[ 172 ] 



CHAP. V. 



ON RUNNING HORSES AND THE TURF. 



"^HE morality of the turf, or of horfe-rac- 

 ing, has been adverted to in a preceding 

 Chapter, and its public or national ufe defined 

 to confift in the improvement of the breed of 

 horfes ; it is fo generally well known that we 

 owe our prefent fuperiority to the introdu61ion 

 of the fouthern horfe, that arguments might 

 rather ferve to obfcure, than elucidate the 

 truth. 



There are, however, who aflTent to this pofi- 

 tion, and yet contend that there no longer exifts 

 any necelRty for the encouragement of horfe- 

 courfing, which, in their opinion, from certain 

 alledged abufes, ought rather to be reflrained 

 by law. They affert that our breed of horfes has 

 already received all the advantages which can 

 poflibly be derived from racing blood, and that 

 any farther attention to pedigree, or the main- 

 tenance of a diftinft fpecies, is become totally 

 unneceflary. Mr. Marfliall, v^hofe writings I 

 highly refpeft, and with whom it is not poflible 

 I can differ in many cafes, feems to favour thefe 

 opinions. 



I neverthelefs contend for the neceflity, at 

 lead, the utility, of a referve of thorough-bred 



horfes 



