Year: 1860

a volume of recollections and private
memoirs of Washington, by his adopted son,
with a memoir of the author by his daugh-
ter, is just out There is much in it that
will be read with great interest:


How Washington Rode after his Hounds.


During the interval between 1859 and
1774, the time which Washington could
spare from his building and agricultural i'm
provements was devoted, in great measure,
to the pleasures Of the chase. He appears
to have had no taste for shooting or fishing,
but fox-hunting was sport in entire accor-
dance with his athletic habits and his fond
ness for equestrian exercise.


His kennel was situated near the family
vault, in which his remains were at first de-
posted. Itwas rude structure, but afford
ed comfortable quarters for the hounds
The pack was very numerous and select.
Every morning and evening, Washington
visited and inspected the kennels, in the
same manner as he did his stables. He
took pride in the discipline of his hounds.
If in running, one of them lost the scent,
another was at hand Immediately to recover
it, and thus when in full cry, in sporting
phrase, you might cover the. pack with a
blanket. He kept 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 as to any other
business of his life. At the commencement
of the season Mount Vernon became crowded
with guests from the neighborhood, from
Maryland and elsewhere. Their visits were
prolonged, not only for days but for weeks
and they were entertained with the exuber-
ant hospitality of the Old Dominion.


Washington was always superbly mount
ed, and in the genuine costume Of the chase,
He wore a blue coat, scarlet waist coat,
'buckskin breeches, top-boots, and velvet
cap. With his long thronged whip in hand
he took the field at daylight Will Lee,
his huntsman, and brave array Of friends
and neighbors, followed in the train, but
none rode more gallantly in the chase, or
with more CHEEKY voice awoke the echoes of
the woodland, than the host of Mount Yer
non.


After the close Of the Revolution, the
hunting establishment, which had gone
down during the last war was renewed by
Due dfTlVdl VI pdCk VI EreHcu HouHQS sent
by Lafayette. These dogs were of great
strength and fierce courage. They would
have been able to encounter wolf or the bear,
or even to grapple with the lion ON his ma
tive sands, as well as to pull down the stag
in the American forest.


1t was necessary to keep them in close
confinement, as from their ferocious DISPOSE
ton they would not hesitate to devour a
stranger who might pass their kennel after
nightfall, should the gates be unclosed =
The huntsman always presided attheir meals
and it was only y-bya vigorous use of the lash
that any degree of law and order could be
preserved among these savage animals. II
the weather permitted, there was hunt
there three times week. Breakfast was
served on those mornings by candle light
Washington, as usual, took nothing but an
Indian cake and bowl of milk. Before
sunrise, the whole cavalcade would often
have left the house and unkennelled the fox


Washington was one Of the. most accom-
plished cavaliers. He rode with ease, ele-
gance and power. He took no account O
any vicious propensities of his horse. The
only quality which he demanded Of a horse