4 
Robert Bakewetl. 
lived and died one of the warmest supporters and staunchest 
defenders of liberty.” He adds that one of the principal 
blemishes of Bakewell’s character was a certain degree of 
acquired cunning, “the vice of his profession.” The writer 
first quoted (in the Gentleman’s Magazine) describes him 1 as 
tall, broad-set, and in later years rather inclined to corpulency, 
his countenance bespeaking intelligence, activity, and a high 
degree of benevolence ; his manners frank and pleasing ; well 
calculated to maintain the popularity he had acquired. Sir 
John Sinclair described him as “ a person of strong natural 
sagacity ” ; and another authority as a man of unimpeachable 
morals, whose conversation was never disgraced with expletives. 
Visitors at Dishley without exception have agreed in cele- 
brating his generous hospitality. The doors of Dishley Grange 2 
were ever open to friends and strangers alike, and the liberality 
of entertainment appears to have been fitly accompanied by the 
most genial and hearty welcome with which he received all who 
could show the claim of a real interest in agricultural progress. 
In appearance [says Mr. Prothero in his Pioneers and Progress ] he 
resembled the typical yeoman who figures on Staffordshire pottery, “ a tall, 
broad-shouldered, stout man, of brown-red complexion, clad in a loose brown 
coat and scarlet waistcoat, leather breeches, and top boots.” In his 
hitchen he entertained Russian princes, French and German royal dukes, 
British peers, and sightseers of every degree. He never altered the routine 
of his daily life. “ Breakfast at eight ; dinner at one ; supper at nine ; bed 
at eleven o’clock ; at half-past ten, let who would be there, he knocked out 
his last pipe.” 
The benevolence of countenance, remarked by more than 
one of those who have described his personal appearance, was 
the true index of a characteristic mentioned by many who have 
recorded, from personal acquaintance, their estimates and im- 
pressions of him as a man. These all concur in showing that 
he was eminently kind-hearted, and that his natural kindliness 
made him the friend of man and beast. He was surrounded by 
old and attached servants, and so much disliked losing sight of 
a familiar face that he would not engage a farm man for a 
shorter term of service than four years. After spending four 
1 The portrait of Bakewell on horseback, which appears as the frontispiece 
to this part of the Journal, is reproduced from a painting in the possession 
of Mr. J. S. Bakewell of The Old Hall, Balderton, Newark- on-Trent, and the 
Society is indebted to Mr. Bakewell for his kindness in lending the portrait of 
his distinguished ancestor for the purpose of illustration. — E d. 
2 The woodcut on page 3 is taken from the background of a picture, by 
J. Boultbee (also in the possession of Mr. J. S. Bakewell), representing “ the 
celebrated Cart Horse, the property of Mr. Bakewell of Dishley, 1790.” This 
picture was reproduced in 1791 as a coloured engraving, a ccpy of which is in 
the possession of the Shire Horse Society. — E d. 
