ness.

upwards of a hundred miles, and missed him common observation with those who have after all.

dabbled in breeding horses, that if you breed Take the road. There can hardly be sup-race-horses or cart-horses, you may make posed anything more perfect than the present money; but if you breed hunters you will be system of stage-coach travelling,--for we must ruined, the uncertainty is so great, and the numconfess that we are not yet reconciled to the idea ber of blanks to a prize so many. If you breed of riding a kettle along iron bars, and shooting two half-bred colts exactly in the same manner, through tunnels underground. Barouch driv- one may probably turn out worth £100., and the ing, indeed, has of late gone out of fashion. other worth nothing. But this is only what There remain, it is true, a few of the old school might naturally be expected. If you breed from who, like the hand loom weavers of Glasgow, are any particular race of animal, you may be pernot capable of turning their hands to anything fectly certain that the offspring will be the same else. But it is still the pride of the English gen- as the parents as to breed; but if you breed tleman to rival his neighbour's equipages by the from totally dissimilar parents, it is quite a lotbeauty of his horses and the neatness of his tery what the offspring may turn out. turn-out, and not by the amount of lace upon his It is a well known fact that an animal does footman's coat, or brass buckles upon the har- not necessarily partake of the nature of its im

mediate parents, but may take after its grandNow a military man, considering the sort of sire or grandam, and even two generations natural affection that the English have for higher. So that you have nothing like certainty horses, and the great number of them that are as to what the breed of the offspring may be, kept in this country, would probably exclaim, until you have bred consecutively through four what magnificent cavalry the English must be! generations of animals of a similar nature. Now But what is the fact? Why, if the truth must be as nothing can be more dissimilar than the thotold, our cavalry have never shown any great rough-bred horse and the cart-horse, the risk in superiority over those of other nations. Colonel breeding among the crosses between these two Napier, perhaps the best military authority that must be very great; and the effect of this we we could quote, goes so far as to say, that the find in the enormous prices that are given for French Cavalry is superior to ours. What! the hunters, and the difficulty with which they are French-a people who have no idea of fox-hunt- procured even at these prices. A hack also, ing, of racing, or the pleasures of a steeple-chase, with good action and sufficient bone, is an ani.

- who, in short, appear to have no particular mal not to be got except by accident. And this, fondness for amusements connected with horses. not because any extraordinary qualities are reYet, says the Colonel, their Cavalry is superior. quired, but merely because we have no breed of He cannot mean that when they come hand to that kind; and an animal having the required hand, the Frenchman is the strongest, for the re- proportions of racing and of cart blood is the reverse is the fact-the Englishman is the stoutest : sult of mere accident. the French do not like crossing bayonets with If you talk to any old horse-dealer or sportsthe English. Is it possible that the Frenchman's man he will tell you that he remembers a kind of horse can be the strongest, and better able to horse that he now rarely, if ever, sees, and the stand the fatigues of a campaign? Surely good same with regard to hacks. What has become cavalry horses can be easier procured in England of these horses, and why have they diminished than in France. This requires examination. as the demand for them has increased? The hunNow what are the kinds of horse in England ter of days of yore was a well-bred horse, and that are fit to mount our Cavalry ?-The race- very often thorough-bred, and yet he was able horse as a breed is not strong enough; there are to carry weight, and was purchased at a reaof course individual exceptions, but these would sonable price; but how difficult it is now to get come far too expensive. Then we have the a well-bred horse able to carry any weight, and hunter, the riding-horse, and the coach-horse. what prices are paid for them! These, however, are pretty much the same kind Has any change taken place in the thoroughof animal. The hunter is only a better sort of bred horse? The best way of answering this riding-horse, and the riding-horse a better sort question will be by looking at the feats of the of coach-horse. Some people, it is true, prefer a horses of the last century, as compared with the horse with a clambering sort of action for har- present system of racing. If the reader, curious ness, that would be of little use out hunting, and on this subject, will run his eye over an account some stumbling horses make very good hunters. of the principal races run between 1718 and

