WARRANTING. ''2"\ 



expected not only to possess ordinary skill, but to 

 exhibit ^ ordinary precaution/' But a large spleut 

 extending on to the back sinews, a large spavin, 

 large curb, or contracted, foundered foot, anchylosed 

 pastern-joints, are all as visible defects as blind ey< s : 

 they are palpable defects, yet they constitute unsound- 

 ness : but "law is law."" : 



Much has been said against dealers in England, and 

 dealers in India too. I have seen some black tricks 

 in both countries ; notwithstanding, I think, in the 

 long run, dealers are as much sinned against as 

 sinning. In either country, every man is bound to 

 be wide awake, or, as the judge says, expected, not 

 only to possess ordinary skill, but to exhibit ordinary 

 precaution ; and experience tells me to trust a dealer 

 quite as soon as a gentleman. + 



* The whole of this Chapter on Warrantry is most judicious and cor- 

 rect. ED. 



t Adclison's definition of the word gentleman is " a term of complaisance, 

 sometimes ironical." And gentlemen, and passers for gentlemen, are as oftdu 

 mysticall mixed up togetherin one house, as thorough-breds and passers 

 for thorough-breds are in the same staple. 



At a dinner-party of eight, some few years ago, the conversation turniii ; 

 upon horse-flesh, I happened to let fall my ideas of the little general honesty 

 existing in any part of the civilized world, in selling a horse. M y ?/'. 

 exclaimed, " Impossible ! no gentleman would ever attempt to pass off an un- 

 sound horse." Five more of the party chimed in to this most creditable speech, 

 so well calculated to delude the unwary, leaving only one of the same opinion, 

 or, rather, who acknowledged the same opinion, as myself. Clearly seeing 

 that I had got into company with either knaves or fools, most probably a little 

 of both, I thought more nourishment was to be gained at this house for the 

 body by drinking, than for the mind by talking, so I allowed the subject to 

 drop. Three months had not elapsed, when my vis-a-vis, the "impossible" 

 gentleman, asked me to look at a horse of his that had been sprained, and 

 blistered, but was still lame. The horse had a ringbone on one pastern, be- 

 sides something else internally wrong in the foot of the other, arising, most 

 ].rbably, from concussion ; so 1 prononced him incurable under 



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