Complete Works of R S Surtees

by R S Surtees

  Many of the owners of horses sent to public auctions are persons whom fortune has placed in such a situation that the difference of price obtained by selling their horses with warranties and without them is of no importance, and many would prefer giving them away to running the risk of having them returned at a subsequent period as unsound.

  Mr. Richard Wilson (a gentleman well known both in the legal and sporting world), at his annual sales, expressly states in the catalogue, that “no warranty is given and the Earl of Jersey and many other Noblemen and Gentlemen adopt the same rule.

  It must not, however, be supposed that because these persons apparently carry things with a high hand that they part with valuable horses without receiving a fair consideration.

  Doubtless a great number of good horses are sent or put into auction with which the owners have no objection to part provided they obtain their price; but the number of horses really for sale at a reasonable price bear a very small proportion to the number which are only to be sold on exorbitant terms.

  Noblemen as well as commoners, and rich men as well as poor, frequently have bad horses, and then what are they to do with them?

  To sell them to their friends would not add much to their character and respectability; and to hawk them among strangers would be beneath their dignity: consequently, at certain times of the year, the owner and stud-groom make their selection of all faulty horses, and either have an auction on the premises, or send them off to a public repository, accompanied perhaps by three or four of the best ones in the stable to add weight and importance to the stud.

  This is what they call “weeding” the stable, and a very proper term it is too; and horses drafted in this manner form no inconsiderable portion of the valuable studs of Noblemen and Gentlemen which are sold at repositories and elsewhere.

  All horses belonging to men of fortune have names, some both Christian and surnames, which are always speciously inserted in the catalogue, though perhaps only christened on coming into the yard, but the grooms think it gives them an air of consequence; therefore we find the Marquis, Sir Harry, Mary Ann, Mountaineer by Pioneer, and no end of pedigrees.

  Supposing Mary Ann (speaking in the language of the stable) to be a decided screw, the groom will very likely arrange the horses so as to bring the Marquis and Sir Harry (both excellent horses) out first, and after letting them be offered at all prices from three hundred guineas down to thirty, and perhaps bought in at forty, Mary Ann will make her appearance, and after being put up at one or two hundred guineas, will run back in the Dutch fashion to thirty-five guineas, or perhaps less.

  Well, some innocent bystander may think her very cheap, or perhaps will bid for fun, never dreaming that a two hundred guineas mare like Mary Ann, with such a pedigree, and “the property of a Nobleman,” will be sold at any thing under that price; or he may think to give the thing a fillip by offering the last sum named, thirty guineas, and is not a little astonished when the auctioneers knock her down to his bidding, perhaps complimenting him at the same time by saying that she is “given away.”

  The pleasing delusion and a pretty horse” will most likely be all he will get for his money; for, ten to one, on taking his purchase away, he will discover that she is either broken winded, or just about to lose her eye sight, or has some other valuable quality.

  It is the case (though it will not avail him much to know it when once the fatal blow is struck) that his bidding may be retracted at any time before the lot is actually knocked down (unless the conditions expressly stipulate against it), because the assent of both parties is necessary to make the contract binding, which is signified on the part of the seller by knocking down the hammer.

  Therefore it behoves the bidder to make the best use of the few moments allowed him, and if he thinks he has done a foolish act, let him remember that the next most foolish thing he can do is to persist in it: so let him say, “I retract my bidding” before the hammer is down, and the bystanders will think him a much more sensible man than if he allowed a useless horse to be forced upon him.

  The studs of Noblemen and Gentlemen “giving-up hunting,” I believe, are not considered quite so dangerous to speculate in as those “the property of Noblemen:” for this reason, that it is generally known what hounds are given up; and hence the truth of the statement is more easily ascertained.

  “But here,” as a Gentleman said when looking at a horse a friend had just purchased out of a Nobleman’s stud which was sold under these circumstances —

  “I dare say your horse is very cheap; but it does not follow that because my Lord — has given up hunting that his friends have done the same; and you may depend upon it they would not let good horses go for nothing at the hammer.”, This is a very true observation, and not a bad one to bear in mind when attending sales of this description.

  Altogether I believe it is generally allowed by persons conversant with horse-dealing, that those who know nothing about horses, if they must purchase their knowledge, had better buy it at the cheapest rate; and that sales by private contract, where a reasonable trial is allowed, afford much better opportunities of becoming acquainted with the necessary requisites for a good horse, than those by public auction, where the place of trial and inspection is a small and crowded yard.

  In conclusion, I may state, that these pages were not written for the benefit of persons who consider all sorts of knavery and deception in horse-dealing not only allowable but commendable; but they were written for the protection of inexperienced men, who daily fall into the snares of the artful and designing: and though, from the paucity of established authorities, I have not been able to enter so fully upon the subject as it requires; yet if what I have written should tend to guard the unwary against fraud, my purpose is fully answered.

