STABLING. 189 



ceived. Of these equestrian Quixotes, Nature' 

 has been so exceedingly liberal, that we find 

 numbers, who, when their steed is brought 

 out of the stable, whether in hi^h or low con- 

 dition, see or not see, srjoelkd tegs, cracked 

 heels, shoes or no shoes, his carcase expanded 

 to its utmost extent, or contracted to a degree 

 of unprecedented poverty/, mount him with 

 equal unconcern, and go through their jour- 

 ney, long or short, as prompted by necessity 

 or inclination* without a sins^le reflection 

 upon the wants or weaknesses of the animal, 

 unluckily destined to receive the honour of 

 so humane an appendage. 



In such unaccountable state of neoli^ence 

 stands many a valuable horse surrounded with 

 an accumulation of ills and hourly promotion 

 of misery from one week's end to another^ 

 and never enjoys the favour (if I may so term 

 it) of his master's presence but of a Sunday 

 morning ; when, making the expeditious tour 

 of Richnond, Hampton Court, Windsor ^ or 

 some other of the fashionable excursions, h 

 is consigned to his usual hebdominal dark 

 abode of inactivity, to enjoy a profusion of 



