THE LIMERICK FOXHOUNDS. 193 



the hunt, and always one of its best supporters. William Cox of 

 Ballynoe ; John Cox of Ballyneale ; Rev. John Croker of Fort 

 Elizabeth, a light weight, good to go ; Fritz Croker of Grange ; 

 Eyre Powel of Ballymurphy ; Gibbos Fitzgibbon of Ballyseda ; 

 James Peacocke of Dooneen; Edward Crips Viller of Kilpeacon, 

 and John Crips of Cahernom. These last two names take the 

 mind so far back as to make the men of the present day express 

 astonishment that there are still alive some of the contemporaries 

 of those old fox-hunters. But as your correspondent from the 

 moment he could admire a hunt, in connection even with pedes- 

 trianism, was always deeply interested in all its accompaniments, 

 the impression left on his memory has been almost indelible. 

 Many of the hunting men of the present day have never seen those 

 mentioned, and, perhaps, some may not even have heard the names 

 of some of those in my list. Many of them have long since passed 

 away, and their positions are now occupied by strangers — men 

 who take very little interest in what was to the departed a source 

 of the greatest delight. I am happy to say that their successors 

 in the hunting-field are not less true to their position, and that 

 the hunt has lost nothing of its former fame. As it is at present 

 graced by the presence of the fair sex, so was it then, conspicuous 

 among whom was the present Lady Humble, then Miss Fosbery ; 

 Mrs. Major Smith, nee Miss Spaight ; and Miss Mary Creagh (after 

 whom Captain Hugh Massy called his celebrated mare). 



''February ^th, i^^-]'' 



"As I infer from the complimentary remarks which appear from 

 you at foot of my last communication that it has in some degree 

 interested you, and as you have expressed a wish that I should 

 continue my narrative of the various interesting circumstances 

 connected with the Limerick Hunt, I most willingly resume my 

 observations relative to that sporting institution. I will now intro- 

 duce on the stage — or rather on the Turf — the names of those who, 

 though for a portion of the career of the 'veteran hands' whose 

 names I have sent you, they were in the position of the junior 

 division, are now, in consequence of the sure advance of time, 

 while still in the prime of life, with a few exceptions, entitled 

 to be recognised as the senior division of the members of the 

 present hunt, and most worthily emulate their predecessors in 

 all the glorious qualities that constitute a thorough sportsman. 



