B^^Hpp"''^^K^^^-'>- " !■ Vi ■HH^^ Tj Jm^Ss B^^* , _ 1 ^K '": ^**f'^-' K ^■^•1 '■■*'• -«a3 ^^H ^^B N^l - ^B;''''?^', ^■t-;-!'^- 1 ,\' T -^ ' ^■'A*'*'^-- ■jTr^C-V,'.?-^, ■ --- " ■:'^-^'«'v. ^Bi^C ^-^ "' ^^^B'"'**' "^' ' ^^HK' ^^^^^^^ ^H ■'.•ife'- ■'>"«.'"'■ ■' ^^^H ^■-i-.i* ^H ^^ \ ' ^l;-•'^•^l ^^^H * * 1 * ** * / • ^■"'tw'/' l'«.,* ' • ,'" ^^prAV';' ■'«^V■ -*.. V ^^Hq j^i ,^ ' ; t ' '. --".v ,, ^^KSStA' ; . ' ' ^^^P"^*^''- m^^^^^^^^^^m ■fe^i#b<-^. ^^^^^^ ^■sKKX^Mr/" ^H^ ^sfflpv w—f -^ V . r ^^» 'iBSSi?'*' <• ^^^^rT^Js^'^^ V :' , f ^^Bi^r:-. M. V ^% ^BHf"^' '' ■»*'■" i»v-J*ii8S ^^•35- ' -""'•♦ ■ ■ ■ ^BtSj^^DS' .":'*- • -^ -^- i ■ ■,■ ■l|^Hki.v;-^ ^ 1 ^^^^^^■gg^K .r^ « ^ 1 ^^^^^^^mmL-}^-**"*-'- L ^^^^^^^B -^' ^--v,.. -; ^ 1^' . ^^^^^^^^B&£^ ^••^•^"v .' ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^■■Er i A -« « ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^■f ^ ma:,-p-r-^>^ii.im ^^^^^^^^Bju ' ',''.*3S ^^^^^^^^^^B^B' •'* ' '' -'iSH ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^m «. ■•;■■•"'• ■:'.,■•,■■,;/> ^_-^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Bi* •iViaiigaitKi v>~rf"S" ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^HP^B*^ 4^,, . 'OHHI J ■M: »n^ ot- * ■jJlrT^^ JOHNA.SEAVERNS J^untur^ Kr^ *l£l ANNALS OF HORSE M AN SH I P; CONTAINING ACCOUNTS OF ACCIDENTAL EXPERIMENTS, AND EXPERIMENTAL ACCIDENTS, BOTH SUCCESSFUL AND UNSUCCESSFUL : COMMUNICATED BY VARIOUS CORRESPONDENTS TO GEOFFREY GAMBADO, ESQ^ AUTHOR OF THE ACADEMY FOR GROWN HORSEMEN; TOGETHER WITH MOST WSTRUCTirE REMARKS THKRFOUy AND ANStTKRS THF.RKTO, Br THAT ACCOMPLISHED GENIUS. AND NOW FIRST PUBLISHED, BY THE EDITOR OF THE ACADEMY FOR GROWN HORSEMEN. ILLUSTRATED friTH CUTS BT THE MOST EMINENT ARTISTS. DUBLIN: PRINTED FOR WILLIAM JONES, NO. 86, DAME-STREET- 1792. THE EDITOR TO THE READER. A HE Public is in high luck to obtain any- thing more that comes from the pen of Geoffrey Gambado. A former publication has nearly immortalized him, and I trufl the prefent will do it completely. It is true this work is chiefly compofed of Letters addreft to him, but his remarks and replies are added to them ; and had it not been for Geoflrey, fuch letters had never made their appearance ; perhaps never been written. What had been fuch a lofs to the commu- nity ! T will venture to affirm that few, a very IV THE EDITOR TO very few, have heard of fuch extraordiriit'ry cafes, fuch novel ideas, and fuch obvious and falutary advice as are contained in the fol- lowing pages. Were I to mention the odd place in which I found the MSS. copy of this work, it might create laughter. — ** A pailion hateful to my purpofes." For having the fafety of man's neck in my eye at this prefent writing, I think it no laughing matter; and fhall therefore deem it fufficient to fay, I have found it, and have now the fatisfadtion of laying it before the world. A paltry publication has lately made its appearance, on the fame conftrudion as this. It is a periodical thing, entitled The Annals of Agriculture, and will, I dare fiy, be of much ufe in the chandlers fliops. This too, like Geoffrey's edifying colledtion of letters, treats on propagation, cultivation, preferva- tion, the good of the nation, &'c. &c. But when THE READER. V when we once confider for a moment the different obje6ls the authors claim our at- tention in behalf of — Should even a potatoc enter the lifts with a poney, my blood rifes — my choler is excited. Talk of propagation ! Would the blockheads have us helitate between a horfe chefnut, and a chefnut horfe ! Commion fenfe forbids it (particularly as it is to be the fafliionable colour in harnefs this time five years) ; and as for prefervation — Wliich ihould humanity hrft extend her arm io fave ? A cabbage or a cockney — A captain or a cauliflower p For thefe reafons I lament feeing, m.onthly, the names of feveral refpedtable friends of mine, affixed to a woric of fuch fubordinate confideration . Had they fpent as much time in riding upon turnips, as they have in writing upon them, they might ere now have be- longed to the lirft hunts in the country, and moil fafhionable clubs in town. But I fear the filk purfe and the fow s ear are but too applicable to mo ft of them. a 2 In VI THE EDITOR TO In the ladies, however, Geoffrey will un- douhtedly find warm advocates. Thofe love- ly creatures, who delight fo much in the propagation of their own beautiful fpecies, will ever fupport the Animal Syftem in preference to the Vegetable ; nor wafle their precious time and confideration on a carrot, which may be fo much better employed in furnifliing a cradle. And whilil the frantic farmers that fur- nifh their ftuff for the Annals of Agricul- ture, iliall be puzzling their brains to pre- ferve a ragged flock of flieep from the rot, the fair fex fhall be more nobly employed in the prefervation of beauty, and what is more puzzling, though we daily fee it at- tempted— the prefervation of even The Hu- man Face Divine, itfelf. Emboldened by thefe confiderations, that the Annals of Horfemanfhip will fpeedily drive the Annals of Agriculture out of the houfe of every man and woman of tafte and THE READER. Vll and feeling, I do not hefitate to forefee. From his anfwers to fome of the following letters it appears, that Mr. Gambado was fomewhat irritable, as in a poftfcript, page 7, he rather fnubs his correfpondent for afk- ing his advice. It fhould likewife feem that he was at this time rather fhort of cafh, for he appears to have given advice for a fee ; and once, if I recollect, treats of bad {hil- lings. This, indeed, might a little four his natural difpofition, which I have reafon to believe, from his phyliognomy, was placid and amiable. I am told he feldom rode himfelf ; and the only time he went fix miles on horfeback,"he wore a pair of Diaculum drawers. That fuch an author fliould be no rider may appear marvellous at firft, but, on reflection, we mufi: acknowledge that we daily find peo- ple fpeaking and writing on what they know nothing at all about. Herein Geoflrey exceeds all I ever heard of: for fuch a book of knowledge as his Academy for Grown Horfemen, never yet made an appearance in the world. The Vm THE EDITOR TO The Editor, therefore, of The Academy for Grown Horfemen has now to congratulate the pubhc on the difcovery of another work from the pen of the much -admired Geoffrey Gam- bado ; a work that contains fome of the moil ufeful and extraordinary experiments, perhaps, ever made in Horfemanfhip : feveral curious cufloms and opinions of ingenious gentlemen, little known to the world, and fome colleded from very choice, but remote publications ; together with (what will be no doubt efteem- ed invaluable) Geoffrey's mofl: ingenious fuggeflions, and prefcriptions towards the re- moval of every difficulty and danger inci- dental to that moft noble art : his anfwers to fome queries put to him, and his criti- cifms on others that were un-anfwerable. By the putting forth of this work the public muft be let into much ufeful knowledge. The many pra<3:ical attempts and atchieve- ments herein recorded prove, beyond a doubt, that fuch things have been ; and having been, that in all probability fuch things are. And even thofe experiments that have not been at- tended. THE READER. IX tended, hitherto, with perfecfl fuccefs, may- yet, like balloons, turn out to the moft valuable account, when taken into hand by more jfkilful philofophers. The Editor here begs leave to remark, that the Diaculum Drawers abovementioned, are the only fabrics of the kind he ever heard of, and verily be- lieves they are hitherto non-defcript. He has fome reafon to think they are yet ex- tant (and fhould they be, they are worthy the fearch of the Dilettanti) ; for a fort of flannel breeches, apparently prepared in the fame manner, but much damaged by time, &c. were lad week offered to the Leverian Mufeum, but are faid, for delicate reafons, to have been rejedled by the proprietor as unfit for exhibition. What falfe delicacy ! when the man pefters us every day with a non-defcript' in the papers ; fome old ftinking fifh, that never could be of fervice to man, woman, or beaft ! whereas the drawers, like the North-weft paffage, if they could be once difcovered, might prove hereafter of the greatefl: fundamental confequence to mankind at large, the Venetians only ex- cepted. THE EDITOR. DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER. 1. Apotheofis of Geoffrey Gambado - To front the Title. 2. Gambado feeing the World _ - - Page xiv 3. The Puzzle -.-.-- 2 4 . for a Dog, Horfe, or Chriftian - - 3 5. How to make the moft of him - - - 20 6. the leaflof him - - . - 23 7. How to do things by Halves - # - - - 29 8. Tricks upon Travellers - • >■ - - - 32 9. Love and Wind ------ 35 1 0. Me, my Wife and Daughter - - - - 45 1 1 . How to make the Mare to go - - - - 64 12. How to prevent a Horfe flipping his Girths - - 72 13. How to ride without a Bridle - - - - 74 14. The Daifey Cutter - - - - - 80 15. The Tumblers, or its Affinities - - - 82 i6. AHorfe withaNofe - - - - - ib. 17. How to travel upon two Legs - - - - 94 ADVERTISEMENT. IT clearly appears from the preface to the following Work, that it was compiled prior to Mr, Gambado's appointment of Mafler of the Horfe to the Doge of Venice ; for it feems he had never at that time been above fix miles from home. To moji of the Plates the Editor has thought fit to fubjoin Latin 7J20ttos, as an elucidatio7i of them to fiich of his Readers as do not underfiand Englijh 5 afid fuch he may perhaps meet with. GEOFFREY GAMBADO TO THE READER. 