84 THE MASTER OF HOUNDS 



opportunity to improve his pack. Money was no object 

 to him ; thus, he gave 390 guineas for five couple of 

 hounds at Mr. Foljambe's sale, from which strain was 

 descended the famous stallion hound, Royal. He also 

 purchased some of the best lots at the sales of Mr 

 Musters, Mr. Story, and Sir Richard Sutton. In regard 

 fo his horses, they were considered as fine a lot of 

 weight-carriers as it is possible to see in any stable, 

 for in his case the old saying that " heavy weights make 

 short stables " was not applicable. Major Cotton, 

 McGrane of Dublin, and John Darby of Rugby were 

 the men, whom he generally entrusted to buy for him. 

 He invariably bought young horses, which were quietly 

 ridden about by Simpson, his stud groom, and then, 

 when they had had two years of Wynnstay oats and 

 hay in them, if found good enough, they generally 

 carried their master for some years. His horses in his 

 early days were always well bred, never less than six- 

 teen hands high, with the very best of shoulders, 

 legs, and feet. Usually, in spite of his great weight, 

 he rode the same horse all day, until hounds turned 

 their heads towards Wynnstay kennels. 



On March 6, 1858, Sir Watkin suffered a terrible 

 calamity, which caused him to relinquish the hounds 

 to Colonel Cotton. Wynnstay, with nearly all its con- 

 tents, was totally destroyed by fire. The loss of works 

 of art was irreparable, and the total loss sustained was 

 estimated at near ;^5o,ooo. It is worthy of record that 

 the object he made the most strenuous exertions to 

 save from the flames, and in which he was successful, 

 was the picture of himself and hounds presented to 



