78 The Hunting Countries of England. 



days a week witli one pack. If variety is to be 

 sought, Cliester or Shrewsbury offers a better base, 

 and Whitcburch better than either — the last named 

 commanding almost all Sir Watkin Wynnes, the cream 

 of the South Cheshire, and many meets of the North 

 Staffordshire and North Shropshire. 



Sir Watkin started his pack some forty years ago, 

 by purchasing the hounds of Mr. Leche (who had 

 been hunting the" country) and those of Mr. Glrout of 

 Kilgraston, the Master of the Perthshire. In its 

 earliest days the Kennel held several strains of good 

 blood, e.g., from the old Cheshire Kennel, the Duke 

 of BuccleugVs, Lord Tarboro's, Fife, Pytchley, and 

 Duke of Rutland^ s. Two years later (1845) Sir 

 Watkin bought five couple at Mr. Foljambe's sale ; 

 and about twenty years ago his Kennel owned two 

 hounds that have since made it famous — Painter 

 (who goes back to the Belvoir Druid, and his dam 

 to the Cheshire Bruiser), and Eegent by the 

 Fitzwilliam Eegent. At the present time it would 

 be difficult indeed to name a pack whose build is 

 cleaner and whose legs and feet are a better 

 model. 



The present series of sketches is not intended to 

 include notice of the existing huntsmen of Countries 

 described : but, in connection with Sir Watkin' s, it 

 cannot be left unwritten that Charles Payne of 

 Pytchley renown is in this year 1881 about to enter 

 upon his fiftieth season of service with hounds, — to 

 all appearance as fresh and vigorous as when all the 

 world used to talk, and Mr. Whyte Melville used to 

 write, of his brilliant achievements from Crick and 



