200 THE HISTORY AND ART 



fliorr, to have allowed him to difcover his fentiments 

 and inclinations upon the fubjecSt of liorfes — All that 

 is known farther of him, is, that he loved hunting, 

 and for that purpofe preferred Englifli horfes, of 

 .which he had fcveral always in his ftables in France ; 

 and exprefled a peculiar fatisfacftion in having them, 

 and that at a time, and in a fituation, in which it is 

 natural to think, they were rather likely to have given 

 him uneafmefs and mortification, than to have afforded 

 him pleafure. 



When nWiam III. was advanced to the throne, he 

 not only added to the plates given to different places in 

 the kingdom, but rendered a more necefTary and im- 

 portant fervice to the nation : he founded an Academy 

 for riding, and invited from France a very capable 

 and experienced horfeman. Major Foubert, to prefide 

 over it. 



It is to be prefumed, that this prince mufl have ob- 

 fcrved that a general difregard to the art, and almoft 

 a total ignorance of its principles prevailed at this time 

 throughout the nation ; and he no fooner was fenfible 

 of the difeafe, than he applied the remedy, and did^ 

 at leafl in his prudent and generous intentions, what 

 fo long had been wanting in the plan of his predecef- 

 fors, to render it confiftent and cfTedual. It is afto- 

 nifhing to think how this work, fo immediately ne- 

 cefTary, could have been deferred fo long ; and that 

 while rewards were given, publick trials appointed, 

 and laws enacfted, to promote an ufeful and generous 



breed 



