THE WESTMEATH HOUNDS. 1 59 



CHAPTER X. 



THE WESTMEATH HOUNDS. 



Although the Westmeath Hounds are not quite so 

 familiarly known as most of the packs which I have 

 already written about, a task such as mine would be 

 very far from complete were I to omit a lengthened 

 and accurate history of the pack since it was first es- 

 tablished, and I have taken some care to procure all 

 particulars relative to the hounds. 



They were originally formed from a pack that ex- 

 isted at Killynon, under the mastership of the late Mr. 

 S. Reynell, ex-master of the "Meaths," and the country 

 was hunted by him from about 1842 to 1847 ^^ 1848, 

 when they, with many other packs in this country, 

 ceased to exist. They were again revived in 

 1853 by Sir Richard Levinge, the country having 

 been hunted about three days a month by the 

 East Meath Hounds by arrangement for some sea- 

 sons previous. Sir Richard Levinge formed his 

 pack mainly from Sir Richard Sutton's and the Oak- 

 ley, with some drafts from other kennels. Jack Raw- 

 son was his huntsman, and a subscription was opened 

 to give Sir Richard ;^4oo a year for hunting the county 

 two days a week. Foxes were then scarce, and there 

 were very few gorse coverts, yet good sport was shown 

 by the Baronet for two seasons, and it is to him alone 



