172 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Curious extract from a letter. 



doubtless ate her own offspring; the remains -of 

 another dog, killed by a similar fall, was likewise 

 found, that most probably was converted by the 

 survivor to the most urgent of all natural pur- 

 poses ; and when this repast was finished, the 

 shoe succeeded, which was almost half devoured. 

 What famine and a thousand accidents could not 

 do, was effected a short time after by the wheels 

 of a coach, which unfortunately went over her, 

 and ended the existence of poor Phillis. 



The following curious extract from a letter of 

 Sir John Harrington to Prince Henry, son of 

 King James I. will serve to corroborate our for- 

 mer assertions respecting the sagacity of the dog, 

 and at the same time afford a specimen of Eng- 

 lish orthography in that reign. 



" May it please your highnesse to accepte in 

 as good sorte what I nowe offer, as it hath done 

 aforetyme; and I may saie / pede fausto ; but, 

 havinge goode reason to thinke, your highnesse 

 had good will and likinge to read what others 

 have tolde of my rare dogge, I will even give a 

 brief historic of his good deedes and straunge 

 feats; and herein will I not play the curr myselfe, 

 but in goode soothe, relate what is no more nor 

 lesse than bare verity. Althowgh I mean not to 

 disparage the deedes of Alexander's horse, I will 

 match my dogge against him for good carriage, 

 for, if he did not bear a great prince on his back, 

 I am bold to saie he did often bear the sweet 

 wordes of a greater princesse on his necke. 



