THE AMERICAN TKOTTING-HOKSE. 169 



of time, would be made successfully to rival the perfor- 

 mances of any of the prodigies who annually exhibit 

 on the various trotting courses in the United States. 

 To this supposition I beg to disagree, for I am con- 

 vinced if such rara aves existed, their excellence 

 would as certainly be developed in an English break- 

 er's hands, as under the tutelage of a representative 

 of any other nationality. At the same time it is true 

 that trotting is not paid so much attention to, or near- 

 ly so popular among us, as upon the Western Conti- 

 nent, where it may almost be designated the national 

 amusement ; but what person of means here would not 

 be desirous of possessing a horse that could outpace 

 all others on the road, assist him to catch a train or 

 post, transport him in the shortest time to distant 

 meets, bring him home at railway speed after a hard 

 day's shooting, or when thoroughly drenched, tired, 

 and exhausted, with a long day's hunting in a 

 heavy country, land him at his hall door in half the 

 accustomed time ? Doubtless all would like such a 

 useful hack, and doubtless such an animal would sell 

 at a fabulous price ; hence the inducement, if we had 

 the raw material, to bring it to perfection. 



But have we the material? I say not, but be- 

 lieve our horses and the American (not alluding to 

 8 



