426 . GAME LAWS. 



TRESPASS. 



FIVE pounds PENALTY (open to mitigation) for one who goes, 

 or wilfully continues, on the land of another, after he has received 

 either a written notice, or a verbal notice in presence of a witness. 

 One half of this penalty to go to the collector of taxes for govern- 

 ment, and the other half to the poor of the parish wherein the 

 offence is committed. 



The defendant, if dissatisfied with the decision of the ma- 

 gistrates, may refer his case to trial at the assizes, &c. j but, if 

 he lose his cause, he must pay the 51. in addition to the damages 

 that may be awarded by the jury ; and, in this latter case, the 51. 

 should go to the plaintiff, in order to liquidate his costs, or any 

 expense that might have been incurred by the trouble which the 

 defendant would have given him. 



No compromise to be taken for this, or any other, penalty, 

 unless before, and with the consent of, magistrates. It should, of 

 course, however, be arranged so that information for the penalty 

 of TRESPASS could be only laid by (or by order of) the person, or 

 persons, on whom that trespass was committed. 



By this means we can at once take a warrant 

 against the poacher, who, if a shrewd fellow, and 

 master of his business, would clear off half the game 

 in a small manor, before he might be detected in the 

 very act of poaching. All seizures, bloodshed, and 

 danger, might thus be almost wholly avoided. Only 

 see him, even with a spyglass, at any time on the 

 forbidden ground (so as to be able to swear to his 

 person), and have a warrant for him as a wilful tres- 

 passer*. By this means also, the poor farmer, who 



* I one day happened to be, for some time, in conversation 

 with one of the shrewdest fellows, and most finished poachers, 

 that ever lived ; who, after defying all his pursuers, has left off 



