B R I 



548 



B R I 



Bridle, 



Bridling 



ton. 



it has been questioned by Fabretti, Montfaucon, and 

 others, whether they were acquainted with the curb, 

 and particularly the bit presently in use ; and, trust- 

 ing to sculptures where the equestrian is represented 

 in the act of leading his horse, certainly nothing 

 like a bit appears. But it has been contended, on 

 the other hand, that the frizna lupata spoken of in 

 the classics consisted of a bit with jagged teeth. The 

 bit, however, is not to be considered a modern in- 

 vention, though there are several countries where it 

 is yet unknown. 



The bridle at present consists of the reins, bit, and 

 curb, to which chains are sometimes added ; and all 

 these are supposed to have properties according to 

 the various form and dimensions of which they are 

 constructed. Of late the reins of riding, and some 

 carriage-horses, were made of leather rounded into 

 the form of a cord, by which equal strength, and 

 greater convenience, are preserved. The bit, which 

 combined with the reins, is so efficacious in control- 

 ling a horse, is flexible or inflexible, jointed, curved, 

 or provided with rollers, and its side-pieces are long, 

 short, bent, or straight at pleasure, and according 

 to the restraint they are to produce ; and are called 

 the Hessian, Pelham, or Weymouth bits. The curb 

 consists of a chain composed of links, which, it has 

 been attempted to demonstrate, should be long. In 

 treating of this subject, a modern author thus ex- 

 presses his opinion : " If any panacea or universal 

 medicine is known, the snaffle is one for the mouth 

 of horses ; it suits and accommodates itself to all ; 

 either finding them good, or speedily making them 

 so. The mouth once made, will always be faithful 

 to the hand, act with what agent it will. This 

 bridle can at once subject the horse to great re 

 straints, or indulge him in ease and freedom. It can 

 place the head exactly as the horseman chuses to 

 have it ; and can work and bend the neck and 

 shoulders to what degree he may find expedient." 



In European countries, the bridle is generally 

 plain, and of a strength and weight proportioned to 

 the service to be performed, and the nature of the ani- 

 mal on which it is employed. But among the east- 

 ern nations it is often richly ornamented, and is some- 

 times studded with the most precious jewels. 



In considering all that has been said on the vari- 

 ous properties of reins, curbs, and bits of different 

 fashions, it appears that so much attention bestow. 

 ed on bridles might be avoided by a judicious mode 

 of training horses. Every animal, almost without 

 exception, may be rendered docile by mild and suit- 

 able treatment. Were horses, from the earliest pe- 

 riod, constantly familiarized with mankind, their 

 tractability, instead of being the result of cruel and 

 coercive measures, would increase asvthey became 

 fit for use. The necessity, therefore, for the reins, 

 bits, and curbs, which are chiefly adapted to the 

 unsubdued animal, would daily diminish. It can- 

 not be overlooked, that the Tartars, who constitute 

 the first equestrians in the world as a nation, guide 

 and restrain their horses more by the motion of the 

 knees than the influence of the bridle ; and it is a 

 leading characteristic of all Orientals to ride with a 

 slack rin. See HORSEMANSHIP, (c) 



BRIDL1NGTON, a market and seaport-town 



in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The town is si- 

 tuated about a mile and a quarter from the harbour, 

 which is called Bridlington-quay. This harbour, 

 which has lately been much improved, is very safe 

 and commodious, and is protected from the north- 

 west and north-east winds by two strong piers, 

 which run out obliquely into the sea, and form an 

 agreeable promenade. Several good trading vessels 

 belong to the port ; and the inhabitants are principally 

 seamen and fishermen. The town itself is small and 

 neat,but irregularly built, and the houses are in gene- 

 ral old. The church was once a noble building ; 

 but the two towers at the west end are destroyed, 

 the nave only being left for divine service. The mi- 

 neral waters of this place are held in great estima- 

 tion ; and, within these few years in particular, it 

 has become a place of resort for sea-bathing. Horn- 

 ed-cattle, toys, linen and woollen cloths, are the ar- 

 ticles disposed of at the fair of this town. Number 

 of houses, 68?. Population, 3139; of whom 1031 

 were returned as employed in trade and manufac- 

 tures. See The Guide to the Watering-places, 1806. 

 (). 



BRIDPORT, a borough and market town in 

 Dorsetshire, is situated in a vale surrounded by hills, 

 between two branches of the river Brit, about 

 one mile north from Bridport Bay, and 135 south- 

 west from London. This town has a very re- 

 spectable appearance, and consists of three spacious 

 streets, having many substantial houses, both of brick 

 and stone. A handsome market-house stands in the 

 centre, and near it the church of St Mary, which is 

 a large ancient building, in the form of a cross, 

 adorned with pinnacles and battlements, and a tower 

 in the middle 72 feet high. It had once a priory, 

 which stood near the bridge, and several religious 

 foundations ; but no traces of them are now to be 

 seen. It has, however, a charity-school and three- 

 alms-houses. Bridport is a great thoroughfare to 

 the west of England, and its inhabitants are chiefly 

 employed in the manufacture of small cordage, nets, 

 and sailcloth ; the greater part of which is consum- 

 ed in the British and Newfoundland fisheries ; and it 

 has been computed, that nearly 1500 tons of hemp 

 and flax are here annually converted into these ar- 

 ticles. Indeed this manufacture was formerly so 

 flourishing, that it was enacted, in the reign of 

 Henry VIII. that all the cordage used in the Eng- 

 lish navy should be made at, or within five miles of 

 Bridport ; and this act continued in force for nearly 

 60 years. Its harbour, which is situated very con- 

 veniently for trade, at the mouth of the river Brit, 

 about a mile south from the town, has long been 

 choked up with sand ; but of late, has been so far 

 recovered as to admit a few vessels not exceeding 

 200 tons burthen. It does not appear, however, 

 that this town was ever of any consequence in mari- 

 time affairs ; and though many attempts have been 

 made to make it a port, yet they have all proved in - 

 effectual. Many excellent vessels are built at Brid- 

 port, particularly smacks, with which most of t he 

 trading companies in Scotland are supplied. It has 

 two market days, Wednesday and Saturday, and three 

 annual fairs. It returns two members to parliament ; 

 and contains 287 houses, and 31 17 inhabitants, of 



Brie! 



