"A BOAT, A BOAT, UNTO THE FERRY." 43 



in wisdom as regards my own career in life ; but 

 as in the present case, I only venture advice on 

 the very subordinate acts of purchasing and treat- 

 ing horses, though I cannot say I shall do any 

 good in giving it, I at all events try to do so ; and 

 in point of fact, I have not only promised to tell 

 a certain class of men where they act injudiciously, 

 but I further promise to tell them how they may 

 act with more prudence ; for if I show them in 

 how many ways they must suffer in making their 

 own selections of horses, and then purchasing for 

 themselves, I conceive it to be tantamount to re- 

 commending them to let others purchase for them. 

 It would be an act of greater arrogance than I hope 

 I have ever yet been guilty of, if I could suppose 

 any one would act on my advice, merely because 

 I give it. But if they find that by acting on my 

 advice (which is, to act on the advice of others) 

 they avoid losses they have hitherto sustained, 

 so much the better ; if instead of this they choose 

 to act as they have hitherto done, they will be 

 only where they were. 



Supposing (to bring forward a personal case) I 

 fancied myself a waterman, and wanted a boat ; 

 I might go to Searle, and fall in love with one of 

 his wager- boats, that carries one, not, as we say 

 in coaching, " outside " or " inside," but as those 

 boats do, half out and half in ; I might show my 

 taste in having purchased a very pretty sort of 

 aquatic race-horse; for which no doubt, honest 



