_Of the more docile, and sagacious animals, such as Dogs, Horses,
Elephants_, &c.
There are few people but have either seen or heard of the _learned
Dog, Le Chien Scavant_, and yet his uncommon knowledge, except we
should now record it, will appear incredible to posterity. He could
read, write, and figure, play cards, spell any person’s names, with
many other parts in useful knowledge; and, as _Hudibras_ says,
_Greek was to him no more difficile
Than to a blackbird ’tis to whistle._
We have heard of a dog who saved money, and lent it out to usury;
of a horse that would usually of a morning go out a hunting with
the hounds; of the Elephant there are many strange accounts, among
the rest of his surprising gratitude and love for his keeper, his
vast memory, and retention, and his understanding the language of
those among whom he is reared; I say, these and more excellencies of
the several creatures are to be found all concentered in the Cat,
therefore expecting an implicit belief to all we have advanced,
concerning this most sagacious of all sagacious animals, we shall
immediately enter upon, and to our history, still reserving to
ourselves the honour of having said nothing but was necessary to
introduce our hero into the world.