270 DUCK GUNS. 



whole of tills fine establishment reduced to a com- 

 plete wreck. Mr. Lancaster had purchased the 

 lease of the premises ; but, in consequence of Mr. 

 Manton's commission being afterwards set aside, 

 Mr. Lancaster's purchase became null and void. 

 He has, however, retained most of the best work- 

 men, and that excellent gunmaker, Purdey, I be- 

 lieve, has got some of the others. Mr. Joseph 

 Manton still assures me that he shall resume busi- 

 ness ; but this is best known to himself. All I can 

 say, therefore, is, that if he does not, I know of no 

 one so fit to succeed him as Lancaster. 



This is the present state of affairs at the head of 

 the gun-trade, but most probably before the re- 

 mainder of this edition is printed off, I may be able 

 to give further, and more decided, information.^ 



If, on the other hand, the shooter is content with 

 a good serviceable duck gun that will kill well, and 

 answer every purpose, and is not au fait enough to 

 send his own specific directions to Birmingham, he 

 has only to go to the fountain head at once, and 

 order Mr, Fullerd or Mr. Lancaster to send him a 

 barrel completely finished for shooting, and then 

 get it fitted up to his own fancy by any tolerable 

 mechanic. 



My reason for preferring this plan is, because I 

 know by experience that if Fullerd and Lancaster 

 are left alone, they can bore a barrel to shoot well ; 

 but when interfered with, they become mere jour- 

 neymen who dare not open their mouths, insomuch 



