THE CARLOW AND ISLAND HUNT HOUNDS. 1 49 



to hunt the entire county, and hounds were procured, 

 and kept by Mr. John Whelan of Rath. 



In 1826, the late Mr. Watson got the country 

 again. He carried the horn himself for many years, 

 and then Tom Smith (afterwards huntsman to the 

 Brocklesby) hunted them for a season. 



In 1845, M'*- Robert Watson succeeded his father, 

 and has been master ever since. He is, I need 

 scarcely say, quite devoted to the glorious pastime. 

 Comparisons are odious, but I think none will cavil 

 with me for stating that he is the best gentleman 

 huntsman in Ireland, and a most competent judge of 

 hounds. No breeder can be more painstaking, and 

 the result of his good judgment and exertions is, that 

 he has now a grand pack of hounds. He is cheery in 

 the field, but a stern commander; keeps his com- 

 panions in the chase in good order, and insists that 

 they will ride to see hounds kill and not to kill 

 hounds : and, as many other masters do, sometimes 

 gives unruly ones a little " Dawson pie." One day, 

 having come to a check, with a bad scent, and the 

 fox a long way ahead, he was making a careful cast 

 forwards, when a rather junior member of the hunt, 

 but relative of his own, came up to him, saying: 

 " Robert, don't you think the fox has gone to your 

 right more?" "Yes, if I was a damn fool,"' was the 

 quick rejoinder. When I say that Mick Connors has 

 been whipper-in to Mr. Watson for the last twenty- 

 four years, and came to him with the Island Hounds, 

 being for some years previously whipper-in to the late 

 Mr. Bolton, I need pass no enconiums on him. 



There are generally forty-eight couple of working 

 hounds in the kennels, which are situated at Mr. 



