The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-03-30
PERSONAL TRAITS OF WASHINGTON.
A volume of recoIections and private

~ 'oluthe ot recol!ections ana private
memoirs of Washington, by his adopted
son, with memoir Of the author, by his
daughter sjust out, Thee is much in it
that will be read with great interest.
During the interval between 1850 and
TIA, :he time which Washington could
spare from his building and agricultural
improvements, was devoted in great
measure to the pleasures of the ch asc. lie
appears to havo had no taste for shooting
or fishing but fox huutiug wasa sport in
entire accordance with his athletic habits
and his fondness for equestrian exercises.
Lis kennel was situated near tho family
vault, in which his remains were ut first de-
posted. 1t was rude structure. but af1or-
ded comfortable quarters for the hounds.
The pack was very numerous and select.
Every morning and evening Washington
visited and inspected the the kennels, in the
same manner as he did his stables lie
took prdo in the discipline Of his hounds.
If in rnnning one Of them lost the scent,
another was at hand Immediately torecov,
or it, and thus when in full cry, in sporting
phrase, you might cover the pack with a
blanket. lie kept a register of his horses
and hounds, in which might be found the
names, ages, and marks of each, and with
these companions Of the chase, he was as
punctual in his attentions rs to any other
! business Of his life. At the commen
cement of the seascn, Mount Vernon
became crowded with guests from the neigh
borhood from Maryland and elsewhere.
Their visits wero prolonged not only for
days but for weeks, and they were enter
tanned With the exubcraut hospitality Of the
Old Dominion. Washington was always
supcrtly amounted, and in the genuine cos
tumo of the chase. lie wore blue coat,
scarlet wastcoat, buckskin breccE(Hop
boots and velvet cap. With his long th1ps.
ged whip in hand he took tho field at day
break. Will, Lee, lis huntsman, and
brave array OF friends and neighbors, follow= =
ed III the train, but mono rode more gallantiy
in the chase, or with more CHEEKY voice
awoke the echoes of the woodland, t.; an
the hoast of Mount Vernon.
After the close Of the Revolution, the
hunting establishment, which had gone
down during tho late war, was renewed by
the arrival Of pack Of French hounds,
sent by Lafayette. These dogs were of
great strength, and fierce courage. They
would have been able to encounter the wolf
or bear, or oven to grapple with the lion
in his native sands, as we'll as to pull down
the stag in the Amrcan forest. It was
necessary to keep them in close con6ne-
ment, as from their ferocious disposition
they would not hesitate to doveur strane-
er, who might pass their kennel after night
fall, should the gates be unclosed. Tho
huntsman always presided at their meals,
and it was only by the vigorous use of the
ash that any degree of law and order could
be preserved among these savage animals.
If the weather permitted, there was hnnt
three times week. Breakfast was served
on those mornings by candle-light. Wash
ipgton, as usual, took nothing but Indian
cake and bowl of milk. Before sunrise,
the whole cavalcade would often have
left the house and unkenneled the fox.
Washington was one of tho most accom-
plished cavaliers. lie rode with case,
elegance and power. IIo took no &C.
count of any vicious propensities of his
horse. The only quality wLiohshe delnan-
ded Of horse was that he should so along,
and ridiculed the idea that he could be
unseated, provided that the animal kept on
his legs. Indeed, with his sinewy frame
and iron muscles, he had such tenacious
| gripe with LIS knees, that the horse might
as easily throw off his saddle as such RI
der. His favorite animal for the chase was
a horse called Cleskin, of dark iron gray
color approaching to blue. This was fine
but fiery steed, Of great, endurace in
long run. The huntsman, Will, bet
ter known in Revolutionary lore as Billy,
rode horse called Chipkling, wonder
full leaper and very much like its rider;
low but sturdy, and of great bone and mus
Gle. The only duty Of Will, was to keep
with the bounds. Gallantly did he per-
form his" task. Mounted on Chinkling,
throwing himself almost full length on the
animal, with French horn at his back, and
bis spur In flank, this bold rider would rush
at full speed through brake and tangled
wood, in style at which modern huntsmen
would stand ag hast. There were roads cut
through the woods in various directions by
which timid hunters and even ladies could
enjoy the exhlaratiug cry without risk Of
life or limb, but Washington rode gaily up
to his dogs nor spared his impetuous steed,