l80 ON THE HACKNEY AND HUNTER. 



which no defire of their own, or dread of the 

 moft fevere punifhment, can enable them to 

 counteract, when feized with the fit. It is, per- 

 haps, a fpecies of madnefs. I have known one of 

 each kind, kept more than a twelvemonth, merely 

 by way of making the experiment, whether it 

 were poflible to cure them. The greateft feve- 

 rity, inftead of breaking their fpirits, ferved only 

 to enrage, and render them worfe ; nor had kind 

 ufage any material effe£i: towards their cure. 

 They were both mares, and moft excellent 

 workers. What is very fingular, in the biter, 

 although fhe was fo favage in the ftable, that 

 befides a number of inferior accidents, (he tore 

 out the entrails of a boy, (he yet never difco- 

 vered the leaft inclination to bite out of doors, 

 in any fituation whatever. 



The wanton cruelty which is exercifed upon 

 thefe creatures, renders them infinitely more 

 dangerous ; for, being accuftomed to look upon 

 all mankind as their enemies and torturers, they 

 always (land prepared for offence ; and men, 

 who tranfgrefs in that way, would do well to 

 confider what accident they may be preparing 

 for forne innocent perfon. I fpeak from the 

 recollection of having feen a kicker, at a cer- 

 tain repofitory, which one of the attendants 

 took a great pleafure in exhibiting to a groupe 

 of idle fellows. It was a mare, and thefe bar- 

 barians amufed themfelves by thrufting flicks 



into 



