30 THE OX KIND. 



twenty quarts of milk, in one day ; some are even said to have 

 afforded thirty quarts. From the milk of some cows, twelve or 

 fourteen pounds of butter have been produced in one weeR. 

 The quantity, however, as well as the quality of these produc- 

 tions of the cow, depend very much on the greater or less ad- 

 vancement of the period of gestation, which is nine months 

 The life of the cow extends to about fifteen years. 



Formerly the ox was, of all quadrupeds, accounted the most 

 proper for the draught or the plough. Before our high-ways 

 were so well repaired, and so many turnpike-roads made in e TT ery 

 part of the country, he was certainly better adapted to the draught 

 than the horse ; but in the present state of the roads, the case 

 is altered, and horses are found much more expeditious. The 

 use of oxen for the plough is also nearly laid aside. This change 

 arises from a similar reason the superior speed of horses, which 

 the advanced price of labour renders at this day an object of 

 considerable importance. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, 

 horses were so scarce, that no more than two thousand could 

 be procured to mount the cavalry of this kingdom. At the present 

 time, the numerous vehicles of all kinds, seen on the roads and 

 in the streets, display such a multitude of horses, as must ap- 

 pear astonishing. Ancient Rome, when mistress of the world, 

 and the centre of luxury beyond all example, did not, perhaps, 

 contain so many horses as might now be found either in Paris 

 or London, although there is reason to believe, that the imperial 

 city was once equal to both of them together, in respect of 

 population, and perhaps also of wealth ; and it is almost beyond 

 a doubt, that England now contains a far greater number than 

 could, during many ages, be found in all Europe. How far the 

 prodigious increase of the number of these truly useful and noble 

 animals is eligible in a political view, it is difficult to determine. 

 In those cases, the complexity of circumstances is so great as to 

 require extensive information, as well as accurate calculation, 

 before the truth can be ascertained, and the balance justly esti- 

 mated. It is, however, evident, that the multiplication of horses 

 has a certain tendency to the diminution of population, by less- 

 ening the quantity, and enhancing the price, of the provisions 

 necessary for the support of the human species. This is easy 

 to comprehend, by supposing a certain number of men and 

 horses, sufficient to consume the whole produce of any particular 

 district, confined within its precincts, and deprived of all sup- 

 plies from other quarters. In such a case, if an additional num- 

 ber of horses were introduced, the country would then be over- 

 stocked, and a part, either of the animal, or the human species, 

 must fail for want of sustenance. The ox, after serving man by 

 his labour, feeds him with his flesh; but the horse, with all his 



