Superstition connected with the Horseshoe, 157 



spaniel, retained unimpaired the breed of the old English 

 bloodhound. The Duke's steward, who has the care of 

 these noble animals, had recourse to this plan at that destruc- 

 tive fire (well-known in the neighbourhood) at Mr. G. Raing- 

 ley's, of Woodstock, one of the Duke's tenants. The steward 

 was one of the first on the spot, and observed some fresh 

 footsteps : he therefore marked their direction, and summoned 

 his conductor. The hound was no sooner put on the foot- 

 step than he opened his deep-toned note, and traced with 

 wonderful exactness every winding attempt to delude his eager 

 pursuit, until he reached a previously notorious cottage. The 

 door was opened ; but then appeared the failure, for no man 

 was found : however, the insatiable pursuer was not to be 

 thus deluded ; for, rushing out in the direction of the fire, he 

 became more anxious at every step, until he seized one of a 

 group going to assist (and, as was afterwards proved, the one 

 most lavish in abuse of the incendiary), to his no small asto- 

 nishment. The man was thunderstruck at his unexpected 

 discovery, and soon confessed that he was the actual per- 

 petrator of the diabolical act." ( The Bury and Norwich Post 

 and East Anglian, Feb. 12. 1834.) 



[Since the preceding was put in type, the treatise on kinds 

 of bloodhounds in The Penny Cyclopaedia has been seen ; it 

 is a very interesting one, and is illustrated by figures. It is 

 included in Nos. 272, 273.] 



Art. XI. Retrospective Criticism. 



The Superstition connected with the Horseshoe. (V. 212. , 

 VII. 54-6.) — The " Notices of certain Omens and Supersti- 

 tions connected with Natural Objects," communicated by 

 your intelligent correspondent, the Rev. W. T. Bree (VII. 

 545. et. seq^j, afforded me much entertainment and informa- 

 tion ; and to such as have received pleasure from the perusal 

 of them it may not be uninteresting to know that the 

 horseshoe superstition extends to Asia. In India, as appears 

 from Johnson's Field Sports of the East" the practice has 

 been observed, and horseshoes are to be there seen nailed to 

 the thresholds, and the idea of its preventing witches from 

 entering prevails : whether founded on the superstition of the 

 English in former days, is a matter of speculation, but de- 

 serves enquiry. On board small vessels, many years since, 

 the practice was very general ; but now a horseshoe is very 

 seldom seen nailed to any part of a vessel. The combing of 

 the companion hatch was more frequently the place to which 



