124 The Game Laws. [FEB. 



desirable in England, when the distinction between " disqualification" 

 and " qualification" has reached to this that the first class says frankly 

 to the whole larceny, approved or nascent, of the community " Rob 

 the property of our opponents ; and we will buy the pillage of 

 you. 



We are afraid that the real motives which produce an indisposition to 

 change in the system of the Game Laws approach to these : because the 

 objections put forward, are too weak and futile even for childhood itself 

 to be amused by. The unqualified capitalist desires to have the law altered ; 

 because, as it stands, without aiding the public or the landed proprietor, 

 it inflicts much inconvenience and annoyance upon himself. He sees no 

 justice in being compelled (if he desires to have game) to invest a large 

 sum of money in a way useful to nobody ; and he desires to get rid of 

 certain oppressive liabilities to which his disqualification may subject 

 him, although the apprehension of personal consequences (so peculiarly 

 unjust and insolent are the statutes) prevents them from being very 

 frequently inflicted. But, for the rest, he has nothing to gain; for he 

 has all the game that he wants already ; and at a reasonable price. The 

 necessities of the people who have the game, will always be an abundant 

 warrant for his getting plenty of it. If he is a shopkeeper, he eats it as 

 a tribute, from some ' c qualified person," who cannot pay his bill. If he is a 

 banker, or a merchant, from some man who wants " discount," or "pecu- 

 niary assistance." If he is a poet, from some " lord" who fears his wit : 

 if a lawyer, in " the House," from one who wants his assistance, or fears his 

 opposition. If he is a clergyman, he gets it from some esquire, who desires to 

 set an example of munificence to the clergy. If a physician, from some 

 duke, who has the fear of death (not to speak of worse matters) before 

 his eyes ; and, in every little alarm, makes a pet of the doctor. If a man 

 of wealth, he buys it in the market perhaps with the superadded satis- 

 faction of knowing, that he buys it of his opponent, the landowner, 

 whose extravagance compels him in evasion of his own law to sell it. 

 In each ease, he thanks none of these people ; and he has their grouse or 

 woodcocks ; so that he (the unqualified proprietor) has not a great deal of 

 new advantage to desire ! 



But the great landowner has an enormous direct advantage, both in 

 pecuniary gain, and in deliverance from annoyance, to acquire out of a 

 change of the law : and it is incredible that any such man should believe 

 that his interests would be compromised by it. The truth is, they smell 

 a consequence. They dread touching the law even the portion that 

 annoys them for they feel that it is but a touch, and it must crumble 

 away altogether : and the little rag of pride the symbol of " exclu- 

 siveness" the " peculiar privilege" and the " descent" must go along 

 with it. It seems impossible to believe that any man even of 50,0001. 

 a year can be idiot enough to believe that the legalizing the sale of 

 game would increase the amount of poaching ! The market is supplied 

 already abundantly, and more than abundantly, supplied. It is sup- 

 plied either by the fraudulent sales of the land owners themselves, or by 

 the thefts of poachers let them take their choice by which. If by the 

 first, they cannot surely propose to bind the country at large by a law, 

 and serve their own purposes whenever they think fit, by breaking it ! 

 If by the latter why then the poacher fully supplies the market already; 

 and how. under any circumstances, will he be able to do more? 



