HISTORY OF THE KILDARE HUNT 



during Lord Naas's Mastership. Baron de Robeck 

 from the first was most energetic in collecting after 

 each day's hunting, and I find sums of ,^4 los. to 

 jfio entered in his diary after every day the hounds 

 were out, collected by him for the Hunt fund."^'' At 

 a meeting held on April 16, i860, it was stated that 

 the Hunt was self-supporting, and that the guaran- 

 tors were not called upon. The Club indeed was 

 in the happy position of having only to pass com- 

 plimentary votes of thanks to its honorary officials. 

 The Master was asked to accept its best thanks 

 " for the great and successful exertions he had 

 made during the past season to promote the hunting 

 of the country," and other resolutions point to the 

 appreciation in which Mr R. Kennedy's services as 

 Honorary Secretary were held. I may perhaps con- 

 clude these remarks on the business aspect of the 

 Hunt during Lord Naas's Mastership by quoting 

 a letter from that gentleman now before me. Mr 

 Kennedy says, " Your father was guaranteed 

 ^^1,650 a year for three days a week; we were never 

 in debt, and at the end of his term a balance in hand 

 of over twenty pounds was handed to the incoming 

 Honorary Secretary, Major Mansfield." 



I have spoken in the last chapter of the havoc 

 wrought by the frost on the coverts of the Kildare 

 country. Mr Kennedy again comes to my help with 



* Cap money of 2s. 6d. a head, still collected. 

 240 



