26 THE AUTHOR IN TROUBLE I 



and now offered an additional bribe for additional 

 speed. The reply he got from one of the postilions 

 was this, and which he had the good sense and good 

 feeling to appreciate : "He would be happy to oblige, 

 but he might never have the honour to see Mynheer 

 again ; but he saw his cattle every day, and would 

 not distress them." 



I could have hugged the fine fellow had I been 

 there, though this mode of salutation is not much in 

 my way. Show me an English post-boy who would 

 have acted thus against his interest : show me any 

 English coach-owner who would let feeling for his 

 horses interfere with his interest : to such men I 

 would say, but should say it without the hope of 

 producing any effect, " Go and do thou likewise : " not 

 they indeed. 



I am quite aware I am now about to tread on, if 

 not forbidden, at all events very dangerous ground. 

 I am going to accuse ladies of being very frequently 

 the perpetrators, I should rather say instigators, of 

 cruelty towards that animal who conduces so much 

 to their comfort and amusement namely, the horse. 

 I can fancy I now hear myself exclaimed against by all 

 parties as a perfect savage. " What," exclaim the 

 fairer part of the creation, " can the monster mean by 

 accusing us of cruelty ?" " What ! " exclaim equally 

 loudly the male part of my readers ; " accuse woman, 

 lovely woman, of cruelty ! her, whose softness alone 

 humanises our rugged nature! her, whose tender- 

 ness and smiles can alone by their fascination control 

 our coarser feelings and passions! her, the bright 

 ornament of our homes, the projector of and partici- 

 pator in all those commendable and social virtues she 

 alone has taught us to prize and to enjoy! her, 



