I02 IRISH SPORT AND SPORTSMEN. 



covers of this book he has written no lines, except the 

 dedication, which afforded him more pleasure than 

 those in which he fearlessly expresses for his country- 

 men their admiration of Lord Spencer's character, 

 and the cead mille-failthe with which they would hail 

 his return. 



Major- General Smyth occupies, perhaps, the 

 most prominent position in the foreground, and no 

 admirer of horses can pass over the admirable manner 

 in which his good hunter is treated — indeed this 

 applies to Lord Spencer's, the Brindley's, and Dr. 

 Duckett's horses — but that is saying little, not known 

 to all who have seen the artist's equestrian portraits. 

 Technically they are admirable pictures ; and the 

 difficulties of holding two gray horses in opposition 

 on a foreground, filled up by the " pied beauties," 

 would be patent to any artist who knows how much 

 trouble must be taken to avoid destroying all harmony 

 by what painters call " spottiness." The very special 

 merit of this picture is, however, the "character" 

 with which the hounds, the horses, the men, the very 

 landscape is in view. Doctor "Billy" Duckett sits 

 there by his many friends, and we see his every 

 turn as if dipping in his often used snuff-box. 

 Then Mr. Thompson, Mr. Meldon's portly figure, 

 Mr. D'Arcy, and Mr. R. J. Montgomery's keen- 

 eyed, weather-worn face. How admirable they convey 

 the men ! 



The late Mr. Maxwell, of Cruiserath, is also a 

 "feature" of the picture, and I cannot forbear some 

 kindly mention of the fine old sportsman, who, a few 

 months age, sat for this portrait in the full vigour 

 of ripe but unstricken manhood. He for many 



