FILIAL AFFECTION. VOLNEY BECKNER, born in the year 1748, at Londonderry, in Ireland, was the son of a poor illiterate sailor. But though Prov dence had denied him the advantages of birth and fortune, his mind was gifted with qualities which could scarcely have failed to lead to honourable distinction. He received no other instruction than such as related to a sea

faring life, which his father, naturally enough, designed him to follow. He possessed great bodily strength and activity, united wtih remarkable sagacity and quickness of comprehension; and from his earliest infancy displayed such determined courage and resolution, and such elevation of soul, that the captain of a vessel in which he served, used to point him out as a model to other young seamen, and on one occasion did not scruple to say, "If this boy continues to display the same courage and good conduct, I doubt not, that in time he will obtain a post superior to my own."

In fact, he was continually exhibiting traits of daring: he never recoiled from the prospect of danger; and his adventurous spirit delighted in the performance of any duty, the danger of which was likely to intimidate other youths. In 1760, Beckner, then twelve years of age, and his father, were making a voyage from Port-au-Prince, in the West India island of St. Domingo, to France. Among the passengers on board, was a rich American, with his infant daughter. This child one day slipping away from her nurse, ran to the head of the vessel, and whilst scrambling about there fell overboard. The elder Beckner saw her fall, and with the quickness of lightning, plunged into the waves to save her In a few seconds, he had seized the child, and while he clasped her to his bosom with one arm, he strove to regain the vessel by swimming with the other; when, to his consternation, he perceived a large shark advancing rapidly towards him. He cried aloud for help. In a moment all the passengers and crew were upon deck; but though all shuddered at the imminent danger of the courageous sailor, no one durst venture to his assistance. They began, however, a brisk fire against the shark, which, regardless of the noise, kept still advancing, and had nearly reached its object. In this moment of horror and dismay, a generous impulse of filial tenderness and heroism prompted a boy to perform what vigorous and brave men had not the courage to dare. Young Beckner, seeing the extremity of the danger to which his father was exposed, seized a wellsharpened sword, and plunged with it into the sea. He

was an excellent swimmer, having been accustomed by his father to the water as soon as he could go alone. Getting behind the shark, he dived underneath its belly, and then with equal skill, steadiness, and resolution, thrust his weapon into the animal to the very hilt. Writhing with pain, the voracious animal abandoned its intended prey in order to turn its fury upon its young assailant.

A fearful sight now presented itself to the spectators in the vessel, who stood absorbed in anxious horror and expectation. The youth, nothing daunted by the formidable appearance and superiority of his enemy, continued for some time the unequal contest. Whilst the huge animal was twisting and turning to seize its prey, the boy plunged his sword again and again into his body. But his strength was not sufficient to inflict a mortal wound; and the young hero soon found it necessary to relinquish the contest, and to endeavour to regain the vessel.

The crew had, meanwhile, thrown out ropes to the father and his spirited son; but for some time, the motion of the waves, and the necessity of escaping the imminent danger from the incensed shark, prevented them from availing themselves of these means of escape. At length they succeeded in each grasping one of the numerous ropes that were thrown out. All on board now lent their assistance to draw them up by main strength. Both father and son were soon above the water, and suspended by the ropes. Their rescue appeared certain.

The enraged and bleeding shark perceived that its prey was on the point of escaping. With the sagacity of natural instinct, and stimulated by the natural impulse of vengeance, the monster now collected all his energies, and making one mighty bound, caught between its powerful teeth the unfortunate boy as he clung to the rope, severing its victim into two parts, one of which it instantly devoured. At this appalling scene, the spectators raised an involuntary cry of horror, and stood fixed in sorrow and amazement. They then applied themselves to help the father, who safely reached the vessel with the little girl, the cause of this painful calamity.

Such was the end, at once frightful and generous, of Volney Beckner, when little more than twelve years of age. His life was destined to be short, but it was sufficient to afford a most striking illustration of intrepidity and filial love, and to offer a noble example to the admiration of youthful posterity.

SPLENDID APPEARANCE OF JAMAICA.

