had secured her, he would at once, without taking the trouble to carry her home, knock at my door, hand her in, and get his money; as by so doing he would save his time and my own, spare me the expence of advertising, and Bessie the désagrément of fasting in a damp cellar until she was redeemed.

My servant delivered this message. fellow think of my offer?"

Well," said I, "what did the

"Why, sir, Bill Sykes seemed quite unprepared for your kindness. He drawed his hand across his eyes, and said that such conduct was handsome-wery handsome indeed—and that it would be well for the poor if there were more nobs like you."

"But does he agree?"

"Yes, indeed, sir, does he; and he begged me to tell you that ifh e could prevent it, nobody shouldn't never fancy Bess but himself-and that he hoped to have the luck to pick her up soon, as Mrs. Sykes was in the family-way, and he wanted a trifle for babby linen.

"Since that time," continued my friend, "Mr. Sykes generally calls for his guinea, with my dog under his arm, about once a quarter. Bess has become nearly as fond of him as she is of me, and he certainly has had influence enough over the other members of the confraternity to prevent any of them meddling with his protégée. Whenever Bess is not to be found, I am not in the least uneasy; I merely conclude that Mr. Sykes is coming for his money. Some years ago, on the occasion of Mrs. Sykes's second accouchement, he got me to advance him a couple of pounds, which the industrious fellow contrived to work out in the course of the month."

Much as I admired my ingenious friend's philocynical arrangement with Mr. William Sykes, I was too angry to follow his example, and proceeded at once to Bow-street, in order to endeavour to recover my dog through the assistance of the police.

The inspector listened attentively to my tale, noted down my description of the animal, and assured me that within twenty-four hours every policeman on duty in London should have instructions on the subject.

"But do you think there is any chance of their finding my dog?" I enquired in a piteous tone; for I prided myself on Philibegs, I loved him like a brother, and he cordially reciprocated my affection. Though a perfect little fiend to every body else, he hardly ever bit me. The man looked cautiously in my face, as if to ascertain whether I was laying a trap for him or not-and at last said, "None in the least, sir; we can do nothing with these dog fanciers-they are so sly. They would rather kill your dog for the value of his skin than let you have him again through our interference."

"What do you advise me to do, then ?"

"Why, sir, I am wrong perhaps in telling you, but if you are very anxious to recover the dog, and don't much care about bringing the parties who stole him to justice, there is a house of call for the Fancy in Lisson Grove, and if you go there and speak civilly to the landlord, he'll be sure to get your dog back for a very small sum; for those cunning fellows would rather let him go home to you, than sell him to a stranger, who might carry him into the country; whereas if you recover him, they will know where to look for him when they want him again."

The inspector wrote me down the address, which for obvious reasons I don't publish (it can be had at any police office), and through the mediation of the landlord of the public house, to whom I paid the reward in advance, Philibegs was dropt down my area in a bag one foggy evening. But hewas soon carried off again, and I was at last obliged to capitulate, and subscribe £4 4s. annually to Mr. W. Sykes, on condition that my dog's person should be held sacred by the whole Fancy. The money is paid quarterly, and nothing can be more honourable than the manner in which Mr. S. fulfils his engagement. I have thus the double satisfaction of knowing that Philibegs is secure, and that as far as I am concerned, Mr. Sykes has been transmuted from a thief into an honest man.

On one occasion, indeed, since this arrangement, Philibegs disappeared for a few hours. I immediately sent for Mr. Sykes, who heard of the terrier's abduction with unfeigned anger and astonishment, and declared that it must have been done by some novice in the noble science. He went away assuring me that the animal should be instantly sent home. The next day, however, he returned without my dog, and affirmed in the most positive manner that it had not been stolen. "If any of my young men had picked him up," observed he, "I'd have been safe to have knowed it." He expressed his conviction that the animal had either strayed, or met with an accident, -sure enough, shortly afterwards Philibegs was led home by the poulterer's boy, whom he had followed as far as Duke-street, St. James's, in hopes of a giblet.

The London Fancy, as its members proudly term themselves, are a powerful body. They are called Fanciers, because they are in the habit of indulging practically in strong fancies for dogs, which do not, strictly speaking, belong to them. It is a remarkable fact, that strange dogs invariably exhibit the greatest good-will and affection towards every member of the profession, although they are by no means remarkable in general for suavity of manners or personal beauty.

I have often heard of love at first sight, but being a fat man, of an unromantic turn of mind, I never believed in it, until I one day saw a fancier operate on the dog of an old lady who lives opposite to me in Brook Street. It was an Italian greyhound, the most delicate, timid little sylph in the world. It always seemed to be picking its way about on the tips of its toe-nails, and shivered with affright at the very sight of strange dog or man.

