" TOO FLATTERING SWEET TO BE SUBSTANTIAL." 319 



something about him too. At all events I know 

 enough to keep out of his hands. 



But I will now look at him in another cast of cha- 

 racter, and acting in one of those precious pieces of 

 rascality that are carried on to a great extent in 

 London. Reader, you have no doubt seen an adver- 

 tisement something to this effect : 



" THE PROPERTY OF A LADY, 



* fi To be parted with in consequence of the ill health of the 

 owner, who is ordered to a warmer climate 



" A pair of splendid grey britska geldings, with full manes 

 and tails, six and seven years old, own brothers, and nearly 

 thorough-bred, match well, with grand action. 



" A beautiful brown lady's mare, seven years old, 

 thorough-bred ; has been regularly ridden by the owner 

 these last two years. 



" Also a particularly handsome dun cob, with flowing white 

 n\ane and tail, so docile an invalid or child may drive him ; 

 has been constantly driven in a low Albert phaeton : 

 invaluable to a timid person. 



" The above are all sound ; price will not be an object 

 where they will be treated kindly. N.B. No horse-dealer 

 need apply. The coachman will show the horses at the rear 

 of No. , Street, Square." 



Now, as a prelude, let me advise my reader to first 

 always look with a suspicious eye on a horse advertise- 

 ment. If represented as coming from a lady, eighteen 

 times out of twenty it's a do : if ever it is said that the 

 great object is to sell to a person who will use them 

 kindly, nineteen times out of twenty it's a do. But if it 

 is said no horse-dealer need apply, the do is certain. 

 It only requires a little reflection to convince us such 

 an advertisement is not a genuine one : and to show 

 its absurdity, though it takes in numbers daily. In the 

 first place, a Lady, keeping her carriage, saddle-horse, 



