XXIX 



plan for establishing a definite construction of 

 warranties of soundness. Could I hope that my 

 pages would reach the eyes of such "knowing" 

 characters, or if they should, that they would 

 be deemed worthy of attention coming from an 

 unknown as well as unknowing quarter, I would 

 urge upon them to give their attention to the ob- 

 servations I have made on this subject, with a view 

 either to their adoption or improvement, or at least 

 to the substitution of some more feasible plan of a 

 similar kind. Meanwhile a project has lately been 

 brought before the pubhc, which promises beneficial 

 effects ; though not quite original in its conception, it 

 has not been attempted for nearly fifty years. About 

 the end of the last century a similar scheme was 

 suggested, and I beheve, to a certain extent, car- 

 ried into practice. I have been unable to learn 

 why it was then abandoned, for I have found no 

 one who can even recollect the circumstance, but 

 I have reason to doubt if it was then conducted by 

 persons of talent or character. The object of it is 

 to concentrate the market in horses, bv establishino- 

 a general registry, to which buyers and sellers, for 

 a moderate fee, can have ready access. The office 

 is not very eUgibly situated at No. 1, Duncannon 

 Street, Charing Cross: but the principle is so 

 obviously sound, that locality is of secondary im- 



