35 



Giles's ; if he is " well suited for a charger/* he is 

 sure to charge a hay-stack and a park of artillery 

 with equal determination ; if '' he never shies or 

 stumbles," the chances are three to one that he is 

 stone blind, or cannot quit a walk; "the best horse 

 in England" is to a certainty the worst in London ; 

 when '^parted with for no fault," it means that he 

 is sold for a hundred ; if " the reason will be satis- 

 factorily explained," it may be taken for granted 

 that the master has absconded, either for stealing 

 him or robbing his creditors ; when '' built like a 

 castle," he will move like a church-steeple ; if 

 " equal to fifteen stone up to the fleetest hounds in 

 England," depend upon it he never saw the tail of 

 a hound in his life; if he is a '^beautiful stepper," 

 you will find that he has the action of a peacock ; 

 if a "liberal trial is allowed," be most especially 

 careful: a deposit of half the price, but three times 

 his value, will assuredly be required as security for 

 your return ; and finally, whenever you see that 

 he is the " property of a tradesman who wants to 

 exchange for a horse of less value for his business," 

 of " a gentleman who has given up riding from ill- 

 health," or because " he is going abroad," of " a 

 professional man whose avocations call him from 

 town," of " a person of respectability who can be 

 referred to," or of " the executors of a gentleman 

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