the Ivy upon the Wall, just over the Gates, that lead from the Inner Court into the Gardens, at Warwick Castle.-It was formerly said, the Crown Imperial resembled the Scent of this Animal. This is a Mistake, and to Mr. TYTON I am obliged, for correcting it. He observes, the Crown Imperial is certainly fetid, but nothing like the Smell of a Fox. The Similitude of Scent, applies to Geranium Robertanum, (Herb Robert,) and which is very common on dry Banks, under Hedges. Dr. JOHNSON remarks, to check the Ravages of the FOXES, in the Isle of SKY, the Inhabitants set a Price upon their Heads, which, as the Number diminished, has been gradually raised, from Three Shillings and sixpence, to a Guinea, a Sum so great in this Part of the WORLD, adds the DOCTOR, that, in a short Time, SKY may be as free from FOXES, as ENGLAND from WOLVES. The Fund for these Rewards, is a Tax of Sixpence in the Pound, imposed by the Farmers on themselves, and said to be paid, with great Willingness. Stag. The Stag was an Object of the Chase at the earliest Period, and from the Circumstance here introduced, seems to have had much Consideration paid, to ascertain its Longevity, and many of its peculiar Habits. ALEXANDER not only encouraged, but did himself pursue, the Study of NATURAL HISTORY, upon a Scale com mensurate with the Magnificence of his Character. He commanded all those, who obtained their Subsistence by Hunting, Fowling, or Fishing, throughout the Provinces of GREECE, and all ASIA, and also those, who had attained any Skill in Pursuits of this Kind, to be obedient to ARISTOTLE, and bring to him any curious Result of their Avocations, or their Labours; in order, that the Philosopher, might be qualified to treat with Accuracy, on the real NATURE of ANIMALS. Besides which, he allowed that great MAN, the Sum of eight hundred Talents to defray the Expence of his Undertaking. More than an hundred Years after ALEXANDER'S Death, the Huntsmen of ASIA, were astonished at the Spectacle of wild Deer in their Forests, adorned with the golden Chains, which had been placed round their Necks, by the MACEDONIAN HERO, in order to ascertain the LONGEVITY of those Animals. The Consequences of this extraordinary Attention and Liberality, manifested themselves, in the immortal Works of ARISTOTLE, which became of such general Utility, and Importance, that, as SMELLIE has justly observed, "to this Hour, no systematic View of animated Beings, has been attempted, the PRINCIPLES of which, have not been adopted, from ARISTOTLE'S History of ANIMALS." From the almost numberless Accounts, which have been collected for Ages, respecting this Animal, we shall cull some, that it is hoped, will repay the Trouble of Perusal, and begin with an ancient Hunting Song, from, Queen Hoo Hall, published by the late, JOSEPH STRUTT, Esq. Waken LORDS and LADIES gay, On the Mountain dawns the Day; • According to ROLLIN, Eight hundred Attic Talents of GOLD, must have amounted to a Sum, exceeding TWO MILLIONS Sterling, of our Money! All the jolly Chase is here, With Hawk, and Horse, and hunting Spear, Hawks are whistling, Horns are knelling; Merrily, merrily, mingle They, "Waken LORDS and LADIES gay." Waken LORDS and LADIES gay, Waken LORDS and LADIES gay, Louder, louder chaunt the Lay, TIME, stern Huntsman! who can baulk, This Anecdote, will recall to mind, the various Attempts which have been practised against the Life, of as good a MONARCH, as ever sat upon the BRITISH Throne, and will shew, that political Preference, has resorted to Measures, though not attended with Violence, yet with a Plan of effectuating its Purpose, by an apparent Accidental Occurrence. KING WILLIAM III. was passionately fond of Hunting; and he made it a Point of Honour, never to be outdone in any Leap, however perilous. A Mr. CHERRY, who was devoted to the exiled FAMILY, took occasion to form, perhaps the most pardonable Design, which was ever laid against a KING'S LIFE. He regularly joined the Royal Hounds, put himself foremost, and took the most desperate Leaps, in the Hope that WILLIAM, might break his Neck in following him. One Day, however, he accomplished one so imminently dangerous, that the KING, when he came to the Spot, shook his Head, and drew back. Mr. SCOTT, in his Lady of the Lake, has made the Imprisoned Huntsman complain, in these beautiful, and appropriate Lines. My Hawk is tir'd of Perch and Food, I hate to learn the Ebb of TIME, The Lark was wont my Matins ring, These Towers, although a KING'S they be, Have not a Hall of Joy for Me. No more at dawning Morn I rise, What follows, describes a STAKE, upon the Capture of a DEER, that perhaps neither ancient nor modern History, can parallel. The ST. CLAIRS are of Norman Extraction, being descended from WILLIAM DE ST. CLAIR, and MARGARET, Daughter of RICHARD Duke of NORMANDY. He was called, for his fair Deportment, the seemly ST. CLAIR, and settling in Scotland, during the Reign of MALCOLM CEANMORE, obtained large Grants of Land in Mid-Lothian. These Domains were increased, by the Liberality of succeeding MONARCHS, to the Descendants of the Family, and comprehended the Baronies of Rosline, Pentland, Cowsland, Cardaine, and several others. It is said a large Addition was obtained from ROBERT BRUCE, on this Occasion. The KING, in following the Chase upon Pentland Hills, had often started a "White faunch Deer," which had always escaped from his Hounds; and he asked the NOBLES, who were assembled around him, whether any of them had Dogs, which they thought might be more |