We readily accepted the invite, and off we set in company with the “Ettric Shepherd” and his monkey, and certainly it was a “teeklesome sicht” to see him mounted on the long, lank, wire-haired, shaggy wolf-dog-grew-lurcher, while he in play was scouring round and round the wild and barren moor; away and away as swift as the wind, over brae and bourn and bog they went, like a red petticoated witch on a besom, flying in the storm.

On our way we fell in with the foresters, who were going a deer-stalking; they had a buck to kill for the duke, so we joined company, and gave that satisfactory shrug of the shoulders, with the expectation of sport, that a spider would feel while sitting in the corner of a hollow nut-shell, and seeing his victim already entangled in his web, while he was whetting his appetite with suspended hope, in dream of anticipated fattenings.

We made the best of our way to the watering-place haunt of the deer.  Silence was the word, and we crept on tip-toe and tip-toe, scarce breathing, keeping ever out of the wind’s course; for they have an ear of silk, and an eye of light, and a scent so exquisite that they could, if it were possible, hear the tread, see the essence, and scent the breath, of a spirit.  This watering haunt was in a lonely glen, which was commanded, within pistol-shot, by a small clump of trees, which were under-grown by brushwood and brambles, and wherein we ambushed ourselves.  Ay, there it was, the “gory bed,” where “this day a stag must die,” just one hundred yards from that said clump.  Hush, hush, silence, silence, “Swallow your brith,” says Jammie Hogg, hush, “Heck, cack, a,” says the monkey, “the deevil tak’ the monkey,” says Jammie, “whist, whist, hush!”

(To be concluded in our next.)

* * * * *

THE SELECTOR; AND LITERARY NOTICES OF NEW WORKS.

* * * * *

THE GEORGIAN ERA.

(Concluded from page 124.)

Sheridan.

“In early life, Sheridan had been generally accounted handsome:  he was rather above the middle size, and well proportioned.  He excelled in several manly exercises:  he was a proficient in horsemanship, and danced with great elegance.  His eyes were black, brilliant, and always particularly expressive.  Sir Joshua Reynolds, who painted his portrait, is said to have affirmed, that their pupils were larger than those of any human being he had ever met with.  They retained their beauty to the last; but the lower parts of his face exhibited, in his latter years, the usual effects of intemperance.  His arms were strong, although by no means large; and his hands small and delicate.  On a cast of one of them, the following appropriate couplet is stated, by Moore, to have been written:—­

  Good at a fight, but better at a play;
  Godlike in giving; but the devil to pay!