99 



question might be bad enough, nor do I immediately recollect that he 

 has stood his ground in our pedigrees. As to the wonder expressed, that 

 Arabian Horses should not have been earlier brought into England, it 

 is merely perhaps, that the name was omitted, as Arabs were generally 

 sold in those markets of the Levant, where Horses were purchased for 

 Europe; and there can belittle doubt, that the Arabian breed wasdispers- 

 ed throughout Europe, centuries previous to the reign of James ; but 

 doubtless at that period, their presumed superiority, as Coursers, over 

 every other race, was first discovered. The supposed unfavourable 

 event of the first trial, might perhaps, in some degree, tend to throw 

 the Arabians in the back ground of the course, and I believe that 

 thereafter, throughout the whok century, and even until the time of the 

 Darley Arabian, the Barbary Horses generally held the first place in 

 the estimation of our turf breeders. 



Prince Henry, of whom history gives an excellent, and I judge, 

 faithful report, was a great lover of the Horse, but without that bias 

 to the turf, which distinguished his royal father, being more particu- 

 larly attached to the military manege, in which he was a great proficient. 

 Henry the Great of France sent over to this promising young prince, 

 one of his most famous riding-masters, named St. Antoine, for whom 

 a riding house was built in St. James's palace. This prince was a con- 

 siderable breeder, and founded several studs. 



The unfortunate Charles, for whose memory I caught an atfectionate 

 prejudice in my youth, which still hangs about my heart, was, like 

 his brother, rather inclined to the riding school and the parade than 

 to the turf But exclusive of the want of royal countenance, horse- 

 racing could not flourish and extend itself, in a country torn by civil 

 dissention, and bathed in kindred blood. Such was England in those 

 turbulent times. In the third year of his reign, Charles issued an or- 

 donance, enjoining the substitution of bits, or curbs, for snaffles, 

 which had probably been of late introduced into the army, by the 

 prevailing taste for racing; snaffles being allowed by the proclamation, 

 in times of disport only. Three years afterwards, the king granted a 

 special license to William Smith and others, to import into this king- 

 dom, Horses, mares and geldings; farther enjoining them to provide 



o 2 coach" 



