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No. 1.-Three very sickly children (one of them, subject to fits), to let on hire at 2d. a week and victuals.

2. A well-trained dog for a blind man, with chain and collar.

3. A do. brown and white-walks on three legs.

4.-A little girl aged eight years, but looks eight and twenty-with a shrill voice, peculiarly fitted to beg at the area-goes out at 6d. a day, and find herself. She will not lose herself, as she is well acquainted with the Town. 5.-An infant, who has had the cow pock seven times.

6. An elegant assortment of blue aprons, and red cabbages on poles, for frozen-out gardeners during win

ter.

7.-160 dozen bunches of matches, warranted the best brimstone.

8. An old woman without a nose, who can run on errands.

The subscribers are requested not to notice her application for liquor. 9.-A complete beggar's wardrobe. The live stock to be taken at a fair valuation,

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Flints and brummage a balls. 14. A Jack in the Green for the first of May, with seats inside, coronet top,&c. This was made by one of the first artists in London; and the sole reason why the original owner parted with it was, that he was obliged to go abroad. three 15.-Five St. Giles' cremonas ; cracked clarionets: a gallanty-show; and two fine-toned barrel organsmaker, J. Beloudy, Pentonville.

16. Four one-armed jackets for sailors who have never seen the sea..

17-A great choice of second-hand wooden legs.

18. A large quantity of clean petitions. 19. A number of dirty and soiled ditto, at 25 per scent cheaper. Children taught to shiver naturally, at 6d. a lesson. The hooping-cough taught in all its stages; and complete instructions given in the whole art, mystery, and science of begging, on the most reasonable terms, by the first mas

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without legs, to go in a bowl, with short crutches, between Charing Cross and the top of Bond Street; he must be active and steady, and have an undeniable character for sobriety.

A CARD.

J. B. De Voleur, 2, Blue Ball Court, Procurer of Quadrupeds.-Dogs, or any other animals, provided on the shortest notice in any part of Town:-Terms to be known at his residence. A variety of skins and cat-furs: Mrs. V. constantly attends to dispose of them.

Wanted. A youth of respectable connexions, to be stationed between Vauxhall and the Three Stags; he must be able to tumble with agility, and play the mumps on his chin.

To be peremptorily sold, pursuant to an Order of the High Court of Chanceawry, the lease of a cellar desirably situated in Dyot Street, St. Giles'; it has been, time out of mind, occupied as

a dormitory for gentlemen of all descriptions: the particulars and good will to be had of the neighbours.

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An opening for Jacks in the Water.Situations to be had on both sides of the river.

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An East India Director has several lame Lascars to dispose of: they are in fine order for begging, being wretchedly thin and unwholesomely ragged.-N. B. As they never uncover their heads, their

turbans to be taken as fixtures.

Wanted,-A genteel person with good eyes, to sit at a Half-penny Hatch; no objection to a broken down egg-factor.

A friend to Vagrants proposes to open a subscription, to put a new bank to the stocks at Kentish Town, as the situation is unpleasant, from a neighbouring puddle. The Advertiser has lately experienced the effects of a violent cold, caught while his hands and legs were in limbo in the said stocks.

A person that is blind, and has a good walk in the city, wishes to change it for an eligible situation at the West end of the Town.-N. B. He is not musical.

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The Essay on "Cruelty to Animals” is ably written, doing honour to the author's head as well as his heart; but our readers in general so much prefer facts to opinions that we shall reluctantly be obliged to omit the introductory observations.-J. Boone is a valuable friend, and his wish shall be acceded to.

T.'s arguments to prove the existence of a Deity cannot appear-our readers, we suspect, require no reasoning to settle their minds upon such a self-evident subject.-L. L. D.'s article has already been printed in the Nic-Nac.

Printed and Published by T. WALLIS Camden Town

THE NIC-NAC;

OR,

Literary Cabinet.

SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1826. VOL. IV.

Praise us as we are tasted;

Allow us as we prove;

Our Head shall go bare

Till Merit crown it!"

No. 166.

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"The harden'd savage, deaf to misery's moans, Beneath whose lash the trembling victim groans, Is fit to aid the midnight murderer's clan; A foe to mercy is a foe to man." A CERTAIN reputable author, in lamenting the prevalence of inhumanity, makes the following observations:-"No small part of mankind derive their chief amusements from the death and sufferings of inferior

animals; a much greater, consider them only as engines of wood, or iron, useful in their several occupa tions. The carman drives his horse, and the carpenter his nail, by repeated blows; and so long as they

produce the desired effect, and they both go, they neither reflect nor care whether either of them have any sense of feeling."

Many laudable efforts have been made of late by the humane, to ameliorate the sufferings of those useful but persecuted animals, which but too often fall victims to the basest wantonness and barbarity.

