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very considerable. It is impossible to estimate the extent of the injury, but it is certain that the vineyards and plantations of Meige are wholly ruined, The storm swept some square miles of the country. Half an hour before the storm, the barometer was at 27·1: Reaumur's thermometer 19 deg.

25. The director of the royal observatory at Marseilles discovered, at a quarter before two o'clock in the morning, in the constellation of Taurus, a new comet, invisible to the naked eye. Its position on that morning, at five minutes past two o'clock (true time), at Marseilles, was-right ascension, 62:1-3 deg., declension 26-3-4 deg. north. Its nucleus was very feeble and confused; and the surrounding nebulosity appeared sensibly elongated in the direction opposite to the sun.

26. LION FIGHTS AT WARWICK. -This exhibition of brutality took place, at a late hour in the evening, in an extensive enclosure, called the "Old Factory Yard," in the suburbs of Warwick, on the road towards Northampton. The cage in which the fight took place stood in the centre of a hollow square, formed on two sides by ranges of empty workshops, the windows of which were fitted up with planks on barrels, as seats for the spectators; and, on the remaining two, by the whole of Mr. Wombwell's collection of animals, arranged in their respective dens and travelling carriages.

The prices of admission demanded in the first instance for the fight were extravagant. Three guineas were asked for seats at the windows in the first, second, and third floors of the unoccupied manufactory; two guineas for seats on the fourth floor of this building; one

guinea for places at a still more distant point; and half-a-guinea for standing room in the square. The appearance of the cage when erected, was rather fragile, considering the struggle which was to take place within it. It measured fifteen feet square, and ten feet high, the floor of it standing about six feet from the ground. The top, as well as the sides, was composed merely of iron bars, apparently slight, and placed at such distance from each other that the dogs might enter or escape between, but too close for the lion to follow. Towards the afternoon, the determination as to "prices" abated, and it was suspected that, in the end, the speculator would take whatever prices he could get.

In the mean time, the unfortunate lion lay in a caravan, by himself, all day, in front of the cage in which he was to be baited; surveying the preparations for his own annoyance with great simplicity and apparent good humour; and not at all annoyed by the notice of the numerous persons who came to look at him. In the course of the day, the dogs, who were to fight, were brought into the menagerie in slips-it being not the least singular feature of this combat that it was to take place immediately under the eyes of an immense host of wild beasts of all descriptions-not including the human spectators three other lions; a she wolf, with cubs; a hyæna; a white bear; a lioness; two female leopards, with cubs; two zebras, male and female; a large assortment of monkeys, and two wild asses; with a variety of other interesting foreigners, all arranged within a few yards of the grand stand.

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The dogs disappointed expecta

tion-they were very little excited by their introduction. They were strong, however, and lively crossed, apparently, the majority of them, between the bull and the mastiff breed; one or two showed a touch of the lurcher-a point in the descent of fighting dogs, which is held to give an increased capacity of mouth. The average weight of those which fought was from about five and thirty to five and forty pounds each; one had been brought over that weighed more than sixty, but he was excluded from the contest.

At a quarter past seven in the evening, from 400 to 500 persons of different descriptions being assembled, preparations were made for commencing the combat.

The dens which contained the animals on show were covered in with shutters; the lions' travelling caravan was drawn close to the fighting cage, so that a door could be opened from one into the other; and the keeper, Wombwell, going into the travelling caravan, in which another man had already been staying with the lion for some time, the animal followed him into the cage as tamely as a Newfoundland dog. The whole demeanour of the beast, indeed, was so quiet and generous, that, at his first appearance, it became very doubtful whether he would attempt to fight at all. While the multitude shouted, and the dogs were yelling in the ground below, he walked up and down his cage-Wombwell still remaining in it-with the most perfect composure, not at all angry, or even excited; but looking with apparently great curiosity at his new dwelling and the objects generally about him.

Wombwell having quitted the cage, the first relay of dogs was

laid on.

These were a fallow-coloured dog, a brown with white legs, and a third brown altogether; averaging about 40lb. in weight a-piece, and described by the names of Captain, Tiger, and Turk. As the dogs were held for a minute in slips, upon the inclined plane which ran from the ground to the stage, the lion crouched on his belly to receive them, but with so perfect an absence of any thing like ferocity, that many persons were of opinion he was rather disposed to play: at all events, the next moment showed clearly that the idea of fighting-or doing mischief to any living creature-never had oc

curred to him.

