Old Virginia and her neighbours

SOCIETY IN THE OLD DOMINION. 239considerable sums. Besides . . . there are racesestablished annually almost at every town and considerableplace in Virginia ; and frequent matches,on which large sums of money depend. . . . Verycapital horses are started here, such as wouldmake no despicable figure at Newmarket ; noris their speed, bottom, or blood inferior to theirappearance. . . . Indeed, nothing can be moreelegantand beautiful than the horses here, eitherfor the turf, the field, the road, or the coach ; . . .but their carriage horses seldom are possessed ofthat weight and power which distinguish thoseof the same kind in England." ^Since the Virginians were excellent horsemen, itwas but natural that they should enjoy hunting.No sport was more dear than chasing the Fox-huntfox.Washington's extreme delight in ^°^"riding to the hounds is well known ; he kept itup until his sixty-third year, when a slight injuryto his back made such exercise uncomfortable.Washington was a true Virginian in his love forhisdogs, to whom he gave such pretty names asMopsey, Truelove, Jupiter, Juno, Rover, Music,Sweetlips, Countess, Lady, and Singer. Shootingand fishing were favourite diversions withWashington ; when he was President of the UnitedStates, the newspapers used to tell of his greatcatches of blackfish and sea-bass.^ In,., •11 I'll* Gambling.these tastes ms neighbours were like mm.Less wholesome sports were cock-fighting, andgambling with cards. The passion for gambling1 Smyth's Tour in the United States, i. 20.2 Ford, The True George Washington, pp. 194-198.