13(3 MR. MUDFORD'S RUSSIAN DOG. 



such as are employed in Steds, being- securely muzzled : and that, in order the 

 more effectually to promote the destroying- such dogs, a reward of five shillings, 

 for every such dog destroyed, should be paid, upon its being produced in the Court- 

 House yard. 



Since the commencement of this article, a correspondent has obliged us with the 

 following 1 particulars relative to a Russian Dog, late the property of his friend 

 Mr. Mudford. These Gentlemen belong to that class, who think it no derogation to 

 humanity, to feel and shew compassion to the animal creation, and affection to 

 that part of it, which is so highly meritorious from its attachment and services. 

 Unhappily, there are men of a totally opposite description of feeling, who view the 

 whole brute creation with a sullen apathy, through the medium only of cold- 

 hearted interest ; who are dead to their caresses or their merits, and who, on every 

 occasion, are prone to treat them with a dastardly barbarity. Children are too often thus 

 naturally inclined, or too apt to imbibe from example, this malign disposition, the 

 counteraction of which is a necessary branch of morality. The reader will presently 

 find an example of these truths, both adult and infantine ; and also a practical ex- 

 emplification of the character which we have given of the Newfoundland, Dog. 



The story, in brief, is, Mr. Mudford had a young Russian Dog, named Crop, of 

 the same Northern, species, and similar qualifications with the Newfoundland. 

 He was in colour black and white, his hair nine inches in length, and of a beautiful 

 and commanding figure, attractive and interesting to all spectators. He was dis- 

 tinguished by those peculiar and noble characteristics, to which we have already 

 adverted, in this species, and the union of which in the same individual animal, seems 

 almost incompatible, the highest degree of courage and even fierceness on necessary 

 occasions, and the most endearing and playful good-nature and inoffensiveness : to 

 these were joined, which we have also before described, an incessant disposition to 

 volunteer his services, wherever his extraordinary sagacity pointed them out, as, 

 necessary or useful. A remarkable instance of this, in Crop, was, his noticing the 

 habit in his master, of being accommodated with his boot jack, slippers, and morn- 

 ing gown, on returning home in the evening. On a certain evening, while 

 Mr. Mudford was waiting for these, a lumbering noise was heard upon the stairs, 

 when suddenly, to the astonishment of himself and family, Crop entered the room 

 with the gown, which having laid at his master's feet, he set off again, and 

 returned with the boot jack and slippers, depositing them also, and expressing in 

 his motions and countenance, the satisfaction he enjoyed at having rendered a 

 service. He ever after performed the office of Valet de Chambre, not only to 

 his master, but if a visitor happened to arrive late in the evening, he always 

 brought him the boot-jack, and slippers. Crop, as well as a caressing, was 

 ;i kissing animal, and would kiss any person who desired him ; and his na- 

 tural instinct approximated so nearly to human reason, and his affection for the 

 human race was so great, that, the opinion given by a certain literary lady, of 



