Horses in Pairs are sometimes worth double what they are, singly—and Horsedealers do not like to buy any but of the most common Colours; i. e. Bays and Browns; because of the ease in matching them. Horses of extraordinary Colours may be purchased at a proportionably cheap rate, unless they are in Pairs, and happen to be an extraordinary good match, when they will sometimes bring an extravagant price.

An Ancient Equestrian gives the following advice; and also gave us all those Paragraphs to which are affixed the initials A. E.:—

“If you have occasion to match your Horse, do not let the Dealer know you are seeking for a Match Horse, or he will demand a higher price; nor do not send your servant to select for you.”—See the “Hints to Purchasers of Horses,” in Chap. IV.

If you will be contented with the useful Qualities of your Horses, i. e. their Strength and Speed, and are not too nice about their matching in Colour, you may be provided with capital Horses, at half the cost of those who are particular about their Colour; and moreover, you may easily choose such as will do double the service.

The Judgment and Liberality of the Proprietors are not so questionable on account of the Horses (which all the Wit and all the Wealth in the World cannot always procure exactly what may be wished) as they are about those works of Art, a Carriage and a Livery; these, good Taste and Liberality can always command. The difference in the charge for the hire of an elegant New Carriage and a shabby Old one, does not exceed £25. per Annum; and £10. per Annum more will defray all the extra expense incurred by giving a handsome Livery; so there is not 10 per Cent saved in the Shabbiest turn out.

As most people Job their Carriage Horses, we shall continue our Estimate, and set down—

£._s._ _d._
For a Pair of Jobbed Horses (the lowest price at present) 135 0 0
The Duty on Two Horses 4 14 6
On a Four-Wheeled Carriage 6 0 0
On the Coachman 1 14 0
Wages[4] of the Coachman, not less than 10_s._ per week 26 0 0
Board, ditto, ditto, at 14_s._ per week 36 8 0

N.B. If there are no Lodging Rooms over the Coach-house, it is customary to allow a Coachmanabout 4_s._ per Week, _i. e._ about £10. per Year, to pay his Lodging.

Allowance for Oil and Grease, Towels and Leathers, to clean the Carriage, _at least_ 1_s._ per Week 2 12 0
Rent of Coach-house and Stable 25 0 0
Tax on ditto 3 0 0
——————
240 8 6
——————

The advice of our great Dramatic Bard cannot be quoted more aptly than in the following Maxim for choosing a Livery:—

“Costly thy Habit as thy Purse

Can buy, but not expressed in fancy,