FOR PEACE AND WAR. 135 



fall under the conditions of the third order of lever where the 

 power is applied between the fulcrum and the weight, and in which 

 it is a well-known law of mechanics, that as the weight is advanced 

 the power is diminished. So with the horse, whose hind foot is 

 his fulcrum, and whose power is concentrated in his haunches, in 

 proportion as his centre of gravity overshoots the point to which he 

 brings up his hind foot at each stride, is the loss of power and 

 corresponding strain upon the embarrassed members. 



A familar example of the same principle is afforded by an ill- 

 trimmed boat, when too much of her cargo is stowed in front, and 

 she becomes, as it is termed, "down by the head." Her sailing 

 powers are thus greatly diminished, and that pressure of the 

 canvas, which, in a properly balanced state of the vessel, would 

 be wholly exerted in carrying her forward, now exercises a con- 

 siderable portion of her force in burying her bows under water ; 

 what the mainsail is to the cutter, the. haunches are to the horse, 

 and it may be justly said, put either " out of trim " and the more 

 sail you carry the less progress you are likely to make. 



