ig6 ON RUNNING HORSES 



upon and pra6lired, rather as mere recreation, 

 than an objeft of ferious gain ; and the ex pence 

 of it apportioned, as a funk charge, to the in- 

 come of the praftifer. A ftrift and punftual 

 account of confequent expence, lofs, or gain, in 

 purfuits of this nature, or indeed any other ; 

 and a refolute and immoveable determination 

 not to exceed a certain annual fum, are the 

 only means of infuring fafety, or a timely re- 

 treat ; and in thefe refpefts, a faithful and intel- 

 ligent fecretary or fteward muft be one of the 

 mofl valuable poffeffions of a young man of 

 fortune, juft commencing his fporting career : 

 but one principal reafon of the fcarcity of fuch, 

 is the indifference and negleft with which they 

 are treated, who are bold enough to adminifter 

 wholefome advice, too generally a kind of nau- 

 feous phyfic to the human mind ; hence many 

 men find the apology of dilhonefty in felf-de- 

 fence. C'ejl pourquoi, that mofl ftewards feem 

 to make a text-book of Gil Bias, There is a 

 common obfervation of the grooms, that it is 

 not horfe-racing of itfelf, or betting, which crip- 

 ples the fortunes of their mafters, but that ufual 

 concomitant of the turf, the hazard table ; and 

 it feems to be founded : but certainly diftinft 

 accounts ought to be had of thefe. A very 

 - neceflary preliminary alfo towards fuccefs, and 

 as I fliould conceive any fort of fatisfaflion in 

 the ftud or the turf, muft be a proper know- 

 ledge 



