[6] Published by Murray, Albemarle Street. (_To a Correspondent,
J.F., Lambeth Terrace._)


When a bear runs away with one of your pigs, there is no use in going
after him, hallooing, without a gun. You may scare him away from the
mutilated carcass, but it will make but indifferent pork; since not
being bred in Leadenhall or Whitechapel, he has but a slovenly way of
slaughtering. But trace to where he has dragged it, and near sunset let
self and friend hide themselves within easy distance, and he will be
certain to come for his supper, which, like all sensible animals, he
prefers to every other meal. Nay, it is highly probable, if he possesses
the gallantry which a well-bred bear ought to have, he will bring Mrs.
Bruin and all the children along with him, and you can transact business
with the whole family at once. In hunting the bear, take all the curs in
the village along with you. Game dogs are useless for this purpose; for,
unless properly trained, they fly at the throat, and get torn to pieces
or hugged to death for their pains. The curs yelp after him, bite his
rump, and make him tree, where he can be shot. The bear of Canada is
seldom dangerous. He is always ready to enter into a treaty, similar to
what my Lord Brougham negotiated lately with Lord Londonderry, viz.
let-be for let-be--but if wounded, he is dangerous in the extreme. You
should always, therefore, hunt him in couples, and have a shot in
reserve, or a goodly cudgel, ready to apply to the root of his nose,
where he is as vulnerable as Achilles was in the heel. Some ludicrous
stories are told of bear-hunting; for Bruin is rather a humorist in his
way. A friend of mine, with his surveying party, ten men in all, once
treed a very large one; they immediately cut clubs, and set to work to
fell the tree. Bruin seemed inclined to maintain his position, till the
tree began to lean, when he slid down to about fifteen feet from the