BOOTS, which are only a lengthened variety of shoes, are among the most ancient articles of attire. Shoes. extended a certain height up the leg, laced, ornamented, and of fanciful colors, were in use by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, as is seen by exist ing relies and drawings. Leaving an account of these and other varieties of shoes, as well as an account of trade and manufacture of shoes and boots generally, to the article S1IOE-TRADE, we here confine attention to a few. historical particulars respecting what are properly called B., meaning by the terin.leatiter coverings for the legs and feet. D:iferent kinds of half-boots were worn by the Anglo-Saxons and and in the reign of Edward IV., if not earlier, the boot-proper, With tops and spurs, was established as an article of knightly dress. (See Book of the Feet, by J. Spaikcs Hall, London.) In the reign ,of Charles I., a species of boot, exceedingly wide at the top, made of Spanish leather, came into use; and with Charles II. the highly decorated French boot was introduced as an article of gay courtly attire. Meanwhile, the jack boot, as it is called (see JACK), had become indispensable in the costome of cavalry soldiers and horsemen generally; and by William III. and his followers it was regularly naturalized in England. Strongly made, the jack-boot extended in length above the knee, was capacious at top, had a very high heel, and round the ankle it had a flat leather band bearing a poWerful spur. This huge species of boot remained:in use in British cavalry regiments until comparatively recent times, and was dismissed as being too cumbrous in the case of melt being dismounted. It is, nevertheless, in a somewhat polished and improved form, still worn by the horse-guards, with whose stal•mt appearance, doing-duty in their tall B. at Whitehall, most peoplo are familiar.
As an improved jack, the horse-guards boot bears a remarkably close resemblance to the boot of the French postilion. well known to the older class of continental tourists.
French postilion B., however, it is proper to understand, are made of that capacity that will suit any ordinary foot and leg. Kept economically as part of the equipment of a posting-house, they are ready for all legs, with or without stockings, as the case .may be; and looking at the strength of their materials, they may very fairly be supposed to accommodate all the postboys of an establishment during half a century.
The jack-boot is almost entitled to be called the parent of the top and some other varieties. B. with tops of a yellow color were so commonly worn by gentlemen in the 18th c., as to become a peculiarity in the national costume of the English. When Philip, duke of Orleans, and other revolutionists of note, affected to imitate the sentiments and manners of the English, they ostentatiously wore top-boots. In the early years of the present century, ti number of members of the house of commons, among whom may be specified the late sir Francis Brudett, habitually wore top-boots; nor have they yet entirely dijappeared: By jockeys and fox-hunters, they are likely to remain in per manent use. What perhaps contributed to break up the general use of • top-boots, was the introduction of the Hessian boot as an article of walkirig-dress. Worn over tight pantaloons, the Hessian boot was a handsome piece of attire, givirig„ undoubtedly, an ele gant appearance to the nether costume. B. of this shape. as is seen by engravings, were worn by English general officers in the early part of the French war, and somewhat later. At length they were superseded by the well-known Wellington boot, which, as its name imports, was introduced by the great duke, as a siMplffication. under the loose military trouser. This species of boot has; in its turn, been almost entirely abandoned in England, in consequence of the universal use of short ankle B. but it is still generally used by some classes of persons in the United States, though in au odd fashion, with the trousers stuffed loosely in at the top.