60 . England's horses, 



question, considering the subject — as under existing circum- 

 stances it is— merged in the larger one of the general horse 

 supply of these kingdoms. Their not having done so would, 

 at any rate, have had no material effect ; for it is patent to 

 the public that the source from which we can alone expect 

 to derive the progenitors of our general horse supply in 

 excellence, has, by a stimulus of quite a foreign kind 

 to the utilitarian efforts of the general breeders, and from 

 influences that preponderate in the minds of the majority of 

 those who now sustain the turf, improved and maintained 

 the thoroughbred horse. What the aims and ends of those 

 who have done and continue to do this has nothing to do 

 with the present enquiry. The fact remains to us, that at 

 no previous period of the horse's history in these kingdoms 

 has our thoroughbred been so grand. Blair Athol (sold 

 for over 12,000 guineas to an English stud), and Favonius, 

 another Derby winner, we may assert, without fear of con- 

 tradiction, are as finely modelled horses and as good per- 

 formers as can be desired. But these are "the plums of the 

 pudding," as are likewise the numerous stallions offered for 

 the favours of high-bred stud matrons. Such horses, or 

 their class, are far removed from the channel in which their 

 individual services would benefit the general breeder ; and 

 he is thrown back upon, too often, the " cheap and nasty." 



The Great Dictator of the Turf, as the Honourable 

 Admiral Rous has been long dubbed, to a devotion of a life- 

 time to everything that could impart improvement and 

 stability to the great institution over which he has long 

 exercised so efficient and popular a sway, adds in his dis- 

 pensations, the exercise of an intellect singularly keen and 

 more than ordinarily well-cultured, in even that patrician 

 order to which he belongs. Upon the subject of The 

 English Racehorse where can we look for a better or 

 more thoroughly practical opinion. His edicts on that 



