196 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



that the superior strength of the former is worn out by 

 the superior activity of the latter, or, as Marshal Saxe 

 expressed it, "its arms are of less value than its legs." 



Now, it is undeniable that this want of activity proceeds 

 partly from the weight of the " materiel," but princi- 

 pally from the following very remarkable imperfection 

 in the military equipment of Europe. 



It is well known that not only every soldier, but every 

 human being following an army, is subject to military 

 discipline, and that his labour may, at any time, and 

 for any purpose, be required of him ; but, although the 

 rational being is thus called upon to work with cheerful 

 obedience for the grand objects of the army, the physical 

 powers of the brute beast have never yet been developed ; 

 and accordingly for the various, sudden, and momentary 

 emergencies for which horse-power has often and urgently 

 in vain been required, horse-power (the cavalry) to an 

 enormous extent has existed upon the spot, a military 

 element which it has hitherto been considered so imprac- 

 ticable to control, that the guns, ammunition, treasure, 

 &c., which European cavalry have oftentimes bravely 

 won, their horses have been supposed totally incapable 

 to carry away ; and the laurel which was positively in 

 their hands they have thus been obliged to abandon. 

 Again, for sieges in countries which have been drained 

 by the artillery and cavalry, not only of horses, but of 



