ON DRAFT CATTLE. 329 



Having thus expatiated, to the full length of 

 mv tether, upon this important fuhjeft, I leave 

 it in the hands of the political arithmetician. 



A worthy Alderman, one of my fubfcnbers, 

 jocofely hinted, that I ought at leaft to fay a few 

 words on the fubjecl: of Alfes : [ will fay, it is 

 fortunate that the faculty of fpeech hath not de- 

 fcended from the jnfpired donky of old Ba- 

 laam, to reproach us with the unmerited mife- 

 ries of that unhappy race. This creature is, 

 perhaps, of no ufe whatever among us, except 

 in the capital ; and confidering the nature of 

 his fervices there, and of his employers, to im- 

 prove his breed, would be to lelfen his utility : 

 otherwife, he is highly improveable from fouth- 

 ern (lock. He firft appeared in this country, in 

 the reign of Elizabeth. It needs no proof, 

 that in countries which will maintain oxen and 

 horfes, it mud be an impolitic blunder to keep 

 affes or mules ; and, I mould fuppofe, that 

 thofe farmers and brewers who have adopted 

 mules inftead of horfes, will bye-and-by make 

 another exchange, of mules for oxen. 



The Highland Society, if I recollect aright, 

 fometime fince offered a medal, for an Elfay 

 upon the reafons which have rendered the 

 ufe of horfes fo univerfal in agricultural ope- 

 rations, and, with what effecls, oxen might 

 " be fubftituted ; and on the bed method of 

 £? " improving the breed of Highland horfes." — 



As 



