THE TURF. 
But we must not conclude this article without a 
word or two to the young gentlemen just starting into 
the world who may have imbibed the ambition of shining 
on the English turf. Let every such person remember 
that he presents a broad mark that there are hundreds 
on the watch for him and that he stakes what is certain 
against not only all other chances, but the rife chance 
of fraud ! Let him, before he plunges into the stream, 
consider a little how it runs, and whither it may lead 
him ! In these days, indeed, gambling is not confined 
to the turf, the hazard-room, the boxing-ring, or the 
cock-pit ; but is, unfortunately, mixed up with too many 
of the ordinary occupations of life. " Commerce itself," 
said Mr. Coke of Norfolk, in one of his public harangues, 
" is become speculation ; the objects of a whole life of 
industry and integrity among our forefathers, are now 
attempted to be obtained in as many weeks or months 
as it formerly required years to effect." This fatal 
passion has, indeed, taken fast hold on a great body 
of the people, and what is called a "levanter" is per- 
haps a less rare occurrence from the corn-market, the 
hop-market, or " the alley," than from the betting-ring 
or Tattersall's. But we are told that betting 
" Though no science, fairly worth the seven," 
is the life of racing, and that without it the turf would 
soon fall into decay. To a certain extent there may be 
some truth in this doctrine ; nevertheless betting is the 
germ which gives birth to all the roguery that has of 
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