THIS beautiful isle, happily screened by Cuba and Hispa niola from the tempestuous winds of the Atlantic, and with the adjacent continent, by reason of the number and peculiarly adapted for an extensive and profitable commerce disposition of its excellent havens, is really one of our most with an elevated ridge, called the "Blue Mountains," valuable colonies. Jamaica is somewhat of an oval shape, (towering in some places to nearly 8000 feet above the level of the sea,) running longitudinally through the isle east and west, and occasionally intersected by other high ridges, south coast in gigantic spines of sharp ascent-difficult of traversing from north to south; approaching the sea on the access, and clothed with dense and sombre forests;—on the north declining into lovely mounds and round-topped hills, covered with groves of pimento, and all the exqusite verdure of the tropics, the coup d'œil presenting a splendid panosavannahs, or plains, hills and vales, rivers, bays, and rama of high mountains, embosomed in clouds, and vast creeks. The midland is spread for an extent of many miles, with an infinite number of round-topped hills, whose rock, is clothed with fine cedar and other trees, of enormous surface, covered with a loose lime-stone, or honey-combed bulk; the dales or cock-pits meandering between these hummocks contain a rich soil, of great depth, where the succulent Guinea-grass forms a perfect carpet of ever-verdant beauty. When viewed at a distance from Point Morant, (the southernmost high land on the coast,) the picture is clouds which roll along their precipitous sides,—beneath, splendid; the Blue Mountains appear above the stratum of the rugged hills are furrowed with ravines, and steep cliffs descend abruptly to the sea; and on a nearer approach, lofty forests are seen, and slopes of bright emerald green.

-MARTIN'S British Colonies.

I LOVE to observe with what fondness Americans cherish the memory of their descent, and their intimate connexion with Europe. In many families, cups, plates, and chairs, are shown you, which their forefathers brought over with style of the early part of the last century, are fondly and them. Two large yew trees, cut in the stiff and cramped justly nursed in the garden of a friend of mine.-German Stranger in Americă.

THE USEFUL ARTS. No. XXI.
ANIMALS USED IN HUNTING.

WE proceed to notice the different varieties of Dogs, and the few other animals of whose assistance the hunter avails himself.

At

The MASTIFF, though not the largest, is the strongest of all dogs, and accordingly it has always been selected for hunting the larger and fiercer beasts of prey. Three Mastiff's have been considered as a match for a full-grown lion. the present day this dog is chiefly kept for house-guards, an occupation for which their great strength, their attachment and fidelity to those they know, and their ferocity towards strangers, admirably adapt them.

The BULL-DOG appears to be a sub-variety of the Mastiff; it is remarkable only for its invincible courage, or rather powers of endurance, and has been known to return to the attack of a bull after being successively deprived of its four feet; for what is more astonishing than the fact itself is, that the horrible experiment was once made by a brute of the human species. This dog has no other quality to recommend it, and is a favourite only with persons of the coarsest and most brutal tastes, who delight in witnessing animal suffering.

The annexed representations of the Mastiff and Greyhound, show the great difference in form which cultivation or climate, or both united, can produce in the same species of animal; for that all dogs, whatever may be their size, or the length and texture of their fur, are but varieties of one species, is proved by that infallible test, that they all breed freely with each other, and the offspring are also prolific.

The term hound is the common name of several varieties of dogs that hunt, both by sight and by scent, but which

THE MASTIFF

differ greatly in size and form. The BLOOD-HOUND claims precedence, as, perhaps, exhibiting the animal in its greatest perfection, both as to size, form, and qualifications. This dog was employed during the Middle Ages to track fugitives and criminals,-a duty which it performed with an intelligence and perseverance that excited admiration, in times when the true nature of justice was so ill understood, as that the execution of her decrees should be left to the doubtful instinct of an animal. If, as has been supposed, the magnificent dogs kept at the Convent of the Great St. Bernard are of this breed, their present employment presents a striking moral contrast to that just alluded to, though it is the same instinct and qualifications in the animal that gave rise to both.

The GREYHOUND presents the greatest contrast, in every respect, to most other dogs; so much so, that, if it were not for the test above-mentioned, it would be difficult to believe it was only a variety of the same species. The small slender head and pointed muzzle, and the delicate and graceful form of its body and limbs, are not more unlike those of the Mastiff or Blood-hound, than its dull sense of smelling, fleetness of motion, and inferior intelligence, differ from the acute scent, steady pace, and sagacity of the last named, and, indeed, of most other dogs. Except the Antelope and Ostrich no land animal exceeds the Greyhound in swiftness; it is hence chiefly employed at present in that branch of hunting called coursing, a brace of the dogs being set to run down the prey after it has been started by others, and which they generally do in a few minutes, without losing sight of it.

