68 HISTORY OF THE 



sovereign. The rival horses were divided into 

 three sets, in order to lengthen the amusement. 

 They had been in training several weeks, going 

 very often over the ground during that time ; 

 and when 1 did see them, I found so much pains 

 had been taken to sweat and reduce their weight, 

 that their bones were nearly cutting the skin. 

 The distance marked for the race was a stretch 

 of twenty-four miles ; and that his Majesty 

 might not have to wait when he had reached the 

 field, the horses had set forward long before, by 

 three divisions, from the starting point, (a short 

 interval of time passing between each set) so 

 that they might have to come in a few minutes 

 after the King had taken his seat. The different 

 divisions arrived in regular order at the goal, 

 but all so fatigued and exhausted, that their 

 former boasted fleetness hardly exceeded a mo- 

 derate canter when they passed before the royal 

 eyes." 



The best breed of Turkish horses is descended 

 from those of Arabia and Persia ; but they 

 greatly exceed the horses of both those countries 

 in point of size. The body is even longer than 

 the Arabians, and the crupper more elevated. 

 They have contributed materially to the im- 

 provement of the English breed. 



Mr. Evelyn thus enthusiastically describes a 



