176 



LETTER XXX. 



Upon the whole, it appears from the relations of Mr, 

 Lcssop, and others, who have made the experiment, 

 that when many of these sledges travel together, and 

 are necessarily drawn by ii great number of dogs, 

 .hev form a very noisy and tumultuous canwnn. 



When the summer approaches, the dogs are turned 

 out to provide for themselves, but they always return 

 to their masters when the cold weather commences, 

 when they are poorly fed with the oiluls of fish. In 

 this part of the world fish is a principal article of the 

 food not only of the dogs, but also of the inhabitants. 



I shall now, my dear Sir, proceed in furnishing you 

 v. hh some remarks on the principal distinctions of the 

 canine race. 



THE BULL DOG 



is probably the most courageous animal that nature 

 has produced. It is not so large as many other kinds 

 of dogs, but very strong and muscular. Its nose is 

 short, and its aspect fierce. Its courage in attacking 

 the bull is well known, and to the disgrace of huma- 

 nity has been too often put to the trial. The perse- 

 vering resolution and ardour of these dogs, is exhi- 

 bited in an instance which happened some years ago 

 at a bull-baiting in the north of England : A person 

 confident of the courage of his dog, laid some trilling 

 wager, that he would, at separate times, cut olFits four 

 feet, and that, lifter every amputation, it would at- 

 tack the bull. The barbarous experiment was tried, 

 and the' dog continued to seize the bull in the same 

 manner as if he had been perfectly whole, exhibiting 

 at the same time a striking example of his ferocious 

 courage, and of the barbarity of his unfeeling owner. 

 The number of this species of dogs is very moth 

 diminished, and its total extinction would be a desir- 

 able circumstance; for as it always makes its attacks 

 without barking, it is a very dangerous animal, and 

 ought never to' be approached by strangers without 

 great caution. However, as the barbarous diversion 

 of bull-baiting is now almost entirely laid aside, the 

 breed of bull dogs will be little attended to, and pro- 



