IMPROVING THE BREEDS OF HORSES. 97 
by its perfection, its capabilities, and the amount of benefit it 
confers. The horse is subject to the same general rule ; but in 
order well to determine his capabilities a trial becomes indis- 
pensable. In practice, we see fine-looking horses re-uniting 
the very best points of mechanism which are so desired. Their 
make and shape, their powers of muscularity and leverage, are 
all in perfect harmony. Notwithstanding which such horses 
are without energy, without strength : they are wanting in 
blood, in the soul which should animate the machine. We 
compare them to a locomotive machine of perfect construction, 
but which is deficient in the required steam to force it onward. 
And to ascertain this nothing comes up to proof by trial. 
If racing has shewn itself to be the best means of improving 
our breeds of light or speedy horses, experience has also shewn 
that, as practised in England, it has operated to a greater extent 
than might be imagined in destroying the breeds of saddle 
horses, in times past so much in request for commercial and 
military purposes. 
We, no doubt, shall be told, in answer to this, that our old 
stock called for regeneration, and that crossing was the only 
way to effect this. We reply, that this substantial error, per- 
severed in for the purpose of supporting acts condemned both 
by reason and experience, has been the cause of a load of decep- 
tion. Animal development is ever subordinate to the nature of 
the elements or the localities it lives among. If we desire to 
give form through crossing, without any reference to the cir- 
cumstances upon which it is dependent, we may be certain to 
degenerate, or even to destroy it, instead of improving it. To 
this general rule of nature there is no exception. Is it possible 
to modify or ameliorate any effect without any reference to the 
cause producing it? Nothing can be more contrary to the laws 
of reason : besides which, facts have proved it. 
England is the first nation in Europe that practised racing to 
any extent. James I, Charles I, and especially Charles II, 
were the kings who gave most encouragement to the pastime of 
horse-racing. In those days, however, the trials were more 
searching than they are in England at the present time. The 
length of the races run were twice or even thrice as great as 
they now are ; and the weights carried amounted to nearly or 
quite double. But to the English it matters little what the 
length of the race is, or the weight to be carried ! With them 
gambling is the object, the bets they make amounting to enor- 
mous sums, enriching one and ruining another. This is the 
kind of spectacle suited to the British national taste; and, 
were it desired, they would speedily invent others of the kind, 
with other animals, and another order of contests ; for they 
still have their pugilistic encounters, their cock-fights, and their 
