( 269 ) 



ing them forward; the latter, by laying them 

 back. 



This digreflion hath carried me much 

 farther, than I intended; but the mutilation 

 of the tail, and ears of this noble animal is 

 fo offenfive to reafon, and common fenfe, that 

 I have been imperceptibly led on by my in- 

 dignation. Tho nothing I can fay on the 

 fubjecl, I am well perfuaded, can weigh 

 againft the authority of grooms, and jockies, 

 fo as to make a general reform : yet if, here 

 and there, a fmall party could be raifed in 

 oppofition to this ftrange cuftom, it might 



in time perhaps obtain falhion on its fide. 



We commonly fuppofe, that when mankind 

 in general agree in a point, there is truth. I 

 believe no nation upon earth, except the 

 Englifh, have the cuftom among them, of 

 docking, nicking, and cropping their horfes. 



The wifdom too of all antiquity decides 



fully againft the practice. Inftances perhaps 

 might be found in the bas-reliefs of the Anto- 

 nine column, and other remains of Roman 

 antiquity, both of the cropt ear, and of the 

 hogged-mane, (which I take for granted were 

 never praftifed, except in cafes of defect,) but 

 I am perfuaded, no one inftance can be found, 



in 