1 FLATTER myfelf the following com- pilation v/ill not prove unwelcome to the Public ; it blends information with amufe- ment, and confirms how general is the thirfl; for knowledge in the prefent times, which is not to be idly checked by the lofs of a limb or a life. The adventurers of this age are divided into two dalles — per mare, per terras — of which latter dcfcription are my correfpondents. Thofe of the former, fancy they difcover much, by being at fea for months together without fight of land —by the wanting wine and water, and get- b 2 ting XIV GEOFFREY GAMBADO TO ting neither — but at length efpying fome- thing like an ifland unknown -, it is perhaps more like an owzle than any one laid down in the charts. They do ad:ually difcover, however, that the natives will not let them go afliore, and that they mufl: return as v/ife as they came. They difcover that they have little left to eat, and lefs to drink ; that they muft live by fucking each others fhirts for half a year, arrive miraculoufly at home, and write a book about it. My Correfpondents are of a different flamp ; they difcover that there is much left unfound out at home j and feem to be meritorioufly employed in confequence. Going abroad, with them, I take to be only going out of the houfe and feeing the world, a laudable ride of a dozen miles. This opinion of feeing the world tempts me to digrefs a little. My apo- thecary, a man of knowledge and judgment, but who, no mxore than myfelf, had ever been above fix miles from home, being obliged to vifit a patient at the diftance of twenty, actually returned in amazement, and affurcd me. ' Biin U'j ijj ,lU f,.\ .'CI', S, I'IjK i: S IN, I" 1 T f K .S, l'l..\ I.VvS I^V'JM-: ,VD K f) ^^ (l)i:, [■Id-; t'().\ii' \>v i\i.vf:>;, '(• (IK sii i; r ii i; ku.s ii r.\f r. i.r. h cki.di:. THE READER. XV me, he could not have thought the world was fo big. Thefe were his very words — and was not it mighty natural ? To fhew how much of the natural he had in him, I cannot refrain from adding, that, having paft a turnpike or two, for the firfl time, in this excurfion, he was in raptures at the piety of the people thereabouts ; for he told me, that they had the Belief and the Ten Commandments painted upon blue boards at every gate — though he paft through and could not read them, having left his fpedacles at home. Pardon, gentle Reader, this digreffion, which has informed you of an anecdote rather extraordinary. If you do not believe it, and fhould find out the fubjed:, who was him- felf the narrator; don't venture to tell him fo — He is a paflionate man, rather inclined to let blood, and may perhaps, if you com-' mit yourfelf to him, put you to death. To return to bufinefs — The letters I have received have required a clever arrangement ; and XVi GEOFFREY GAMBADO TO and I thought it better to add my anfwers, or remarks, immediately to each, than to hud- dle the letters into one part, and the anfwers into a fecond. Cuts Were alfo thought necef- fary towards the clearing up of fome of the moft blind defcriptions of awkward fituations and queer accidents which, I confefs, are, here and there, but lamely made out by the writers. I wifh m.y delineator fnay have fucceeded in thofe I fet him to. Several I have received, inclofed in letters from the fufferers, or ex- perimental philbfophers themfelves, many of which are frightfully defcriptive. I requeft my Readers will be more attentive to what is contained in the following pages, than they were to my Hiftory of Cruppers, this being of a rnuch more ferious tendency — and a publication that for its falutary or wholfome advice ought to be printed for brafs*. Some of the letters, indeed, border on frivolity, and fome even on folly; but as they may divert, though * Left the Printer fhould forget his erratum, I muft fuggeft, that Mr. G. could never mean for but in brafs. Mr. G. mentions his Hiftory of Cruppers — a work new to my ears — but I flxall be diligent in my fearch after it. THE READER. XVll though they will not inftrud:, I fhall not omit them ', for bread, though taftelefs, makes a fa- vory difli go down the better. And that this book may go down, I mean with the Town, now, and to Poflerity by and by, when it has ferved its time and my turn here (for I expedl fome fame from it), is the very earnefl wi£h of, courteous Reader, your very faithful humble Servant, O. Gambado. LETTER THE FIRST, MR. GAMBADO I 1 RETURN you my mofl hearty thanks for the very falutary advice you fent me laft month, from which I have derived much improvement, and fliould have acknow- ledged fooner, had I made fufficient trial of the fine machine you recommended in fuch warm terms. My Hobby, as I told you be- fore, is an admirable animal, and finely cal- culated for a penfive man, like myfelf, to take the air upon. It was a pity he was fo prone to tumble, and that too, in ilony roads the mofl ; for he was otherwife bor- dering on perfed;ion. So I fent for a carpen- ter, on the receipt of your recipe, and had a large Puzzle of Oak made for him, after B the 2 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP, the pattern of thofe worn by the Squire's Pointers ; and I have found it anfwer prodi- gioufly. I have had nothing like a bad fall lately, except one day in cantering over a ploughed field, where, upon a blunder, the machine entered the ground with fuch force as to in- troduce a portion of the Hobby's head along \vith it. We came clean over, and for fome time I thought my Hobby's neck was broke- I did not mind it myfelf, but I fhali take care in future always to gallop on the hard road, and then fuch another ca- taftrophe cannot enfue. I am. Sir, Your moft obfequious humble Servant, CALEB CASSOCK. Eye, Suffolk^ P. S. I forgot to tell you my Parifhioners flare at me a good deal. The Machine has an odd appearance, I own ; but not altogether unpi•, . .. ."■"' ' /v ,///^zz/^yA^r.%'/yiy.^^^m/?/:://ma'7i r^' ^'JT^A-^Mn? ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. 3 It is efteemed a likenefs- That of the Hobby is rather flattering, I have fent you alfo a (ketch of my Puzzle for Dog and Horfe, and a fcheme for puzzling a Chriftian. c, c MY REMARKS. I am happy to find the Puzzle has anfwered fo well ; and 1 doubt not, now it has been tried and approved by fuch a right-headed. Reverend Gentleman, one who is alfo fo good a horfeman, and underftands all the matter fo well, that, by producing his name, I (hall be able to get a patent for it, which cannot but prove very lucrative; for who has the horfe that he will fwear will never tamble down ? This I believe would be a queftion that would pofe (upon oath) every man on horfeback in Hyde Park on a Sunday. Though Dr. Shaw himfelf, who is a great traveller indeed,, has the modefty to afTure us, that the Barbary horfes never lie down ; yet even he has not the efFrontery to fay that they never tumble down ! I received the Iketches of the Puzzles of Dogs and Horfes ; and hold it fit an etching fliould be made of them, for the information of thofe who never faw fuch machines. The fcheme for puzzling Cliriflians, I fuppofe, dropt out of the letter, for I never got it. There are, however, fo B :; many 4 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. many fchemes of that fort already about town, that it is no lofs, I dare fay. G. G. My Correlpondent, I believe, did not diflike fitting for his picture — there appears fuch an amiable fmirk in his coun- tenance, and he fays too it is elleemed a likenefs. Note to Letter the firji. Although this Puzzle for a Chriflian, as he calls it, was dropt, I can conceive its being of ufe, if put upon one of thofe long ftory-tellers who catch hold of your button, and thruft their nofe and mouth in your face, when perhaps it is highly ne- ceflary to keep them at arms length. In the adjoining Plate, therefore, are delineated not only the Canini and Equeftrian, but alfo the Chriflian Puzzle. LETTER ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. LETTER THE SECOND. SIR, YOUR fame having reached us here, I fet down with pleafure to write to a man who I am certain will have an equal pleafure in fatisfying the doubts that now occupy my mind. I would proceed and ftate every difficulty I find in the treatment and guid- ance of a horfe, to which animal I confefs I am rather an alien, although I have hap- pily attained (yeflerday it was) my thirty- fifth year. I was bred to a bufinefs that debarred me from an amufement for which I feem formed by nature, being. Sir, very iliort in the fork, and what our wits call duck legged, and all my v/eight lying atop : and it was not till I emerged, as I may fay, from the counting houfe, that I could make a trial 6 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. a trial of my abilities as a horfeman. I really think I am going on well, that I am in a ftate of daily amendment and progreflive improvement. The queilions I have to put to you Sir are fo ihort and limple that I will not divert your attention from them a bit longer, but put them down as they arife — • they require nothing but an anfwer. QJJ E R I E S. t 1. What part of my horfe muft I lay hold of to help me up, for his mane is cut ofF? 2. If he will turn to the left when I want to go to the right, how can I help it ? 