THE HORSE. 89 



rest, and even inspiring us with far more sanguine 

 hopes of an approaching reform of farriery, than of 

 parliament ! hear him : 



" I consider it necessary to make some observa- 

 tions on this class of useful men (shoeing smiths) 

 to appreciate their individual merits ; and to show 

 that blame is too frequently imputed to them un- 

 justly. Much has been, and is said, about their ob- 

 stinacy and prejudices, as being an insurmountable 

 difficulty to any improvement in their art. I confess, 

 that all my experience and knowledge of them is at 

 variance with such an opinion. I have ever found 

 them ready to adopt any plan which I have sug- 

 gested ; and it therefore may not be uninteresting 

 to endeavour to show how such a prevailing notion 

 has arisen." p. 292. 



For the explanation, I refer to the book ; and as a 

 concluding remark, I have no doubt that those 

 country gentlemen, who may be desirous of intro- 

 ducing skilful operatives, for the introduction of 

 improved farrying practice into their neighbourhood, 

 would find their end answered by an application 

 to Mr. Goodwin. 



Mr. Goodwin (p. 104.) gives an account of the 

 chief farrying tools in present use. The butteris, 

 though still used in most parts, has been very ration- 

 ally discarded by the College, and the drawing-knife 

 substituted ; which knife has been much improved 

 by Mr. Long, the well known instrument maker, of 

 Holborn, whom I can strongly and safely recommend 

 to persons in the country interested in this branch. 

 It is used of three or four different sizes. The hand, 



