148 THE HORSE. 



choice, and occasioning a necessity for such a speedy 

 conversion of the saddle horse to draught, as is incon- 

 sistent with allowing a sufficient length of time for 

 his due qualification ; thus, a horse shall be put two 

 or three times in harness, under the management and 

 skill of those who are well able to effect a temporary 

 controul over him, and he is without further cere- 

 mony, warranted steady in harness. In too many 

 cases, and I can vouch from personal experience, the 

 more credible warrant would be, " well qualified to 

 break any man's neck, who is weary of it." To give 

 grave and formal advice in so plain a case, and where 

 the remedy is so obvious, certainly carries with it 

 something of the ludicrous ; nevertheless, they who 

 by their conduct appear to have need of such advice, 

 are equally exposed to the joke, as the sage adviser. 

 If they are themselves au fait, instead of trusting to 

 a mere show, and a common warrant, let them stand 

 their own guarantee, by driving their intended pur- 

 chase a sufficient number of miles upon the public 

 road, and through the streets, to ascertain how far 

 they can depend upon his temper and his steadiness 

 in harness ; with such a trial, an experienced hand 

 cannot be mistaken. 



The marts for horses in the country, are fairs, 

 the stables of dealers, and repositories in the large 

 towns. London, however, is a universal mart, to 

 which recourse is had from the extremities of the 

 kingdom, for both the purchase and sale of horses, 

 of the highest and lowest description. The buyer of 

 a horse of the highest figure will search the London 

 markets for it ; and the seller of such a horse, will 



