8 INTRODUCTION. 



lation struck off. The last that is known of his attempt was 

 a call to breeders to send in their pedigrees. These gentle- 

 men, and others that might be enumerated, doubtless 

 assumed the undertaking before they knew the extent of 

 the field, or had any just conception of the years of persis- 

 tent toil necessary to complete the task. 



The rule in all these attempts was, to commence at the 

 wrong end. Instead of taking the turf history of past gen- 

 erations, and laying a good foundation, they commenced at 

 the top to build downward. 



At a later day, that distinguished and venerable gentle- 

 man, Benjamin Ogle Tayloe, who has been recognized for 

 more than a quarter of a century, over the signature of 

 " Observer," as the highest authority on all topics con- 

 nected with the blood horse, commenced and prosecuted the 

 work to a considerable extent. Being called abroad, he 

 placed the unfinished manuscript in the hands of the late 

 Wm. T. Porter, Esq. After Mr. Porter's death, he kindly 

 offered the manuscript to me, if I would complete it, and 

 gave me an order for it wherever I could find it. 



Mr. Porter's friends assured me the manuscript had been 

 handed over to the late Henry William Herbert, who was 

 then also dead ; but diligent search among the friends and 

 effects of these gentlemen failed to get any trace of the lost 

 manuscript. 



I will be permitted to take this occasion to express to Mr. 

 Tayloe my gratitude and thanks, not only for the tender of 

 the lost manuscript, but for the very valuable advice and 

 assistance he has given me in the prosecution of the work. 



Like thousands of others, I had waited and hoped for the 

 appearance of an American Stud Book for a long time ; but 



