ABOUT SPORTING AND MILITARY WEAPONS. 89 



easy to endeavour to double the efficiency of 

 every regiment by making every man at least a 

 fair rough shot. At present most regiments 

 probably contain a few men of exceptional skill 

 as riflemen, and to these few all the prizes and 

 credit are accorded to the disgust of the unskilled 

 majority, who find no encouragement to improve 

 themselves. I am not concerned to offer any 

 advice on the details bearing on reforms in the 

 direction hinted at, but I trust that I may escape 

 being condemned as presumptuous on the plea 

 that my opinions have been formed wholly 

 independent of any professional bias, and based 

 upon facts of which all concerned are, or ought 

 to be, cognisant 



