crs 



In proof of what I state I again refer to the conduct pursued by 

 the tenant-farmers residing in Gaultier. This was a large section of 

 Lord Waterford's country, and therein he possessed an estate held 

 by well-contented tenants, yet no obstruction whatever was given 

 to hunting. The farmers therein were left to themselves, and 

 were nut contaminated by Land League agents. Mr. Patrick Wall 

 of Credan, to whom I referred before, was not a tenant of Lord 

 Waterford, and although he strove to feed disaffection in that district, 

 he miserably failed. Well would it have been for our country at 

 large if the other tenant-farmers had acted like those of Gaultier. 



At the same time I must state that as the opposition to our hunting 

 was first instituted by only a few individuals, well known to be but 

 the malcontents of the neighbourhood, the majority should have 

 dealt summarily with them, and in the most forcible fashion shown 

 them that the sport-loving community was not to be coerced into 

 doing what was repugnant to their feelings. More especially was it 

 their duty to have done so from the fact that to sustain the hunting 

 and other sports was the only way they had of showing gratitude to 

 the gentry from whom they had received great and substantial kind- 

 ness, and that at times when such was much needed by many of them. 



In denouncing as I have done the Land League, I do so only as 

 regards its action in molesting the prime sport of our nation. That 

 body has as much right to its political opinions as I and others who 

 •differ from it toto ccdo. This is a free country, and every man may 

 hold and support whatever principles he chooses — political, religious, 

 or other — so long as he does not interfere with the privileges of his 

 neighbour. Sport knows no politics, no religion, no party. The 

 field of sport is open to all. The hunting card invites everyone, and 

 to its meets everyone is welcome, no matter who or what he is. 

 Nothing is required of him when he comes out to hunt, except that 

 he will behave himself like a sportsman. 



I -now bring my history of Lord Waterford's Hunt to its final 

 close. 



In laying before the public the Annals of the Four Masters, I do 

 so with the assurance that all the details are absolutely correct. 

 I might have alluded to other events, but being unable to do so with 

 critical accuracy as to dates and details, I eliminated them altogether. 



I have seen in print from time to time records of this Hunt, but 

 many of the dates and some of the details are lamentably incorrect, 

 'This may be excusable in the compilers from the fact that they were 

 not possessed of the personal knowledge, with other peculiar 

 advantages and facilities which I have had. 



In the compilation I derived pleasure, tempered at times by sad 

 recollections of the periods ending with the "seventies" — while dealing 

 with later years sorrowjul alone have been my feelings. 



