ON THE HORSES OF ENGLAND. 
101 
some mis-shapen or bad-hearted beasts, such as, if on the turf, 
turn out but an expense to their owner. I recollect hearing a 
member of the Jockey Club state, that one year it so happened 
that Comus, a celebrated stallion, had but a very limited number 
of mares, and that the produce of that year was most remarkable 
as having proved all good horses. 
In pursuing the history of phenomena of this kind, to which so 
little attention has been paid, I feel I am diverging from the paih 
I had on setting out intended to follow, and to which I must now 
abruptlv return ; and T do so, by throwing out a suggesfiqn for 
the consideration of those better able to judge of the matter than 
myself, whether some means might not be adopted for the forma- 
tion of a breeding stud, and on a scale of something like national 
dimensions ; an establishment that would supply the acknowledged 
deficiency of a particular class of horses now so much required, 
so as once more to furnish our markets with good horses, as well 
for foreign as home consumption. 
To me it appears extraordinary that, in this age of speculation, 
we have not had some “ company” formed for so noble a purpose ; 
for, as a source of profit, I believe that, with sufficient means and 
an efficient governing body, both capital and interest so embarked 
might be lucratively employed and secured. I am anxious to draw 
the attention of horse-men to the subject, to endeavour to elicit 
from them any remark that may either elucidate or invalidate 
opinions I have long entertained. To the members of our profes- 
sion I would recommend the subject for their serious attention ; 
since, in these days of locomotives, were such establishments but 
to afford them more valuable objects for practice, it would be for 
them a sufficient consideration. But there are so few of us who 
are not horse-men, as well as horse-doctors, that I feel secure in the 
persuasion of their possession of that amour propre which would 
alone urge them to make every effort for again placing us in that 
proud position, as breeders of horses, which we fain hope will be 
one day accomplished. The geniality of soil and climate in Eng- 
land are such as no other country appears to possess ; hence the 
necessity of foreign studs constantly requiring renewed supplies of 
original stock from our market. Let the experiment be tried of a 
sale of some five hundred four-year-old colts, and let Europe be ap- 
prised of the opportunity it would afford for making purchases, 
and I am much mistaken if the competition it would produce would 
not prove profitable in no small degree to any stud company. 
A plan for carrying out the establishment of a stud on a large 
scale has suggested itself to me, which I may at some fut ure day 
submit to the consideration of the public through your pages; 
meanwhile, believe me, c ,- 
VOL. XX . P Sir, yours. 
