SULLIVAN THE WHISPERER. 283 



hoping that he would unite with me in entreating 

 compassion towards the poor colt. Instead of this, 

 he said he did not know how it could be avoided, un- 

 less we were in possession of the secret of James Sulli- 

 van, who had the art of subduing the most ferocious 

 horse in a very extraordinary manner. Seeing my 

 curiosity was excited, he proceeded as follows : 



" James Sullivan, madam, was a native of the 

 county of Cork, and an awkward, ignorant rustic, of 

 the lowest class, generally known by the appellation 

 of the Whisperer, and his profession was horse-break- 

 ing. The credulity of the vulgar bestowed that epi- 

 thet upon him, from an opinion that he communicated 

 his wishes to the animal by means of a whisper ; and 

 the singularity of his method gave some colour to the 

 superstitious belief. As far as the sphere of his con- 

 trol extended, the boast of veni, vidi, vici, was more 

 justly claimed by James Sullivan, than by Csesar, or 

 even Bonaparte himself. How his art was acquired, 

 or in what it consisted, is likely to remain for ever 

 unknown, as he has lately left the world without di- 

 vulging it. His son, who follows the same occupa- 

 tion, possesses but a small portion of the art, having 

 either never learned its true secret, or being incapa- 

 ble of putting it in practice. The wonder of his skill 

 consisted in the short time requisite to accomplish his 

 design, which was performed in private, and without 



