Introduction
The following anecdote comes from a book of tales published in 1841, introducing children to a selection of Britain’s wild and domestic animals. Apparently all quite true, it tells of a prim little horse who suddenly found himself stabled among the lower classes.
WELL may Great Britain be proud of the perfection of symmetry, the speed, and strength of her race of horses. It is impossible for any description to do justice to this matchless animal, and it is only wonderful how man has been able to obtain such a complete mastery over an animal endowed with such power and courage.
When I was abroad I once noticed a little English horse that was put into the carriage, and made some remark to the postilion* about him, who told me that he was a very great pet in the stables from his peculiar temper. He had formerly belonged to an Englishman, with whom he had been quite a spoiled favourite. His master, from pecuniary difficulties, was forced to part with him, and he was sold to the Hôtel de Poste,* where the postilions were obliged to mend their manners and soften their language after his arrival in the stable.
Whereas a coachman drives seated on the carriage, a postilion drives seated on one of the horses drawing it. The term was also applied to mail-carriers who rode a horse solo, without drawing a carriage.
An inn where the passengers and drivers travelling post - that is, breaking a long journey into a series of stops - could find rest, food and fresh horses.
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