THE LASSO. 303 



If their power proved insufficient to overcome an obstacle 

 which they chanced to encounter, the gun was either 

 deserted, or dragged along by the infantry, four draught- 

 horses all the time standing by doing nothing. Nobody 

 can dissent from the opinion that, in common life, it is 

 eminently silly to suffer from not knowing how to use 

 what we actually possess ; and therefore it must be 

 granted that the long delay in calling forth the auxiliary 

 strength of the horse is a blot upon the military char- 

 acter of those engaged in war. It is undeniable that 

 the science of war demands the putting forth of the 

 maximum strength and activity alike of cavalry and 

 infantry ; and bearing in mind that recent improve- 

 ments in gunnery make the fate of battles depend 

 upon the celerity with which artillery can be brought 

 to play upon particular points, it evidently is a matter 

 of prime importance that the horse-power attached to 

 an army should be carefully economised and skilfully 

 directed. 



Influenced by such considerations, the Duke of Cam- 

 bridge lately made this addition to the Army Kegula- 

 tions : " In order that the cavalry may, upon emer- 

 gencies, be available for the purposes of draught such 

 as assisting artillery, &c., through deep roads, and in 

 surmounting other impediments and obstacles which the 

 carriages of the army have frequently to encounter in 

 the course of active service ten men per troop are to 

 be equipped with the tackle of the lasso." 



So, then, two traces, as means of traction, are hence- 

 forth to be at a discount ; and horses, blinded by these 

 absurdities, blinkers, which hinder them from knowing 

 what they are called on to do, and fill their heads with 

 chimerical terrors, are phenomena about to disappear. 

 Henceforth our excellent ally, the horse, is, with his 

 eyes open, to be called on to bear an equitable share in 

 the toils of her Majesty's armies ; and this by the simple 

 expedients of a surcingle and a single trace by which 

 means have been transported, time out of mind, all the 



