56 



Having traced the record proper, I shall now make reference to 

 events and circumstances which, although not exactly a portion of it, 

 relate directly to the Curraghmore Hunt. 



After finishing the season 1881-82 with the Badminton, Lord and 

 Lady AVaterford for the succeeding three seasons hunted respectively 

 in Lincolnshire, Cheshire, and Leicestershire. 



For that of 1882-83 they rented Little Brocklesby, which is situated 

 quite close to Lord Yarborough's kennels, and therefrom had hunting 

 five and six days a week. 



In Cheshire, for the season 1883-84, they hunted from Hampton, 

 near Malpas, a capital centre from which they could get the Xorth 

 and South Cheshire, Sir Watkin Wynn's, and the North Stafibrdshire 

 Bounds. 



Xext season they went to Leicestershire, to Quenby Hall, close to 

 Billesden Coplow, a house, curiously enough, situated within two 

 miles of Lowesby Hall, Sir Frederick Fowke's place, which was 

 rented by Henry Lord Waterford when he hunted in Leicestershire 

 in the "thirties." It was in the dining-room of Lowesby that he 

 jumped a five-barred gate on Don Juan, in front of a blazing fire, for 

 a wager, after dinner. The dining-room is still just as it was at the 

 time of this exploit, and the actual gate is still kept in the coach- 

 liouse by Sir Frederick Fowke. 



Towards the close of the season 1884-85, while hunting with the 

 Cottesmore, Lord Waterford met with a most serious accident, the 

 results of which have been melancholy and disastrous in the extreme. 

 For over seven years has that great foxhunter been prostrated, during 

 most of which period he has suffered intense pain. This accident was 

 the more unfortunate as he was making his mark in the House of Lords 

 and fast rising in rank as a statesman. Enfeebled as he was, he has 

 been able on many occasions during his illness to take active jDart in 

 the debates, and in doing so he has always been permitted to address 

 the House seated. 



He is looked upon as a great authority on all Irish questions, and 

 if it had not been for his accident he would certainly have held an 

 important ofiice in Lord Salisbury's Government. He was Master of 

 the Buckhounds in 1885-86, but the duties had to be performed by 

 his brother. Lord Charles Beresford. 



An account of this accident has not hitherto been laid before the 

 public in full and true form. I shall therefore relate the circum- 

 stances minutely, which I am enabled to do, having been favoured 

 by Lord Waterford with the particulars. 



The Cottesmore hounds had found in Ouston Wood and got away 

 ■with a good fox. Lord Waterford, on a horse he was trying belonging 

 to Mr. Henry Chaplin, rather a hard puller, got a capital start. After 

 going some distance a gateway appeared in front, the gate having 

 been propped open with a forked stick. The hounds were running 

 very hard at the time, and the pace of his lordship was proportional. 



