MR. LAVERACJ^S BREEDING. 369 



"Broughall Cottage, 



" Whitchurch, 



" Salop. 

 "DEAR MR. ROTHWELL, 



" I regret very much to inform you the three puppies you sent died a 



week ago in distemper, after rearing them all straight, and they really became beautiful, and showed a deal 

 of quality. They were all three bespoke by an American at 15 guineas, to be sent in March. But what is 

 still worse, I have lost six more dogs, tivo brood bitches 18 months old, which I refused to sell at fifty 

 guineas apiece, and four more young dogs, all cut off in distemper and fits. All were the handsomest I 

 ever bred or saw. Indeed, I am quite broken in spirits to think after all my trouble and expense (a 

 Vfe's), I fear I have or shall lose the breed, as I have only one old brood bitch left, I fear too old to 



breed. The only dog I have left except her is Prince 



" Yours very truly, 



"E. LAVERACK." 



There is no date to the above letter, but the post- mark on the envelope is November 

 1 3th, 1874. 



" Broughall, 



" Whitchurch, 



" Salop. 

 "DEAR ROTHWELL, 



" I am quite disheartened with the loss I have sustained nine. 



Six were such as I never saw for beauty, and the three that came from you had greatly improved. I have only 

 two old dogs left viz., Prince and a lemon bitch, Cora. I have been here three years and only reared one dog 

 out of 30. As I took this place apparently everything I could wish, and built an excellent kennel, and have 



a free range of fields, my dogs being cut off seems a fatality, as no expense is spared I will 



bring over several letters from America relative to dogs, and I think if I approve of your young ones I may 



perhaps get you a customer 



" Yours most truly, 



"E. LAVERACK. 



"March 24^, 1875." 



Such letters clearly show the difficulties under which Mr. Laverack laboured at the 

 close of his career, and have no doubt been instrumental in earning the pure-bred Laverack 

 Setter a reputation in certain quarters for being delicate and hard to rear. On the other 

 hand, the success of crossing the Laverack blood with other strains is proved by the success 

 of Ranger ; and in our opinion there is a great probability of the English Setter deteriorating 

 if modern breeders stick too closely to their own blood. 



Amongst the number of great Setter breeders may be mentioned those of George Jones 

 of Oscott, who was a great light at the first institution of dog shows, and showed Rap. Mr. 

 Jones gloried in the Laverack blood, which he grafted on his own stock, and cheerfully 

 acknowledged the benefits he received from it. The Brothers Withington, too, were great Setter 

 men, and good friends to Mr. Laverack. They are said to have given the latter one hundred 

 pounds for four unbroken puppies, which was then a very long price to give for dogs of such 

 a tender age. Nor must the names of G. R. Rogerson and the Rev. Francis Adey be 

 forgotten by lovers of the Setter. Mr. Statter, too, will always be remembered in connection 

 with this breed. His great kennel is very near the top of the tree in Setter circles, and 

 though its members are not all pure Laveracks, their owner sensibly admits that the more of 

 this blood he gets the better pleased he is. Mr. R. LI. Purcell-Llewellin, of Lincolnshire, is 

 one of the greatest Laverack breeders of the day, and spares no trouble or expense in perfecting 

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