T I ( 838 J S T O

subsistence which is given to modernsoldiers; being equally subject to de-ductions tor arms, accoutrements, ne-cessaries, &c. But the cavalry of theancients was more amply supplied thanthat of the moderns in every, respect,and better paid.

ST1RATOCRACY, (stiratocratie,Fr.) a government in which militarypower has the ascendancy.

STIFF legs, a disease in horses, un-der which are also comprehended dried,decayed, or bruised legs.

STIFLE, in a horse, a large muscle,or that part of the hind leg which ad-vances towards his belly. It is a mostdangerous part to receive a blow upon.

S'rrri.i>/oint, in a horse, the first jointnext the buttock, and above the thigh.

STIFLE! )-horse, whose leg bone isput out, or the joint much hurt.

STIFLING, a malady which acci-dentally betals a horse either by somestrain, by leaping, or by a slip in thestable, or on travelling, or else by someblow, which either puts out the stijle-bone, or hurts and strains the joint.

STILES, in joinery, &c. are the up-right pieces, which go from the bottomto the top in any wainscoat.

STIRRUP , (etrier, Fr.) a well knowniron frame fastened to a saddle with athong of leather, for the foot of the riderto rest upon.

It is observed, in a publication en-tituled the Sportsman’s Dictionary, thatyou should hear vigorously upon yourstirrup when you have your foot in it,and hold the point of your foot higherthan your heel.

When you would stop your horse, youmust bear upon your stirrups.

You should keep your right stirruphalf a point shorter than the left, forin combat the horseman bears and restsmore upon the right; which also, fromthe weight of the sword, carbine, &c,renders that side heavier than the left,and the pressure consequently greater.Besides in mounting, the facility is in-creased by the imperceptible length ofthe left stirrup.

To lose one’s Stirrups , to suffer themto slip from the toot; this may happenfrom the coxcombical practice of restingupon the toe instead of the ball of thefoot, which is the true fulcrum.

Stirrup J’oot is the left foot .

Stirrup leather is a lathe or thongof leather descending from the saddle,

down by the horse’s ribs, upon whichthe stirrups hang.

STiRRUP-icarrr, an end of leathermade fast to the end of the saddle, totruss up the stirrups when the rider isalighted, and the horse sent to the stable.

STOCCADO, a push or thrust witha rapier.

STOLE. See Order of the Stole.

STOCK, the whole of the woodenpart of a musket or pistol.

Stock, (col, Fr.) a part of an officer’sdress, which consists generally of blacksilk or velvet, and is worn round theneck instead of a neckcloth. The sol-dier’s stock is of black ribbed leather,and is part of his small mounting. Redstocks were formerly worn in theGuards;they are still so in some Prussian regi-ments.

As his Majesty has been graciouslypleased to relieve the British soldierfrom a load of grease, &c. by dispensingwith flubs and tails, we cannot forbearexpressing a wish, that the same hu-mane attention could he paid to thestiff piece of leather in which his neck isconfined. One of the punishments, stillexisting among the French , and frequent-ly resorted to during the old monarchy,is the carcan or iron collar. We men-tion this circumstance, because, we ho-nestly believe, that hundreds, among ourbrave soldier’s, would sootier he putinto the black hole, or even suffer cor-poral punishment, than he doomed tohave their necks so dreadfully hampered.Indeed we may appeal to those officer#who have been in warm climates, orupon service, to acknowledge the pro-priety of this remark. They will say,that soldiers sieze the first opportunityto get rid of this galling encumbrance.

Stock purse, (masse, Fr.) a certainsaving which is made in a corps, andwhich is applied to regimental purposes.In some corps this fund is so honestlymanaged, that, without encroachingupon the public, the most beneficialeffects are produced : in others again,it is so mysteriously handled betweencommanding officers and paymasters,that it becomes a perpetual source ofdiscontent and jealousy.

Stock purse in his Majesty’s FootGuards, a fund which is created at theexpense of the effective state of-everycompany, and regularly shared amongthe captains who rank as lieutenant-colonels in the line<