214 FISHING IN TROUBLED WATER. 



nobleman or man of fortune, who attempted the sup- 

 plying himself with horses from the same source as 

 themselves, as an intruder, and would as certainly pre- 

 vent his doing so, at least to any advantage to him- 

 self. Nor, if it is taken in a right point of view, can 

 they well be blamed. Their trade is their bread, and 

 if they permitted their customers to supply themselves 

 without having recourse to the dealer, in the course 

 of time the trade of the dealer would cease, or, to say 

 the least, dimmish greatly: consequently, without 

 any ill feeling towards the individual, they know it a 

 matter of the first importance to keep him out of 

 their market. This same feeling influences every 

 class of men in trade, no matter what that trade or 

 business may be. 



We will, however, even suppose that the private 

 gentleman does find out the kind of horse he wishes 

 to get, buys him, and gets him at the same price a 

 dealer would have given for him : his business is only 

 half done then, for he is by no means certain he will 

 suit him. He has got him at a fair price (I do not 

 mean a play upon the word), but if he should not suit 

 him, he will turn out dear in the end, as he will have 

 to sell him, and the odds are 20 to 1 but that he loses 

 by him in price, independently of the trouble and ex- 

 pense he was at to get him, though the dealer, by the 

 same horse, bought at the same price, would have 

 made money. Why is this ? The reason is obvious : the 

 gentleman bought him for his own particular use : he 

 finds he does not suit him, nor does he know any person 

 that he will. Now, had the dealer bought him, he 

 knows of many persons that he will suit. This at once 

 accounts for the one losing, while the other gains. It 

 will be asked, perhaps, why the horse should be supposed 



