I48 ON THE RIGHTS OF BEASTS. 



for want, (boner than repeat fuch an act. of 

 blafled infamy. 



Few fporting people, in or near the metro- 

 polis, but have heard of the hare fate of the poor 

 old flea-bitten grey gelding. This excellent 

 creature, though not a full-bred horfe, thrice 

 ran twenty-two miles within the hour, over the 

 hard road. By way of reward for fuch un- 

 common excellence, he was afterwards, when 

 his powers had declined, killed in an unfuc- 

 cefsful match, with circumflances of the moil 

 horrid barbarity. I have been informed, lie 

 was whipped to that excefs, that his entrails 

 were vifible, and even hung trailing on the 

 ground : I fpeak from information only, and 

 heartily wifh the owner, if he be (till alive, may 

 have it in his power to contradict, a ftory {'o 

 much to his difcredit. The ill-judged and un- 

 (kilful attempts of ignorant people, at matching 

 and racing upon the hard road (which they 

 prefer) are almoft ever attended with difgufling 

 circumftances of cruelty. 



But the mod fruitful fource of mifcry to 

 Horfes, is, that they are committed (through 

 neceility, in a great meafure, perhaps) to the 

 abfolute difcretion, in all refpects, of their dri- 

 vers ; a majority of whom, are the lead en- 

 lightened, the molt hardened and profligate of 

 all the lower people. Here the generality of pro- 

 prietors commit a great error again!) their own 



and 



