56 



really did say, was, that if betting was botched, not 

 that it would bring on a fling at Tattersall's, but that 

 it would bring the Ring to Tatters all. 



Bravo, five to one on Green and Gander. Fifty 

 to one 'gainst Muff and Milksop. Good, still a dead 

 stop must be put to the propagation of crooked legs if 

 we are to be saved from a voyage across the Channel for 

 all descriptions of our equine requirements. Foreigners 

 have no need to be taught in what a straight well 

 formed symmetrical leg consists. They appear to 

 know it by natural instinct, and if they bid high when 

 over here they are not such gulls as to return home 

 with any that are damaged, or that show hereditary 

 malformation. They are capable of comprehending 

 Nature's instructions that " Like will generally beget 

 like ; " and by rigid attention to this, and not over- 

 working their young, there will soon be markets both 

 in Russia, Italy, Germany, and France, that will 

 compel you to acknowledge their understandings are 

 superior to your understandings, for it is to these 

 countries you will have to go, as well as myself; and 

 sick as I am of that pitching see-saw passage over the 

 water, I am sicker still of those pinched-in heels and 

 squinting stumps. I hear it said *' there are as good 

 fish in the sea as ever came out of it." That may be 

 so, l)ut on the English coast they must be wandering 



