"BLACKHAWK," OR THE ORIGIN OF MORGAN HORSES.

Under this head we found recently, an article in the Vermont Watchman, which we give. It was written by JOHN GREGORY, of Northfield, Vt.

I have frequently been asked the origin of the Morgan Horses in Vermont, and whether " Black Hawk," owned by David Hill, Esq., of Bridport, was a descendant of this famous race of horses. Having access to the 9th An. Vol. of the Cultivator (New Series) published at Albany in 1842, I find an account of the first Morgan and Black Hawk, and evidence given by those who could not be deceived in the matter. A son of Justin Morgan, Sen., writes in the Cultivator of said volume thus :

"My father Justin Morgan, brought said horse or colt, into Randolph, Vt., in the summer or autumn of 1796. Said colt was only two years old when my father brought him to Randolph, had never been handled in any way, not even to be led by a halter. My father went to Springfield, Mass., the place of his nativity and the place from which he removed to Randolph, in the spring or summer of 1795, after money that was due to him at that place, as he said; and instead of getting money as he expected, he got two colts, which he led, the other a year or two old stud colt, which followed all the way from Springfield to Randolph; having been, as my father said, always kept with and much attached to the colt he led. Said two year old colt was the same that has since been known all over New England, by the name of the Morgan Horse. My father broke said colt himself; and as I have before remarked, owned and kept him until the time of his death, which took place in March, 1798, and said horse was five years old when my father died-soon after, he passed from my father's estate into the possession of William Rice, of Woodstock, Vt. I cannot state positively that my father purchased said colt in Springfield, Mass., but I am very confident that he purchased him in that town or in the immediate vicinity on Connecticut river, and I know that my father always while he lived called him a Dutch Horse." JUSTIN MORGAN.

Stockbridge, Vt., March 1, 1842.

Also, see Cultivator Vol. 9, page 110. John Morgan resides in Lima, New York State, and is a relative of Justin Morgan, Sen., and was a neighbor of the latter previous to his return from Springfield, Mass., to Vermont. In relation to the above named colt as described by Justin Morgan Jr., John Morgan says:

"He was sired by a horse owned by Sealy Norton, of East Hartford, Conn., called the "True Briton or Beautiful Bay." He was kept at Springfield one season, by the said Justin Morgan, Sen., and two years after I kept him two seasons. His horse was said to have

been raised by General Delancey, commander of the refugee troops on Long Island, and rode by him in the Revolution. It was said that Smith stole the horse from the General, at King's Bridge, while the General was in the tavern, ran him across the bridge and took ⚫ him to the American Army, near White Plains, and sold him to Joseph Ward, of Hartford, Conn., for $300. It was also said at that time, that he was sired by the imported horse, called "Traveller," said to have been kept in New Jersey."

Mr. Wrissinger, editor of the Louisville (Ky.) Journal, in reference to the Morgan Horses, says in 1845:

Of the old Morgan progeny three became famous as stallions, viz: the Sherman Morgan, the Woodbury or Burbank and the Chelsea or Bullrush. Of these the Sherman Morgan was greatly the most distinguished. I have ascertained to a certainty that he died in the winter of 1835. Black Hawk was sired by him."

In 1845, S. W. Jewett, in an article in the Cultivator says:

"The figure above is a portrait of Black Hawk, a colt of the Sherman Morgan which was got by the old Justin Morgan Horse. The dam of Black Hawk was a three quarter blooded English Mare, raised in the province of New Brunswick. She could trot a mile in less than three minutes, and weighed 1025 pounds, and was in every respect a most perfect animal.

"Black Hawk was bred by Mr. Mathews, of Durham, N. H. He is a jet black color; weighs in good flesh 1040 pounds; his height is 15 hands and one inch. A line drawn from the hip even with the ham, just below the setting of the tail, is four inches longer than the back or the distance from the hip to the withers. A line dropped perpendicular from the neck parallel with the fore leg, is nineteen inches forward of the junction of the withers. The distance between the hips and the ribs, is only one and a half inch. He has a broad and vigorous arm, flat and clean leg, large muscles, short from the knee to the pastern, large wind-pipe, and nostrils well open when under motion. He is one of the best proportioned and most elegant moving horses that can be produced. His colts are very fine and in good demand."

So wrote S. W. Jewett nine years ago. The common saying among those who affect to decry Black Hawk and his race, that Mr. Hill, since our State Fair, is trying to make the people believe his horse to be a descendant of the Sherman Morgan, and that he denied any affinity to the Morgan breed before, was conceived in prejudice and jealousy. Mr. Hill always declared his horse to be a Sherman Morgan, and always felt proud of belonging to the Morgan family. Black Hawk was purchased by David Hill, Esq., of Bridport, Vt., of Benjamin Thurston of Lowell, Mass. A number of his colts have been sold, at the age of four, five and six years old, for $1,000, 1,500, 2,000 and 2,600. Probably no race of horses have ever commanded such high prices as the Black Hawk's progeny. Mr. Jewett in 1845, wrote of Black Hawk:

"For bottom and for speed he cannot be surpassed. When a colt he trotted in harness on Cambridge Park, one mile in two minutes and 42 seconds, without training. In a match for $1000, that came off at the Cambridge Trotting Park 12th July, 1842, against Osceola, five miles and repeat, he won with ease although very fat and not in train. The first heat was performed in 16 minutes and 30 seconds, the second in 16 minutes. In October following, he won a sweep stakes of $200, beating Grey Tim and Dying Sergeant. He had previously won matches for $400 or $500, and in fact has never been beaten !"

