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horse, if returned, unless upon full compensation ; 

 for he is alike unfit for sale or use, till the wound 

 is healed, and I have already noticed that this is 

 not the work of a day. 



It is prudent to examine with attention the 

 terms in which the warranty is expressed. I have 

 often known instances in which, either from acci- 

 dent or design, the guarantee of soundness has 

 been so carelessly worded, as to leave no remedy 

 to the purchaser ; and in other cases, the warranty 

 has been signed by an agent, whose authority to 

 give it has been afterwards denied : thus substi- 

 tuting a right of action for deceit against a man of 

 straw, for a good remedy against a solvent seller. ' 



Another precaution, rarely taken, but of great 

 importance, is to send a servant to fetch the horse: 

 the purchaser generally rides him away himself, if 

 he can borrow a saddle. Should an accident occur 

 on the journey home, he has no witness to prove 

 the cause of it, and a squabble of course arises. 

 He is challenged with careless riding — he cannot 

 disprove the charge, and the remedy on the 

 warranty is involved in the always complicated 

 question, " Who is in fault ? For the same reason 

 it is prudent for the first week, if possible, always 

 to ride him in company ; or, at all events, to make 

 the groom carefully note down the length of 



