THE AMERICAN TliOTTING-HOKSE. 171 



Again, I purchased a horse in Illinois, the produce 

 of a very good trotting-mare. Up to the date of 

 my owning him he had never been in harness. After 

 a few trials he showed a very great turn of speed, 

 and in a month or two was a very fast trotter ; and 

 so much did he prefer this gait, that no amount of 

 punishment would cause him to break. Now, in this 

 animal's education I did not use other means than 

 those I have always practiced at home ; still, I never 

 previously had a hack that could drag a conveyance 

 at the same velocity. To whom was the credit due, 

 the horse or driver ? Doubtless the reader will agree 

 with me. 



In temper and disposition a great dissimilarity is 

 also apparent, for, as a rule, the American horse is 

 very free from vice (kicking and biting being rarely 

 found), sluggish, patient, and subservient, not unfre- 

 quently without a certain amount of mulishness in 

 look and manner ; in fact, one of the most celebrated 

 trotting stallions (the sire of Dexter, who has made 

 the best time in harness on record, and many others 

 almost as good), is the most wonderful likeness to 

 that useful cross, viz., between the horse and ass, and 

 thoroughly dissimilar to any of his race that I have 

 seen in England ; however, he must not be taken as 



