January 28.] 
their owners might soon, with a little attention, bo able to 
chalionge any in England. Long Dog. 
GREAVES FOR DOGS. 
SiR.- W ill you or one of your numerous correspondents 
be so kiud as to inform me of the best way of giving dogs 
greaves, so as to prevent scouring, or what better food 
can be procured whore offal cannot bo got as in the country. 
An early answer will oblige your obedieut servant, 
Cressingiiam. 
WOODCOCK AND SNIPS IN WALES. 
— As good cock-shooting, even in Wales, is almost 
counted among the “ has beens,” perhaps you will think it 
not unworthy of a comer in your admirable paper that, on 
the 4th, 5th, and Oth of this mouth, in a small cover in the 
upper part of Pembrokeshire, u friend and myself bagged 
18J couple of woodcock, 9 couple of snipe, us well as a few 
duck and teal. Tho birds, notwithstanding the extreme 
seventy of the weather, wore in good condition and very 
strong on the wing. I remained in the neighbourhood a 
fortnight, and in that period bagged 34 couple of wood- 
cock to my own gun. Yours, &c., 
A Briton. 
HOW TO MAKE A HORSE EAT. 
Sir, — Could you, through the medium of your excellent 
journal, give me u little advice as to the treatment of a horse 
that is a delicate Iceder. I use him for saddle entirely. Ho only 
cats just sufficient to sustain himself, and always looks cut 
asunder in the middle when brought out of stable in the 
morning. A good run with the hounds wir.ds him up for 
three or four days. Could you assist me in giving him a 
bettor uppetite 1 should feel obliged, as he is too good a 
horse for me to wish to part with him. 'p. D. P. 
COCHIN AND SPANISH FOWLS. 
Sir,— I n reply to “ An Amateur *’ in “ Tub Field ” of 
Junaary 21 (p. 57), who complains of having no eggs since 
October, I beg to suggest, from experience, the following 
—my plan— and I liavo had eggs all the winter, and have 
liens sitting now :— Give them bat little whole corn, and 
tlint scalded (barley of good quality), once a day, and a 
mixture of potato rinds, boiled and mashed, with sharps and 
pollard in equal quantities, made up with any greasy pot 
liquor. Take care they have plenty of clean water and green 
food— cabbage leaves, turnip rinds, celery tops— in fact, all 
the green refuse of the house. Let them have a run where 
tho ground is not a floor, but fresh dug up three times a 
week. The worms and maggots, that breed to a great 
extent in the ground where fowls run, being continually 
turned, aro very conducive to health. Fowls kept in this way 
cost about 2s. a week, per dozen ; and one egg a week each 
only, at this time, pays the expense. I don’t approve of 
keeping old hens and pullets together. The older tho liens, 
tho later they commence laying; over-feeding is sure to 
prevent laying— the fowls get fat but don’t lay. 
Yours, Omelet. 
THE FIELD. 
pdre is an officer in the Bengal Light Cavalry, contriving to 
exist on Ins pay and what he can obtain h V literary labour, 
until he returns to England and comes into possession of a 
small estate. Wetherby ./?/, of course falls in love, and to 
cure this first passion ho is despatched to India with a com- 
mission. Dissipation of all descriptions tells with such effect 
upon lus constitution that he returns, and ere his furlough 
is expired the object of his early love becomes bis wife, to 
the horror of the ancient Wlietherby, who immediately 
cuts his son off with one shilling, that being, it is believed, 
the only legal method of disinheriting an eldest son. 
