FLYING CHILDERS. 



thorough-l)red horse is of foreign extraction, improved and per- 

 fected by the influence of the cHmate, and by diligent cultivation. 

 There are some exceptions, as in the case of Sampson and Bay- 

 Malton, in each of whom, although the best horses of their day, 

 there was a cross of vulgar blood ; but they are only exceptions 

 to a general rule. In our best racing stables, and, particularly 

 in the studs of the Earls of Grosvenor and Egremont, this is 

 an acknowledged principle ; and it is not, when properly con- 

 sidered, a principle at all derogatory to the credit of the country. 

 The British climate, and British skill, made the thorough-bred 

 horse what he is. 



The beautiful tales of Eastern countries, and somewhat re- 

 moter days, may lead us to imagine that the Arabian horse pos- 

 sesses marvellous powers ; but' it cannot admit of a doubt, ^;hat 

 the English trained horse is more beautiful, and far swifter and 

 stouter than the justly-famed coursers of the desert. In the 

 burning plains of the East, and the frozen climate of Russia, he 

 has invariably beaten every antagonist on his native ground. A 

 few years ago Recruit, an English horse of moderate reputation, 

 easily beat Pyp^amus, the best Arabian on the Bengal side of 

 India. 



It must not be objected, that the numoer of Eastern horses mi- 

 ported is far too small to produce so numerous a progeny. It 

 will be recollected, that the thousands of wild horses on the 

 plains of South America descended from only two stallions and 

 four mares, which the early Spanish adventurers left there. 