See Saturday Magazine, Vol. II., p. 177.

THE GREYHOUND.

The Fox-HOUND, HARRIER, and BEAGLE, though distinct enough to the sportman's eye, may be here classed together; they are small breeds, much cultivated and prized in this country for what is usually termed hunting; but except the name, this occupation has nothing in common with our subject. These dogs hunt chiefly by scent.

The POINTER is another variety of the Hound, possess ing an instinctive action, which, when improved by education, renders it a most valuable auxiliary to a hunter, that of standing suddenly still when it first scents its prey, and snuffing the air in the direction in which it lies; most probably the result of a concentration of the dog's attention, for the purpose of ascertaining that direction more precisely. The object of the education is to prevent the animal from doing what it would otherwise naturally do, run in upon the prey to secure it; the trained Pointer, instead of so doing, stands perfectly quiet till the sportsman, by advancing in the direction in which his dog points, starts the birds and shoots them. That this act of pointing is partly a natural instinct, appears from the fact, that the puppies before training will do it when first taken out into the field.

The TERRIER differs widely from all the foregoing, approaching in its instincts and character the nearly-allied species, the Fox. There are two principal sub-varieties, the long and the short haired; the former being that most connected with our present subject. The Terrier is an active, intelligent dog, with a decided hostility to all strongly-smelling small animals, its own relative, the Fox, not excluded. It derives its name from its pertinacity in scratching away the earth to get at such of its foes as burrow; and its mode of destroying them is by seizing them by the neck and shaking them to death. It is hence employed by hunters to unearth such animals, or to force them from their holes; and as its sagacity, fidelity, and docility admit of its being taught almost anything, it is an universal favourite.

plan seems rather to have embraced certain objects, less brilliant perhaps, but scarcely less important, namely, a strong diversion in favour of the Earl of Derby, who was fighting in the south of France, and the capture of Calais by a rapid countermarch. "But Philip chose his ground with so much skill, and threw so many obstacles in the way, that to execute the latter of these projects, as had been ori

The victory of Cressy is perhaps the most famous that was ever won by the English, throughout the whole of those long and arduous wars which our early monarchs carried on against France, either in asserting their claims to the throne of that country, or in endeavouring to extend the dominions which they held within the limits of its territory. "It is a general persuasion among Englishmen," says Mr. Sharon Turner, "that the reign of Edward the Third is the most illustrious period of their ancient annals;" and the popular belief on that point, as the same writer remarks, may be attributed to the victories of Cressy and Poictiers. The recollection of the splendid success which had attended the English arms on the day when the first of them was gained, served often on subsequent occasions to animate our forefathers with the confidence of victory when opposed to a force far superior to their own.

We have an excellent account of this celebrated battle in the Chronicles of Sir John Froissart, who was himself living, though but of tender years, when it took place, and who derived his information upon the subject from the mouths of those who had borne an active part in the fight. This "Herodotus of a barbarous age," as the poet Gray called him, was born in 1337, at the French city of Valenciennes, which then formed a part of the county of Hainault; and after having been priest, canon, and treasurer of the collegiate church of Chimay, he died about 1401, leaving behind him a collection of Chronicles of his own time, which had been compiled from the most authentic sources, and which have afforded to those living in subsequent ages a succession of "moving pictures," as Gray describes them, "of the life, actions, manners, and thoughts of their ancestors, done in strong though simple colours." We have also a description in poetry, or rather in rhyme, of the "Battaille of Crescey, under the fortunes and valour of King Edward the Third, of that name, and his sonne Edward, the Prince of Wales, named the Black," by Charles Aleyn, who flourished under Charles the Second.

The battle of Cressy was fought on Saturday, the 26th of August, 1346, in the course of the war which our King Edward the Third had commenced against France in 1336, when he set up his claim to the throne of that country in opposition to Philip of Valois, who was already seated upon it by the title of Philip the Sixth. It was not till the campaign of 1346, that any important blow was struck; but in that year, Edward advanced into the heart of France, and carried fire and sword up to the gates of Paris.

