FOR PEACE AND WAR. 29 



aud from this period the preceding taste for "great 

 horses" gradually and visibly diminished. Charles I. 

 strongly imbued with the same feelings about horses as 

 King James, gave strong support and countenance to 

 racing, as the most direct goal to the national good for 

 establishment of a desirable breed of horses. Independent * 

 of monetary consideration, the Isthmean contests founded 

 in this monarch's reign in Hyde Park and at Newmarket 

 begat a rivalry and a channel for the exercise of mind and 

 money gratifying to the dominant and wealthy classes, that 

 induced to the breeding of that description of steed that, 

 combined with great weight-carrying and enduring powers, 

 the utmost fleetness that could be gained without impairing 

 the other named two great essential qualities. Indeed, we 

 find that one so practical and expert in military matters as 

 The Protector himself had discovered that mere bone and 

 stature was no match against action, speed, courage, and 

 endurance ; for, all reliable records go to show such was the 

 class of " re-mount " that made his cavalry a singular page 

 in history and brilliant in poesy and story. 



At any rate, from his period the matter in favour of 

 Eastern blood seems to have been decided, for, it is the 

 subject of record that at the time of the Restoration 

 Charles II. sent his "Master of the Horse " with a strong 

 commission to the Levant, to purchase stallions and mares. 

 Barbs and Turkish horses became frequent, numerous 

 imports to England at this time, and eventually stallions of 

 every breed of the East were grafted on the British horse. 

 To the time of Queen Anne, more particularly since the 

 Darle}^ Arabian era, Avhen the imj^orter of that very cele- 

 brated progenitor of our best blood after much opposition 

 succeded in establishing the Arab "cross" effectually; and in 

 engrafting that race upon the English, thus completing the 

 working of a system, which, under careful management had 