3. If he flips his girths, and the crupper is of no ufe, what will fupply its place ? 4. Should he tumble down by day-light, whether you think he would in the dark ? 5. What a breaft-plate is ? We have heard of it here, but our Saddler does not know how to make one. The Adjutant of the Militia fays it is a fort of armour, to pre- vent the horfe hurting himfelf by running againft a waggon or a wall. But I fay it can't be ; becaufe the horfe's head fhould be armed, as that would hit the wall firft, and pre- vent his breaft receiving any damage. Pray folve this by re- turn ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. 7 turn of port, as many betts are depending on it at our next Club. 6. How can I keep a horfe cheap ? 7. What is my beft way to fell a bad horfe, if I don't like him ? Thefe are a few of the trifling quellions I fliall beg leave to trouble you with from time to time : and as it will be extreme- ly eafy, and, I dare fay, agreeable to you. to anfwer them, I fhall make no apology but with my aflurance that I am. Sir, Your devoted and very humble Servant, SAMUEL FILLAGREE. G. Gambado, Efq. This fellow, with his afTu ranee, appeared to be fuch a puppy, I could not anfwer him for fome months ; indeed his queries rather pofed me ; but his fees came in faft, and I was fein to folve them as well as I could. The firft I left to his better judgment, only fuggefting that the ear of the horfe and the pommel of the faddle were all that 8 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. that ofFered themfelves in lieu of a mane, if his horfe had none. The fecond I could not affift him in. The folly of the third raifed my choler, and involving with it the fifth, I had not patience to enter on either of them j fo I fear the betts at the Club are not yet decided. The fourth and fixth were extremely eafy to hi anfwered ; I never met with two queries more fo. But the feventh, fkii- ful as I am, I confefs I could not reply to, to my Correfpon- dent's fatisfadlion : and I fhall be much bound to any of my Readers, who will tell me, how the bufinefs therein ftated is to be brought about j being ever open to conviction, and not yet too old to learn. G. G. LETTER ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. LETTER THE THIRD. From a Half-nvay Houfe bettueen Cambridge and Newmarket, March 26, 1789. SIR, HAVING long been earnellly engaged in the ftudy of mathematical fcience, and being fond of riding, two purfuits ufually thought incompatible, I have been enabled, by means of this lingular union, to ftrike oiit fome important difcoveries in both branches. The mathematical improvements in riding v^ill, I hope, deferve a place in the Annals of Horfemanfhip : my equeflrian difcoveries in mathematics you mufl permit me to.referve for the Ladies Diary, My love for equeftrian agitation is, I be- lieve, more general than that of any other perfon ; for whatever fatisfadtion may be C ufually lO ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. ufually experienced by riders while they con- tinue on the backs of their horfes, I have nev3r yet met with or been informed of one, who received any fenfible dehght from the circumilance of being violently projected from the faddle. But here. Sir, from my paffionate fondnefs for the mathematics, I enjoy a ma- nifeft advantage. From the concuffions, re- percuffions, and every other kind of com- pound motion which can be generated con- fidently with the due fupport of the centre of gravity, I enjoy, I will venture to fay, at leaft as much fatisfadion as any other rider : and at the time of being thrown off, or, in more proper language, projedted from the horfe, I experience a pecuhar delight in re- coUeding that, by the univerfal laws of pro- jecftiles, I muft, in my flight throujh the air, defcribe that beautiful conic fedion, a parabola. After fome accidents of this nature, I have been fortunate enough, notwithftanding the violent re-adion of the ground in confequence of the ftrong adion of my Ikull againft it, to preferve ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. II preferve my fenfe fufficiently to be able to afcertain the curve fo generated by my body to defcribe it on paper, and demonftrate Its peculiar properties : and am not without hope, if I can meet with horfes not too fure-footed, by frequent experiments, to de- termine what kind of parabola it is fafefl to defcribe ; which problem will, I apprehend, be found very ferviceable in practice, at the City Hunt in Eafter week, and during the cele- bration of Epfom races. Not long ago, by a particular convulfion of the animal from which I was fo fortu- nate as to fall, I was very irregularly thrown to the earth, but had the fatisfadlion after- wards to difcover that the curve defcribed in my fall was a fegment of a very eccentric ellipfe, of which the faddle was one focus ; and that it was nearly, if not exadlly, the fame with the path of the comet now ex- pedied to return. And once, by a fuccuflation, ftiii more anomalous, I was happy enough to defcribe a new curve, which I found to pof- fefs fome very amazing properties -, and I C 2 hope 12 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP, hope effedlually to immortalize my own name, by calling it Angle's firfi Hippopiptic * curve. The firft equeftrian problem that I ever fet myfelf to difcover was this -, ** When by pulling the reins you prevent a horfe from falling, where is the fulcrum or prop ? — and how is the horfe 's centre of gravity prevent- ed from being thrown beyond the bafe of his legs ?" I will not trouble you now with the particulars of this difficult in ve {ligation ; but fhall only fay, that it turned out great- ly to the honour of demipique faddles ; which, accordingly, in the Mathematical Elements of Riding, that I mean hereafter to publifh, I Ihall recommend very ftrongly in a Corollary. A learned * Hippopiptic cxprefTes the mode of the curve's generation in falling from a horfe : — from Hippos^ a horfe, and pipto^ to fall. I call itjirjif becaufe I hope by the fame means to difcover more hereafter. ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. I3 A learned Student in Mathematics has long published his ability and deiire to conftrudt breeches upon geometrical principles *. Mr. Nunn is certainly ingenious, and his breeches, a few falient angles excepted, ad- mirable ; but the artift who fhould make bridles, faddles, and other equeilrian para- phernalia, by the rules of pure mathematics, would render a much more praife-worthy fervice to the public. For if the flimfy lea- ther breeches require geometrical cutting, how much more neceflary muft it be to the tough hide which forms the bridle ? and to what purpofe will the geometry in the breeches operate, if the faddle, by which they are to be * Mr. Nunn's advertifement is as follows : « BREECHES-MAKING IMPROVED BY GEOMETRY." *' Thomas Nunn, Breeches-maker, No. 29, Wigmore-ftreet, Cavendifh-fquare, has invented a fyftem on a mathematical principle, by which difficuhies are folved, and errors correfted : its ufefulnels for eafe and neatnefs in fitting, is incomparable, and is the only perfed rule for that work ever difcovered. Se- veral hundreds (noblemen, gentlemen, and others) who have had proof of its utility, allow it to excel all they ever made trial of.'* 14 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. be fupported, and whofe fuperiicles they are to touch in as many points as poffible, be formed ungeometrically ? But I forbear to expatiate on a matter as plain as an axiom of Euclid ; trufting, that whoever can perceive the utility of geometrical breeches, will readi- ly agree, a Jbrtion, to the abfolute neceffity of geometrical faddles and bridles. Purfuing my principles, I have demon- ftrated what is the right line to be drawn by the mathematical rider in every difficult iituation. In afcending a horfe's back, at what angle to extend the moveable leg, while the fixed one is refted in the ftirrup : in leaping, how to regulate the ofcillation, or balancing of the body, by attending care- fully to that fundamental point which is your centre of motion : in ftarting, how to difpofe of the fuperfluous momentum, and thereby to preferve in full force the attracStion of cohelion between rump and faddle : in rearing, at what angle, formed by the horfe's back with the plane of the horizon, it is moft advifable to Hide down over his tail ; which. ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. I5 which, I maintain, is the only expedient that can be pra6tifed with a mathematical certainty of being fafe : thefe, and many other important fecrets, I am ready, at any time when called upon, to communicate. One I cannot even now v/ithhold, which is this : that there is no good or truly geome- trical riding, unlefs the legs be extended perfed:ly in ftraight lines, fo as to form tan- gents to the cylindrical furface of the horfe's body : in a word, to refemble, as much as poflible, a pair of compafles fet aflride upon a telefcope ; which I conceive to be the perfed; model of mathematical riding. But befides this application of pure geome- try, it has often ftruck me, that too little ufe is made, in riding, of the principles of mixed mathematics. Conlider, Mr. Gam- bado, the fix mechanical powers ! the levers the wheel and axle, the pulley ^ the inclined plane, the wedge, and the fcrew -, and refled: with what advantage all thefe may be ap- plied to the ufes of Horfemanfhip. By means of a lever, having an elevated fulcrum raifed on I J AWNALS OF H&RoEMANSHir. on the pommel of the faddle, an entire flop might be put to the practice of falHng ; ex- cept where the pracftitioner fhould voluntarily take a tumble, for the exprefs purpofe of ftudying the Parabola, or Hippopiptic Curve* The w^eel and axle is already applied in the ufe of horfes, though not in any branch of Horfemanfliip, except the driving of poft- chaifes ; it is alfo found fo efficacious in preventing falls, that where a horfe has been afed to that affiftance, it is not reckoned fafe to ride him without it. The application of the wedge might, undoubtedly, very materially improve the art of figging. Thtfcreiv might, with advantage, be applied to the dirediion of the horfe *s head with more exadlnefs, and con- fequently enable the rider to guide his courfe with mathematical accuracy. The inclined plane might happily be introduced to facih- tate the backward Aide of the rider at the time of rearing, as above mentioned. And a fyftem of pullie^, in die nature of Mr. Smea- ton's, by giving the rider a force equal to the adtion of many thouiand pounds weight, might for ANNALS CF IIORSEM ANSIII P. IJ for ever put an end to the dangerous vice of running away. By the ufe of the principles of ailronomy, I have invented a mode of taking the exad f.ltitudc of any horL% U two obfervations ; and rm at prcfent at work, on a Hippodromome- t:r*, to afccrtain the velocity of his courfe in the vcryadt of riding. But while I boaft, and, I trufb, with rea- fon, of tliefc difcovcries, I mufh candidly con- fefs that a rigorous attention to theory has fometimes betrayed me into pravftical error.^. When my horfe has been pulling carneflly one way, my owji intention being at the fame time to go another, I linve pulled ftrongly at light i^^ngles to the line of his courfe^ exped;ing, from tlie laws of compoimd motion, that we fhould then proceed, neither i-n the line of his effort nor of my pull, but in an inter- mediate one, which would be the diagonal of the parallelo2:ram, of v/hich our forces were as ' the fides ; but have always found Jiat D this ■* Fronr: IJip^.s a horfe, rlromos a courfe, and mtlre'm to meaf u e. l8 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. this method produced a rotatory inftead of a re6liUnear motion. When a horfe has run away, I have, to avoid the wafte of force in my own arms, calculated the neceflary diminution of it in his legs ; but, unfortu- nately, eftimating it as the fquares of the diflances multiplied into the times, I was frequently daflied againll walls, pitched over gates, and plunged into ponds, before I dif- covered that it is not as the fquares of the times, but merely as the times. I mention thefe circumftances by way of caution to other theories ; not being at all difcouraged myfelf by fuch trifling failures, and hoping, by your affiftance, to convince the world that no man can ever become a perfedl rider, un- lefs he has iirfl: made mathematics his hob- by-horfe. You will pardon this innocent play of words on a fubjedt fo ferious, and believe me to be. Sir, with great efteem. Yours, &c. Habakkuk Angle.' LETTER ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. I9 LETTER THE FOURTH. To Mr. G. Gambado. SIR, I Want your advice, and hope you will give it me, concerning a horfe I have lately bought, and which does not carry me at all in the fame way he did the man I bought him of. Being recommended to a Dealer in Moorfields (who I rather think is no honefter than he ought to be), I went to him, and de fired to look into his ftable, and fo he took me in; with a long whip in his hand, which he faid was to wake the horfes that might perhaps be alleep, as they were but jufl: arrived from a long journey, coming frefh D 2 from 20 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. from the breeder in the North. There were fome fine looking geldings, I thought, and I pitched upon one that I thought would fuit me ; and fo he was faddled, and I deiired the Dealer to mount him, and he did, and a very fine figure the gelding cut ; and fo the people in the ftreet faid; and a decent man, in a fcratch wig, faid, the man tliat rode him knew how to make the inoCc of him ; and fo I bought him. But he goes in a different manner with me, for inftead of his capering like a Trooper, he hangs down his head and tail, and neither whip nor fpur can get him out of a fnail's gallop. And I want to know whether by law I muft keep him, as he is not certainly the horfe I took him for; and therefore I ought to have my money again . The Limner in our lane was with mc when I bought him, and has taken a pidlure of him as he was witli the Dealer on his back, and another as he now ?oes with me upon his back ; by which you will fee the dif- ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. 21 difference, and judge better how toadvife mc upon it. I am. Sir, your humble Servant, Tobias Higgins, Lavender RoiVy Shoredttch. Pleafe to dired: to Mr. T. H, Back-makers or it may go to my Namefake, the Turn- cock. Reply 22 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. Reply to Letter the Fourth. SIR, UPON a flri^l examination of the two pictures by the Limner in your lane, I am clear you are in poiTeflion of the identical horfe you intended to purchafe, although he does not exhibit quite fo much agility under you, or make fo tearing a figure as when mounted by Mr. who I am well ac- quainted with, and who, you may depend upon, is as honefi; a man as any that deals in horfe flefh. You could have no right to return the horfe if he went no better than one with his legs tied. You ftand in the predicament of Lord P , who gave twenty guineas for Punch, and when he found he could not make him fpeak, profecuted the Puppet-fhew-man ; but my Lord Chief Juftice ad- m^- JJU'/^' //.> ////My //i/' Y/Tj^^/>/^ /7r//f^. or'AX'i'rM ;^TT"I•,\'^I^s ,\i', \\.\m [rKc'i;f)i.iR ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. 23 adjudged the man to keep his money, and my Lord, his Punch, although he could not get a word out of him. My opinion is. Sir, as you afk it : that the decent man in the fcratch wig made a very fen- fible remark, when he obferved, that my friend Mr. — knew how to make the moft of a horfe, and I am fatisiied that you. Sir, know with equal facility, how to make the leaft of one. I am. Sir, your humble Servant, G. Gambado. P. S. I am forry to add, my Maid tells me, that two ihillings outof your five were very bad ones. LETTER 24 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. ^ LETTER THE FIFTH. To G. Gambado, Efq, SIR, AS I confider you, both from your fitua- tion and eminence in the fcience of Horfe-r manfliip, as the fuperior and patron of all Riding Mailers, permit me an humble mem- ber of that honourable profeffion, to requeft your countenance in my endeavours to diffufe the noble and ufeful accomplifliment over the whole kingdom. It is well known that many of his Majefty's faithful fubjeds, whofe occupations oblige them daily to figure as Equeflrians ; fo far from having been inflrudted in the art of Riding ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. 2^ Riding, are totally ignorant that any fuch art, or rather fcience, exifls. For the benefit of thefe, I propofe publiHiing a Treatife on Horfemanfhip, confined to the lower claffes of life. The firft part I fhall dedicate to the in- fl:rud:ion of that very numerous and brilliant fraternity, called London Riders, or Bagflers ; who cut, or rather (as my Lord Chcfiierfield will have it) make fo fmart a figure in a country tov/n ; for thefe gentlemen, I pro- pofe to point out and demonftrate, from ir- refragable principles, the handfomeft manner of riding behind their bags, with the gen- teeleil method of rolling, trapping, and car- rying their great coats. In a fliort digref- fion, and a few marginal notes, I intend to drop fome hints, inllruding butchers in the fmarteft fafhion of carrying a tray, whether loaded or empty. I fhall likewife rifque a few thoughts re- fped:ing the theory and pra //V/Vl-'J //Jl ^i{?'/i/-QJ^r^i^//('rj. ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. . 