HISTORY OF THE KILDARE HUNT 



of each month at " James Grace's at Ballylinan '* 

 at the moderate charge of 2/8, play or pay, and 

 each gentleman appearing without the hunt uni- 

 form was fined " five English shilHngs." In 1781 

 they elected a surgeon to the hunt, Mr Robert 

 Johnston of Athy, who was obligingly invited to 

 dine with the hunt at their monthly dinners. A 

 jocular note in 1783 seems to mark one of those 

 convivial meetings " Signed by order of Thistle 

 Whippers, Jocelyn in the Chair, and Company 

 much too sober this 6th of October 9 o'clock." The 

 minutes show that the Hunt considered the proper 

 price of " a good huntsman's horse " as " not ex- 

 ceeding twenty guineas " in 1783. In the same year 

 they resolved *' that each member of the hunt be 

 obliged to nurse either at home or among their 

 neighbours or tenants a couple of hounds during 

 each twelve months." In the same year " Wm. 

 Green was appointed gamekeeper to this Hunt 

 during pleasure and allowed a green coat and a 

 Halbert and such sallary as he shall be found to 

 merit." 



A minute of 1785 points to a state of affairs not 

 unknown in similar institutions in more recent 

 times. 



Resolved that upon an Inspection of the Trea- 

 surer's accounts a great arrear appears to be due 



54 



