PRESERVATION OF GAME, 



Many gentlemen poachers have, by running away, 

 through pretended fear, drawn a gamekeeper off his 

 boundary, who, being possibly there followed by his 

 dogs, and having only a gamekeeper's licence, be- 

 comes so far in doubt as to his own safety against 

 information, that he is too happy to compound for 

 the day's sport being finished in peace, by those be- 

 fore whom he may have committed himself. 



Some, with a polite bow and shrug of the shoulders, 

 have pretended to be foreigners, who do not under- 

 stand a syllable of English, and by this means de- 

 terred keepers from asking those questions, which, if 

 once put, the usual penalty of twenty pounds would 

 bind them to answer. 



Others, regardless of either word or credit, most 

 faithfully assure the keepers, that they have got 

 leave from their master, inquire after his health, 

 pretend to be on the most intimate terms with him 

 and his acquaintance, and (probably, knowing him 

 to be from home) have even had the effrontery to call 

 at his house, in order to give still more plausibility 

 to their word. A keeper should, therefore, always 

 serve tlie notices on every one, who is not perfectly 

 well known to him. This may be done with a de- 

 gree of respect and civility, that could offend no 

 gentleman, and would often be the means of out- 

 witting many, who are regardless of all pretensions 

 to that name. 



Some attempt to carry their point by sheer bully- 

 ing ; threatening to box with, or shoot the keepers, 



