114 BRITANNY AND THE CHASE. 



respect from the antipathy John Bull has to government 

 meddling ; but in France it is strictly provided for, and 

 many of the regulations are certainly very good. One 

 thing is positive, and that is, that if some means were 

 not used for killing off the surplus members of the ca- 

 nine population, France would soon be depeopled. Here 

 every body keeps his own dog, and the town sustains 

 in addition a floating body ; or rather this predatory 

 floating balance lives upon the town, supporting a pre- 

 carious existence by continual roguery and perpetual 

 hostilities with all things. Every man's hand is against 

 them, but still they steal and fight and skulk about, 

 poaching for variety when town keep is low, and oc- 

 casionally enlisting with the passing sportsman, but never 

 decreasing in numbers despite all oppressive laws. It is 

 therefore well that they are annually killed down, or they 

 would be a dreadful nuisance, as bad as the dogs of Con- 

 stantinople, Vt'^hen the shooting season is over, usually in 

 March, the Prefet of each department publishes a decree 

 that tlience forth all dogs found in the streets without a 

 muzzle shall be destroyed. One may fancy the consternation 

 this produces among the dog race. Believing as I do that 

 doors can do evervthinp; but write and talk, I have no 

 doubt anxious councils are held and wise resolutions taken 

 by the canine gentlemen without owners : some, the dog 

 democrats, are for liberty entire, and down with the muzzle ; 

 others try to procure summer lodgings in the town by 

 playing the agreeable to some well-meaning neighbours ; 

 others are off" to coimtry quarters ; and a few^, old and 

 foolish, stay, and are killed; for the process is inevi- 



