BARON DE ROBECK, 1862-1868 



quarter the rent came to nearly £23 a year. The 

 owner was Mr J. J. Hornidge, of Russelstown 

 Blessington, but his tenant, a Mrs Smith, of course, 

 received the rent. In the same year, 1867, the 

 Duke of Leinster let Ardscull covert to the Hunt 

 at the nominal rent of one shilling. 



It may be of interest to quote an outside opinion 

 of the Kildare country and its management at this 

 period. I find the following in an undated news- 

 paper cutting among the Baron's papers, which I 

 judge, from its appearance, to be by the sporting 

 correspondent of the Irish IHmes: 



" The Kildare country is one of the best in Ire- 

 land, the eastern and northern districts being the 

 cream, a large portion of which is not surpassed 

 by any country in the United Kingdom, as regards 

 scent and good going at all seasons. The style of 

 hunter best suited is a flippant jumper with good 

 pace, high breeding being indispensable, for I believe 

 hounds can go faster, and as to beauty of sym- 

 metry, fashionable blood and hunting qualities 

 they have few equals, and if a fault exists, it is their 

 want of sufficient voice, which is being corrected 

 in the young entry. 



" The kindest feelings exist toward the Hunt, 

 and the farmers are the best preservers of foxes. If 

 their adjoining covert happens to be drawn blank, 

 they feel the disappointment more acutely than 

 any person else. The average of the field is about 



303 



