146 THE ALPINE D(JG. 



To W. H. Li 



The Grange House, 25th Feb. 1840. 



]My Dear Sir, — I have nothing to add to the 

 account which I sent you of Bass, in my letter of 

 June last, except that he is now in great strength 

 and beauty, follows the carriage regularly, is very 

 much attached to the horses, continues to be ex- 

 tremely good-natured and playful, and very aflPec- 

 tionate, — and, above all things, never forgets a 

 person who may have had occasion to do him a 

 kindness. 



Believe me always 



Yours truly, 



Tho. Dick Lauder. 



It may be added, that this race of dogs is the 

 present breed. The Monks of St. Bernard having 

 neglected to keep up a large stock of the old race, 

 it was nearly destroyed by a malady some time 

 before 1820, when, from necessity, the present 

 breed was introduced ; at least such was the infor- 

 mation we obtained from the Vaudois peasantry in 

 the above year. 



