Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

LONDON,

To the Printer of the St. James's Chronicle.

SIR,

Among the wonders of the present Era, of dancing dogs, reading pigs, flying men, &c. give me leave to point out the sagacity of a magpie, which was equal, if not superior to prince Maurice's rational parrot, as according to Sir William Temple's account, the parrot spoke Portuguese, and the prince was obliged to depend on the veracity of the translator.

Now, Mr. Baldwin, some years since being at an Inn in Oxford, I was awakened very early by the chattering of a magpie; and finding that I had no chance of another nap, I got up, with an intention to enjoy a fine May morning's walk before breakfast, but I found the gates as strongly barricadoed against me, as the wicker work cage was against mag. In this disagreeable situation, unwilling to go again to bed, and unable to sleep if I had, I felt myself so out of humour, that I put my hand to the cage, and took mag by the tail, rather roughly, upon which he darted from me, leaving two of his feathers between my finger and my thumb, and instantly called out--Tapster--Tapster--Tapster--quick--quick--quick.--I repeated the hint the bird gave me, and Jack soon produced the key of the wicket.--I took my walk, having first invited mag to breakfast with me; but whether it proceeded from resentment, or Jack the Tapster's bad education, I cannot say, but I had no sooner given the invitation, than mag replied, Go, and be d--d!

Your's,

W.