242 THE MORGAN HORSE 



bred horses on the American continent of similar build and characteristics ; 

 one of which at least, Sherman Morgan , bred close to the Danville line, be- 

 came far more famous than Copperbottom. The Morgan was derived 

 largely, if not wholly, from the very best blood on this continent, and by its 

 inherent merit, under adverse circumstances, founded a family. When 

 this blood crossed into Canada, why should it not have operated there to 

 produce a branch of this family, the same as it did in Vermont, New Hamp- 

 shire, Massachusetts and all other localities where it is known to have gone ? 

 No people are keener to appreciate merit in horses than the French-Cana- 

 dians, and it is impossible to resist the conviction that no sooner did the Mor- 

 gan blood enter into their country thajn they bred to it ; and that thus they 

 raised that breed of pacers, that rose up through the Province like the leaves 

 of the forest or the foam on the river, and which, because of their merit as 

 well as numbers, were taken in large numbers to the States, where their blood 

 frequently revolutionized all previous breeding and became the popular 

 strain. 



We will now examine the evidence respecting the introduction of the pacer 

 into the Province of Quebec. 



In returning from one of our trips to Canada we came to the pretty 

 hamlet of Freleighsburgh, composed of about equal parts of valleys and hills, 

 with a sparkling and beautiful river winding through. It was after a long 

 journey and our horses needed their dinner, if not rest. At the hotel we 

 were told that Thomas Pickering, who lived on the hill, some five miles from 

 the village, was excellent authority on all matters of history, as he had for 

 many years spent much time in gathering historical information. The feel- 

 ing was so strong among those of the citizens present that he should be seen 

 that we hired a livery team and drove to Mr. Pickering's house. He gave us 

 much valuable information, and among other things said : 



" Father came here a little less than seventy years ago. I am sixty-four. 

 There were no pacers in the French country. The pacers from Canada 

 came from the States to start with ; Yankees used to cheat the Frenchmen 

 in trading pacing mares. A man named King lived here many years ago, 

 who used to work for Gov. Chittenden, on Onion River, Vermont. King 

 lived to be nearly one hundred years old. He has told me many times about 

 taking pacing mares into the French country and trading them to the French. 

 There were no roads here then, only a blazed path through the woods to the 

 French country. He used to go alone, taking half a dozen of these pacing 

 mares at a time fastened together by head and tail. Once, he said, he went 

 as far as Quebec. He had an extra memory and would tell every little par- 

 ticular about the trades. He came through Fairfield, and went through St. 

 Caesaire and St. Hyacinthe. Formerly there were only ponies in the French 

 country. King used to tell, too, how Yankees would cheat the Frenchmen 

 with pacing mares. No matter how old they were, they wanted them. King 

 died twenty-five years ago or more. King came originally from New Jersey. 

 He brought pacing mares into Canada as early as 1795." 



