The post-boy rob'd of his mail, or, The pacquet broke open consisting of five hundred letters to persons of several qualities and conditions, with observations upon each letter / publish'd by a gentleman concern'd in the frolick.

LETTER CX.

Every one believe•• their Curiosity would receive here that Satisfaction which was expected. So they read on—To the Illustrious—

Here's a Mistake at the beginning (quoth Chappel) he should have wrote to the Right Worshipful—What then (reply'd River) you believe this Republic to be as proud as the Republic of Geno••a?—These plain Gentlemen, that are more concern'd in Good Husband••y, then in Ambition, and are more desirous of Rain, then Serenity. Never deride these Gentlemen (quoth I) who in their Badges equal the Roman Dictators: the one had Axes carry'd before 'em, and these carry Axes themselves to cut their Wood and lop their Trees as occasion offers. And don't you remember (reply'd Grave) certain Kings of Babylon that carry'd a Plough at the top of their

Scepters: So that every one of these Gentlemen ought to be a King; for you may see 'em holding Plough-tails every day in the Field I cannot forget, in advancement of their Grandeur (reply'd Chappel) that some of the Ancient Emperors rose from the Spade to the Scepter, from Agriculture to Sove∣reign Command. And therefore all the Ministers of this Republic ought to be acknowledg'd for Emperors, seeing 'tis a usual thing among them to go from the Plough to the Council-Chamber. They would have enlarg'd their Iokes upon this Republic of Farmers, but finding it a Letter that requir'd great hast they fall to reading of it in the following Words;

Illustrious Sir,

I Understand by a Friend of yours, that you are about to provide your self with a Pacing-Mare for the Recreation of your Youth. I therefore thought it a Debt of Friendship to write you some Instructions concerning this matter, approv'd by Experience, and dictated by Affection always de∣sirous to assist you. I suppose that this desire arises in you from the Seemliness of your Legs which inclines ye to ride in Boots, and walk arm'd with good sharp Spurs. If you have not a Leg so hand∣somly shap'd, lay aside those thoughts, for that o∣therwise your riding will be but a shame or a trouble to ye. You must never be tyr'd, and to run leaping into the Saddle is an evident Counter∣sign that you have learnt the Tricks of a good Horse-man.

To make use of a young Col••, resembles the more graceful Exercise of a young Fantastick, and has some signs of Grandeur, as being in imitation of several Persons of great worth. But the danger of being thrown, and least the Horse should get

the mastery of ye, as being untamable, and high∣metal'd, will not suffer me to perswade ye to take that course; perpetual restlesness, continual neigh∣ing, lofty prancing, and an high Trot, I number among those Qualities in riding that pay a grea∣ter tribute to Ambition than Pleasure.

Chuse a Race Nagg, of which you may make use after several manners to all your Content. A good ordinary Pace is much to be valu'd for that, if at any time, for the change of motion you desire a wracking pace, 'tis easily brought about. Have a care that your Horse be not one of those that are wont to run away with their Riders, in regard that by riding such sort of Beasts a man hazards the breaking of his Neck: You must never make use of him in a Tilt-yard, nor to run at the Ring, in regard that the prolonging a Journey of Plea∣sure is to make happy, by the privation of Incon∣venience, those Delights, which never by their good will would be at their Journeys end.

The Qualities of a good Courser I shall not re∣commend to you, as not being so well skill'd, be∣cause it would require a large description; and therefore you ought to have no other aim, but only to chuse a good Crupper, and a Horse that ambles neatly, which makes it a Pleasure to ride. Let him not be so fat, and fleshy, as that you should be afraid to gallop, for fear of seeing him weep Tears of Sweat; nor let him be so lean, as to look as if his Skin were buried in a Charnel-House: Let him be well proportion'd, and nimble, far from such a sloathfulness, that you must be forc'd to call Archimedes to Life, to give him motion, nor so nimble neither, as if he seem'd to fly in the Air upon the Wings of Crows.

Be sure you never make choice of a Pacer that has been in the Service of any great Person; for, besides that, their keeping will be more expen∣sive, you may sometimes meet in 'em the Pro∣perty of Beucephalus, who would be bestrid by no body but Alexander the Great. Some Coursers, as if they had suckt in the Ambition of the persons that rid 'em, together with their high-metal'd fierceness, love a lofty Behaviour, when others are about to back 'em. At least, I have this Prejudice against 'em, that being accustom'd to little labour, they will be denying to give that satisfaction to the desires of the present Enjoyer, which is required from them that are to be truly serviceable to their Wills.

Bear in mind the intention of making the best advantage of your Desires upon all Accidents, in whatsoever manner, or at whatever time the whim∣sie takes ye, to render 'em more delectable, and agreeable to your humour. Then, that you may have her ready for all Services, remember that she be young, yet not of such an age, that for want of being well manag'd, she shall refuse to hold the Bridle in her Mouth; I call that a Disturbance ra∣ther than a Pleasure, to be constrain'd to manage a high-me••al'd Jade, that knows no Government of Bitt, and to be forc'd to back an untam'd Col•• upon the plough'd Lands, when the desire of Ri∣ding requires the practical part it self, at that very instant, and the Fruits of that labour.