It does not appear that Edward at this time seriously contemplated the reduction of Paris: his

he marched, Edward found the bridges broken down on the rivers, and fords and defiles so strictly guarded, that it was not without severe fighting that he once or twice forced a passage; and learning that Philip was at Paris collecting his forces, and taking measures as well to intercept the retreat of the English as to check their progress, he resolved, if possible, to turn back, and march towards the coast. Deceiving Philip by an attempt to advance, he altered his route towards the river Somme; and having approached within a short distance of it, rested for a while, in order to gain information as to where he could best effect a passage. The river was wide and deep, and the King of France had ordered all the bridges and fords to be broken down and well guarded, to prevent the English from crossing; "for he was resolved to force them to fight, when he should see the most favourable opportunity, or else to starve them."

In this situation, the King of England felt embarrassed; his marshals scoured the neighbouring country with a strong detachment, and tried three several bridges in succession, but were repulsed at all by their defenders, and returned in the evening to the king with the disheartening intelligence of their failure. The same night, Philip, who had followed Edward, vexed at having been deluded by him, arrived within a short distance of the English, at the head of 100,000 men. Edward was " very pensive," and on the following morning quitted his position, which, two hours afterwards, was occupied by the French, who found there "provisions of all sorts,meat on the spits, bread and pastry in the ovens; wine in barrels, and even some tables ready spread; for the English had left it in very great haste." It happened that Edward had with him some prisoners which had been taken in the neighbourhood, and summoning a council, he ordered them to be brought before him. He then most courteously asked "if any of them knew a ford below Abbeville, where he and his army could pass without danger; and added, "Whoever will show us such a ford shall have his liberty and that of any twenty of his fellow-soldiers whom he may request." There was among them “a common fellow," named Gobin Agace, who answered the king, and said, "Sir, I promise you, under peril of my life, that I will conduct you to such a place where you and your whole army may pass the river Somme without any risk. There are certain fordable places where you may pass twelve men a-breast twice in the day, and not have water above your knees; but when the tide is in the river, is full and deep, and no one can cross it: when the tide is out, the water is so low that it may be passed on horseback or on foot without danger. The bottom of this ford is very hard, of gravel and white stones, over which all your carriages may safely pass, and from thence is called Blanchetaque. You must, therefore, set out early, so as to be at the ford before sunrise." "Friend," replied the king, "if I find what thou hast just said to be true, I will give thee and all thy companions their liberty; and I will besides make thee a present of a hundred nobles." And thereupon, Edward gave orders for every one to be ready to march at the first sound of his trumpet.

"The King of England did not sleep much that night, but rising at midnight, ordered his trumpet to sound." The army marched, and reached the ford before sunrise; but there they found 12,000 men drawn up on the banks of the river to guard and defend it, under the orders of Sir Godemar du Fay, a great baron of Normandy. "The King of England, however," says the old chronicler, "did not for this, give up his intention of crossing: but as soon as the tide was sufficiently gone out, he ordered his marshals to dash into the water in the names of God and St. George. The most doughty and the best mounted leaped in first; and in the river the engagement began many on both sides were unhorsed into the water: there were some knights and squires from Artois and Picardy in the pay of Sir Godemar, who, in hopes of preferment and to acquire honour, had posted themselves at this ford, and who were as fond of tilting in the water as upon dry land." When the English gained the land they had to force their way through a narrow pass near which the French were drawn up in battle-array. They had been much annoyed as they came out of the water by the Genoese cross-bowmen, "who did them much mischief;" but, on the other hand, the English archers shot so well together, that they forced the men-at-arms to give way. Many gallant feats of arms, as Froissart says, were performed on each side; but in the end, the valour and constancy of the English surmounted the opposition; and after the king and his lords had crossed, the French did not long keep in the order they were in, but "ran off for the fastest." Edward himself "gave thanks to God, and began his march in the same order as he had done before,"-taking care of course to liberate and reward his guide. His escape had been narrow indeed, for scarcely had the bulk of his troops crossed, when some of the lighthorse of Philip's advance came up to the river, and slew several of the English who had been late in crossing.

