20 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



opinion, fliould be fparingly exhibited in the 

 ftable. The mod valuable part of his work, is 

 that which treats upon breaking, riding, and 

 management. It is fomewhat remarkable, that 

 the feat on horfeback, recommended by Barct 

 in the reign of James I. is precifely the fame 

 as that praclifed by our jockies and fporting 

 men of the prefent day; as are alfo his rules 

 for the management of brood mares, and the 

 early training of racing cattle. He alfo de- 

 fcribes and recommends (under the denomi- 

 nation of a help) the wriggling motion of the 

 bridle in a race, as we fee it praclifed at pre- 

 fent, by jockies. The canter after water (fo 

 much decried by fome writers) prevailed in 

 his time, and had his approbation. It appears, 

 by his book, that in thofe days it was a com- 

 mon cuflom to match their hunters to run after 

 the hounds. He particularizes the bell-courfe, 

 or regular race; the race to and again; the race 

 back and again, with the wild-goofe chace; 

 which lad I apprehend to be the fame, as has 

 been fmce called fteeole-huntin^. 



If we look farther into the opinions of this 

 author, we (hall find him exhibiting finking 

 proofs of the imbecility and inconfiftency of 

 the human mind; for although he generally 

 employs his pen (and that with fufficient 

 warmth) in defence of fuch, as without rifk, 

 may be fly led pure and demonflrable truths, 



and 



