IN SEARCH OF A HORSE. 401 



If strict veracity is always politic, there are some 

 cases in which it is indispensable. I am of opinion 

 that a man cannot sell a horse that he hnoivs to be 

 vicious, especially vicious in the stable, without incur- 

 ring a personal responsibility for all consequences. 

 If such a horse should occasion the loss of life, the 

 vendor who concealed the vice would be morally, and 

 perhaps legally guilty of manslaughter ; if he should 

 only endanger a limb, or otherwise injure a person, 

 or even a carriage, a seller with a warranty, who 

 suppressed the animals tricks, would be responsible in 

 damages to the injured party. It is worth a gentle- 

 man's while to take these points into consideration, 

 especially when selling a horse for a lady or a child 

 to ride. 



"While correcting the sheets of my second edition, 

 an accident occurred to me with a pony which I 

 bought at Osborne's : I bought him for harness ; the 

 name of his late owner is Goddard. I drove him three 

 or four times, and had no fault to find with him, except 

 that his mouth was as harcf as a board ; but after a 

 few days the vicious brute took it into his head 

 without any cause of alarm, to bolt, while I was 

 driving a lady and child in my phaeton. I hadj but 



