159 



advanced the interests of their country, by the advocacy of this 

 newij-risen sport, and gradually improving race of animals, as 

 the distinguished gentlemen to whom I have alluded in 

 another place, as tlie true patrons of the turf. 



During this year, Edwin Forrest ruled the roast, challenging 

 any horse in the world to contend with him at four-mile heats, 

 for any sum, from $5,000 to $10,000, without finding a taker. 



In the spring, at Centreville, Rolla, a new horse, beat old 

 Columbus, three-mile heats, in 8.13 — 8.05 — 8.07, which was 

 at that time considered very fair, not to say good going, never 

 having been much outdone, except by Columbus himself, though 

 soon to be reduced so low down as the sevens with a fraction. 



In July, Blackbird, of whom I have spoken above, as one of 

 Mr. George Wilson's pair, shortly afterwards made his debut, as 

 a green one from Maine, and beat Richard III. and Master 

 Burke, mile heats, best three in five, in three straight heats ; 

 2.55.-2.55.-2.54. 



I may here add, that the Blackbird was the %.\-iX fast trot- 

 ting-horse over whose back I put my leg ; and that he and his 

 mate, Jerry — a little the larger of the two, both being consid- 

 erably under 15 hands, formed the prettiest, pleasantest, most 

 gentlemanly-looking, and a long way short of being the slowest^ 

 pair of pony trotting-horses I ever saw in the hands of a private 

 gentleman. 



Many things have passed since those days ; many changes 

 have rolled over the great city, which has been trebled in size, in 

 population, in wealth, in commerce, and in luxury ; and I see but 

 few, around me, who remember the things that then were, as 

 they were. Many a good and gallant heart is cold, which would, 

 I sometimes imagine, feel strangely and at a loss, if it wei-e in- 

 formed again by the warm life-blood, and brought back to 

 revisit the places which it would no longer recognize. And 

 though I abhor the character of a croaker, and would shun, 

 above almost all things, to believe myself a mere laudator tem- 

 poris acti^ regret I must those old times, as fuller far of man- 

 hood, of reality, of truth, as heartier and healthier, and in every 

 way more generous and human, than the new days of effemi- 

 nacy and flippancy, of womanish luxuries and unmanly vices, 



