ecuting condemned criminals; a talk which they perform with great dexterity. At the word of command they break the limbs of the criminal with their trunks; they sometimes trample him to death, or impale him on their enormous tuks, just as they are directed by their more barbarous keeper.

Sometimes the elephant is employed like the ancient gladiators at Rome, to fight with wild beasts in the Arena, for the purpose of affording amusement to a luxurious court. The figure which is prefixed to this article represents a combat of this sort between an elephant and two tigers, copied from an Indian painting in the pofsefsion of Gilbert Innes of Stow, esq. which I am afsured is a faithful and spirited representation of that favourite amusement, that is at present very common at the courts of India in seasons of great rejoicing. Two strong tigers are usually deemed a match for an elephant, and the mode of attack of both animals is here very naturally characterised.

The time of the gestation of the elephant is hitherto but imperfectly known. Aristotle says it goes two years with young; which is the more likely, as the season of desire, in the male, returns but once in three years. The female produces but one young at a time. The young elephants are said to suck with their trunk, the teats of the female being situated between the fore legs.

The elephant is thirty years in arriving at its full growth; and is said to live, even in a state of captivity, to the age of an hundred and twenty, or an

hundred and thirty years.

In a state of freedom it

is supposed to live much longer.

The elephant will drink wine, and is fond of spirituous liquors. By fhewing him a vefsel filled with arrack he is induced to exert the greatest efforts, and perform the most painful tasks, in hopes of receiving it as a reward of his labour. To disappoint him is dangerous, as he seldom fails to be revenged. The following instance is given as a fact, and deserves to be recorded. An elephant, disappointed of its reward, out of revenge killed his cornac or governor. The poor man's wife, who beheld the dreadful scene, took her two infants and threw them at the feet of the enraged animal, saying, "Since you have slain my husband take life also as well as that of my children." The elephant instantly stopped, relented, and, as if stung with remorse, took the eldest boy in its trunk, placed him on its neck, adopted him for its cornac, and would never allow any other person to mount it.

my

Many other facts, equally curious and interesting, might be quoted respecting this singular animal; but those already cited are sufficient to fhow that the elephant is pofsefsed of faculties superior to those of any other animal. We must at the same time admire the beneficent order of that dispensation, which to an animal of such unequalled powers has added a disposition so mild and tractable. What ravages might we not expect from the prodigious strength of the elephant if combined with the fiercenefs and rapacity of the tiger!

FRAGMENTS OF LORD BACON.
For the Bee.

Continued from p. 122.

* * * * CERTAINLY custome is most perfect when it beginneth in young years.

All the principia or seminal germs of our faculties, and propensenefs to vertue or vice, are contained in the infant mind; and it is by educatio, or the drawing out of those that are good and useful, that man is perfected, and is made to be useful and happy.

In mere babes we see a wonderful desire of acting and stirring, which if a sound state of body continueth, increaseth continually in what relateth to the satisfaction of curiosity, a principle in our nature which with the power of reflex contemplation and comparison of thoughts, seemeth to be the great charter of the pre-eminence of man over the beasts of the field.

The grand canon therefore in the art of life, next to the preservation of health, must be," that by obtaining and preserving the habits of industry, the grand evils of the world are either lefsened, or altogether evited.

Let this be dilligently noted by parents and others who have the care of humane offspring. For late learners cannot so well take the plie, except it be in some minds that have not suffered themselves to fix, but have kept themselves open and

prepared to receive continuall amendment, which is exceeding rare.

But if the force of custome, simple and separate, be great, the force of custome, copulate, and conjoyned, and collegiate, is far greater; for there example teacheth, company comforteth, emulation quickeneth, glory raiseth, so as in such places the force of custome is in his exaltation. Certainly the great multiplication of vertues upon humane nature resteth upon societies well ordained and disciplined. For commonwealths and good governments doe nourish vertue grown, but doe not much mend the seeds. But the miserie is, that the most effectuall means are now applied to the end least to be desired.

Now this second rule of our art of life is to be applied, as in the art of a cunning husbandman or horticulturist in fostering the seeds of useful industry, and eradicating the filthy weeds of idlenefs.

Most part of men are early placed in the trammels of a trade or businefs, so that they need not to grope about for a choice of daily function, yet there are daily and continuall allurements to idlenefs, so that it behoves a man to stand like a watchful sentry against this dangerous enemy. Vacant hours employed in the pursuit of some pleasing study that is somehow connected with excellency in his particular profefsion, is what was greatly recommended by Erasmus, and is good for men that are able to reach it.

Innocent recreations of archery or the like, that chear the spirits without hurting the mind, and

207 that strengthen the bodie, are fitter for men of low degree; and in all cases it is good to provide remedies against the irritating occurrences of mutable fortune.

Some men's fortunes indeed are like Homer's verses, that have a slide and easinefs more than others, but all ought to provide against that which is the usual lot of humanity.

The best sailors are made on the rockiest fhores, and the faculties of men are best improved by frequent danger.

The fox hath become the most cunning of animals as being continually exposed to the greatest number of enemies.

Let a man therefore dilligently perfect himself in this grand part of the art of life, adding daily to the strength of his industrious habits.

In this also hee will find vertue, as in other cases, its own reward.

For it is in the dislocation of the powers of the understanding and imagination, that mental misery consisteth, and man is always happy when the spirits have an easy flow, and when hee is in pursuit of something pleasing which hee thinketh hee may obtain.

Now a man in that state is not only easy and happy in himself, but he is agreeable also to others, and particularly to his family and companions; for he will not be exposed to lie heavy upon the enjoyments of other men, or meddle injuriously with their particulars.