148 SHOEING. 



" When time was young, when the earth 

 -was in a state of nature, and turnpike roads 

 as yet were not, the horse needed not the as- 

 sistance of this artist ; for the divine Artist 

 had taken care to give his feet such defence 

 as it pleased him ; and who is Aveak enough 

 to suppose his wisdom M'as not suiEcient to 

 the purpose in such a state ?" 



He then proceeds to justify an opinion, 

 that horses are adequate to their different 

 services in a state of nature, without the offi- 

 cious obtrusions of art ; venturing to affirm, 

 that they " will travel even upon the turn- 

 pike roads about London, without injury to 

 their feet." I avail myself of the present 

 opening to disclaim every idea of attacking 

 the remarks or opinions of otliers, from a 

 motive of intentional opposition, or to in- 

 dulge a vein of satire, that assertions so cy- 

 • nically singular and extraordinary, naturally 

 excite ; and shall therefore introduce, upon 

 the present occ;asion, no other reflection than 

 a certain sensation of surprize, that he did 

 not insinuate the palpable superfluity or lux- 

 ury of shoes and stockings to the natives of 

 our own country, particularly when even the 



