DEDICATION. 



To whom should I dedicate this HISTORY OF THE MASTIFF rather thaii to 

 .thee. my friend Joax LYALL, thou worthy Scot of the City of Glasgow ; 

 you who have always urged me on to publish this work, and who have 

 furnished me with many useful notes from tune to time, as well as making 

 careful portraits of some of the best specimens of the breed that I have 

 possessed. It is to your amateur skill that I am beholden for the fine oil 

 portrait of Old Peeress, which occupies the mantle-piece of my study 

 like a guarding Lares. 



I might have selected a noble, titled Patron to dedicate my efforts to, 

 but although I value old families and our nobility as much as any man, 

 it is nevertheless simply at their worth. 



Instinctively the Pointer Puppy stands at game, and the Bulldog flies 

 at the head of its adversary ; so by the same law of nature, that of hered- 

 itary transmission of qualities, the nobleman is intuitively and naturally 

 gracious, and being free from the sordid influences of Merchandise, is as 

 a rule, far more free from the cursed love of gold and self gain, than 

 those connected with trade too often are. To several noblemen and 

 gentlemen I would here tender my thanks for the courteous manner in 

 which they have invariably answered my letters of inquiry on subjects 

 connected with the Mastiff, which I have required for this work. 



I am also beholden to several antiquarians for various interesting par- 

 ticulars, and in return, should always be willing to give my opinion as a 

 canine fancier and judge (which perhaps it is not too boastful to say, is 

 based upon practical experience), on any antiquarian remains that may 

 be discovered in any way connected with the dog. 



It behoves me to mention the courtesy I have met with when I have 

 had occasion to write to various noblemen and landed gentry, to whom I 

 fear at times, owing to my anxiety to obtain full and accurate information 

 I have been somewhat troublesome. But as Horace of old said of 

 Mo?cenas "It is the true spirit of the gentleman to be kind, courteous, 

 and obliging to a stranger/' Thus, while I tender my thanks to the many 

 who have helped me, I can with pleasure set it forth as a lesson to my 

 readers, to render willingly such little acts of courtesy as may be in their 

 power from time to time ; for by so doing, they not only engender a better 

 feeling among all classes, but also benefit mankind in general, through 

 , advancing knowledge. 



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