Page:Repository of Arts, Series 1, Volume 01, 1809, January-June.djvu/117

Rh is mixed with the rouge, and the talc becomes discoloured, the colouring matter was extracted from the animal kingdom. If the colouring matter is neither soluble in spirit of wine nor in a diluted alcali, then it may be suspected to be a mineral colour, either cinnabar or red precipitate of mercury, &c.

However, Messrs. Lavoisier and Jussieu were not satisfied with these experiments; and to be fully convinced, that twelve different sort of rouge which they examined, did not contain any mineral particle, they employed calcination, acids, and caustic alkali; but it does not appear that they could ascertain the presence of mineral substance many of them.

ACCOUNT OF A LEARNED SPANIEL.

spaniel, which maintained philosophical theses in English, French, and Latin, was exhibited some years ago at York. It may readily be conceived that the animal did not speak these languages: but he seemed, at least, to understand them; since, if asked any questibn in them, he always replied by signs, either shaking his head to express yes or no; or pawing with his foot to indicate numbers or letters, which when joined together formed the required answer.

Three circumstances occurred to excite the astonishment of the spectators, who were attracted in great numbers by the celebrity of this animal. 1. He continued to give pertinent and proper answers, even when his master retired from the exhibition-room, or desired all those to retire who were suspected of making signs to the dog to indicate the answer. 2. He returned answers equally proper when blind-folded, to prevent him from observing any signs. 3. He generally advanced the most singular paradoxes: at first no person in company agreed with him in opinion, yet, after a variety of objections, answers, and replies, he was always allowed in the end to be right.

To prove that the epithet learned given to this animal, was not altogether misapplied, we shall relate a kind of conversation which took place between the spaniel and two or three learned persons in company.

A sailor first asked how many arches there were in Westminster bridge. The spaniel replied by drawing his foot over the number fifteen. He was then asked how many arches there were in the Pontus Euxinus. Here the dog paused, as if he had conceived himself insulted by such a question, and as if desirous of applying the proverb, "a foolish question deserves no answer." Being commanded, however, by his master, to satisfy the person who had interrogated him, he replied, that the Pontus Euxinus had no arches, and he expressed this very clearly by placing his foot on a cypher. The sailor then said, that the preceding year he had made a very happy voyage in weeks from the Pontus Euxinus to London bridge. The spaniel finding nothing very wonderful in such a voyage, placed his foot on different letters forming a very laconic answer, which signified, when explained by his master, that some na- N2