22 THE ADVENTURES OF A GENTLEMAN 



injury. At all events it is safer to estimate the 

 powers of a horse at a much lower rate, and to con- 

 sider thirty miles a good day's journey ; and two 

 such journeys as a fair week's work. 



The last hint that I shall offer on this topic, is to 

 decide, in the first instance, the limit in price ; and 

 having settled " the figure," to allow no horse-deal- 

 ing oratory to change the determination. I may 

 observe that a horse, which is really good and 

 exactly adapted to a man's purpose, is dear at no 

 price ; but it by no means follows that because a 

 high price is asked or even refused, that the horse is 

 worth it. Putting hunters and race-horses out of 

 the question, a hundred guineas ought to buy the 

 best hack in England ; three-fourths of that price is 

 more than the value of ninety-nine out of a hundred, 

 with every advantage of strength and action ; and 

 fifty guineas should at any time purchase such a 

 horse as a gentlemen need not blush to own ; but it 

 may safely be assumed that all the horses adver- 

 tised for sale at twenty and thirty pounds, are 

 aged, unsound, vicious, or in some way or other un- 

 safe purchases for any man that has a reasonable 

 respect for his own limbs. I have been reproached 



