LOVERS OF CATS. 225 



Dr. Jortin wrote a Latin epitaph on a favourite cat : * 



IMITATED IN ENGLISH. 



" Worn out with age and dire disease, a cat, 

 Friendly to all, save wicked mouse and rat, 

 I'm sent at last to ford the Stygian lake. 

 And to the infernal coast a voyage make. 

 Me Proserpine receiv'd, and smiling said, 

 * Be bless'd within these mansions of the dead. 

 Enjoy among thy velvet-footed loves, 

 Elysian's sunny banks and shady groves.' 

 ' But if I've well deserv'd (O gracious queen), 

 If patient under sufferings I have been. 

 Grant me at least one night to visit home again, 

 Once more to see my home and mistress dear. 

 And purr these grateful accents in her ear : 

 " Thy faithful cat, thy poor departed slave, 

 Still loves her mistress, e'en beyond the grave." ' " 



** Dr. Barker kept a Seragho and Colony of Cats. It 

 happened, that at the Coronation of George I. the Chair of 

 State fell to his Share of the Spoil (as Prebendary of 

 Westminster) which he sold to some Foreigner ; when they 

 packed it up, one of his favourite Cats was inclosed along 

 with it ; but the Doctor pursued his treasure in a boat to 

 Gravesend and recovered her safe. When the Doctor was 

 disgusted with the Ministry^ he gave his Female Cats, the 

 Names of the Chief Ladies about the Court ; and the Male- 

 ones^ those of the Men in Foiuer, adorning them with the 

 Blue, Red, or Green Insignia of Ribbons, which the 

 Persons they represented, wore." t 



Daniel, in his "Rural Sports," 18x3, mentions the fact 

 that, " In one of the Ships of the Fleet, that sailed lately 

 from Falmouth, for the West Indies, went as Passengers a 

 Lady and her seven Lap-dogs, for the Passage of each of 

 which, she paid Thirty Founds, on the express Condition, 



* Hone s *' Every-day Book," vol. i. 

 t Daniel's "Rural Sports," 1813. 



