232 THE ADVENTURES OF A GENTLEMAN 



men's hacks ; and now that the Bazaar is closed, can 

 often boast of the most miscellaneous collection of 

 gentlemen's chargers, equally fit for the saddle or 

 the stanhope, the park or the road! The motley 

 crew who frequent these places are the same at 

 every sale : and the bill of fare varies as little as the 

 guests. "Very superior, well-bred, short-legged, up- 

 standing, fast, young, seasoned horses, the genuine 

 property of a coach-proprietor, reducing his stock," 

 or of " a gentleman compelled by ill-health to give 

 up hunting," among which will "assuredly" be found 

 " some excellent buggy-horses, and a few with grand 

 action for a cabriolet," and not a few "equal to six- 

 teen stone, up to any hounds." Such are the prizes; 

 and all are warranted sound, quiet in harness, and 

 free from vice. It is a pity that such valuable ani- 

 mals should be so little appreciated ; but it is by no 

 means for want of competent judges. 



The first spectacle that meets the eye of a novice 

 is a collection of lumbering, antiquated, broken- 

 springed, one-horse carts, congregated round the 

 gateway of the yard, guarded by ragged boys, old- 

 harness dealers, saddle-cobblers, and stick merchants. 

 Groups of this description extend from the gateway 



