THE SPORTING SPANIEL 155 



from whose place, Clumber Park, the breed has taken its name. 

 Beyond this it seems impossible to go : indeed, the Clumber 

 seems to be generally looked upon as a purely English breed. 



From Clumber Park specimens found their way to most of 

 the other great houses in the neighbourhood, notably to 

 Althorp Park, Welbeck Abbey, Birdsall House, Thoresby 

 Hall, and Osberton Hall. It is from the kennels at the last- 

 named place, owned by Mr. Foljambe, that most of the pro- 

 genitors of the Clumbers which have earned notoriety derived 

 their origin. Nearly all the most famous show winners 

 of early days were descended from Mr. Foljambe 's dogs, and 

 his Beau may perhaps be considered one of the most im- 

 portant " pillars of the stud," as he was the sire of Nabob, 

 a great prize-winner, and considered one of the best of his 

 day, who belonged at various times during his career to such 

 famous showmen as Messrs. Phineas Bullock, Mr. Fletcher, 

 Mr. Rawdon Lee, and Mr. G. Oliver. 



There has been a great deal of lamentation lately among 

 old breeders and exhibitors about the decadence of the breed 

 and the loss of the true old type possessed by these dogs. 

 But, despite all they can say to the contrary, the Clumber 

 is now in a more flourishing state than it ever has been ; 

 and although perhaps we have not now, nor have had for the 

 last decade, a John o' Gaunt or a Tower, there have been a 

 large number of dogs shown during that time who possessed 

 considerable merit and would probably have held their 

 own even in the days of these bygone heroes. Some of the 

 most notable have been Baillie Friar, Beechgrove Donally, 

 Goring of Auchentorlie, Hempstead Toby, and Preston Shot, 

 who all earned the coveted title of Champion. 



The Field Trials have, no doubt, had a great deal to do with 

 the largely augmented popularity of the breed and the great 

 increase in the number of those who own Clumbers. For the 

 first two or three years after these were truly established no 

 other breed seemed to have a chance with them ; and even 

 now, though both English and Welsh Springers have done 



