THE HORSE. 239 



was flogged home by the whole company of barbaric 

 maniacs ! I have before said my say, on this precious 

 topic, in " British Field Sports," and elsewhere, un- 

 availably I too well know, but to myself, in discharge 

 of my conscience and my duty. Thus, having nothing 

 novel to adduce, and no hope, a bare notice may suf- 

 fice. In my juvenile days, we were accustomed to 

 characterise a certain class of men, as having more 

 of something else than of brains ; suppose then, in 

 conformity, we describe these modern wild goose 

 steeple hunters, as being endowed with more mettle 

 than wit, prob. est, I shall cast no blame in a public 

 view, on heroes, so prodigal of life and limb, on their 

 own proper account, since whatever may befall, such 

 a miss must be trifling indeed from our multitudinous 

 population ; but I do regret the cruelty of driving 

 brave, and generous, and useful animals into useless 

 and unprofitable dangers and hardships, from which 

 they can scarcely escape with impunity and sound- 

 ness, and through which, so many have been rendered 

 miserable cripples ever after, to be consigned to the 

 tender mercies of the road, there to be whipped sound. 

 Whilst writing, I heard of a poor unfortunate animal 

 having several horrnble falls in a steeple chase, from 

 the effects of which, apparent or latent, it is scarcely 

 possible he dan ever recover ; surely their legitimate 

 and indispensable services are sufficiently oppressive. 

 I have not heard that our famous Nimrod ever rode 

 to a steeple, and I confidently opine that he never will. 

 If he ever has done the trick, as Lord Chesterfield 

 said on another occasion, I crave his pardon. There 

 is another practice not very reconcilable with fellow 



