96 
SHY HORSES. 
sion of any; at the same time, we should feel much satisfaction 
0 
in being made acquainted with such occurrences, and still more 
in being among the first to publish them. Our correspondent 
will excuse the liberty we take with this part of his communica¬ 
tion : we are dealing with him, we conceive, as he wished to be 
dealt with, when he added he wrote for information, not to 
instruct.” 
With all this doubt in our mind about the state of this sup¬ 
posed fact, we must confess we are little inclined, or perhaps 
little prepared, at this moment, to enter into either the rationa¬ 
lity or practicability of the proposed mode of reducing the con¬ 
vexity of the transparent part of the eye: however, we will 
offer a few observations on the last pai’t of our correspondent’s 
letter, and in them convey as much wholesome and practical 
advice as lies in our power. 
We have lived long enough, and been practically acquainted 
with horses years enough, to learn that violence and punish¬ 
ment, generally speaking, are not the most suitable or likely 
means to impel the animal to do that which he is unwilling to 
do, let his disinclination arise from fear or any other cause ; at 
the same time, we grant that there are circumstances and times 
and subjects in which the whip and spur may with advantage 
and ought to be used—nay, are indispensable : all we wish to 
contend for in this sweeping decrial, is, that whip and spur 
are both employed much too often. The case before us, ac¬ 
cording to our notions and experience, is certainly not one in 
which that punishment, miscalled correction, can be applied 
with advantage. And to show that it is not, let us, first, look 
at the practical effects of it; and afterwards, offer some rea¬ 
sons which appear to arise out of what we have advanced on 
the philosophy of shying, why it should be not. 
We will suppose a case, a very common one, an eveiy-day 
one. A man is riding a young horse upon the high road in the 
country and meets a stage-coach; what with the noise, the 
