lutions were then performed, in which the animal displayed many equestrian feats. At length the sound of retreat was proclaimed, when off went this sagacious creature and his rider, contented, after having performed his duty in the field, to resign himself to the guidance of the bridle in a more humble walk of life.

Affectionate Horses.

M. DE BOUSSANELLE mentions, in his Observations Militaire, printed at Paris in 1760, that in 1757, a horse of great spirit and beauty belonging to his company, having, from great age, his teeth so much impaired, as to be unable to chew his food, was supported for two months, and would have been longer, had he been kept, by the two horses who ate with him, on his right and left, who alternately took hay and

corn from the rack, chewed it, and laid it before the aged beast. This fact, says the author, is fully attested by a whole regiment of cavalry.

Remarkable Longevity and Sagacity of a Horse,

MR. ASTLEY, Jun. of the Royal Amphitheatre, Westminster Bridge, has, at this time, in his possession, a remarkably fine Barbary horse, fortythree years old, -presented to him by the late Duke of Leeds. This noble and surprizing creature was at one time, deemed so ungovernable, as to render it unsafe for any but an expert horseman to ride him. A short time, however, under proper management, effected a perfect change in his nature. Being naturally good-natured, and uncommonly tractable, he soon became an adept in the art of fetching and

carrying, and will now do so at the word of command, which will readily be believed, when the reader is informed, that this is the celebrated animal that has, for a number of years, been seen officiating in the character of a waiter, in the course of the performances at the amphitheatre, and at various other theatres in the United Kingdom.

At the request of his master, he has been seen to bring into the Riding School a tea table and its appendages, which has been followed up by fetching a chair or stool, or what else might be wanted. His achievements generally terminate by taking a kettle of boiling water from off a considerable blaze of fire, to the wonder and admiration of every beholder.

In the art of picking pockets he may be said to vie in celebrity with the once notorious Barrington. An apple, pear, handkerchief, snuff-box, and, in short, any thing of a similar

nature, is sure to be taken out of the pocket, by the teeth of this dumb professor of petty larceny. Apples he is particularly fond of, and should his master forget to give him one or two in the course of the day, he is certain to put his mouth into his pocket, and on not finding one there, will lay his head on his shoulder, and by an occasional lick on the face with his tongue, make known his wishes, and the debt he considers due to him.

This sagacious and gentle creature, although, as already observed, in the forty-third year of his age, still preserves all that fine symmetry of form and limb, which may be said to render the horse, more than any other animal, beautiful. And what is a little extraordinary, he is still as lively and playful as a young colt, and is now rode by Mr. Astley, Jun. in the minuet at the Olympic Pavilion. Nature, however, in some instances prevails; his teeth are nearly, if not entirely gone,

which renders it necessary that his food should be of a soft and tender quality. We cannot conclude the account of this fine Barbary horse, (by many thought to be Spanish) without expressing our surprize and indignation at a circumstance which took place in the course of the preceding winter at the Olympic Pavilion. The horse had been going through his accustomed performances one evening, when a wretch, in the form of a man, observing the animal to be fond of apples, enticed him to take one from his hand, which the poor creature did; by the motion of his head, he was seen attempting to eat it with much difficulty; his loss of teeth was at first considered to be the only cause of the pain he seemed to feel in the act of mastication; but what was the owner's sensations on approaching the horse, and taking the apple from his mouth, to find it stuck full of pins! Mr. Astley, who would not take any money