At the first rush of the dogswhich the lion evidently had not expected, and did not at all know how to meet-they all fixed themselves upon him; but caught only by the dewlap and the mane. With a single effort, he shook them off, without attempting to return the attack. He then flew from side to side of the cage, endeavouring to get away; but in the next moment the assailants were upon him again; and the brown dog, Turk, seized him by the nose, while the two others fastened at the same time on the fleshy part of his lips and under jaw. The lion then roared dreadfully, but evidently only from the pain he suffered-not at all from anger. As the dogs hung to his throat and head, he pawed them off by sheer strength; and in doing this, and rolling upon them, did them considerable mischief; but it is a most curious fact, that he never once bit, or attempted to bite, during the whole contest, or seemed to have any desire to retaliate any of the punishment which was inflicted upon him. When he was first "pinned," for

instance, the dogs hung to him for more than a minute, and were drawn, holding to his nose and lips, several times round the ring. After a short time, roaring tremendously, he tore them off with his claws; mauling two a good deal in the operation; but still not attempting afterwards to act on the offensive. After about five minutes' fighting, the fallow-coloured dog was taken away-lame, and apparently much distressed, and the remaining two continued the combat alone-the lion still working only with his paws, as though seeking to rid himself of a torture, the nature of which he did not well understand. In two or three minutes more, the second dog, Tiger, being dreadfully maimed, crawled out of the cage; and the brown dog, Turk, which was the lightest of the three, but of admirable courage, went on fighting by himself. A most extraordinary scene then ensued: the dog, left entirely alone with an animal of twenty times his weight, continued the battle with unabated fury, and, though bleeding all over from the effect of the lion's claws, seized and pinned him by the nose at least half a dozen times; when at length, releasing himself with a desperate effort, the lion flung his whole weight upon the dog, and held him lying between his fore paws for more than a minute, during which time he could have bitten his head off a hundred times over, but did not make the slightest effort to hurt him. Turk was then taken away by the dog-keepers, grievously mangled but still alive, and seized the lion, for at least the twentieth time, the very moment that he was released from under him. He died on the following Thursday.

The keeper, Wombwell, went

into the cage instantly, alone; and carrying a pan of water, with which he first sluiced the animal, and then offered him some to drink. After a few minutes the lion laid himself down, rubbing the parts of his head which had been torn (as a cat would do) with his paw; and presently a pan of fresh water being brought, he lapped out of it for some moments, while a second keeper patted and caressed him through the iron grate. The second combat presented only a repetition of the barbaritics committed in the first.

In throwing water upon the lion, a good deal had been thrown upon the stage. This made the floor extremely slippery, and the second set of dogs let in being heavier than the first, and the lion more exhausted, he was unable to keep his footing on the wet boards, and fell in endeavouring to shake them off, bleeding freely 'from the nose and head, and evidently in a fair way to be seriously injured. The dogs, all three, seized him on going in, and he endeavoured to get rid of them in the same way as before, using his paws, and not thinking of fighting, but not with the same success. He fell now, and showed symptoms of weakness, upon which the dogs were taken away. The dogs were again put in, and again seized the lion, who by this time, besides bleeding freely from the head, appeared to have got a hurt in one of his fore feet. At length, Mr. Wombwell announced that he gave up on the part of the lion; and the exhibition was declared to be at an end.

The first struggle between the lion and his assailants lasted about 11 minutes; and the second, something less than five; but the affair altogether wanted even the savage interest which generally belongs to

a common bull or bear bait; for, from the beginning of the matter to the end, the lion was merely a sufferer-he never struck a blow. A few days after the match between Nero and his six opponents, a fresh match was made between a second lion, called Wallace, and six other dogs.

Wallace, like Nero, was a native of Edinburgh, but of a more ferocious disposition, and his weight was calculated at 400 pounds, about 100 pounds less than Nero. He was born in September, 1819; he lost his mother when two days old, and was suckled and reared by a bull bitch. The sire and dam of Nero died at the age of ten years. They were caught together when somewhat more than a year old, in a trap, on the coast of Barbary. The dogs intended for the battle with Wallace, were either bulls or half mastiff. They were called Tinker, Ball, Sweep, Turpin, Billy, and Tiger.

