344 TRAINERS AND JOCKEYS. 



as to perform the like for the moderns, although it is 

 universally known that our in every-way industrious 

 moderns, both in weight of their writing and in 

 velocity of their judgment, do infinitely excel the 

 said ancients.' 



This paragraph, if slightly altered, will substantially 

 corroborate the opinions I have formed, after mature 

 consideration, of the wisdom of the present generation 

 in all matters applying to trades, professions, arts 

 and sciences, and late discoveries of things in general. 

 But to none does it apply with so much force as to 

 the present race of trainers and jockeys, more parti- 

 cularly the latter, in the rapid stride that has been 

 made towards perfection in the manege, and that part 

 of it which teaches the art of riding. 



' It is an observation,' says Johnson's biographer, 

 ' of the younger Pliny, in his epistle to his friend 

 Tacitus, that history ought never to magnify matters 

 of fact, because worthy actions require nothing but 

 truth.' Such advice is indeed deserving of imitation, 

 and I must try strictly to follow it. To illustrate 

 my theory in a plain, practical, and I hope not less 

 truthful way, my best endeavours shall be used ; 

 though I feel unequal to do anything like justice to 

 the many virtues and the great abilities of the trainers 

 and jockeys of the present day. Nevertheless, I may 

 add my quota in admiration of a class of well- 

 deserving, industrious, and honest members of the elite 

 of society, into which indeed, by their morality and 



