THE KILDARE HOUNDS. I5 



saddle bow that emblem of mastership — the silver 

 horn. 1 may say with truth, 



"Tis' now more than sixty years since he assumed the post 

 Of master to the Kildare hounds, when he was needed most ; 

 And. though nigh single-handed, he proved himself a host, 

 In making them what they are now — in truth, the country's boast." 



I have gained much information from a very inte- 

 resting IVIS. from the Johnstown-Kennedy library; 

 and this will be an appropriate place for me to 

 offer my very sincere thanks to Sir Edward 

 Kennedy for his kindness in allowing me to inspect 

 them, and to assure my readers that, without that 

 kind indulgence, they, and I, must have remained in 

 ignorance of what I consider the most important epoch 

 in the formation of the Kildare hounds. Sir John 

 Kennedy kept a diary of not only every run, but what 

 is an even more pleasant reminiscence, the names of 

 those who shared the sport with him. It would be 

 well if the gentlemen of the present day followed his 

 example in this respect : the records would be read 

 with interest by a "generation yet unborn." One 

 likes to see the names of parents, relatives, or friends 

 recorded in such old archives — they recall scenes to 

 memory dear. Indeed, it was thinking on this sub- 

 ject that first put the idea into my head of writ- 

 ing this volume. The history of the different packs 

 must of necessity be a matter of dry and simple 

 detail ; but sporting readers are not inclined to be 

 critical, so long as they perceive the vi vida vis^ the 

 fervidus, afflatus in works such as " Irish Sport and 

 Sportsmen^ Such records, I opine, afford pleasure 

 and recreation to many. If it be pleasant to peruse 

 works which revive in our minds past enjoyments, 



