ON THE HORSE IN GENERAL. 87 



human ufe and obedience, is a piece of intelli- 

 gence which mult for ever lie hid in the im- 

 penetrable recedes of the mod remote anti- 

 quity. But it is fufficient we know from their 

 works, that the ancients, in general, were well 

 acquainted with the various ufes to which 

 the animal may be applied ; and that many of 

 the eaftern nations, as well as the Greeks 

 and Romans, were well (killed in Equeftrian 

 knowledge and management. If we were not 

 well aware of the neceflity of being upon our 

 guard againfl the exaggerated relations of 

 ancient writers, we mould be indeed furprifed 

 at the number of Horfes faid to have been 

 kept for purpofes of luxury and parade, in 

 thofe early ages. Herodotus fays, the King of 

 Babylon maintained a flud of fixteen thoufand 

 mares, and eieht hundred ftaliions. 



In our own country the breed of Horfes is 

 of much higher antiquity than any extant 

 hiftory, fince we are informed by Julius Caefar, 

 that on his hilt invafion of the iiland, the 

 Britons had already great numbers of them, 

 well-trained to warlike exercifes. The fpecies 

 we may fairly prefume, to have been fuch, of 

 all fizes, as we are likely to fee in any fruitful 

 northern region, where it has not been im- 

 proved by a mixture of the blood of the fouth 

 country Horfes; that is to fay, rough-coated, 

 round-made, and with but little lymmetry, 



G 4 fturdy, 



