ENGLAND AND WALES. 303 



netting and unfair fishing, which it now costs him to earn 

 a churlish reputation, he would, in a very few seasons, 

 furnish such a fund of amusement to the middle and 

 lower classes, and such an abundant supply of agreeable 

 food for all, that his own waters would be held sacred 

 by common consent, and his own peculiar enjoyments 

 anxiously regarded. 



Most country gentlemen are magistrates; and they 

 might accomplish all this without incurring the odium 

 which would attach to a mere private individual, who 

 should attempt such a reformation. But so long as the 

 present selfish and exclusive system continues, so long 

 will the lower orders plunder the preserves of the gentry, 

 and so long will the poacher find commiseration and 

 sympathy from all but the privileged class. 



Besides, mark the mischief which ensues in a national 

 point of view. The gentleman of small means the 

 1 mil -pay officer the retired tradesman the young man 

 witli an income derivable from the funds, sufficient for 

 rational wants, but destitute of landed estate ; hundreds 

 of persons of this description seek on the continent the 

 recreation and reasonable amusement which are denied 

 them at home; and there, permanently residing in com- 

 parative luxury, expend the money which is drawn from 

 the resources of their own country. Whose fault is this? 

 Where lies the blame? Laws which are made for one 

 class only, and are therefore entirely one-sided and 

 exclusive in spirit and in operation, are sure to produce 

 this, in common with other evil results. High-minded 

 men are driven from their country when it becomes the 

 theatre of injustice. 



One thing, however, is now pretty certain : the present 

 code of laws with reference to field-sports in general must 