33 in his old way, with his fore legs only, you were to difmount, and clap your whip, or flick, properly under his tail, and then mount again -, the putting him in a little motion will fet him on his kicking principles in a hurry, and it's ten to one but, by this means, you get his hind legs to follow the others. You will be able, perhaps, to extricate your flick from its place of confinement, when you are up and over (if you an't down) ; but Ihould you not, it is but fixpence gone. I fend you this as a mere furmife -, perhaps it may anfwer, perhaps not. I thank you for your offer, which is a very kind one, but I beg to be excufed accepting it ; all my ambition being to add to the theory, with as little pradlice as pofhble. I am. Rev. Sir, your mofl humble Servant, G. Gambado. Rev. Nic. Nulmeg, Hinder day, Suffolk. N. B. What you enclofed was perfedlly genteel, and agreeable too. F Note. 34 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. NOTE. Mr. Gambado fhews more good writing, at leaft more knowledge of what good writing fhould be, in the beginning of the above Anfwer, than in any of his Letters. The judicious Reader will obferve that the Anfwer at firft is an echo of the Letter it re- plies to. This is approaching to excellence ; it is bordering on the abilities of a Statefman ; for fo the Minifter's addrefs re- echoes the fjjeech frortl the Throne. Geoffrey's parts appear furely calculated for more places than one ; and I do not fcruple to think it poffible, that, with a proper education, he might have been on the Treafury Bench ; and a very pretty Statefman, 1 dare fay, he would have made. NOTE. The Dii^ionary above alluded to, is a very deep work ; inllead of its containing more words by thoufands only than are in Johnfon — Johnfon does not give us ten words that are in it — nor does it contain much above ten words that are in Johnfon. No family fhould be without it, efpecially fuch as have plenty of young Mafters and MifTes in them ; for it will at once fatisfy any little doubts in their unfledg'd underflandings, and let them into all the natural, but vul- gar tricks and exprefiions that they ought to avoid. H his admirable Didionary is entitled a ClafTical Didionary of the Vulgar Tongue. NOTE. If Lord Aboyne fliould lofe his Crell, which I don't fee how he can well do, 1 would advife him to adopt this print of Mr. Nutmeg's huater, to which his Lordfhip's motto is finely applicable. " Stant iictera t'mio." LETTER ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. $5 LETTER THE SEVENTH. To G. Gambado, Efq, SIR, HEARING much of your knowledge iii horfes, I beg leave to afk your advice in a bufinefs wherein my delicacy as a Gentle- man is deeply concern 'd, and flatter my- felf that you will fenfibly feel for my fitua- tion, my future fortune in life in a great meafure depending on your decifion. I have the happinefs to be v/ell received by a young Lady of fortune in this town, who rides out every morning, and has had the good- nefs to permit me to join her for fome days paft. I flatter myfelf I am belov'd ; but, F 2 'Sir, 36 ANNALS OP HORSEMANSHIP. Sir, the horfe I ride is my Father's, and he will not allow me to part with him : and this horfe, Sir, has an infirmity of fuch an extreme indelicate nature, that our interviews are broke off every five minutes, and my dear Mifs S will perhaps ride away with fome other Gownfman who is more de- cently mounted. I really. Sir, dare not mention, in plain terms, the fhocking failing of my horfe ; but, perhaps, if you look into Bailey's Dictiona- ry, you may find it out under the article of Wind. Be pleas 'd. Sir, to fend me a recipe for this horrid infirmity, or I may lofe my dear girl for ever, I have tried fe- veral experiments, but all in vain ; and un- lefs you ftand my friend, I fhall go dif- trad:ed. Infandum Regma jubes renovate dolorem. I am, my dear Sir, In a great fufs, Your's moft truly, George Gillyflower. ^. Johns Coll Cambridge, P. S. ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. "^J P, aS. Reglna is not her name, don't imagine that. May I be allow'd to fay, I am very anxious for an immediate anfwer, as fhe rides out again on Friday next. Memorandum. In confequence of the above, I fent the cafe to my Farrier, w^ho forwarded directly fome powders to Mr. Gillyflower with the following Note. The efficacy being fo cer- tain, the trifling indelicacy of the prefcription muft be excufed. U.onoured Siry By advice from Mr. Gambado of your horfe's complaint, I have fent you a powder fo ilrong, that if adminifter'd night and morning in his corn, will be bold to fay no horfe in England ihall ever fart again after Thurfday 38 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. Thurfday next. Shall be very thankful for your Honour's cuflom in the fame way in future, and your Lady's too, if agreeable -, be- ing. Honoured Sir, Your Servant to command, Jo. Wood. At my Houfe at Chefhunt every day. Horfes fhod agree- able to nature and according to art, G. Gillyjlowery Efq. St. yohns Coll. Cambridge, Additional Memorandufn. I thought it necelTary to employ my Draughtfman, to delineate an interview, be- tween a Gentleman and Lady enamour'd of each other, mounted on horfes, labouring under the infirmity mentioned in the above letter. The attitude of the animals, at thefe times, is admirably fmgular ; and has fuch an effect on the Rider, as always to attract his eyes towards the tail, to fee what is the matter. Indeed the back becomes fomewhat like ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. 39 like that of a camel, until all is ventilated. I have feen fo many things of this kind^ that I am concern'd for the young Lady's feel- ings, on this occafion, knowing they muft be great. But ftill, thofe feelings, well delineated, might have as fine an efFed; as Le Brun's Paffions. — I fear, however, my friend Wood, and his prefcriptions, will be in difgrace ; for a day or two ago, the learned Dr. of St. John's College (the fame to which Mr. Gillyflower belongs), call'd on me for an ointment, to make the hair grow on his horfe's tail ; and talking about Mr, Gilly- flower's horfe, he faid he knew him ; that he had bought him out of the Duke of Nor- folk's Stud. I then told the Dodor of the awkward infirmity he had ; upon which, he faid, he was not a bit furpriz'd, for the horfe was got by Phlegon, and Phlegon was one of the Sun's horfes he drove in his cha- riot ; and that Phlegon and the other three were all got by the winds * -, fo that no Wood * Natiirum (obferved the Doctor) expellas furea tamen ufciue recurret. 40 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. Wood in the kingdom would be able to get his windy tricks out of him. Mr. Gillyflower being a fcholar, might have known as much, methinks. G. G. LI^TTER ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. 4I LETTER THE EIGHTH. 7fl the Editor of the Annah of Horfemanjhtp. Mr. Gambado, I A M a tradefman, in the middling way, and keeps a (hop in Holborn, where you may be furnifhed with the beft hofe, of all forts, at the loweft prices ; but being determined to pay every one their own, without fwind- ling, cannot afford to keep a one horfe fhay, or a gigg ; and yet having a wife and daugh- ter grown up to woman's eftate, I could wifh, for quietnefs fake, to give them an airing to Highgate, Hampftead, or Hornfey, on a Sunday, like the reft of my neighbours ; but this I cannot cleverly do on a lingle horfe, G which 42 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. which is all I keeps. I was therefore think- ing, that as you knows all about thefe here things you might tell me of fome kind of faddle, whereby it might be done, for we are all of us little, and very flight. I therefore takes the liberty of axing your advice, and am ready to make you the compliment of a pair of beft boot ilockings for it. I think it is a fhame the Society of Arts do not advertife a premium for finding out fome oeconomical fcheme of this nature. Inftead of which, at this very time, you have a parcel of fellows who go about teaching folks to ride on three horfes at once, when as how there are very few, in a moderate line, that can afford to keep half a one. I am, yours, &c. Timothy Leg. P. S. I have fome notion the Legs are re- lated to the Gambadoes. I know we are a-kin to the boots. ne ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. 43 *rhe A N SW E R, Mr. Leg« IF you can purchafe a very long-backM liorfe, the thing you require is very pradti- cable, and by one common, and two fide faddles, you may all ride in iile, or one be- hind the other ; one lady facing to her right, the other to her left. But if your horfe is of the fhort punchy kind, you may manage the matter nearly in rank, or all in a rowt by means of two appendages like pan- niers- Thus, I think, I can accommodate any body, who has more than two to be conveyed, G 2 and 44 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. and is either pofTeft of a long, or a fhort-back'd horfe. I make no doubt but you are connected fomc way or other with us, I therefore have fent you all the wholefome advice I could. And as there is no contenting all, I hope, at leaft> the Legs will be fatisfied, whoever elfe may grumble. I am your Friend and Kinfman, G. Gambado. Your boot blockings will be very acceptable, as I have a touch of the gout in my knees. LETTER Jl.PurtliOy J 0 TEiaduE QUATEIRAIUTE BEATI o 7'uiU.<-h-d 4>' Jt^Jcncf I}ci.rmSti-&icN::jP. ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. 45 LETTER THE NINTH. To G. Gambado, Efq. Mr. Gambado, THE following very fingular afFaIr hap- pening in my prefence yefterday, I take the earlieft opportunity of informing you of it : in hopes, if any other accounts of it fhould reach you, my flory may be heard firft. I was juft come out of my parifh church, where I had, indifTolubly I fuppofe, united one John Mudd, to one Elizabeth Middle- ditch. I was detain'd fome time in the bel- fry, reprimanding my Clerk for fuffcring a tribe of filthy dogs to be parading the aifle during the nuptial ceremony; when, on my entering 46 ANNALS OK HORSEMANSHIP. entering the church-yard, I defcried John, rather too fweet upon Elizabeth, and con- ducing her among the tomb-ftones, under the large apple-trees. I inftantly fallied to rout them, which, as I was efFedling, I heard a noife of a tremendous kind, and looking up, faw (it's a fad:) a fierce-look- ing man, mounted on a horfe of great mag- nitude, prancing in the middle of an apple- tree. He fhowered down the pippins like hail upon us, and, as I faw he was about to defcend, I for fear of the worft, took to my heels, and was home, I believe, in a fhorter time by fome minutes than I was the Sun- day before, when there was a danger of a turbot's being overdreft. The parifh have taken it up ; and, I underftand, ftories of the turbot are handed about, to hurt me with the Biihop ; and this laft bufinefs of the apple-tree, is turn'd into very fhameful fcandal. But the above is truth, I am reauy to affirm. I have fince heard, that the figure and horfe came to the earth, and flying over the church-yard wall, were feen no more. I have put fome of the pippins in brandy (not ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. 