THE ASS AND THE MULE. 421 



Tho difFerencn h-^tu'cen the different races, for which all writers of research and the most 

 observant travellers uud agriculturists contend, may be plainly traced in the portraits drawn 

 by G. W. Park Custis, Esq., of Arlington, of the two Jacks, the Royal Gift, and the Knight 

 OF Malta, presented to General Washington about the year 1787 — of these Mr. Custis 

 says, " The Gift, with a jennet, was a present from the king of Spain, and said to have been 

 selected from the royal stud. The Knight I believe was from the Marquis de Lafayette, 

 and shipped from Marseilles. 



"The Gift was a huge and ill-shaped Jack, near sixteen hands high, very large head, clumsy 

 limbs, and to all appearance little calculated for active service ; he was of a grey colour, 

 probably not young when imported, and died at Mount Vernon but little valued for his mules, 

 which were unwieldy and dull. 



" The Knight was of a moderate size, clean limbed, great activity, the fire and ferocity of a 

 tiger, a dark brown, nearly a black colour, white belly and muzzle, could be managed only 

 by one groom, and that always at considerable personal risk. He lived to a great old age, 

 and was so infirm towards the last as to require lifting. He died on my estate, in New 

 Kent, in the state of Virginia, in the year 1802 or '3. His mules were all active, spirited, 

 and serviceable, and from stout mares attained considerable size. 



The Knight of .Malta, here anentioned by Mr. Custis, is believed unquestionably to have 

 been " the first Maltese Jack ever brought to the United States." The second one, says Mr. 

 Pomeroy, came in the Frigate Constitution on her return, as he thinks, from the Mediter- 

 ranean, and was sold, it is believed, in the District of Columbia. Since that time a number 

 have been introduced by officers of tlie Navy, and in merchant-ships. 



The learned Professor Wilson, in an article in the Encyclopedia Brittanica, on the natural 

 history of quadrupeds and whales, says of the Ass : " The races of eastern origin are much 

 more beautiful, with glossy skins, carrying their heads loftily, and moving their limbs in a 

 very graceful manner. They accordingly fetch a very high price." 



There is no one within the range of our acquaintance whose dealings and whose experi- 

 ence on these subjects, equal those of General James Shelby of Kentucky. Owning and 

 residing upon a magnificent estate of " blue grass land," its resources have been in a good 

 measure dedicated to rearing mules and cattle of improved breeds. The writer had the 

 pleasure to make him a visit in 1839 ; and while partaking festively and intellectually of the 

 hospitalities of his mansion, to learn much of the jnw/e trade, in its various branches. It 

 was like going to New Bedford to be instructed in all the art and mystery of tiie whaling 

 business ! The general's residence is eight miles from Lexington ; and it may be taken as a 

 proof of no mean powers of performance in light harness, that we were taken to his house in 

 his own carriage by a pair of his mules, then in common family use in that way, within the 

 hour, and without a touch of the whip. 



On the point under consideration, the different breeds of Jacks, General Shelby's opinion 

 is positive, and should carry with it all the weight that habit of close observation and laro-e 

 experience can impart. He maintains, without question, that the Ass belongs to a family, 

 possessing as many varieties as that of the horse; the size, tbrm, and general appearance in 

 the one being as dissimilar, in different races, as in the otlier. By judiciously crossing, says 

 he, tlie different varieties of horses, other varieties have been obtained, better ad.apted to the 

 particular purposes of the breeder — so likewise may the Jack be improved. This list sug- 

 gestion is in strict accordance with the fact stated by Mr. Custis, who, in his letter to Mr. Pome- 

 roy, after exemplifying the remarkable difference of properties which distinguished the Royal 

 Gift and the Knight of Malta, says that (General Washington bred a favourite Jack called 

 Compound from the cross of Spanish and Maltese, putting the Knight of Malta sent out by 

 General Lafayette to the large jennet sent out by the king of Spain along with the Royal 

 Gift. The Jack produced by tliis cross, Mr. Custis says " was a very superior animal, very 

 long bodied, well set, with all the qualities of the Knight iind the weight of the Spanish 

 breed — he was sire of some of the finest mules at Mount Vernon, and died from accident. 



In full support of tliese views and descriptions of difference of breed in Jacks, we have 

 yet in reserve an authoritj' on whicti we place the highest confidence and value. It is that 

 of J. N. Hambi.eton, Esq., of the United States Navy — whoso profession.! duties carry him 

 to different quarters of the world, and who, moreover, carries with him on his travels very 

 rare advantages and habits, such as, be it said, en passant, it behoves all our young officers 

 to acquire and to pr.ictiso — ho has been studious to gain the command of languages, which 

 he takes with hitn, as so many keys, to utilock and examine the stores that contain whatever 

 is curious or useful, wherever he goes. With thi-se advantages he combines an inquisitive 

 disposition and the ficulty of clear discrijnin.ation. What fruitful sources, these, of intel- 

 lectual enjoyment ! what sure gii irantees of extraordinary inf )rination and usefulness ! 



Mr Hitnbleton, on the question of di^erent breeds of Asses, states, as the result of inquiry 

 and personal observation during years of service and travel alon;; the shores of the Mediter- 

 ranean, that " The Multese .Ass i-i without ilnubt the best — he has greater activity and en- 

 durance tlian the coarse Jack of Spain and France ; and in his fine limbs and deer-like form, 

 36 



