676 
MR. MAYHEVV’S LETTER 
“We hereby certify that, by the direction of the Stewards of 
the Jockey Club, we have this day examined, with reference to 
her age, a bay thorough-bred mare, said to be named the Queen of 
Cyprus, and shewn to us by Mr. Smith, at his stables, Great 
George-street, Chelsea;” 
Here there is a semicolon, allowing the reader to draw breath, 
and I will take advantage of this to make a few remarks. The 
Professors, it will at once be seen, are determinate and resolute. 
They were requested to do a certain thing, but they do not like 
such familiarity; they will be directed, and, as officers, only proceed 
upon command. When they even have made a start they still 
support their characters, for they will go to work only according to 
their own judgments. Great men are not to be dictated to. The 
Jockey Club requested that the mouth of the Queen of Cyprus 
should be examined ; but Messrs. Spooner and Simonds commence 
by examining the animal herself with reference to her age, and, as 
females are seldom communicative on such a topic, it is probable 
they did not obtain any satisfactory reply to their inquiries. Dis- 
appointed, however, they are not so much confused as to lose their 
caution. They will certify only that a horse is said to be named 
the Queen of Cyprus ; and when we remember what great political 
convulsion has arisen out of the imprudent recognition of pre- 
tenders, the care herein displayed cannot be too much admired. 
The members of the Jockey Club, in a thoughtless moment, spoke 
of the animal as majesty itself ; and the Professors, in a mild, yet 
pointed and dignified manner, intimate their opinion of such con- 
duct. This view of the subject almost mounts into the sublime, 
and teaches a fine lesson to mankind. The matter, however, may 
be regarded in another light, and perhaps be equally as instructive. 
The Professors know that all who are connected with horses must 
be rogues, and on that account, perhaps, refuse to accept the word 
of the Jockey Club itself. Prudence regulates their actions. 
Probably it had been quite as prudent on their part, if, when writing 
this important document, the Professors had remembered that there 
were other rogues in this world besides such as were contaminated 
by associating with horses. The lawyers are not proverbial for 
honesty ; and it would not have injured the composition if the w r ord 
thorough-bred had been omitted, and the name of the important 
personage who played the part of master of the ceremonies on the 
occasion had been expunged. Certain persons may have a power 
of recognising a thorough-bred animal the instant they see it ; but 
some “ cock-tails ” are so close in their appearance, that an ordi- 
nary judge might be deceived. The certifiers, of course, knew 
what they were about, and did not, because commanded or re- 
quested to take note of a horse by the Jockey Club, hastily con- 
clude it was of pure blood; for, could the rogues of Westminster 
