Kght and lean, found no difficulty in keeping a-head. So tlit 

 chase oontitiued for about a quarter of a mile, wlien the wheels 

 of the barrow encountered a stone, and the vehicle was capsized 

 on the spot. Now was the mixed-breed's chance. By a sudden 

 wheel he doubled on the pursuing brown dog, and in another 

 moment had selected a choice piece from the spilt treasure, from 

 which his three confederates had already helped themselves. 



It was a common thing in those days to see dogs harnessed 

 to carts belonging to bakers, butchers, cat's-meat vendors, and 

 costermongers of aU grades. And when the week's work was 

 over, the proprietors of the said animals went out on little 

 excursions to Richmond, Kew, and other favourite Cockney 

 holiday resorts, on the Sunday, for a " treat." Kind, hospi- 

 table " costers " would invite a select party of friends, and 

 decorate their barrows and dogs and themselves in gay style, 

 and then drive out for a day's holiday. Great excitement some- 

 times was occasioned by a race between the dogs of these 

 worthies, the poor brutes, in their eagerness to serve their 

 masters, often outstripping the mail-coach. 



Such proceedings naturally called forth much sympathy for 

 the overworked dogs, and several philanthropic persons did 

 their utmost to put a stop to them. Representations were 

 made to the " Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ani- 

 mals," and that institution prevailed on a Mr. Hawes to endea- 

 vour to obtain some legal interference. That kind-hearted 

 gentlemai' brought a bill into the House of Commons for the 

 aboUtion -jf London dog-slavery. Whether the " House " 

 at that time was so dreadfully in want of a question 

 that this canine one was at once eagerly caught, or that 

 " emancipation " in all guises and shapes was acceptable to 

 the British public, I am not prepared to state. Certain it 

 B, however, that with more zeal than judgment the biU was 

 passed, making it illegal to use the dog as a beast of burden, 

 tfo provision was made for the maintenance of the emancipated 

 canine " niggers " of London. Nevertheless, great were the re- 

 joicings of those who influenced the passing of the biU, and "they 

 commemorated the event by a picture representing the dogs in 

 council, — the president, a mastiff, reading the Act, while a 

 terrier stood ready, document in paw, to move a vote of thanks 

 to Mr. Hawes. In the distance a procession of costermongers, 

 &o., was seen drawing their own carts, while the emancipated 

 dogs were looking on, laughing at them." 



But, alas ! the shortsightedness of poHticians. and the mie- 



