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more ordinary figure of speech, more classical and artistic (as used by 

 those in modern days, who are more driving than Solomon was in 

 making a bargain), on handling the ribbons of his empire, is his endeav- 

 oring to make a contract with Pharaoh, the King of Egypt, to supply 

 him with horses — Egypt being the only country then where good 

 horses were to be had. 



This mode of expression, taking the reins, or handling the ribbons, 

 seemingly so slight and flippant, is, nevertheless, not without authority 

 and precedent, in the profoundest writings — Matthew ITenry, whose 

 Commentaries are well known, writes in this manner on the ixth chapter 

 of Judges : " We are here told," he says, " by what acts Abimelech got 

 into the saddle.'''' 



Abimelech usurped the kingdom, and got into authority by a very 

 daring act, and, as might have been expected, he soon j-ode over 

 every tiling. Now as, by a very easy assc-iation of ideas (vide Locke 

 on the Human Understanding), a saddle is inseparable from a ride, we 

 account at once for the apt and significant expression used by Matthew 

 B-emy, ^^ got into the saddle;''^ and which, we cannot doubt, has fur- 

 nished a precedent for a great many similar poetic licenses, and equally 

 elegant figures of speech which have come down to us, " taking the reins,^^ 

 " handling the ribbons,"" et id genus omne. 



We have said that Egypt was the only country in the time of 

 Solomon where good horses were to be had : now, Solomon was too 

 fond of horses, and too wise a prince, not to have them, if they 

 could be anywhere obtained ; yet it is avouched upon authority be- 

 yond all question, that Pharaoh would not consent to let his finest 

 horses go out of his kingdom, even to his son-in-law Solomon, " without 

 a great tribute''' — that tribute was one hundred and fifty shekels of 

 silver. Now, this is what we want to get at and show, namely, that 

 when Solomon reigned, which was above two thousand eight hundred 

 years ago, picked horses, the best breed in the world then (doubtless 

 pure Arabians, or their descendants), when estimated at the highest 

 possible price, commanded only 150 shekels of silver! (A shekel is 

 about two shillings and four pence halfpenny, English monej, only 

 about half a dollar of our currency !) 



I wonder what the great Pharaoh would have thought, and King 

 Solomon also, " with his forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, 

 and twelve thousand horsemen," of the prices asked now, and sometimes 

 obtained — pairs of well bred horses frequently bringing $1,500 ; very 

 fitst trotters, twice that amount; to say nothing of the value occasion- 

 ally put upon Sk favorite thorough bred, $20,000. This amount, I know, 