  So now, like my superiors on the Bench, having gone through what evidence there is, I shall sum up with the opinion of Lord Ellenborough —

  “That any infirmity which renders a horse less fit for present service, or any malady which renders him less serviceable for a permanency, are unsoundness:” And the dicta of Lord Loughborough —

  “That no length of’ time elapsed after a sale will alter the nature of a contract originally false — And finish by saying (though contrary to my own interest), that I advise no man to go to law who can avoid it; yet sooner than be made the dupe of designing blacklegs, I would run the risk; and the result of my own experience has been, that (rather than appear as a defendant in a Court of Justice) a horse-dealer will submit to almost any terms, unless indeed he feels himself fortified with the

  MENS CONSCIA RECTI.

  ADDENDA

  THE ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE.

  I CANNOT omit mentioning an establishment that I subscribe to, but which is by no means so generally known as its public utility and national importance entitles it to be:

  I mean the ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE at Camden Town, in Middlesex.

  The prospectus states —

  That the extreme ignorance and incompetency of the greater part of the practitioners on the disease of horses, called farriers, had been long and universally complained of. To remedy which, and meet the evil in the most effectual manner, several Gentlemen formed themselves into a Society for the Improvement of the Veterinary Art. A large piece of ground was provided, and a range of stables, a forge, a theatre for dissection and lectures, and other buildings were erected, at a considerable expense. A medical gentleman of superior abilities was appointed Professor; and other officers requisite to give due effect to the Establishment were fixed at the College, at an expense large in the aggregate, but at salaries not individually greater than were consonant to the strictest rules of economy.

  That the grand object of the Institution has been, and is, to form a School of Veterinary Science, in which the anatomical structure of quadrupeds of all kinds, horses, cattle, sheep, dogs, &c., the diseases to which they are subject, and the remedies proper to be applied, may be investigated, and regularly taught; in order th
at, by this means, enlightened practitioners of liberal education, whose whole study has been devoted to the veterinary art in all its branches, may be gradually dispersed over the kingdom, on whose skill and experience confidence may be securely placed. For this purpose pupils are admitted at the College, who, in addition to the lectures and instructions of the Professor, and the practice of the stables under his superintendence, at present enjoy (from the liberal disposition of some of the most eminent characters of the faculty to support and protect this Establishment) the peculiar advantage of free admission to their medical and anatomical lectures. Of these pupils many are at this time established in various parts of the country, practising with great credit and advantage to themselves, and benefit to their respective neighbourhoods. In order, however, that no doubt may arise respecting the sufficient qualifications of pupils upon their leaving the College, they are strictly examined by the Medical Committee, from whom they receive a proper certificate, if they are found to have acquired a sufficient knowledge in the various branches of veterinary science, and are competent to practise with advantage to the public.

  That subscribers to the establishment have the privilege of sending to the College their horses, &c which have occasion for medical treatment of any kind, without farther expense than that of their daily food; and these, in general, form a sufficient number of patients fertile practice of the Professor and his pupils. — The Professor, or assistant, prescribes for horses, &c belonging to subscribers who find it inconvenient to spare them for admission into the Infirmary, or in cases that do not require it, provided that such medicines as are necessary to be furnished are compounded at the College. — Horses are likewise shod at the College forge at the ordinary prices.

  That in a political point of view, this Institution is of great importance with respect to the army (which must be sufficiently manifest to every person acquainted with the former state of the practice of farriery in the cavalry); and so fully was the utility of it estimated, that a Board of General Officers having been appointed to take the Institution into consideration, reported, that the loss of horses accruing to the cavalry was heretofore very heavy, owing to the total ignorance of those who, previous to the appointment of veterinary surgeons, had the medical care of them; and that this Establishment has afforded essential improvement to that part of the Military Service, and thereby ultimately must be, and has been the means of considerable saving to the public. The report His Majesty was graciously pleased to approve.

  RULES AND REGULATIONS.

  Every subscriber of the sum of twenty guineas is a member of the Society for life.

  Every subscriber of two guineas annually, to be paid by a cheque drawn upon some banker, or mercantile house of fixed residence in London or Westminster, is a member of the Society for one year, and is equally entitled to all benefits of the Institution whilst he continues such.

  None but horses, or animals the property of subscribers, can be admitted into the Infirmary; and should any patient procure admittance contrary to this regulation, either by the misrepresentation of the servant bringing it, or the mistake of the servant of the College who receives it, and the owner, on application being made to him, shall neglect to entitle himself to the privileges of a subscriber, by sending a cheque for his annual subscription, there shall then be charged for medicines and attendance, over and above the daily charge for keep, in no case less than two guineas, and more if more shall really have been expended in the treatment of such patient.

