no 



continued betting as I did, it would be impossible 

 for me to have a guinea left ; saying, that I always 

 backed my judgement in horseS;, but that I ought 

 to back men, not horses, for I should have no 

 chance if I continued backing horses. Mr. 

 Hodges' s observations were no check to me in 

 betting, though I found his words afterwards 

 come true ; yet had Mr. Hodges been able to 

 speak more plainly to me, I should not have 

 backed men. It shewed itself afterwards that 

 Mr. Hodges saw there was much danger to be 

 feared from some means, and it turned out that 

 there was a gang attendant on the turf who make 

 it their business to learn which horse is likely to 

 be the favourite at the betting, and then, by hav- 

 ing or procuring access to the stables, the night 

 before running, they give those favourite horses 

 ])oison balls, to prevent them running on the fol- 

 lowing day near their proper form. If these balls 

 have produced their desired eftect, after the race is 

 over those privy to this diabolical practice have an 



artful 



