REPOSITORIES
—are placed in the metropolis, where horses are received for PUBLIC or PRIVATE sale, and where they are regularly bought and sold by AUCTION, on certain days in every week. This is an accommodation of so much convenience and utility to those who have occasion either to BUY or to SELL suddenly, that the succession of horses is incessant, and the PROPRIETORS never feel a want of public patronage. The three long-established repositories are Tattersal's, near Hyde Park Corner; Aldridge's, in St. Martin's Lane; and Langhorn's, (called the City Repository,) in Barbican. The days of sale at the first are Mondays and Thursdays; at the second, on Wednesdays; and at the latter, on Fridays. Tattersal's is the principal receptacle for horses in high estimation, as running horses, stallions, brood mares, hunters, and the superior kind of hacknies. Carriages and HARNESS may be deposited here for sale by auction, or private contract; as may also HOUNDS, POINTERS, SPANIELS, GREYHOUNDS, or any sporting stock whatever.
Aldridge's was the original as a repository, and the first institution of the kind in the kingdom. It was opened upon speculation by a Mr. Beaver, in which he acquired fame and fortune. This is principally appropriated to the sale of hunters, light carriage horses, famous trotters, sporting-like hacknies, and others of every description; from which universality of accommodation (notwithstanding the great extent of the premises) there is but very seldom a single stall to spare. The sales at Langhorn's principally consist of stage-coach, waggon and cart horses, hacks, and occasionally government horses of the dismounted cavalry.
These repositories are conducted upon principles of the most unsullied integrity by the present proprietors; and under fixed regulations, which admit of no opening for cavil or discontent. Horses sent in for SALE are immediately BOOKED, with the instructions of the owner; whether he is to be sold to the best bidder, or a specific sum mentioned, at less than which he is not to be disposed of. The expences are as follow; a certain price per day and night, as long as he is continued there. If brought out, and put up at the hammer, and not sold, half a crown. If sold, the commission for selling is five per cent. in addition to the auction duty of ten-pence in every POUND; but if sold by private contract, either before or after the PUBLIC AUCTION, no duty to government is payable whatever.
Other rules attach invariably to each establishment. Horses may be sold with or without a WARRANTY, at the option of the owner. If sold bona fide to the BEST BIDDER, and no declaration made, or questions asked, respecting SOUNDNESS, he is then said to be sold with all his faults; which the purchaser must abide by, and has no plea for return, however he may repent the purchase he has made. On the contrary, when the horse is sold at the hammer, and warranted sound, under the authority of, and by commission from, the owner, although the purchase-money is deposited when the horse is taken away, yet the purchaser has that and the following clear day to ascertain the perfect, sound and healthy state of the horse so purchased, when during which time so allotted him, if he returns the horse or mare, with proper and indisputable proof of palpable lameness or defect, the purchase-money is of course returned, and such horse or mare again becomes the property of the former owner: and for the regular support of this equitable and necessary part of the establishment, no person selling such horse at either of the repositories, can demand the money in payment till two clear days from the day of sale. Instances sometimes arise, where the owner of a horse sold with a WARRANTY, has refused to accede to the return of the purchase-money, upon a plea of justification, that such horse or mare was positively SOUND when sold. In cases of this kind, the proprietor of the repository retains the money in hand; an action is commenced against him by the purchaser of the horse returned, (for the money so paid, and which he cannot get back,) upon being indemnified by the original owner; he becomes the NOMINAL DEFENDANT, and the case goes before a JURY, to be decided by the glorious uncertainty of the law; as in all HORSE CAUSES, the witnesses are so critically conscientious, that there are generally as many OATHS on one side as the other.