PREFACE TO NIM ROD'S ESSAYS. 177 



PREFACE TO NIM ROD'S ESSAYS. 



Perhaps my reader may call it a work of supererogation 

 for me to write a preface to NimrocTs works. I cannot, 

 however, help giving - him John Lawrence's words, 

 addressed to the ' Sporting Magazine,' in reference to 

 these Essays on the Road. ' Nimrod has rendered,' says 

 he, ' a service of public importance by his Essays on the 

 Road. It is an original undertaking, executed in true 

 taste, and with a minuteness of professional and practical 

 accuracy which leaves us nothing to desire.' 



If the Athenians, the most polished nation of anti- 

 quity, deemed it an honour to be considered skilful 

 charioteers, Englishmen should certainly not consider it 

 a disgrace. 



But setting aside the shining examples of antiquity, it 

 should be considered that we are a nation of horsemen 

 and dragsmen ; that among us the management of a horse, 

 whether in or out of harness, is of prime consequence, 

 and to none more so than to the upper classes ; that 

 skilful driving is an enviable accomplishment, even for a 

 Prince ; and that it is only to be attained in any high 

 degree by a course of actual practice upon the public 

 road. Mr. Fox used to say that no man could attain to 



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