25 



A GLANCE AT THE FEATHERED RESIDENTS IN, AND VISITANTS 



TO, THE GROUNDS OF TERRICK HOUSE; 



WITH A FEW REMARKS FROM PERSONAL OBSERVATION, 



UPON THEIR HABITS AND PECULIARITIES. 



•BY STEPHEN STONE, ESQ. 



(Continued from page 223, vol. iv.^ 



He who, from motives best known to himself has banished this bird from 

 his " domain," may chance one day to meet with a procession of slugs, snails, 

 &c., far outvieing in numbers, though not perhaps in audacity, the famous 

 projected Chartist procession, which, with bold, undaunted front, and fixed, 

 determined purpose, was to have mai'ched upon the palaces of Westminster 

 and Buckingham; albeit, snail-like, the individuals which were to have 

 composed it quietly " drew in their horns," either at the " smell of gun- 

 powder," or from having " smelt a rat." Saltpetre, when taken alone, has 

 by no means an exhilarating eifect ; but when combined with sulphur and 

 charcoal, its depressing powers are manifestly inci-eased. Steel, when 

 reduced to powder, is considered to be strengthening; but when this metal 

 takes the form of sword or bayonet, its properties undergo a remarkable 

 change : it then produces trembling of the limbs, nausea, and other dis- 

 agreeable effects. So at the bare mention of these ^^preparations" our 

 valorous Chartists found their strength give way, their spirits droop, and 

 an aguish feeling assail them. So long as no impediments presented them- 

 selves, their bravery was great — their courage matchless ; but a few hollow 

 cylinders disposed here and there, or a sprinkling of blue uniforms, with 

 " A. 1," " L. 99," and other mystic characters or devices emblazoned thereon, 

 caused their valour to subside, their courage and bravery to melt away, like 

 butter exposed to the fiery rays of a July sun. Or, as steel and nitre are 

 powerful agents in counteracting the pi'ogress of disease, so with the 

 addition of sulphur and charcoal, they produced in this notorious Chartist 

 case, effects almost miraculous. Not a dose of the "medicine" was taken by 

 them — not even a taste ; the simple knowledge that it was provided sufficed 

 to effect an instantaneous and a permanent cure of their several " complaints ." 

 so the pain from an aching tooth almost invariably ceases, the moment the 

 insti'uments of the dentist are exposed to the sufferer's view. 



But to return to the point from which I have been wandering. He may 

 flatter himself that this procession of slugs, snails, &c., is a deputation 

 about to present him with an address, and a vote of thanks, for having 

 removed, in direct opposition to his own interests, a most determined enemy 

 of theirs ; and had they been " Conservatives," such might possibly have 

 been their mission ; but being, as they unquestionably are, " Destructives," 

 he will find that they are moved by no such feelings of gratitude ; but that 

 VOL. v. c 