Mis military duties again call tho young hero to tho 
sunny plains and extravagant society of India. In 
an engagement ho distinguishes himself, hut happening 
to fall wounded just at the close of the buttle, he 
is reported as dead. However, to tho surprise of his 
parents, ho returns, and his father becomes reconciled to 
him, m spite of the fact that he has ordered to be erected 
in the parish church a grand marble tablet, wherewith to 
chronicle the virtues and bravery of bis sou. After reading 
the work, tiie doduetious to be drawn we fancy are that 
Indian life— especially with the army — not tho ranks— con- 
sists chiefly in drinking, duelling, and contracting debts. It 
is to be hoped, for the credit of those defending the pos- 
sessions of our Sovereign Lady the Queen in the East, that 
some ot the scenes depicted, mid having for their object the 
attainment of any one of the agreeable but bv no means 
ennobling pastimes enumerated— area little highly coloured 
to render the incidents more piquant. If this be not the 
caso, let us humbly submit that it would bo no detraction 
Iroin the glory of our arms to reform such customs alto- 
gether. It may happen that Mr. Lang's brochure may have 
been written for something more than tho more amusement 
of u reader who desires only to kill the common enemy 
time. 
81 
® IR | — If you will tell your correspondent, who wrote the 
letter in your last paper about the expense of keeping his 
fowls, to communicate with me, I can give him a valuable 
hint of u system, pursued by u neighbour of mine, upon tho 
subject. The means aro so simple that to give them 
publicity in your columns might expose one to ridicule, which 
is by no means to be coveted. I am, sir, yours truly, 
Silas Allen. 
Melton Mowbray. 
Sir, In answer to your correspondent “Amateur,” re- 
lative to the cause of bin fowls not laying, I attribute it to 
atmospheric influence, in my opinion food has (provided a 
liberal allowance is given) but little to do with the matter. 
At a farm in my village, where between sixty and seventy 
fowls are kept, having the opportunity to pick up u variety 
of grain, not an egg has been laid for several weeks — a fact 
that speaks volumes in support of my supposition. This 
winter I have allowed three Cochin pullets, hatched late in 
June, to roost in a spare stall in my stable, the temperature 
ranging about 608 ; they have commenced laying, while 
those in the regular poul try house will be, from appearance, 
weeks before they begin. There is not any better food 
than barley, particularly if they have a good grass walk ; it 
is not then too stimulating. Confined entirely to that 
grain, eighteen hens lai« l mo in one year, besides hatching 
and rearing several chickens, seventeen hundred eggs ; the 
chickens wore fed on crushed barley, at a guinea per sack. 
My fowls do not cost me per week more than l.Jd. per head. 
Warmth (not vitiated i.ir), cleanliness, liberal feeding, 
burnt oyster shells crumbled into small pieces — with a little 
bran mixed with the bailey ineal to prevent costiveness — 
‘Amateur” will find of more service than the thousand 
and one books written upon the subject of poultry. 
I am, sir, your obedient servant, 
A Subscriber “ ad initio.” 
IMcts jgf Irons. 
The Wethaby's, Father and Son. Uyr J 0UN Lanc 
London, Chapman and Hall, I’iceadillyf 
The chapters comprised in this small volume ori-inallv 
appeared we believe, in tho columns of Fraser’s Magazine^ 
. k occur in Incha, and serve to illustrate the 
author, experience of life-civil and n.ilitury_i„ t h t 
country. A lively conversational style of urithiir und a 
wo S 1 ".^ •m° b0,,t th0 b,:eUe8 ‘'bribed invest fhe futle 
work with sufficient interest to justify a perusal. Wetherby 
Annotated Edition of the English Poets. Drydbn. Vol. I. 
Edited by Robert Bell. Parker and Son. 
It is not always that we can implicitly trust editors as to 
the wants of the age. Whatever it seems good to them to 
produce, it also appears good to assure us we stand in parti- 
cular need ot. Our advertising shopkeepers are not more 
confident of providing for some evident “desideratum ” and 
closing some obvious gap that has gaped sinee the beginning 
of the world, than aro our editors of cheap publications. 
