The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-06-21

he speaks of enjoying the victory of
favorite horse, and the death of the
fox, he never put but one horse in train
ing to run, never run but single race,
and he very rarely Joined in the pleasant
excitement-he knew it to be too pleas.
SAINT for the aspiring student-of the
chase. With such qualities of mind and
character, with the favor of powerful
friends and relatives, and even of vice.
royalty to urge him onward, Mr. Jeffer
son was not young man to be lightly
regarded by the young or old of either
sex.
He became Of age in l76l.
Not anticipating o particular recur-
renee to this topic, few particulars of
interest to those
"Whose word is snahc, spur and spear"
may here bo presented.
Notwithstanding Mr.. Jefferson was no
turfman, he ever retained the partiality
of Virginian for this sport, and rarely
lost convenient opportunity, even when
President, of witnessing a promising
race. His marked fondness for horses
commenced aud ended only with his life
His preference was for the Virginia race
horses; be did TO, ride, and was scarcely
willing to drive, any other. Two or three
pages of his farm book are devoted to
the pedigrees of those purchased, or Sc,
lected from his breeding stock, for his
own use, He usually kept several fine
brood mares and we shall find Cornwall
lis, in his predatory excursions in Vir.
gnia carrying away the serviceable ones,
and cutting the throats of the others,
and all the colts Mr.. Jefferson was
very particular in the care of horses, and,
when young, was fastidious in tho last
degree in regard to their appearance.
When his riding horse was led out, if his
polished coat shono not as faultlcssly as q
mirror, he rubbed it with q white pocket
handkerchief, and if this was soiled, the
groom was condemned and admonished
to be more particular in future AS sad
die horses, he preferred feet, high mot.
tied horses, however tameless their tenn
per. Col Thomas Jefferson Randolph,
in letter 10 us, says:
A bold and fearless rider, you saw
at glance from his easy and confident
seat, that he was master Of his horse
which was usually the fine blood horse Of
Virginia. The only impatienco of tenn
per he exhibited, was with his horse,
which he subdued 10 his will by fear.
less application of tho whip on the slight
est manifestation Of restivcness. He re-
tanned to the last his fondness for riding
on horseback; he rode within three weeks
OF his death, when from disease, debility
and age, he mounted with difficulty. He
rode with confidence, and never permit.
ted servant to accompany him. lie was
fond of solitary rides and musiug, and
said that the presence of servant annoy.
ed him.
/ This aversion to the common Virginia
custom of being followed by n servant,
was very strong. His right wrist was
disocatcd in France, and his left one.
many years afterwards, by fall on bis
terrace, and they never SO far recovered
as to be strong and firm. As he prcsist-
ed in riding high-mettled horses, his
daughter, Mrs. Randolph, often besought
him to allow servant to accompany
him, but without avail On one occa-
sionn attempting to cross Mooro's creek,
near its confluence with the Rivanna, by
ford not recently used, his horse des.
cending the steep bank suddenly stuck
fast in newly formed bar of mud, and
Mr.. Jefferson was thrown over his head
into the stream. With his crippled arms,
he found it difficult to save himself from
drowning. Mrs. Randolph now added
tears to cntreaties, but the reply was
that he would not be followed by ser.
want He dispensed with his rule only
on distant journeys.
Until after midlifc, he rarely drew rein
for broken ground, and, when in haste
unhesitatingly dashed through the Rivan.
na,even when the usually quiet stream was
SWOLLEN into wide and rapid river by
rains. Instances of his fearless horse
manship, and anecdotes of his superb
horses-'Tbo General, Caractacus,
: Tarquin,' Diomod,' 'Arcturus,' Jacob
in Celer, Eagle etc-aro yet rife in
family tradition and recollection. The
fleet, eager, fiery Eagle, was his last one
and was ridden by him almost daily un-
til within three weeks of his death, ;
though he often required assistance to
mount him from terrace nearly on a
level with the horses neck. Yet this
animal was so spirited that a young
kinsman of Mr.. Jefferson's, who rode with
a company to meet La Fayette at his
last visit to Monticello, found it neces-
sary to quit tho cavalcade, the horse be.
came SO ungoyernably excited by the
noise and crowd On one occasion. when
Mr.. jefferson was old aud deere pid-
long after the accident to his wrists-a
messenger arrived to inform him that a
grandson had met with disaster, and
lay seriously injured at Charlottesville.
The weather was dark and lowering,
night setting in, and he was more than
usually feeble. He directed Eagle to be
brought to the door. His family entreat-
ed him not to set out at such time; but
his order was repeated in a tone which
brooked no further opposition. The mo.
ment he was in the saddle, he struck the
noble horse, who bounded forward with
full speed. His family held their breath
with suspense. expecting he would draw
bride at the NOTCH where the noun.
tain begins to descend abruptly. But
the clatter of hoofs from the rocky pass
|, es, showed them that the fearful race
was continued. He swept by the return
ing messenger like an arrow, and reached
Charlottesville in time that over such
ground would have appalled, the boldest