When Philip learned that the passage had been effected, he halted and asked his marshals what was to be done they answered, "you can only cross the river by the bridge of Abbeville, for the tide is now in at Blanchetaque." Accordingly, he returned and took up his quarters at Abbeville, while Edward proceeded to the village of Crécy, having previously sent his marshals forward to clear the road to Crotois on the sea-coast. Edward fixed his quarters, with the whole of his army, at Crécy, on the afternoon of Friday, the 25th of August; and he then learned that the King of France was following in order to give him battle. Finding a position in the neighbourhood, a position well adapted to the amount and nature of his forces, he said to his people, as Froissart narrates, "Let us post ourselves here; for we will not go further before we have seen our enemies. I have good reason to wait for them on this spot; as I am now upon the lawful inheritance of my lady-mother*, and which was given her as her marriage-portion; and I am resolved to defend it against my adversary, Philippe de Valois."

On Friday, then, the English encamped on the plain of Cressy; and the soldiers set about repairing and furbishing their armour. The king gave a supper in the evening to his earls and barons; there was "good cheer" at this repast, and when the nobles

Edward claimed the crown of France in right of his mother, Isabella, the daughter of King Philip the Fourth; she had been excluded from the throne after the death of her three brothers, by virtue of the Salic law which had been passed in 1316, to prevent

the succession of females to the French crown. Edward admitted her disqualification, but insisted that it was personal only, and did not extend to himself.

had withdrawn after it, Edward retired into his oratory, and "falling on his knees before the altar, prayed to God that if he should combat his enemies on the morrow, he might come off with honour." On the following morning he rose early, and having performed his religious offices, proceeded to draw up his army in the rear of the village, on the slope of a gentle eminence, its flanks being secured partly by wood, partly by intrenchments, and its front covered by a broken and difficult country. The troops were formed into three lines. The first, consisting of 800 men-at-arms, 2000 archers, and 1000 Welshmen, was commanded by the Prince of Wales, who became afterwards so famous as the "Black Prince," and who was then but a youth of fifteen years of age; under him were the Earls of Warwick, Oxford, and Harcourt, the Lords Chandos, Holland, and other noblemen, all among the flower of England's chivalry. They advanced in regular order to their ground," each lord under his banner and pennon, and in the centre of his men." The second division, of 800 men-atarms and 1200 archers, obeyed the orders of the Earls of Arundel and Northampton, with whom were the Lords Willoughby, Basset, Roos, and Sir Lewis Tufton; while the third, consisting of 700 men-atarms and 1200 archers, was commanded by King Edward himself, who kept it to be used as emergencies should arise, and as the poet says, "like a pilot stood behind to steere.”

When the king had thus drawn up his army, he mounted a small palfrey, and with his two marshals on each side of him, and a white wand in his hand, he rode gently at a foot-pace through all the ranks, encouraging and entreating the army that they would guard his honour, and defend his right:-" He spoke this so sweetly," says the chronicler, "and with such a cheerful countenance, that all who had been dispirited, were directly comforted by seeing and hearing him." This duty being performed, and it being now ten o'clock, the king bethought him of securing the bodily energies of his troops; so he ordered all to "eat heartily, and drink a glass after." They ate and drank at their ease; and having "packed up the pots, barrels, &c., in the carts," returned to their battalions, and seated themselves on the ground, placing their helmets and bows before them, that they might be the fresher when their enemies should arrive.

The King of France, in the meanwhile, had been lodged at Abbeville, where he had given a feast to his princes and chief lords, on the evening of Friday the 25th. He quitted the town early on the following morning, at the head of 120,000 men, and marching towards Crécy, sent out a party of nobles to reconnoitre Edward's position. "The English plainly perceived they were come to reconnoitre them: however, they took no notice of it, but suffered them to return unmolested." When they went back, King Philip said, "My lords, what news?" but the lords looked at each other, we are told, without opening their mouths, for neither chose to speak first. At last the king addressed himself to the Lord Moyne, who was attached to the King of Bohemia, and who had performed very many gallant deeds, "so that he was esteemed one of the most valiant knights in Christendom." The Lord Moyne then said. "Sir, I will speak, since it pleases you to order me, but under the correction of my companions. We have advanced far enough to reconnoitre your enemies. Know, then, that they are drawn up in three battalions, and are waiting for you. I would advise, for my part, (submitting, however, to better counsel,) that you halt your army here, and quarter there for the night: for before the rear shall come up, and the army be pro