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of this kind are notorious. One of the inhabitants, better known from his wealth and his vulgarity, than from any good quality he possesses, boasts that he can at any time start his team on a full gallop by whetting his knife only on the side of the waggon. In exhibiting this masterly experiment, the effect of a long and constant perseverance in brutality, to some of his friends, the waggon was overturned, and one of the company, unluckily not the proprietor, had his leg broken. Hottentot's Holland's kloof, a steep pass over the first range of mountains beyond the promontory of the Cape, has been the scene of many an instance of this sort of cruelty. I have heard a fellow boast that, after cutting and slashing one of his oxen, in this kloof, till an entire piece of a foot square did not remain in the whole hide, he stabbed him to the heart; and the same person is said at another time, to have kindled a fire under the belly of an ox, because it could not draw the waggon up the same kloof." page 183. It is remarkable that the Dutch writers exaggerate the cruelty and vices of the Portuguese colonists, as an apology for depriving them of their settlements.

Humanity shrinks with horror at the idea of a Dutchman, in Africa, kindling a fire under an ox; but it is a crime which England is not exempted from. About the year 1767, the Rev. J. Bailey, of Guiseley, near Otley, Yorkshire, witnessed a similar act of atrocious barbarity, in a servant of Mrs. Sand. erson, of the same place, widow. The wretch was employed in carting dung out of a farm-yard, from which there was a difficult ascent. The load was exceedingly beyond the horse's strength. Whipping, and kicking, and hewing, were recurred to, but failed to extort additional exertions. The horse fell, an

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able again to rise. The carter then deliberately put straw under his belly, and set fire to it. This also failed. The horse had strained every nerve, and was so much exhausted, that fire produced just as little effect as if it had been put to a log of wood. Mr. Bailey ran and dashed away the blazing straw with his foot. The horse died the same day; and the perpetrator of this barbarity met with no other punishment than a dismissal from service.

ON THE PRACTICE OF MUTILATING ANIMALS. "What an affecting sight," says the humane author of a "Letter to the Hon. Wm. Windham, on his Opposition to the Bill to prevent Bull-baiting," "is it to go into the stable of some eminent horsedealer, and there behold a long range of fine beautiful steeds, with their tails cut and slashed, tied up by pullies to give them force, some dropping blood, some corruption, and some blood and corrupt matter mixed, suffering such torture, that they frequently never recover the savage gashes they have received; and for what is all this? That they may hold their tails somewhat higher, and be for ever after deprived of the power of moving the joints of them as a defence against flies. It is true," he adds, "I am sometimes obliged to purchase horses that have been thus treated, because there are scarcely any sold which have not undergone the operation, but in my whole life I never permitted it to be performed. I am both happy and concerned to say, that in no nation but England is this horrid custom of nicking horses tails practised." "I believe the barbarous custom came into use within this century," says Mr. Gilpin, "and has passed through various modifications, like all other customs, which are not founded in nature and truth. A few years ago the short-dock was the only

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tail (if it may be called such) in fashion, both in the army and in carriages. The absurdity however of this total amputation began to appear. The gentlemen of the army led the way. They acknowledged the beauty, and use of the tail as nature made it. The short-dock every where disappeared; and all dragoon horses paraded with long tails. The nagtail however still continued in use. Of this there are several species, all more or less mutilated. The most deformed one is the nicked-tail; so named from the cruel operation used in forming it. The nag-tail, is still seen in all genteel carriages. Nor will any person of fashion ride a horse without one. gentlemen of the army, who have shewn more sense in the affair of horse-tails, have been so misled, as to introduce the nag-tail, into the light-horse; tho' it would be as difficult to give a reason now for the nag-tail, as formerly for the short dock. Two things are urged in defence of this cruel mutilation, the utility, and the beauty of it. Let us briefly as possible, examine both. To make an animal useful is no doubt, the first consideration: and to make a horse so, we must necessarily make him suffer some things, which are unnatural, because we take him out of a state of nature. He must be fed with hay and corn in the winter, which he cannot get in his open pastures: for if he be exercised beyond nature, he must have such food, as will enable him to bear it. As it is necessary likewise to make our roads hard and dur able, it is necessary also to give the horse an iron hoof, that he may travel over them without injuring his feet; but all this has nothing to do with his tail, which is equally useful in a reclaimed and in a natural state.

Yes, says the advocate for docking, as it is neces

sary for the horse to travel, to hunt, and to race, it is useful to lighten him of every incumberance. And

as it is necessary for him to travel through dirty roads, it is useful to rid him of an instrument, which is continually collecting dirt, and lashing it over himself and his rider.

To ease your horse of every incumberance in trav. elling, is certainly right. You should see that his bridle and saddle, (which are his great incumberances) are as easy as possible: and that the weight he carries, or draws, be proportioned to his strength. But depend on it, he receives no incumberance from nature. It is a maxim among all true philosophers, that nature has given nothing in vain: and there can be no reasonable doubt, but that nature has given the horse his tail to balance, and assist his motions. That this is the case, seems plain from the use he makes of it. When the animal is at rest, his tail is pendent but when he is in violent action, he raises and spreads it, as a bird does in the same situation. Would the swallow, or the dove be assisted in their flight by the loss of their tails? or the greyhound in his speed by docking him? For myself I have no doubt, but if the experiment were tried at Newmarket, the horse, with his long tail, however the literati there might laugh at him, would not be in the least injured in his speed; and would certainly answer better, in all his sudden turns, to the intention of his rider. He would extend, and spread his helm ; it would steer his way; and we should seldom hear of his running out of his course, or on the wrong side of the post. Besides, his tail probably assists him even in his common exertions, and balances his body, when he trots, and prevents his stumbling. I have heard a gentleman, who had travelled much in

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the east, remark that the Turkish, and Arabian horses rarely stumble; which he attributed, and with much appearance of truth, to their long tails.

But whatever use the tail may be to the horse in action, it is acknowledged, on all hands, to be of infinite use to him, at rest. Whoever sees the horse grazing in summer, and observes the constant use he makes of his long tail, in lashing the flies from his sides, must be persuaded, that it is a most useful instrument: and must be hurt to see him fidget a short dock, backward and forward, with ineffectual attempts to rid himself of some plague, which he cannot reach.

As to the objection against the tail, as an instru ment, which is continually gathering dirt, and lashing it around, if there be any truth in what I have already observed, this little objection dissolves; especially as the inconvenience may with great ease be remedied, when the road is dirty, either by knotting up the tail, or by tying it with a leathern strap. But whatever becomes of utility, the horse is certainly more beautiful, we are told, without his dangling tail. What a handsome figure he makes, when "he carries both his ends well!" This is the constant language of horse-dealers, stable-keepers, and grooms; and such language, tho' originating in tasteless ignorance, and mere prejudice, has perverted the sense, and understanding of men. It is inconceivable, how delusively the eye sees, as well as the understanding, when it is fascinated, and led aside by fashion and custom. Associated ideas of various kinds give truth a different air. When we see a game-cock, with all his sprightly actions and gorgeous plumes about him, we acknowledge one of the most beautiful birds in nature. But when we see him armed with steel and