PREFACE. 



N compiling this book I have been forced to 

 confront many difficulties. Like all who 

 venture on novel essays I found the most formidable 

 obstacle was the one I least expected. Prior to enter- 

 ing on the task of placing before the public a reliable 

 statement such as I proposed to produce, I had to look 

 out for authentic records. The kindness with which 

 many Masters of Hounds and others have seconded 

 my endeavours was quite remarkable. 1 have a very 

 grateful duty to fulfil when I acknowledge it in the 

 most marked way; and though, for obvious reasons, 

 I do not particularise by name my volunteers and 

 assistants, I am not the less grateful to them. When 

 I conceived the scheme of this publication, I thought 

 that written stories of interesting information of the 

 doings of Irish Sportsmen, long since dead, their 

 horses and their hounds, might be dug up by industri- 

 ous research. In this I was mistaken, and the ample 

 authenticated written evidences I had quite confidently 