47 (not for eating), as no doubt they will fetch a high price when this ftory is publicly known. I am told alfo, that after my tak- ing to flight, John and his Mate return'd under the apple-tree, no more difmay'd than if they had feen a common man a horfe- back. I am, Sir, moft alTuredly yours, G. Tackem. Whether this was fomewhat preternatural or no, I cannot determine. I am a good deal flagger'd in my belief, and dare not, at prefent, make public my opinions. But I fhould be glad to hear yours. I have, however, determin'd to have the apple-trees down. MY OBSERVATIONS. This is very hard upon the apple-trees, and harder upon thofe that make pies from them. The 48 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. The ftory certainly feem'd furprizing at firft ; and being, I confefs, a little fuperflitious, I fufpedied my Divine was none of the over- righteous, and that either a fpirit, or his con- fcience, frighted him. But the matter was foon clear'd up, by the receipt of the fol- lowing letter, which came to my hands about five days after the other. Mr. Sir, I forgot your name, and fo got a friend to diredl this to you. I am told you are a ufeful man, that you publifh all you receive, and believe all you publifh. Now, if you can fwallow this, you will any thing ; though ril be d d if it is not true. Laft Thurf- day our hounds ftarted a hare fo fuddenly, whilft we were chatting and lolling carelefsly, that, by G — , my horfe, who pulls like the devil, was off with me in a jiffey. As ill luck would have it, the curb broke, and he ran ftraight on for the cliffs above the Scar. I was in a hell of a flew, but fluck fail, and ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP- 49 and pull'd, and haul'd, to try to turn him, but to no purpofe ; for he made a fort of a fhy towards the cliff, and down we both went, by G — d. As good luck would have it, we came plump into a large apple-tree, in a church-yard, where we fwung for fome time, but the boughs gave way, and brought us fafe and found to land. I tipp'd my nag over a broken place in the wall, and foon found the hounds again. But the iineft thing of all was, when we fir ft lit in the apple-tree, up bounced a fine girl from under- neath ; and a moment after, ecod ! old Pud- ding-flee ves himfelf, in full regimentals ; I gave him a tantara, and the Doctor ran like a hare. You may infert this if you pleafe, and as it's a fad:, you may tack my name to it ; being. Your humble fervant, Henry Beagle, Jun- Huntf,-/ V:F. Carfv Sculfi N ( S X < 'l U ( 1 .'^ .E 11> i\ IZ ( J) M >(!) B .Ll) '//r . /v//V /(> ///K ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. 65 to have died of laughing the whole time. Now, don't you think a lobfter might turn to account where a horfe is a little dull or fo — mind me — if one of thefe fellows is not worth more than a doz ^ pair of Mr. Moore's beft fpurs — I'm a Dl :hman — for I have wore out a dozen upon the aforefaid mare in the courfe of the , fifteen laft years. It's ealily done, only putting no handcuffs on them, and they'll foon go to work and do your buiinefs. Pray, Sir, don't you think they might be of ufe to the light dra- goons ? I thouglit myfelf bound to inform you of this, as hoping it would prove a great national difcovery : I mean to keep lobfters on purpofe, for it's cheaper than buying g horfe inflead of my old mare ; and I can go farter w^ith one of them in my pocket than I could poft. When my boys come home from fchool, to hunt in the forefl, I mean to treat each of them with a crawfifh for K l^is 66 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. his poney, and then, I think, we ihall head the field. I am. Sir, Yours, ever in hafte, Pet£r Puffin. LETTER ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. dj LETTER THE FOURTEENTH, Mr. Gambado, I HAVE jufl received the enclofed letter. As it feems worthy pubHcation, I beg you would infer t it in the Annals of Horfeman- fhip, which I hear you are going to bring out. I am your humble Servant, R. Tattershall, K 2 SiR, 68 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP, SIR, AS I cannot conveniently attend in perfon at your celebrated Repofitory at London, and being in great want of fuch a kind of horfe, as I fhall fpecify below, and as I prefume in your own Stud you have more than one, fuch once victorious Steed on the Turf, though fuperannuated for the Race, yet ca- pable of eafy Road exercife (and the Writer here pretends to be as good an Horfe-mafter as^ any in the Univerfe), I confide on your fuppos'd candour to excufe this liberty, after much debating in my mind, to write imme- diately to yourfelf (having heard laft fummer Mr. Score, a Flint- merchant, fpeak much to your praife, who dines, he faid, often at your Ordinary) . I hope, therefore, you will indulge a Stranger's requeil, as mofl proba- bly you may have fuch a Steed (in your own Stud) to difpofe of; v/hich will be efteemed a lingular favour to your unknown? at prefent, though Very humble Servant, Samuel Langley, (D.D.) Wanted ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. 69 Wanted an Horfe, M. orG. of fize and ftrength, that has figured on the Turf, that will be fold cheap, as being in years, but not pafl gentle road ufe, perfectly quiet and temperate, whofe paces are fmooth and eafy to the Rider, and free from all vice. P. S. If an Horfe be recommended, I had rather he had covered, if he will be ridden on the road in company with a Mare, and be quiet as a Gelding. But I fhall not ap- prove of one, either blind, lame, or broken- winded. Stiffnefs at ilarting I fhall not re- gard it, nor his Age, though in his Teens, if his conflitution be good, and he can feed wellj and yet go v/ell, and fafely to the Rider, A line (and I pray fuch compliment may be fpeedily vouchfafed me) of the Size, Age, Pedigree, Colour, and his Performances, with his lowefl: Price, will be immediately attend- ed to. If I approve of the account, and the terms, I fliall fend to buy and ride him down. 70 ANNALS or HORSEMANSHIP. down. The diftance is about 142 miles (mea- fured), which he may perform, in 3 or 4 days, as you fhall advife. Tie Rev. Dr. Langlcy, Cheekiest near Cheadkf Stafford/hire. Checkley, May, 14, 1789. LETTER ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. Jl LETTER THE FIFTEENTH. 51? Mr, Gambadq. SIR, I HAVE long lamented that Riding fhould be attended with fuch expence -, and fee no rea- fon why many articles attending it, which coft money, might not as well be difpenfed with as not. , If a Gentleman, when his Bills are brought in, is fomewhat put to it, to pay for Hay and Corn (which, by the bye, are neceflary, or his Horfes would be no better than Jack-AiTes), why fhould he be fo very extravagant in the article of Lea- ther ? Your Gentleman now-a-davs, muft have 72 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. have to his bridle, two head flails, and two reins ; to his fiiddle, two flaps on each lide, two girths, a crupper or a breafl plate — perhaps both, not forgetting a martingale, Avith its appendages. I have actually feen a young Cockader, about town, with a breafl plate en his horfe, that threw his faddle forwards, merely to be tally ; whilfl his Companion's nag, who flipt his girths, had a crupper on like a Dragoon's. But, Sir, thefe Chaps are not confined to their expen- diture in leather — Only obferve the buckles and fluds, &c. that ornament their trappings — Not a bridle, but would furnifh a dozen of knives and forks — nor a faddle that has not a tea-kettle and lamp upon it. Our Forefathers never rode in this way, and I am happy that I forefee a Revolution is at hand. It is needlefs to reprobate fuch expence, as the Saddler's bill probably brings in the punifh- ment along with it. Whether /' I>f01V" ^1351, ^YJ-:^ FAT]R.iL'\ ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. 