498 On the Breed of Horses and 



of those who keep the mares, and they may sell them, 

 or dispose of them when and where and in any way 

 they may think proper, in the same manner as they 

 dispose of any other foal, brought by any other mare. 



In case the army should be obliged to take the field, 

 and in no other case whatever, those who are in posses- 

 sion of these mares are obliged either to return them, 

 or to furnish for the use of the army another horse fit 

 for the service of the artillery. 



The advantages of this arrangement to the army are 

 obvious. In case of an emergency, horses are always 

 at hand ; and these horses being bought in time of 

 peace cost much less than it would be necessary to pay 

 for them, were they to be purchased in a hurry upon 

 the breaking out of a war, upon which occasions they 

 are always dear, and sometimes not to be had for 

 money. 



It may perhaps be objected that, the money being 

 laid out so long before the horses are wanted, the loss 

 of the interest of the purchase-money ought to be 

 taken into the account ; but as large sums of money 

 must always be kept in readiness in the military chest, 

 to enable the army to take the field suddenly in case it 

 should be necessary, and as a part of this money must 

 be employed in the purchase of horses, it may as well 

 be laid out beforehand as to lie dead in the military 

 chest till the horses are actually wanted. Consequently 

 the objection is not founded. 



I wish I could say that this measure had been com- 

 pletely successful ; but I am obliged to own that it has 

 not answered my expectations. Six hundred mares 

 only were at first ordered to be purchased and dis- 

 tributed ; but I had hopes of seeing that number aug- 



