Albert Smith, the celebrated traveller, was the first person to introduce a couple of St. Bernards into England, and he brought them on to public platforms, when giving his lectures, for illustration. These animals caused universal interest, and both traveller and dogs appeared before the late Queen Victoria. But to the Rev. J. C. Macdona (at that time Rector of Cheadle) belongs really the honour of introducing and popularising the breed. After Mr. Macdona had exhibited his Tell, one of the earliest importations into this country, these beautiful animals instantly found favour with the British public. A St. Bernard became a coveted possession, and no breed of dogs have claimed more devoted and influential admirers, ranging from royalty downwards.

After Mr. Macdona had introduced his dogs, St. Bernard owners quickly increased, and the best animals in Switzerland that money could purchase were brought over to England. It was not until dog shows had become well established that a class was given to St. Bernards, and this was at the once famous Cremorne Gardens in 1863, when the Rev. A. N. Bate's Monk won first prize. The benching, however, of the Rev. J. C. Macdona's Tell gave the impetus to the breed, and the dog's place of exhibition was surrounded with admiring crowds. Other specimens quickly followed Tell, their grand appearance captivating all beholders, and they were thought worthy of the brush of Landseer.

St. Bernard admirers increased so rapidly that a club named the St. Bernard Club was formed in the interests of the breed. Rules were drawn up, type was defined strictly on the Swiss standard, and influential members undertook the compilation of a Stud-book - a work that required long and self-denying labour, especially as the pillars of that stud-book were imported dogs. Next, the members decided to hold a show exclusively for the breed; that took place at Knightsbridge in 1882.

Some idea of the rapid strides that the breed had made may be gathered from the fact that two hundred and fifty of the best dogs were brought together at this first show of the St. Bernard Club. The judge was Mr. Macdona, and he must have felt flattered to be surrounded by two hundred and fifty gigantic and beautiful animals, whose presence must have been partly, if not wholly, due to his expenditure of time, money, and skill in first introducing the breed to the English show-bench. Amongst the well-known exhibitors at this time were Prince Solms, Mr. J. H. Murchison, Rev. J. C. Macdona, Rev. A. Carter, Rev. Sneyd, Rev. Thornton, Mr. F. Gresham, Mr. Sweet, Mr. Marsden, Mr. Rutherglen, Mr. Inman Betterton, Mr. McKillop, Miss Hales, Miss Aglionby, Mr. J. F. Smith, Sir C. Isham, Mr. Hughes-Hughes, Mr. Norris-Elye, Mr. Tinker, Mr. S. W. Smith, and others. Some of the best-known dogs exhibited at the first show of the St. Bernard Club were Bayard, Thor, Boniface, Bonivard, Save, Turk, Rector, Pilgrim, etc.

Fig. 24. - Mrs. Jagger's Smooth-Coated St. Bernard Champion Florentius.

The following year two hundred and sixty specimens were benched, and at the third exhibition of the Club's Show, two hundred and forty-seven. A foreign breed thus became quickly established, holding the premier position amongst the varieties of the Domesticated dog, and for many years retaining its popularity.

Americans now became great admirers of the St. Bernard, and the animal was more worshipped and coveted than formerly. Celebrity after celebrity crossed the Atlantic at fabulous prices, the desire increasing after each celebrated animal had been seen. More than once £1,000 was paid for one of these exported animals. For a time the demand from across the Atlantic was great, but at the close of the nineteenth century the demand for high-class English-bred stock was gradually waning. This was due to many causes that will be named afterwards. For a long time, however, the ardour of St. Bernard owners in England did not cool. Almost as high prices could be obtained in this country for the best specimens as in America. St. Bernard fanciers increased by leaps and bounds; but in the quantity of dogs, quality was not always predominant. Such large sums had been obtained for St. Bernards that the cupidity of the public was aroused, and the ranks of St. Bernard owners were increased by people who only owned a St. Bernard as an investment. The status of the owners of the breed deteriorated in consequence, and as a noble dog should possess a noble owner, the quality of the St. Bernard suffered. The dogs of saintly name and heroic deeds were never intended to be chained in the slums of a town or backyards of a village.

As one by one the original lovers of the breed, who had spared neither time nor money in its interests, dropped out of the ranks, the once powerful St. Bernard Club, second to none in importance, began to lose its influence in encouraging the breeding of pure St. Bernards of a recognised type. The demand from America for large specimens had fostered the breeding for size, and bone and size had become pet themes for St. Bernard fanciers to dwell upon. Such unnatural forcing produced defective hocks, crooked legs, stiltiness, etc.: size and bone had been obtained at the cost of physical beauty and activity. Such past celebrities as Tell and Thor weighed 1471b. and 1501b. respectively, whilst we have dozens of later St. Bernards turning the scale at 2oolb.

Next, a Mastiff-like head with an abnormal depth of lip became the rage, thus losing the benevolent expression so characteristic of the breed. The beautiful white markings were ignored in judging, and dew-claws, that once counted for much in the eyes of the pioneers of the breed, became of no value. The St. Bernard, however, still held supremacy in the Dog World, and a second club was formed in its interests in 1893 by a few Northern fanciers, because at that time the most prominent exhibitors resided in the North of England.