262 TO GIVE DOGS A FINE COAT. 



measures, I shall then have fully gained the desired object ; and 

 therefore shall not care how ridiculous they may be thought, or in 

 what a slovenly manner they may be sent to the press. While 

 writing this " article/' (as an editor would say), a little before mid- 

 night, " our" ears have been, the whole time, assailed, by a grand 

 philharmonic of Marylebone dogs, producing such a serenade of 

 complicated canine counterpoint, as " we" defy even a modern com- 

 poser, or the monosyllable-gentleman himself, to have dovetailed 

 into a symphony. 



TO PHYSIC MODERATELY, AND GIVE A 

 FINE COAT TO, DOGS. 



Take a small handful of the leaves of the wood-laurel ; 

 boil it in a quart of water, till reduced to a pint, and 

 mix it with sufficient liquid food to serve five or six 

 dogs. This given, about once a month, in hot weather, 

 I have found to answer better than any thing ; but, as 

 the wood-laurel in any great quantity is poison, it must 

 be used with the utmost caution. 



If a sportsman had his pointers rubbed down and 

 brushed every day, immediately after they came home, 

 and particularly if wet or cold, they would not only have 

 fine coats, but be serviceable to him at least half as long 

 again. This I have proved beyond all doubt. 



I here conclude all that I shall say relating to " dogs," 

 as the subject has already been done ample justice to by 

 Mr. Daniel, Mr. Scott, and Mr. Johnson, in their in- 

 teresting publications on field sports ; and, though the 

 last named, yet not the least, by William Augustus 

 Osbaldiston, Esq., in his admirable work, which is called 

 the " British Sportsman." On the merits of this gen- 

 tleman's work (putting aside some of the plates) I cannot 

 forbear making a few remarks, although he is (perhaps 



