88 THE MORGAN HORSE 



their several stations encourage frugality, economy and industry, 

 and promote agriculture, arts, and the manufactures of the country, 

 and that they would discountenance and discourage every species of 

 extravagance and dissipation, especially all horse racing and all kinds 

 of gaming, cock-fighting, exhibitions of shows, plays, and other ex- 

 pensive diversions and entertainments. In obedience to this call the 

 jockey club of Annapolis set the patriotic example of abandoning their 

 November races. An attempt to enforce a bet for a trial over the 

 Rye course, which the loser refused to pay, shows the feeling of the 

 people. A jury was demanded, but the men declined to sit upon the 

 case, preferring to go to jail rather than serve in a case contrary to the 

 association of congress. 



"In the fall of 1775, James DeLancey sold out his stud, or such 

 parts as still remained to him, from the house of John Fowler, who 

 kept the tavern in Bowery lane, near the tea-water pump. All of 

 the importations by the Americans were of first-class stock, the strains of 

 the Godolphin Arabian and Bald Galloway being preferred for their 

 speed and staying qualities. DeLancey's Wildair, Lath and Hero 

 were sires of long and illustrious lines, while Roper Dawson's Tele- 

 machus, Williams' Eclipse, and Kearney's Ferdinand were no less 

 esteemed by lovers of fine horses. The papers were full of the ad- 

 vertisements of these animals " to cover" and contain careful state- 

 ments of their long lines of ancestry. The prices for a season seem 

 to have ranged from two to five guineas, with an additional sum for 

 warrants. DeLancey's Lath was a great favorite among breeders. 

 He gave no warranty, but is said to have rarely missed a foal". 



In Lossing's " Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution", vol. II, 

 page 624, is the following note : 



" One of the earliest, most influential and efficient of the loyalist 

 leaders was Oliver DeLancey, who, with his son, Oliver, and nephew, 

 James, performed active service for the king in lower Westchester. 

 He was a brother of Chief Justice (also Lieutenant Governor) DeLan- 

 cey, and was a man of large property and great influence. He was 

 a member of the king's council before the Revolution, and at the 

 beginning of hostilities leaned rather to the popular side. Depre- 

 cating a separation from Britain, he espoused the royal cause after 

 the Declaration of Independence went forth. He was commissioned 

 a brigadier and authorized to raise three battalions of loyalists. 

 This he finally effected. His son, Oliver, was commissioned a cap- 

 tain of horse in 1776; was present at the capture of Gen. Wood- 

 hull ; became major of the Seventh regiment of dragoons ; and after 



