HISTORY OF THE KILDARE HUNT 



then represented the subscriptions and field 

 money, was, as a minute puts on record, " a sum 

 totally inadequate to pay the expense of the 

 country and keep the establishment in such a 

 manner as to give satisfaction." It was resolved, 

 therefore, to raise the total to a minimum of ;£8oo, 

 to enable the Master " to keep thirty couple of 

 hunting hounds and nine horses for himself and 

 two whippers in." A hundred pounds a year was 

 also subscribed by fourteen gentlemen present 

 in addition to their ordinary subscriptions. A week 

 later thirteen other gentlemen guaranteed five 

 guineas each, or such proportion of that sum as 

 should be necessary to balance the account at the 

 end of the season. It may be assumed that these 

 steps proved adequate for the moment at least, 

 for the Hunt was for the next five years in the happy 

 posture of those communities which have no history. 

 On March i, however, of 1830 a meeting at 

 McEvoy's Hotel, Naas, recited the old difficulty, 

 and incidentally hinted that the Master had doubts 

 as to his ability to continue the hounds. The 

 proceedings began with another very flattering 

 vote of thanks to Mr Kennedy for his *' superior 

 judgment and unremitting zeal in managing the 

 country, making coverts, and in hunting the 

 hounds for sixteen years, for the excellent sport 

 afforded during that period, and for the universal 



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