326 MR. L G'S LETTER. 



taking out such a brute, it was agreed that it should be done on the 

 gentleman's offering to bet 5/. that his 'shy friend' would get more 

 points than either of the dogs they proposed hunting ; and another 

 5/. that he should prove himself the best broken of the dogs, and 

 never during the whole day offer to chase hare or sheep. The bets 

 were not made, but to show you the esteem in which his late master 

 afterwards held the animal, he offered fifty guineas to get her back, 

 but the money was refused. His brother also turned out a magnifi- 

 cent dog so much for want of patience. 



" It is just possible that all. I have written may be of no use, but 

 should you find it of any, it is quite at your service. Since I last saw 

 you I have had many more opportunities of observing the extraordinary 

 nose of the dog I showed you a quality in which I fancy forty -nine 

 out of fifty dogs are deficient. I sent him down to Hickfield-place, 

 Hants, for the Speaker, who is an excellent sportsman', to use for a 

 few times to see if he was not superior to his dogs. He returned the 

 dog with a very handsome basket of game, saying he was one of the 

 finest dogs he had ever seen hunted, and he begged me to get him a 

 brace of the same kind against next season ; stating that the price 

 would be no consideration if they proved as good as mine. I have 

 tried him against many other old dogs, said to be ' the best in Eng- 

 land/ but not one of them had a shadow of a chance against him. I 

 have refused a very long price for him. For beauty, style, symmetry, 

 nose, durability, and good-temper (a great thing), none can beat him. 

 I should like to increase his breed for the sake of the shooting com- 

 munity ; yet I have no wish to keep him publicly as a sire, nor to 

 send him away. I think I should be doing a general benefit, if I gave 

 it out that his services could be obtained for three guineas : and that 

 the sums thus obtained were to be set aside as a prize for the best 

 dog, to be contended for by competitors who should give 3/. or 51. 

 each. Something of this kind, could, I think, be managed, and it would 

 greatly tend to improve our breed of pointers. I bought a bitch with 

 the view of getting some pups by him. She had nine, but not one 

 like the father, grandfather, or great-grandfather so I sold her, 

 puppies and all. I have just purchased another ; she comes of an 

 excellent stock, and has good shape. I shall see what luck I have 

 with her. She is a far more likely dam. 



" I should have written to you long ago, had I not expected to 

 meet the person I term my Yorkshire breeder. He is the best breaker 

 I ever saw, and a man you can depend upon. He and his father, for 

 sixty years, have borne as high a character for honesty, as for excel- 

 lence in breaking. Many a time has he contended, and always come 

 off victor, against Mr. Edge's dogs a good trial kennel, but the 

 breed have savage dispositions, bad tempers, and are very un- 

 manageable when young. I have tried many of them myself, and 

 have no faith in them. 



"On the moors, when the work is excessively fatiguing, and 

 plenty of water is generally to be found, you may with advantage 

 employ setters : but in a hot September, in England, when no water 

 could be procured, I have known some of the best setters I ever saw 



