HISTORY OF THE KILDARE HUNT 



a suitable inscription " for his services, and, with a 

 note that improvements be made at the Kennel 

 at Grangeton, the official records of the Leinster 

 Harriers come to an end. 



From some papers belonging to his ancestor, 

 so kindly lent to me by Sir Anthony Weldon, how- 

 ever, I can trace the existence of the Club for a 

 few years longer. Some draft articles of 1814 sug- 

 gest that the Leinster Harriers were contemplating 

 the organization of two race meetings, in April 

 and October respectively, with a " Leinster Hunt 

 Challengeable Cup " for one of the prizes for 

 gentlemen riders, and with a Farmers' Plate in 

 addition. I find a receipt for the Cup handed over 

 by Colonel Weldon to Mr J. H. Farrange in April, 

 1815, but no record of any racing. 



By November, 1816, however, the old difficulty 

 of small hunting associations began to declare it- 

 self; the Hunt was doubtless beginning to feel the 

 competition of the Kildare Hounds, and letters 

 of the Treasurer to Colonel Weldon disclose the 

 old grievance of arrears of subscription, of mem- 

 bers resigning without notice and with arrears 

 due, and of the decline of the fund to a pitiful hun- 

 dred and twenty-five guineas. Finally, on Septem- 

 ber 9, 1 8 17, the excellent Treasurer writes to say 

 that " he does not see how the Hunt can continue 

 any longer," and I am afraid that that dismal sen- 

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