73 Whether Adam, or Cain, or Abel ever rode, it does not appear ; but they had Horfes, and Dogs, and Foxes, and Hares ; and why are we not to fuppofe that they went a hunting, and had as good fport as we have (nay, better : for they had no Huntfmen) ? They muft, however, have rode without fad- dies, it is pretty clear. I do not find that thefe fuperfluities were held in much efleem in the time of the Ro- mans. Raphael, in his pifture of Attila, at Rome, has treated us with a Hun or two, riding after the fiiliion of their country, I fuppofe. The devil a bit of a bridle have they — nothing but a flrap round their Horfes neck, which they hold at each end with their hands. Nor are their Nags of the quieteft either, but feem to be fliowing their agility and caprioles to the befl advantage. By no means fuch Palfreys as either I, or you Mr. Gambado, would like to beltride without a bridle, and a good plain faddle too. L One 74 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. One Staniirtius (a very learned old Au- thor), tells us, that in his time, the Wild Irifh (I don't underfland how he diilin- guifhes the Wild Iri£h) ufed to ride in a flrange way, but you mufl admit they had no ^ bridles. ** Tubaram fetas, aut equorum auriculas ieniflra apprehendant ; atque dum equi obfli- pis capitibus quieti fe inclinant, equites> etiam loricis aut fagis ami(fti, mera corporis agilitate fe efferunt, divaricatriq ! cruribus ephippia occupant." Which may be thus turn'd into Englifh — '* They feize their Horfes manes, or their ears, with their left hand, and whilft their Horfes were thus kept fteady, the Riders, ev^n if covered with their cuirafTes or fa- gums, exerting a wonderful agility of body, fpring aftride into the faddle." By /1 8iet^uj-if ^r' iCORPOItE SAXO. ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. y ^ By this it appears to be very lucky, that cropping Horfes, was not then the fafliion, or they would have had but little command of them. The Wild Irifh now, I am told have reverfed the mode, and taken up the tail inflead of the poor ears, which are ne- glefted. The Tartars of this day, Mr. Gambado, have no faddles, but ride upon a Beef Steak, or a llice of Horfe-flefh : which, by that means, becomes fufficiently done for them to eat, by the time they haVe finifh'd their airing. What a delicious fuccedaneum for a faddle ; it anfwers two purpofes at once. If a faddle ever anfwers a fecond, it is, of gall- ing you confoundedly. I have dropt a hint of a Revolution-^and I expe<5l one. Let the Huns look to it ; a fuccefsful experiment of riding in their way, has lately been made in my country ; but whether from motives of oeconomy, cu- rio fity, or emulation, I am yet to learn. L z Mr. 76 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. Mr. John Mann, a moft eminent Taylor of Bury St. Edmunds, was one day obferved to mount his horfe (which flood at the door of a Gentleman's houfe in the neighbourhood) when the bitt was out of his mouth, and, in that manner, to proceed rapidly towards home. My Informant followed him from cu- riofity; and, from what he could obferve, faw no alteration in his riding except that he reel'd a little at times, a circumftance exceedingly natural ; and although he had three turns to make to the right, and two to the left, to thread the needle through fome Mackerel carts on the road, and a Wa- ter to pafs; (where, by the bye, he let his horfe flop too long, and drink too much), yet he arrived fafe and found at home. Now conlidering the five angles, the Mac- kerel carts, and his not going over the bridge, which was the right way ; I queiftion but fuch a performance might have puzzled one of At- tila's fellows. As ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. 77 As bridles begin to fliake, fo I may well fay, faddles totter. The Tartars muft not think themfelves the only Moderns who ride without them. It was but two years fmce, at Afcot Heath, that the thing was attempt- ed and atchiev'd over the Courfe there. Two Gentlemen rode a n^atch, and, wonder- ful as it appear'd to modern Britons, one was feen to arrive at the ending Poft without his bridle, and the other without his faddle. The latter Gentleman had not even a Beef Steak to fit upon, nothing but a pair of corderoys between him and the Horfe's back, the faddle following him behind like a pil- lion. By thefe proficiencies then let us hope. Sir, we may knock oiF foon a very ufelefs portion of expence — overtake a Hun, and per- haps catch a Tartar. I am. Sir, Your obedient Servant, John Hickathrift. MY 78 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. MY OBSERVATIONS. The extraordinary performances of the Wild Irifh aftonifh nobody. I never heard of a Hun, when I read Mr. H.'s Letter firft, and thought he meant a Hum. This may be a pretty way of riding, for any thing I know ; but I am for a bridle and faddle ; and fhall not grudge twenty pennyworth of leather to make a martingale of, if it may fave fome of my teeth. Vale John Hickathrift, G. G. LETTER ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. 79 LETTER THE SIXTEENTH. Geoffrey Gambado, EDITOR OF VARIOUS LEARNED PERFORMANCES- SIR, YOU have, no doubt, heard of the de- Icription of Natural Philofophers, called Pigeon Fanciers, who breed the bird of that name, and all its varieties. I was once. Sir, a member of this community, till growing tir'd of Pouters, Tumblers, Nuns, Croppers, Runts, i>cc. &cc, I was refolved to enlarge my ideas, by extending my re- fearches, and abandoning the Biped, to ob- tain a clofer acquaintance with the Qua- druped, I became a Horfe Fancier. Being fond of riding, and daily obferving, in my airings to Brentford, a very great variety of horfes. 8o ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. horfes, and a flill greater variety in their motions ; I fome years fince fet about mak- ing a colleftion of fuch as were fingular, and eccentric in their fliapes and adlions, and flatter myfelf no private mufeum can have boaft- ed of a more admirable variety, than I have pofleffed. I mean fome day or other to clafs them, and by fo doing, think I fhall be able to convince the Naturalifls, that from their form and performances, many horfes are allied to the cov\^, and fome to the hog kind. In the mean time, I flialljuft mention to you a few varieties of this fame animal, which I have had in my pofleffion -, and which may, pr'*haps, afford you an hour or two's amufement and re- fledion. I luckily pick'd up a Daify-cutter, by his throwing me down on the fmoo theft part of the grafs, in Hyde Park. I had heard of this de- fcription of horfe frequently, but could not be- lieve the accounts of it, till I found it verified, by experiencing his accomplishments myfelf. It feems a problem difficult to folve, how a horfe can put forward his fore legs, without bendine m\ i.trfi- J-. i.Nc, .iKurri'Ko .so(,i) ,v CAi'i'T lyrcit vi'mii.a r(;vi)i'i' ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. Si bending a joint of them, or, how he can meet with an impediment to throw him down upon ground perfecflly fmooth ! — but io it is. The Daily-cutter is admirably eafy in his mo- tion, and having once made the experiment, upon, and from his back, I am perfectly fa- tisfied, and now keep him for my wife's own riding. Of this variety, there is flill a variety : this horfe I Hkewife poflefs, and keep as a curiofi- ty. I imagine he mull come from fome dif- tant country, although he is nick'd after the Englifli fafhion ; for I cannot get any native to ride him twice", — I have tried a Frenchman with no better fuccefs. All declining a fe- cond attempt. This animal refembles the Daify-cutter perfectly in the ufe of his fore legs : but, inflead of carrying his head and neck horizontally, like him, they are raifed fo high, that his ears are in a perpendicular line with the pommel of the faddle, and his eyes always iix'd on the heavens. His fore parts, when in motion, by this means, much re- femble a double fifli-hook, or an anchor, as M thus 8'2 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. thus i^^ ^^-^^^^^^ and I therefore pro- pofc to clafs him under one of thefe denomina- tions. The Threatener is another of this fpecies that ought not to be forgot, and indeed he feldom is by any one who has once poflefs'd him. By the Threatener, Man himfelf, the Lord of the Creation, who fubdues all the animals that range the forell:, is himfelf kept in fear and trepidation. This ingenious ani- mal has the fagacity at every flep to threa- ten the frafture of his rider's neck ; proba- bly with a view to difcourage and even abolifh the cuftom of riding in general : and at the fame time the good {Qiifc not to fall quite down, left, he fhould accidentally break his own. As amongft pigeons, fo amongft horfes, there are Tumblers. The feat is, however, performed diiferently, and varies confiderably in its effe<5ts on the performers. As the pigeon executes this without any thing on /TSiuxMiTb Zv/ <^r,ie Sti-e^. I'N HOC SIG-NO VIKCES ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. 83 on Its back; fo the horfe feldom atchieves it, without fomebody upon his. To the latter therefore we muft give the greateft fhare of merit, who ventures to perform upon a hard road what the other does only in the air, without even a cloud to brufli againft. The one preferring, it feems, the Milky, and the other the Highway, Amongft horfes I have never difcovered a Pouter; but I have had a fine Puffer*. The noife he made, however, and particu- larly when at his bufinefs, was not pleafant; and I let a neighbour have him cheap, who had a good three -ft all mufeum, and a very heavy vehicle to draw; fo that in all weathers he might enjoy the er^^'-tain- ment of his very extraordinary quaiinca- tions. It is well known that there is a horfe that is a Carrier, fo is there a pigeon like- M 2 wife. * The Puffer, if properly kept on plenty of hay and water, and with little exercife, will in a fhort time gratify his Keeper by chang- ing into another variety, which we call a Roarer. 