[ Walker' Hibernian Magazine ]


Walker' Hibernian Magazine, or Compendium of Entertaining Knowledge was a monthly, featuring articles on literary, political, and social topics, published in Dublin from 1771 to 1812.


The March 1804 issue of Walker' Hibernian Magazine discusses a very particular Newfoundland, one who may well be the very first "theatrical Newf."

This mention occurs in a review (apparently Walker's ran a regular series of theater reviews under the rubric "British Theatrical Journal") dated December 1803, of a new play, The Caravan, self-billed as a "grand serio-comic romance." The play featured, prominently, a Newfoundland dog named Carlo (real name of the dog unknown). "Carlo," by the way, is referred to a number of times by later writers on the breed; see the link at the bottom of this page for more on Carlo.

The play being reviewed, the full title of which is The Caravan; or, The Driver and His Dog, was written by the prolific English playwright Frederic Reynolds (1764 - 1841)


The plot involves an important prisoner, a marquis, being sent from Barcelona to Madrid largely so he could be starved to death en route. But the caravan driver, Blabbo, gave the prisoner food intended for himself and his dog Carlo, allowing the prisoner to survive. (In the stage directions of the play, Carlo is specifically identifed as "a Newfoundland dog." In Madrid the marquis is thrown into jail but soon escapes to the seashore, yet before he can leave the country he is recaptured. He is then placed on board a ship that is to be blown up, thus ensuring his destruction. Meanwhile the prisoner's wife, the marchioness, refuses the advances of the Spanish monarch, upon which refusal she hears the ship carrying her husband blown up and her child is thrown into the sea.

But never fear:

At this crisis, when every bosom sympathizes with the pangs of maternal agony, the voice of the caravan driver is heard vociferating, "Carlo! Carlo!" A fine Newfoundland dog rushes forward, leaps from the rock, seizes the infant, and brings it safely to land! The marquis has also been liberated previous to the blowing up of the fire-ship; and the piece concludes with the hope, that after the exploit of Carlo, the audience will not give either the driver or his dog, a bad name.

This piece, we understand, is from the pen of mr. Reynolds, and it includes some interesting situations. The dresses are splendid, and the scenery highly picturesque. Mr. Reeve has furnished the music; his overture is not remarkable for originality; but some of the airs have considerable merit.

The main object of the author seems through novelty, to excite surprise. — The introduction of REAL WATER FLOWING ACROSS THE STAGE, and a dog acting a principal part, chiefly attracted attention, and seemed amply to gratify curiosity. The chief characters are well performed by mr. Bannister, mr. and mrs. H. Johnston and miss de Camp; and The Caravan promises to be very productive to the treasury. Nothing could exceed the fervour of the plaudits which burst forth when the driver (accompanied by his dog*) came forward.

N O T E.

* We have heard that there are two dogs in the performance; one of which is a mastiff, dressed up so as to resemble a Newfoundland dog, and belonging to mr. Bannister; (who personates Blabbo, the driver) and another of the true species, which takes the leap, but could not be brought to endure the blaze of an illuminated theatre.



The anonymous reviewer's remark about this play being a financial success seems to be true, per this comment in the Wikipedia entry on Francis Reynolds: the play "was performed at Drury Lane, with the introduction of a live dog that was trained to save a child from drowning by leaping from a rock and plunging into real water. It is still remembered through a jest of Sheridan, who burst into the greenroom, when the success of the play was established, with the shout of inquiry, "Where is he, my guardian angel?" The answer was made, "The author has just retired," but Sheridan replied, "Pooh! I mean the dog — actor, author and preserver of Drury Lane Theatre." Drury Lane was, in the first decades of the 19th Century, one of only two theaters allowed to stage "legitimate" theater ( that is, serious "spoken drama." All other theaters could stage only works that included musical interludes).



Another positive review of The Caravan also appeared in the December 1803 issue of Sporting Magazine.

For more on Carlo the Newfoundland and this play, check out The Cultured Newf's discussion of what may be the world's first theatrical Newf.




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This page is part of

The Cultured Newf: Newfoundland Dogs in the Arts