RESTIVENESS 343 



curious Spectators, where we were eye-witnesses of the 

 complete success of his art. This too had been a 

 troop-horse, and it was supposed, not without reason, 

 that after regimental discipline had failed, no other 

 would be found availing. I observed that the animal 

 seemed afraid whenever Sullivan spoke or looked at 

 him. How that extraordinary ascendancy could have 

 been obtained, it is difficult to conjecture. In common 

 cases, this mysterious preparation was unnecessary. 

 He seemed to possess an instinctive power of inspiring- 

 awe, the result, perhaps, of natural intrepidity, in which 

 I believe a great part of his art consisted, though the 

 circumstance oixki^tete-a-tete shows that upon particular 

 occasions something more must have been added to it. 

 A faculty like this would, in other hands, have made a 

 fortune, and great offers have been made to him for 

 the exercise of his art abroad ; but hunting, and attach- 

 ment to his native soil, were his ruling passions. He 

 lived at home in the style most agreeable to his dis- 

 position, and nothing could induce him to quit Dun- 

 hallow and the fox-hounds." Among the many striking- 

 performances in this way, none was more remarkable 

 than his taming the celebrated racer King Pippin, one 

 of the most ferocious horses that ever lived. Such 

 was his furious temper, that to saddle and bridle him 

 was almost impracticable, even by his ordinary attend- 

 ants. His particular propensity was flying at and 

 worrying any person who came within his reach ; and 

 he has been known to turn round and tear the leg of 

 his rider with his teeth, and drag him from his back. 

 On one occasion, when he had bid defiance to all, the 

 ''whisperer" was sent for, who was shut up with him 

 the whole night, and in the morning, so completely 

 subdued was this furious animal, that he followed 

 Sullivan round the course like a dog — lying down at 



