24 THE CHARGER. 



native la r^e races with Arabians, Barbs, and other Eastern horses; and their 

 Chargers and Parade Horses, at the present period, shew a considerable portion of 

 Southern blood, and consequent symmetry and elegance. We perhaps find the 

 majority of our officers' capital Chargers, with their full tails, of an appearance 

 congenial \\ith this breed; and the hunting-like figure of that which we ex- 

 hibit, i- one, among yet a considerable number of exceptions to the general rule 

 of the present military style. 



The British are a nation of Horsemen, however unskilful a part of them may be ; 

 and the science of Equitation in this country has been long since known and 

 practised under two grand divisions, as exhibited in the Military and the Turf 

 St at on Horseback. The latter style of riding had been prevalent for several 

 centuries, upon the Road and Field, until the late continued wars introduced some- 

 what of the form of the military school, which shewed itself chiefly in placing the 

 ball of the foot ujKHi the stirrup, and the inward direction of the toe, instead of 

 rifling home, as the jockeys phrase it, and turning the toe outward and somewhat 

 upward. There has moreover been a kind of tacit but obvious reciprocity of 

 approach between the t\\o systems; the one has borrowed a small portion of the 

 martial air and gentility, the other very discreetly puts off a considerable share of 

 antique stiffness, formaliu, and parade. We have no doubt that horsemanship 

 \\ill <yir remain a distinguished characteristic of English Gentlemen, and that 

 the equal disgrace implied l>\ the old Roman proverb recorded by Suetonius, will 

 not be forgotten, ne<]ue equiture, nee Uterus scire neither to be able to ride, nor 

 to read the alphabet. 



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