[ Smollett / The Expedition of Humphry Clinker ]
Tobias Smollett (1721 - 1771) was a Scottish novelist, playwright, translator, historian, poet, and editor.
This novel, told in the form of a series of letters (a common literary technique at the time), was first published in 1771, just a few months before Smollett's death, and is widely regarded as Smollet's best and funniest.
The first mention of the novel's dog from Newfoundland occurs early on, about 10% of the way into the novel:
The only object within doors upon which she bestows any marks of affection, in the usual stile, is her dog Chowder; a filthy cur from Newfoundland, which she had in a present from the wife of a skipper in Swansey. One would imagine she had distinguished this beast with her favour on account of his ugliness and ill-nature, if it was not, indeed, an instinctive sympathy, between his disposition and her own. Certain it is, she caresses him without ceasing; and even harasses the family in the service of this cursed animal. . . .
Chowder is mentioned more than a dozen times in this novel, but never in a way that suggests he's anything like the breed as we know it today. Indeed, Ibelieve Chowder is not a Newfoundland at all, but simply from Newfoundland. Rather compelling evidence for this is found in the following passage, describing the beginning of a journey by coach:
Tuesday last the ‘squire took his place in a hired coach and four, accompanied by his sister and mine, and Mrs Tabby’s maid, Winifrid Jenkins, whose province it was to support Chowder on a cushion in her lap.
It's highly unlikely a Newfoundland dog (as we know the breed) would travel in a maid's lap.