BIPEDS AND QUADRUPEDS. 13 



acquainted with many of these, most of them highly- 

 respectable men, well-conducted, and well-disposed 

 in their general duties of life. Yet I can only call 

 to my recollection one who paid the slightest regard 

 to the sufferings of his horses — unless such suffering 

 was likely to end in pecuniary loss. Make it but 

 the interest of a coachowner to put on, or put down 

 an opposition, the scenes they would without com- 

 punction contemplate, and the acts they would with- 

 out hesitation sanction, were disgraceful to human 

 nature. If an unfortunate animal died shortly after 

 being unharnessed (no uncommon occurrence), they 

 "■ sorrowed" not " o'er the expiring horse," but the 

 few pounds he was worth, and very few they were ; 

 for where the greatest extent of exertion was re- 

 quired, and to contend with which sound limbs, a 

 hale age, and undiminished powers and constitution 

 were wanted, avarice put all the half worn-out 

 cripples of the stock. 'Tis true they did their work, 

 but in agony, and the double thong and whipcord 

 made them bring the coach in at its time. The pro- 

 prietor who killed or maimed the most horses, or at 



