6 DETERIORATED CONDITION OF 



best mounted cavalry on the continent, but her 

 finest breeds are become much deteriorated ; 

 and in this way — there was, it seems, in that 

 country after the conclusion of the last war a 

 universal Anglo-mania for our race-horses, which 

 they purchased largely for many years, and 

 crossed extensively with their own breeds ; 

 some of which before this event were excel- 

 lent, uniting compact and fine forms with good 

 breeding, and much speed. This form it seems 

 has disappeared, and the long legs and shallow 

 bodies of our race-horses substituted ; and so 

 extensively has this cross been had recourse 

 to, that the pure and best Prussian breeds are 

 lost. 



There is a fact well known to all Prussians 

 taking interest in horses which bears directly 

 on this subject, and is unmistakable. It is 

 this : — before the blood of our race-horses had 

 been so largely had recourse to in Prussia, the 

 king was accustomed to be driven between 

 Berlin and Potzdam in little more than an 

 hour, the distance being twenty miles. Since, 

 however, the blood of the old breeds of Prus- 

 sian horses has been lost in its purity, his 

 majesty is no longer able to get horses capable 



