SHOEING. 151 



llterated from a memory replete with obfer- 

 vant advantages arifing from reflection. If 

 I could become fo fubfervient to the fafli ion- 

 able impulfe of literary ambition as to ex- 

 ped: to be generally read, and after fuch 

 reading to be generally underftood, I might 

 enjoy much pleafure in going over the de- 

 fcriptive confirmation of the bo?ics, tendons^ 

 the inner jlejhy^ and the outer horny f ok ^ the 

 frog, and crujl or hoof^ with their different 

 appropriations i but having the moil indif- 

 putable reafon to believe, that very abjlrucity 

 of reafoning^ and myfterious introduction of 

 technical terms y have in a great degree pre- 

 vented the reading of publications upon this 

 fubjecS, I fhall (in earnefl hope of laying jufl 

 claim to fuperior attention) defcend, like the 

 orator in one of the celebrated Foote's 

 comedies, *' to the vale of common fenfe^ 

 that I may be the better underftood.'" 



It has been the fecondary confideration 

 of thefe fpeculative writers, or theoretical 

 fportfmen, (fuppofing a perfeverance in the 

 cuftom of flioeing not to be aboliihed upon 

 the power of their perfuafions) to propa- 

 gate and re-echo a doc^lrine equally abfurd, 



L 4 tending 



