A USEFUL ARTICLE. 107 



Now for tlie steeple- chaser : " Certainly/^ said 

 I, on seeing liim^ " thou art not a ' vision of 

 health/ and certainly look uncommonly like what 

 I should conceive to be a ^ goblin ' (something) ; 

 my yesterday^s glance at your bargain did not 

 influence me much in his favour^ but, positively,, 

 now seeing him out, I never beheld a greater 

 wretch in my life. He is like one of the Flats 

 in a theatre, with about as much substance, the 

 difference being, they represent something worth 

 looking at, which he certainly does not : as to 

 any racing properties, we will not disgrace the 

 turf by thinking of them. He is too tall for a 

 hack, no substance for a hunter, no action or 

 hocks for a charger, or harness ; is too weak for a 

 cart, and is the wrong colour for a hearse ; however, 

 as I suppose he has carried somebody, he will me.^' 



Mounted, I found him just what such over- 

 topped horses often are, like a hurdle between 

 one^s legs, and affording about as steady a seat to 

 the bestrider. I should guess the dimensions of 

 the famed Bricklayer to have been about five feet 

 six high, by thirteen inches wide. His mouth 

 seemed good, but having got him into a gallop, 

 and bringing him in front of the hurdles, he 

 rushed at them, setting hands, arms, and bridle 

 at defiance. His stride was tremendous, and in 

 taking the hurdles he Avould have cleared an or- 

 dinary river. " Better than baulkiiig,^^ thinks I, 



