the bed-room window of his old enemy's
house open! At last a large party of bold-hearted men one evening were
successful enough to find the white rabbit in a garden, the only egress
from which is through a narrow passage between two cottages, all the rest
of the garden being securely surrounded by brick-walls. They placed a
strong guard in this entry to let nothing pass, while the remainder
advanced as skirmishers among the cabbages: one of these was successful,
and caught the white rabbit by the ears, and, not without some trepidation,
carried it towards the reserve in the entry. But, as he came nearer to his
friends, his courage grew; and gradually all the wrongs his poor pig had
suffered, took form and vigour in a powerful kick at the poor little
rabbit! No sooner had he done this than, he cannot tell how, the rabbit was
out of his grasp; the people in the entry saw it come, but could not stop
it; through them all it went, and has never been seen again. But now to the
proof of the witchcraft. The old woman, whom all suspected, was laid up in
her bed for three days afterwards, unable to walk about: all in consequence
of the kick she had received in the shape of a white rabbit!

S. A. S.

Bridgewater.

* * * * *

"EMBLEMATA HORATIANA."

Whatever may be proposed as to republishing works of English emblems, the
work published in Holland with the above title at all events deserves to be
better known. All the English works on the subject I ever saw, are poor
indeed compared with the above: indeed, I think most books of emblems are
either grounded or compiled from this interesting work; which is to the
artist a work of the deepest interest, since all the designs are by Otho
Venius, the master of Rubens. Not only are the morals conveyed lofty and
sound, but the figures are first-rate specimens of drawing. I believe it is
this work that Malone says Sir Joshua Reynolds learned to draw from: and if
he really did, he could have had nothing better, whatever age he might be.
"His principal fund of imitation," says Malone, "was Jacob Cat's book of
emblems, which his great-grandmother, by his father's side, who was a Dutch
woman, had brought with her from Holland." There is a small copy I think
published in England, but a very poor one: the original work, of which I
possess a portion only, is large, and engraved with great care. And I have
often thought it a pity such an admirable work should be