INTRODUCTIOIS^. 



Whenever a book appears where it is left to 

 surmise whether it is founded on fact, fiction, or 

 consists partly of both, an irrepressible curiosity 

 is generally felt by the Reader on this head. 



Whether the occurrences or characters men- 

 tioned in it are imaginary, or taken from life, 

 would neither make the book better or worse; 

 but if a few lines can satisfy such curiosity, why 

 should it not be gratified ? 



All the occurrences alluded to, both in "Prac- 

 tical Horsemanship " and in this book, are taken 

 from w^hat the Author has seen ; they are facts, 

 but altered in respect of time and place, so as to 

 prevent personality. The Characters are from life, 

 but so disguised as to prevent the individual who 

 sat for the sketch taken being recognised, unless 

 where the name is fairly stated. A character or 

 two may be guessed at, without the Reader being 

 very wrong in his divination ; where I have left 

 this possibility, it is where I am indifferent about 

 the matter, either from not considering any great 

 delicacy necessary, or from not having said any 

 thing likely to wound the feelings. 



