RECOLLECTIONS OF MEN AND HORSES 



Thorne suggested Mambrino Chief, because he liked 

 his strength and his way of going, although his feet 

 were not the best, being subject to quarter crack. 

 Other parties recommended Burr's Washington, the 

 sire of Lady Washington, and Mr. Clay went home 

 in doubt. January 2, 1854, Mr. Clay wrote to Mr. 

 Thorne to buy Washington at $3000 if he liked him. 

 Mr. Thorne frankly replied that he did not like the 

 horse and then Mr. Clay requested him to buy Mam- 

 brino Chief at $4000. At first he had declared that 

 he would not give more than $3000 for any horse 

 in existence, but changed his mind and sent Josiah 

 Downing, " a good judge of horse flesh," to Dutchess 

 County to ride the stallion to Lexington, Mr. 

 Thorne wanted Downing to see Washington and he 

 took him to Tim Jackson's place, Jamaica, L. I., for 

 that purpose. It was early in February and the stal- 

 lion was found in the barnyard looking quite rough. 

 As soon as Downing saw the horse he exclaimed: 



" Is that the brute? If he is bought, a nigger will 

 have to lead him into Lexington I won't." 



"We then went to look at Biggart's Rattler," 

 said Mr. Thorne, " and found him tied to a post 

 in front of a tavern. Biggart was inside and drunk. 

 Downing did not like the horse, and preferred Mam- 

 brino Chief to every stallion that he saw." 



Mr. Clay wrote to Mr. Thorne: 



" I send you check for $2000 and note for $2000. 

 I am glad I got Mambrino Chief, as I preferred 



