THE HORSE. 91 



the same time he observed the rare im- 

 provement that had been effected, and 

 how the horse of to-day was superior in 

 almost if not every quahty to those of the 

 past, so much so that he would not allow 

 that Flying Childers and Eclipse ever made 

 the time with which they are credited. 

 '" The form of Fly in o- Childers mio;ht vnii Admiral Rous 



-^ ^ ^ on the form 



a thirty pound plate ; whnier to be sold ^hndlS^and 

 for forty pounds. Eclipse might pull ^ ^^^' 

 through in a fifty pound plate ; Avimier 

 to be sold for two Imndred pounds." 

 This may be a strong opinion ; it is 

 founded on the fact that, '' whereas, one 

 hundred and fifty years ago, the Eastern 

 horses and their cross Avere the Ijest and 

 fastest in England, at this day a second- 

 class race-horse can give five stone to 

 the best Arabian or Barb and beat him 



