THE TROTTING-IIORSE OF AMERICA. 341 



2m. 24fs., 2m. 22s., 2m. 22js. Once more they met, 

 and this time Joel Holkam drove them himself. They 

 won again in three heats, and in the fastest equalled Flora 

 Temple's time in harness at Kalamazoo, 2m. 19|s. She 

 was only defeated by a head in this fast heat. 



After this, Flora was seized by some officious persons, 

 and an attempt was made to confiscate her ; but the Gov- 

 ernment ordered her to be restored to Mr. McDonald, and, 

 when she was given up to him, he took her to Baltimore. 

 There she remaind until his death. She was then pur- 

 chased by Mr. A. Welsh, a gentleman of wealth, residing 

 at Chestnut Hills, Philadelphia. She was again put in 

 work ; and it created a great sensation when she was en- 

 tered in two purses on the Fashion Course, in the name of 

 Mr. George Wilkes. 



When these entries were made, that was done which 

 ought to have been done before. She was sent to McMann 

 again. If James had had her from the first day that she 

 was put to work again, and had gone at her with his cau- 

 tious, gradual method, it is not unlikely that she would 

 have stood a preparation, and trotted those races among 

 horses of a generation that was foaled after her name was 

 great. The last time Flora appeared on a public occasion 

 was when Gen. Grant reviewed the great trotters at the 

 Dubois track. She showed well on that day ; but, soon after, 

 her hind legs filled, and she had to be let up. If she had 

 been trained on in 1862 and the following years, instead of 

 laying idle so long, she might, perhaps, have continued to 

 improve. Her speed had come to her gradually; and 

 though it may be said she was then too old to get any bet- 

 ter, I am unable to perceive that she must necessarily have 

 reached her best in the fall of 1861, when she last trotted. 

 She had certainly been gaining a little up to that time ; 

 and why should we conclude that she had then ceased to 

 gain ? Her constitution was wonderfully good. She was 

 a younger mare in the fall of 1861, in regard to health and 



