4.3 



"Sir Robert Paul, Bart., then came forward amid applause to 

 address the meeting. He said : My Lord Bessborough, my Lord 

 Waterford, and Gentlemen,— I have got, I may say, a sad task to 

 perform, and that is to propose this resolution : ' That this meeting 

 of the members of the Curraghmore Hunt, called together by the 

 Marquis of Waterford, having heard the statement now made to 

 them by his lordship, desire to express to him in the strongest 

 manner their great sorrow at the unexpected and unhappy event 

 described in his speech, and their indignation at the ungenerous and 

 cowardly treatment to which he and his friends and his hounds have 

 been subjected.' This, my lord, is the resolution which I have the 

 sad task of proposing. On looking round upon this meeting the first 

 feeling that strikes me is that there is no other object, no other 

 business, no other matter of any kind whatever, that would bring 

 together so many men of different lines of thought, so many men of 

 different classes, as the object for which we are assembled. (Hear, 

 hear.) If it were a meeting of landlords and their friends, we should 

 have a few of that class. If it were a meeting of tenant farmers, we 

 should have a number of that class. If it were a meeting of mer- 

 chants, we should have a few of that class. But when it is the 

 members and friends of a Hunt of which Lord Waterford was the 

 Master, we find a gatheririg of men of different classes, creeds, and 

 opinions, who on no other business could be found so numerous. 

 (Hear, and applause.) My lord, I have always said that hunting, 

 after all, was only an amusement, but, after all, it goes a great 

 length. Hunting brings together people in the prime of life and 

 in youth, people of different sets of principles, of different reli- 

 gions, of different lines of thought. They meet together, and feel 

 for each other a mutual kindness and affection. (Hear, hear.) And 

 although their old fathers may be at home taking different lines 

 of politics and different sides on various subjects, their sons are 

 brought together on the hunting field in that class of fellowship 

 which will make them good friends and kindly neighbours. (Hear, 

 and applause.) Now this is the sort of thing which has existed in 

 this country for a long time. ( Hear, hear.) I recollect, for I am an old 

 member, although I have given up the present pursuit, but I have 

 it in my heart — (cheers)— I remember, my lord, your uncle, the 

 late Henry Marquis of Waterford— (cheers)— when the hounds were 

 given up to him by the gentlemen of the committee — (cheers)— and 

 for many a long day he presided at the meetings of the Curraghmore 

 Foxhounds. I have descendants of my own who feel as I do, but I 

 do not look forward to them for the same happiness, the same pleasant 

 times that I have enjoyed myself in connection with the chase. This 

 is the first time, my lord, at which a general break up has become so 

 very apparent. (Hear, hear.) And now, my lord, there is one phase 

 of this matter which demands your very serious recognition. About 

 this time twelvemonth — not much longer— this thing began with the 



