The following authentic history of the Extraordinary Adventures of a Sheep, which was transmitted to a respectable periodical journal, from Salisbury, where the animal died, will, we doubt not, prove interesting to our readers, as it affords an instance of animal sagacity, in that species on which Nature has bestowed it with a sparing hand.

She was born in the North Highlands of Scotland ; embarked, in 1804, in the Arab, and visited Iceland, Greenland, and Norway: here she was sent on shore to graze; the next day, seeing the boat row past the place where she was feeding, she leaped into the water, and swam to the boat: this circumstance protected her ever after from the butcher, and her life was one scene of gratitude. She was in fourteen different actions with the enemy's flotilla and batteries off Boulogne, in the last of which she lost part of one of her horns. After that she traversed the whole of the western extent of Africa, across the equator to the Brazils, and along the Guiana coast of South America to the West Indies; from thence to Ireland, and then home. She was so tame as to feed from the hand, and, like the dog, followed her protector; would dance for a cabbage leaf; preferred the house and fire-side to the stable ; for several months was never known to touch hay or grass, living with the sailors on pudding and grog, and nibbling the ends of rope or canvass. The paring of an apple or a potato was her highest luxury. The docility of the animal was highly amusing : putting her head under your arm, she would eat off your plate at dinner; would drink wine or spirits, and tea, if well sweetened ; run up and down the stairs; and, if she got into the kitchen, would take the cover from the pot, and peep into it. He; wool was of a soft and silky nature.

After having weathered so many storms and hardships, she was brought as a present by Lieut. Bagnold, of the royal navy, to a lady in Salisbury; where, alas ! their fleecy friend died of a bowel complaint the second day after her arrival, most sincerely lamented, the 22d of January, 1808, Lines written on the preceding most remarkable Sheep.

Scarce thirty suns had brighten'd o'er her head, When to Arab's deck young Jack* was led ; Here from her master's side she ne'er would stray, Ate of his meat, and on his hammock lay. Grateful for this, when left on Norway's beach, She brav'd the sea, the distant ship to reach. This act heroic stays the murd'rous knife, And all the crew demand to save her life. Thus spar'd, she visits each far distant main : In fourteen battles, amid heroes slain, She 'scapes unhurt; save that the whizzing lead Bears off one horn, then gently graz'd her head. All perils past, she reach d her native shore, To tempt the rage of war and seas no more.- "Go, my dear Jack," her grateful master said, (As on her snow-white head his hand he laid ;) "Go seek the shady grove, the verdant mead ; There rest securely, and securely feed. A thousand joys shall thy long life attend, Blest with that greatest good, a faithful friend.- Vain were these hopes ! at Sarum safe arriv'd, Sudden she sicken'd, and as sudden died.- Well, then, dear Jack, since fate has seal'd thy doom, Be thine the honours of the sculptur'd tomb. There too shall this just eulogy appear, "A sheep, a much-lov'd sheep, reposes here." More 'is in thee some future bard shall trace, Such as ne'er yet adorn'd the fleecy race. A patient temper, to all ills resign'd, Sense almost human, to good nature join'd. No charms for her had flow'ry lawn or grove, 1 was man she sought - to man gave all her love. Had she but liv'd in fiction's classic days, The muse had sung her fame in deathless lays ; Had fondly told, that her not mortal frame Return'd from earth to heav'n, from whence it came; Advanc'd to share with Aries on high, The space assign'd him in her native sky.

* It was a female sheep, but by the sailors was constantly called Jack.