64 



CHAPTER II. 

 HUNTING. 



Times Changed— Opposition to Hunting in Ireland— Farmers' Sufferance- Mufti v. Fox- 

 hunting Uniform— M.F.H.'s and Colonels of Regiments' Duty thereon— Horses and 

 Fodder 'from, Stallions for, the Farmers— Damage Claims— Puppy Show, Dinner, and 

 Dance— Men hunt to enjoy themselves— Masters too hard at times— M.F.H.'s Memo* 

 randum to his Field— Hunt See's Memo. : Eate of Subscriptions— Few come out to 

 At(/!<— Master's boiler bursts— Good Books on Hunting— Decrease in Irish, Increase in 

 English, Hunting— Galloping Snobs— Farmers' Forbearance— Eed-coat Races— Curragh- 

 more Hunt Rsd-coat R,ace -Result of Red-coat Races in Ireland— Loss to Waterford— 

 Westmeath and Co. Down Red-coat Races— iS"orth of Ireland Sportsmen— Ward Hunt 

 Lawyers— Mr. ISathaniel Morton— Mr. Hanway's System of Training Horses— Long- 

 shanked Spurs— Late Mr. William Quin's Idea— Lord Marcus Beresfoi d and his Spurs — 

 Harrieis as a School for Venery— All can hunt who wish it- Author's Egotistical 

 Anecdotes— TTgly Visions — Advice. 



Let it not be imagined I am about to enter into the details of the 

 science of hunting, either generally or in particular, for if I did, 

 perhaps I should be found lamentably ignorant of the glorious 

 subject. I shall merely state my notions of how the finest sport 

 under the sun might be made even more universally popular than it 

 is— how to perpetuate the sport, and, in a special chapter, as its 

 importance deserves, will show what national superiority hunting 

 has over every other institution of the kingdom excepting religion 

 and education. 



Tempora mutantur nos et mutamur in illis. But though times have 

 changed since I hunted, time has not changed my love of hunting (or 

 for any kind of sport, for that matter), and although I can no longer 

 participate in its enjoyment, I feel as deep an interest in it now as I 

 did years ago, when that interest was second to few men's in the 

 world. 



Deprive him of horses and hounds if you will, 



A foxhunter once is a foxhunter still. 



With these egotistical remarks by way of excuse I shall strive to 

 deal with our national pastime. In doing so I fear I can add little or 

 nothing to what has already been written scores of times by far abler 

 pens than mine, but as these essays came from, of course, the best 

 authorities in the world, I can do no harm if I repeat some of them,, 

 while giving ideas of my own, particularly in times like the present, 

 when new ideas are being put forth everywhere, and when " change 

 and decay in [nearly] all around I see." 



The lesson we have learned in Ireland during the past few years 

 should show us how easy it is to put an end to hunting, and stimulate 

 us all the more to popularise and sustain it. This is my reason for 

 making the remarks I do in this chai^ter. Every true Irishman is a 

 sportsman, and it would be as difficult for him to change his love for 



