THE OX KIND. 77 



he procured to mount the cavalry of this kingdom. 

 At the present time, the numerous vehicles of all 

 kinds seen on the roads and in the streets, display 

 .such a multitude of horses, as must appear astonish- 

 ing. Ancient Rome, when mistress of the world, and 

 the centre of luxury beyond all example, did not, 

 perhaps, contain so many horses as might now be 

 found either in Paris or London, although there is 

 reason to believe, that the imperial city was once 

 equal to both of them together, in respect of popu- 

 lation, and perhaps also of wealth ; and it is almost 

 beyond a doubt, that England now contains a far 

 greater number than could, during many ages, be 

 found in all Europe. How far the prodigious in- 

 crease of the number of these truly useful and noble 

 animals is eligible in a political view, it is difficult 

 to determine. In those cases, the complexity of cir- 

 cumstances is so great as to require extensive infor- 

 mation, as well as accurate calculation, before the 

 truth can be ascertained, and the balance justly esti- 

 mated. It is, however, evident, that the multipli- 

 cation of horses has a certain tendency to the dimi- 

 nution of population, by lessening the quantity, and 

 enhancing the price of the provisions necessary for 

 the support of the human species. 



To form a just idea of the various and extensive 

 utility of the ox, you ought, my dear Sir, to consider, 

 that there is scarcely any part of him without its use. 

 The skin is manufactured into leather ; the hair mixed 

 with lime, is used in plaistering ; the bones serve as 

 a substitute for ivory, and being calcined, are used 

 by the refiners as an absorbent, to carry oft* the baser 

 metals in refining silver, and when ground in a mill, 

 they become the most excellent manure for ferti- 

 lising the ground. Boxes, combs, knife-handles, 

 drinking-vessels, and various other articles, are made 

 of the horns, which, when softened in boiling water, 

 become so pliable, as to be formed into lanterns, an 

 invention ascribed to King Alfred : we are furnished 

 with candles from the tallow, and the feet afford an 

 excellent oil, adapted to a variety of purposes. Glue 

 E 3 