Now this is the fund from which we draw our 1768*, he will find that very few indeed of them Cavalry and Artillery horses; and it is natural were for a shorter distance than four miles, a to expect that, judging from the enormous prices great many were five and six miles, many as paid for some hunters, and the extensive de- high as eight; some matches were even made mand there is for all these kinds of horses, they for twelve miles. The weights they carried were must be a very perfect and pure breed. But also proportionably higher; nine to twelve stone what is the fact ? Why we have no such breed were very common, some considerably highert. at all : -the horses we have just mentioned are almost without exception mongrels between the *Vide “Observations on Breeding for the Turf," by N. race-horse and the cart-horse. We have, in H. Sinith, 1827. fact, only three breeds of horses in England- +1731, Lord Portmore's Whippersnapper beat Mr. the racer, the cart-horse, and the pony. It is a Fleetwood's ch. horse; 15 st.; four miles, 100 gs,

A great many more heats were also run than at|vidual horses at the present day that unite stoutthe present day. If the reader will now turn to ness with speed; but we repeat that there is no a modern racing calender, he will at once per- such breed. It cannot be too often impressed ceive that speed for a very short distance is the upon the mind of the breeder, that it is not suffi. only quality required; and the custom of breed- cient for the horse and mare to have the qualiing in and in has rendered horses more delicate. ties he wishes to procure in the offspring, but Now stoutness, and the power of carrying they must be cone of a race possesing those weight, and hardiness, are of much greater im- qualities; that is, their sires and dams, through portance to a cavalry horse, and indeed for all three or four generations, should have possesscommon purposes, than extreme speed. ed these qualities to produce any certainty in the

The sacrifice of the other useful qualities of the results. horse for that of extreme speed has produced It appears that any quality may be preserved another baneful effect, the evils of which are not with certainty, by not crossing with animals yet fully developed. Most of our first racers not possessed of it. Thus, the foal of a Suffolk are descended from Arabian blood; but as the punch is pretty sure to be chestnut. The King system of modern racing requires extreme speed Charles's breed of spaniels are black and tan. for a short distance, and this quality alone, breed- At the Zoological Gardens there is a specimen ers find that it does not answer their purpose of a breed of cats without tails. We believe to cross directly with Arabian blood, as these there is also a breed of shepherd's dogs without are not so speedy for a short distance. For the tails. How these originally lost their tails it is last twenty years they have discontinued breed- not very easy to determine. Perhaps being coning directly from Arabians. The consequence stantly cut off for so many generations, they is, that the blood upon the turf is becoming year concluded at last that it was not worth while to by year more contracted; and the degeneration grow; and the shepherd, delighted to find his of the useful qualities of the thorough bred horse work done to his hand, bred carefully from these may be expected to advance still more rapidly individuals; till at length, from its parents for -added to these causes, the weight carried, and many generations back having been without the distance run for King's Plates has been re- tails, the little puppy when he comes into the duced to suit the diminished stoutness of mo- world, has no were to get a tail from unless he dern horses. It has been said that the old dis- go back to some very remote ancestor, which tances and weights were too severe for any might be beyond his reach. But though, by horse; but the fact that the old racers continued scientific, breeding, we may be perfectly ceron the average a greater number of years upon tain that the puppies that are coming into the the turf, is a sufficient answer to this objection. world will have no tails; yet, when we begin to

The next mode of comparing the modern race-cross this breed with another, we cannot, by horse with one of the olden time is by examining calculating how many crosses they are from the their forms. If the reader will turn to the plates tailless variety, prophesy how long their tails of modern and ancient race-horses, in a work re- will be. In like manner, as long as we continue cently noticed in this Journal*, of much origi- to breed our hunters and hacks by intermediate nality and acute reasoning,-though, perhaps, a crosses between the cart-horse and the racer, little more labour in the selection of examples we shall never be able to breed good hunters or would not have been misapplied, -place the por- hacks with any degree of certainty or economy. traits of Mambrino, Sweetbriar, Sweet-william, We cannot leave this part of the subject withShark, and Gimcrack, by the side of the portrait out observing that a great many of the old racers of Pericles, or other racers of the present day: were very small

