( 26l ) 



But whatever becomes of utilityy the horfe 

 is certainly more beautiful, we are told, without 

 his tail. What a handfome figure he makes, 

 when he carries both his ends iDell ! This 

 is the conftant language of horfe-dealers, 

 ftable-keepers, and grooms ; and fuch lan- 

 guage, tho originating in taftelefs ignorance, 

 and mere prejudice, has drawn over men of 



fenfe, and underftanding. It is inconceive- 



able, how delulively the eye fees, as well as 

 the underflanding, when it is fafcinated, and 

 led aiide by fafhion, and cuflom. Aflbciated 

 ideas of various kinds give truth a different 

 air. When we fee a game-cock with all his 

 fprightly adlions, and gorgeous plumes about 

 him, we acknowledge one of the mofl beau- 

 tiful birds in nature. But when we fee him 

 armed with fteel, and prepared for battle ; 

 we cry, what a fcare-crow ! But a cock- 

 fighter, with all the ideas of the pit about 

 him, conceives him in this latter flate, in his 

 greatefl beauty : and if his picture be drawn, he 

 muft be drawn in this ridiculous manner. I 

 have often feen it. 



S 3 Let 



