The Gordon Setter 201 



cannot be asserted definitely from the sources of information at our dis- 

 posal, but we have the date near enough when that black and white dog 

 must have gone north to Gordon Castle. The Duke of Gordon was at 

 that time a member of the very select coterie that formed the Malton Club. 

 There were only eleven members, and Major Bower was the honorary 

 secretary and treasurer. Mr. Osbaldestone, according to Cecil's "Records 

 of the Chase," went to Northamptonshire in 1827 o^ 1828 from Leicester- 

 shire, but the name of his establishment at the former place is not given. 

 He lived at Quorndon Hall in Leicestershire and was just such another all- 

 round sportsman as Colonel Thornton, except that he went in more for 

 hunting, while Thornton made hawking his hobby. 



The Rev. Mr. Hutchinson, who wrote as "Sixty-one," chimes in with 

 a reminiscence of the Gordon sale. He dined on that day with the Laird 

 of Raith, and sat between a son of the Duke of Richmond and a cousin of 

 the Duchess, both of whom were well acquainted with the Gordon Castle 

 setters, which were apparently the main subject of conversation. From that 

 conversation, coupled with one he had just had with a very near relative 

 of the present Duke of Gordon, "Sixty-one" writes as follows: "Once 

 more, and for the last time, I will repeat what years ago I stated in the 

 Field, knowing it to be the true version, viz. : that the original colour, taken, 

 sent or brought to Gordon Castle was black, white and tan. That the Duke 

 of Gordon did cross with a black setter of Lord Lovat's, that came from 

 Raith, where the breed was, to my knowledge, very good. His Grace 

 may — very likely did — cross with others, for, as Mr. Fisher says. His Grace 

 was not the man to confine himself to shades and fancies; but black, or 

 black and white, and black and tan were his crossing colours." Comment- 

 ing further on some of the correspondence, "Sixty-one" says he has known 

 the black and tans for forty years and owned them for twenty. "Reuben, 

 the champion setter, was bred by my friend Mr. Malcolm, by his Milo out 

 of Ruin, whom he purchased of Lord Roslyn. Ruin was by my black 

 and tan dog Grouse H. (whom I gave to Lord Roslyn) out of his black, 

 white and tan bitch Duchess, the handsomest animal of the breed I ever 

 remember seeing. My dog Grouse H. had very little fringe, or flag. I 

 still have in my possession Rapid, own sister to Ruin and of the same litter, 

 and nearly if not quite as fine a bitch. Rapid has very little fringe or flag. 

 She has bred me several litters, among them some black, white and tan, 

 but not particularly fringed or flagged. I cannot remember any curly- 



