680 
MR. MAYHEW’S LETTER TO THE EDITORS. 
effusion of two learned authors, I will in justice, and for the sake 
of contrast, quote the humble and unpretending certificate signed 
by Mr. Field : — 
“ This is to certify, that I have this day, by the request of the 
Stewards of the Jockey Club, examined at Smith’s livery stables, 
Chelsea, a bay mare, called the Queen of Cyprus, and am of 
opinion that the said mare is three-years-old off. 
“ William Field, Vet. Surgeon 
In a court of law, doubtless, this last would prove the better 
instrument, and on that account certain un poetical minds may 
prefer it to the loftier composition of the Editors. But it does not 
amuse the fancy — it does not fire the imagination : it says no 
more than is necessary; and, if it is entirely devoid of the ble- 
mishes which can be detected in the Professors’ sublime outpour- 
ings, it also makes no pretence to be regarded as a literary and 
poetical effusion. It bears no mark of effort, whereas the joint 
essay shews the labour which was bestowed upon it. The Deputy 
and Assistant were not pressed for time, nor taken by surprise ; 
of course, they had notice-room for reflection on what they were 
about to do, and opportunity for consideration after they had done. 
Then, two heads were united, each to assist and to advise the 
other; and they possessed even the power of consulting other 
parties, had it been imagined further help was needed. The whole 
they had to write was but a simple sentence, the matter of which 
was not long, and the construction of which could not be new. 
At the Royal Veterinary College, three parts of the active prac- 
tice consists of the examination of horses; and, therefore, the writing 
of a certificate must be to the Professors an every-day affair. 
Custom, moreover, has established a kind of formula for such in- 
struments, and horse-dealers who have no literary ambition can 
write them off : — a boy at a charity school could not have been set 
an easier task. If, however, the Professors of a College are unequal 
to such an effort — if they cannot write a single sentence correctly — 
what pretence can they advance to be esteemed Editors in litera- 
ture and Judges in science ] If in a single common-place sentence 
of ten lines can be discovered false English and bad grammar — 
words misused and facts mis-stated — vulgarity and barbarism — 
needless circumstances inserted and the one thing desired omitted — 
if, when straining to write strongly, they only indite nonsense, and, 
meaning to be plain, only grow confused — if, in fact, within the 
compass of a single sentence, they can accumulate the errors which 
would disgrace a volume, how, I ask, was it they were chosen to 
conduct a public journal ] If they were not elected to, but assumed 
the position which they occupy, then the affair wears, indeed, a me- 
