REVIEWS. 
25 
“This immense number of horses have their origin in the im- 
measurable extent and fertility of the meadows of the Steppes. 
No country in the world, either Austria in Europe, or Para- 
guay in America, can compete with her. Russia alone is 
capable of remounting a numerous cavalry within the shortest 
time, and of keeping it effective during the most protracted 
war. In the last general war, it had 65 effective regiments 
of cavalry, besides a numerous artillery, and 170,000 mounted 
Cossacks, Baschirs, and Calmucks in the field ; and in 1812-13 
the Emperor Alexander ordered four reserve corps to be 
formed, for which in a short space of time 63,012 horses were 
bought. Besides these, a vast number were sold to the Austrian 
and Prussian cavalry out of the Government of Wolhynia. 
But, notwithstanding this extraordinary draught of horses, the 
statistics of 1814, taken by Professor Heim, in 28 Governments, 
show that there were 1339 Government and private studs, 
containing 345, 109 horses of different ages. The Grand Duke, 
John the Third, laid the foundation of the present system of 
improving the breed of horses in Russia ; but the present 
Emperor, by an ukase of the 11th of March, 1843, directed 
that stallions at proper stations should be distributed through- 
out the Empire, and that the heretofore Military studs should 
be changed into Imperial. The immediate consequence of 
this was, that, in 1844, 470 stallions were distributed, and 
12,000 mares were covered. In 1845, the former number 
had increased to 900; and in 1848, the number was 1337, 
and the number of mares, since 1844, amounted to 165,000. 
By this means Russia has effected in a few years what in 
other countries would have occupied centuries. 55 
And now a word concerning the races— -Haimans, a Govern- 
ment stallion, had four descendants, which won ten prizes, 
and netted their respective owners 6780 silver rubles. The 
stock of General Chasse numbered 14, which, at the different 
races, won 41 prizes, netting for their respective owners, 
31,152 silver rubles. The descendants of Birmingham, 31 
in number, won 79 prizes, amounting to no less a sum than 
38,428 silver rubles. These four stallions are thorough-bred 
English horses, and were bought by the Russian Govern- 
ment, in England, at different times, for 31,436 silver 
rubles. 
The performances on the turf of the half-breds are no less 
remarkable. One horse, the descendant of Karatakos, won 
prizes to the amount of 2283 silver rubles. The trotting 
xxvii. 4 
