THE WESTMEATH HOUNDS. l6l 



brother of the owner, of Turbetstown, took the pack, 

 and removed it to Turbetstown, at the other extreme 

 end of the county. 



In 1 86 1, Joseph Burton was promoted to the horn, 

 assisted by Robert Thompson, from Lord Middleton's, 

 and there was a fair season's sport, only marred by a 

 casualty, which caused great regret — the breaking of 

 the master's leg by a fall in the middle of the season. 

 J. Burton was, at the end of the season, succeeded by 

 Robert Smith, from the Badsworth, who promised well, 

 but fell sick in 1863, and died after a few days' illness. 

 The master then carried the horn till the end of the 

 season, when Wm. Fisher, from the Hampshire, was 

 engaged' as huntsman, R. Thompson still acting as 

 whipper-in. The sport was only moderate, owing to 

 the want of foxes. 



In 1864, the hounds were removed to Clonlost, 

 near Killucan, where Major Dease went to reside on 

 ^.his marriage, renting the place from Colonel Nugent, 

 the staff continuing as before. In the year following, 

 Major Dease undertook to carry the horn himself, 

 William Fisher remaining on as kennel huntsman and 

 first whip, and R. Thompson as second. 



In 1866, the master, having given up Clonlost, re- 

 moved to Culleen, about one mile and a-half from 

 Mullingar, and there, on a plot of ground rented from 

 Mr. Tuite, county kennels were built, where the hounds 

 have remained ever since. In that year the pack was 

 strengthened by a present of several very good hounds 

 from Lord Portsmouth, and they hunted three days a 

 week, under the joint management of Major Dease 

 and his brother-in-law, Sir William Trockmorton, well 

 known since then as the master of the Vale of White 



