GAME LAWS. - 427 



has no money to go to law, has some protection 

 against infringement on his rights by the man who 

 tramples on him, from this very circumstance. But 

 having no share in, and, therefore, no profit on, the 

 penalty, he has no temptation to take any advantage 

 merely for the sake of getting the 2/. 10s. himself. 

 Any person thinking himself aggrieved should have 

 the law open to him ; and the risk of an extra 5l. in 

 such a case could be no object. 



For the second, and all future wilful trespasses, on that same 

 person to whom the offender had before been made to pay the 5/., 

 to be not less than 5Z. nor more than 50/., at the option of ma- 

 gistrates, 



Who should have a great extent of discretional 

 power to mitigate the penalty ; as this law, like all 

 others, must, of course, be open to the abuse of 



the trade, and retired to a lawful business. He laughed at the 

 game laws. I then named to him the new laws, as lately pro- 

 posed. He smiled, and said, " that won't do." I next named 

 what I before, as well as what is here, suggested ; as if another 

 act contemplated by Parliament. He then put on a very serious 

 face, and said, " Upon rny soul, sir, that 's the only plan : that 

 would properly do them. No one would trust a man for 100Z. ; 

 but 5/. is no object to either a buyer or even a poor man, if he has 

 got plenty of friends under his thumb ! A man, too, must be a 

 poor hand to let people see him at work; but if a gentleman 

 could work him for a mere trespass, he could not go to his ground 

 before feeding time" 



It absolutely requires a very old sportsman, who has discovered 

 all the secrets of poachers, to strike at the roots of this evil, and 

 not legislators, who are worthy of a better office. 



