CHESHIRE UNDER DUKE OF WESTMINSTER 83 



1762 between a couple of Mr Smith Barry's hounds 

 and Mr Hugo Meynell's is an event that stands as 

 a landmark in the annals of the chase. As will 

 be remembered, the Cheshire Bluecap and his 

 daughter Wanton, went clean away from the 

 Leicestershire couple, inspiring the following sport- 

 ing couplet : — 



" They talk of Hugo Meynell 



And what he can do. 

 We'll ride 'em, or fight 'em, 



This Leicestershire crew. 

 We've maybe forgotten a lot 



That they knew. 

 And we'll teach 'em, eh ho ! 



How the Cheshire can go." 



To-day there is the Bluecap Inn at Sandiway, on 

 the signboard of which Mr Hubert Wilson, ex- 

 master of the Cheshire, has had a most interesting 

 portrait of Bluecap painted, a tan and white hound, 

 reproduced from an old picture of the match on 

 Newmarket heath. The 

 following record is on the 

 reverse of the sign : — 



"On September, 1762, Bluecap 

 and Wanton, ye property of Mr 

 Smith Barry, master of ye Cheshire 

 in a match over ye Beacon course 

 of Newmarket beat a couple of 

 Mr. Meynell's ye Quorn one of 

 which was Richmond. Sixty 

 horses started with ye hounds. 

 Mr. Smith Barry's huntsman 

 Cooper was ye first up, but ye 

 mare that carried him was quite 

 blind at ye end. Only twelve got to ye end. Will Crane, who 

 trained ye Cheshire Hounds came in twelth on Rib, a King's Plate 

 horse. Ye betting was 7 to 4 on Meynell's."' 



The natural order of hunting supremacy would 



The Bluecap sign at Sandiway. 



