38 B R E E D I N G. 



with good eyes ; yet the chance, or rather 

 imprudence, of 'breeding from fuch had much 

 better be avoided j as the incontrovertible 

 evidence I fhall introduce, \ipon the folly of 

 embarking in fuch an expedition, (where the 

 odds are entirely againft the adventurer, with- 

 out a fingle point in his favour) muft prove 

 exacftly fimilar to playing at hazard with 

 fcdfe dice, where you may eternally lofe, but 

 never can rife a winner. 



It is likely thcfe confiderations may want 

 proper weight with thofe who fupply a con- 

 temptuous fmile of diibelief at the very idea 

 of tranfmitting hereditary blemifhes or defefts 

 from fire to fon, as the refult of cynical op- 

 pofition to the more rational fyftem they 

 adopt of annually breeding under every pof- 

 iible difadvantage, in confirmation of their in- 

 experience : 1 fliall therefore recommend to 

 their incredulity a few inftances, confirming 

 as faEls what may have been hitherto confi- 

 dered matters of doubt, without the leaft 

 criterion for rencral decifion. 



o 



The hrit opportunity I could avail myfelf 

 cf to juftify or render nugatory my opinion of 



the 



