ON THE HORSE IN GENERAL. 1 05 



of Afia; but I have often remarked a fingular 

 deviation of nature from her general rule, in 

 Horfes bred in Germany, and in different parts 

 of the continent of Europe ; they have ap- 

 peared well proportioned, with the undoubted 

 marks of Oriental origin, or what we term 

 blood ; and yet, on trial, have exhibited no 

 proofs the characleriftic property — fpeed. 



The Horfes of France, although generally 

 inferior hitherto, will, I conceive, one day, 

 equal our own in all refpefts. There is every 

 thing in the foil and climate of that great and 

 glorious country to warrant fuch a fuppontion. 

 The attempts made by their fporting nobility 

 a few years paft, to breed racers, ill-judged and 

 ill-direcled as they generally were, yet evi- 

 dently proved their ability to rival us upon 

 the turf; and the readied mode the Conven- 

 tion can now adopt, to raife a fuperior breed 

 of Horfes, for all purpofes (an objecl which 

 they have much at heart) is to give encourage- 

 ment to the noble and rational diverfion of 

 Horfe-racing. The Horfes of Normandy are, 

 at prefent, as I am informed by a military 

 friend, who ferved in France until the execu- 

 tion of the king, upon an equality with the 

 general run of our own. He defcribes them 

 as bearing a refemblance to the ftock of Eclipfe, 

 cheflnut, with a blaze in the face, and white 

 legs behind ; good trotters, active, hardy, and 



well 



