FIRST FRENCH HORSES IN AMERICA 135 



ing next W. E. Prichard, now, as then, a resident of 

 Ottawa, 111. 



"Prichard," quoth Watkins, "look at that, forty- 

 two head, count 'em. Tell you what; this business 

 is going to be overdone and I'm going to stand from 

 under before the bottom drops out of it. ' ' And stand 

 from under he did, getting out of the business shortly 

 afterwards, and though the family was right at the 

 top of the ladder at the time, the name of Watkins 

 is hardly remembered now in its old home location 

 in connection with any such important position. 



Eegarding the three stallions imported by the Co- 

 lumbus firm in 1867 T. L. Bigelow gives the follow- 

 ing descriptions : 



"Black Robert 54, black, weight about 1,500 

 pounds, of pure Norman blood, wonderful action and 

 endurance. 



"Duke of France 165, bay, weight 1,750 pounds, 

 fair success in stud at fee of $20. Sold to go to Ga- 

 lena, Delaware Co., 0. Bay Duke (as we called him) 

 was a beautiful Norman-FVench horse, fine style but 

 not possessing the action of the pure Norman or 

 diligence breed of horses. 



"Napoleon 325, dapple-gray, weight 1,650 pounds, 

 fair success in stud only. Stood mostly at Chillicothe 

 and in Eoss Co., 0. This stallion was awarded first 

 premium at the "World's Fair held at Eouen, France, 

 1866, in competition with some 500 stallions. As was 

 the custom, the owner considered him sold to the 

 Imperial Stud and would not put a price on him on 

 that account for export. Messrs. Brown & Bigelow, 

 however, through the influence of a member of the 

 court, secured a personal audience with the Emperor, 



