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stigmatized and openly reproached, there may still 

 among its members be found, beings preserving 

 honour for the sake of itself alone. The liberal pub- 

 lic, however, in its wisdom, has pronounced the cha- 

 racter of the horse dealer ; it has rejected his attes- 

 tations, and refused to listen to the testimony of 

 those with whom he has communication. The age 

 of a horse is not taken from the mouth of its owner, 

 but looked for in that of the animal. This mode of 

 procedure is convenient — the record is at hand, the 

 evidence brief, and the decision to which it leads is 

 that to which the purchaser by choice appeals. The 

 dealer stands by and knows that his voice is to be 

 restrained. The teeth denote the age, and when the 

 word of the owner is not to be accepted, there is no 

 other evidence at hand. Were additional proof to be 

 required, in some instances it could not be procured, 

 and in the majority its production would be attended 

 with an expense perhaps equal to the price of the 

 horse which it concerned. The expence, the seller of 

 course could not be expected to bear, and the buyer 

 equally would resist its infliction. Nothing is more 

 high priced than absolute proof of any kind ; and 

 there is always a further difficulty in the difference 



