purpose, far fuperior to the races of all other nations; and it is obvious, that our national improvement in equeftrian science, according to the invariable laws of nature, has been gradual and progreffive, and that it can only arrive at its ultimate point of attainable perfection, through the unwearied labour and recorded experience of fucceffive practical writers.

Upon a fubject, then, of fuch extent as that of the Horse, taken in all his various points of view-fuch as the genus, and its different species; his natural rights, in other words, his claims as an animal endowed with fellow feel

ing, on the moral justice and humanity of man; the most advantageous selection and application of the various fpecies, with their improvement; the proper management of all whilst in health, and employed in pleasure or business; their just proportional relation with the medical and healing art in a ftate of difeafe; their confequence as an article of commerce-it is scarce poffible but that something both new and useful may be offered. Allowing a juft and ample portion of defert to former Writers, whether ancient or modern, they must neceffarily be fuppofed to have partaken of the common imperfections of men, and cannot have intirely exhaufted the subject. Even the changes unavoidably effected by the mere lapse of time, and the various and constant improve

ments

ments and additions to the stock of veterinary knowledge, muft of themselves be confidered as matter of novelty and interest. Such are the inducements, blended with the legitimate expectation of that reward conferred by the encouragement of his countrymen, which may be supposed to call forth a new author in their fervice; as to his ability and fitness for the task he has undertaken, it becomes him to be filent, and patiently to submit his cause to the impartial judgment of the public.

But it is necessary, in compliance with established usage, to fay a few words on the precise nature and proposed conduct of the enluing Work. It is my ambition to write a general hiftory of the Horse, both in fickness and in health; to afford information in all points concerning him, as far as my own observation and practice (which have extended to most descriptions of this animal) and a diligent review of the works of other authors, fhall bear me out. An occafional adduction of the fentiments of other men, will at once enable me to do justice to their merits, confer an additional value on my own book, and contribute to the fatisfaction of fuch of my readers as may require other authority, but do not poffefs fufficient leisure or inclination for the trouble of farther recourse.

On the medical and chirurgical part of the fubject (not having the honor to belong to thofe

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those profeffions) I can pretend to no claim of originality; but the acquaintance which a natural propenfion has incited me to cultivate with our best veterinary writers, and fome small experience which I have had in the application of the medical art to the fubject in question, will, I humbly hope, fecure me from the danger of falling into errors of very confiderable magnitude, either in the remedies, or the authorities which I fhall recommend. My method in this department will be, to give a catalogue of all the known diseases of Horses, and under each distinct head to describe the nature and fymptoms of the disease, recommending (in general) either fuch method of cure as I have myself experienced to be fuccessful, or the authority which I judge most intitled to respect. In difficult or doubtful cafes, I fhall allow the reader a proper choice of authorities.

There is, however, one branch of my fubject (and that a very material one) which I must beg permiffion to pass, with little or no notice, I mean the ftud, or breeding fyftem; not only, because to handle that matter to any fatisfactory purpose, would fwell the present treatise to an inconvenient bulk, but because my experience therein has hitherto been very limited. At fome future and diftant period, I flatter myself with hopes of being able to produce fomething on that head alfo, conducive to public utility;

but

but which will materially depend upon the fuccess of my present endeavours. In fuch work (granting it should be carried into effect) I shall not confine myself to breeding of Horses folely, but extend my attention to live stock in general, including pigs and domeftic poultry, in the breeding and rearing of which, I have had as much and as extensive practice as most men, and have been as careful to register it.

To those who may object, that in the course of this work, I defcend too much into minute details, and apparently trifling circumstances, I muft beg leave to observe, that although themfelves may be connoiffeurs, there are numbers among us fo totally uninformed respecting Horses, that even the inferior species of intelligence may be to fuch both useful and acceptable. Befides, a relation of the particular ufages of our present equestrian system, may administer to the curiofity (at least) of posterity. I have not indeed the vain conceit of supposing myfelf capable of inftructing our great judges. of Horfes, our men of the turf in particularof these, I speak, as my masters in the science; and my only expectation is, that they will find their own opinions and practice faithfully reflected in my books.

But the most important part of my task, and that which lies nearest my heart, is to endeavour to leffen the fum of animal misery in the

world-to implore a more generous and humane treatment of thofe poor useful animals, which nature has placed under our dominion, and entrusted to our care-to remind mankind of the unprofitableness and meanness, as well as the heinoufnefs of cruelty-in particular, to convince them, if poffible, that to be compaffionate and liberal to that most excellent and useful creature, the Horse, is both their interest and their duty.

In fine, I shall endeavour to trespass as little as poffible upon the patience of my Readers; but I must beforehand make bold to folicit their indulgence, if I fhould be now and then tempted to digress awhile; engaging, at the same time, that it shall not be upon fubjects either inutile or frivolous.

I proceed to give fome account of former veterinary writers, chiefly of our own country; with the double view of directing the inquifitive Reader's attention to the proper fources of information, and of refcuing the characters of our original writers of merit, from the hands of pilfering compilers; who are too often fuccessful in running away with the applause due only to their masters; and in rearing a temporary reputation upon very slender pretensions. The first of our original writers upon Horses, of any note, was Thomas Blundevill, of Newton Flotman, in Norfolk; by his own defcrip