, and we beg to refer the reader there is as much difference between them as one to the plate of that pony-looking animal Volunwould expect between horses respectively cal- teer, in the " Comparative View.”. We are not culated to run four or six mile heats and one told its exact height, but it was evidently a little mile matches.

animal, and a perfect model of its kind. We have If the reader wishes to know where the old- no such animal at present, and its loss is sensifashioned hunter came from, let him study these bly felt. It appears to be still more difficult to plates of old racers. Why, these were perfect breed good hacks by a cross between the racer models of what a hunter should be. Horses bred and cart-borse, than to breed a hunter or ridingfrom these, without being crossed with anything horse. else, were strong enough for hunters. Those There is another great cause of the number which were capable of running six mile beats, of loose leggy horses we see about, which is the with twelve stone on their backs, must have custom almost universal of breeding from the been capable of carrying considerable weight largest mares that can be procured. Our an. with hounds. But the hunter is precisely the cestors, poor irnorant souls, used to imagine sort of horse we want for our cavalry. The that Nature was right in making the horse larcheaper good hunters can be procurel, the great-ger than the mare: to which Mr. Cline, in his er chance shall we have of picking up good hor- Freatisk, appears to answer in the words of Moses for our cavalry.

iere's Doctor,-.“ Austrefois il était ainsi, mais We do not mean to dispute there being indi- nous avous changé tout cela." He says that

the proper method of improving the form of ani* " A Comparative View of the Form and Character of mals “consists in selecting a well-formed female the English Racer and Suddle-Horse during the Past and proportionally larger than the male. The imPresent Centuries."

a

provement depends on this principle, that the the race-horse, and great strength in the cartpower of the female to supply her offspring with horse. The one quality sought for by the breeder nourishment is in proportion to her size, and to is always obtained at a more than proportionate the power of nourishing herself, from the excel- loss of the other valuable qualities. Thus the lence of her constitution.

race-horse is very delicate, and can only be rear“ The size of the fætus is generally in propor-ed upon the most nutritive food, and but a very tion to that of the male parent; and, therefore, small number of them are capable of carrying when the female parent is disproportionally any weight. The London dray-horse is hardly small, the quantity of nourishment is deficient, ever seen off the stones, and probably would be and her offspring has all the disproportions of a incapable of performing a long journey. starveling. But when the female, from her size But there does not appear to be any reason and good constitution, is more than adequate to why we should seek animals whose condition the nourishment of a fætus smaller than herself, approaches nearer to the wild state to cross with the growth must be proportionally greater. The those, when these breeds require an infusion of larger female has also a greater quantity of new blood. The dog does not degenerate, milk, and her offspring is more abundantly sup- though we have no tradition even of the ancesplied with nourishment after birth,”—with a tors of any of the existing breeds having ever great deal more reasoning of the same sort. been in a wild state. Nevertheless, a horse of a

Now the fact is, that very large animals may hardy breed is the one that will best endure the be bred from small mares, and they are always vicissitudes of a campaign, though he may not more vigorous than those bred from large mares. look so well at a review. It is the same with cattle: the Herefordshire But our hardy races of horse in England are breed is celebrated for its oxen, but the cow is the pony and the carthorse, and the latter, when * small, and it not unfrequently happens that she crossed with the race-horse, is apt to become produces a bull-calf, that grows to three times tender, and the produce is more uncertain, and, her own weight.” The breeders of Devonshire as before observed, the custom of running short and Herefordshirë prefer breeding from small distances with light weights at all races has procows and moderate-sized bulls,-even for the duced a deterioration in the strength and stoutpurpose of raising large oxen for the market. ness of our thorough-bred horses, that renders The author of the “Comparative View," com-them every year less and less fitted for getting menting upon these facts, says that_“ Either stock sufficiently hardy and powerful to do Mr. Cline is mistaken in his theory, or the breed-credit to the courage and discipline of our caers of Herefordshire and Devonshire are wrong valry. in their practice."* With horses the case is There is another cause now in operation, much stronger: for here wé not only want size, which, though at first it appears to have little but energy and strength,—which can only be enough to do with the interests of the Army, got by breeding from compact animals, whose may possibly increase the price of horses fit to structure has not been too much artificially en-mount our cavalry. We allude to the adoption larged by rich food.

