102 THE MORGAN HORSE 



at Randolph at the time Morgan had the horse, and knew about it. 

 Old Uncle Nye was a very safe, good sort of a man, and as nice about 

 a horse as any that ever came into this country". 



In this story, though confused by time and repetition, the history 

 of True Briton, sire of Justin Morgan, is apparent; owned (not im- 

 ported) by an officer in the Revolution with the French name of 

 DeLancey. 



When we had this interview with Mr. Benham, we supposed that 

 this locating of the horse at or near Burlington referred to the time 

 when he was owned at Montpelier, or immediately thereafter. But 

 the discovery of the following advertisement, hitherto unknown, 

 proves that it referred to the latter part of the period when he was 

 owned by Justin Morgan. This advertisement also furnishes the 

 final proof of the identity of Figure and the Justin Morgan, and 

 confirms, under the hand of Justin Morgan himself, the already 

 proven fact that this famous animal was a son of DeLancey's True 

 Briton. The advertisement is taken from the " Rutland Herald" 

 of May, 1 795 , and the volume was found in the " Herald " office at Rut- 

 land Vermont,but can also be seen at the library of the Antiquarian 

 society, Worcester, Massachusetts: 



" Figure will cover this season at stable of Samuel Allen in Wil- 

 liston, and at a stable in Hinesburgh, formerly owned by Mr. Munson. 

 He will stand at Williston till the eighteenth of May ; then to Hines- 

 burgh, where he will stand one week ; then back to Williston, to con- 

 tinue through the season, one week in each place. With regard to 

 said horse's beauty, strength and activity, the subscriber flatters him- 

 self that the curious will be best satisfied to come and see. 



"Figure sprang from a curious horse owned by Col. DeLancey 

 of New York, but the greatest recommend I can give him is, he is 

 exceedingly sure, and gets curious colts. JUSTIN MORGAN. 



Williston, April 30, 1/95". 



Williston adjoins South Burlington, and Hinesburgh touches Wil- 

 liston on the south. 



It will be noted that Mr. Morgan refers to DeLancey by his 

 proper title of colonel. In the passage of a century, the title of gen- 

 eral had been substituted and this error had been corrected by J. 

 Fenimore Cooper, and a critical examination of the history of that 

 period established the fact that the officer who lost True Briton 

 could have been no other than Colonel James DeLancey and now 

 Justin Morgan speaks from the tomb, in whose silence he has rested 

 for more than ninety years, to tell us that he had the same exact 

 information. 



