406 Letter on Affairs in general. APRIL, 



happened to the best man in England ; but, of course, it created a great 

 roar in the court ; and, in the next cause, Mr. Pollock, who was opposed 

 to Mr. Marriott, happened to be trying very hard to lead his witness to 

 some point that was important to him. " Never mind, Mr. Pollock," said 

 Mr. Justice B. (who was then in the King's Bench) " if you don't get 

 it, Mr. Marriott will." 



Mr. Marriott, who is a known good lawyer, as well as a good- 

 natured man, could afford to stand such a hit as this; but the same 

 sort of shot plays the deuce with a man who happens to be a coxcomb. 

 The other day, in one of the towns on the Oxford circuit I think it was 

 Gloucester where the same learned Judge was sitting for the assizes, the 

 new " camel-leopard," who has been exciting such amazement all over 

 France, was going about shewing, in a huge caravan, for some days 

 through the county. On the second day of the assize, the Judges commonly 

 give a dinner to the bar ; and that at Gloucester happened to be very 

 fully attended ; and the Chief Justice, having had less gout that week than 

 usual, was in high spirits a good deal of real wit flew about, and various 

 odd topics were discussed. Until, at length, a pause occurring, a gentle- 

 man " in the last row" quite convinced that a tiger's tail must be the 

 prettiest thing in the world to play with because it flourished about so 

 invitingly and deluded, in the rashness of a third round of champaign, to 

 his ruin mustered courage to hazard an attempt at conversation with 

 the Lord Chief; and, by way of a familiar degage commencement, in- 

 quired " if his Lordship had seen the camel-leopard that was going about, 

 yet "f" An ominous silence of three or four seconds followed this question ; 

 and several of the company took snuff, as not knowing very well how to 

 get over it. But, in about a quarter of a minute, the learned personage 

 addressed who happened at the moment of the demand to have both his 

 hands in his breeches pockets without removing them, looked out the 

 postulator, as it were, at the lower end of the table. "What is that 

 you said, Mr. M. ******? .The camel-leopard what the show? 

 why, no upon my word 1 have not. In fact I am rather afraid as we 

 both travel with trumpets that we are standing upon ceremony, which 

 should make the first visit.' 1 



What followed (in a minor key) at the lower end of the table, was 

 not much worse,' "I say, Tom! he had us there!" whispered the anni- 

 hilated man's clerk, to the factotum of the next juvenile near him, as they 

 stood behind the chairs of their respective principals. " I don't know what 

 he meant," answered the party addressed. " Why, no more do I," re- 

 turned the first speaker " but I'm blowed if he hasn't pitched it into us!" 



Lord Wharncliffe gave an explanation of his proposed bill, in the House of 

 Lords, on Wednesday, the 20th of February, for legalizing the sale of game, 

 and making other improvements upon the existing system of our game laws ; 

 and the debate upon the measure of last night (the 19th of March) seems 

 to afford considerable hope of its success. One fact seems to be perfectly 

 clear : we may not and, indeed, shall not, as the Lord Chancellor ob- 

 served while the present system of preserves and battues (which are the 

 disgrace of true sporting) continues ever get rid of the practice of poaching 

 entirely; but, by legalising the sale of game, we, at least, do this we cease 

 to make poaching, and unlawful dealing, the only means by which the de- 

 mand for game in the country can be supplied. Men who are disposed to 

 live by petty theft, or contraband trade, rather than by honest labour, will 



