CAVALRY HORSES. 103 



marches of many weeks, or even months' duration, in subsisting, 

 without material deterioration or loss of condition, on grass alone, 

 without grain or dry forage of any kind, and in enduring all 

 inclemencies of weather, hot or cold, wet or dry, picketed in the 

 open air, they are not to be surpassed, if, indeed, they can be 

 equalled, by any cavalry horses in the world. 



^ hat they would do in a single charge against the elite of 

 European cavabies, mounted on horses of at least three parts 

 pure blood, is very doubtful; since, if the charge be made 

 home on both sides, the more swiftly moving body, of any thing 

 like equal weight, must of the two prevail — inasmuch as the 

 impetus of any moving power is necessarily in the ratio of its 

 weight into its velocity — but in the preservation of efficiency 

 for long periods, and through more severe hardships, unless it 

 be the Cossacks, it is probable that no cavalry in existence could 

 compete with them. 



On this head, however, before closing this volume, I hope to 

 have fuller information from head-quarters. 



I now proceed, not without some delicacy, but without the 

 slightest hesitation or distrust of the correctness of my opinion, 

 to the consideration of a branch of this subject, which has, of 

 late years, created much excitement, in particular quarters; 

 and which has been debated and discussed, as is too much the 

 case with all debatable matters in our excitable community, 

 with an eagerness of partisanship, that falls but little short of 

 degenerating into personal acrimony and recrimination. 



I mean the stock, type, or family, of horses, as they claim 

 to be considered, generally known as the Morgans ; which, it 

 would appear, are, in the eyes of some persons, in the Eastern 

 States more especially, the only horse in existence which pos- 

 sesses any merits ; and the only one fit for real service on the 

 road, or in the stud. 



Fully admitting the peculiar excellencies of this stamp of 

 horse for the purposes and uses to which he is applicable, yet 

 by no means going to the extreme length of its ultra advocates, 

 I proceed to give my views of its origin, present condition, and 

 general utility ; as well as of the mode to be observed in main- 

 taining the character of this type of animal undeteriorated. 



I scarcely expect that my views will be satisfactory to the 



