CHAPTER IV 

 SIR JOHN KENNEDY, 1814-1841 



IT is very probable that the terms upon which 

 Mr John Kennedy took the Kildare hounds in 

 October, 18 14, afford the first-known example 

 of a country hunted upon a guaranteed subscrip- 

 tion. It is probable also that no pack has ever been 

 hunted upon terms so advantageous to the sub- 

 scribers since subscriptions were guaranteed or 

 collected at all. I shall hope to make abundantly 

 clear in the following pages the efficiency of Mr 

 Kennedy's Mastership, and the quality of the sport 

 he showed in Kildare during no less than twenty- 

 six seasons. Meanwhile, I put upon record the 

 exact words of the resolution offering him the 

 Mastership and of his letter of acceptance. 



At a meeting of the Hunt held at Dawson St, 

 Dublin, on May 3, 18 14, it was resolved 



That the fund arising from the annual five 

 guineas subscription of the whole hunt be in- 



lOI 