Whilst I was eating my breakfast, I observed an ill-looking fellow sneaking about the corner of the street, but as it was after I had become one of Mr. Sykes's subscribers, I knew that Phil. was in no danger, and merely watched the fancier's motions from curiosity. He strolled carelessly backwards and forwards for a few moments. Presently, the greyhound slipped up the area steps, crossed the street to him, and swaggered off as bold as a lion, in company with two as truculent looking bull-dogs as ever ran under a go-cart. What the man had done thus to change the greyhound's nature, I cannot divine, but hitherto it had never allowed even its neighbour Philibegs to give it a friendly sniff, without beginning to yell like a demon. Yet there it went, stalking coolly up the street, with its tail as stiff as a crowbar, exchanging the most familiar canine civilities with its disreputable companions, with as much confidence as if it had already licked them both in a fair scratch fight.

NO. IV.-VOL. I.-NEW SERIES.

2 8

As the old lady was much attached to her greyhound, the fancie made ten pounds by his morning's work.

I understand that the profession is much followed by the élite of the youth of Whitechapel, Paddington, and the Seven Dials. They cannot afford to hunt or shoot; and the same tastes and motives which lead a member of Crockford's to devote himself to those exciting pursuits, impel the young butchers and bakers of the metropolis to indulge in their passion for the fancy. It is an occupation which affords opportnnity for a display of skill and presence of mind; it is healthy, being carried on in the open air; it brings those who indulge in it into contact with the animals whose society they like, and there is just sufficient risk in the thing to make it exciting. Should they get into trouble through their predilection for the sport, the legal penalty is so slight and salubrious, that it can hardly be viewed in the light of a punishment; a fortnight on Brixton mill, in agreeable and improving society, with plain but wholesome prison diet, just gets a fellow into prime condition, and is, perhaps, the best accident that can happen to a man of pleasure too deeply plunged in the vortex of London gaiety.

VASLYN.

THE BITER BIT.

WE have heard some bad French in our time (and spoke no little); but we don't remember anything much richer than the following, which we heard in a fashionable family, where the very youngest children speak French.

66 Toinette, voulez-vous venir mon liévre ?"

Should you like a translation? Here it is: Toinette (the nurse), will comb my hair?

you

Talking of young ladies-this is a fact-we once knew a damsel who was so excessively modest that she always wore green spectacles, because she objected to looking at gentlemen with her naked eyes.

Why are two men treading on each others heels quite far enough apart? Because they have four feet between them-to be sure!

If you want to buy fast horses, what islands should you go to?Don't know.-Oh! you stupid, to the Gallip a-goes!

287

SPORTS OF THE SEA:

BEING THE ADVENTURES OF JAMES WINKS, ESQ., IN SEARCH
OF THE SPORTIVE.

WINKS FANCIES HIMSELF IN LOVE.-GIVES HIS FLAME INDICATIONS OF GREATNESS OF SOUL.-
BECOMES DISDAINFUL-GROWS STUDIOUS, AND PREPARES HIMSELF FOR HIS GREAT

UNDERTAKING.

A PERSON of the known wealth of James Winks, and one who was determined to make himself a gentleman, could not fail to be favourably received by the ladies. James had a little pique against the beautiful sex. He remembered when the graceful opening and shutting of his eyelids had gained him the appellation of Blinky Winky, and how, at the hops, the fair creatures would part off to the right and left as he approached, and the words " Jerking Jem" become painfully audible. These, and similar indications, notwithstanding his innate gallantry, had induced him, more than once, to say, in the bitterness of his spirit, that " Adam's rib had done, and would, while the world lasted, always do, a thousand-fold more mischief than Sampson's jawbone." Being suspicious, he was yet single-but having a vast soul, he was always in love.

He yearned for family and fashion. He was well-received by a decayed Irish baronet, and not absolutely rejected by Miss Dinah O'Donnel, his only daughter. But there were as many impediments in the course of Winks's wooing as if it had been the course of true love. It did not run smoothly. The lady knew that her lover had taken her father's measure. She had seen him in the very act. Besides, she had vague, yet very startling suspicions, that he had played his part upon the boards-sitting, sultan-like, cross-legged. She begged him, therefore, to go into the army, and promised him her fair hand the moment that she could call him captain; and then he might sell out as soon as he chose.

So James had quarrelled and been reconciled, and quarrelled again, and he now came to take his leave of her-his final leave. The scene was affecting. Our hero made the most of it. He used something like a simile, instancing his fate and that of Jonah. He could not very well make it out. Perhaps, Miss O'Donnel's swallow was not quite so capacious as that of the whales which abounded near