232 
PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE. 
as to the alleged degeneracy of our horses ; but, supposing it to be 
true, no greater blow could be aimed at breeding than to prohibit 
exportation. It was quite a mistake to suppose that racehorses 
could not be used for other purposes. Five years ago he was at a 
country house in France, the owner of which did all the work on a 
V ' 
farm of 2000 acres, and all the road work, with thoroughbred 
horses of between two and a half and five years old. This gentle¬ 
man, for the sake of securing exercise for his animals, had even taken 
a posting contract. He had 600 horses, and he was the only 
foreigner who had ever won the Derby. The noble earl said that 
the old British coach-horse was extinct. (Hear, hear.) He (Lord 
Granville) was heartily glad of it; for he infinitely preferred having 
his carriage drawn by quick-steppers than by the handsome cart¬ 
horses which used to be employed, and which could do no more 
than five miles an hour. (Cheers.) Look at the park. Why, the 
number of horses there had latterly quadrupled; and though there 
was a percentage of these animals which he did not admire—(a 
laugh)—particularly those upon which so many affectionate hus¬ 
bands and fathers put their wives and daughters—the majority 
were quite equal to any that ever existed, even the celebrated 
hackneys of which we heard so much, He would appeal to the 
noble marquis, who had deservedly been one of the most popular of 
masters of hounds, whether the fields in his younger days w r ere one 
fourth or one fifth of what they were now. Now there were often 
as many as 500 horses out, 200 or 300 of which would carry 
thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen stone at tremendous speed, and over 
most difficult country. Surely they were as good as the old- 
fashioned English horses—the date of which, by-the-bye, he could 
never ascertain—(laughter)—and which would only dawdle at the 
rate of seven or eight miles an hour. He believed that, so far from 
people being less particular now, they had become infinitely more 
fastidious. A great deal of the language that was talked about the 
points of horses was all nonsense. (A laugh.) Dealers had 
always said that it was impossible to find a good horse. Nowadays 
they would say, as they had always done, “ Formerly I could go 
down to Shropshire any week, and bring home ten or twelve first- 
class animals, whereas now they are not to be had for love or 
money ; and it was only by the most exceptional piece of luck that I 
was able yesterday to pick up a very perfect horse, which I am about 
to show you.” (Laughter and cheers.) It might very well happen 
that the returns were not quite accurate; but he believed that the 
Custom-house officers took note of horses exported in any consider¬ 
able number, and what did their figures show ? Why, that'in 1870, 
7200 were shipped to other countries, and in 1871, 7172; whereas, 
in 1872 the number fell to 3383. The number of racehorses in the 
kingdom in 1831 was 961; in 1851, 1390; and in 1871, 2473. 
The horses which paid duty were, in 1831, 338,000. In 1851 they 
fell off to 311,000 ; but in 1871 they rose to no less than 859,000. 
(Hear, hear.) As for the army, with a million horses suitable for 
the purpose, it could not be supposed that in case of emergency the 
