 hero looked upon these amusements with an eye of taste, as well as
curiosity; he contemplated the animal as a beautiful and elegant part of the
creation, and relished the surprising exertion of its speed with a refined and
classical delight. In a little time he became personally acquainted with every
horse in the stable, and interested himself in the reputation of each; while he
also gratified his appetite for knowledge, in observing the methods of preparing
their bodies, and training them to the race. His landlord saw and encouraged his
eagerness, from which he promised himself some advantage; he formed several
private matches for his entertainment, and flattered his discernment, by
permitting him to be successful in the first betts he made. Thus was he artfully
decoyed into a spirit of keenness and adventure, and disposed to depend upon his
own judgment, in opposition to that of people who had made coursing the sole
study of their lives. He accompanied my lord to Newmarket, and entering at once
into the genius of the place, was marked as fair game, by all the knowing ones
there assembled, many of whom found means to take him in, in spite of all the
cautions and admonitions of his lordship, who wanted to reserve him for his own
use.
    It is almost impossible for any man, let him be never so fearful or
phlegmatic, to be an unconcerned spectator in this busy scene. The dæmon of play
hovers in the air, like a pestilential vapour, tainting the minds of all present
with infallible infection, which communicates from one person to another, like
the circulation of a general pannic. Peregrine was seized with this epidemic
distemper to a violent degree; and after having lost a few loose hundreds, in
his progress through the various rookeries of the place, entered into
partnership with his noble friend in a grand match, upon the issue of which he
ventured no less than three thousand pounds. Indeed, he would not have risqued
such a considerable sum, had not his own confidence been reinforced by the
opinion and concurrence of his lordship, who hazarded an equal bett upon the
same event. These two associates engaged themselves in the penalty of six
thousand pounds, to run one chaise and four against another, three times round
the course; and our adventurer had the satisfaction of seeing his antagonists
distanced in the first and second heat; but all of a sudden, one of the horses
of his machine was knocked up, by which accident, the victory was ravished
almost from his very grasp, and he was obliged to endure the damage and the
scorn.
    He was deeply affected with this misfortune,
