THE KILDARE HOUNDS. 2$ 



country, and escorted death through the lonely plains 

 of our land, — I need scarcely say that he had much 

 difficulty in hunting the country during such a trying 

 time — *' the sinews of war," the coin of the realm, 

 were sadly wanting, and the exchequer of the Club 

 was in a lamentable state of deficiency. During the year 

 1847 he was the uncomplaining loser of ^475. He 

 resigned at the close of the season 1847-8. Strange 

 to say, the members of the Hunt do not appear to 

 have appreciated his strenuous exertions in a good 

 cause. One would think that they would have pre- 

 sented him with a testimonial, for no man more fully 

 deserved a substantial recognition from the lovers of 

 the " noble science " than he did. Soon after his 

 retirement, however, the people of the county testified 

 their kindly regard for him, and confidence in his 

 worth by returning him as their representative in the 

 House of Commons, although he was opposed in the 

 election by one of the most esteemed men of Kil- 

 dare. He sat for the county from 1852 till 1859, and 

 died on the ist of December, 1876. I should have 

 stated that Sir Edward Kennedy was appointed Hon. 

 Secretary to the Hunt Club in 1844. Mr. La Touche 

 received ^300 per annum for keeping the horses, 

 hounds, &c., and about double the sum was given to 

 Sir Edward to defray the expenses of keeping the 

 coverts, paying for reynard's depredation on fowls — 

 in a word, for keeping the country. Mr. J. Kilbee 

 was secretary before Sir Edward took the post. He 

 and all his predecessors were paid officials. 



The successor of Mr. O'Connor Henchy, was Mr. 

 William Kennedy, Sir John's second son ; he was at 

 that time, a "crack" Corinthian rider; and in the 



