86 MEMOIR OF THE KILKENNY HUNT. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



IN 1876 Mr. Briscoe resigned the mastership, and 

 received on retirement a testimonial from the Hunt, 

 in the shape of a well-filled purse, and a resolution 

 of thanks for the fine sport he had afforded, as well 

 as for the state in which he left the pack, which, as 

 the resolution proposed by Sir James Langrishe ex- 

 presses it, was in a state of " unsurpassed efficiency." 

 He was succeeded by Colonel Frank Chaplin, who 

 had commanded the 4th Dragoon Guards. He did 

 not profess to be a houndsman, but he knew where to 

 get good hounds, and kept up the pack by fresh 

 blood. He also bought good horses, and mounted 

 his men well. Jack Tidd remained on as huntsman, 

 with W. Ouinn as whip. Colonel Chaplin retained 

 the mastership for four years. During his first season 

 he had very fair sport. Two runs from Bishopslough 

 deserve mention, and, curious to say, occurred within 

 two days of each other. 



Meeting on I5th January, 1877, at Flagmount, 

 after a run of forty-five minutes from Flagmount to 

 ground at Gowran, Bishopslough furnished a good 

 fox, which ran nearly to Gowran, then turned left- 

 handed, and went on by Blanchfield, and to Clifden 

 bottoms. One hour and fifteen minutes. 



On January I7th the meet was at Lcyrath Gate. 

 Clifden (not unnaturally) was blank, but Bishops- 



