28 SHOOTING. 



might have beeu anticipated. We find in almost aU the more 

 elaborate treatises on the gun, a loose and inconsec[uential mode of 

 reasoning adopted. Eacts are mingled with theories, and theories 

 ■with facts ; and there is no regularly concatenated^ chain of reason- 

 ing and observation on the matter. The systematic vniters on the 

 fowling-piece seem, in many cases, to have set out in theii' inquiries 

 with some preconceived theory or other, and are more deskous of 

 turning and twisting facts in accordance with their preconceived 

 notions, then in arranging them in that logical order which can 

 alone lead to the establishment of general truths. Besides, the 

 mere mercantile enterprises connected Mith sportmg, have tended 

 in many cases to prevent the free current of inquiry into the offices ; 

 of the gun. A gun-maker invents something which he conceives j 

 of importance. JEie takes out a patent at a considerable expense. I 

 He is naturally anxious to have his invention recommended, and ' 

 ■puffed off in every direction. Sportsmen are generally greedy I 

 listeners to all novelties. The invention is found, when tested by ; 

 a pretty general n.se, not to realize all the advantages anticipated j 

 from it. It is then taken out to nurse, and to be bolstered up with ; 

 a mass of theoretical speculation, which appears on the surface very 

 profound and searching, but which is, in fact, nothing but a series | 

 of ill-digested notions and gratuitous assumptions. Readers are 5 

 bandied about from one theory to another, till all is obscmity and j 

 chaos. 



Another remark we shall venture to make. Sportsmen find, that 

 every gun is an instrument per se. It has a character of its own ; 

 and the person _ that may be accustomed to it feels quite strange 

 when a new piece is placed m his hands. We have often been 

 struck, and amused besides, with the conversation of game-keepers 

 and others about their respective fowling-pieces. They talk of 

 them, as if they had life and vohtion. They say, "I know that gun 

 well ; she'll do very well in one way, but she's obstinate in another. 

 She's a curious tempered piece. I have known her on a particular 

 day take the sulks, and no good could be done with her ; at other 

 times she killed all before her." The fact is, that the gun is an 

 embodiment of very important and hidden principles of mechanics 

 and cliemistry. We see the effect of it ; but the ca?(ses are often, 

 and, indeed, in nine cases out of ten, wi'apped in impenetrable 

 mystery. Daily experience is the only means of obtainmg a perfect 

 knowledge of the capabiHties of aprojectile, because its powers are 

 so easily modified by causes which escajpe ordinary observation. 

 This is the reason, why practical men gam such a stock of useful 

 information on the use of fowHng-pieces, though they are seldom 

 able to impart that knowledge to others. 



