THE HORSE. 33 



needed ; for, as very recently observed in the " Spirit of the Times," — " Notwith- 

 standing the immense chance they have had, (having generally had the choice of 

 the finest mares,) but seven of them have a winner at four-mile heats last year, while 

 thirteen of native stallions have winners that won thirty-two races." — True, the 

 winner of the race of races, Fashion, is by imported Trustee ; but how much of her 

 stoutness may not have come down to her from her grand-dam, Old Reality, of Medley 

 blood — a blood illustrated in so many fields in contests of four-mile heats? Witness 

 the extraordinary achievements of his g. g. g. son, (through Duroc, Amanda, and 

 Grey Diomed, son of Medley) American Eclipse in 1823, three heats of four miles, in 

 23m. 50s., and his competitor Henry, tracing to Medley through his grand-dam by 

 Bellair, son of Medley. Sir Hal, at Broad Rock, winning the four mile day from 

 Cup Bearer, in one heat, 7m. 40s. — Cup Bearer breaking down. Oscar, near Balti- 

 more, in 1806, beating First Consul in 7m. 40s. — each winning horse, as well as 

 Cup Bearer, partaking largely of the Medley blood, though no two were by the same 

 horse. It is also worthy of remark as warranting the assumption that Fashion owes 

 her vast powers as much to the old English imported Medley blood, Americanized, 

 as to her recently imported sire, that two days after her immortal victory, her half- 

 brother — grandson of Old Reality, and by Shark, a son of American Eclipse, in a 

 second heat drove the unrivalled son of Timoleon to the winning post in 7m. 46s., 

 running the next heat and ending a doubtful contest in 7m. 58^-s. 



As already stated, the object in thus dwelling on the wonderful capabilities of the 

 bred horse, and of endeavouring to show that with proper inducements and precau- 

 tion to measure his foot and to gauge his bottom, and to record faithfully his 

 genealogy and performances, there need not be, as there has not been any general 

 decay — and in insisting that without a portion of his blood we can reckon on no 

 general or permanent supply of good nags for saddle or harness, is to impress upon 

 American husbandmen generally, the absolute necessity of keeping these ulterior but 

 important objects always m view. Those who are opposed to all field sports, on 

 account of the dissipation and vice with which some of them are too often accom- 

 panied, might yet learn to tolerate what they cannot enjoy. The whole business of 

 life is mixed with good and evil, and full of compromises. — Shall we forego the use 

 of gunpowder, because that " villanous compound" sometimes charges the pistol of 

 the duellist; or throw up altogether the use of steam, because human life is occasion- 

 ally sacrificed by the careless use of it? 



But it is not only as a question of individual comfort, or of agricultural resource, 

 that this subject is to be looked at. It is worthy, too, of the serious regard of the 

 statesman, in the higher and more important aspect it presents in a military point of 

 view, and as thus connected with our national defences. In cavalry, perhaps more 

 than in any other weapon, our locality must always give us an advantage over any 

 invading force. An enemy cannot bring cavalry with him. With something like a 

 well arranged system in breeding our horses, this advantage may be turned to great 

 account in time of war. With the forecast that distinguished his military adminis- 

 tration. Napoleon had the sagacity to establish Haras, or studs, in the several 

 departments of France, where thorough-bred stallions were placed at the service of 

 the common farmer, on terms which barely paid the expense of their keep. But to 

 come nearer home, while every one at all familiar with the incidents of our own Re- 

 volution, knows how much was elTected in the South, by Lee's famous " Legion ;" 

 few, comparatively, may be aware to what that celebrated corps chiefly owed its 

 efficiency — and yet it is undeniable that in a great measure the prevalence of blood in 

 his horses made it at once the scourge and the terror of the enemy. Wonderful in 

 their endurance of hunger, thirst, and fatigue ; prompt to strike a blow where it was 

 least expected, and, when forced, as quick to retreat; they may be said to have well 

 earned the description applied to the Parthian steed : — 



" Quot sine aqua Parthus nullia currat equus, 

 How many miles can run the Parthian horse, 

 Nor quench his thirst in the fatiguing course . " 



It was not, h-^wever, generally known, until the Repository offered by the "Turp 

 Regi&t'er" for tlie record of all extraordinary facts connected with these subjects. 



