22 
Robert Bakewell. 
by at least the one breeder most lastingly interested in the 
purity of the Dishley breed of sheep. 
Mr. Bakewell, as already shown, had rams of many breeds 
upon his premises, but we have no authentic record of their 
use, otherwise than for experiments outside the New Leicester 
flock. On one occasion, as told by the Rev. Henry Berry, he 
obtained, surreptitiously, from the shepherd at Holkham a 
couple of Norfolk rams, during Mr. Coke’s absence, and when 
Mr. Coke, who exchanged visits with Bakewell, next called at 
Dishley, there was the expected parade of the splendid Dishley 
rams, which were led out, as usual, from their house ; but after 
them, by way of contrast, a sight for which the visitor was 
scarcely prepared. Each wearing a neck-collar, his own two 
formidable-looking Noi’folk rams, with thick spiral horns, black 
faces and legs, high-carried heads, and long bodies, were led 
past. “ At a given signal, away they bolted, at the top of their 
speed, each clearing the hurdles in high style, and then, return- 
ing, accomplished the same feat.” No one enjoyed the practical 
joke more than Mr. Berry’s informant, Mr. Coke himself. 
One of the many anecdotes of Mr. Bakewell illustrates the 
estimate of the value of his sheep in his own time and neigh- 
bourhood. A Dishley ram, already let for 25 guineas for the 
season, had not been delivered to the hirer, when a farmer of 
the old type of the district took a great fancy to that particular 
sheep, and wished to buy him. Mr. Bakewell, knowing his 
man, readily offered to sell the ram to him for twenty-five 
shillings. The farmer, as promptly, said he would give him 
eighteen shillings. 
Mr. Bakewell’s inspection of the Old Lincoln flock of Mr. 
Chaplin, in the year 1788, in the owner’s absence, had a less 
pleasant sequel than his dealings with the shepherd at Holkham 
when Mr. Coke was away. An angry correspondence ensued. 1 
The personalities, the charges, retorts, and explanations are 
somewhat sad reading when more than 100 years are past and 
gone. Bakewell’s style of letter-writing does not tell us much 
more of him than we know from other sources. It is no better, 
nor perhaps worse, than might be expected of a man of his day 
and vocation. That part of the correspondence which most 
concerns us, in examining his work as a sheep-breeder, is the 
passage of Mr. Chaplin’s letter in which he sajs : — 
1 The letter of Mr. Chaplin to Mr. Bakewell and Mr. Bakewell’s reply are 
printed in a foot-note to Professor Low’s account of the Old Lincoln breed of 
sheep in Domesticated Animats, &c. 