8*4 ANNALS 6? HORStMANSHl^. wife. But as it may not be known to every one, I muft inform you, Sir, that, from very long obfervation, I find the pigeon is the mofl expeditious of the two. • I am at this moment. Sir, in polleflion of a horfe that has a Nofe, if I may fo call the fenfe of fmelling in a high degree: I do not perceive that he often hits upon game as the dog does, but he makes for a ftable door with great avidity ; nay, fo certain is he of difcovering where vi(5tuals and drink are to be had, that it is with the utmofl difficulty I can get him to pafs a fign-poft ; and it requires no fmall exertion of arms and legs to prevent his running into every alehoufe on the road with me. Thefe are evident figns of a very fine nofe : it is a lit- tle inconvenient, to be fure, particularly if one is in hafte ; but the qualification is An- gular. This variety I call the Setter, both from his pofi^efiing the faculties of the dog fo called, and from his pronenefs to fet down his load wherever entertainment for man and horfe are to be found. I fhall not at prefent enter ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. 85 enter into more varieties, but poftpone my communications to another opportunity : only having juft touch'd upon the horfe with a Nofe, I muft inform you, that one of my neighbours an Attorney, tells me he has a horfe, that has no mouth. Although my ftalls are all full, I fhall certainly purchafe this uncommon animal, if he is to be had ; as, from his formation, the polleffion of him can be attended with little or no expence but the prime coft. I am Sir, Your very humble Servant, Bent. Buffon, LETTER 86 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP, LETTER THE SEVENTEENTH. To Mr. Gambado, SIR, INTENDING the following account of a moll extraordinary phaenomenon that ap- peared in our pariih two days lince, for the Philofophical Tranfadtions j I fhould not have fent it to you, but that there was a horfe concern'd in it, and fo ftrange a one, that I thought that if you were not inform'd of it, you would be concern'd yourfelf. I have drawn it up to the beft of my abilities. It is as follows : On ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. 87 On the morning of the 6th inllant, the weather intenfely cold, the ground covered with ice or frozen fnow, as I may fay, pre- cifely at the hour of eight, A. M. as Mary Jenkins (who Uves as fervant at the Fox and Crown public-houfe, jufh on the brow of Highgate Hill), a young woman about nine- teen years of age, of a freih complexion and fanguine habit, was lying awake in her bed (Reaumur's Thermometer then ftanding at only and Fahrenheit's at ), Hie heard a fliout of an uncommon kindj and running to the window, the following phas- nomenon prefented itfelf to her view. A man, dreft much after the manner of the Englifh, but of a iierce and terrifying afpedl^ feem'd to pafs the Fox like lightning, mount- ed on fome thing like a horfe ; but fuch a one as ihe had never before feen -, having the head, neck, and fore-legs of thofe of this country ; faving that the legs were flretch'd out and void of motion; he was furnifh'd with a pair of wings, and his hind parts de- fcended from his head obliquely to the ground. She 88 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. She verily believes he had a forked tail, but that hind-legs he had none. The man fat very ftiff and upright, and continued his fhouts (which from what I can make out from the Girl's imitations of them much refembled the war-hoops of the Indians), un- til he turned the corner by the Boarding- fchool, where fhe loil fight of him. But he was again vifible to her naked eye at the foot of the hill -, when fome fleet falling, he wholly difappeared. The poor Girl, exceedingly terrified, awakened the family, and was ordered to go to Dr. , to take oath of what fhe had feen ; which fhe did. Being one of the firfl who heard of it, I buf- tied about, and got a good deal of information concerning the progrefs of the phaenomenon, and think I can afcertain at about what rate lie travelled. As the clock ftruck eight, Mary Jenkins faw him on the brow of the hill. Mamfelle ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. 89 Mamfelle BellefefTe, the Teacher at the Boarding-fchool, being call'd up before her time, and in a fmall building which looks into the road juft at the turn, her watch luckily by her fide, faw the flrange gentle- man pafs, precifely at eight and three feconds. She defcribes him differently from Mary Jen- kins, though they both agree in the wings. ** II me fembloit avoir le vifage de Cupidon ** avec les ailes de Pfyche*" — fa3'^s Mam- felle de B. At eight and fix feconds the Blind Beggar, by his computation, heard him pafs the Cheefe-cake Houfe. At eight and eight feconds A. M. the man coming to fweep the chimneys met him at the finger- poft. In a fecond after, he knock'd down and went ov^er Alice Turner, the Saloup Wo- man ; and exadly at eight and ten feconds, Mary Jenkins faw the laft of him. Now- calculating the feconds and the diftances between each fpot where he was feen, it is evident he went at a prodigious rate. N Childers * Which I learn means— He feera'd to liare the face of Cupid and Pfyche's wings. go ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. Childcrs would have been a fool to him* But he had wings, indeed, which perhaps may be more ufeful than hind-legs, otherwife I could not have conceived it. That there are horfes of this kind in na- ture I make no doubt ; as the Lords of the Admiralty authorife us to believe it, by ex- hibiting two in the front of their Houfe of Office at Whitehall. To thefe horfes Mary Jenkins's feems to be nearly allied ; and per- haps by enquiring at the Admiralty we may be inform 'd where they may be had. As we lye on the great North Road, I Ihould fup- pofe this, that came through our town, might be what they call a fea-horfe, and come from Lapland or thereaways . If you can throw any light on this wonderful phaenomenon. Sir, I hope you will make it pub- lic for the good of the community. I am. Sir, 'Your humble Servant, William Gorget, Surgeon. Hlgh^ai^i Fed. zCiL. P. S. ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. 9I P. S. I can't get it out of my head the pace the Gentleman went, confidering the in- terruption he met with from riding over the Saloup Woman. The Pariili Officers had a long meeting about this ftrange man that fhew'd his face here. But I foon convinced 'em he had not ilaid long enough in the pariili to gain a fettlement ; and fo they are eafy. But there's great debates in the Veflry, and in the Coffee - houfe, and Mr. Figg's fliop yet about it. MY OBSERVATIONS. I WAS much ftaggered when I read this account firfl ; but finding, on enquiry, that Mr. Gorget, the Surgeon, was a Barber, I grew eafier, and was no more afraid of the North Road than any other— I fhall however N 2 be 92 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. be a little more cautious of the folks that lye on it. After all the inveftigations that have been made about the Phaenomenon of Highgate Hill, and the fearch into all books that treat of Witchcraft ; Glanville, and Moore and Wan- ley : and after all the controverfy that has been entered into by the unhappy inhabitants, which has thrown that wretched parifh into more diftradlion than ever fell to the fhare of St. Paul in Co vent Garden ! No Vagrants paft on — No Vagabonds taken up — No Turn- cocks to be found — all the Water at a ftop — all the Gin a-going — How fatisfadtory muft a glimmering of light be to thefe unfortu- nate Highgates which may open their eyes a little, and reftore that harmony amongfl them they have been fo long unacquainted with. Having received the following Letter a few days fmce, I beg leave to recommend it to the perufal of the Nobility and Gentry of Highgate ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. Qj Highgate in general ; but more particularly to Alice Turner (the Saloup Woman, if fhe is ftill extant), to the Chimney Sweeper, the Blind Beggar (fomebody muft read it to him), Mamfelle BellefefTe, and Mary Jenkins ; being convinced, that if the ftrange perfonage they faw was not Mr. James Jumps, it mull have been a Conjurer or Cupid, Pfyche or the Devil himfelf. G. G. LETTER 94 ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP, LETTER THE EIGHTEENTH. Jeffrey Gambado, Efq. KIND SIR, I HAVE an extraordinary ilory to tell you, that happened to me t'other day as I was a bringing two pair of flays to Mifs Philpot's, at Kentifli-town. I lives, Sir, at Finchley ; and a- top of Highgate Hill my horfe makes a kind of flip with hi^ hind feet, do you fee, for it was for all the world like a bit of ice the whole road. I'd nothing for't but to hold fafl round his neck, and to fqueeze me elbows in to keep the ftays fafe; and, egod, off we fet, and never ftopt till I got to the bottom. He never moved a leg didn't my horfe, but flided promifcuoufly, as I may OSTINOUl^'T TEJOIIS HUNC T.\NTUM TATA T^.TiqUE UiTMA ESS.E TINE]\'To ANNALS OF HORSEMANSHIP. 95 fay, till he overfate fomebody on the road; I was too flurrifome to fee who ; and the firft body I fee'd it was a poor man axing charity in a hat. My horfe muft' have had a rare bit of bone in his back, and I fit him as ftiff as buckram. Your Honour's obedient Servant, James Jumps. F I N I vS. fb '^^tM JWT - — -V vr ,, T 'i*'"=^ 1^' -^' ■v.", ^ ^