ON THE CECONOMY OF THE STABLE, llj 



will not fail to apply a certain old proverb, fo 

 very appoiite to this occafion. 



I have revolved in my mind a number of 

 different fchemes, for the recovery of (lolen 

 hoifes, all which feem to be clogged with in- 

 fuperable difficulties. I have fometimes thought, 

 that through the medium of the Pod Office, a 

 plan might be pra6licable of fending inftantly a 

 defcription of a loft horfe, to every parifti in the 

 kingdom ; but of that, I fuppofe, the expence 

 would be too confiderable. It is faid the laws, 

 which regulate the flaughtering of horfes, are 

 not fufficiently precife, nor the penalties confi- 

 derable enough. In fine, a horfe which may 

 fuddenly be moved to a great diftance, and fo 

 eafily difpofed of, particularly in times of brifk 

 export, is fuch a temptation to the diffioneft 

 and profligate, and the chances of recovery 

 are fo few, expenfive, and uncertain, that 

 there appears but little hope in any but mea- 

 fures of prevention in the firft inftance. The 

 beft fecurity that I know of, is to lock upon 

 the ffiank, or paftern of the animal, a cafe-har- 

 dened and file-proof iron-ring, lined with fome 

 foft material to prevent chafing, and bearing 

 the owner's name and place of abode ; fome 

 gentlemen have preferred the fixing a collar 

 upon the neck, which is rather more expen- 

 five, and, perhaps, lefs fecure from the file ; 

 but in either cafe, the price would not be any 

 great objecl. It is granted there would be no 



abfolute 



