198 MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT. 



sions, and then expire ! This scene being done, he returned to Lady Massarene 

 and the dog. The witness then left them, and retired to her own room. In the 

 morning- she found all the family in extreme distress, for the dog was actually 

 dead. The corps was suffered to remain, for some time, in the drawing-room, and 

 towards the evening, was carried into the bed-room of Mrs. O'Duran, tobe waked. 

 Next day, a number of people came to the house, among whom was a plumber, 

 with a lead-coffin for the dead, and a carpenter with an outer shell. The 

 plumber's account was 41. Us. When the defunct was put into the coffins, a car 

 was procured to carry it to Antrim Castle, and positive orders were given that, 

 fifty dogs should attend the funeral, in white scarfs, and that all the dogs of the 

 parish also, should be present. 



SHOOTING MEMORABILIA FOR 1819-20. 



With melancholy and desponding sensations we refer our readers to the laborious 

 CAUTIONS given in the British Field Sports, adding the following sad example to 

 the multitudinous list : 



MONMOUTH. One of those melancholy accidents resulting from Field Sports, 

 took place on Monday se'nnight. Mr. Cousins, a gentleman residing a few miles 

 from Abergavenny, left his house for the amusement of partridge-shooting, at ten 

 o'clock, and, about four in the afternoon, the report of a gun was heard by a per- 

 son in an adjoining field. This was followed by a loud barking of dogs, which in- 

 duced him to go to the spot whence the noise proceeded ; when he found Mr. 

 Cousins in an erect posture, leaning against the bank of the hedge, and at first 

 supposing him to be asleep ; but on approaching nearer, and looking more atten- 

 tively, he discovered his head shot in a dreadful manner, the brains covering his hat. 

 The fury of the animals would not, for some time, suffer any one to approach their 

 late master ; but assistance being procured, they were beat off, and the above 

 dreadful spectacle presented itself to view. Medical aid was instantly sent for, 

 but too late to prove any avail he being a corpse ! It is supposed, that, in 

 getting over the hedge, the gun being cocked, the trigger was caught by a briar, 

 occasioned instant explosion, and literally blew his head in pieces! Mrs. Cousins 

 left her house in the morning of the same day, to visit Mrs. Bennett, of Trostrey 

 Lodge, (the death of whose husband had recently occurred) to assist in the sooth- 

 ing offices of friendship on such an occasion ; and it is rather singular, that Mr. 

 Cousins was to have appeared as chief mourner at the ceremony of interment, and 

 had prepared new mourning for the occasion. 



Such has been, in some parts, the abundant breed of PARTRIDGES this year, 



