The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-07-11
So PER ANNUM.

indulged without regard to expense. The
rich planters We'd with each other in their
studs, importing the best English stocks.
Mention is made Of one of the Randolphs
OF Tuckahoe, who built a stable for his
fayorite d"ppIe gray horse, Shakespeare,
with recess for the bed of the negro
groom, who always slept beside him at
night.
Washington, by his marriage, had add
ed about one hundred thousand dollars
to his already considerable fortune, and
was enabled to live in ample and digni-
he'd style. His intimacy with the Fair
faxes, and his intercourse with British
officers Of rank, had, perhaps, had their
influence on his mode Of living. He had
his chariot and four, with black positions
in livery, for the use of Mrs. Washington
and her lady visitors. AS for himself. he
always appeared on horseback. His sta
ble was well filed, and admirably recu.
lated. His stud was thoroughbred and
IN excellent order. His household books
contains registers of the names, ages and
marks of his favorite horses such as Ajax.
Bluestin, Valiant, Magnolia, Ian Arai.) }
DC. Also his dogs, chiefly fox.hounds,
Vulcan, Singsr, Ringwood, Sweetlips,
Forester, MLsic, lockwood, Tluelove,
tSc.*
A large Virginia estate, in those DAYS,
was little empire. The mansion house
was The seat Of government, with its nu.
merous dependencies, such as kitchens,
smoke.house, Workshop and the stables.
in this mansion the planter ruled supreme;
his steward, OF overSecr, was his prime
minister or executive officer; he hal his
Legion Of house negroes for domestic SER
vice, and his host Of field negroes for the
culture Of tobacco, Indian corn, and other
crops and for other out of.door labor.
Their quarter formed n kind of hamlet
apart, composed of various hu,s, with lit
tie gardens and poultry yards, all we'll
stocked, and swarms Of little negroes q an
boiling in the sunshine. Then there were
large wooden edifices for curing tobacco,
the staple and mos: profitable production,
and mills for grinding wheat and Indian
corn, # which large fields were cultivated
for the supply Of the family and the main
tcnance Of the negroes.
lie was an early riser, often before day
break in the winter when the nights were
lo:g. On such occasions he lit his own
fire, and wrote or read by candle light.
lie breakfasted at seven in Summer, at
eight in Winter. Two small cups of tea
and three or four ca'es Of Indian meal
(caIled hoe cakes formed his frugal re-
past. Immediately after breakfast lie
mounted his horse and visited those parts
OF the estate where any work was going
on, seeing TO everything with his own
eyes, and very often aiding with his own
hands.
Dinner was served at two o'clock. lie
eat heartily, but was no epicure, nor criti-
cal about food. His beverage was small
beer, or ci6er, and two glasses Of old Ma.
deria. lie took tea, OF which he was very
fond, early in the evening, and retired for
tho night about 9 o'clock.
If cobfned to the house by bal wealth
er, he took that occasion TO arrange his
papers, post up his accounts, or write let
ters--passing part Of the time in reading,
and occasionally reading aloud to the fl-
mily.
He treated his negroes with kindness
attended to their comforts; was particu-
larry careful Of them in sickness, but never
tolerated idleness, aud exacted q faithful
performance Of their allotted tasks. He
Elm ono OF his letter books we find orders,
on his London agent, for riding equipments.
For example;
! Mans riding saddle, hog. skin seat, large
plated stirrups, and every thing complete
Doubie-reined bride and Pelham Bit pla-.
ted.
A very neat and fashionable Newnarke
saddle-cloth.
A large and best portmanteau, saddle, bri-
die and Pinlon.
!. Cloak -bagsureingIe, checked saddle cloth,
holsters, &c.
A riding feock Of handsome drab-
ecIored broadeloth, with plain double gilt
buthns.
A riding waistcoat Of superfne scarlet
cloth and gold Iase, with buttons like those
of the coat.
"A blue sasfont coat
A neat switch whip, silver cap. -
Black velvet esp Cor servaBt.