of railways and locomotive engines upon all the The principles of Mr. Cline and those of the great lines of road, and the consequent diminuauthor of the Comparative View,” &c., are the tion of the number of stage-coaches. For the very opposites to one another. Mr. Cline says, breeder, in producing a certain number of useful cross a female with a male that is somewhat horses, produces at the same time many weedy smaller, because “by such a method of crossing, ones of little value. A large proportion of these the lungs and the heart become proportionally get into stage-coaches, the leaders of which in larger, in consequence of a peculiarity in the particular are often loose leggy animals, fit for circulation of the fætus, which causes a larger little or nothing else. Now the breeder, if he is proportior of the blood, under such circum-deprived of this market for his inferior horses, stances, to be distributed to the lungs.”+ The will be obliged to compensate himself by raising author of the “Comparative View," on the the price of those that turn out well. This, howother hand, does not attempt to investigate the ever, is of minor importance. peculiarities of the circulation of blood in the But we again and again repeat, that the great foetus; but roundly asserts, that “vigour being cause of the diminution in the number, and the derived from nature, is diminished, but never increase of price of good horses, possessing a augmented, by art.” (Animals in a state of na-union of moderate speed 'and stoutness, is, ture he defines to be those raised upon wild pas- that the race-horse, with which they have all tures.)

been more or less crossed, is becoming daily We totally dissent from him in this opinion. more and more unfit for the common purposes It is perfectly true that every breed of animal is of life. He is less capable of carrying weight, liable to degenerate, if not occasionally crossed less capable of lengthened fatigue, and more deliwith another race to a certain extent dissimilar. cate and expensive to rear. This is more particularly the case in those breeds If the stoutness of the foxhound is reduced, he in which some one quality is developed at the cannot catch his fox. If the stoutness of the expense of the others: such as great speed in greyhound is reduced, he cannot catch his hare.

In both these instances the animal that they ** A comparative View," &c., p. 27.

chase is a standard by which their stoutness + " Letter to the Board of Agricultuae," by Mr. Knight measured, and their breeds are thus hindered from deteriorating. But, unless the puble inter- “ Then about six weeks aft?r I had recieved the said fere, the stoừtness of the English thorough-bred book, it fell out, that I being in bed with my wife, one horse will be only regulated by the gambling in- night between twelve and one of the clock, she being terests of persons on the turf, to whom it may asleep, but myself yet awake, there appeared unto me an be more convenient to run one-mile matches ancient man, standing at my bedside, arrayed all in white, with featner weights, than four or six mile heats having a long and broad white beard, hanging down to his carrying ten or twelve stone.

girdle-steed, who taking me by my right ear, spake these We therefore make this public appeal to all words following unto me. • Sirrah! Will you not take who regard the honour of the British cavalry, time to translate that book which is sent unto you out of and desire to see the breed of horses in this Germanje? I will shortly provide for you, both time and country maintain its ancient celebrity; and en- place to do it.' And then he vanished away out of my treat them, whenever they patronize races, to sight.” subscribe only to those stakes were long dis- About a fortnight after this, Captain Bell was tances are run, and heavy weights carried. imprisoned at the Gate-house, Westminster,

where he spent ten years of captivity. Five of these he employed on the translation of the

work before us. It happened to reach the ears From the Retrospective Review. of Archbishop Laud, that he was so occupied, LUTHER'S TABLE TALK.

who sent his chaplain to demand the loan of

the translation. This he kept about two years, Dris Martini Lutheri Colloquia Mensalia, or and then declared that he had perused it with

