16 translator's preface. 



cuirassiers, municipal guards, and first class 

 lancers to be put at the disposition of the 

 commission, nearly all the horses were in- 

 trusted to riders who were by no means in- 

 telligent, or else whose education was not 

 very much advanced. The riders themselves 

 exercised their horses. On the 9 th of April 

 — that is to say, after fifteen lessons — Field- 

 Marshal the Minister of War wished to 

 witness the results of the system which he 

 had ordered to be tried. His excellency was 

 accompanied by the members of the com- 

 mittee of cavalry, and many other general 

 officers. The men being completely armed 

 and equipped, and the horses caparisoned, 

 they executed, individually and in troop, at 

 all the paces, movements that, up to this 

 time, had only been required of horses that 

 had been exercised for five or six months 

 under experienced riders. The Minister of 

 War followed all the trials with the greatest 



