20 THE BLACK DRAUGHT HORSE. 



tinent, this noble quadruped was first introduced, history does 

 not inform us. We learn, however, from the Commentaries of 

 Julius Caesar, that horses were plentiful in this country at the 

 time of his invasion ; and although that celebrated commander 

 has not given us any description of their kind and shape, his 

 narrative aifords a sufficient proof of their activity and disci- 

 pline, when used in the war-chariots of the Britons. 



We cannot dismiss this article, without making some reflec- 

 tions on the wisdom and goodness of Divine Providence, in 

 creating an animal of such singular utility to the human species. 

 If we rightly consider the difficulties of our situation, if the 

 the goodness of Providence had not provided us the assistance 

 of the horse, we shall find that the obstacles we should in many 

 cases have met with, would have been almost insurmountable. 

 The want of horses was one of the principal causes which ren- 

 dered the natives of the new world so much inferior to their 

 European invaders ; and the decided superiority of the Span- 

 iards over the Mexicans, was owing, almost, as much to their 

 horses as to their fire-arms. Indeed, the want of horses would 

 always have operated as a check to the advancement of the 

 American nations in the process of civilization, and have al- 

 ways kept them, with respect to the arts, both of war and peace, 

 in a state of inferiority to the Europeans. Next to the want of 

 iron, the want of horses is, perhaps, one of the greatest physical 

 obstacles to the advancement of the arts of civilized life. We 

 ought, therefore, to regard the Horse as an inestimable gift of 

 the bountiful Creator, and treat him, not with neglect, nor with 

 cruelty, but with attention and kindness, not only while he is able 

 to perform our work, or be conducive to our pleasures, but even 

 after age or accident may have disqualified him for further ser- 

 vice. The exercise of wanton cruelty upon any of God's crea- 

 tures, is an act of impiety towards their Creator ; but the ill 

 treatment of such as are given us for the purpose of promoting 

 our conveniency and comfort, bears the additional stamp of foul 

 ingratitude to the all-bountiful Donor. 



