194 THE HORSE. 



body's business, is nobody's business : and in good 

 honest truth, did the public ever reflect as a body, it 

 might pause on the numerous mishaps, which it has 

 brought upon itself. Nothing, however, of this is 

 probable to happen, for we are naturally and habitu- 

 ally, every one for himself, and God for us all ; and 

 on all occasions the principle seems to be — the devil 

 take the hindmost. There is one point, nevertheless, 

 in which all men seem to agree, indeed to act in a 

 body, if it may be called acting; it is to grumble 

 pretty audibly, on the occurrence of every accident, 

 and as for the individual victims to whom the power of 

 complaining is left, their plaints are sufficiently loud. 

 But these good people, like certain associations to 

 prevent horse-stealing, have shut the stable door 

 after the steed was stolen. Our travellers on the 

 road will think of no steps towards their own and the 

 general security ; they will not put their shoulders to 

 the wheel, but like the carter in the fable, expect all 

 from St. Antonio ; or like Emperor Nap, from their 

 " fortune ;" by which sapient conduct, they, as well 

 as the imperial escroc, sometimes have to encounter 

 a Russian winter. For example, without the idea of 

 a single remonstrance, will not a whole coach load of 

 living lumber, suffer themselves to be whirled down 

 a precipice, always and universally known to be dan- 

 gerous, without a wheel being tied? This case of 

 itself might suffice as an illustration, for thus pas- 

 sengers generally conduct themselves in collaterals. 

 Their minds are so totally engrossed by the insatiable 

 desire of getting to their journey's end, with the 

 utmost speed, that they have no considerations to 



