THE GROOMS' ORACLE. 
381 
and, pray repeal such ignominious and offensive laws: lest, with 
the loss of many subscribers (which you have already to deplore) 
you lose That also by which your institution holds any rank 
among our national establishments. 
&ebtefo. 
Quid sit pulchrum, quid turpe, quid utile, quid non.— Hor. 
The Grooms’ Oracle, and Pocket Stable-Directory; in which 
the Management of Horses generally, as to Healthy Dietingy 
and Exercise , are considered, in a Series of Familiar Dialogues, 
between Two Grooms, engaged in Training Horses to their 
Work . With Notes, and an Appendix, including Extracts 
from the Receipt Book of John Hinds, V.S., Author of 
“ The Veterinary Surgeon.” Sherwood Sc Co. Paternoster 
Row; and Hurst Sc Co., St. Paul’s Church-yard. 1829. 
Demy 12mo, pp. 274. 
ALTHOUGH unexpressed or suppressed in the Title, it comes 
out plainly enough, in the form of Postscript to the Preface, that 
Mr. Hinds, “ Author of the Veterinary Surgeon*,” is also the 
author of the present production: why, then, he did not less 
ambiguously authenticate the “ Oracle,” we feel quite at a loss to 
divine. Judge for yourself, Reader, whether we are warranted in 
making this assertion, when you read—“ Regarding The Vete¬ 
rinary Surgeon, to which / have taken frequent occasion to 
refer for more minute details than seemed befitting the present 
volume, I may here aptly enough say a word or two. We never 
made a secret of the share my friend, Mr. Badcock, had in the 
composition of that book:”—then why, Mr. Hinds, pretend to 
make any secret in the Title-page of your share in the composi¬ 
tion of this? and, before you finish even your “ Preface,” openly 
avow it! 
Concerning the capital Title, “The Grooms’ Oracle,” Mr. 
Hinds disclaims any aspirations “to oracular wisdom,”—“as in¬ 
consistent with the characters who support the dialogueand 
declares that all oracular notions would have been abandoned 
“but for the cheering approbation of some half-a-score prying 
friends, who had perused the MS. at the time of the First July 
»* A Review of which will be found in the First Volume of “The Vete¬ 
rinarian,” commencing at p. 215 . 
* 3d 