'Tis also to be consider'd, and well to be obser∣ved, what Faults she has, which tho it be difficult to do, yet Knowledge and Experience acquires an aptitude to correct those Faults, or to escape the Damage. These sort of Cattel are strangely ap∣prehensive of the Mistakes of an ignorant Rider, and generally trayl after 'em an inclination prone

to the worst. Be sure therefore never to lend your Beast to any body living, for fear of exposing your self to this hazard, and for fear of being defrauded of your pleasure, by reason that your own Beast be∣ing over ridden by another, becomes unfit for your Service. Never trust the Farriers, and such other sneaking Rascals, who are but the Brokers in sort of Horse-matches, a••d for that robbing for them∣selves, and mistaking to your loss, are the main points of their juggling Deceits. Never be fond of the ••olour, for outward appearances are delusive; in outward Beauty alwaies corrupts the Fortune of such Practices, not considering that your Beast ought to be serviceable to every thing but the Eyes. A Body well shap'd, with all the signs of strength, with assurance of youth, must be the aim of your choice, without expecting manifold ways to be de∣luded in other superfluous Qualities: Much less would I have you to be affected with a rich Saddle, or a gilded Curb, for these Ornaments are oft-times design'd to put an high price upon a Hackney J••de, and to make you swallow a bitter Pill under a gol∣den Cover.

Observe that she be free from all Windgalls, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and all other Distempers, which the more 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they lye, the more dangerous they are; ••nd these are usually most frequent where appearan∣ces otherwise beautiful allure the Sight. In short, this is a business to be wisely and warily consider'd, for when you ride, you may commit your self into the power of a Beast, that may bury ye in a Ditch, or throw ye into some Quagmire, whence you shall ••ever be able to get out agen. Remember also to moderate your riding, in regard too much riding 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a man, and brings those Diseases and In∣••••mities upon him, that deprive him of the choicest 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of his substance. Tho' the Beast being vigo∣rous

and bold, will carry ye as oft as ye please, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 abstain, and consider that your Judgment ought 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be superiour to the Genius of an Animal.

Let a good Switch serve you instead of a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Command, in regard that Spurrs in the A••t 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Riding are Toys for sight, and not to gall. Let 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be your care to accustom her to understand 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Commands, to the end she may exactly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them•• Nor is she to make no distinction 〈◊〉〈◊〉 your Jurisdiction, and the Authority of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to whom tho' she is to be in submission, yet is 〈…〉〈…〉 no claim to her Obedience. Through the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of observing this Document, it comes to pass, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 some of these Creatures being at the will and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Servant, will kick and winch at the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Lastly, be sure to keep your Beast mild and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 there lying the center of that Liberty of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 you are to make your advantage to your 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Upon every motion of your Hand, whenever 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ride, make her know how to turn, gallop, stop, ••••vance, and retire without bounding or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 carrying her Head low; let her also walk 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were blindfold. And thus you must teach 〈◊〉〈◊〉 observe your Commands, of which the Bridle 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be your Interpreter.

Dear Friend, if ever you intend to lay out 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Mony well, you must observe these Instructi•••••• For my part, I desire only that the sincerity of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Affections may find that Credit with you which deserves. However, I expect that your 〈◊〉〈◊〉 will give 'em that reception which is their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and so most affectionately I kiss your Hands.

He shews himself (quoth Chappel) to have ••∣xperience in Horsemanship, and therefore of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 must have applyed himself very young to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉

No question (replied River) but he enter'd the tilting place very young, and so might have an oppor∣tunity to learn those Qualities which he describes, as far as the Masters of the Art requir'd it from him. In my Opinion (replied Grave) he is short in one thing, That he does not teach the manner of Riding, by tea∣ching the necessity of keeping the Bitt firm in the Mouth of the Beast which he rides, the time when to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him give a spring forward, to try his Metal, the proportion and distance which he ought to ob∣serve in carrying his Legs, neither so close as to make him cut, nor so wide as to render his Going unsightly. He also should have taught his Scholar, when he met with a capricious Horse, how to make him carry his Tail and his Head, bend his Crest, and raise his Crup∣••••••. No more, no more, (said I) for the Lecture by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by will enlarge it self beyond the Doctrine of the letter.

But another Letter, accompanied with a lit∣tle Box wrapp'd up in a Cloth, set 'em all a tiptoe. They thought at first they had been Jewels, but that suspicion was soon remov'd by the slightness of the Boxes be∣ing put up, but the Paper undeceiv'd 'em, and shew'd 'em the substance of the Let∣ter; which was as follows.