SIR JOHN KENNEDY, 1814-1841 



were never inconveniently large, for at the time few 

 of the farmers or shopkeepers ever followed hounds, 

 and the crowding and difficulty in getting off, which 

 the real sportsmen now encounter in this country 

 when the meets are held in the vicinity of large 

 manufacturing towns where everybody who pos- 

 sesses a horse turns out to exhibit himself as a fox- 

 hunter without having the slightest knowledge of 

 sport, were never experienced. For this reason the 

 Kildare fields were select, and for the most part 

 composed of men who knew what they were about, 

 and how to do it. 



For a fortnight after our arrival to give us time 

 to get our horses into condition the Kildares met at 

 the covert nearest the barracks, and the officers, 

 myself among the number, all well mounted, rode 

 out with a firm determination of proving their 

 metal. It was easy to see when we reached the 

 covert side, that our pluck was about to be put to 

 the test. Some thirty redcoats on splendid weight 

 carriers were assembled to meet us, surrounded 

 by peasants who seemed in a perfect state of excite- 

 ment as to the trial of horsemanship, which they 

 knew must take place between their popular 

 squires and the military strangers. Our turnout 

 seemed to make a favourable impression, and a 

 strange sort of fellow called Sugu, whose acquain- 

 tance we afterwards cultivated to his great advan- 

 tage, made a minute survey of our nags and ap- 

 pointments, and then delivered his opinion of our 

 merits to the bystanders. He wore an old red coat, 



117 



