DASH PLUTO AND JUNO. 121 



indeed, were first-rate speed, a nose nearly Spanish, and the habit of always bring- 

 ing his game, which was seldom broken. He exhibited twice the following- 

 extraordinary proof of superior nose and ability as a Pointer whilst in the act of 

 returning with a cock pheasant in his mouth, which his master had shot to him, 

 he found and stood to a hen pheasant. One of these remarkable feats he performed 



in the presence of J. Shotter, Esq. and Drinkwater, Esq. both of Farnham in 



Surry, and J. Glazier, Esq. of Farnhurst. 



It may be proper here, to repeat an observation which we made when treating- 

 of the Fox Hound. There are some anecdotes of such high sporting consequence 

 that we dare not omit them, however they have been bandied about through 

 succeeding Publications. It may chance that some of our readers are unac- 

 quainted with these wonders, or have listened casually to indistinct and now almost 

 forgotten narratives. 



For something very extraordinary in the Sporting way, we must have recourse 

 to the practice of Colonel Thornton, whose high and laudable ambition it has ever 

 been, both to deviate from the common road and to excel ; and he has undoubtedly 

 so far succeeded, as to raise a name which will go down with eclat, to Sporting 

 posterity. We suppose that the Colonel himself, meditated and carried into effect 

 the crosses necessary to produce his famous Pointer DASH, as we have before 

 observed, in all probability, three parts Fox Hound. Dash in his day, was held to 

 be the Eclipse of Pointers, a character sanctioned by his high ranging over the 

 Moors, the vast expedition with which he cleared his ground, and the intuitive, 

 heaven-born method, said to be almost incredible, in which he hunted Inclosures for 

 birds, which was, by at once scenting and advancing upon them, without the pre- 

 vious labour imposed upon other pointers, of quartering his ground : add to this, lie 

 was a most staunch and steady backer, or seconder, of other dogs. Dash was sold 

 by Colonel Thornton, to the late Sir Richard Symons for one hundred and sixty 

 pounds worth of Champaign and Burgundy, bought at the French Ambassador's 

 Sale, a hogshead of Claret, an elegant Gun and a Pointer ; with the annexed 

 stipulation that, if any accident should befal the dog, which might render him 

 unfit for hunting, he was to be returned to the Colonel at the price of fifty g-ui- 

 neas. This latter agreement actually took place ; Dash had the misfortune to break 

 his leg, and was returned to Colonel Thornton, who considered him in that state, 

 a great acquisition as a Stallion. 



Exalted as was the reputation of Dash, it seems nearly impossible that he could 

 have exceeded in point of steadiness, the merit of a brace of other Pointers, the 

 property also of Colonel Thornton, Pluto and Juno. Pluto has also been already 

 cited as a famous Deer hunter. It is recorded that, this dog and bitch, being taken 

 at a point, kept their point upwards of one hour and a quarter, namely, until the 

 late celebrated Mr. Gilp'm, could take the sketch from which they were painted 



