[ Donald MacKenzie Wallace / The Web of Empire ]
The full title of this book is The Web of Empire: A Diary of the Imperial Tour of their Royal Highnesses the Duke & Duchess of Cornwall & York in 1901; it was first published in 1902 (London and New York: MacMillan). It is something of a puff-piece, a very flattering depiction of the extensive tour of British colonies undertaken by the future King George V and his wife.
The author of this volume, Sir Donald Mackenzie Wallace, was the assistant private secretary to the Duchess of Cornwall and York.
During their visit to Newfoundland, the Duke and Duchess are presented with a number of gifts, including a Newfoundland dog, named Bouncer, which was presented to them by a group of school children. This entry is dated October 24, 1901:
Of the functions of the day the prettiest is the welcome of the school-children in the skating-rink, which has been very tastefully decorated for the occasion. Over 5000 children are ranged on stands, so that they can all see the Duke and Duchess as the Royal party walk up the long central passage to the dais. The National Anthem and an Ode of Welcome are sung in a way that does great credit to the musical teachers. In the Ode the little ones, each waving a tiny Union Jack, say to the Duke: —
Tho' thou hast passed the Empire round,
From Britain's shore to far Cathay,
More loyal hearts may not be found
Than greet thee and thy bride to-day.
The youngest of the Empire's States
First welcomed thee 'neath southern dome;
The eldest at the western gates
Hails and God-speeds to loved and home.
A deputation of children is then introduced, bringing an appropriate gift for their Royal Highnesses' children — a fine Newfoundland dog harnessed to a very lightly made dogcart. Bouncer — so the dog is called — wags his tail in recognition of the honour conferred on him. The Duke in a short speech thanks the children very cordially, and assures them that the gift will be very
much appreciated by the little ones at home. (433 - 434)
This incident is also treated in the Rev. Moses Harvey's Newfoundland at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century, which is discussed here at The Cultured Newf. Harvey remarks that the Newfoundland was a gift for Prince Edward (who became King Edward VIII in 1936 but abdicated the throne within a year so he could marry an American divorcée.) Prince Edward would have been seven years old at the time of this incident, so how much the Newfoundland would have, for all practical considerations, been truly "his" is — as many parents who buy a dog for their young children know — an uncertain proposition.
You can also read this article about Bouncer and Cabot at the Newfoundland Club of America website. (Cabot was a Newfoundland presented to an earlier British royal, Edward VII - who visited Newfoundland in 1860. You can find more about Cabot here at The Cultured Newf.
King George V was one of many famous individuals who owned Newfoundlands at some point during their lives. You can find an annotated list of well-known Newfie owners here at The Cultured Newf.