INTRODUCTION. xi 



miles, had the effect of dismissing from employ- 

 ment nearly 1000 horses. 



But, as our present object is rather to explain 

 how great has been the influence of racing in 

 promoting commerce, and in forming and preserv- 

 ing our national habits, customs and manners, we 

 leave to others the defence of the vast interests 

 involved in turnpike trusts, as well as those of our 

 numerous and respectable coaching estabHsh- 

 ments, with their fellow-sufferers, the post-masters, 

 tradespeople, &c. 



Can we, for a moment, lose sight of the impor- 

 tant fact, that it is to the residence of our nobilitv 

 in their ancient halls, and to the races and mag- 

 nificent hunting establishments they maintain or 

 largely contribute to, we are chiefly indebted for 

 that excellent tone which pervades the English 

 character, the good effects of which are visible 

 in every class, from the peer to the peasant. This 

 union between all ranks in this country, but 

 existing, more especially, among our rural popu- 

 lation, has long been at once the admiration and 

 envy of foreign powers ; some of whose most 

 eminent political writers^ have attributed the pre- 

 servation of our nobility and our institutions, to 

 this cause, when other countries were dissolving 

 under the awful crash of the first French revolu- 



* Among others, Mr. Cooper, the celebrated American author. 



