xvi INTRODUCTION. 



of opponents to endeavour to put down the amuse- 

 ment of racing, and who do not scruple to resort 

 to the most wilful misrepresentations to effect their 

 object. A writer^ belonging to this class, only 

 recently travelled out of his way, and treated the 

 public with a chapter on the Turf, written in that 

 spirit of hostiUty, on " rehgious grounds," which 

 Pope so admirably censures in the following lines : 



*^ For virtue's self may too much zeal be had, 

 The worst of madmen is a saint run mad." 



We are far from wishing to interfere with the 

 Unknown Tongues , the Revivals, the Praying in the 

 Highways y and other similar enjoyments of these 

 w'orthy people. Those who think that the Being, 

 who loves his creatures to a degree beyond the 

 power of human conception, delights in their 

 misery, may be as wretched as they please, and 

 live in the full indulgence of sighs and tears and 

 groans. We only ask in return toleration for 

 those of a different opinion. This, however, they 

 appear unwilling to grant, and accordingly grum- 

 ble at the least appearance of innocent mirth and 

 enjoyment among their neighbours, w^hether pursued 

 within or without doors, on the grounds that all 

 public amusements have an immoral tendency. 



It is not when the mechanic or labouring man 

 enjoys recreation in public, in the society of his 



* Grant's Travel's in London. 



