Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-08-03
Origin of Mules in the United States.

Origin of Mules in the United States.
Mr.. George Washington P. Gusts, in his lastpa-
per, under the title of RecollectlonS and Private
Memoirs of the life and character OF Washington,
gives the following account OF the Introduction OF
mules into this country, Which will he found very
interesting:
Upon WaShington'S first retirement in 1TS3, he
became convinced of the defective nature OF the
working animals employed in the agriculture OF the
Southern States, and set about remedying the evil
by the introduction of mules instead OF horses the
mule being found to live longer, be less liable to
disease, require less food, and Ill every respect 10
be more serviCeable and economical than the horse
in the agricultural labor of the Southern States
Up to the year 1773 scarcely any mules were 10 be
found in the American Confederation; few had
been imported from the WeSllnde but they were
of diminutive size and Of little value. So soon as
the views on this subject Of the illusrouS farmer
of Mount Vernon were thrown abroad, he received
present from The king Of Spain OF jack and two
jennes, selected from the royal stud at Madrid
The jack called the Royal Gift, was sixteen hands,
of gray color, heavily made, and oil sluggish
disposition.
At the same time, the Marquis de Lafayette sent
out a JACK and ennieS from the Island OF Malta;
this jack called the Knight of Malta, was superb
| animal, black color, with the form OF a stag and
the ferocty of tiger. Washington availed him
self of the best qualities of the Two jacks by cross
ing the breeds, and hence obtained favorIte jacN,
called Compound, which animal united the size
and strength of the Gift with the courage and &c.
tivity OF the Knight. The jack arrived at Mount
Vernon, if we mistake not early in l7S9 The
General bred some very superior mules trom his
coach mares, sending them from Philadelphia for
the purpose. In few years the estate of Mount
Vernon became stocked with mules of n superior
order rising TO the height of sixteen h; nds and OF
great power and usefulness, one wagon tenn OF
four mules selling at the sale OF the Generals et-
fects for $500.
In no proportion of Washingtons various labOrS
and Improvements in agriculture, was he Sopartic-
Ilally entitled 10 be hailed public benetactor
as in the introduction OF mules in farming labor,
those anm-ls being at this time almost exclusive
ly used for farming purposes 1.-THE Southern States
BALLooN1NG.-AP Paris correspondent OF the New
York Times. dated Paris, June 18th, says: ga
balloon assembled from the Arena yesterday, with
heavy cannon instead Of car. When about
fifty fee. fIom the ground, the match was applied
by the eronaut, who had fastened himself i'll some
way, among the corJage. The discharge filled The
air with little gilt Lals tissue paper parachutes,
and cloud OF explosive, cracking torPedoeS, sell
penis and other wh'zzing and zlgZag etielvts-
cenceS; it set the cannon swinging like pendu-
um from the effects of the rebound, and lghten-
ed the balloon of three or four pounds weight
This increase in buoyancy was very perceptbe,
for its ascent was considerably accelerated. At
about the same moment, the balloon from the
Hippodrome started also its voyage, carrying up
below it the two brothers BuiSay, hanging lead
downwards, one beneath the other, supported from
cross bars. Mere 6alooning has long since lost its
interest in Paris; the attraction is now centred in
the object translated to the skies. The cannon
and the two men upside down, drew immense
audiences. while the balloons alone would have
attrLcred meagre attendance"