J827.] The Traveller's 'Oracle. 389 



upon the Horses: all can judge of the former, but. few of the latter; and, 

 provided they are the same Size and of the same Colour, the Million will be 

 satisfied." 



As times go, they must be small horses, and not very strong ones, which 

 can be bought for 80/. a pair ; but horses at 120/. will be good enough 

 for ordinary purposes. In a large establishment, however, it is often eco- 

 nomy to keep perhaps a greater number of horses than are absolutely 

 wanted ; so that you can have a certain number for show occasions, 

 and a number also for rough duties. 



" Horses in Pairs are sometimes worth double what they are singly and Horse- 

 dealers do not like to buy any but of the most common Colours, i. e. Bays and 

 Browns ; because of the ease in matching them. Horses of extraordinary Colours 

 may be purchased at a proportionably cheap rate, unless they are in Pairs, and 

 happen to be an extraordinary good match, when they will sometimes bring an 

 extravagant price. 



" An Ancient Equestrian gives the following advice : 



" ' If you have occasion to match your Horse, do not let the Dealer know you are 

 seeking for a Match Horse, or he will demand a higher price; nor do not send 

 your servant to select for you.' 



" If you will be contented with the useful Qualities of your Horses, i. e. their 

 Strength and Speed, and are not too nice about their matching in Colour, you 

 may be provided with capital horses, at half the cost of those who are particular 

 about their Colour; and moreover, you may easily choose such as will do double 

 the service." 



On this subject of colour, it may be recommended to those who want 

 horses for hard work, and in uncertain weather, always to choose greys. 

 Grey horses especially ;the dark grey if their figures are bold, and their 

 condition good, look excellently well, although their coats are not glossy. 

 Brown, and still more especially black, look shabby, unless they are very 

 fine indeed. There are no journey-horses for appearance equal to 

 greys ; and don't have them trimmed too close about the heels : they look 

 none the better for it, and work the worse. 



" To Job Horses, is particularly recommended to persons who are ambitious of 

 having an elegant Equipage ; a pair of fine Horses that match exactly are always 

 expensive to purchase ; and if one of them dies, it is sometimes, to a private 

 Gentleman, extremely difficult to find a fellow to it. 



" Horses cannot work equally, nor at ease to themselves, if they are not nearly 

 of the same Size, of the same Temper, and have the same Strength, and have 

 the same Pace, and Step well together. 



" A Hackneyman or Horsedealer, who is in an extensive way of business, has 

 so many opportunities of seeing Horses, that he can match a Horse with much less 

 Expense, and more exactly, than any Gentleman or any Groom may hope to do : 

 therefore, those who are particular aoout the match of their Horses, will find it 

 not merely more expensive, but much more troublesome, to Buy than it is to 

 Job. 



"Job Masters, in general, Sell, as well as Let Horses; therefore, stipulate in 

 your Agreement, that you shall be supplied with various Horses till you are 

 suited to your satisfaction ; and then, that neither of them shall be changed with- 

 out your consent : for this, a Hackneyman may demand, and deserves, a little 

 larger price ; but it is Money paid for the purchase of Comfort, is the only way 

 to be well served, and prevents all disputes. If you do not make such an Agree- 

 ment, and your Hackneyman happens to be offered a good price for one of your 

 Horses, he may take it ; and Your's, like many other Carriages in London, will 

 be little better than a Break : nothing is more disagreeable, nay, dangerous, than 

 to be continually drawn by strange Horses." 