Dr Martin Luther's Devine Discourses, the utmost satisfaction, and promised that he at his table, fc., which in his life-time he would interfere in behalf of one who had emheld with divers learned men (such as were ployed his time to such good purpose. Soon Philip Melancthon, Casparus Cruciger, Jus- after, the prisoner was set at liberty with a pregtus Jonas, Paulus Eberus, Vitus Dietericus, ent from Laud; and the House of Commons in Joannes Bugenhagen, Joannes Forsteris, 1646, having notice that so valuable a work was and others) containing Questions and Answers completed, ordered it to be printed, which was touching Religion, and other main points of accordingly done, though it did not make its apDoctrine; as also many notable Histories, and pearance until after the death of the worthy all sorts of learning, comforts, advices, prophe- translator.* sies, admonitions, directions, and instructions. The contents of this book were chiefly collecCollected first together by Dr. Antonius Lauter-ted from the mouth of Luther by Antony Lauterbach, and afterward disposed into certain bach and John Aurifaber, more particularly the common places by John Aurifaber, Dr. in Di- latter, who was much with Luther towards the vinity. Translated out of the High Germane latter end of his life. They consist of notes of into the English tongue, by Captain Henrie his discourses with his various friends and desBell, London, 1652.

ciples, his opinions, his cursory observations The history of this remarkable book is al- and familiar conversations in society, in the inmost as extraordinary as its contents. It seems, tercourse of private friendship, in his walks, durfrom the preface of the translator, that nearly ing the performance of his clerical duties and all the copies of the original work were distroyed at table. To use the words of an eloquent letby order of Pope Gregory the Thirteenth ; and ter to the translator prefixed to this volume, that a gentleman in 1652, on digging the foun- "Herein is a fuil character of the free and zealdation of a house, on a site occupied by his an- ous spirit of Martin Luther, who was a man cestors, turned up a book carefully wrapped in of God raised in bis generation with invincible coarse linen cloth and covered with bees-wax, courage to beat down the strongest holds of which proved to be the “Divine Discourses” of Satan, wherein for manie generations he had Luther, as buried by his grandfather, in order captivated the spirits of our forefathers under to evade the edict of the Pope. As at that time poperie. The depth and soliditie of his juuigFerdinand the Second filled the imperial throne, ment may be discovered in the writings which a bitter enemy of the Protestants; the gentle- he himself did publish in his life-time: but in man, Caspar Von Sparr by name, only thought this collection of his extemporary discourses of getting the book safely out of his hands with published since his death, the fullness of his out destroying it. He happened to have an inti- affection, and genuine readiness of his spirit, mate friend in England, one Captain Henry may be seen, which did incline him to advance Bell, well versed in the German language: to the truth of the gospel, and manifest the testimohim, therefore, he despatches the sacred deposit, nie of Jesus upon all occasions. And truly, I and accompanies it with strict charges to trans- have met, (in that which I have looked upon) late the work for the benefit of the protestant church. These injunctions appear to have * The order of the House of Commons runs thus made a serious impression on the mind of the - Whereas, Captain Henry Bell hath strangely discovered: Captain; for, neglecting to obey them for a time, and found a book of Martin Luther's called his Divine he was visited by a phantom, who repeated the Discourses, which was for a long time marvellously precommands of his friend Sparr, and added a served in Germanie: the which book, the said Henry Bell, threat which was but too shortly after carried at his great cost and pains, hath translated into English into execution.

out of the German tongue,”' &c.

a

er.

P, 284.

66

&

with many excellent and fundamental truths, direct their sermons to the high learned and deep under necessarie to be minded in this age, as well as standing, and will breathe out altogether Rabinos and mas. in that wherein he spake them; and the grace- ter-pieces, then the poor unlearned people present do stand fulness which they have in their familiar and like a flock of kine."-p. 289. careless dress doth make them the more com- “Luther's wife said unto him -Sir, I heard your cousmendable to all men of ingenuite, not only of

en John Palner (who attended on Luther) preach this afler: popular capacities, but even of more raised thoughts. Whence I do probably conjecture Doctor Pominer, that is held to be a very excellent preach

noon in the parish church, whom I better understood than that the plainness and great variety of matters

Whereupon Luther made her this answer, John contained in these discourses, did in the first Palner preacheth as ye wonen vse to talk; for what comreformation ingratiate the delivery and insin- eth in your minds, the same ye also speak. A preacher uate the consideration of most eminent truths ought to remain by the propounded text, and should deliver with acceptance into all men's apprehensions that which he hath before him; to the end, people may well so far, as to cause the enemies of those truth, understand the same. But such a preacher as will speak to endeavour the suppressing of this book, every thing that cometh in his minde, I liken to a maid which they found to be so much taking with that goeth to market, when another meeteth her, then they every body, and so full of deadly blows given make a stand, and hold together a goose-markel &c.”— to their superstition and hiearchie, to their profaneness, hypocrise, and impietie.”

