396 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



and if, besides the public notoriety of the fact, 

 I had not been an eye-witness of those vehe- 

 ment emotions of sympathy, blended with 

 admiration, which it had justly excited in the 

 mind of every individual at the Cape. A 

 violent gale of wind setting in from north- 

 north-west, a vessel in the road dragged her 

 anchors, was forced on the rocks, and bulged ; 

 and while the greater part of the crew fell an 

 immediate sacrifice to the waves, the re- 

 mainder were seen from the shore struggling 

 for their lives by clinging to the different pieces 

 of the wreck. The sea ran dreadfully high, 

 and broke over the sailors w ith such amazing- 

 fury, that no boat whatever could venture off 

 to their assistance. Meanwhile a planter, 

 considerably advanced in life, had come from 

 his farm to be a spectator of the shipwreck ; 

 his heart was melted at the sight of the un- 

 happy seamen, and knowing the bold and 

 enterprising spirit of his Horse, and his par- 

 ticular excellence as a swimmer, he instantly 

 determined (o make a desperate effort for their 

 deliverance. He alighted, and blew a little 

 brandy into his Horse'^ostrils; when, again 

 Beating himself firm in the saddle, he instantly 

 pushed into the midst of the breakers. At 

 first, both disappeared ; but it was not long 

 before they floated on the surface, and swam 

 up to the wreck ; when, taking with him two 

 men, each of whom held by one of his boots, 

 he brought them safe to shore. This perilous 

 expedition he repeated no seldomer than seven 

 times, and saved fourteen lives to the public, 

 but, on his return the eiglith time, his Horse 

 being much fatigued, and meeting a most for- 

 midable wave, he lost his balance, and was 

 overwhelmed in a moment. The Horse swam 

 safely to land, but his gallant rider, alas ! was 



no more. 



Whilst giving a description of the Horse's 

 services in this dangerous undertaking, we re- 

 gret the writer has not rescued from oblivion 

 the name of its gallant and noble rider. Tlie 

 Horse's exploit becomes the more prominent 

 feature in this description ; but without any 

 wish to descry the merits of the Horse, we do 

 think in justice to his noble conductor and 

 martyr to his humanity, an effort should have 

 been made to preserve the name of that man 

 who had performed such repeated acts of 

 heroism. 

 • 



• THE CANADIAN HOUSE. 



The winter travelling in Canada is some- 

 times very expeditious. It is surprising with 

 what speed a good Canadian Horse will go,' 

 when drawing a cabriolet over the ice ; in- 

 stances having occurred of their travelling 

 ninety miles, in one of these vehicles, in twelve 

 hours; but, when this occurs, the roads must 

 be very smooth and hard. 



The Canadian Horse is a remarkably hardy 

 animal ; his best pace is a trot ; he is accus- 

 tomed to much bad usage and hard work, and 

 is the most willing creature in the world (as 

 the jockeys term it), for he never refuses the 

 draught. They are brought from the country 

 into Quebec in the coldest weather, and left 

 standing in the open air, without any cover- 

 ing, for hours together, while their owners are 

 transacting their business or drinking, and 

 they seem not to be any the worse for it. In 

 the winter, the Canadian Horse, like all other 

 quadrupeds of that country, acquires an in- 

 creased quantity of fur to protect him from 

 the cold, and the curry-comb is never used. 

 When the Horses have been heated by fast 

 driving in a cold day, they appear to have a 

 sort of icicle at every hair, and icicles two 



