288 ZACHARIAH SIMPSON, ESQ. 



question whether it would end in dividing the poor 

 animal asunder, or in bringing the roof of the stable 

 bodily to the ground ; for it was fast giving way under 

 the pressure. Lots of people then said that ' they knew 

 it would be so.' But, possessing this gift of prophecy, 

 it is to be regretted they did not exercise it before the 

 attempt, and not after its failure. 



Yet, undeterred, each one had again his own plan to 

 suggest, as visionary and absurd in my opinion as the 

 first. Consequently, I would not listen to them, and 

 insisted on having my way tried. Pickaxe and shovel 

 were soon had, and the ground removed in front of the 

 horse's fore-legs in a slanting direction towards the 

 manger, so that in struggling he might, with assistance, 

 be enabled to get footing ; and he walked out, like climb- 

 ing up a steep hill, at two o'clock the next morning, and 

 was thus rescued from his uncomfortable situation. Mr. 

 Angell, with the rest, worked like a nigger. Poor 

 creature ! when once more on his legs (the horse I mean, 

 not Mr. Angell) he was unable to support himself with- 

 out assistance, his hind parts being seemingly paralyzed. 

 But on removing the dirt and being carefully tended, he 

 recovered, and was enabled the next day to return home 

 in the van that had brought him. It was very remark- 

 able that in the fall he had only rubbed a little skin 

 from off his back, and slightly cut his near hind-leg. 



Mr. Simpson had horses in training at Newmarket. 

 The best of these was True Blue, who did him some 

 good, but might have done much more ; for he was 

 capable of greater things than to win two or three little 

 races. I do not think that on the whole his racing, pure 

 and simple, was a very costly amusement to him ; and 

 in betting he could scarcely have been out of pocket. 

 To begin with, he was not fond of it, or objected to it as 



