REVIEW. 
619 
# 
to this seeming paradox* that in their recruitments of horses 
the household are not restricted in price : were they limited 
to such prices as 2 5 to 30 guineas* they might sigh “ adieu” 
to any such cattle as they now possess. This demonstrates a 
scarcity of the article in the market* not an absolute want of it. 
Still, admitting the fact that good saddle-horses no longer 
exist in anything like the abundance they formerly did, and 
consequently are not only not to be purchased at the same 
price they used to be* but are hardly to be had for “ love or 
money let us now inquire into “ the causes which added to 
the former excellence of our saddle-horses* and those which 
have caused their deterioration — and the remedy.” Quoting 
from the work itself : — 
“The main cause of their former excellence was the crea- 
tion of what is called our e Turf. 5 Doubtless* gambling 
and pleasure have ever been the sole objects of those who bred 
our race horses ; but their large importations of good Arabs, 
followed as they were by a careful and continuous selection* 
not for one quality* but for a fine union of qualities* suc- 
ceeded for many years in producing both, for the turf and for 
all useful and pleasurable purposes* the best saddle-horses in 
the world. 
“We possess a document which throws some light on the 
nature of the tasks our earlier horses performed. Their 
stature so late as 1764 seems to have ranged from fourteen to 
fifteen hands; a horse of the latter height being considered tall 
“ Referring to this document* Mr. Smith says, 4 It appears 
that in the year 1718, twenty-three matches were made at 
Newmarket, and in all but one of them* the distance run was 
four miles. In the next year only two races are recorded. 
First* the Duke of Wharton’s Galloway, 8 st. 10 lb., against 
Lord Hillsborough’s Fiddler, 12st., six miles. At Newmar- 
ket, in 1720* there were twenty-six matches* none of them 
less than four* some six miles. In October, the Duke of 
Wharton’s Honeyskin, 1 1 st. 101b., against Lord Hillsborough’s 
Speedwell* the best of three heats * twelve miles* 1000 guineas. 
The match was drawn. In 1721, twenty matches were run, 
and with few exceptions, these distances seem to have been 
run up to the year 1757.’ 
“ This account of the running of our older horses is interest- 
ing, because everyone acquainted with our present race- horse 
knows that none of them could perform a fourth part of 
these tasks without breaking down. We see* indeed, the 