  A receipt is directed to be given to every groom bringing a horse on his admission, and upon it a note of the Regulations, in no case to be departed from, that the horse will not be delivered to the owner, or any person sent by him, till the amount of his keep up to the day of delivery be paid.

  In cases thought desperate by the Professor, of requiring a time to cure, which in his opinion would incur cost of keep exceeding the value of the animal, he is directed immediately to notify such his opinion to the proprietor, who in that case may choose whether he will, at his own expense, have the animal treated according to known rules of practice, or whether he will give him up to the College, paving the expense? up to the time of such giving up. The animal then becomes a subject of experiment and bolder practice, which if successful, and the animal be restored to health, will still leave the proprietor the option of reclaiming him, on paying at the usual rate for his keep from the time of his having given him up to that of his reclaiming him.

  Every gentleman having subject or complaint, either on the medical or stable treatment of his horse, or misconduct in the forge, or of any servants of the College, is requested to communicate the same by letter, addressed either to the Chairman of the Stable Committee, or of the next General Meeting.

  No servant of the College is allowed to receive vails, and it is earnestly requested that subscribers will abstain from offering any, as conviction of the receipt would subject the servant so offering to immediate dismissal.

  Note. — Though the cure of the diseases incident to horses has always been the primary object of the Institution, it is nevertheless the wish of the Directors to extend its benefits to every description of animals of the brute creation; and the progress of their views, in this respect, has been retarded solely by the want of subjects for practice.

  N. B. Subscriptions paid between the first day of January and the last day of June are calculated for a year from the twenty-fifth of March; and those between the first of July and the end of December, for a year from the twenty-ninth of September.

  PRIVILEGE OF SUBSCRIBERS

  A subscriber has the privilege of having his horses admitted into the Infirmary, to be treated under all circumstances of disease at the price of three shillings per night only, including keep, medicines, or operations of whatever nature that may be necessary; likewise of bringing his horses to the College for the advice of the Professor gratis, in cases where he may prefer the treatment of them at home; and in cases of accidents, which render the subjects of them not capable of being removed, the Professor, or his assistant, will attend the horses of subscribers at their own stables, within London and Westminster at the usual charge of private practitioners.

  A subscriber, though resident in the country, has the privilege of having medicines prepared at the College at an expense so much lower than the ordinary prices of druggists, as will, upon a large stable establishment, soon save the amount of subscription, as may appear by the following:

  THE END

  Hints to Railway Travellers

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER I.

  CHAPTER II.

  CHAPTER III.

  One of the few extant portraits of Surtees

  CHAPTER I.

  THE LONDON SEASON PROPER — LUGGAGE — AT THE DEPARTURE STATION — HOTELS — LODGINGS.

  RAILWAYS HAVING BROUGHT London within reach of every one, thousands will visit it who never thought of doing so before. Railways have done more; they have annihilated the prejudice against public conveyances, and abolished the old stiffnecked line of demarcation between posting and coaching company. They have opened out the world to every one.

  The second class carriages are infinitely better than the inside of the old stage-coaches used to be, while in every particular except cushions, which are easily supplied, the advantages of easy, expeditious transit are the same in the second class carriage as in the first. Indeed, in summer, we do not know but the second, or even an open third class, is preferable — being cooler and less dust-catching, owing to the absence of cushions. A Tarrier coat and wideawake hat would conceal a timid economist from his best friend. Where there are ladies, however, the first class is desirable; and on the supposition that there are ladies in our party we will proceed to give such hints for their guidance as regular visitors, even, feel the want of every time they go to London. And here we may observe, that though our hints contemplate a party, they will be applicable — on a smaller scale — to individuals of either sex.

  They are
not written for people who come to London with large establishments, and take houses, but for that numerous and respectable class of country residents whose peregrinations have been heretofore too much confined to their country towns, or neighbouring watering - places. Not among the least beneficial of the Crystal Palace influences will be that of showing how easily a journey to London is accomplished.

  There is no place in the world where there is so much amusement and enjoyment to be had at a reasonable rate as in London; there you meet friends you might never otherwise see — see people you would otherwise only hear of — have such a choice of medical advice, of masters for children — such opportunities for introducing them — such unlimited sight-seeing — such delightful novelty — such perfect freedom and independence of action. In London nobody cares what his neighbours do. The only man really known in London is the Duke of Wellington. The veriest greenhorn exclaims at a glance, “There’s the glorious old Dook!”

  THE LONDON SEASON PROPER

  is said to begin and end with Parliament; but the lodging-house season does not begin much before Epsom Races. The three weeks or a month in which Epsom and Ascot are included is generally about the fullest, though not the finest, time of the year.

  From Epsom Races to the end of July, the cost of west-end lodgings is generally nearly double what it is in autumn and winter — which latter season, indeed, may be said to come well down to Epsom, snow having been seen on a Derby day [1839: Bloomsbury’s year].