“The defects in a preacher are soon spied ; let a preachIt is, however, to the full character of the er be endued with ten virtues, and have but one fault; yet free and zealous spirit of Luther," herein con- the same one fault will eclipse and darken all his virtues tained, that we chiefly intend to direct our at- and gifts, so evil is the world in these times. Doctor Justention; for such is the nature of its contents, tus Jonas hath all the good virtues and qualities that a that we should in vain seek elsewhere for more man may have; yet by reason that he onely often hummeth striking and interesting specimens of the talents, and spitteth; therefore the people cannot bear with that the disposition, and the manners of the great good and honest man.”—p. 284. Reformer, than in this volume of his “Table

“ T'hereupon answered Luther, and said, I use not to Talk.” And certinly if the personal character collect and fasten every point in particular, botonely the of any individual deserves to be dwelt upon, it chief and head points on which the contents of the whole is that of Luther. In no other instance have sermon depend, as, namely, in this sermon, I directed the such great events depended upon the courage, admonition to God's chiefest service, as the hearing of his sagacity, and energy, of a single man, nor can word. Afterwards in speaking, such things fall into my there be found a more profitable study than the minde, of which befure I never thought; for if I should temper and peculiarities of one, who, by his comprehend every word which I deliver, and, in particular, sole and unassisted efforts, made his solitary should speak of every point, then I should not so briefly cell the heart and centre of the most wonderful run thorow. I much commend the expertness in Doctor and important commotion the world ever wit-Casparus Creutziger, who excellently comprehendeth and nessed; who, by the native force and vigor of catcheth up his words: I hold (said Luther) that he goeth his genius, attacked and successfully resisted far beyond me.”—p. 283. and at length overthrew the most awful and sa

“ No divine in this our time (saith Luther) declareth cred authority that ever imposed its commands and handleth the Holie Scripture in such sort, as Brentius, on mankind. In persuing the extracts we shall make from and dispair of my abilitie. I verily believe none among

insomuch that oftentimes I very much admire his Spirit, this book, it must always be recollected that

us were able to perform what he did, in the exposition of they shew the reformer in his undress, and are John's Gospel

, howsoever now and then he somewhat not to be taken as specimens of what he wrote or preached when girded up for great occasions; and upright sense and meaning, and strideth not over the

hangeth upon his cogitations, yet he remaineth in the true —though it may be observed that, like most plain simplicitie of God's Word; therefore, he is well 10 men of genius, there was less difference in the be born withall touching the other, and the same in no language and manner of Luther in private and wise to bee upbraided.”—p. 510. public, than is the case with those who cannot afford to be free, homely, and familiar:-a great

The plàinness and strength of the style of peculiarity of both his preaching and writing Luther's conversation is very evident in these was, that, despising all form and authority, he extracts; the force and richness of his language, went straight to the hearts of his hearers and and the homeliness and beauty of his illustrareaders, and never hesitated to use an image or tions, will appear in the quotations which folimpression, however coarse or homely, provi- low. ded it conveyed his meaning with liveliness and

The Reconcilement of Fear and Love. force.—We will commence our quotations by his occasional observations on this subject of

“I (said Luther) would fain see one that could make

these two agree together: [7o bee joie ful] and to be afraid) preaching, which will confirm our remark.

-I cannot behave myself in that manner towards God; Luther's Preaching and opinions of Preachers. but my little son Johr can shew himself so towards me; " When I (said Luther) am in the pulpit, then I resolve for when I sit at my studie and write, or do something 'lo preach onely to men and maid-servants. I would not else, then my boye sings me a song, and when he will be make a step into the pulpit for the sakes of Philip Mel.100 loud, then I check him a little, yet nevertheless he ancthon, Justus Jonas, or the whole universitie; for they singeth on, but with more milde and softer voice, and some.

alreadie well seen in scripture. But when preachers will what with fear and reverence. Even so will God likewise

a