Mr. Robert Bell is thus perfectly satisfied that the a-'e 
demands an annotated edition of tho English poets, edited 
throughout with judgment and integrity, and combining 
those features of research, typographical elegance, and eco- 
nomy of price, which a periodical work at half-u-crown, of 
the.shape of the neat volume before us, exhibits; and on the 
whole, we think, in this instance, be judges correctly ; for 
although there are many handsomer, if not better or cheaper 
editions of particular poets, there is no uniform, genuine’ 
conscientious collection, adapted to the understandings and 
pockets of a generation that modestly desires to know every- 
thing without the slightest trouble, and at no expense. 
The particular features of this edition aro a very eiegant 
type, .i carefully collected text, und a life of each poet, with 
critical und explanatory introductions to each poem. Pro- 
bably no poet of anything like equal standing requires so 
much careful treatment in this latter respect as Dry den. 
He is a poet very much overlooked and neglected — except 
by the learned— lor the want of the necessary explanations and 
contemporary histories, which give the key to a large and 
belter part ol his vigorous aDd thoroughly English poetry; 
for Dryden was a political writer, and tho strength of li’is 
keen satire and the beauty of his allusions are entirely lost 
or very partiall vappreciuble, unless the character and ucts of 
the victims of his wit aro well known. 
The editor proposes to give tho poems, as nearly as 
possible, in the order of their composition-, thinking wisely 
that this arrangement will, in most cases, and especially in 
that of Dryden, materially assist in the formation of a 
mental biography of the poet. He has adopted almost 
wholly the text of Scott, and confesses that that author 
and Malone have left him very little opportunity for 
original brilliancy in a biography. He has, however, 
through the kindness of the poet’s descendant, Sir Henrv 
E. L. Dryden, and of Sir Thomas Pliillipps— been enabled 
to publish, for the first time, several letters of Dryden’s 
and also some unedited letters of Honor and Ann 
Dryden’s ; uud to Charles Beville Dryden the ediior is in- 
debted for w hat he considers of more importance than all 
namely, an Exchequer wurrant, dated 1684. This war- 
rant is an order to pay the sum of seventy- fivo pounds- 
hfty ot which was for arrears of Dryden’s salary us poet- 
luureate, duo at Midsummer 1080, and the remainin'* 
twenty-five pounds as one quarter’s payment of uu addi- 
tional annuity of one hutidred pounds.’ The importance 
of this document consists in its establishing the fact, that 
the poet did not receive this additional advantage us the 
price of his recusance to the Romish religion, as has often 
been stated, und with particular acrimony bv Macaulay. 
Hie deed of gift remained in abeyunce, and was only acted 
upon— years after the original grant from Churles the 
becond— by his successor. Macuuluy describes this act of 
munificence as a sudden relaxation ol the king's parsimony 
consequent upon Dryden decluring himself a papist ; but 
it seems a great dcul more like the uet of a needy debtor 
und spendthrift— such as Charles the Second was— who 
having allowed u first debt to remain unattended to for 
jears, pays a small portion of the arrears, and, to stave off 
payment of the rest, enters into fresh and liberally-sounding 
engagements; and this seems especially likely, 'ns it does 
not anywhere appear that either the original debt or the 
new grant were ever paid. Macuuluy is anything but 
scrupulous where u party feeling gives the spur to his 
invective. 
The present volume contains some minor poems; the 
Annus Mirabilis,” and the first and second parts of his 
greatest satire, “ Absalom and Acliitophel.” The introduc- 
tion to this latter poem is a very fuir specimen of what Is to 
bo expected from the editor, and is just the sort of note that 
tho general public requires, containing the key to tbecliaruc- 
tors in the poem, set forth in the shape ot a “Dramatis 
Poison ee.” As u fuir specimen of the mauuer in which the 
oditor treats his subject, wo find room for the followin'* 
strictures on tho character of Drydou's writing 
“He was distinguished, ubovo all’ things olso, for strength of 
thought, strength of purposo, strength of diction, lie was a 
strong man iu verse and proso; bold, energetic, self-reliant, and 
wide in ins reach, l'liuro was no weakness in Dryden ; no com- 
promise of menus or onds. Perhaps there was not much tender- 
ness; yet lie had n certain manly sweetness at times, that was oil 
the more precious and nffeoting from its rarity, and because it 
scorned to come from tho depths of his nature.' Tliero was real 
phyeicul passion — undisguised sons uousn css ; no love. Robust 
take'itouft?!? P ° 0try a Wci?ht and nn carn ™tness tliat 
airy novJr l ' atn,0 *P h « r ° of lhe imaginative. It is never 
and ’ contrnvnSf rt,TC " Ho made P oetr y 1,10 vehicle of politics 
a einHo Tt? y ' UOt of feoliu * of There is not 
find in Sl,«w p *“ a S 0 throughout the whole, such as we 
ia ^ the hear ^'^r, touching the spring of tear! 
