grave, where he passed the first night, the next day, and the second night the neighbour, meantime, unhappy at not seeing the dog, and guessing the asylum he had chosen, steals forth by night, and finding him, caresses and brings him back. The good man tries every way that kindness could devise to make him eat; but, in a short time, the dog escaping, regained his favourite place. Every morning, for three months, the mourner returned

to his protector merely to receive his food, and then returned to the ashes of his dead master! and each day he was more sad, more meagre, and more languishing.

"His protector, at length, endeavored to wean him; he tied him: but what manacle is there that can ultimately triumph over nature? He broke or bit through his bonds; again returned to the grave, and never quitted it more. It was in vain that all kind means were used to bring him back. Even the humane jailor assisted to take him food, but he would cat no longer for four-and-twenty hours he was absolutely observed to employ-Oh, force of genuine love!—his weakened limbs in digging up the earth that separated him from the being he had served. Affection gave him strength, but his efforts were too vehement for his powers: his whole frame became convulsed; he shrieked in his struggles; his attached and generous heart gave way, and he ceased to breathe; with his last look turned upon the grave, as if he knew he had found, and again should be permitted to associate with his master; and that his

"Faithful Dog should bear him company."

The following lines were written as a trifling memorial to one of the best Spaniels that ever existed.

Well hast thou earned this little space,

Which barely marks the turf is heaved,

For, truest of a faithful race,

Thy voice its master ne'er deceived.

Whilst busy ranging hill and dale,

The Pheasant crouched from danger nigh,

'Till warmer felt the scented gale,
Thou forced the brilliant prey to fly.

Alike the Woodcock's dreary haunt,

Thou knew to find amidst the shade;
Ne'er did thy tongue redoubled chaunt,
But, mark! quick echo'd thro' the glade.

Rest then assured, that mortals can
Draw moral from thy story here;
Happy, if so employed the span
Of active life, within their sphere.

For search the meddling world around,

Few do their proper parts sustain ;

How rare the instance to be found

Of Truth amongst the motley Train!

Laws respecting Dogs.

DUTY ON DOGS.

By 36 Geo. III. c. 124. a duty was imposed upon Dogs, which, by 38 Geo. III. c. 41. is repealed, and the following duty granted in lieu thereof.

For every greyhound, hound, pointer, setting dog, spaniel, lurcher, or terrier, and for every dog, of whatever description or denomination, where two or more are kept, shall be paid 6s. each. And by 42 Geo. III. c. 37. an additional duty of 4s. making the total charge 10s.

And for every Dog not of the above description, where one dog shall be kept, 4s. And by 42 Geo. III. c. 37. an additional duty of 2s. making the total charge 6s.

No Dog to be liable to the duty until six months old.

If any person be desirous to compound for any number of hounds, and giving notice to the Collector of his intention, shall pay 241. within thirty days after the 5th April yearly, he shall not be liable to be assessed for any hound by him kept.

DOGS (STATUTES RELATING TO).

By 5 Ann, c. 14. s. 4. it is enacted, That if any person not qualified shall keep or use any greyhound, setting-dogs, hays, lurchers, tunnels, or any other engines, to kill and destroy game, they shall, on conviction*, forfeit 51. to be levied by distress+; and for want of distress, the offender shall be sent to the house of correction for three months for the first offence, and for every after offence four months.

By this act Justices and Lords of Manors are empowered to take away any Dogs, &c. from such unqualified persons; as may Gamekeepers, or any other persons, by warrant.

* The Statute for the preservation of Game, contrary to all other penal Statutes, seems but in few instances expressly to limit the time of information. By 26 Geo. III. the informer must inform and prosecute within six months from the offence, or the whole penalty goes to the King. By 8 Geo. III. c. 19. the proceedings against offenders on the Statutes for the preservation of Game must be before the end of the next term after the offence.

+ Goods distrained for penalties under the game laws are not repleviable. 1 Stra. 567.

Stealing Dogs is not felony. But by 10 Geo. III. c. 18. s. 2, 3, 4. STEALING any Dog whatsoever from the owner, or any person entrusted, or selling, buying, receiving, harbouring, detaining, or keeping any such, knowing the same to be stolen, for the first offence, shall forfeit, not exceeding 301. nor less than 201. with all charges, &c. immediately, or be committed to the common gaol, or house of correction, not exceeding twelve calendar months, nor less than six.

BURN, title Dogs, expresses some doubt whether upon this Statute it is penal to steal a Bitch; a question which we believe has never yet been argued in a Court of Law. The same writer adds likewise some very judicious remarks respecting the penalties, and the clause concerning the appeal.

ADJUDGED CASES.

The Statute 5 Ann, being a penal act, must be construed strictly, and will not, therefore, extend, by any equitable construction, to other Dogs besides those enumerated.

Nov. 1780. Johnson v. Overall. The Declaration stated, that the Defendant discharged a certain gun loaded with gunpowder and bullets, and shot a certain dog of the plaintiff. The defence was, that only four sorts of Dogs are in law of any value, and those specified. Dog in the Declaration not specified, and therefore did not appear of any value.-Plaintiff nonsuited.

Hooker v. Wilks. This was an action of Debt, on 8 Geo. I. c. 19. for the penalty of 301. for using a hound to destroy the game; and, after a verdict for the plaintiff, the judgment was arrested; for 5 Ann, c. 14. has not the word hound; and the words other engines, come after nets, &c. and are applicable only to inanimate things. And this being a penal law, cannot be extended. The Statute 22 & 23 Car. II. c. 25. has indeed general words, or any other Dogs to destroy Game; but this is not a conviction on that Statute *. 2 Stra. 1126.

Though the using a dog, and a gun, are both separately penal, yet per Lord Kenyon, Chief Justice, if a person go out with a gun and a dog on the same day, he is subject to but one penalty. 7 Term. Rep. 152.

* But, although this Statute has those general words, it is impossible to convict any offender under it in any penalty, because none is thereby given. The act does not declare that no person shall not keep or use any greyhound, &c. or any other dogs to destroy game; but the general words are found in the enacting clause, which gives authority to Lords of Manors to appoint Gamekeepers to search the house of any person suspected to have any greyhounds, setting-dogs, ferrets, coney dogs, or other dogs to destroy HARES. OR CONIES. No penalty can therefore be recovered under 5 Ann against those who keep any Dog not mentioned in that Statute.

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