SCREEXING A rOACIIER. 45 



I recollect right, this night attack was made on the 

 woods and plantations of Mr. Wilbrahara. Pheasants 

 can no longer really be considered as ferce naturce: 

 many noblemen and gentlemen go to a great expense 

 in rearing these birds, which are afterwards turned out 

 in their woods and plantations, and during the winter 

 regularly fed with buckwheat, beans, and barley. 



There cannot be a stronger proof of the hostile feel- 

 ing that prevails amongst the middling and lower classes 

 against the present great preservation of game, and which 

 has had the effect of screening the poacher when found 

 guilty of the atrocious crime of murdering gamekeepers 

 and their assistants, than the two jooachers who were 

 found gviilty at the last Chester Assizes of killing the 

 gamekeeper and mortally wounding his assistant, and 

 sentenced to be hanged, but have since been reprieved. 

 I have little doubt that, if a gamekeeper had been 

 guilty of such a crime, the sentence would have been 

 carried into execution. But, as I before observed, I 

 am a decided enemy to these slaughtering battues. 



*e3 



