HORSE COPING. 3 



nature, will admit that a genuine Bank of England 

 honest man cannot live in business *nd pay his way. 



In exposing the numerous tricks of horse-copers, let 

 it not be understood that I am prejudiced against them 

 more than other dishonest tradesmen ; for in the course 

 of my experience I have known many men, who, if 

 cheated out of a few pounds in the purchase or exchange 

 of a horse, would transport the horse-coper, if the case 

 were strong enough, and they could catch him. And 

 yet these same individuals would swindle the wives of 

 their most respected friends, to the tune of a few pounds, 

 any time she might patronise them for an article in their 

 own business, when the dust they throw in her eyes 

 may prevent her from ascertaining its fair value. Nay, 

 there are plenty of men who are continually crying 

 down horse-copers as the most arrant scoundrels that 

 ever disgraced the human race, who themselves, but for 

 the law, would not scruple to rob their old parish church 

 of its communion plate. 



It is an old adage, and a true one, that " there is 

 cheatery in all trades ;" but while I admit that there is 

 not the least, I am also certain there is not the most, in 

 the horse trade. And, if there is any consolation for a 

 cheat, the horse-coper may console himself with an idea 

 that, while he has plundered his foolish victim of a few 

 pounds, he has not only taught him a lesson, but also 

 diminished the amount of the money which would, sooner 

 or later, have fallen a prey to others, in some other way 

 of business. 



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