TURF. 399 



folutely raifed contributions among the moil 

 wretched, by even the infamous practices 

 of *' pricking in the belt,'' and " hicjiling 

 in the hat'') to their phaetons, horfes in 

 training, and confpicuous feats in the firft 

 fafhionable betting stands, (among the 

 moft eminent charaders in the kingdom) 

 but fuch ads of permeditated and deep laid 

 villainy, as no man living can be guarded 

 againft, if he embarks or ventures his 

 property amonglt a fet of ruffians, that are 

 not only a notorious peft to fociety, but 

 a dangerous nuifance and obftrudion to one 

 of the noblefl diverfions our kingdom has 

 to boaft ? 



Under fuch numerous difad vantages, it 

 muft prove palpably clear to every ob- 

 ferver, that none but fportfmen with for- 

 tunes of the firft magnitude, can confcien- 

 tioufly enjoy the pleafure of breeding, 

 TRAINING, and RUNNING their horfes, 

 without the perpetual dread of approach- 

 ing ruin j in fad, of this fuch a repetition 

 of proofs have tranfpired within the laft 

 twenty years, that the leaft defcriptive 

 corroboration becomes totally unneceffary. 



For 



