THE MORAL, AND A PLEA FOR IT. 79 



animals themselves. I think few, if any, of his horses 

 ran in his own name. I am therefore unable to 

 describe or even name them. But if any did, I am 

 afraid their achievements were not great, or I should 

 probably have seen or heard something of them. 



In this chapter I have described but a few of the 

 many doughty acts in which the renowned Danebury 

 confederacy played so conspicuous and unenviable a 

 part. I do not for a moment profess to vouch for the 

 accuracy of every statement. Yet so far as I can 

 judge, the facts set forth may be relied upon as being 

 substantially correct. Many of them are given from 

 my own personal knowledge, and in so far are literally 

 correct, as I have endeavoured to set them forth with 

 candour, and without partiality, to the best of my recol- 

 lection. If in their narration I have felt bound to ex- 

 press myself in no measured terms, it is, I must trust 

 to the reader to believe, rather from a conviction that 

 deeds of the kind exercise a most baneful influence 

 on our national sport, than from any desire to be 

 arbitrarily critical. My motive, and the risk I run in 

 carrying it out, have before been expressed in better 

 words than any I can pretend to give : 



' E'en I must raise my voice, e'en I must feel 

 Such scenes, such men, destroy the public weal ; 

 Although some kind, censorious friend will say, 

 " What art thou better, meddling fool, than they V 

 And every brother rake will smile to see 

 That miracle, a moralist, in me.' 



