THE FIRST PACKS 



estates at Castletown, and was living there the Hfe 

 of the typical sporting Irish gentleman of those 

 days. He obviously had a pack of foxhounds in 

 1764, for on October 17 of that year a Mr 

 E. Calcraft wrote to him from Ancaster on the sub- 

 ject of sport, and as the letter contains an interest- 

 ing allusion to the Duke of Rutland's hounds, the 

 forerunners of the famous Belvoir pack, with 

 which Mr Conolly's own pack, I think, was at that 

 time closely allied, I set it out at length. 



Ancaster, 



17th Octr. 1764. 

 My dear Conolly, 



I have the pleasure to tell you we are at last got 

 a little settled in our habitation at Ancaster, and 

 fox-hunting begins on Saturday next. The Duke of 

 Rutland was afraid we should kill too many foxes 

 if we started sooner. The hounds have been to be 

 blooded in Nottinghamshire at Lord George Sut- 

 ton's. I have contented myself with humble hare- 

 hunting to get my horses in condition for the fox 

 dogs. 



I flattered myself with the hopes of hearing from 

 you after the Curragh, and to have received a good 

 account of the performances of Apollo, but as I 

 have heard nothing, I shall not ask questions, lest 

 I should receive mortifying answers; therefore 

 shall turn to my old friend Mr Soarby and your 



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