THE TURF 5 



Let your boots be gartered up fast, and 

 your spurs must be of good metal/ The 

 saddle that this living objectthis 'figure 

 of f un > was placed upon, also bade defiance 

 to good jockeyship, being nearly a facsimile 

 of that upon a child's rocking-horse ; and 

 which, from the want of a proper flap, as 

 well as from the forward position of the 

 stirrup-leathers, gave no support to the 

 knee. 



Cowper says, in bitter satire 



4 We justly boast 



At least superior jockeyship, and claim 

 The honours of the turf as all our own ! ' 



The abuses of the turf we abhor, and shall 

 in part expose ; let it not, however, be for- 

 gotten that, had we no , racing, we should 

 not be in possession of the noblest animal 

 in the creation the thorough-bred horse. 

 Remember, too, that poor human nature 

 cannot exist without some sort of recreation; 

 even the rigid Cato says, ' the man who has 

 no time to be idle is a slave.' Enclosures, 

 and gradual refinement of manners, have 

 already contracted the circle of rural 

 sports for which England has been so long 

 celebrated; and we confess we are sorry 



