BRITISH TURF. 7^ 



and mares as might appear best calculated to im- 

 prove the breed of horses in this country.^ The 

 Brown Arabian was a private stallion in Lord 

 Northumberland's stud until the year 176 6, when 

 he served mares at Mr. Leede's at 3^5. and 5s. 



* This country is certainly pjreatly obliged to the late Duke of 

 Northumberland, for his endeavours to improve the breed of the 

 Enghsh horse ; for he spared no expense whatever in sending even 

 into the interior of Arabia, to procure horses of the true and ge- 

 nuine Arabian breed, of which, amongst others, the above was 

 only one. Much credit is due to the Arabians, as we have partially 

 observed elsewhere, for the distinct manner in which they give 

 attestations of the genealogy of their horses, when they sell them, 

 and which Mr. PhiUips procured with those he purchased for the 

 Duke. That gentleman bears witness to the fact of their preserving 

 the pedigree of their horses with great care and for several ages 

 back. They know their alliances and all their genealogy ; they dis- 

 tinguish the races by different names, and di^dde them into three 

 classes. The first is that of the nobles, the ancient breed, and un- 

 adulterated on either side ; the second is that of the horses of the 

 ancient race, but adulterated ; and the third is that of the common 

 and inferior kinds. The last they sell at a low price ; but those of 

 the first class, and even of the second, amongst which are found 

 horses of equal value to the former, are sold extremely dear. They 

 know, by long experience, the race of a horse by his appearance ; 

 they can tell the name, the surname, and the colour, and the 

 marks belonging to each. When they are not themselves pos- 

 sessed of staUions of the noble race for their mares, they borrow 

 from their neighbours, paying a proper price, as with us, and re- 

 ceive a written attestation of the whole. In this attestation is 

 contained the name of the horse and the mare, and their respective 

 genealogies. When the mare has produced her foal, new wit- 

 nesses are called, and a new attestation signed, in which are des- 

 cribed the marks of the foal, and the day noted when it was 

 brought forth. These attestations increase the value of the horse ; 

 and they are given to the person who buys him. 



