"give a dog a bad name," etc. 197 



irritate the temper of a young horse in order to as- 

 certain what under such circumstances he would do. 



There can be no doubt, that of the numerous acci- 

 dents we often see and daily hear of, as occurring to 

 gigs, phaetons, and other vehicles, three out of four 

 arise from want of judgment in the driver. He is not 

 aware of what is likely to produce accident ; con- 

 sequently takes no steps to prevent it. He has pro- 

 bably no conception that a strap buckled too tight or 

 left too loose will render a horse uneasy in his harness, 

 irritate his temper, set him plunging, and finally kick- 

 ing and running away. This horse might have been 

 a week since bought of a dealer, might have been 

 driven in a double and single harness, have always 

 gone perfectly quiet, and always would have done so 

 if common judgment had been used. This is all we 

 have a right to expect from a high-spirited horse. He 

 does not promise us to carry a phaeton or gig down 

 a hill on the top of his tail, or to be flayed alive by 

 his harness from our carelessness. If any person 

 wishes one that would permit this, I recommend the 

 gentleman a rocking-horse. Now in any case of this 

 kind, -without making any investigation as to its cause, 

 the efl'ect having occurred, the first person censured 

 is the dealer. No arguments on earth mil persuade 

 the purchaser that it arose from any other cause than 

 the dealer having sold him a vicious horse ; and he 

 will probably feel further convinced that he well 

 knew he was so. In short, whatever failing a horse 

 may exhibit after being purchased, whether as to 

 soundness, temper, constitution, or anything else, de- 

 servedly or not, the dealer is sure to be set doAvn as a 

 rogue. If, even feeling he is not called upon to do so, 

 he oifers every reparation in his power, or makes it, 



o 3 



