COOMASSIE FORESTALLED, A WARNING. 267 
animal and offer no opinion on the matter. But it is an ad- 
mirable instance to bring forward to show how coursing 
would degenerate, if the wagering on it were brought down to 
the practice in racing: and inversely, as evidence how 
racing might be improved, were its custom of betting assimi- 
lated to that of the other. Look what insinuations the ab- 
sence of such a dog gives rise to? If the public will throw 
their hundreds and their thousands before owners, they must 
expect that some will condescendingly stoop to pick them up. 
It is the system of betting on races introduced into cours- 
ing and with the same fearful consequences. Owners are 
subjected to severe animadversion, and all concerned must 
hear remarks couched in no flattering terms from the unbiased 
chroniclers of sport. Coomassie, it was ‘stated in some 
papers, was lame before; in others, behind; and again, had 
broken a leg; whilst others averred she had received an 
injury in her stifle. Now these contradictions cannot be 
spread abroad without fruit, and that fruit is often suspicion. 
For myself, I think with Falstaff that though “reasons were 
as plentiful as blackberries none should be given; no, not 
even on compulsion ;” but if a reason were volunteered, it 
should at least have been the right one. I have referred at 
length to this case for the point it gives to my argument. A 
man’s conduct concerning his own, demands no vindication ; 
he does with it, as he has a right to do, just what he wills. 
But we see that when, in coursing, the system of nominations 
’ 
is abandoned, the old “bone of contention” in the racing 
world immediately crops up. Coomasste, when backed by 
name, was, like the racehorse is, thought to have become 
public property, and was by the public backed. She did not 
run, and the vials of the public wrath were opened upon 
those who had the management of her. 
