COOMASSIE FORESTALLED, A WARNING. 267 



animal and offer no op'nion on the matter. But it is an ad- 

 mirable instance to bring forward to show how coursing 

 would degenerate, if the wagering on it were brought down to 

 the practice in racing : and inversel}% as evidence how 

 racing might be improved, were its custom of betting assimi- 

 lated to that of the other. Look what insinuations the ab- 

 sence of such a dog gives rise to .'' If the public will throw 

 their hundreds and their thousands before owners, they must 

 expect that some will condescendingly stoop to pick them up. 

 It is the system of betting on races introduced into cours- 

 ing and with immediate fearful consequences. Owners are 

 subjected to severe animadversion, and all concerned must 

 hear remarks couched in no flattering terms from the unbiased 

 chroniclers of sport. Coomassic, it was stated in some 

 papers, was lame before ; in others, behind ; and again, had 

 broken a leg ; wdiilst others averred she had received an 

 injury in her stifle. Now these contradictions cannot be 

 spread abroad without fruit, and that fruit is often suspicion. 

 For myself, I think with Falstaff that though " reasons were 

 as plentiful as blackberries none should be given ; no, not 

 even on compulsion ; " but if a reason were volunteered, it 

 should at least have been the right one. I have referred at 

 length to this case for the point it gives to my argument. A 

 man's conduct concerning his own, demands no vindication ; 

 he does with it, as he has a right to do, just what he wills. 

 But we see thatavhen, in coursing, the system of nominations 

 is abandoned, the old "bone of contention" in the racing 

 world immediately crops up. Coomassic, when backed by 

 name, was, like the racehorse is, thought to have become 

 public property, and was by the public backed. She did not 

 run, and the vials of the public wrath were opened upon 

 those who had the management of her. 



