414 NICK liETUHNJNG TO HIS FAMILY. 



culpability or justification of it. That in the long 

 run " honesty is the best policy," is an allowed truism : 

 but then " best policy" does not always include 

 making money. Many circumstances may combine to 

 prevent a man doing this in an honourable way ; but if 

 he does not make, or if he loses, money, he may pre- 

 serve his character, self-esteem, and the good wishes 

 and good offices of his friends ; and this is " best 

 policy," for which he ensures a certain good. Nickems 

 think otherwise. The opinion on such subjects de- 

 pends on the proper or vitiated state of men's minds. 

 Many rogues do make money it is true, but not always ; 

 and, as it is said in the Rehearsal, " suppose the audi- 

 ence should not laugh," where are you then, friend 

 Nick ! The only thing for you is to tuck your coat-tails 

 over your arms, and walk yourself off to your name- 

 sake. You are too known a screw to be sold even at 

 your own auction, though the Devil was the auctioneer. 

 I have now given many hints, many opinions, and 

 some instances of what may T^e and what is clone by 

 some men in the horse world. I introduced these sub- 

 jects, by pledging myself to tell the truth, and nothing 

 but the truth. I have done so : I have, I dare say, 

 mentioned many things that a large proportion of 

 readers " dreamt not of." What I have mentioned I 

 know, but I have by no means mentioned all I know. 

 I have mentioned many of the motives that influence 

 the actions of a certain class of rogues, and some of 

 the means by which they bring them about : but I 

 might write for the next twelve months, and still 

 leave many unnoticed. I never promised or con- 

 templated making any one a match for a rogue : I 

 might as well attempt to teach him to write like 

 Sir Walter Scott. I must go to school again myself, 



