THE WARD UNION HOUNDS. 97 



gave ^5 each, and so did Captain Leslie Martin ; and 

 Mr. Carleton gave £y Charles Brindley during his 

 many years' service as huntsman has given the utmost 

 satisfaction. He is an adept at the multifarious duties 

 attached to the post which he fills ; and he is a most 

 popular servant. He was born in England, in 1817, 

 and from his earliest years evinced a love for out-door 

 sports and pastimes, and a great regard for those 

 animals which contribute so much to our enjoyment — 

 the horse and hound — and an attachment to the 

 national pastime of hunting. When a young boy he 

 went into the service of the late Thomas Carr, of 

 Hednesford, near Stafford, who was then a very 

 successful trainer. He remained there for seven years, 

 and during that time rode three races, without success, 

 at Bromyard and Bridge worth. He was then engaged 

 by the late Lord Howth, who was just at that time in 

 his " palmiest day." He kept a pack of harriers, and 

 Brindley acted as second horseman and whip, his 

 Lordship hunting the hounds himself. In 1840, when 

 Lord Howth purchased Mr. Broadley's Staghounds, 

 and brought them over from Leamington to Howth, 

 "Charley" continued on as whipper-in. In 1842, Lady 

 Howth died ; and, as I have already stated, the Stag- 

 hounds were then disposed of. Captain Tait just at 

 that time retired from the army, and went to live 

 in Ayrshire, took the mastership of hounds there, 

 and appointed Brindley whipper-in. However, after 

 one year's absence, "Charley" returned to Ireland. 

 The then master of the " Wards," Mr. Peter Alley, was 

 in want of a huntsman at the time, and engaged 

 him, and he has held the appointment ever since. 

 Though he has "over Ashbourne ditches grown gray," 



