THE TURF 195 



mankind, and few of which can gratify pure 

 benevolence; but, when honourably con- 

 ducted, we consider the turf as not more 

 objectionable than most others, and it has 

 one advantage over almost all now in any 

 measure of fashionable repute : it diffuses its 

 pleasures far and wide. The owner of race- 

 horses cannot gratify his passion for the 

 turf without affording delight to thousands 

 upon thousands of the less fortunate of his 

 countrymen. This is no trivial feature in 

 the case, now that shooting is divided be- 

 tween the lordly battue and the prowl of the 

 poacher, and that fox-hunting is every day 

 becoming more and more a piece of ex- 

 clusive luxury, instead of furnishing the 

 ord, the squire, and the yeoman, with a 

 common recreation, and promoting mutual 

 goodwill among all the inhabitants of the 

 rural district. 



