PREFACE. 



Seeing how easy it is to interfere with Hunting, so that the King 

 of Sports might at any time be annihilated, as was the case with the 

 Curraghmore, with which Hunt I was personally identified for over 

 a quarter of a century, and fearing, perhaps, that an epidemic of 

 antipathy to sport, such as we for a time suffered from in Ireland, 

 might break out in England, I was induced to begin this book as far 

 back as the weok of Frigate's Grand National. My primary object being 

 to strive to once more establish the popularity of hunting in Ireland, 

 and perpetuating other sports in England, I approached each branch 

 of my subject from a point of view which I am not aware was ever 

 taken by any other author — viz., that of showing how Sport, quite 

 irrespective of amusement, benefits our nation and has brought about 

 our individuality. While doing so I have sandwiched personal expe- 

 rience and anecdotes, from which a moral bearing upon the object 

 may at times be deduced. And, as a pattern for young fellows to 

 follow, I have alluded in short memoirs to some of the most notable 

 sportsmen of the century. According to my lights and to the best 

 of my ability I have suggested reformation where I considered it 

 was desirable or absolutely required ; and in doing so, being a plain- 

 writing man, as I am a plain-spoken one, I have had at times to hit 

 hard, therefore my remarks will not be agreeable to some people. 

 That I cannot help, however sorry I may feel. I have written my 

 book as best I could in the interests of Sport pure and simple, so 

 I have not paid attention to interests, which, however individual, 

 are to my mind of secondary consideration. 



All through life I have been engaged in some active pursuit 

 or other which left me little or no time to devote to literature ; 

 therefore any knowledge which I may possess has been acquired in 

 my daily walk, only by the study of mankind and animals, the fields, 