We have admired this noble horse and his progeny, and have felt proud of having such a royal family within our State. They may be called the "fancy horses" of Vermont, and as there are fancy men with pockets full of the "rocks" to buy them, success say we to the Black Hawks. May they never be less!

That there are other branches of Morgans that are valuable for our farmers to raise is also true, viz: the " Bullrush" and "Woodburys." Who does not admire the "Green Mountain Morgan," and the "Old Comet," that died three years ago? They were not far behind Black Hawk-especially Comet, who grew large by being put under way, making many believe him to be a different horse in seeing him travel, from what he was in standing still. The owner, Mr. Root, used to drive him with a single line in advance of the horse he rode, and many have told me that they thought him as gay as any horse living-sprightly and active-his head thrown over his withers proud as a peacock, bringing up his feet so quick as to start the grass under them. He died a few years ago, leaving behind some very extra stock. as Gen. Chase, of Lyndon, and others would be proud to testify."

CLEANSE YOUR WATER TROUGHS.

MEETING OF HORSES ON THE WATER QUESTION.

REPORTED FOR THIS JOURNAL BY THE GREY MARE.

A few mornings ago some of the inhabitants of a small town in Maine, observed a regular stampede among the neighbors' horses; they were going like jehu, at the rate of two forty, over hedges and ditches, in true steeple chase style. Such an unusual occurrence created somewhat of a sensation, and the townsmen appointed a committee of one, to come the Indian over the truant horses, (track them) and report accordingly; but just as the individual was starting on the smelling expedition, back came the whole troupe; each one in a very orderly and horse-like manner, marched into their owners'

stable; and this would have been an end to the matter but for the Grey Mare to whom we are indebted six quarts of oats for the following document:

"At a meeting of horses held at the cross roads in the region of horsedom, the delegates consisting of some of the most respectable nags of the day, (Know-Somethings), the following preamble was offered by the Deacon's bob-tailed sorrel:-"Whereas, it has pleased the Legislators of the Hydropathic State of Maine, to enact a law compelling the inhabitants of her respective cities and towns to erect at various points on the highway, a certain number of pumps and water-troughs, for the accommodation of both man and beast; and we, as the recipients of their consideration and legislative mercy, tender to them our equine gratitude, and hope they will accept our paws in token of sincerity." At this moment an old spavined horse, commonly denominated Know Nothing, threw himself back on his haunches, (signifying he had got the floor) and made the following remarks:

"He believed that the action of the Legislature was wise and salutary, and would be the means of doing much good, provided the troughs could become better acquainted with a broom or scrubbing brush; he had often imbibed at the highway trough, and in some cases the filthy stuff, misnamed water, was a compound of slime and other rubbish, a poor apology for Simon Pure, bad enough to make even a horse vomit.

He had noticed that some of the troughs were receptacles for old quids, broken pipes and friction matches; and besides being public wash bowls for truant boys and loafers, they were often used by drivers to wash their boots in.

He doubted very much if their masters derived any benefit from the arrangement, for he never saw one of them imbibe from such a source, but had observed them at times to take a little drop of the critter, and it was curious to notice the effect of the same. The horse invariably gets the benefit of it in the form of sundry kicks, curses and whippings, and the more critter they drank the more brutal they became."

At this stage of the proceedings the speaker was interrupted by a black hawk, who remarked that it was about time to make tracks for home, and proposed to adjourn the meeting until the next opportunity. Adjourned accordingly.

Every man ought to endeavor at eminence, not by pulling others down, but by raising himself.

RINGBONE OCCURRING IN HORSES.

Ringbone is a form of exostotic disease, the pathology, or nature of which, not differing materially from spavin and splint. Its location is the pastern bone. Most generally, the joint is involved, so that the final result is anchylosis, (loss of motion) in the joint formed by the os suffraginis, and os corona, (large and small pastern bones.)

Nature of Ringbone.-The term ringbone, is far behind the times as regards our present knowledge of nosology, (which signifies the doctrine of the names of diseases ;) yet to the unprofessional, it is somewhat suggestive, and therefore may as well be retained. It signifies a circular eminence around the pastern bone. The ring is formed by incrustation, or osseous deposit around the bone, or joint, as the case may be; yet, in order to make out a case, that comes strictly within the meaning of the word—that is, as horsemen interpret it-there must exist complete anchylosis of the pastern joint.

Various osseous deposits are now and then thrown out on the pastern and coronet bones, varying in shape, size, and seat; they are often unaccompanied by lameness, and consequently, stable-men have named them "cling-fasts," or something of the sort. They all, however, come under the disease known as exostosis.

A pure case of ringbone-anchylosis-generally has an external origin; we find that an osseous deposit commences at the lower margin of the pastern, and upper part of the coronet bones; this spreads so as to involve both joint and ligamentary tissue; and if there be any predisposition in the animal, to ossificic diseases, the malady may spread, so as to involve fetlock, pastern, and coffin joints.

Causes of Ringbone.-This disease, in many cases, is hereditary, transmitted, either directly or indirectly, through the sexual congress. We shall not contend that its direct origin is a settled point, but merely intimate, in support of this opinion, that we have seen colts of only a few weeks' growth the subjects of this disease. We once bought an unweaned colt, and brought it up by hand, as the saying is. At the age of four months, we observed tumefaction on the pastern of both hind legs, which ultimately resulted in stiff joint. The little creature had never been subjected to any sort of labor or exercise to produce lameness, and therefore the disease must have originated at birth. Mr. Percival, whose opinion on veterinary matters is unquestioned, says that his attention to the hereditary origin of ringbone, was first aroused from a remark made by an extensive dealer in horses, in reply to a question put to him, how it happened, that but few ringbones were met with, compared to the number that attracted notice in times past. The reply was: "Because no breeder of horses