158 



should be returned without delay, but not without 

 due caution.^ An immediate return is not neces- 

 sary in point of law, but it is certainly imprudent 

 needlessly to retain an unsound horse even for a 

 day. The two leading authorities on unsoundness 

 are Mr. Sewell and Mr. Field; and before the 

 animal is sent back, both these gentlemen should be 

 consulted. Their opinions will only cost a guinea, 

 and this sum is well expended to assure oneself of 

 scientific judgment. If they differ in opinion, it will 

 not be safe to enforce the warranty : that they do 

 sometimes differ, I have had recent proof A dis- 

 tinguished member of parliament lately offered 

 me for sale a beautiful mare, bred by himself He 

 was unwilling to warrant her, and without a war- 

 ranty I would not buy. He proposed that she 

 should be examined at the college, and with this 

 I was willing to take her. She was at once pro- 

 \ nounced lame, and on catechising the groom that 

 brought her, it turned out that she had hurt her 

 hock on being tried in harness. Mr. Sewell was 

 of opinion that unless boxed up for the summer 



* The reader must not infer from this passage that he is en- 

 titled as a matter of course to return a horse for a breach of 

 warranty. I ag-ain refer him to the subsequent pages for a full 

 explanation of the law on the subject of "return." 



