40 



counties, Norfolk and Lincolnshire especially, and 

 by introduction to some respectable farmer, to 

 choose for himself. If he distrusts his own judg- 

 ment, it is not difficult to obtain the assistance of a 

 practical man, if he makes it his interest to serve 

 him ; but as there are few who can afford the time 

 and trouble which this implies for an object of 

 comparatively trifling importance, the simpler alter- 

 native is to trust to the character and judgment of 

 any of our principal dealers. Their stables are 

 usually supplied from the country fairs; few of 

 them buy for themselves; they employ agents 

 who live by the occupation, and whose interest of 

 course is to buy judiciously. Such agents are, for 

 the most part, familiar with the stock of every 

 extensive breeder, and know well what to reject. 



London dealers of this class are respectable 

 men; they know and avoid the stigma of unfair 

 play. I have found many of them deceived : I 

 have tried three horses from one stable in the same 

 day, and two have fallen with me ; but the dealer 

 at once discovered the cause to be in the horse ; 

 and w^as, or appeared, sincerely, to be more an- 

 noyed at the reproach he felt to be due for mount- 

 ing me unsafely, than at the injury his property 

 had sustained. 



It is as true in horse-dealing, as in any other 



