368 THE TROTTING-HORSE OF AMERICA. 



two-mile-heat race to wagons was never seen before, and has 

 never been seen since. But, if a horse is wanted to stand 

 trsliining and trotting at three or four years old, I admit that 

 he must be fed and forced young. 



Before the next spring came, Eoff had arrived from Cali- 

 fornia with the brown stallion George M. Patohen, jun., and 

 had begun to throw out hints that he was Dexter's master. 

 At that time it was thought Mr. Teakle owned the California 

 stallion ; but this was not the case. He was, however, part 

 owner of Dexter ; and Eoff had driven Princess for him 

 ■when he owned her. At my birth-day dinner on the 22d 

 of February, there was a considerable celebration^ My 

 friends mustered very strong. The Long-Island breeders 

 of game-fowl fought a main of cocks as a part of the sports 

 of the day, and after dinner we all got warm and merry. 

 Finally, Eoff began to say what he would do with Patchen. 

 He would trot him three miles, and this and that, agaiast 

 Dexter. At last I got rather excited, and, encouraged by 

 Oliver Marshall and Foster, offered to back Dexter against 

 his horse, three-mile heats. Dexter to pull a wagon, and ho 

 to go in harness, for five thousand dollars a side. 



At first Eoff pretended that he would make it ; but when 

 I stated the proviso, that the owners of Dexter must let me 

 have him or it was no match, he objected to the proviso. 

 Up to that time, some had thought that Eoff would have 

 Dexter ; but, when he objected to the proviso, I immediatelj' 

 discovered that Mr. Alley still had sole control of the horse, 

 and that Eoff was afraid he would let me have him for that 

 match. In due season, Peter Conover brought him back to 

 me, and he was put in work. Mr. AUey soon after decided 

 to sell him ; and in " Wilkes' Spirit of the Times," of April 

 14, 1866, he was advertised to be sold on the Union Course, 

 by auction, on the 9th of May. When he was put up, the 

 first, bidder was John Morrissey, who offered $11,000: 

 that was before he was elected to Congress, you know ! 

 Then William Saunders, a very good, sagacious horseman, 



