INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 5 



but which will materially depend upon the fuc- 

 cefs of my prefent endeavours. In fuch work 

 (granting it fhould be carried into effett) I 

 (hall not confine myfelf to breeding of Horfes 

 folely, but extend my attention to live flock 

 in general, including pigs and domeflic poultry, 

 in the breeding and rearing of which, I have 

 had as much and as extenfive practice as moft 

 men, and have been as careful to regifter it. 



To thofe who may object, that in the courfe 

 of this work, I defcend too much into minute 

 details, and apparently trifling circumftances, I 

 muft beg leave to obferve, that although them- 

 felves may be connoifleurs, there are num- 

 bers among us fo totally uninformed refpecling 

 Horfes, that even the inferior fpecies of intelli- 

 gence may be to fuch both ufeful and accep^ 

 table. Befides, a relation of the particular 

 ufages of our prefent equeftrian fyftem, may 

 adminifter to the curiofity (at leaft) of pofterity. 

 I have not indeed the vain conceit of fuppofing 

 myfelf capable of inftru&ing our great judges 

 of Horfes, our men of the turf in particular — 

 of thefe, I fpeak, as my mafters in the fcience ; 

 and my only expectation is, that they will find 

 their own opinions and practice faithfully re- 

 flected in my books. 



But the moft important part of my tafk, and 

 that which lies neareft my heart, is to endea- 

 vour to leffen the fum of animal mifery in the 



b 3 world 