Wallace being turned into the den, Tinker and Ball, at a given signal, were led, in their collars, to the platform, and, as they approached, began to bark with great_vociferation, and to show an anxious disposition to commence the attack. Ball was a tawny white dog, 21 years old, weighing 41lbs.; and Tinker was a red dog, 4 years old, and 46lbs. weight. Wallace, the moment he heard them, turned round, and, as if conscious that mischief was meant towards himself, watched their progress, with his head erect, his tail stiff, and his whole appearance indicating courage and resolution. At last the dogs came in his front, and he had them in full view. He approached close to the bars, and boldly waited their attack. Both dogs, although excited to the high

est pitch of fury, appeared overawed, and remained for four or five minutes upon the platform, without making any attempt to enter the cage; at length, Ball, going too near the bars, was forced into it by the lion's paw: the poor dog had scarcely got upon his legs, ere the lion caught him in his mouth, and carried him round the arena for several minutes, as a cat would do a mouse, and with the same ease. Tinker, who during the whole of this period was kept at bay by the lion's paws, made many ineffectual attempts to seize Wallace by the lip; at length, becoming more annoying, he succeeded in attracting the attention of the kingly beast, who, laying down poor Ball, then nearly dead, in one corner of the cage, directed his fury upon his other antagonist. Wallace furiously grasped him between the neck and the shoulder, and but for the timely assistance of one of the keepers, who held out a piece of raw meat to him, to entice him from his prey, would have killed him on the spot. This attack did not occupy more than ten minutes.

After an interval of twenty minutes, Turpin, a London dog, and Sweep, a native of Liverpool, were brought forth. The former weighed sixty-three pounds, and the latter forty pounds. The dogs having been brought to the platform, Wallace watched them, precisely as a cat would watch a mouse. The word, "let go," having been given, the dogs rushed upon their fate; and, in less than a minute, were disposed of. Turpin made the first spring. and Wallace instantly caught him in his jaws, giving him a most severe bite. The attack of Sweep now induced Wallace

to drop Turpin, and turn to his new opponent, on which Turpin crawled out with all possible celerity. Wallace then seized Sweep with both his claws and mouth, and was about to give him a second crack between his jaws, when he made a spring and bolted out of the den.

THREE FEMALES BURNT TO DEATH.-A fire broke out between 10 and 11 o'clock at night, at the house of Mr Jones, a tailor, in Cavendish-street, Oxford - street. At the time the flames first appeared, there were six persons in the house. Mr. Jones and his daughter were taking their supper in the front parlour: in the first floor were Miss Morris, a dressmaker, who lodged in the house; and in the same room was a youth named Groves, and a girl named Mary Ann Jones, a servant to Miss Morris. In a room at the top of the house was Mrs. Groves, the mother of the youth. The fire commenced in the back parlour, or cutting-room, and the bursting of the flames through the door of that room first alarmed Mr. Jones, who escaped with his daughter through the front door. The flames rapidly ascended the staircase, the youth Groves ran up stairs and brought his mother down to the

For the third assault, Billy and Tiger were led towards the platform. Billy was first let go, being the largest as well as the most courageous dog, and Wallace, the instant he came within reach, grasped him across the loins with his jaws, and lifting him up, walked off with as much ease as if he carried a cockchafer. Tiger looked astounded, and with a rapidity quite equal to that of his entrance, turned about and ran off. As soon as the cage was cleared of his opponents, Wallace, seem ingly disappointed of his prey, displayed his anger by lashing his sides with his tail, and roaring tremendously. His jaws were first floor, where she fainted and covered with crimson foam, and he fell; and he with great difficulty continued to stride the arena from escaped out of the window, letting one end to the other for several himself down by the lamp-iron. minutes, printing each step with Miss Morris and her servant girl

gore.

Ball died a few seconds after he

ran to the second floor front room,

closely pursued by the flames.

was taken out of the cage, and Here Miss Morris was seen at the Tuesday morning. window, her arms extended, crying for assistance. A gentleman climb

Tinker

on

Tiger and Turpin were little

hurt. Sweep had several of his ed up the lamp iron, and got as far

ribs broken, and was otherwise

much injured.

as the first-floor window, when some of the crowd dragged him

seen to fall backwards into the fire.

the earth sunk in, and left a large following instant, the flames burst 29. At three in the afternoon, down by the skirts of his coat. The opening in the district of Barbis: through the first and second floor it was 100 feet in diameter, and windows, and Miss Morris was continued to enlarge. It could not be seen how deep it was, but stones The flames were not subdued till being thrown in, a noise was heard nothing but the walls remained. after the lapse of a minute and The body of Mrs. Groves was some seconds, as if they had fallen

into water.

taken out of the first-floor back room burnt nearly to a cinder. The

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