TRUE GREATNESS IS SHOWN IN CONDESCENSION. 435 



cavalry races, and any races they please. Such meet- 

 ings afford amusement to perhaps thousands, not 

 merely on the day or days, but for months inprospectu, 

 and also in recollection. They do a great deal of good ; 

 they show a wish on the part of an influential man to 

 afford amusement to his tenants, neighbours, and de- 

 pendents, as well as to his friends; and I glory in 

 seeing a man mount a horse for one of such persons, 

 and, as Lord Howth would, do his best to beat his 

 own friends on farmer Such-a-one's nag. This pro- 

 duces a proper kindred feeling between superiors and 

 their less affluent neighbours, who, if they are worth 

 pleasing, will not presume on such condescension. But 

 to institute races to be ridden by gentlemen on public 

 race-courses, I must consider useless, if not worse ; for 

 I cannot see any good that can possibly result from 

 them, but a great deal of bickering, jealousy, and 

 frequently dispute, is all but the sure result, I have 

 heard that the coal-shipping interest is supported so 

 strongly on the consideration that it is a nursery for 

 seamen, a kind of papboat institution for our jolly tars. 

 This I doubt not is quite right and judicious ; so would 

 it be to have races for gentlemen, if we meant to make 

 the occupation of a professional jock that of a gentle- 

 man ; but till this is contemplated, I must consider 

 that private race-courses are the places for races 

 including private gentlemen only. Races excluding 

 professional riders even on public courses are quite 

 proper ; it gives amusement, and gratifies the harmless 

 vanity of many who may wish to be seen in silk, and 

 cannot make this little display of emulation (for I 

 will not call it ostentation) on private courses: but 

 then let such races be open to any rider not profes- 

 sional. If a gentleman wishes to ride in these, he can 



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