depicts Whni. T 1 awnkemn 6 m the reader tho emotion it 
in di ^‘>-b ^ is to exhibit 
on the* Duchess It p”b fi nritt’ n ;r 0f lS antr ^ - V' 0 ‘ Ij,uea 
tho ‘Cymon and IphigeSJ ’ TriST 8 d , 08Cn £ tl0nfl ' f “ 
tioute^K except their Been- 
He has none of their fife °" “° sU * c ' 
liven his licentiousness differed^ ( t om l a rj ', lw,r ^-ork. 
lor their showy and volatile spirits U WM to ° lu3,y 
O on‘ 1 . 1,0rflK i afl " 0thin ° °. f wLat > 8 called sentiment in Drvdon He 
seldom produces any other emotions tlmn 'r *• 
ridicule or surprise. Ho coaeUinfiJ mlki ^th nk *£? Trl 
rarely makes you feel. There are some few 3 lm^ ln ’liis nlav? 
nnd occasionally n whole passage, that reaches tl 10 vcrgeofnnthos' 
n. you are conscious that it is not real, and that what is re’ 1 
in him, and paramount, is sarcasm, scorn, logic, and wit In 
lus Lines on Oldham,’ ho strikes the key-notouf his genius nnd 
^ of w th0 ^"*22 
The English Cyclopedia. Conducted bj?Cu Arles Knight. 
Bradbury nnd Evans. 
The two concurrent monthly parts complete tho first 
volume ol this valuable work. Tin; whole is divided into 
four compartments, geography, natural history, sciences 
anil arts and history, biography, &c. Tho first two divisions, 
published simultaneously, have arrived at the end of their 
hist volume. This work is based on the Penny Cyclopedia, 
but the arrangement, typography, and stylo are entirely 
different, and the difference is decidedly in an improved di- 
rection. The changes which twenty years cause in even 
such u subject as geography aro very considoremble ; anil 
nat.irul history in such a period is infinitely enriched, 
lalkiiig of the former subject, by the by, how soon mav Mr. 
Knight have to publish a supplement, or oven to recall tin? 
whole division, if events which threaten should turnout as 
our fears anticipate? The present number includes an 
article on Bessarabia, an interesting locality at this time, 
and auother on Birmingham, an interesting locality at all 
times. J 
The wood cuts, thickly interspersed among the letter-press 
in the department of natural history, are verv appropriate 
and exceedingly well executed. This Cyclopedia, like its 
prototype, is adapted, by its price, for the education of the 
million. 
POULTRY. 
LIVERPOOL GRAND’ POULTRY SHOW. 
