[ Hatton and Harvey / Newfoundland: The Oldest British Colony – Its History, Its Present Condition, and Its Prospects in the Future ]


Hatton (1841 - 1907) was an English novelist and journalist; Moses Harvey (1820 - 1901) was an Irish-born clergyman, essayist, and naturalist as well as a long-time Newfoundland resident. He was also the first man to verify the existence of the giant squid.

This work was first published in 1883 by Chapman and Hall, London. It is a comprehensive overview, and includes, in Chapter Nine ("The Animal Kingdom") the following discussion of Newfoundland dogs. Although this work has illustrations and photographs, there are no images of Newfoundlands.


There are few fine specimens of the world-renowned "Newfoundland dog" to be met with now in the island from which it derived its name. The common dogs are a wretched mongrel race, cowardly, thievish, and addicted to sheep-killing. By starvation, neglect, and bad treatment the race has degenerated so that few traits of the original remain. The Newfoundland dog thrives better elsewhere, though there are still some superior specimens to be met with in the country. The origin of this fine breed is lost in obscurity. It is doubtful whether the aborigines possessed the dog at all; and it is highly improbable that the Newfoundland dog is indigenous. Some happy crossing of breeds may have produced it here. The old settlers say that the ancient genuine breed consisted of a dog about twenty-six inches high, with black ticked body, gray muzzle,and gray or white-stockinged legs, with dew-claws behind. These were probably the progenitors of the present Newfoundland dog, whose life-saving capacities in cases of threatened drowning, especially with those who live near thesea or great rivers, are valuable. Judicious treatment hasgreatly improved the breed. Landseer, as is well known, has immortalized one of them in his celebrated picture entitled "A Distinguished Member of the Humane Society," and the breed to which he belonged is known as the "Landseer Newfoundland." Their colour is white with black patches,curly coats, noble heads and powerful frames. The favourite Newfoundland dog at present is entirely black, of large size, from twenty-six to thirty inches in height, remarkable for his majestic appearance. It is now generally admitted that there are two distinct types of the Newfoundland dog, one considerably larger than the other, and reckoned as the true breed; the other being named the Labrador, or St. John's, or Lesser Newfoundland. The latter is chiefly found in Labrador, and specimens are also to be met within Newfoundland.
Within the last four or five years the celebrated Leonberg dog has been introduced into Newfoundland and thrives remarkably well. The first specimens were brought by Herr T. A. Verkruzen, a German naturalist, who visited the island for the purpose of collecting mollusca. He brought with him three carefully selected puppies from Essig's establishment in Leonberg, Wurtemberg, of this renowned breed, now so much sought after by the gentry and nobility of Europe. The Leonberg is the result of a skilful crossing of the St. Bernard with the Newfoundland dog and the wolf dog of the Pyrenees, the result being the largest and handsomest long-haired dog now in existence, and distinguished for sagacity, strength, and faithfulness.





[ blank this frame ]

.newfoundland the oldest british colony