94 



THE DIFFERENT BREEDS OF ENGLISH HORSES. 



one hard day's work, is no more seen; and we have, instead of him, an animal 

 as tall, deep-chested, rising in the withers, slanting in the shoulders, flat in the 

 legs, with far more strength, and with treble the speed. 



There is a great deal of deception, however, even in the best of these improved 

 coach-horses. They prance it nobly through the streets, and they have 

 more work in them than the old, clumsy, sluggish breed ; but they have not 

 the endurance that could be wished, and a pair of poor post-horses would, at 

 the end of the second day, beat them hollow. 



The knee-action and high lifting of the feet in the carriage-horse is deemed 

 an excellence, because it adds to the grandeur of his appearance ; but, as has 

 already been stated, it is necessarily accompanied by much wear and tear of the 

 legs and feet, and this is very soon apparent. 



The principal points in the coach-horse are, substance well-placed, a deep 

 and well-proportioned body, bone under the knee, and sound, open, tough feet. 



THE COACH-HOUSE. 



The Cleveland Bay is the origin of the better kind of coach-horse, and 

 confined principally to Yorkshire and Durham, with, perhaps, Lincolnshire on 



Elizabeth, when we are told (Stowe's Survey 

 of London and Westminster, book i.) " diveis 

 great ladies made them coaches, and rode in 

 them up and down the countries, to the great 

 admiration of all the beholders." The fashion 

 soon spread ; and he adds, what is often too 

 true in the present day, " the world runs on 

 wheels with many whose parents were glad to 

 go on foot." 



These coaches were heavy and unwieldy, 

 and probably bore some rough resemblance to 

 the state-coaches now used occasionally in 

 court processions. 



The rate of travelling was as Blow as the 



clumsiness of the horses and vehicle would 

 naturally indicate. King George II. died 

 early on Saturday morning, Oct. 21, 1760: 

 the Duke of Devonshire, who was lord cham- 

 berlain, arrived in town from Chatsworth in 

 three days ; but a fourth and a fifth day pass- 

 ing over, and the lord steward, the Duke of 

 Rutland, not making his appearance, although' 

 he had not so far to travel by more than thirty 

 miles, Mr. Speaker Onslow made this apology 

 for him, that " the Duke of Devonshire tra- 

 velled at a prodigious rate, not less tban./i/fy 

 miles a day ! " 



To travel in the stage-coach from London 



