CORRESPONDENCE. 207 



saddler of many years' experience and a great 

 lover of horses, offer a few comments on the 

 ** hints and instructions" set forth in your 

 paper for the benefit of ladies on horseback, 

 written by one of the sex who is evidently an 

 authority on the subject she treats so ably. 

 There is no doubt these articles will be read 

 with great interest by very many ladies who 

 desire to acquit themselves well on horseback, 

 and also by their gentlemen friends who are 

 anxious to conduce to the safety and comfort 

 of their fair companions in that delightful 

 exercise, but cannot have the same knowledge 

 to impart the theoretical instructions now 

 given by your lady writer, whose criticisms 

 will therefore be valuable to both. In 

 following her remarks, it occurs to me that 

 I may perhaps venture on a httle comment 

 without being considered too intrusive. The 

 objection taken to children riding is no doubt 

 formed on good grounds, but I think that with 

 care young ladies might be permitted at a 

 much earHer age than sixteen to acquire some 

 practice in the saddle ; it is true that young- 

 girls are Hable to curvature of the spine, when 



