ceed half so well as a single application of this admirable instrument."

GEORGE.-If they are such very useful things, I wonder that everybody, that can at all afford it, does not have one.

FATHER.-They are not so uncommon as you may suppose; I myself happen to know several individuals who are possessed of one or two of them.

CHARLES.-How large is it, Father? could I hold it in my

hand?

FATHER. You might; but I should be very sorry to trust mine with you.

GEORGE. You will be obliged to take very great care of it, then?

FATHER. Indeed I must; I intend every night to enclose it within the small screen I mentioned; and it must besides occasionally be washed in a certain colourless fluid kept for the purpose; but this is such a delicate operation, that persons, I find, are generally reluctant to perform it. But, notwithstanding the tenderness of this instrument, you will be surprised to hear that it may be darted to a great distance, without the least injury, and without any danger of losing it.

CHARLES.-Indeed! and how high can you dart it?

FATHER. I should be afraid of telling you to what a distance it will reach, lest you should think I am jesting with you.

GEORGE.-Higher than this house, I suppose?
FATHER.-Much higher.

CHARLES.-Then how do you get it down again?

FATHER. It is easily brought down by a gentle movement, that does it no injury.

GEORGE.-But who can do this?

FATHER. The person whose business it is to take care of it.

CHARLES.-Well: I cannot understand you at all. But do tell us, Father, what it is chiefly used for?

FATHER.-Its uses are so various that I know not which to specify. It has been found very serviceable in deciphering old manuscripts; and, indeed, has its use in modern prints. It will assist us greatly in acquiring all kinds of knowledge; and without it some of the most sublime parts of creation would have been matters of mere conjecture. It must be confessed, however, that very much depends on a proper application of it; being possessed by many persons who appear to have no adequate sense of its value, but who employ it only for the most low and common purposes, without even thinking, apparently, of the noble uses for which it is designed, or of the exquisite gratification it is capable of affording. It is indeed, in order to excite in your minds some higher sense of its value than you might otherwise have entertained, that I am giving you this previous description.

GEORGE.-Well, then, tell us something more about it. FATHER. It is of a very penetrating quality; and can often discover secrets which could be detected by no other means. It must be owned, however, that it is equally prone to reveal them.

CHARLES.-What! can it speak then?

FATHER.-It is sometimes said to do so, especially when it happens to meet with one of its own species.

GEORGE.-What colour are they?

FATHER. They vary considerably in this respect.
GEORGE.-What colour is yours ?

FATHER. I believe of a darkish colour; but, to confess the truth, I never saw it in my life.

BOTH.-Never saw it in your life!

FATHER.-No, nor do I wish; but I have seen a representation of it, which is so exact that my curiosity is quite satisfied.

GEORGE. But why dont you look at the thing itself?

FATHER. I should be in great danger of losing it if I did. CHARLES.-Then you could buy another.

FATHER. Nay, I believe I could not prevail upon any body to part with such a thing.

GEORGE. Then how did you get this one?

FATHER. I am so fortunate as to be possessed of more than one; but how I got them I really cannot recollect. CHARLES.-Not recollect; why you said you brought them from London to-night.

FATHER. So I did; I should be "sorry if I had left them behind me.

CHARLES.-Tell, father, do tell us the name of this curious instrument.

FATHER.-It is called-an EYE.

Contributions of Q. Q.

Dogs are in great variety, from the little Poodle to the great Newfoundland, and from the gentle Spaniel to the savage Bull. But the graceful Greyhound is the most elegant in shape, and the fleetest in speed, of them all.

In the days of our Saxon forefathers this favourite hound was held in such estimation, that it was the peculiar companion of a gentleman, who was anciently known by his horse, his hawk, and his greyhound. In such repute was it, that Canute enacted a law that it should not even be kept by any one who was under the rank of a gentleman. It has a long body, a neat and elongated head, full eye, long mouth, sharp and very white teeth, little ears, with thin gristles in

them, a straight neck, and full breast; his fore and hind legs are long and straight; his ribs round, strong, and full of sinews, and taper about the belly. It is the swiftest of the dog kind, and trained for the chase when twelve months old. It courses by sight and not by scent, as other hounds do; and is supposed to outlive all the dog tribe. Buffon imagines it to be descended from the Irish greyhound, only rendered more thin and delicate by the influence of our climate. There is a variety of this species, which is called the Highland Greyhound. It is very large, strong, deep-chested, covered with long rough hair, and has the scent and sagacity of the bloodhound.

The greyhound is now kept chiefly by gentlemen farmers to chase the hares. Poor puss has but little chance of escape when two or three of these swift-footed dogs are behind her; for she will make some long leaps at first and keep them at a distance, but if they can only keep sight of her they are almost sure to run her down, and kill her at one bite of their wide mouths and strong sharp teeth. And so we cannot but think it is cruel sport to run down such a poor timid creature, and put her to such pain. We ought never to have pleasure in any amusement which gives pain to others. If we always make this the rule of our amusements they will be more harmless and happy. We have heard some silly people say that greyhounds were made to hunt hares. No such thing! As well might it be said that tigers are made to eat men because they are fond of human blood. All such remarks are only so many excuses for the cruel sport of hunting the poor hares.