185 



HINTS ON HORSE-DEALERS AND DEALERS 



IN HORSES. 



Qui capit ille facit. — Old Proverh. 



That readers sliould attach credence or give atten- 

 tion to the observations, opinions, or facts promul- 

 gated by any writer, it is necessary, or, to say the 

 least, quite desirable, that they should be impressed 

 with the opinion that he is quite conversant with tlie 

 subject or subjects on which he writes. That I am 

 so, I must earnestly but very respectfully beg the 

 public to take my word: that I am equally compe- 

 tent to write upon such subjects is quite another 

 matter : I am perfectly satisfied I am not. Still this 

 will not render what I write one atom of less utility. 

 Facts are still facts, however homely may be the 

 language in which they are set forth; and if the 

 public derives any advantage from those facts being 

 set forth, the end will be just as well attained as if 

 they were clothed in the most erudite or poetic lan- 

 guage that inspiration could suggest. 



Before any one can be capable of guarding others 

 against errors and impositions he must first make him- 

 self perfectly master of in what those errors consist, 

 and how the imposition is practised. To guard others 

 against errors, experience in the cases where those 

 errors are committed will suffice : but to detect the 

 means by which imjDOsitions are practised, it becomes 

 necessary to get among those who practise them ; to 



