ON PURCHASE AND SALE. I57 



and even indurated udders from this pradice, 

 from which they never perfeftly recover. 



To return to figging and firing. The Lon- 

 don dealers, with fome few exceptions, permit 

 no fervant to (liew a horfe without having pre- 

 vioufiy figged him, under a certain forfeit. 

 They aflert, they areobhged to purchafe horfes 

 in the country (hewn in that manner, and that 

 they can do no lek, in juftice to themfelves, 

 than to Vnc'w them under fimilar advantages in 

 town ; the truth is, the cufi:om is inveterate 

 among them, and they can fee no beauty or 

 merit in a horfe, unlefs he is transformed into a 

 Merry-Andrew, and jumps about from fide to 

 fide as irdi{l:ra61ed, knocking his huggon-bones 

 againfl every wall he goes near. But all this is 

 but a poor recommendation to a man of tafte 

 and judgment in horfes, and I am convinced 

 the dealer thereby often mifles his mark. As 

 to the pra61ice, as intended to favour deception, 

 or cover unfoundnefs, the remedy is always in 

 the purchafer's own hands. *' Mr. Double-cut, 

 " unlefs you chufe to keep the whip intirely 

 " out of fight of the horfe, and the ginger out 



*•' of reach of his , our bufinefs is at an 



" end. Good-day ; I wifh you a better cuftom- 

 *' er." — Prob. eft. 



There is a prejudice fomewhat general, but 

 which holds much the fame relation with 



truth 