Dr. Mack ay has written a very amusing and curious 
book entitled The History of Popular Delusions, ’* in 
winch he gives an interesting account of the rise and pro- 
gress of the tulip and other “manias,’’ which have at 
various times raged in this country ; and ho is. doubtless, 
uow collecting facts for a new chapter on the poultry mania 
which has recently seized all classes, from the Queon herself 
down to some of her humblest subjects. Though the 
monster birds of the Cochin China brood afford fuir scope 
for the pictorial satirist, and raise hearty laughs from even 
the most enthusiastic amateurs themselves, yet there is little 
doubt but that tho poultry mania will differ from most 
others by the beuefits it will ultimately confer on nil classes 
ol the community. “Manias” and fashion have refined 
the breeds ol horses, dogs, cattlo, fruits, flowers, and vege- 
tables, and the passion which now iulects so many of our 
countrymen lor rearing poultry will, it is hoped, b'o turned 
to similar good accounr. The flesh of poultry, und their 
eggs, enter largely into the daily consumption of all classes, 
und any means which will improve their quality and 
quantity, and lessen their cost, will be a national benefit. 
It is on these grounds that we sincerely congratulate Mr. G. 
W. Moss, and his friends, on the extraordinary success 
which has attended their efforts to establish a grand poulirv 
show in this town, which we trust will now bo an annual 
occurrence. The shmv extended over Wednesday and 
I hursilay, and was visited by upwards of 4,U00 persons, 
though the admission ou the first day was 5s., and in the 
cveuiug 2s. 6 d . ; ami ou Thursday a shilling. The show 
was held iu the carriage room of Messrs. Lucas's repository 
which had been generously and gratuitously offered to the 
promoters by the Messrs. Lucas. Several fresh skylights 
hud been introduced into it, and us it bad also been freshly 
pu luted and ornamented, a more suituble locality could not 
have been desired. Thero were 360 pens, containing about 
I, 300 birds, placed longitudinally iu three avenues across 
the room, ample space being, at the same time, ufforded to 
the speculators to view the varied specimens of the feathered 
tribes exhibited, many for the first time in this town. One 
ot the principal exhibitors was that enthusiastic uiuateur, 
Captuiu W yiidhuui Hornby, of Kiiowslt-y Cottage, whose 
display of Spanish lowls, Dorkings, und game fowls, attracted 
universal admiration. The wild and tame turkeys of Mr. 
J. B. Neilson, the uucks of Mr. Henry Worrail,' and tho 
bantams of Mr. G. VV. Moss were also perfect iu their way, 
aud highly und deservedly eulogised. Though our residcut 
amateurs contributed many of the birds exhibited, still 
others came from all parts of the kingdom, u proof of the 
interest which the subject excites all over the country. We 
do not pretend to be capable of judging accurately of the 
merits ol the numerous birds exhibited, but from tho remarks 
ot many of the spectators, we should imagine that a finer 
display could not be brought together anywhere; while the 
ducks, bantams, and Dorkings, could not be surpassed. The 
principal promoter of the show is Mr. Gilbert Winter Moss, 
one of the most successful exhibitors, to whose tact, energy, 
acid liberality, its very successful result is mainly duo. Tho 
judges wore Air. Bailey, of Mount-street, London, and Air. 
Hewitt, of Birmingham, who gave general satisfaction, 
though their decisions did not, of course, quite accord with 
the opinions of some of the unsuccessful exhibitors. Amongst 
the other visitors on Wednesday, we noticed tho Eurlof 
tiefton, our borough members, the lion. II. T. Liddell, M.P., 
and Mr. T. B. Horsfall, AI.IL, Air. T. Liltledule, Mr. Tlmuias 
Bold, Mr. II. Litlledulo, Mr. Adam Gladstone, Mr. J. B. 
Neilson, &c. Upwards of 100 pens wore sold ou Wednesday 
aud Thursday, and 200 were on Friday offered for sale by- 
public auction . — Liverpool Mail. 
Tub .Manchester Poultry Exhibition was held 
iu tho 1'ieo Trudo Hall, on Tuesday and Wednesday iu the 
present week. Tho number of outlies amounted to 913 
pens. Tho judges wore Mr. Bond, of Leeds, Mr. Cliulloncr, 
of \Y orksop, Air. E. Hewitt, of Birmingham, Mr. Trotter, of 
Nowcustle-on-Tyno, and Air. Simmons, of Weymouth. 
