THE GALWAY HOUNDS. 1 35 



from the turf for some years ; however, he came on 

 again, and won the Stewards' Plate and Chesterfield 

 Plate, at Goodwood, with Erin-go-Bragh. Some 

 years before his death he gave up racing. He died 

 in 1870. 



**In 1850, Mr. John Mahon of Ballydonnellan 

 succeeded Mr. Dennis, and kept the hounds for three 

 years, during which time the sport was good." 



•' What became of the pack at Moyode ? You 

 said they returned there after Robert Parsons Persse 

 died." 



*' They did, and the present master's father 

 hunted what we called the * home circuit' with them, 

 and continued to do so till '48, when his son became 

 old enough to undertake the management of them. 

 He kept them on ; and when Mr. Mahon gave up, in 

 '53, Mr. Persse undertook to hunt the whole country ; 

 he has done so ever since in a manner which has 

 reflected the highest credit on himself, and given tke 

 utmost satisfaction to every one." 



'* You have not yet told me about the hunt- 

 servants." 



" Any person who has heard of the * Blazers,* 

 has heard of the celebrated Sam Smith. When Mr. 

 Robert Parsons Persse had the hounds he was 

 whipper-in, and afterwards huntsman for a short time ; 

 then when they came back to Moyode, he returned 

 with them, and hunted them until the present master 

 took them (he has always hunted the hounds him- 

 self), and Sam was first whip and kennel hunts- 

 man. For some seasons before his death, he was the 

 recipient of a pension from Mr. Persse. He died in 

 1875. H^ was ninety years of age, and spent his 