Of all those animals which administer to the wants and necessities of mankind, the poor ass seems to be the most neglected; and the ill treatment which this despised creature commonly meets with, may, in a great measure, occasion that obstinacy and stupidity of which he is accused. On his native plains he is not that slug gish, drooping object which oppression has rendered him in this quarter of the globe; but, on the contrary, is smooth and sprightly, extremely swift, and displays the greatest activity in combating or eluding his foes. The Christian residents in many Mahometan cities, confine themselves to the use of these animals, being prohibited from riding horses by the Turkish authorities. In some countries they fill very honourable stations. The Czar, or Prince, of Immeretto, a district between the Black and Caspian Seas, who, some time ago, formed an alliance with Russia, is distinguished from his subjects (all of the Greek persuasion) by riding upon an ass and wearing boots. The Spanish asses are remarkably fine and stately; and in that country the Grandees are frequently drawn by mules, between which and the former there is a great affinity. In Britain, this neglected animal seems to be principally confined to the poor and indigent; shares all their wants and distresses; and, it is to be regretted, oftentimes becomes the object of the most outrageous barbarity.* It must

I have noticed one of these animals in the neighbourhood of the New Road, which belongs to a vender of cockles. During the short interval of rest which it enjoys, it is left to regale itself upon a few dirty potato-parings; and at night

ever move the pity of the compassionate, to behold one of these wretched brutes sinking under a most disproportionate burden, and patiently bearing all the galling cruelties which the brutality of its driver can exercise.

It is no uncommon sight to behold a crowd of malicious boys, or even those whose age might be supposed to deter them from committing such excesses, collect around one of the miserables, to take a cruel pleasure in tearing and tormenting it.*

It has been justly observed, that the Gothic sports of bull and bearbaiting are much on the decline, They must have been very prevalent in Queen Elizabeth's days, as we find bear-baiting among the many amusements prepared for her majesty on her visit to Kenilworth. We have reason to believe that they are still annually observed in many parts of Yorkshire and Cheshire. In the latter county, more barbarous sports than could easily be imagined are sometimes indulged in. A young man of the greatest veracity, who resided some time at Leftwich, near Northwich, was eye-witness to a pastime, known to the natives of that place under the appellation of goose-riding. A stout pole being erected on each side of the road, a rope was fixed, extending across from one to the other, at a considerable height from the ground; to this rope, exactly over the middle of the road, a living goose was suspended by the feet, having previously had its head plucked and well anointed, to render a sei

it sallies forth with a burden of shellfish. When shouts and blows fail in

quickening its pace, I have seen the dricompelled the poor creature to increase ver seize its tail, and twist it until pain his speed.

In the holy writ we find an angel reproving Balaam for cruelty to his ass: "Why hast thou smitten thine ass these three times?" So that scripture may be quoted for the condemnation of inhumanity to brutes.-Numbers, C. 22. v. 22.

zure more difficult. The rustic horsemen, about to contend for this prize, then withdrew to some distance; and upon a given signal, they all started for the goose; the swiftest of course first neared the mark, but proved unsuccessful, as also did the second; but one of those in the rear succeeded in tearing down the miserable bird, which was accordingly adjudged to him, by the rustic ampires of this singular contest, as a reward for his superior dexterity. Among the rural swains in some parts of the same county, another strange diversion is practised, commonly called cockthrowing. The ill-fated chanticleer is secured by the feet on some elevated station, whilst a bevy of gentle shepherds from a distance hurl their clubs at him; and he who succeeds in giving the stunning blow, becomes entitled to the fowl. These, and simi, lar barbarisms, still find supporters in many retired villages.

A short time back, whilst on my return from an excursion into Cheshire, I arrived at Tranmere-ferry late in the evening. On reaching one of the steam-boats, I discovered a cluster of boatmen employed in killing cats.

After having held their heads under water until quite exhausted, they proceeded to rip up their bellies, whilst the wretched animals were still writhing in agonies of death. I was informed that this practice is common; as butchers and sailors find caps made of their skins very cheap and comfortable. It is to be regretted, that Mr. Martin's bill is confined as it were solely to cattle; the laws might surely take cognizance of such fragrant abuses as these, as well as several others, a disgrace to the land we live in. Besides the cruelty attendant on these horrid practices, there is another great disadvantage arising from them; the dead bodies in many instances, prove a most intolerable nuisance, particularly in warm weather.

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heard a lady, a short time back, a little removed from whose house is situated a pool of water, complain in bitter terms of pestiferious exhalations aris

ing from the floating remains of doga, which are constantly drowned there by a set of ruffians, who sometimes do it for mischievous amusement. I have, at the same spot, witnessed the most savage actions. An acquaintance of mine once took pity upon a fine-looking terrier, who had been doomed to a watery grave. The fatal stone was tied on his neck, and he was just on the point of being hurled to the shades below, when he cast such an imploring eye, that my friend found it irresistible, and his release was immediately obtained for a mere trifle: he afterwards proved to be a most excellent dog.-A very absurd and cruel operation which these animals sometimes undergo, is that of worming; this savage practice takes its rise from a strange notion that the hydrophobia is frequently caused by a small worm which harbours under the dog's tongue; by the removal of which, many suppose that the disease may be prevented. In the country I have known dogs to be most cruelly tortured, for the purpose of having these imaginary worms extracted.

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The names of those who have so zealously interested themselves in adVocating the cause of humanity, will ever be held in esteem by the trulybenevolent mind; their efforts in the cause will add lustre to their rank"Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge.' A society, formed for the purpose of suppressing wanton cruelty, would do the greatest credit to the sentiments of the individuals concerned, and might have a very good effect. But many object in strong terms to such an institution. They argue, that it would be ridiculous to attempt to take cognizance of every act of brutality in which low-lived ruffians should think fit to indulge; they have no idea of that sentimentality, as they choose to term it, by

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* When Mr. West, the venerable President of the Royal Academy, was very young, he had attained great skill in the use of the bow and arrow; and was one

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