“The Cross is famous for being the annual scene of exhibition of that _polite play_ called a bull-bait, where four or five of these _horned heroes_ are attended by several hundred lovers of that _rational amusement_. Till within a few years, the _dramatis personæ_ of this _elegant scene_ included even magistracy itself, the mayor and corporation attending in their official habiliments, at the Pentice windows, not only to countenance the _diversions_ of the _ring_, but to participate in a sight of its _enjoyments_. A proclamation was also made, by the crier of the court, with all the gravity and solemnity of an oration before a _Romish sacrifice_; the elegant composition of which ran thus—‘_Oyez_! _Oyez_! _Oyez_! _If any man stands within twenty yards of the bull-ring_, _let him take—what comes_.’ After which followed the usual public ejaculations, for ‘the safety of the king and the mayor of the city;’ when the _beauties_ of the scene commenced, and the dogs immediately _fell to_. Here a prayer for his worship was not unseasonable, as even the ermin’d cloak was no security against the carcases of dead animals, with which spectators, without distinction, were occasionally saluted. [Picture: Eastgate Street, Chester] “We shall not attempt a description of the _tender_ offices practised, at such times, on so noble a creature—one, however, we cannot omit mentioning: in 1787, an unfortunate animal, smarting under his wounds and fatigue, was very _naturally_ induced to _lie down_;—the _argument_ made use of, in this situation, however, _as naturally_ induced him to _get up_; his _humane_ followers hitting upon the ingenious expedient of setting fire to some straw under his body, when, it is hardly necessary to add, ‘the wretched animal heav’d forth such groans, as stretch’d his leathern coat almost to bursting.’ This circumstance of the _fire_ was, however, no bad _satire_ (emblematically considered) on the transactions of the day—the whole being little better than a—‘burning shame.’ “The late Dr. Cowper is said to have had the merit, when mayor, of putting a stop to the attendance of the corporate body on these days; and Mr. Alderman Brodhurst, in his mayoralty, made a laudable but ineffectual effort to suppress a relic of barbarism ‘more honoured in the _breach_ than the _observance_.’” EASTGATE STREET,