FAS EST AB 1IOSTE DOCERI. 413 



Nothing can seem more fair than Nickem's pro- 

 posing to give a horse the chance of the auction to 

 facilitate his sale ; and so it would really be if he gave 

 him a chance ; but he will not ; for the reason he re- 

 commends the supposed trial is merely to damp the 

 owner's hopes by letting him see that (say) 25/. was 

 all that was bid for a horse for which he expects 40/. 

 If the horse belonged to Nick or his friends, he and 

 they would take very good care this should not be the 

 case : they would not put it in any one's power to see 

 or say that only so much was offered for him ; nor need 

 this be done, if the agent wishes to do his duty to his 

 employer, for he can try how much is bond fide bid, 

 and if he finds a sum very short of the price asked is 

 only offered, it is quite easy for him to run the horse 

 up to something near the price asked. This really 

 assists the sale, as people will think, if they hear 35/. 

 bid by auction, that 40/. cannot be any great deal more 

 than he is worth. For the auctioneer to do this, it 

 may be said, is contrary to the true spirit of an auction. 

 I know it is ; so is people combining to get others' 

 property at less than its fair value. But, if buyers will 

 do what was never contemplated when auctions were 

 first set going, the auctioneer is compelled to fight 

 them at their own weapons ; nor is it any blot upon 

 his character that he fights the good fight for his em- 

 ployer. If he is forced, in some cases, to overstep the 

 strict rules laid down for his guidance, in order to 

 promote fair dealing, the fault is not in him, but in 

 those who by their conduct compel him to do so. But 

 I am now alluding to an honest, honourable man : no 

 fear of Nickem incurring any censure for any one's 

 interest but his own ; and though we must not, as a 

 general maxim, say the end justifies the means, a 

 man's motive in an act makes all the difference in the 



