106 THE HORSE, 



It is not easy to ascertain precisel}^ at what time the claim to 

 the existence of this family, as a peculiar, new and distinct strain 

 of blood, capable of reproduction through an indefinite series 

 of years, was spread abroad, beyond the boundaries of Yer- 

 mont. 



But it appears, from the fact that no endeavors were made 

 to ascertain the origin of this so-called family, until about the 

 commencement of the tliird decade of the present century, to be 

 certain that, previous to that time, there was no such foreign 

 demand for the animal, as to make it necessary to discover, or 

 in default of discovery, to trump up a pedigree for the family, 

 which should in some sort justify its pretensions, and account 

 for its alleged power of reproduction. 



Tlie reputation of these horses since that period, has spread 

 incredibly ; until, at this moment, the rage for Morgans is com- 

 parable only to that which, a few years since, possessed the 

 popular mind, for the mortis multicaulis ; and, still more re- 

 cently, for Slianghai poultry, and lop-eared rabbits. 



In the year 1856, the Agricultural Society of the State of 

 Vermont awarded their " first premium to Mr. D. C. Linsley, of 

 Middlebury, Yermont, for his elaborate essay on the Morgan 

 horse." 



On this work, therefore, I take it for granted that we have 

 to rely, for all the authentic information that exists concerning 

 the origin of the first sire of the stock ; concerning the qualifi- 

 cations assumed to be distinctive of the stock, if such it can be 

 called ; and, lastly, concerning the points of evidence going to 

 prove that there is any such stock, whatever, in the proper 

 acceptation of the term, which can be shown to be the family 

 of that one individual animal. 



Tliat Mr. Linsley has taken all possible pains to investigate 

 his subject, is not to be questioned. That he is deeply interest- 

 ed in the cause, is no less certain ; since the whole volume is 

 interwoven with a thread of ingenious special pleading in favor 

 of this particular race, and in depreciation of all otlier races, 

 but more especially in depreciation of the thoroughbred horse. 



Indeed, it is not a little singular to contrast his earnestness 

 in running down the thoroughbred horse, as a progenitor of 

 useful horses for general work, with his equal earnestness in 



