GUNS. 5 



together the barrels, then " boring" them "for shoot- 

 ing ;" and, in short, completing them for the field all 

 but the browning and engraving. 



Many wiseacres abuse all the heads of the trade, 

 and swear that they can always insure having the 

 best of guns, at a quarter the price, from Birming- 

 ham ! This may be, provided a person has such 

 good judgment, or interest there, as to get picked 

 workmen, for the whole process of his order ; but, 

 in general, the immense business carried on at this 

 place is for the wholesale line, and only requires to 

 be in the rough ; from which circumstance, the work- 

 men are not so much in the habit of finishing, as 

 those employed daily for that purpose. Moreover, 

 if there is a first rate and enterprising workman, he 

 hears of the high wages, and contrives to get off to 

 London. 



But, as far as the judgment of some people goes, 

 it would certainly be a wanton extravagance to give 

 more than fifteen pounds for a double, or eight for a 

 single gun. I allude to those, who, on being shown 

 a superior one, would view it like a fossil or a picture ; 

 and, on being requested to " feel how fine the lock 

 is," thrust their fore-fingers, as far as they can, into 

 the guard, sticking up their thumbs as if going to 

 be dressed for a wound, and usually complete their 

 inspection, by breaking one of your locks, and abusing 

 the man who made them. 



