Year: 1861

After the peace of 1888, the hunting
establishment which had gone down dur
ing the war, was renewed by the arrival of
pack OF hounds, sent out by the MARQUIS
de Lafayette. These hounds from their
herce disposition, were generally kept cen
fined, and woe to the stranger who might
be passing their kennel after night.fall,
should the gates be unclosed. His fate
would be melancholy unless he could
climb some friendly tree, or the voice, or
the whip of the huntsman came " speedily
to the rescue The huntsman always
presided at their meals, and it was only
by the liberal application of the dip thong
that anything like order could be preserved
among these savages of the chase.


The habit was to hunt three times
week, weather permitting; breakfast was
served on these mornings at candelight.
the General always breaking bis fast with
an Indian corn cake and bowl of milk :;
and, ere the cock had 6 done salutation to
the morn,' the whole cavalcade would
often have left the house, and the fox be
frequently be unkenneled before sunrise.
Those who have seen Washington on
horseback will admit that he was one of
the most accomplished cavaliers in the
true sense and perfection of the character.
He rode as he did everything else with
ease, elegance and power. The vicious
propensities of horses were of no moment
to the skillful and daring rider. He al
ways said that he required but one good
quality in horse, to 60 along, end rdi-
cuIed the idea of its being possible that
he should be unhorsed provided, the ami
NAL kept on his legs. Indeed the perfect
sinewy frame of the admirable man gave
him such a surprising grip with his knees,
that Il horse might as soon disencumber
itself of the saddle as of such a rider
The chase ended, the party weuld re.
turn to the mansion house, at we'll spread
board and with cheerful glass, the ieats OF
the leading dog, the most gallant horse or
the boldest rider, together with the prowess
of the famed black fox, were all discussed,
while Washington never permitting even
his pleasure to infringe upon the order
and regularity OF bis habits, would after
few glasses of Madeira, retire to his bed
supperless at nine o'clock. lie always
took little tea aud toast between & aud
! in the evening.


Nashington's last hunt with his hounds
was in 1855. His private affairs and pub.
lie business required to much Of his time
to allow him to indulge in field sports.-
His iondness for agricultural improve
ments and the number of visitors that
crowded MoIpt Vernon. induced him to
break up his kennels, and give away his
hounds, and to bid adieu to the pleasure
OF the chase. He then formed deer park
below the manson~house extending to the
river, and enclosed by high paIiug about
hundred acres Of land. The park was
at first stocked with only native deer, to
which was added afterward the English
tallow deer, from the park OF Governor
Ogie of Mary land


The stock Of deer increased very rapidly,
yet strange to say, although herding to-
gether, there never ives percertible the
slightest admizture of the two races. On
the decay of the park pailing, and the dis.
persion Of the deer over the estate, as
fifteen or twenty were often seen in herd
The General was extremely tenacious of
his game and would suffer none to be
killed, till being convinced that the poach
ers were abroad, that the larders of an
extensive hotel in a nsighboriug town
were abundantly supplied with the plump
launches, from the Mount Vernon stock
and indeed that every one seemed to be
enjoying his yeuison but himself, he at
length consented tha: a stag should die"
Curtis Eecoticctions Of Washington.