Sir Watkin Wynns Hounds. 425 



Wickstead's Handmaid, were the cleverest of the '48 

 entry, and Herald was used. In 1850 Walker's first 

 entry was made, and Hopeful, Heroine, Harriet, and 

 Harbinger, with Primrose and Proserpine, all of them 

 by Wynnstay Admiral, were its peculiar stars. The 

 late George Wells (a first-class whipper-in, a good 

 servant in every respect, and a beautiful horseman 

 over a stiff country) and James Shaw were the whips, 

 and poor Shaw was drowned during cub-hunting in 

 the Dee near Nanty-bellun Tower. He had galloped 

 towards a ford in order to stop the hounds, which 

 were running for the Chirk Woods, and tried to 

 cross by some rocks, when the horse slipped and he 

 was dragged into deep water. Rufus, Rutland, Ruby, 

 and Ruthless, all by Belvoir Gainer, were great entries 

 in 1851-52, and the purchase of Gossamer, Gertrude, 

 Gratitude, and Gipsy, at old Mr. Drake's sale, was a 

 fine hit. The foundation of the present pack was not, 

 however, laid until 1853, an d then with Cautious, 

 Captious, Chorus, Charlotte, Caroline, Cheerful, and 

 Curious, by Lord Henry's Craftsman from Wynnstay's 

 Precious (own sister to Phantom) by Bruiser by Che- 

 shire Bruiser. Like their sire, Craftsman (by Lord 

 Ducie's Comus, from Burton Sanguine), they had rare 

 quality and shoulders, were determined drawers, and 

 hardly ever smeuzed a fence. Adjutant and Anderton 

 by Herald, Phcebe and Prophetess by Belvoir Royal, 

 and Phoenix and Princess (a clipper) by Burton Cham- 

 pion, from Proserpine, were the strength of the entry 

 in 1S54, and the following year brought in Goblin and 

 Governor, by Herald, both of which were used. 

 Herald was a rare dog to hold the line down a dry 

 road in the spring, when foxes run roads very much ; 

 and so was Goblin. 



The year 1855 was the renowned Wynnstay Royal's 

 first season. He was one of four which came in of a 

 litter by Fitzwilliam Singer, from Wynnstay Rarity, 

 by Yarborough Harper by Yarborough Rallywood. 



