Ij8 THE HISTORY AND ART 



life the word, in their figure and carriage, which is fo 

 -confpicuous in Foreign horfes, aud fo beautiful and at- 

 tradtive, as even to be eflentially requifite upon all oc- 

 calions of pomp and parade : but inftead of difplaying 

 a dignity of motion, and a confcious air of checrful- 

 nefs and alacrity, as if they fliared in the pleafure and 

 pride of their riders, and were almoil fenfible of hu- 

 mian pafTions, they appear in all their a^flions, cold, 

 indifferent, unanimated. This is fo apparent that the 

 mofl heedlefs and ignorant fpe(5lator, who fliould, 

 upon any occafion, fee them contrafted with horfes of 

 ABioiif would be flruck with the difference ; would 

 be uninterefted with the tame and lifelefs behaviour of 

 the one, and ravifhed with the fenfibility and well- 

 tempered fire of the other ; which, like the Sparkling of 

 generous wine in the glafs, at once charms the eye, 

 and gives a proof of innate fpirit and goodnefs. — Be- 

 fides this, the Englifh horfes are accufed, and not un- 

 juftly, of being obflinate and uncomplying in their 

 tempers, dogged and fullen, of having ftiff and inac- 

 tive flioulders, and wanting fupplenefs in their limbs : 

 which defedls make their motions conflrained, oc- 

 cafion them to go near the ground, and render them 

 unfit for the Manege. 



This is the charadcr of the Englifh horfe ; to which 

 it may not be improper to add fome remarks and 

 anecdotes, which may tend farther to open and fet 

 forth the national hiflory of the animal. 



Eng- 



