Zbc mmm ot Mi^nnstav 359 



that both of them, and especially Sir Watkin, felt the 

 loss very deeply. Having no residence to hunt from, 

 Sir Watkin resolved to go abroad, and all his horses 

 came to the hammer. It was a sad day for Simpson, 

 the baronet's stud groom, who had left the box of the 

 Devonport Mail to take service at Wynnstay, when one 

 after another of the horses on which he had lavished so 

 much care and affection was put up for sale. The 

 average was the highest up to that time ever recorded, 

 the two biggest prices paid being £6$i for Cassio and 

 £48^, 15s for King Dan. 



Colonel Wellington Stapleton Cotton took the Master- 

 ship in Sir Watkin's absence and hunted the country till 

 the baronet's return in November 1859. It was during 

 Colonel Cotton's tenure of office that the Bangor Hunt 

 Steeplechases were first inaugurated. They originated in 

 a sporting match, between the Hon. Lloyd Kenyon and 

 Mr Richard Myddelton Biddulph, which was fixed for 

 February 25th, 1859. The promoters of the match 

 thought they might as well make a day of it, and have 

 farmers' and gentlemen's races to fill up the programme. 

 So successful was the meeting that it was resolved nem. 

 con. to continue it, and continued it has been ever since. 

 All sports came alike to Colonel Cotton, and he excelled 

 in all. Moreover, he was a keen agriculturist, and 

 especially interested in the breeding of Berkshire pigs, in 

 connection with which Sir Theophilus Puleston tells the 

 following story : — 



* We once witnessed an amusing scene at the Birming- 

 ham Cattle Show, whither we went with Colonel Cotton 

 and Sir Watkin. Wellington Cotton had persuaded Sir 

 Watkin to let him try and buy for him a Berkshire boar 

 which was exhibited there ; the owner demurred to the 



