118 THE HORSE. 



the soundest, hardiest and most active, not desert-descended 

 races. 



It is because I do like tlie class of horse, that I protest against 

 its being forged into a family. 



It is but human nature, that the owners of stallions, really 

 descended from this Justin Morgan horse, now that the name of 

 Morgan has obtained, should claim that all the virtues which 

 the stock or class so named do or might possess, come directly 

 from the loins of that horse ; and that the nine-millionth part of 

 a drop of his blood, infused into the veins of any screw, will 

 produce a Morgan. 



It is equally human nature, that the name of Morgan having 

 once become the fashion, every breeder who has a likely stal- 

 lion, however bred, and even if much more highly bred than 

 any of the present real Morgans could be — if there were any — 

 will assert it to be a Morgan. IS'o difficult matter, by the way, 

 since in Mr. Linslej^'s work there are recounted by name 

 above two hundred and fifty Morgan stallions, now covering ; 

 and I mj^self know sons of some among these very stallions, 

 which may again have sons of theirs, at this moment serving 

 mares. In other words, there may be two farther generations 

 of Morgan stallions, than he has named ; which, for aught that 

 one can tell, may extend the present number 'of foal-getting 

 Morgans to some thousands; at the same time that it reduces 

 the quantity of Justin Morgan blood, in the veins of each, to 

 one one thousand and twenty-fourth part. If this be not run- 

 ning the doctrine of hereditary succession, and the divine right 

 of blood, into the ground, I do not know what should do so. 



The starchest stickler for thorough blood never started so 

 untenable a position as this ; and I dare say never will. 



I will now briefly record the qualities, for which I believe 

 this type of horses to be really renowned ; I will give my 

 own hypothesis as to what this type is, and whence it sprang, 

 and, in conclusion, how far it is to be depended on, and how 

 used, to-day. 



According to what may be fairly deduced from the very 

 conflicting accounts of the Morgans, as they now exist, it may, I 

 think, be stated, that they are a small, compact, active style of 



